The apparent link between rogue oil dealer George Farrugia and a person who occupied a senior position in a State authority is “unacceptable”, according to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
“We are discovering new things about the oil scandal every week. What was revealed today [by newspaper MaltaToday] was incredibly worrying, where someone in a high position [former Malta Resources Authority director Godwin Sant] sent a contractor a draft law before sending it to the minister,” he said.
In a question-and-answer session with Labour Party paid-up members yesterday morning, Dr Muscat said the issue went beyond the presidential pardon Mr Farrugia was granted and the entire oil scandal because it exposed “long years of excessive liberties”.
We cannot brush off these things as having happened under a previous administration
“There are huge issues of political responsibility that must be shouldered but after investigations have been concluded,” Dr Muscat said when asked specifically about the reports.
He stressed the government was taking these issues very seriously.
“We cannot brush off these things as having happened under a previous administration.
“It is unacceptable for a trusted person working in the government to be primarily loyal to a contractor rather than the employer,” he said.
On the manner in which the government was buying its oil and fuels, Dr Muscat said former Nationalist minister Michael Falzon was appointed as an independent observer “because [the government] wanted to get the message across that the way things work in the country have changed once and for all”.
On another note, the Prime Minister said school absenteeism had “dropped dramatically” since the government introduced a scheme whereby families living in poverty received a €400 grant if their children attended school.
“The culture of taking sick days off without a doctor’s certificate starts from early on. Since we introduced that scheme, the absenteeism rate in government schools renowned for their high absenteeism rate is now at the same rate as private schools,” Dr Muscat said.
He said applications would be issued by May for the first group of teachers to apply for sabbatical leave to further their studies.