A former aide to the Prime Minister has been appointed non-executive chairman of the Government waste management agency, Wasteserv.

David Borg was Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s aide when the latter was an MEP between 2004 and 2008.

He will head the agency’s board that was appointed yesterday by Environment Minister Leo Brincat.

Helga Pizzuto, an engineer, is deputy chairman and the members are Labour Marsaxlokk mayor Edric Micallef, an architect, geologist Peter Gatt, Godwin Pulis, Iris Camilleri Mifsud and John Darmanin.

Mr Brincat said the new board would not be taking major decisions before the strategic review of Wasteserv, commissioned by the Government, was concluded.

The independent study is expected to be ready in about six weeks’ time.

The minister said all reports drawn up by the private companies tasked with the review would be made public.

The strategic review would cover all aspects and the new board was expected to take note of any recommendations made, Mr Brincat added.

He justified the decision to appoint a new board despite having their hands tied until the strategic review was complete, saying he could not leave the previous directors to continue running the agency in view of the Auditor General’s “worrying” findings.

In its annual review of government entities last year, the National Audit Office flagged serious shortcomings at the agency and this prompted a wider investigation into Wasteserv’s operations.

The investigation is ongoing.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com