The Office of the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to reveal the details of a contract it awarded former TV presenter Lou Bondi to act as one of its consultants.

Questions sent to the OPM since March have been stonewalled despite 12 reminders sent to the Prime Minister’s communications office in recent weeks.

Yesterday the government’s head of communications Kurt Farrugia said simply: “Lou Bondi is engaged as a consultant on work connected with the National Celebrations Foundation. It is not normal practice to publish the terms of engagement.”

Speaking during a Labour activity in Naxxar last week, Joseph Muscat mentioned Mr Bondi by name as an example of Labour’s meritocracy in order to fend off criticism from the Nationalist Party over a raft of public appointments and consultancy jobs handed to Labour officials and MPs.

Mr Bondi – a former PN employee – also refused to reveal details about his government job. Contacted yesterday, Mr Bondi said that he only replies to questions if sent by e-mail; however, he failed to respond to written questions and instead told The Sunday Times of Malta to ask the Prime Minister for details.

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