Michelle Buttigieg, the Malta Tourism Authority’s representative in New York, is not bound by any specific working hours to do her €5,000-per-month job of promoting Malta.
According to her contract, tabled in Parliament earlier this week, Ms Buttigieg is engaged through a “service agreement” to give marketing and promotion services to the MTA. Her duties include familiarising potential clients with Malta, particularly in high-yield sectors. However, the contract does not determine the number of hours each week she is expected to put in. Neither does it show where she is to be based when performing her duties.
Industry sources consider such types of contracts “abnormal”, noting that in such cases a given number of hours are usually set, against which payment is made.
No reply was forthcoming when the MTA was asked to explain why the contract did not specify the number of hours of service Ms Buttigieg was expected to work.
The contract is very specific when it comes to remuneration. While being eligible for a retainer fee of €5,083 each month (€60,998 annually), the MTA also pays for four return air tickets for “commercial visits”.
Ms Buttigieg also gets a €1,752 “petty cash float” to be used for official expenses, such as working meals, entertainment and transport. The MTA replenishes the float against the presentation of receipts.
The MTA engaged Ms Buttigieg without a call for applications. Ms Buttigieg has lived in New York for some time. In 2003, she launched her jewellery collection, called Buttardi, together with Michelle Muscat, the Prime Minister’s wife.
On the website marketing the collection, Ms Muscat is listed as the sales and promotion manager for Buttardi’s European office, and the address given is her residence.
The government had refused to publish the contract, with both the Tourism Minister and the MTA repeatedly mentioning “commercial” sensitivity and a “trade secret” as reasons. The Times of Malta successfully filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act, and the MTA was ordered to publish the contract.
Timeline of refusals
March 2, 2014: The Times of Malta reports that Michelle But-tigieg has been appointed the MTA’s representative in New York.
March 3, 2014: Ms Buttigieg signs contract with MTA.
March 4, 2014: MTA confirms appointment. Refuses to publish conditions.
March 26, 2014: Then tourism minster Karmenu Vella tells Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo the contract is sensitive and will not be published.
April 2014: Replying to a parliamentary question, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis tells Mr Arrigo a reply on contract will be given in another sitting.
May 2014: Dr Zammit Lewis refuses in Parliament to give details on financial package given to Ms Buttigieg.
August 2015: MTA turns down request by Times of Malta for a copy of Ms Buttigieg’s contract and cites “trade secret”.
September 2015: Times of Malta files a Freedom of Information request for a copy of contract. MTA does not reply.
October 2015: Times of Malta sends reminders to MTA, which fails to reply.
January 2016: Times of Malta submits appeal application for intervention of Data Protection Commissioner against MTA decision not to publish contract.
February 2016: MTA insists it will not publish contract, as it considers its contents to be a “trade secret”.
February 2016: Times of Malta asks Data Commissioner for investigation into MTA’s possible breach of Freedom of Information law.
April 2016: Data Protection Commissioner says MTA failed to observe rules and orders it to publish contract. MTA appeals decision.
May 4, 2016: Times of Malta reports on the Commissioner’s order to MTA to publish the contract. Nationalist MP Antoine Borg tables parliamentary question asking for contract.
May 10, 2016: Dr Zammit Lewis finally tables the contract in Parliament.