The Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri has refused to comment whether he would offer his resignation in the wake of revelations that he opened up a trust in New Zealand and a secret company in Panama.

Mr Schembri has been refusing to answer questions and avoiding the media ever since the scandal first broke almost a month ago.

Asked why he has not resigned, Mr Schembri this morning said that he has no comment to make.

He also refused to give the name of his company in Panama, and would not say whether his interests in the British Virgin Islands will be audited.

The New Zealand trust and company in Panama was set up after both Mr Schembri and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi received what the Prime Minister termed as “politically naïve and insensitive” advice from their financial advisers Nexia BT.

Dr Mizzi has provided some documentation about his New Zealand trust and company in Panama, in sharp contrast to Mr Schembri.

Mr Schembri this week denied that his company, Kasco Holdings, has a presence in the British Virgin Islands and Panama, after documented evidence emerged of a company registered in Panama in the name of “Kasco Holding”. 

“Kasco has no presence in the British Virgin Islands and Panama and any evidence to the contrary does not exist,” Mr Schembri said. 

This denial raises questions because Mr Schembri told this newspaper last week there was “no news” with regard to the British Virgin Islands company, which he had “never denied”.