Over €1 million in direct orders for mostly 'small' jobs were dished out by the Education Ministry over the last six months of 2017, the Times of Malta is informed.

Silvio Debono

But larger assignments were commissioned too, including from some of Education Minister Evarist Bartolo’s political appointees in institutions falling under his remit, including the chairmen of the Malta College of Arts, science and Technology and of the National Commission for Further and Higher Education, official figures show.

According to a list of direct orders appearing in The Malta Government Gazette, as demanded by law, 92 jobs were allocated without any call for bids.

Most of the allocations involved payments amounting to just a few thousands euros, such as the provision of services ranging from breakfast coordinators in schools, doping control officers at the National Anti-Doping Commission, plumbing and gardening at various schools and a few hours of clerical duties at some government schools.

READ: Yet another direct order for former parliamentary secretary

But some direct orders involved substantial sums of money.

For example, Ayrton Bonnici, organisation secretary of the Labour Party’s youth branch, landed a €10,000 direct order for filming services, according to the information published by the Education Ministry.

Mcast chairman Silvio Debono, a long-time collaborator of Mr Bartolo, was given two contracts worth €40,300 and €9,990 respectively in connection with “change management projects”. No details were given.

READ: Auditor General asked to probe an €880,000 direct order 

Former Labour candidate and Sliema councillor Martin Debono, an architect by profession, was given a direct order worth €42,150 for services connected to the construction and finishing of an NGO hub in Marsaxlokk.

Godfrey Vella, the non-executive chairman of the independent National Commission for Further and Higher Education, received a €9,200-direct order for the “provision of managerial services” within the commission itself.

The list of direct orders includes an allocation of €12,000 to Mark Cutajar, a former One TV sports presenter who stepped down from the post of CEO of Sport Malta a few weeks ago, and €9,000 to William Lewis, Labour’s organisation secretary, to advise on a proposed motor recreation and education park.

According to government rules, direct orders are to be restricted to the bare minimum and awarded only where necessary, particularly in case of urgent works.

No replies were forthcoming from the Education Ministry, which was asked to justify the need to issue so many direct orders for normal jobs to so many individuals.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com