Marmara lands another €24,000 direct order for ‘research’

Labour’s survey guru Vince Marmara has landed a new contract from another government agency in addition to some €1.2 million already dished out to him or his companies by various ministries and government agencies in recent years.

According to the latest direct orders information published by Jobsplus – the government’s employment agency – Marmara’s company Sagalytics is to provide research services for the agency, including data collection, report writing and design for one of the agency’s projects.

His new contract, which will cost taxpayers €24,000, runs until next January.

Marmara, who made a name for himself through the publication of electoral surveys for Labour-leaning newspapers, has been showered with lucrative government contracts during the Labour administration.

While regularly running expensive polls, conducted on almost a daily basis during the electoral campaign, Marmara was given some 28 direct orders in four years, with a turnover of more than €1.2 million from public funds.

Marmara has consistently declined to explain who was funding his polls, which are used regularly by Labour both for its internal projections and for publicity and electoral confidence building.

Also, The Shift has revealed that for the last seven years, Marmara was also receiving a retainer of more than €4,200 a month from the Malta Gaming Authority. Engaged through a direct order, it is unclear what type of research Marmara has conducted for the gaming regulator over seven years.

Meanwhile, Jobsplus, under the chairmanship of Charmaine Cristiano Grech, a lawyer-canvasser of former Minister Evarist Bartolo and a former GWU official, issued several other direct orders during the first half of this year.

Economist Stephanie Fabri, who the government has recently appointed onto the board of the Malta Stock Exchange, was given three direct orders in three months worth over €24,000 on work connected to the agency’s annual report.

Tens of thousands of euros were also spent on massive employment advertising campaigns on billboards and television stations, particularly on PBS, even though the government boasts of ‘full employment’.

Even the driver of the agency’s CEO Alexia Vella was hired through a direct order, although the agency is known for having a raft of extra drivers and messengers.

The agency falls under the political remit of Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, who last week asked ministers to cut down on their expenses to control increasing public debt levels, soon expected to reach an unprecedented €9 billion.

                           

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11 Comments
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Kenneth
Kenneth
1 year ago

Silvio Schembri was asked in Parliament to provide a list of direct orders dished out by the Malta Gaming Authority. He did not include the Eur 4,200 monthly direct to Vincent Marmara. Why? Why did he lie to Parliament?

Cynthia
Cynthia
1 year ago

Oh no wonder Stephanie Fabri praises this corrupt Government on TVM breakfast shows! She’s enjoying your bun!

Joe Genovese
Joe Genovese
1 year ago
Reply to  Cynthia

Yes, don’t the pieces have a way of falling into place?

KLAUS
KLAUS
1 year ago

What kind of Finance Minister is Clyde Caruana?

The belt is supposed to be tightened on others,
he himself is not in control and regularly emerges as the responsible squanderer.

How about the silent ROBBER Abela?

Out of Curiosity
Out of Curiosity
1 year ago
Reply to  KLAUS

If Minister Caruana tries to stop these cannibals from continuing enjoying the nice moment, they will eat him alive!

Francis Said
Francis Said
1 year ago

The usual bad administration of public funds.
It is assumed that the government spends taxpayers’ funds as if they are spending their own personal funds.
No wonder the € 9 billion deficit. Whilst the fat cats get richer from public funds and public property.

Joe Genovese
Joe Genovese
1 year ago

“The agency [JobsPlus] falls under the political remit of Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, ……”

“The agency”: Clyde Caruana’s former stomping ground.

Not one to forget where he comes from and those left behind.

Last edited 1 year ago by Joe Genovese
Bamboccu
Bamboccu
1 year ago

Ejja forsi jkollu biex jixtri bagalja fl ahhar ghax meta rajtu sejjer biex isiefer bagalja kollha moffa kellu

carlos
carlos
1 year ago

Isirqu,isirqu w isirqu. Hallelin ta flus il-haddiem. Mafialand par excellence.

J. Kerr
J. Kerr
1 year ago

I agree with your suggestion that Marmara’s substantial direct orders also cover the expensive work he does for the Labour Party. Clearly he is important for the Party. Opinion polls can be self fulfilling prophecies in that they can skew opinion towards the winning team. Nobody likes to lose and people are quick to conform to the prevailing opinion to be seen as winners. Here the undecided voter is readily won over. I think we need another political party, not of politicians but of psychologists to unravel and clarify the political situation we are in.

Last edited 1 year ago by J. Kerr
Stephen Spiteri
Stephen Spiteri
1 year ago

Don’t you see that some individuals close to R Abela are engaged in different shapes and formats. R Abela has put aside the good brains under J Muscat to surround himself with the preferred consultants and board members. Significant levels of narcissism. He has disappointed many people who elected him. We are a large family who have always voted for labour and now are really sorry for putting out trust in him. Regrettably we don’t see ourselves as close to this government. Same people on boards, same consultants whilst others have been forgotten!!!

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