Two more ministers’ partners appointed to a government company board

Prime Minister Robert Abela’s cabinet members are finding innovative ways of skirting the Ministerial Code of Ethics by having their family members employed by other ministries.

The Shift is informed that the latest round of such appointments came courtesy of Economy Minister Silvio Schembri.

Schembri has appointed Culture Minister Owen Bonnici’s partner Remenda Grech and Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul’s partner Claudia Cuschieri to the Kordin Grain Terminal’s board of directors.

While the Ministerial Code of Ethics strictly precludes ministers and parliamentary secretaries from giving any appointments to members of their immediate families, current cabinet members are circumventing the rules by having their family members appointed, and remunerated, by their cabinet colleagues.

Remenda Grech – a social worker who has been promoted to a directorship at the Foundation for Social Welfare Services since becoming Minister Owen Bonnici’s partner – has now also been made a Kordin Grain Terminal director.

This is not the first appointment given to one of Bonnici’s partners. When he was in a relationship with former ONE TV reporter Janice Bartolo in 2014, Bonnici appointed her to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra’s board. The minister had at the time justified Bartolo’s appointment by saying it had been made before they were a couple.

Schembri’s other appointee to the Kordin Grain Terminal’s board, Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul’s partner Claudia Cuschieri, is also a former ONE TV reporter who still presents programmes on the station. Until the last election, Cuschieri had been a government spokesperson.

Grech and Cuschieri are but the two latest additions to a long line of ministers’ partners who have been taken on and employed by other ministers.

The Shift has already reported how the wife of Social Accommodation Minister Roderick Galdes, Joanne Galdes, was recently appointed to the WasteServ board of directors thanks to Environment Minister Miriam Dalli.

Maxiline Bonett, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Chris Bonett’s wife, has meanwhile been made a consultant to Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo. She has also been promoted to a senior position at the Lands Authority, which falls under Schembri’s remit.

Minister Schembri has also promoted his wife, Deandra, to a senior position at the Malta Business Registry, which also falls within his ministerial portfolio.

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri’s wife Deborah Camilleri was recently promoted to senior manager at Transport Malta. She has also been appointed by the Justice Minister as a legal aid lawyer.

Foreign Minister Ian Borg has, meanwhile, recruited Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba’s wife Sarah Agius Saliba as an advisor.

Schembri’s latest appointments to the Kordin Grain Terminal’s board also include that of lawyer Ian Borg as chairman. Borg was an employee at Abela Advocates, the private law firm of Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife Lydia.

The terminal’s other directors – Donatielle Abela, Nataline Farrugia, Jeremy Galea and Vernalise Scicluna – all hail from Schembri’s electoral districts, as does company secretary Sharlo Camilleri.

                           

Sign up to our newsletter

Stay in the know

Get special updates directly in your inbox
Don't worry we do not spam
                           
                               
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joseph curmi
Joseph curmi
11 months ago

Kulhadd jithanzer hux

Paul Bonello
Paul Bonello
11 months ago

This is not the “taghna lkoll” meaning understood by those voting in Labour in 2013, you dishonest lot. You are on the way down now, like Gonzi PN after 2008. And once the rot and corruption reaches this level, it becomes an unstoppable and incorrigible torrent of mud.

Last edited 11 months ago by Paul Bonello
Anne R. key
Anne R. key
11 months ago
Reply to  Paul Bonello

I would rather eat pig swill then ever vote for PL again…..!

Edgar gatt
11 months ago

Kullhadd jithanzer. Pigs at the trough

Mark
Mark
11 months ago

“Tista’ tahdem maghna anka jekk ma taqbilx maghna.”

Joseph Tabone Adami
Joseph Tabone Adami
11 months ago
Reply to  Mark

Ahseb w ara jekk…….!!

Carmelo Borg
11 months ago

Prosit Anglu FARRUGIA ghal darba meta tghid li il parlament u MAQJEL. SEWWA QALET ROSIANNE CUTAJAR LIL LOVER YORGEN LI KULL HADT JITHANZER.

Francis Said
Francis Said
11 months ago

I stand to be corrected. I believe that Joseph Muscat once taking office in 2013, during his insisting to buyout Cafe Premier had also requested a study on whether Government MPs should have their remuneration increased.
He was advised not to and had said so, whilst postponing the decision for the following year.
This never happened as an innovative method to increase Government MPs salaries was hatched.
Employ wives, partners, children and why not relatives on some government board, possibly more than one to boost the family income. Obviously all this from taxpayers’ funds.

Greed
Greed
11 months ago

Kordin Grain Terminal, is this to make sure they keep the trough full?

Greed
Greed
11 months ago
Reply to  Greed

Or is it just that corruption is deeply Ingrained in them?

Anne R. key
Anne R. key
11 months ago
Reply to  Greed

One can only purchase grain, or not, so it truly boggles the mind as to what difficult decisions are taken…….??

wenzu
wenzu
11 months ago

Nepotism form the MLP knows no bounds. Thankfully, this will be it’s downfall.

Dzam
Dzam
11 months ago

There seems to be no end to this crazy pigging out frenzy party by Labour ministers! Socialists my foot!

Bamboccu
Bamboccu
11 months ago

U il Ministru Clyde Caruana ma jghid xejn?
Dawn mhux flus zejda.
Andy taht in Nazzjonalisti kont ghidtli li saret ingustizzja mieghek meta kont ghadek il korp.
Jidher li ssa hadt li kellek tieghu!

Marcus Bonello
Marcus Bonello
11 months ago

Literally devouring the workman’s moneybox

G Mizzi
G Mizzi
11 months ago

Really and truly an Animal Farm.

Mick
Mick
11 months ago

“Persons of Trust” is a misnomer for bottom feeders and those who can stand on their hind legs and feed from the trough. More and more are going to be appointed as the money is running out and they all want what they see as their entitlement. Indigestion is not far off then you can do some squealing.

joe tedesco
joe tedesco
11 months ago

NEVER, EVER, TRUST THE PL GOVERNMENT.
IT WILL ALWAYS, UNFAILINGLY, DECEIVE YOU
BY DOING WHAT IT PLEASES WITH YOUR VOTE.

David Tortell
David Tortell
11 months ago

Oink, oink…..

Related Stories

Enemed spends €2 million on marketing despite no competition
Enemed, a state company that has a virtual monopoly
Air Malta pilots dropping out of court case against PM as settlements reached
Aqra bil-Malti A number of Air Malta pilots have

Our Awards and Media Partners

Award logo Award logo Award logo