A Labour TV personality, Claire Agius, is being paid €1,000 a month by state entity Enemed to promote a company with a virtual monopoly in the local fuel market, The Shift found.
Enemed, wholly owned by the government and under Minister Miriam Dalli’s responsibility, is running at a loss, receives substantial government subsidies, and has not published its audited accounts since 2020.
The Shift asked how the government can justify paying an influencer such a sum when it is struggling financially and has no real market competition, but no response was received.
Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by The Shift, it was discovered that Agius has been contracted by Enemed since September 2021 and receives other benefits besides the monthly fee.
This includes sponsorship of her ONE TV programme, “The Local Traveller”, to the tune of €1,000 in fuel every six months.
While Enemed did not explain how Agius was selected, it stated the Labour Party TV personality has “an active presence on the internet, television, and social media, and attracts a substantial number of followers on social media.”
Enemed is the sole importer of all petrol products in Malta and has very few competitors in the diesel sector as there are almost no storage facilities except the ones controlled by the state entity. Therefore, every person buying fuel in Malta is ultimately a customer of Enemed, calling into question the need for such marketing.
Malta is the only EU member state with no competition in its fuel market, with pump prices the same in all stations and controlled by the government.
Earlier this year, The Shift revealed how a government agency, Project Green, had secretly engaged pop star Ira Losco to post photos of herself and her family enjoying themselves at Project Green activities.
One of Ira Losco’s personal social media posts praising Project Green
Losco also tagged the personal profiles of Minister Miriam Dalli and MEP candidate Steve Ellul in her social media appearances while hiding the fact that these were sponsored posts.
The government paid her €417 for each post.
Following The Shift’s revelations, the singer stopped tagging politicians in her posts.
The one-page contract given to Losco by Project Green’s politically appointed CEO, Steve Ellul, was for six months, ending in October. It is not known yet whether Losco’s contract has been renewed.
Super ONE wages paid by the taxpayer.
If she’s a producer, which I believe is the case, she buys their air time and makes money from adverts that are aired during her program (which she has to get herself). Producers don’t receive salaries from TV stations, unless they’re employed directly by them, which Claire isn’t.
I worked in that field for some years, hence why I can comment on it.
Leeches
Money blinds everyone, it’s a disgrace that these well know personalities fall that low.
No pride, no dignity left.
Low level mercenaries.
Qisu xejn mhu xejn kollox indara. Komplu hi l poplu llupjat bhalissa!
Trid tkun bil-pedigree biex tithalla tithanzer!
Enemed sponsors other TV programs on One TV, which is basically a laundering of taxpayer money to the Labor Party, as Enemed does not need any TV promotion given it is a monopoly.
Money no problem. Deficit se jaqbez l-10 biljuni u kullhadd għaddej jonfoq, basta mhux minn butu.
Id-dejn nazzjonali maqsum fuq kull ċittadin Malti jaqbeż it-€18,500.
U kullhadd jitħanżer.
Each time I see such an article I honestly feel physically sick..never ending story of piggery and corrupt practices..so shameful
OUR CORRUPT LABOUR GOVERNMENT FINDS GIVING TAXPAYERS MONEY EASY. THATS HOW THE LABOUR MAFIA WORKS!!!💯🤑👎🐀
Where do I apply to be an influencer? I am interested in influencing people to purchase fuel from the only entity that provides it.