A legal notice authorising for the first time ever the holding of wedding receptions at the historical Cittadella ditch in Gozo was published in the Government Gazette just 24 hours before the wedding of the daughter of a top civil servant.
On 14 June, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici published Legal Notice 135 of 2024, authorising the holding of weddings at the Cittadella ditch under the Cultural Heritage Act in what is being described as a blatant case of abuse and nepotism.
Until then, wedding receptions in the area were prohibited.
A day later, on 15 June, Larissa Dimech, now Attard, the daughter of Permanent Secretary Joyce Dimech, held her wedding reception at the Cittadella grounds.
Hundreds of friends, including Ministers Owen Bonnici, Anton Refalo and Byron Camilleri, attended the wedding.
Permanent Secretary Joyce Dimech with Minister Owen Bonnici.
While the legal notice seems to have been issued in a last-minute attempt to legalise the event, policy officials have told The Shift that holding the wedding a day after its publication was still a violation of the rules.
According to the legal notice published by Minister Bonnici, the Permanent Secretary’s daughter had to file an application with the Cultural Heritage Directorate at the Gozo Ministry at least four weeks before the event and pay €5,000 for the occasion.
The legal notice also stipulates that the directorate must have a written policy and a specific application form.
None of these were available on time for the wedding of Dimech’s daughter.
“It is obvious that Dimech abused her position. A wedding is planned many months, if not years, ahead, including its location. Dimech wanted to organise her daughter’s wedding at the Cittadella even though this was prohibited. The legal notice was issued a day before her daughter’s wedding as a face-saving measure,” a senior ministry official and colleague of Dimech told The Shift.
The Shift was also informed that Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri was not invited to the wedding and that his directorate did not issue the necessary authorisation on time. Still, the wedding went ahead.
Minister Owen Bonnici and Permanent Secretary Joyce Dimech did not reply to questions sent.
The Shift also asked Dimech for the government receipt showing the €5,000 fee to use the ditch for her daughter’s wedding had been paid. So far, Dimech has not presented the document.
Joyce Dimech has acquired quite a colourful history during the past ten years since her elevation to Permanent Secretary in 2013, a few days after the Labour Party was swept to power.
A Gozitan from Victoria, Dimech was made former Gozo Minister Anton Refalo’s first Permanent Secretary. She was later transferred to other ministries, mostly serving under Owen Bonnici.
Known for her rubber stamping of ministerial orders, Dimech was also involved in the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra scandal, when she was accused of looking the other way when reports of sexual abuse at the government agency landed on her desk.
Dimech also refrained from taking disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Arts Council, Albert Marshall, despite a blatant breach of his engagement contract.
Owen Bonnici, the one who ran away ?
A legal notice to legalise an illegality.
As far as it is known in the law, an illegality cannot be permitted by a legal notice.
At this stage , a legal notice can legalise what? A hit and run?
Now we must make sure that Legal Notice 135 of 2024 is cancelled – by another one issued by the same Hon. Minister – to ensure that occasions like these can never happen again. Possibly, of course.
Mafia Headquarters in action. Rules and edicts as and when required. Omerta is the Order of the day.
Even the law has become their personal property; used to enable friends’ weddings. Nothing is sacred anymore. The ideal qualification for an LP permanent secretary: looks the other way.
How come antons name always comes up when someone gets caught rent seeking from Gozo?
These people really know how to scrape the bottom of the barrel when it comes to nepotism and corruption!!
ISTHU jekk tafu kif!!
Ma tistħix din, ma tmurx l Awstralja għax il Gvern tagħha jaqdiha Mill koxxa.
This LEGAL NOTICE practice MUST BE STOPPED .
It is nothing but a loophole used by the corrupt and the incompetents.
The MLP pigs can do what they like- until they are booted out of office- which won’t be long now.
While wishing the newlyweds a long and happy life, what is it with these type of people who want to try and make an impact with their special wedding venues? Just remember that a marriage is not the wedding but the input that the couple is ready to make throughout their life together.
Sick how even laws are changed to do their things, seems like they own Malta and Gozo.. and they behave accordingly
Were the Euro 5000 paid?
It is pertinent to investigate the following matters concerning Ms. Joyce Dimech;
1. Whether her son who was arrested in possesion of drugs was eventually prosecuted 2013/14,
2. Whether she was involved in any manner in the case of her son in law who was a police officer who was certified by a medical board not fit for police duties and he is now working in his carpentry company;
3. Who authorised her to purchase/lease her BMW when lack of funds are on board in the departments under her remit.
A thorough criminal investigation shall take place and either PM or PPS should suspend her pending investigations!
Zarma Abela
VERU PARTIT IMFARRAK FIL MIFTUH biex lil CLINT CAMILLERI ma KIENX MISTIEDEN.
Refalo milli JIDHER IHOBBA HAFNA LI JOYCE HUXXXX?
Dawn il QABDA MAFJUZI ma ghandhom ISTHIJA TA XEJN.
PAJJIZI GHAMLUH TAGHOM.
TOTO RINA STYLE OMERTA SHIHA
Another day and yet another story of corruption, this Government knows no limits as to how low it will stoop, time a vote of no confidence was called for and get rid of these people with a general election, which , this time, the PL WILL lose.
We are a monarchy, not a republic. This is how monarchs behave.
Not even monarchs nowadays.