Culture Minister Owen Bonnici and Festivals Malta Chairman Aaron Zahra are facing significant pressure to take action against CEO Francis Agius amid allegations that he issued a tailored vacancy to promote his daughter, Caroline.
Officials at the government agency responsible for organising national celebrations and festivals revealed to The Shift that Agius recruited his daughter a few years ago while he was already a director there.
Staff members, who requested anonymity, reported that many employees have informed both the minister and the chairman about this troubling development but feel their concerns have been ignored.
“This is nepotism at its worst. It’s not just about politics, as all employees at our agency are PL supporters. It’s about discrimination and turning a government agency into a fiefdom for the CEO and his daughter, with the blessing of the minister and the chairman,” an internal source said.
Agius was appointed CEO in June 2023 following a fallout among his predecessor, Annabel Stivala, and the minister and Zahra. He has been with the agency for many years. While serving as director, he facilitated his daughter’s selection as a full-time employee.
Recently, Agius issued an internal call to fill a new Senior Official and Marketing Manager position. The announcement stated that the CEO would be able to choose the selection board. Only two officials applied for the position, one of whom was the CEO’s daughter.
Former Festivals Malta CEO Annabelle Stivala and Chairman Aaron Zahra.
Culture Minister Owen Bonnici did not respond when asked to confirm the current issue and clarify why he has not initiated an investigation into the serious allegations of nepotism. The chairman also ignored questions.
Francis Agius has also remained silent despite multiple requests from The Shift to explain his actions.
Festivals Malta was previously run by Labour activist Norman Hamilton. The National Audit Office (NAO) described it as managed like a rural village club, with no established procedures, no compliance with rules, and disregard for public procurement laws.
Following Robert Abela’s rise to power, Hamilton was dismissed, and the prime minister’s events manager was appointed. Aaron Zahra was awarded two roles and two financial packages.
In 2023, Annabel Stivala, a staunch Labour supporter and canvasser for Owen Bonnici from Zejtun, stepped down after conflicts with Zahra.
According to her colleagues, she did not want to be involved in directives issued by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Zahra regarding who should receive direct orders and tenders. Stivala has never publicly explained her sudden departure.
“This is nepotism at its worst. It’s not just about politics, as all employees at our agency are PL supporters.” – if this is’nt the most ironic statement of the year, then what is?
What are the qualifications of the CEO and his daughter?
None needed and the minister of everything is clueless
Malta is corrupt, end of story!
As it always was especially during the Nationalist Administration
At this point in history, I can safely claim that PL have turned corruption into a national policy, widespread from top to bottom of our undisciplined society.
How on earth can Owen take action for nepotism against anybody, when he has a history of promoting his own girlfriends well beyond their competence?
So it’s OK that the employees are all labour supporters and not employed as they are the best candidates then moan when another grifter gets promoted because of her daddy? You couldn’t make this up?
“It is not just about politics, as all employees at our Agency are PL supporters”
Thank heavens for that – it is so good to know it!!
People like me who know Mr Agius and have worked for a period of time under his management know what a respectable gentleman he really is and this article is only intended to throw mud at a good hard worker. Shame on you!
If he is a good gentleman is good to hear but if he is using his ways to give his daughter this job , I think he is making corruption. I am a common person and nobody helps me to get something.
Little wonder! Almost all Government entities are staffed at the top, and not only, by Labour Party henchmen whose only qualification is blind allegiance to the Labour Party and managing in truly Fascist style, or worse!
That’s a bit of tongue in cheek when whoever reported the issue says they’re all lejber supporters 😂😂
Did any of those complaining even apply for the job or were hand picked??
Ma jisthix ukoll. Jaqq x’poplu da.
Dak thanzir fuq neputizmu.
Cannot describe this . Its just sick!
It’s clear that none of you has had to spend 30 years working under Nationalist administrations. The Service was rife with such cases, and, even worse. Stupid employees were appointed by stupid political puppets to high positions of which they then made a mess of it. But no problem. They waved blue flags at PN mass meetings, and this was enough.
If it was wrong then it is still wrong now right ? Though I remember that certain key positions after the reconciliation were given to Pl supporters who were in that position for some time and were left there with the thought that these people would be thankful that their job was secure cand would draw them to PN . This worked against the PN as some took advantage and placed stumble blocks on the way
Jinbiddlu l gvernijiet, jinbiddlu l ministri u dejjem l istess. Min Jithanzer l iktar .
So now it s OK if a government agency/authority/entity employs only Labour supporters, as stated clearly in this article??? This statement alone should provoke an investigation, but Abela s new rules will make this very difficult now. No wonder our youths are leaving this God forsaken country.