Stakeholders react to Clayton Bartolo scandal: Calls for accountability and ethical reform

Last week, Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri were found to be in breach of ethics, and now, business lobbies are sharing their reactions.

Amanda Muscat, Mr Bartolo’s wife, who initially worked as Mr Bartolo’s secretary, was appointed as a policy consultant in his ministry on a €62,000 annual salary.

She was later transferred to Mr Camilleri’s ministry, where her salary increased.

Standards Commissioner Joseph Azzopardi in his report concluded that Ms Muscat did not carry out consultancy work and mainly continued her role as Mr Bartolo’s private secretary, albeit with significantly higher consultant-level pay, even while she was officially listed as an employee under Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.

The investigation also revealed that Ms Muscat lacked the necessary qualifications for the consultant role.

“It can no longer be allowed to persist“

The Malta Employers’ Association (MEA) expressed significant discontent with Prime Minister Robert Abela’s acceptance of Mr Bartolo’s apology, labelling it a “slap in the face” to principles of governance and accountability.

Referencing the similar scandal involving former Education Minister Justyne Caruana, the MEA highlighted the concerning pattern of influential figures sidestepping regulations without repercussion.

The association pointed out that such instances contribute to the proliferation of non-productive roles in the public sector, exacerbating employee shortages in private enterprises that increasingly rely on foreign workers.

MEA reiterated that public officials and civil servants should serve the public interest, not use their authority to allocate lucrative Government roles arbitrarily.

“There are too many examples of such jobs being awarded to those who seek political favouritism,” the MEA stressed.

They noted the frustration among diligent employees who witness a select few securing excessive salaries for minimal contributions. This, the association stated, erodes the national work ethic and undermines the motivation of both honest workers and entrepreneurs.

The MEA concluded that if the Prime Minister is genuinely committed to upholding good governance, decisive action must be taken to convey that such misconduct is unacceptable in a “serious country like Malta.”

“Leniency should not be the order of the day“

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry shared similar concerns, describing a growing culture of leniency and disregard for ethical standards that jeopardises meritocracy and transparency, “that are essential for good governance.”

Also drawing comparisons to Dr Caruana’s scandal, the Chamber underscored the necessity for unwavering adherence to ethical codes in public office.

Regarding the Mr Bartolo case, they highlighted that while the Minister claimed compliance with the Manual of Resourcing Policies and Procedures, this technical conformity exposed a troubling gap in the ethical framework.

“The verbatim interpretation of the Ministerial Code of Ethics by the current Standards Commissioner did not account for personal relationships outside of marriage, thereby overlooking the spirit in which these guidelines were created,” the Chamber remarked.

The Chamber strongly advocated for ethical governance, which prioritises transparency and qualifications over personal relationships.

The acceptance of Mr Bartolo’s apology as a sufficient resolution by Prime Minister Robert Abela only heightened their concerns. They argued that leniency in addressing breaches of trust undermines public confidence in governance and weakens the values of meritocracy and fairness.

Highlighting standards in the private sector, the Chamber noted that high-ranking executives are held to strict accountability where an apology alone is insufficient for ethical misconduct. “The same, if not higher, standards should apply to those in public office,” they insisted.

Recalling their 2022 document, “A Strong Transparency, Accountability and Ethical Governance Framework for Members of Parliament,” the Chamber emphasised the need for rigorous measures to combat nepotism, favouritism, and abuse of power.

“Regulations should serve as ethical guidelines rather than to provide loopholes to justify improper behaviour. Governance frameworks must be robust enough to hold public officials fully accountable and to deter abuse of power,” they asserted.

The Chamber urged that all public contracts and appointments be grounded in merit, qualifications, and genuine dedication to public service to uphold the credibility of public institutions and ensure taxpayers’ money is used responsibly.

“We call on the Government to take immediate, meaningful action to reinforce the ethical standards governing ministerial conduct,” the Chamber concluded, “to restore trust in public institutions and demonstrate a true commitment to transparency, meritocracy, and ethical governance.”