Busuttil says government attacking him with incorrect information in ‘classic set-up’

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday accused the government of committing a “frame-up” where it used ‘incorrect’ information to attack him.

Dr Busuttil was reacting after Speaker Anglu Farrugia ruled, at the request of the Opposition, on information tabled in Parliament by Minister Helena Dalli, related to contracts related to the Malta Information Centre (MIC), which was headed by Dr Busuttil.

The Opposition claimed that the minister had provided incorrect information but the Speaker said he could not go into the matter and said the Opposition Leader could file a new PQ and ask for a clarification.

Dr Busuttil said he had asked the minister to confirm the information she tabled. The minister said he had awarded the contracts when in fact they had been awarded by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Dr Dalli was not present but Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella, who was, could answer the question, Dr Busuttil said.

Replying, Dr Vella said it appears that the MIC fell under the responsibility of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the MIC’s budget was allocated by the same ministry. He noted that the contracts had been signed by the former Permanent Secretary, who was responsible for administrating the budget. However the nominations were made by Dr Busuttil. The Opposition Leader, he said, could not say he was not involved simply because he was not the one who had signed off on the contracts.

Dr Busuttil said the consultancies were not awarded by him or by the MIC. He said this was a serious matter and that the government had used the ‘incorrect’ information to attack him.

The Opposition Leader was asked by the Speaker to conclude but Dr Busuttil insisted that he had to speak out, saying this was a “classic set up” where the government asked a question, answered it incorrectly and then used that incorrect information to attack the Opposition Leader. “This is a frame-up.”

He also said the PQ clearly showed that all the positions had been advertised in the papers.