It is shameful that the Contracts Appeal Board has not even set a date for hearing the contract award case to companies that offer training and education to the students chosen to follow information and communication technology courses at the Malta College for Arts Science and Technology.

A statement issued by Labour Party spokesperson for Education, Evarist Bartolo, explained that some 600 students were supposed to have started their courses weeks ago at the beginning of the scholastic year but the Board of Appeal had not yet heard the case. The longer the board took to hear the case, the more the students will lose. Thus, the board should urgently hold this hearing so as to stop losing precious time.

Three weeks ago, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that this was my fault because I had called for an investigation into abuse that took place by the exchange of markings in the award of contract in favour of companies that should have been disqualified for making false declarations that they were equipped to provide the training and education when they were not.

“If things had been carried out properly, I would have called for no investigation,” Mr Bartolo said.

Moreover, the investigation I had called does not hold the course from starting because the Police have finalised their work. The work of the Police and the appeal before the Contracts Appeal board were two different procedures and it was this board which was holding everything back.