Answers were in short supply as to why the Civil Protection Department (CPD) employed two men with criminal convictions and moved the goalposts for the maximum age of recruits.
This week, PN Deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami claimed that the latest CPD recruitment was tailored to accommodate people close to the Labour Party, and two men convicted for fraud were employed.
Dr Fenech Adami said that known Labourites were advised to undergo a bogus period of volunteering with the CPD so that they would be favoured when the call for applications was issued.
Dr Fenech Adami got it wrong on a few counts, as at least two of the people he mentioned in Parliament had been volunteering with the CPD for a number of years.
The Malta Independent asked the Home Affairs Ministry why the CPD employed two convicted criminals, and whether this practice was used in the past under the previous administration.
We also asked why the maximum age of recruits was raised from 50 to 55, and whether all new recruits went through a physical examination.
The questions were originally directed to CPD head John Rizzo, but Mr Rizzo was instructed by the Home Affairs communications coordinator Abigail Cremona to redirect our questions to her.
The reply eventually received by The Malta Independent is as follows:
“Within the past fifteen years, previous administrations made no investments at all in both human and physical resources in the Civil Protection Department. This was noted by the Head of Civil Protection Department John Rizzo in August 2013 at the inauguration of ten new vehicles for this department. In that occasion Mr. Rizzo said that this department has been forgotten for a number of years.
“This investment in human resources has strengthened the force with the highest number of members, a total of 180 Assistant Rescue Officers, further enhancing the emergency response service offered to the Maltese citiziens.
“All recruitments, including those individuals mentioned by the Opposition spokesman followed the standard procedures of the Public Service Commission, which is an independent constitutional body established as per Article 109 of the Maltese Constitution.
“It is worth noting that Natalino Spiteri never joined the Civil Protection Department.”
The Malta Independent asked the Ministry for answers to the specific questions put to it, but out request was ignored.