Head of CHOGM Taskforce Phyllis Muscat is still on the State payroll, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who is attending Commonwealth week in London, confirmed to The Malta Independent.

This newsroom had filed a Freedom of Information request late last year, and asked about Persons of Trust in all ministries, entities, departments etc falling under government. In that reply, this newsroom was told, with regard to the International Conferences 2015 Unit – “Staff kept on board this Unit are meant to wrap up administrative matters of the EU/Africa Summit and CHOGM and that contracts expire by end of (last) year”.

This knowledge raised alarm bells once Mrs Phyllis Muscat was spotted here in London at Westminister Abbey, at the opening service for Commonwealth week.

Dr Muscat was asked about this and he said – “There was an extension until the end of this month so the audit and accounts can conclude. This will be the last month she will hold this post”.

Dr Muscat, while speaking to the Maltese media representatives, said that inclusiveness is extremely important for Malta as the Chair in Office, especially with so many different countries with diverse and complex situations. He mentioned LGBTIQ communities, and said that Malta’s job is not only to speak on inclusiveness at high level, but also delve into these issues, understand the realities in other countries and understand the leadership role Malta  should play in this, by showing that these are subjects that should be discussed and not be taboo.

He said Malta’s representative in this commemoration is a girl (Sara Ezabe) coming from a religious minority in Malta raising awareness in social media. “We should be proud and it is a testament to what we stand for”.

Asked about Malta’s Commonwealth Presidency and Malta’s agenda, he said that through collaboration with Patricia Scotland (the next Secretary General of the Commonwealth) Malta will work on these issues, which up until now seem to be cast aside in order for the Commonwealth not to create controversy. “I believe we should speak more about these issues”. He said that since CHOGM was held in Malta, he received a number of emails from LGBTIQ organisations across the commonwealth highlighting problems they face.

The Prime Minister’s delegation is comprised of the Prime Minister, his wife Michelle Muscat, Malta High Commissioner for London Norman Hamilton, his wife Josette Hamilton, OPM Deputy Chief of Staff Mark Farrugia, Head of Taskforce CHOGM Phyllis Muscat, Deputy Communications Head Matthew Carbone, Head of Government Marketing OPM Johann Grech and Jennifer Xuereb representing the Marigold Foundation.

During the service, the Prime Minister read a passage from the bible, Romans 12: 9-18.

 
Her Majesty was joined by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of York, and Prince Henry of Wales. The Commonwealth Service was the first major ceremonial event for Her Majesty in her 90th birthday year.

Guests of honour included UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Malta and new Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, Dr Joseph Muscat, diplomats, High Commissioners, and faith leaders. Highlights of the Service included a principal reflection from former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and a performance from singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. The Service was also attended by almost 1,000 school children from across the UK.

The theme of this year’s Commonwealth service is ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’ and was broadcast live on BBC One for the first time.

Spanning five continents, the Commonwealth is made up of the world’s largest and smallest, richest and poorest countries, and is home to 2.4 billion people 60% of which are under 30 years of age. With a population of 1.25 billion, India is the largest country in the Commonwealth, while Tuvalu is the smallest with a population of around 10,000.

“Although not a trading bloc, trade and investment within the Commonwealth are thriving,” a statement by the Royal Commonwealth Society read.

In 2013, intra-Commonwealth trade was estimated to be $592 billion and projections suggest this will surpass $1 trillion by 2020. Several factors unique to the Commonwealth may account for this, including historical links, shared values, common language and rule of law.  

Kofi Annan said that, as a Ghanaian he felt very much part of the Commonwealth family: “It has never been more important for the Commonwealth to stress the bonds of human compassion and solidarity that unite us across the divides of race and religion, gender and geography.”

Lord Howell, President of the Royal Commonwealth Society and Chairman of the Council of Commonwealth Societies said: “The Service at Westminster Abbey not only brings the great Commonwealth family together but gives us a glimpse of a future in which the Commonwealth network of nations and peoples, young and old, will be an increasing source of strength and reassurance to us all in an unsettled and uncertain world.”

Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE, representing the Sikh community at the Service said: “As a Sikh, brought up in the belief that, despite superficial differences of religion and culture, we are all members of the same human family, it is heartening to see this ethos becoming central to the working of the Commonwealth.”

 

Dr Muscat attended a reception later on in the day at Marlborough House and also hold a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron.