Culture Minister Owen Bonnici has not answered questions sent by The Malta Independent relating to V18 Chairman Jason Micallef, and the recent international criticism he has received.

Recently, a group of international writers from PEN slammed Jason Micallef, the face and Chairman of V18, in an open letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude  Juncker, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Director of Creative Europe Michel Magnier. They wrote “to express our profound concern with developments in Malta in the context of the investigation into her assassination, and in particular regarding the behaviour of the management of Valletta 2018, the European Capital of Culture.”

The group noted that the Maltese authorities have not attempted to protect the Daphne Caruana Galizia memorial. “In particular, we are outraged by the comments of Jason Micallef, Chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, and as such the Capital of Culture’s official representative in Malta. Since her assassination, Micallef has repeatedly and publicly attacked and ridiculed Daphne Caruana Galizia on social media, ordered the removal of banners calling for justice for her death and called for her temporary memorial to be cleared. This is far from appropriate behaviour for an official designated to represent the European Capital of Culture, and in fact serves to further the interests of those trying to prevent an effective and impartial investigation into Caruana Galizia’s death.”

This newsroom asked Minister Bonnici whether he believes Micallef, as the face of V18, should have spoken out the way he did regarding the Daphne Caruana Galizia memorial, and the banners being placed by activists. He was also asked for his reaction to the letter sent by PEN.

He was also asked whether he agrees with the statements Micallef has been making, whether he is concerned with the negative international image being brought about as a result, and whether Micallef’s position is still tenable.

This newsroom sent reminders, and included one with a link to a statement by 72 MEPs who made reference to PEN’s writings. The MEPs said: “It has been noted that merely hours after this PEN letter was published, Jason Micallef proceeded to continue with his outbursts on social media and ordered banners organised by Maltese civil society calling for justice to be removed. We strongly condemn these undignified and unacceptable actions and call on the European Commission to demand Mr Micallef be immediately removed from the post of Chairman of Valletta 2018 Capital of Culture”.

Minister Bonnici has not responded to the questions sent on 16 April.

A set of questions were also sent to Jason Micallef, asking him whether he believes the V18 Chairman should be a unifying figure, whether he is concerned about the negative foreign impact by his statements, and whether he will be stepping down. No answers were received.