The Home Affairs Ministry told The Malta Independent online today that two of its officials, Ramona Attard and Clint Cutajar, “were appointed by Minister Manuel Mallia as persons of trust to form part of the interviews tied to the selection of Armed Forces of Malta candidates” leading to the promotion of four army Majors to Lieutenant Colonels.

The ministry argued that three years ago two persons of trust were appointed by the minister responsible for the portfolio (who at the time was the prime minister himself) and this time around was no exception especially after the ministry took into consideration a series of complaints from army officers over the composition of the Board. According to the ministry, the AFM Injustices Board had received a number of complaints from army officers over the board’s composition.

“The Ministry felt that a strong presence of military officials on the Board could have given rise to a conflict of interest and therefore appointed two persons of trust so that the board doesn’t just comprise of army officials.

This admission comes in the light of the Opposition’s claims that two ministry officials participated in the interviews while the selection process took place at the ministry itself, as revealed in the Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday.

On Friday evening, the Government Gazette announced that the four majors had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel – Major Jeffrey Curmi, Major Mark Mallia, Major Pierre Vassallo and Major Mark Said.

The Opposition also claimed that the promotions were a foregone conclusion.

The selection board comprised entirely of civilians and Brigadier Martin Xuereb but according to shadow minister for Home Affairs Jason Azzopardi, the composition of the selection board violated Public Service Commission regulations, which prohibit members of ministers’ secretariats from forming part of such selection boards.

However, the ministry said yesterday that there was nothing untoward with the way the interviews were carried out.

The ministry also said that the composition of the board is exactly the same as it was three years ago, i.e. the permanent secretary, the director general responsible for the security directorate, the commander of the AFM and the two persons appointed by the minister responsible for the portfolio.

“The board which recommends promotions to the minister is known as the SRAAC,” the ministry was quoted as saying in yesterday’s edition of the Malta Independent on Sunday.

Contacted today and asked to verify whether the Opposition’s claims that two ministry officials sat on the board, a ministry spokesperson said that three years ago, the SRAAC board was composed for the first time by the Principal Permanent Secretary, the Commander of the AFM, the Deputy Commander and the Director of Defence.

“Besides these, the Prime Minister had appointed another two persons of trust, Paul Miruzzi (who was his personal consultant) and Martin Bondin,” the spokesperson said.

The Ministry further stated that it considered the complaints over the past boards composition and reacted accordingly.

“In the recent senior rank appointments, the members of the Board assessed the interviews according to established criteria as recommended by the Defence Board.

“Such criteria included seniority, experience and communication skills.

“In accordance with the law, besides the ex-officio members, that is the Permanent Secretary, the Director General of Defence and the Commander of the army (who is the same commander appointed under the previous administration and sat on the previous SRAAC board), the persons of trust appointed by the Minister are Ramona Attard and Clint Cutajar,” the ministry confirmed.

However, sources who spoke with The Malta Independent on Sunday said that Brigadier Xuereb had a minimal role in the selection process, and that the civilians on the board were apparently more interested in their smartphones than the content of the interviews, insinuating that the choice for promotions had been a foregone conclusion. It is also understood that the only question the Brigadier posed was related to search and rescue operations.

Dr Azzopardi yesterday claimed that the AFM appointments “are nothing short of a take-over of the army by the Labour Party”.

“The AFM has only one aim now: to safeguard the interests of Labour and not the interests of the nation,” he said.

He explained that up until March this year, for a major to be eligible for a promotion to lieutenant colonel, he had to have served a minimum three years in the position of major. But according to Dr Azzopardi, that requisite has now been reduced to one year.

He said that the goal posts were moved specifically so that Labour people could be promoted to top positions.

Contacted for a comment on the latest developments, Dr Azzopardi said: “Three years ago, the persons appointed by the minister responsible to form part of the selection board were AFM personnel.

Dr Azzopardi questioned what expertise the ministry officials appointed by the minister this time around had in the field, referring to Ms Attard, who is the communications officer of the ministry and Mr Cutajar, who according to Dr Azzopardi, is the ministry’s customer care agent.