The government has not confirmed or denied that it would seek an amendment to the law so that the new LGA chief can be given an executive role.

Last Sunday, this newspaper reported that Joe Cuschieri, formerly of Vodafone and the Malta Communications Authority, would be appointed chairman of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority. Mr Cuschieri was expected to meet LGA employees last Tuesday, but this was delayed to next week. Mr Cuschieri has vast experience in the telecommunications sector and has been described as a “doer”. He is Foreign Minister George Vella’s son-in-law.

Informed sources told this paper that Mr Cuschieri could be made Executive Chairman of the LGA, and because the LGA currently has a chairman and a CEO, the law regulating the authority would have to be changed to accommodate the new role.

Replying to questions sent by The Malta Independent on Sunday, a spokesperson for Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis said that the decision on Mr Cuschieri’s designation and a change in the law would be taken in the coming days.

Other decisions that are still to be taken include the salary that Mr Cuschieri will have. The current chairman, Mario Galea, who is expected to step down shortly, had a salary of €13,000 a year. His predecessor, Nick Xuereb, currently Chief Financial Officer of Air Malta, was paid €14,700 per year.

Former CEO Reuben Portanier, who resigned from his post on Monday, was paid €81,500 per year, not including benefits, and a performance bonus. The benefits included the use of an LGA car with fuel allowance, and a mobile phone allowance.

According to the Dr Zammit Lewis’ spokesman, Mr Portanier had expressed his intention to resign and stepped down following an amicable agreement. “Further details are confidential.”

Informed sources explained that if Mr Cuschieri is given the role of Executive Chairman, then he would probably be entitled to both a chairman’s and CEO’s salary. The total sum would be around €94,000. But according to the Parliamentary Secretariat, “the relevant decision about this will be taken in the coming days”.

Joe Cuschieri left his job at Vodafone in May of this year, and is no longer employed with the telecommunications company, as reported last Sunday.

Godwin Borg, meanwhile, contacted The Malta Independent on Sunday and produced documents which show that he was never a member of the Special Mobile Unit (SMU). Mr Borg categorically denied that he was ever a canvasser for Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici; however Dr Bonnici was Mr Borg’s lawyer. He also stated, contrary to what sources had told The Malta Independent on Sunday, that it was not true that he had deleted his Facebook account after the Las Vegas expo story was published. His Facebook profile is, in fact, still online, but he rarely logs in. He also insisted that, as an LGA inspector, he had learnt a lot of relevant information at the Vegas expo.