Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Clifton Grima faced stinging criticism from the Opposition bench after it was revealed in a parliamentary question that he had issued two direct orders amounting to roughly €5 million.

The list of direct orders was requested by PN MP Jason Azzopardi.

The two direct orders were issued by SportMalta; the first was the negotiated procedure for the supply and installation of a Shotnet system at the Shooting Range at Ta’ Kandja (€2,360,000) ; the second involved the negotiated procedure for the construction of the give metre backstop at Ta’ Kandja Shooting Range (€2,371,534).

During the debate, PN Leader Adrian Delia insisted that this was in breach of regulations given that payments that exceeded €120,000 needed to be awarded according to an established tendering procedure.

MP Edward Zammit Lewis then said that this could be allowed should the request satisfy certain criteria. However, Delia was insistent that a valid reason had to provided, and that Grima was yet to provide a sufficient answer.