Minister for Transport Aaron Farrugia defended the decision of issuing over €430,000 in direct orders related to the Malta Metro, saying that the government simply makes decisions according to the situation.

The Malta Independent reported on Tuesday that the Labour Party’s political events stage supplier, The Events Company (TEC Ltd), was the beneficiary of a total worth of €434,492.04 in direct orders issued by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects in November 2021, then led by previous Transport Minister Ian Borg.

There was no clear indication as to what the direct orders were awarded for, simply listed as being for the “Malta Metro”.

Asked about this, Farrugia said that the country needed to hold this important event – referring to the press conference event which announced the Malta Metro – and that the “services were needed in a short amount of time.”

Farrugia said that it is a question of timing, as the government issues direct orders when there is an event which needs to happen in a short amount of time.

Asked once again to disclose the task for which the direct orders were awarded for, Farrugia deflected the question, saying that the government makes decisions according to the situation that arises.

TEC Ltd was the beneficiary of 21 separate direct orders, all awarded on 8 November 2021, except for one whic

Nationalist Party statement

The Nationalist Party said that these direct orders raise many questions.

It asked if Minister Ian Borg can say which version is correct? "Is it the €77,000 he said in Parliament or the €424,000 in the government gazette?

The PN asked whether Minister Aaron Farrugia and Finance Minister Clyde Caruana knew about these direct orders? "If yes, why didn't they speak up? If not, what will they do about them?"

Lastly, the PN asked: "who does the Prime Minister believe, Ian Borg or the government gazette?"

The PN statement was signed by MP Adrian Delia.