The Nationalist Party (PN) is calling for the Minister responsible for the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) to take the necessary action against any people who knew about the sexual harassment case within the MPO, but stood by and did nothing.

The orchestra falls under the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.

A 31-year-old Gozitan man, a senior official at the MPO, admitted to the charges of sexually harassing a young woman by subjecting her to an unsolicited act of physical intimacy, subjecting her to unwanted sexual behaviour and misuse of telecommunications equipment, in court last Friday. On Monday he was suspended from the MPO. Sources close to the orchestra had informed this newsroom that an independent disciplinary board has now been set up and will start functioning once the official appeal period for the court case lapses.

The party said that after it became known that, allegedly, the Chief Executive of the MPO knew about this sexual accusations but didn't take action, the PN expressed its disappointment that nobody has carried responsibility.

The PN said it expected that the management on their own initiative, or the minister responsible for the MPO, would investigate and taken the necessary steps against anybody who knew about the situation but failed to take action over it.

"It is truly disgraceful that the culture of impunity continues to reign because the Government or people close to it continue to cover for each other, even in cases of a serious nature," the PN said.

The PN said that it condemns any form of sexual harassment, and it encouraged people to make use of all existing structures provided by the law if they are a victim of sexual harassment.

Ministry replies

The Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government said in a reactionary statement that after the accused admitted to his crimes he was suspended with half pay and that any appeal shall be heard by a disciplinary board external to the MPO.

 

The Ministry also said that after the accused was suspended, instructions were given to set up an external board which will study all the circumstances of the sexual harassment case and make recommendations to prevent this from happening again.