The Standards Commissioner has issued a report about the Gozo works allegations.

Independent politician Arnold Cassola had requested the Standards Commissioner to open an investigation on a number of issues. The first alleged that that Camilleri commissioned works in a Natura 2000 site without acquiring the necessary permits from the Planning Authority. The second accusation was that Camilleri lied when his Ministry said that the measures were necessary as emergency works for touristic means, when "in fact he commissioned the works to service kiosk owners." The third was that the ministry appointed the architect by direct order and the fourth was that the architect was a Labour Party official.

The Standards Commissioner said that The Planning Authority said that the indicated works did not need permission as it considers the works of service culverts not to need planning permission. He also noted that the Commissioner for Environment and Planning within the Ombudsman's office had ruled othat the roadwork which took place between February and March on Comino are illegal.

The contrast between the two, The Standards Commissioner said, puts his office in "a difficult situation as this office does not have the technical competence in this regard, and would have to rest on the technical opinions of experts.

"Because the Planning Authority gave its stamp of approval for the works, there is nothing to add, except to comment that it is strange how the environment in question were for hundreds of years in the state they were in (without the services that were included in the works in question), and that there never was the need for added services. This office does not have jurisdiction over the authority in question, and that is why all it can do is show solidarity with the Office of the Ombudsman and its conclusions."

As for the allegations that the works were done to facilitate persons managing commercial operations on Comino, the Commissioner said that it did not result from anywhere, neither in the Ombudsman's report (as it wasn't in his remit) that the works occurred to facilitate the aforementioned people, and one cannot conclude that this was the reason for them. Suspicion is not enough for one to find guilt, as there must be evidence to convince those who decide."

As for the architect directly appointed by the ministry, that according to technical conclusions the work was of an urgent nature, "there was no need for a tender that could have cause delays that would prejudice the works." the Commissioner noted that since the PA employed the architect through a direct order was jusitified, and since no doubt was thrown over the architect's qualifications or competence, this office does not see a basis to investigate his appointment."

The Commissioner concluded that his investigation will stop here. "This document represents the decision that no ulterior investigation will take place, and is not a report about the outcome of an investigation."  

In reaction, Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said that the Commissioner decided that the complaint against him should not be investigated after analysing the facts. He said, among other things, that it is "crucial that this office not be used in an unjust and abusive way by those who are filling this office with lies and reports which have no basis." The minister said: “I cannot understand how who complains is neither obliged to present evidence, or testify to substantiate the accusations and is much less obligated to pay for the expenses of the process if the accusations are found to be untrue as happens in court. We are ending in a ridiculous situation of reports being filed carelessly without any consequence on those who file in a frivolous way or with a malignant political purpose.”

Meanwhile, Cassola said: "The Standards Commissioner has expressed his solidarity with the Ombudsman, who had declared that the works ordered in Comino by Clint Camilleri were not covered by the required permits and had therefore issued an immediate stop order to the works, recommended the issuing of fines and ordered the reverting of the sensitive site to its original state. However, the Planning Authority had stated that no permit was needed for the sensitive works in Comino. The Standards Commisioner declares that the contrasting opinion between Ombudsman and Planning Authority puts him in a difficult position, once he has no technical competence to delve deeper into the matter. The Standards Commissioner has therefore decided to discontinue the investigation."