PN MP and spokesperson for Culture, Art and National Heritage Julie Zahra said that it is “about time” Parliament held discussions to stipulate a definite timeframe in which ministers must answer parliamentary questions.

There are a multitude of parliamentary questions Zahra has made to Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo, pressing him to disclose details regarding the expenses incurred by the country to host the taxpayer-funded Mediterrane Film Festival 2022.

Zahra has been seeking information on the controversial festival since July 2023. However, Bartolo has consistently responded that the information will be provided in subsequent meetings.

The PN MP has been asking separate parliamentary questions, including the provision of a detailed breakdown of the total costs relating to the event, and the total number of bookings per screening shown during the festival.

Zahra had requested Bartolo to include a comprehensive list of names for each individual invited by either the Maltese Film Commission or the Ministry, as well as all the expenses covered by public funds, encompassing travel, lodging, transportation, meals, beverages and any other associated expenses for each invitee.

She had also been seeking answers on the Gala Awards, requesting another cost breakdown. Moreover she also asked for the list of foreign journalists invited to cover the event.

Bartolo was also asked to say whether foreign journalists were paid to cover the festival, as well as a breakdown of the costs relating to the event’s marketing campaign.

Additionally, Zahra also asked about the Golden Bee Awards and the luxury boat trip, where a number of VIPs were taken to Manoel Island for a gala night related to the film festival.

She had asked for a breakdown of costs in relation to the trip, including a list of celebrities on board, who owned the boat, the costs of the pontoon which was built specifically for the event, and who paid for the pontoon.

Last week, one of her parliamentary questions made to Bartolo was answered, but this was only after a two-year legal battle, with a judge ordering the Malta Film Commission to say how much it paid British comedian David Walliams to host the Malta Film Awards.

It was revealed that Walliams was paid a total of €120,000 to host the show, which Minister Bartolo justified as a "marketing" strategy, emphasising that Walliams was included as part of a “wide marketing package” to promote the Maltese film industry on a global scale.

In comments to The Malta Independent on Sunday, Zahra said that at least two of the parliamentary questions she made have remained unanswered “for 15 times”.

On the festival costs, Zahra said that “we’re talking about millions, and the public in general has a right to know”, adding that the public acknowledges that the costs seem to be excessive.

Zahra questioned why Bartolo is being “allowed” to spend such amounts of money, which is “too much, and there is no transparency”.

She criticized Bartolo for his reluctance to disclose the figures, a stance that has only fuelled greater suspicion and raised more questions. “It is not fair at all, when you look at what government is doing in the local sector,” Zahra said, adding that she would like to see the sector continue flourishing.

Zahra continued that government is trying to make it seem as if the local film sector is indeed growing, yet there is the question of how much funds the country is giving to local workers in the sector, as compared to the funds spent to bring foreign workers in the country.

“There are more creative sectors, businesses, which can contribute more to the economy,” Zahra said, pointing out that the creative sector does not only include television or films.

She was asked about her feelings as an MP when such parliamentary questions take longer than needed to be answered, even after having made them repeatedly.

“It is unacceptable that in the highest institution of the country, we fall to such ridicule. This applies to all PQs,” Zahra said.

She said that there must be a definite, stipulated timeframe in which ministers must answer parliamentary questions, as they have the obligation to.

“Where is the democracy? When there is commercially sensitive information, or when the courts order you to reveal such information, in Parliament, ministers continue to insist and the whole thing becomes ridiculous,” Zahra added.

A week ago Zahra also sought guidance from Speaker Anglu Farrugia to prompt Bartolo to respond to the parliamentary inquiries made. Farrugia, while reiterating a past ruling advising ministers to answer parliamentary questions in an adequate timeframe, said that he could not essentially force the minister to give the answers.

Zahra was asked if there is a person, or a body, which can truly regulate this, and “force” ministers to respond to their parliamentary questions in an appropriate timeframe.

She confirmed that this does not exist, but rather that there are other ways to get the information, through Freedom of Information requests, such as the one filed by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation to reveal payments made to Walliams.

“There is nobody regulating this, and that is why we need a discussion for regulations around PQs, to determine a definite timeframe for these questions to be answered,” Zahra said.

“We are here to represent the people and not to do what we want. This cannot go on,” Zahra said.

The initial budget for the event was €400,000, but Bartolo – under whose remit the Film Commission falls – had said that €1.3m was spent on Malta Film Week as a whole.

A few days ago, Bartolo told journalists that the financial details regarding the Mediterrane Film Festival were set to be published “in the coming days”.

The Commission has, up till now, refrained from publishing the costs related to the festival, refusing the media’s attempts to shed light on the expenditure. Bartolo has also remained tight-lipped, repeatedly skirting parliamentary and media questions.