The request for a magisterial inquiry filed by Jason Azzopardi concerning the Gozo Aquatic and Sports Centre is "political persecution", Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday.

It was reported on Wednesday that lawyer Jason Azzopardi had filed a request for an inquiry into the Minister for Gozo over an olympic-sized swimming pool and aquatic centre that was said to have run €8 million over budget.

In his statement, Camilleri said that "they are trying to tarnish me with every means and every tool". Regarding the aquatic and sports centre, the minister said that "of course, it came at a higher cost". He added that the project is almost finished and that "the €9 million that was quoted is only one construction tender out of seven tenders... the six other tenders are tied to the completion of this project and are being completely ignored".

The tenders, he said, cover works such as excavation, mechanical and electrical works, finishes, apertures, the pool flooring system, and other equipment. He stated that the tenders were published on the public eTenders system, "where every interested contractor could have easily submitted an offer". He added that interested contractors were informed that in all cases, the tenders were awarded to the lowest bidder who was technically compatible with the terms and conditions of the call.

This situation, he said, "continues with the spread of misinformation that was also given regarding Triq Imgarr and Triq Sant'Antnin between Nadur and Ghajnsielem".

"They said that the project cost twice as much so according to them there is confusion. This is not true at all and nothing came out in this regard in the quoted report," he remarked.

Camilleri said that the contracts so that the project could be done properly and completed so that the road would not be left in a dangerous state had an allocated budget that would meet the sum of €22.3 million. He continued that from the information shown in the National Audit Office report, "the expenditure on the construction was €17 million". He stated that this means that it did not only not cost twice the allocated budget, "but it came €5.3 million cheaper than the budget".

The Minister for Gozo concluded by saying that he would be explaining other facts when asked, and remarked that "everyone will have to answer for their actions".