Upon learning of allegations of corrupt practices being levelled at WasteServ after the election, Joseph Caruana, Permanent Secretary to the Environment Ministry, consulted WasteServ CEO Tonio Montebello and was assured that everything was in order.

Mr Caruana told the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday that WasteServ contracted services and did not engage employees directly, so his office would only have been involved insofar as it came to the issuance of the tender under which services were provided to WasteServ.

Mr Montebello had said that all contracting was in line with the conditions stipulated by the tender.

He was being asked about the engagement of employees at WasteServ prior to the 2017 election.

The parastatal entity was free to act independently as long as it remained within the tender requirements and as long as it did not exceed its budget.

This model was the same as that used by WasteServ prior to the 2013 election, although in this case the tender was re-issued because the ministry felt the chosen contractor should face stricter conditions.

He also spoke to the Environment Minister and confirmed that he had asked Mr Montebello to engage further employees to form part of a task-force set up between WasteServ, the Parks Department and the Valley Management Unit, among others, to conduct cleansing works in Malta’s valleys with the Valley Management Unit.

A similar practice was used in 2013 to provide workers, through WasteServ’s contractor, who could carry out cleansing duties with the Pitkalija.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the use of WasteServ to engage these employees was the result of the minister’s "zeal for environmental protection".

The Finance Ministry’s allocation to the Parks Department had not been sufficient to allow the latter department to carry out its own recruitment.

Later in the evening in Parliament, Environment Minister José Herrera took political responsibility for the establishment of the task force following the movement of the Valley Management Unit from the Department of Public Works to the Parks Department within the Environment Ministry.

Its efforts had resulted in the removal of 842 square metres of material from eight of 25 valleys, together with 20 tonnes of rubbish.

Arguing that politics was about making decisions “on the ground” and not just writing reports and attending conferences, Dr Herrera also said he would act to ensure that the Environment and Resources Authority had its own Enforcement Directorate.

“I don’t care how it will happen,” he told the House.

After the publication of a call for Director of Enforcement, nine candidates were being scrutinised, he added.

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