Transport Malta is falling apart

“Mention one case at Transport Malta in my time with any whiff of corruption,” Robert Abela challenged The Times of Malta last November.

“I have ensured through the appointment of a new CEO to have persons known for their integrity.  Put your mind at rest that under Jeffrey Curmi everything will be done so these alleged irregularities will never happen again”.

Last week, barely six months later, Transport Malta in a curt statement quietly announced Jeffrey Curmi had been replaced. We don’t know whether Curmi resigned or if he was kicked out. The statement barely referred to Curmi.  It said Jonathan Borg was appointed CEO and that “the minister thanked Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi for his work”.

That minister is Aaron Farrugia, who is known for his knack for messing up everything he touches.

Rumours had been circulating that Curmi was due to be kicked out of Transport Malta.

Journalists mobbed Minister Farrugia demanding to know whether there was any truth to the claim. “Will he stay, or will he go?” one journalist asked. In typical pomp, Farrugia replied:  “I can assure you that tomorrow afternoon or evening, I will announce changes at Transport Malta”.

That was 20 March.

“Tomorrow afternoon or evening” came and went without so much as a whimper from Farrugia. Almost a month later, there was still no word from Farrugia. More rumours were spreading even faster.

Brigadier Curmi had fallen out with the minister over Transport Malta’s management but Curmi was refusing to leave. He was too comfortable.  He was given a €115,000 salary and a three-year contract up to 2025.  Curmi wasn’t going anywhere.

Curmi reportedly wanted another top-tier government appointment or be paid for the rest of his contract’s duration. His Transport Malta contract specified that his employment could be terminated without notice but that Curmi would be entitled to compensation.

Curmi clearly wasn’t going to be content with some petty compensation.  He was demanding far more. How much more, we’ll soon find out.

That is the arrogance of Labour’s choice specimens.  Curmi was given four promotions in rapid succession and was catapulted to the position of Armed Forces of Malta Brigadier based on his proximity to disgraced former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle.

He was given two promotions in mere days. On 13 September 2013, he was appointed lieutenant colonel; on 27 September, he was made colonel. On 4 October, he was made deputy head of the Armed Forces, and on 20 December he got his Christmas present when he became commander of the Armed Forces.

Ramona Attard, now Labour Party president, was one of those on the board that decided on Curmi’s promotions.  At the time, the former Labour TV reporter was former Minister Manuel Mallia’s person of trust and communications officer, but she was still on a Public Service Commission interview panel.

An investigation by the Ombudsman found the interview process was “outright illegal” and “a tailor-made process to achieve a pre-ordained result”.

Robert Abela handpicked Curmi to lead Transport Malta after his years in the army. Curmi, according to Abela, would stamp out the filth. So convinced was Abela of Curmi’s abilities that he bragged that since January 2020, there had not been a single case of alleged corruption at Transport Malta and that, with Curmi, there never would be.

Less than 10 months into the job, Curmi is gone. Aaron Farrugia, who bragged he would tell us about his changes at Transport Malta by 21 March, didn’t even have the decency to face the press.

As for Transport Malta and Robert Abela, not only is there a whiff of corruption, but the stench is overwhelming. Transport Malta awarded Abela’s friend, client and business partner Chris Borg a contract worth €247,908. Borg beat another 42 applications to win that tender.

He was awarded another contract worth €108,405 by LESA to lease cars.  Borg won another €2.5 million contract to provide the judiciary with leased vehicles until it was cancelled after protests to the chief justice.

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi claimed that officials at LESA and Transport Malta conspired with Borg in a racket to waive almost €3 million in traffic fines for Borg’s rental cars. While those fines were waived, Borg allegedly profited handsomely by still collecting the fines from those who hired his cars.

Curmi is gone. Our minds are not at rest despite the prime minister’s assurances. If the people of this country should learn anything from this sorry saga, it’s that Robert Abela’s and Aaron Farrugia’s words are worthless.

Abela has repeatedly dodged questions about corruption and accountability by saying he would only answer for his time in office.

Perhaps he should start by telling us how his friend, charged with kidnapping and being investigated for narcotics smuggling and money laundering, was given hundreds of thousands of taxpayer euros by Transport Malta and LESA.

The Times of Malta revealed that Borg paid the Abelas €75,000 only months earlier.

Maybe Abela should explain how Transport Malta’s board of directors is replete with the minister’s canvassers and loyalists, most with no expertise whatsoever in transport. Maybe he should tell us what really happened with Brigadier Curmi.

Traffic and transport chaos threatens the country’s economy. Meanwhile, Abela and Farrugia are busy squabbling over whose incompetent friends should now be in control at Transport Malta.