Matthew Vella
The former parliamentary secretary Tony Abela, who was paid €14,014 by the government for a ‘terminal benefit’ for former ministers who were no longer selected for Cabinet, was back at work on 11 March – only three days after the 2008 general elections.
Last year Lawrence Gonzi gave ex-ministers and former Opposition leader Alfred Sant a total of €157,000 as a terminal benefit to help the politicians find a job.
In November 2008, Abela told MaltaToday he had been awarded the money “specifically for not being elected” and said he had to rebuild his clients’ database because they had moved on to other notaries when he took up political office.
But a notice published in last week’s Government Gazette has confirmed that not only was Abela’s brother Joseph, also a notary, his ‘keeper’ – a term used for notaries who take on the work assigned to colleagues who are either deceased or not exercising their office; but that Tony Abela had resumed his duties on 11 March 2008, only days after failing to be re-elected.
In the meantime, Abela was awarded €14,000 for spending that weekend soul-searching after losing his seat.
Not only that, but his transition into work may have been less arduous than expected, since his brother Joseph was already handling all his business.
Interestingly, Abela had been alleged by the Labour media of having kept up part of his professional practice during his time as a parliamentary secretary, specifically in one case when he was filmed entering his firm’s office for a mock meeting set up by a journalist.
The OPM’s terminal benefit was also awarded to former ministers Louis Deguara, Ninu Zammit, Censu Galea, Francis Zammit Dimech, Jesmond Mugliett, Edwin Vassallo, Michael Frendo, and former Labour leader Alfred Sant.
The OPM had claimed a person occupying political office cannot be employed or practice a profession, but instead is serving the country and its people. “Through this terminal benefit, the State is acknowledging the service that was given, and should serve as a transitional aid for those who, having served the country, are now trying to re-enter the labour market.”
The other beneficiaries were former ministers and parliamentary secretaries: Michael Frendo, awarded €10,823; Jesmond Mugliett, €18,504; Censu Galea, awarded €18,505; Louis Deguara, awarded €18,565; Francis Zammit Dimech, awarded €18,504; Ninu Zammit, awarded €18,542; Edwin Vassallo, awarded €17,614. Alfred Sant was awarded €21,723.
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