Updated | Bartolo insists he acted 'responsibly' over corruption allegations surrounding canvasser

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has insisted that political responsibility was shouldered the minute he took steps against his former canvasser and driver, Edward Caruana.

Questioned by reporters on whether he should shoulder political responsibility and resign over the actions of a man he employed on a position-of-trust basis, Bartolo said he shouldered political responsibility when he sought that the allegations being raised are passed on to the police for investigation.

“As soon as I was informed of the allegations, I broke all contact with [Caruana] and took the steps that needed to be taken,” Bartolo said. “I would have been wrong in my actions if I ignored the allegations … and that would have made me an accomplice.”

The minister argued that that employing Caruana on a position-of-trust basis didn’t make him responsible for his actions: “I’m only responsible of the steps to be taken when allegations arise.”

Allegations of corruption were flagged by Philip Rizzo, former CEO of the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools. Rizzo, 65, has raised specific claims of the role played by Caruana at the FTS in his capacity as the person responsible for direct orders, including alleged manipulation of public procurement procedures and forgery of signatures.

The saga has turned sour, with the minister calling Rizzo “a capricious primadonna twisting facts”. On Facebook, the Education Minister yesterday claimed that Rizzo was trying to act as a knight in shining armour “when he’s only interested in damaging those who do not obey him”.

Bartolo said that while Rizzo wanted to give the impression that he left FTS due to corruption allegations, the former FTS CEO had sent him texts to say that either the FTS chairman is removed or he leaves. The matter surrounded the cleaner’s working hours.

The minister has now said that, if the need arises, he would be ready to take Rizzo to court.

Yesterday, MaltaToday reported that Bartolo had been warned of allegations of impropriety in procurement procedures as early as February 2015. The minister has insisted that he had never told Rizzo that he would ignore the allegations, but that he wanted to wait for stronger evidence.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Bartolo enjoyed his full trust and that he would not take any action against him.

“I have spoken about this case with Minister Bartolo and I found his assessment of the situation very satisfactory.He enjoys my full trust,” Muscat said in brief comments to the press.

He said that he was first made aware of the allegations when Rizzo himhself had contacted him.

“I consider Philip Rizzo to be a personal friend of mine. I understand that he has very strong opinions on this case. I am not judging him, but I agreed with Bartolo’s assessment.” 

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party accused Bartolo of having been caught in a lie: “He did not learn of the allegations in August, but in April. Bartolo, who has said there shouldn’t be a law for gods and a law for animals, has no other option but to shoulder responsibility.”

The PN said that Bartolo’s only consolation was knowing that the Prime Minister won’t sack him.

In a press statement, Bartolo categorically denied the opposition’s allegations, insisting that he never stopped anyone from reporting allegations of corruption.

“[Caruana] was immediately removed from any work related to FTS as soon as the request was made in April,” the ministry said.

The Ministry for Education said that as soon as an internal investigation was completed, Bartolo requested that a report be filed with the police and the Internal Audit and Investigations Department (IAID).

Rizzo’s resignation letter, and the replies by Bartolo and the permanent secretary, has been passed on to the police.