Government keeps mum on authorised officer’s earnings

The Home Affairs ministry is refusing to publish details of the payments received by Ernest Tonna in his capacity as Authorised Officer for a number of local councils.  

Apart from being on the payroll of Transport Malta and Malta Freeport,  Ernest Tonna, a former police officer and member of the Nationalist Party's 'Gakketta Blu' security retinue, is also an authorised officer for the joint committee which comprises the Floriana, Marsa and Valletta local councils.

The contract for authorised officers is awarded by tender and the terms of reference of the tender include clauses which effectively exclude applicants who have never been awarded a similar contract in the past.

Applicants must have at least three years' experience, completed three projects and "the minimum value of projects of a similar nature completed shall be not less than €50,000 per annum."

In total there are six authorised officers in Malta and all are employed on five-year definite contracts. The government has not published the payments received by Tonna or any other individuals or companies providing such services.

Last month, Transport Malta (TM) refused to publish Tonna's contract of who is employed as Chief Office Enforcement inside the transport authority. Tonna is also employed as the senior security manager at the Malta Freeport, a parastatal company.

Chief Officers at TM earn an annual salary of anything between €39,000 and €66,300, according to a reply by transport minister Austin Gatt in parliament.

Tonna has been an Authorised Officer for 11 years and according to the local enforcement system, authorised officers are appointed by the joint committee "to administer the Local Wardens."

Authorised officers have the responsibility of preparing the schedule of all the Local Wardens who are on beat within the localities and monitor the services of the Local Wardens "so as to ascertain that the optimum level of enforcement is being delivered in the most cost-effective manner."

Tonna also remains close to political circles: last October he was accompanying transport minister Austin Gatt in parliament after a motion of no-confidence by the Opposition was defeated. Tonna was also present for the Opposition's motion of no-confidence against government, which it lost, last January.