Government revokes St Paul's Bay council contract

A works contract awarded by the St Paul's Bay local council to one of its councillors has been revoked on order of the parliamentary secretary for local government Jose Herrera.

The local council was today instructed by the government to revoke a decision taken yesterday evening where a works supervisor contract was awarded to Labour councillor Jason Camilleri.

Following yesterday's decision, Camilleri promptly tendered his resignation after acknowledging the conflict of interest which was raised by a number of councillors.

This afternoon, Herrera, explained that he instructed the Local Government Department to order the council to revoke its decision, which was in breach of the Local Councils Act.

The law makes it clear that "no Councillor or any Council employee, or any company in which such Councillor or employee has a majority shareholding or controlling interest, shall tender or submit

quotations for any works, goods or services or for the transfer of any land for which a call for tenders or quotations has been issued by the Council of which he is such a member or employee."

Herrera said the annulment of the contract was done for the sake of good governance and accountability which the government was expecting from councils.

Camilleri was awarded the works contract despite having submitted the highest bid, at €17,900, with the lowest bid coming in at €15,800.