In 12 years, 17 communications coordinators attended UK course

A total of 17 communications coordinators under past administrations attended a government communications course in the UK between 2001 and 2013, according to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Last month, a total of 12 communications coordinators attended the same course, 'Government: Image and Communication - the UK experience'.

In reply to a question raised by Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg, the Prime Minister said that "since 2001, there have been a total of 17 persons who, under different administrations, attended such courses".

Buttigieg asked Muscat to confirm whether the communications coordinators who went to London had travelled on an official visit or a private visit.

Muscat explained that the course was open to all the governmental communications departments and was coordinated by the Centre for Development, Research and Training (CDRT) at the beginning of August of this year.

"In all there were 12 people who decided to attend this course. Every communications coordinator, independently from each other, made a specific request to the Parliamentary Secretary of their respective ministries," he said.

The course was organised by Public Administration International, a London-based company. The study programme is designed for government press, communication and information officers, political and general editors from national newspapers, broadcasting organisations and news agencies as well as spokespersons from political parties and NGOs.

"This government has adopted a clear political ideology towards the advancement of its workers in much the same way that it was incentivising such progression for workers in the private sector," Muscat said.

The political aides who attended the course ended up in under the spotlight after two of them - government's head of communications Kurt Farrugia and home affairs communications coordinator Ramona Attard - found themselves in the news for travelling together to London.

Soon after on the same night, the police approached and arrested Norman Vella - the former TV presenter seconded from the public service - allegedly for having taken pictures of the two while passing through passport control.

Vella, touted to be a PN MEP candidate, has since asked Muscat to investigate an alleged abuse of power by the Police after a Magistrate ordered the return of his mobile phone and tablet.