The Government Gazette is not designed to make fascinating reading. That’s no reason to miss it.
Here’s a seemingly innocuous notice in the gazette today that William Lewis was given a direct order for 12,000 euro. It’s not going to be enough for him to retire on. But why was he given the purely technical job directly, without allowing anyone of the many other architects out there the opportunity to offer to do the job?
Perhaps Architect William Lewis will argue in his defense that architect’s fees are set at law and there’s no price differential anyone could outbid him on. So what? Why should nobody else get a chance to present themselves even at the same rate?
You see William Lewis is Segretarju Organizzativ of the Labour Party. I’m not entirely sure how to translate that really, but I gather he sets up stages and platforms for Joseph Muscat to speak from, to hysterically enthusiastic crowds.
Nothing wrong with that of course. And nothing wrong with him practising his profession as an architect in his own time. But if he is going to work for the government, the least we can expect is for him to get his commissions fairly.
That’s the only way we can be sure he’s not being compensated with public money for other services rendered.