Watch: Government Gazette direct order notice was 'a mistake', claims Decelis

A notice that appeared on The Malta Government Gazette on the €274-million direct order in connection with an extension at St Vincent de Paul Residence was “a mistake”, a parliamentary secretary said on Tuesday. Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Agius Decelis, who is responsible for active ageing, explained that despite the notice, which appeared on July 20, the contract for the building of a 500-bed extension at the home for the elderly was not a direct order. “We have been informed by the management that publishes The Malta Government Gazette they misplaced the notice, which should have been printed in another column not related to direct orders,” Mr Agius Decelis said. The Malta Government Gazette is the official journal of the Maltese government and has a legal standing. It is published by the Department of Information, within the Office of the Prime Minister. Its standing is such that certain measures can only come into force when gazetted. READ: Finance Minister gets to know of €274m direct order through newspaper This was the first time a government official said the notice was a “mistake” despite it having appeared a month ago. Questions sent by the Times of Malta to Mr...