Sources at the Institute for Tourism Studies confirmed with The Malta Independent today that Henry Mifsud – the executive director at ITS who was appointed some six months ago – is out on ‘long leave’.
This after allegations surfaced that he engaged in a series of irregularities. The claims were published by blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia. Newsbook also reported yesterday that Mr Mifsud had an argument at the tourism ministry. It is not yet clear if the argument ensued between him and Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis.
Sources who approached this newsroom said that Mr Mifsud was not seen at the institute for the past few days and they do not know if or when he would be returning to work.
This newsroom tried to reach him by e-mail but we were met with an automatic reply which read: ‘Thanks for your e-mail. I am out of the office and may not have access to email at all times. If you require anything urgent regarding ITS please contact the institute.’ Attempts to contact him on his cell phone proved futile.
Last week, this newsroom sent questions to the minister – after the Opposition issued a statement raising its concern over the issue – but got no reply. The ministry instead sent a statement to the media replying to the PN’s statement but did not make any reference to Mr Mifsud’s case.
When contacted last week, Mr Mifsud categorically denied the allegations levelled against him but stopped at that.
In a statement, the PN had said that it is concerned over the fact that no action has been taken over the “mismanagement of the Institute of Tourism Studies” despite the many reports which surfaced recently made by students and their parents on the case involving the executive director of ITS. Allegations made in Mr Mifsud’s confrontation include that he makes the college chefs prepare food for his personal parties.
The litany of complaints were posted beneath the blogger’s post by individuals who claimed they are chefs at ITS.
The PN also noted that the ingredients used for private parties organised by Mr Mifsud were paid for by the institute. Other posts after the allegations surfaced read that Mr Mifsud retaliated by harassing lecturers and chefs with car-searches and forcing them to sign declarations.
The claims did not stop there. This week fresh allegations surfaced that he had been made to resign from his post of organising functions tied to a bank he worked for after he was found out by the bank to have collected bottles of spirits of a party financed by the bank but kept the bottles in his possession.
This newsroom meanwhile is waiting for the ministry to reply to a series of questions sent this morning.