Alex Cutajar appointed to OHSA in controversial move

In a move that has sparked widespread controversy, Alex Cutajar was awarded yet another government position in 2024. This time, he was appointed as an advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA). His role was to oversee a national campaign aimed at enhancing health and safety measures within Malta’s construction industry—an industry plagued by workplace accidents and safety violations.

Despite the critical importance of such a campaign, Cutajar was awarded the position without a public call or competitive selection process. Instead, he received the job through a direct order, securing a substantial paycheck for his services. Documents obtained by The Shift confirm that his contract was worth thousands of euros, but no information is available regarding whether the campaign was ever effectively executed or produced tangible results.

OHSA’s Hiring of Labour-Affiliated Figures Raises Questions

At the same time that Cutajar was handed his advisory role, the OHSA was also recruiting a senior communications manager—an individual typically responsible for designing and implementing large-scale media campaigns. This role was given to Karl Stagno Navarra, a well-known former presenter for One TV and a longtime propagandist for the Labour Party.

However, sources from within the OHSA reported that Stagno Navarra was rarely seen at the office. Instead, he allegedly used his government salary to prepare for his nightly political talk show, which aired on Labour TV. His presence at OHSA, therefore, appeared to be more about political favoritism than a genuine contribution to workplace safety efforts.

After Labour’s underwhelming performance in the June 2024 MEP elections, Prime Minister Robert Abela moved swiftly to cancel Stagno Navarra’s television program. In an apparent attempt to distance the government from damaging associations, Stagno Navarra was reassigned from OHSA to the Plants Directorate within the Ministry of Agriculture. The reassignment, rather than outright dismissal, only fueled speculation that his appointment at OHSA had been politically motivated from the start.

Alex Cutajar’s Deep Political Connections

Cutajar’s appointment at OHSA is just one in a long list of government roles he has held, thanks to his strong political connections. His career trajectory has been closely tied to former Energy, Health, and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, under whom he served as a public relations manager. In this capacity, he became Mizzi’s right-hand man, crafting public messaging and defending Mizzi during a series of corruption scandals that plagued his tenure.

When Mizzi resigned from government in 2019 amidst mounting controversy and was later expelled from the Labour Party, Cutajar’s influence began to wane. However, he managed to retain his foothold within the government, securing further lucrative contracts. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana would later criticize Mizzi and Cutajar’s misleading portrayal of Air Malta’s financial health. Their claims of profitability turned out to be unfounded, and the national airline ceased operations in 2024 after being declared bankrupt.

A History of Lucrative Government Contracts

Despite Mizzi’s downfall, Cutajar continued to receive significant government contracts. In 2020, he was awarded a €30,000 consultancy agreement by Projects Plus, a state agency created under Mizzi’s administration. The contract, which was supposed to cover consultancy in “image and strategy,” raised questions about its necessity and effectiveness.

Projects Plus, like many other government agencies established during Mizzi’s tenure, has been embroiled in controversy. It is led by James Camenzuli, an engineer personally selected by Mizzi. Camenzuli played a pivotal role in managing several contentious public contracts, including the multi-billion-euro deal to privatize three public hospitals. This agreement was later ruled fraudulent by Maltese courts. Despite facing criminal charges, Camenzuli continues to hold his position within the government, further highlighting concerns about accountability in public sector appointments.

Media Ties and Connections to Disgraced Figures

Beyond his government appointments, Cutajar has also ventured into the media industry. In 2021, he announced that he had become a partner in Temple Magazine, a publication founded by Josette Schembri Vella. Schembri Vella is the wife of Keith Schembri, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Both Keith and Josette Schembri are currently facing money laundering charges in court.

Cutajar’s involvement in Temple Magazine further solidifies his connections to Malta’s political elite—particularly those who have been implicated in corruption scandals. His ability to navigate these circles and secure influential roles has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society organizations, who argue that such appointments undermine public trust in government institutions.

The Implications of Political Patronage in Malta

The case of Alex Cutajar is emblematic of a broader pattern within Malta’s political landscape, where key government positions are often awarded based on party loyalty rather than competence. The practice of bypassing public calls for applications and instead handing out direct orders to politically connected individuals raises serious concerns about transparency and meritocracy in public administration.

In the case of OHSA, the implications are particularly concerning. Malta’s construction industry has been under scrutiny for its high rate of workplace accidents, some of which have been fatal. The OHSA plays a crucial role in enforcing safety regulations and ensuring that workers’ lives are not put at risk due to negligence or inadequate oversight. When the agency responsible for safeguarding workplace health and safety is used as a vehicle for political appointments, the effectiveness of its mission is called into question.

Public frustration over such appointments continues to grow, particularly in the wake of Labour’s declining popularity as reflected in the 2024 MEP elections. Critics argue that unless substantial reforms are introduced to curb political patronage, Malta’s public institutions will continue to suffer from a lack of credibility and efficiency.

What Comes Next?

With increasing public scrutiny and calls for accountability, the Maltese government faces mounting pressure to adopt more transparent hiring practices. Civil society organizations and independent watchdogs have urged the administration to implement reforms that would require all senior public sector appointments to go through a rigorous and transparent selection process.

Meanwhile, figures like Alex Cutajar continue to benefit from a system that rewards political loyalty over merit. Whether his latest appointment at OHSA will face further investigation or scrutiny remains to be seen. However, the growing demand for accountability suggests that such cases will not go unnoticed for much longer.

Conclusion

The case of Alex Cutajar exemplifies the persistent issues of political patronage and lack of transparency in Malta’s public sector. His series of government-appointed roles, often acquired without a competitive process, raise serious concerns about meritocracy and accountability. The OHSA appointment, in particular, highlights the risks of politicizing crucial institutions responsible for public safety. With growing public dissatisfaction and calls for reform, the Maltese government faces mounting pressure to implement stricter hiring practices and ensure that key positions are awarded based on competence rather than political allegiance.

FAQs

Who is Alex Cutajar?
Alex Cutajar is a former public relations manager for Konrad Mizzi and has held multiple government-appointed positions in Malta.

What was Alex Cutajar’s role at OHSA?
He was appointed as an advisor to the OHSA CEO to manage a national health and safety campaign for construction sites.

Was the OHSA role awarded through a competitive process?
No, Cutajar was given the position through a direct order, bypassing any competitive tender process.

What controversy surrounds Karl Stagno Navarra at OHSA?
Stagno Navarra, a known Labour propagandist, was hired as a senior communications manager but reportedly rarely attended work.

What other government contracts has Alex Cutajar received?
In 2020, he was awarded a €30,000 consultancy contract by Projects Plus, an agency created under Konrad Mizzi.

What is Projects Plus, and why is it controversial?
Projects Plus is a government agency involved in managing major infrastructure projects. It has been linked to corruption scandals, including the fraudulent hospital privatization deal.

What is Temple Magazine, and how is Cutajar connected?
Temple Magazine was founded by Josette Schembri Vella, wife of Keith Schembri. Cutajar announced in 2021 that he had become a partner.

Why did Robert Abela cancel Karl Stagno Navarra’s show?
Following Labour’s poor performance in the June 2024 MEP elections, Abela sought to distance the party from controversial figures like Stagno Navarra.

What happened to Air Malta under Konrad Mizzi’s leadership?
Despite claims of profitability, the airline declared bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2024.

What broader concerns does Cutajar’s case highlight?
It underscores the lack of transparency in government hiring and the persistence of political patronage in Malta’s public sector.