Café Premier memo to justify bailout is defended

The Office of the Prime Minister has defended a memo to ministers penned by Cabinet secretary Mario Cutajar in 2013 justifying the government’s €4.2 million bailout of the Café Premier business.

It was revealed earlier this week that the premises are being allocated to the Valletta local council. But this was not one of the justifications that had been given at the time by Mr Cutajar, among which was the expansion of the National Library that lies above the café.

A government spokesman said however that Mr Cutajar had not misled the Cabinet and that he had acted correctly.

“The prime area (of the Premier cafe) will be returned to the people of Valletta as local council offices, while making better and more sustainable use of the premises, also extending the National Library,” the spokesman said.

According to the OPM, not all of the reacquired premises will be handed over to the council. “Part of the premises will be used as an extension for the National Library, since currently it is inaccessible to persons with disability.”

The allocation of Café Premier to the council was revealed in a working document mistakenly published by the Finance Ministry.

Although it was withdrawn the...