Institute of Tourism Studies chefs made to cook for director’s private parties at home

I have received reports from chefs at the Institute of Tourism Studies in St Julian’s that the institute’s executive director, Henry Mifsud, regularly orders them to prepare food for his private parties, which he then takes home with him.

He does not pay for either the food or the service. One chef told me, “We can’t refuse. This means that the taxpayer is funding Mr Mifsud’s private parties.”

I rang Mr Mifsud at the Institute of Tourism Studies, for his comment, but though he was in the office he would not come to the phone, telling the receptionist to inform me that he ‘is in a meeting’ and leaving no suggestion as to what time I should call back, nor asking for my number so that he could return my call.

Some background on Henry Mifsud: he is a dyed-in-the-wool Mintoffian who is past retirement age. He spent 30 years at Bank of Valletta, starting out in the Danny Cremona years (I really don’t feel like explaining the significance of Danny Cremona to those who don’t know) and becoming one of the favourites. In 1986, when still a relatively junior officer, he was sent to Australia to set up Bank of Valletta’s first overseas branch.

In more recent years, he worked as a lecturer at the Institute of Tourism Studies, having been appointed during the Mhux Taghna Biss Nationalist administration. His lectures routinely devolved into partisan diatribes about the PN government and praise for Mintoff and the Labour Party.

In the two to three years leading up to the last general election, he spent a great deal of time on the internet comments boards and social media, insulting perceived opponents of the Labour Party and making extremely partisan and at times offensive remarks, even while he was engaged in teaching hospitality management students at the ITS.

In September last year, he was appointed executive director of the college, and reports have been rife of poor scheduling, disorganised time-tables and general slippage in standards.

Mr Mifsud is the man responsible for allowing that Gozo-based lecturer, who was in the news some weeks ago after featuring on this website, to work just two hours a week at the Gozo branch of ITS while taking a full salary.

One of the members appointed to his board at the college is Adrian Grech Cumbo, the semi-literate fixer for Leisure Clothing who featured prominently clapping and shouting his support at events for Manuel Mallia before he was sacked as Police Minister.