Karl Stagno Navarra is still on the state payroll though his ‘Milan Expo’ duties ended with the expo a year ago

Karl Stagna Navarra, who was put on the state payroll at Malta Enterprise in May 2014 – with a brief to coordination communications for the Malta exhibit at the Milan Expo, which took place a year later (1 May to 31 October 2015), is still receiving a salary from that organisation, despite the expo having ended a year ago.

Stagno Navarra travels regularly with the Prime Minister and is frequently in Brussels, where he has told people he meets that he is a consultant to the Maltese prime minister. He was with Joseph Muscat when Muscat met Matteo Renzi in Italy some months ago.

Yet since television’s autumn schedule began, Stagno Navarra spends most of his time producing, hosting and promoting his new talk show on the Labour Party’s television station. It is unclear whether payment for this is covered unofficially by his Malta Enterprise state salary, or whether the Labour Party actually pays him.

In an attempt at finding out what is going on here, I got in touch with Kurt Farrugia, head of government communications. The exchange follows.

Kurt, what exactly is Karl Stagno Navarra’s role as consultant to the Prime Minister?

He is not consultant to the Prime Minister.

That is what he is telling people. Please would you clarify what his position is, working for the government or a state entity.

Kurt, just a reminder about my question regarding Karl Stagno Navarra’s status.

I believe his position is public and reported online a number of times.

So he is still with Malta Enterprise even though his contract was for the Milan fair only?

I am not privy to that information.

Thank you.

Karl Stagno Navarra on his way to the beach with Gerard Borg Mizzi, factotum to the deputy prime minister, Louis Grech

With Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando at a Labour Party rally in support of MIchael Falzon, who was forced to resign when the Marco Gaffarena scandal broke.