In reply to yesterday’s statement by the Government, the GSD has referred to the employment of Mr Pyle in these circumstances as “weird and inappropriate”.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

Typical of Mr Picardo’s style of politics he accuses others of lying when they present facts. The presentation of issues  by the Government is Orwellian.  

It is a fact that Mr Picardo has given Mr Pyle a job. It is also a fact that Mr Pyle was the Governor in 2020, was central  to what happened with Mr McGrail and was a core participant in those events. It is a fact that the Inquiry will look into  those events. It is a fact that Mr Picardo is accused of wrongdoing by a party to that Inquiry. It is a fact that the evidence  of Mr Pyle will be extremely relevant in the Inquiry. It is a fact that the Inquiry has not yet heard the case or investigated  the issues. It is also a fact that despite the engagement of Mr Pyle to advise on civil service reform the Civil Service  Union, the GGCA, were completely unaware of the appointment. 

Leader of the Opposition, Keith Azopardi, said: “All those things are facts. The engagement of Mr Pyle in the above  circumstances is just weird and inappropriate. The problem is that Mr Picardo did not think through the implications  of his actions, the perception he would create and whether that appointment was appropriate or inappropriate. He is  blinded by a sense of political survival and not by a sense of what is right and proper. Is that the kind of leader for this  community that we want? 

We repeat that if the equivalent happened in the United Kingdom a serving Prime Minister would come under massive  criticism for having given a job to someone who was central to events subject to an Inquiry in which the Prime Minister  himself is accused of wrongdoing when the Inquiry had not yet heard the case. 

If there is anyone who has a track record of spin, lies and half-truths it is Mr Picardo himself. The People will judge  whether it is time to show him the door at the next election. What is ‘disgusting’ is his ‘anything goes’ type of politics,  where truth does not matter and where he thinks he can get away with anything. We will continue to call things out  as they are.”