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GSD accused of 'abuse of power' for using Govt-paid material for party propaganda
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In a statement headed 'GSD used Government material for party-political propaganda', the Government said yesterday that it has established that Opposition Leader Peter Caruana used designs commissioned and paid for by the taxpayer in the GSD party's general election manifesto.
The Government adds: This constitutes an abuse of power and is another example of the former administration blurring the distinction that should exist between party and Government.
It is further stated that the images in question were prepared as an integral part of architectural concept design exercises for the GSD Government during the last four years. These Government images then made their way into the GSD manifesto for the general elections of December 2011.
"While it is difficult to quantify exactly what element of the overall design fee is apportioned to the production of a single image, the estimate is that over £7,000 worth of Government images was used by the GSD in their last election manifesto, said the Government.
And it went on to list the relevant images in the GSD manifesto as being the following:
Page 22 Flat Bastion and Arengo's Car Park artist's impression
Page 23 Engineer Lane and South Barracks Car Parks artist's impression
Page 27 Cruise Liner artist's impression
Page 36 Senior Citizen's Residence elevation
Page 38 Theatre Royal artist's impression
Page 41 Plata Villa Performing Arts artist’s impression
Page 41 Orange Bastion Arts Centre artist’s impression
Page 41 GBC Studios artist’s impression
Page 46 New Cancer Hospice artist’s impression
Page 47 New Mental Health elevation
Page 49 Governor's Parade urban square artist’s impression
The Government goes on to say that "it is not acceptable that the taxpayer should subsidise the GSD manifesto in this way. The party should have commissioned and paid for the relevant designs instead of using those that were commissioned and paid for by the Government."
19-04-12
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