Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected U.S. Embassy Valletta from May 4 to 19, 2017.
What OIG Recommended
OIG made five recommendations to improve Embassy Valletta’s general services, facility management, and information management operations.
In its comments on the draft report, Embassy Valletta concurred with the five recommendations. The embassy’s response to each recommendation and OIG’s reply can be found in the Recommendations Section of this report. OIG considers the five recommendations resolved. The embassy’s formal written response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission set a positive tone, maintaining open lines of communication, nurturing an inclusive environment, and mentoring both mid-level and First- and Second-Tour officers and specialists.
- The Ambassador pursued bilateral relations with Malta to partner on issues of common concern, further U.S. policy objectives, and advocate U.S. business investments.
- Section leaders across Embassy Valletta generally managed their sections well to pursue Integrated Country Strategy goals, particularly relative to the embassy’s limited staffing.
- Embassy contractors lacked worker’s compensation insurance, although it is required by U.S. law.
- Embassy Valletta, which moved into a new embassy compound in 2011, lacked a comprehensive preventive maintenance program for two key building systems and stored $650,000 of surplus materials from the compound’s construction.
- The embassy’s emergency and evacuation radio network failed to cover all residences.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Valletta should dispose of the Chief of Mission backup armored vehicle according to Department guidelines for disposing of armored vehicles and put $18,000 to better use.
Embassy Valletta, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should implement preventive maintenance programs for all key building systems.
Embassy Valletta, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should identify and dispose of excess property, and put up to $650,000 to better use.
Embassy Valletta should comply with the Defense Base Act requirements for worker’s compensation insurance for its local service and construction contracts.
Embassy Valletta, in coordination with the Regional Information Management Center in Frankfurt, should provide an emergency and evacuation very high frequency radio network through which all residences can communicate directly with the embassy.