http://www.independent.com.

mt/articles/2013-04-09/opinions/appointing-and-removing-permanentsecretaries-1359151104/

Appointing and removing permanent secretaries

about an hour ago - Tuesday, 09 April 2013, 08:53 , by Gejtu Vella The Labour Party was still, as expected, in a euphoric mood and the newly appointed Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had barely set foot in his new office at the Auberge de Castille when the first appointments were announced. Mario Cutajar, former deputy secretary general of the General Workers Union, was appointed Designate Principal Permanent Secretary. Within hours Mr Cutajar instructed Godwin Grima, the former incumbent, to issue a directive to all permanent secretaries to consider tendering their resignation. This was, in my humble opinion, a blunder. Designate appointees do not instruct incumbents to issue directives, of whatever nature. Nonetheless this is what exactly happened. The post of permanent secretary is not a political appointment. The role and functions of a permanent secretary within the public service are to ensure the efficient running of the ministry under his/her responsibility and a smooth transition in the event that a minister is removed, resigns, a new minister comes in or when there is a change in Government. Indeed, Permanent Secretaries ensure that there is continuity in administration irrespective of those who for a period of time move in as Ministers. Like all other senior appointments within any organization, their appointment is subject to rules and regulations. In this case, the appointment and removal of Permanent Secretaries is dictated by the supreme law of the land which clearly stipulates the process to be adopted. Article 92, sub-article 3 of our Constitution clearly states, and I quote: Power to appoint public officers to hold or act in the office of Permanent Secretary and to remove from office persons holding or acting in such office shall vest in the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister given after the Prime Minister has consulted with the Public Service Commission. In the light of the foregoing, these questions beg answers: In removing the permanent secretaries from their duties has the Prime Minister consulted the Public Service Commission? Has the Public Service Commission accepted and consented to the proposal of the Prime Minister? On what grounds? For the sake of, and to uphold its electoral pledge to, transparency it would be appropriate for the newly elected Government to give a detailed account of the shortcomings of the former permanent secretaries who were removed from their post and the capabilities and abilities of the newly appointed. The former administration had appointed and utilized ten (10) permanent secretaries. The present administration retained three (3) from the former administration while eleven (11) new permanent secretaries were appointed. Presently there are fourteen (14)

Permanent Secretaries since Dr Muscat has opted for one of the largest cabinet of Ministers ever. The Public Service Commission - a highly respectable body that unquestionably contributes to an impartial public service; with high standards of competence, efficiency and integrity; giving sterling advice and making binding recommendations to the Prime Minister - should not be relegated to rubber- stamping decisions taken elsewhere. The roles and functions of the Public Service Commission are well defined in the Constitution of Malta: (a) the making of appointments to public offices (or posts in the Public Service), (b) the removal of persons from such offices, (c) the exercise of disciplinary control over public officers. While congratulating the new Principal Permanent Secretary and the recently appointed permanent secretaries in their new endeavours, I must take this opportunity to encourage them to refrain from allowing their offices to be turned into an extension of partisan politics. Much depends on their integrity and loyalty to the public service. While on the subject I wonder where the Labour Partys television adverts and bill-boards on meritocracy have gone. I hope this has not already vanished into thin air.