Labour pledges to listen to Ombudsman

The Labour Party in government will listen to the Ombusdman's recommendations and make sure that aggrieved citizens receive effective remedies as recommended by the parliamentary institution, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant has promised.

Dr Sant was heading an MLP delegation which yesterday called on Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino at his office in Valletta to discuss the party's vision on the public sector.

The Opposition Leader said Labour's policy document, published last June, outlined targets that would bring about efficiency and transparency in the public administration, and effectively ensure accountability and justice when it is in government.

"We are behind you and we admire the work carried out by your office," Dr Sant said.

Chief Justice Emeritus Said Pullicino said the MLP's document on the public service contained valid principles which every administration should aspire to achieve.

"A public administration which ignores the Ombudsman's recommendations without any serious justification would be undermining the institution's credibility," he said.

The Ombudsman noted that sometimes, the departments or entities concerned do not redress blatant cases of injustice ordiscrimination immediately, explaining that this was linked to "a restrictive interpretation of rules and administrative practices".

It was a sign of political maturity that both sides of the House of Representatives agreed that the Ombudsman should become entrenched in the Constitution.

Dr Said Pullicino said that since the Ombudsman's office was set up in 1995, many citizens aggrieved by a public entity had lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman for their grievances to be investigated independently and impartially.

Among other pledges, the MLP's policy document says the party would provide remedies for all those who have suffered discrimination for political reasons once elected.

But, according to the Ombudsman, there was no need to set up tribunals or ad hoc forums to investigate allegations of administrative abuse with every change of government.

"The last 11 years have shown that public confidence in the Ombudsman has increased. Citizens should be encouraged to use the Ombusdman's services for their cases to be investigated in a way which is timely and away from partisan politics," Dr Said Pullicino said.

"At a time when everyone should be held accountable for one's actions, institutions ensuring accountability, such as the Ombudsman and the Auditor General, should be strengthened. They should be given the resources they need to carry out their duties and their recommendations should be adopted by the administration," Dr Said Pullicino said.