Ombudsman finds no fault in selection for Mepa post

The Ombudsman said yesterday he did not find fault with the selection process for the post of Director for the Protection of the Environment at Mepa, but noted that "the judgment of the panel members regarding the applicants' experience could have been more transparent".

But it could not be said that the decision taken was unjust or that this, in any way, influenced the validity of the interviews, he added.

Looking into a complaint filed by architect Carmel Cacopardo, the Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino, said the choice of Director for the Protection of the Environment was made on established criteria, most of which depended on subjective judgments of the individuals forming the panel. The Ombudsman could not substitute such a judgment.

"Nevertheless, I consider it the duty of any authority to give clear reasons for decisions which affect the citizens.

"In criteria involving applicants' experience, where there is a subjective element mixed with objective ones, it is important that one gives the motivation for one's judgment," the Ombudsman said.

He noted that Mepa failed to reply clearly to questions by the Ombudsman's Office about apparent discrepancies in judgment regarding Mr Cacopardo's experience, compared to that of the person chosen for the post.

The Ombudsman said there appeared to be no shortcomings on the part of the panel in their decision about the applicants' familiarity with EU issues.

Mr Cacopardo had complained that the Mepa chairman was prejudiced against him and should not have formed part of the selection panel. But the Ombudsman noted that the chairman had not taken part in the selection process.

Neither did Mr Cacopardo make a formal objection about the matter before or during the interview.

Mr Cacopardo also complained that he had been assigned low marks over his experience and familiarity with national issues related to environment protection and with Malta's obligations arising from the EU aquis.

He referred also to low marks given to him for work experience in relevant organisations and in the post he had applied for.