AD welcomes 'long overdue' Whistleblower Act

Alternattiva Demokratika has welcomed the introduction of a Whistleblower Act as announced by the Prime Minister.

AD chairman Harry Vassallo said that immunity to public servants in order to allow them to expose corruption was essential in any country and more especially in a small county like Malta.

"The introduction of a Whistleblower Act has been a major issue for Alternattiva Demokratika since its founding in 1989," Dr Vassallo said. "We cannot help celebrating when the government of the day catches up with our thinking even if it is 18 years later," he added.

"A Whistleblower Act forms an essential part of the democratic infrastructure which Alternattiva Demokratika wants to see in place in our country.

"We also need an effective Freedom of Information Act, a law fully regulating the financing of political parties and a democratic electoral system. After 20 years of almost uninterrupted Nationalist governments we are promised a Whistleblower Act. It is a pity that we have no reason to expect more progress, more enthusiasm or greater speed in the democratic development of the country's institutions, but we celebrate all the same," Dr Vassallo said.