Government still looking for right system - Gonzi

The government is planning to start implementing its electoral pledge of ensuring more transparency in appointments to state entities next year but the Prime Minister says he still wants flexibility to be able to make political appointments.

The Nationalist Party had pledged in its electoral programme that appointments to government boards will be made after a public call for applications.

Since the election, however, a number of appointments were made, including that of Lawrence Gonzi's former press secretary Alan Camilleri as chairman of Malta Enterprise, without a call for applications.

Mr Camilleri's appointment was criticised in light of Dr Gonzi's pledge to collaboration with the opposition.

In comments to The Times, Dr Gonzi defended his position, saying there were appointments that could not wait until the government set up the new system.

"The government is committed to implement this measure at the right time but the right system has to be found," he said. "This will be a new thing for the country and I want to get it right. When we're confident we have a system that works, we'll launch it.

"In Mr Camilleri's case, we couldn't leave Malta Enterprise without a chairman until we found an appropriate system and Alan Camilleri is very competent...

"He's not the only one but he has just given proof of his abilities in one of the biggest challenges our country has faced and was given the seal of approval locally and even by the European Union," he said referring to the country's changeover to the euro with the committee in charge of this task having Mr Camilleri as its CEO.

The system being explored is that of having a database that would incorporate the basic details and a CV of people who express an interest to work in a specific area. Appointees to government entities will be picked from such a list.

"There are certain boards that are so difficult to run that nobody would apply. And what happens if the people who apply are not competent?

"I think we need to retain the elbow room to be able to choose the best candidate. Ultimately, I think the bottom line is to have a transparent system but which also helps us pick the best people for the job," Dr Gonzi said.

The government will be studying similar systems and have the system introduced, possibly in experimental form next year.

"I'm hoping that we can do it next year. It's not something long term. I want to test it in the beginning of the legislature because if it works, well and good, but if it doesn't, we'll have time to do some fine tuning. If it fails, then we can say it was an experiment that didn't work out."