Thursday, 21st August 2008

Making civil servants choose between job and politics is 'undemocratic'

Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday welcomed the fact that an ultimatum to its secretary general - to choose between his teaching job and involvement in politics - had been put on hold, saying it was a step in the right direction, but not enough.

The ultimatum was issued by the Management and Personnel Office to secretary general Victor Galea, as well as to Tonio Mercieca and Mary Gauci, officials of Azzjoni Nazzjonali.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Prime Minister put the ultimatum on hold. But while Mr Galea had resisted it, the other officials had already resigned their posts of senior principal and principal respectively in government service.

"The crux of the matter is that the rules of the public service on this issue are obsolete and have to be completely overhauled, not only for Mr Galea but for all government employees," AD chairman Arnold Cassola said yesterday.

He said that apart from being blatant discrimination against the AD official, the regulation is anti-democratic because basically it would only be lawyers, doctors, architects and other self-employed people who could express their political opinions and take part in politics, while people employed by the state, apart from messengers, would not be able to.

In such a small country with limited human resources, it would be absolute folly to do away with the positive contribution that could be given by so many individuals employed by the state.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 8, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Dion Borg (on 24/8/08)

So the matter is 'on hold'.....sorry not good enough...REVERSE the ultimatum outright.
Deciding to pick on AD & AN (only) activists - is quite an eye-opener on to what extent party diehards are ready to debase themselves & their party to strive to waive off anything that challenges the outdated duopoly.
My compliments and support to Victor Galea, who boldly took a stand against the establishment, and reaffirmed what democracy is all about.

M. Sciortino (on 21/8/08)

Fully agree with Mr. Grech.

Where is John Bencini President of MUT?

Is he another politician that once elected a president he can holiday until his term ends?

Where is his interest in teachers being discriminated?

D Attard (on 21/8/08)

@ joseph grech
perhaps you failed to read joseph muscat's comments on this matter in yesterday's edition of maltatoday

Jo Said (on 21/8/08)

Do you remember the Seventies and Eighties? Do you recall the Mintoff regime taking anti-democratic actions of the like? I do. I also have it in my memory that the present regime used to cry foul and used to come out on the streets to protest such disgusting and uncivilised behaviour from the government who was there to administer for and on behalf of ALL society and the populace. I can still hear the deafening sound of the PN leaders, on the loud speakers, screaming "traitors, dictators, you should be ashamed". And now?

Joseph Grech (on 21/8/08)

I still can't believe how the MLP is quasi-nonexistent on this matter. Wake up please. MLP the least you can do during the coming 5 years is to act as a pressure group in parliament.

Another surprise comes from the Workers' Union! Where is the GWU and UHM in this discriminatory matter.

One need not mention the MUT (Malta Union of Teachers)....probably they are all on a holiday somewhere.

What a country!