Agreement on Gozo reps and civil society

The government yesterday accepted an opposition proposal that the chairpersons representing the civil society and the Gozo Regional Committee could retain their post in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development after their two-year term if re-elected by the members of the organisations they represented.

Such chairpersons would not have been eligible for re-election until the lapse of four years from the termination of their term of office

The proposal was made by opposition spokesman on civil society Gino Cauchi during the House of Representatives’ debate in committee on the Bill amending the MCESD Act so the Forum of Maltese Unions, the Gozo Regional Committee and the Civil Society Committee could be represented on the Council. The Bill was unanimously agreed both through the committee stage and the third reading.

Minister for Public Consultation Chris Said amended the Bill revoking the clause that such chairpersons would not have been eligible for re-election until the lapse of four years from the termination of their term of office.

Dr Said said that organisations in any particular sector represented in the Civil Society Committee were free to nominate any person to represent them even if that person was a legal adviser and not an active member. NGOs participating in the committee had to be registered with the NGO Commissioner for at least a year.

No ministry or chairpersons of government commissions would be represented in the Civil Society Committee. These commissions would appoint another member but a person with disability would automatically be given preference over others in representing the KNPD.

Dr Said told Alfred Sant (PL) that the whole consultation process which led to the amendments had been ongoing for many years, not just the past few weeks. Dr Sant had asked the minister for the tabling of a list of all organisations which had been consulted in the process. Dr Said explained that he did not feel the question was related to this stage of the debate, but offered to present the list in a specific parliamentary question or to list those he remembered offhand.

Would NGOs not registered with the Commissioner be considered as part of the civil society? he asked, pointing out that it was common knowledge that the sector had major problems which are not being addressed. These included church organisations refusing to form part of this structure or the commissioner admitting he did not have the necessary structures to certify that NGOs meet certain demands.

Members of the Civil Society Committee can only include NGOs registered with the Commissioner for at least the past year

Dr Said underlined members of the Civil Society Committee could only include NGOs registered with the commissioner for at least the past year. This would be clear in the legal notice to be published.

Mr Cauchi referred to the fact that the Bill stipulated that the members of the council should be appointed upon the advice of the minister responsible for dialogue. He asked whether it would have been better, in the case of Gozitans, if the advice was given by the Minister for Gozo.

Dr Said said that it did not matter whether the advice came from the minister for dialogue or for Gozo because it was the organisations that nominated members. The minister had no say.

Mr Cauchi asked whether any changes were envisaged in the composition of the Gozo Regional Committee. While all sectors in Malta were represented in the civil society, only three members were nominated for Gozo, This meant that certain sectors would not be represented and this needed to be addressed.

Dr Said confirmed that the composition would not change but that this was not an issue since an umbrella organisation for NGOs in Gozo nominated the three members; therefore all sectors would be represented.

Mr Cauchi noted that it was positive that local councils in Gozo would be represented and likewise, local councils in Malta should also be given this opportunity. Dr Said said that there was the need to find an adequate solution in order for local councils to be represented.

The Labour spokesman asked whether a mayor could represent an NGO. Dr Said said that ideally a broader spectrum should be represented. The issue would be tackled in the legal notice.