Same ministry for home affairs and justice shows Labour's change of direction - de Marco

J. Borg

Mar 15th, 12:11

Contempt for the constitution is something that should worry everybody, but neither that, nor the politicisation of the civil service, seems to worry Labourites.

Are we surprised? No. People don't change, so why should the PL? This is exactly what Nationalists who know 'old' Labour feared -- and now it is starting to happen.

Gullible people of Malta, unite and believe in Malta Taghna Lkoll!!!

Mark Cassar

Mar 15th, 10:06

(continued) and yes..it is POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM first to attack a government because Home Affairs & Justice are 1 Ministry, and then doing the same thing yourself!
But well...now it is Malta taghna lkoll right?
Now we do what we want, we appoint whoever we want, in whatever position we want.
And NO, I am not feeling the pinch of defeat...I am just seeing coming to life what I had predicted!

Mark Cassar

Mar 15th, 10:03

@ all
It still too early to judge as several "happy with labour" commentors wrote here. Yet from what we have seen in barely 4 days we shall be in for several "nice" surprises.. 1st it was the political appointments in Civil Service & the OPM (which I may understand), then the Perm Sec's issue, then it was the Broadcasting Authority. Now the cabinet..they did the same thing which they criticised!

matthew tanti

Mar 15th, 08:36

the only controversial appointment is that of mario cutajar: the appointments of keith schembri and kurt farrugia were not, because their posts are political. godwin grima may have PN political opinions, but he was never publicly associated with the PN, unlike mario cutajar! he may be a competent civil servant, imma possibli m'hemmx iehor laburist kapaci daqsu u li mhux daqshekk militanti!

Ronnie Callus

Mar 15th, 08:03

D.Demarco ma' ridtx ukoll li xufier tal-Prim Ministru jkun l-istess li kellu Gonzi wkoll U . Ma' nahsibx li wiehed jilbes l-istess qalziet / hwejjeg ta' l-iehor !!

mike fenech

Mar 15th, 05:26

@Alfred Cassar, Mela issa kull ma jaghmel il-Gvern Laburista , kulhadd irid icapcaplu inkluz l-oppozizzjoni?

I was at the last PN mass meeting at Floriana and I saw thousands of people,yes icapcaplu lil Dr.Gonzi and chatting Gonzi Gonzi.Let me remind you and all that this man and his boys took 500 euros a week behind our backs. So please give this government a CHANCE to work.

Vince Piscopo

Mar 15th, 02:32

Always referring to the same past a tactic which surely did not work for PN. Are these the so called new people coming into rescue for the so called new PN? Lets at least hope to have a competent and constructive opposition who learnt its lesson from the recent humiliating defeat after failing its test in governance!

Mario Mizzi

Mar 15th, 02:06

So we have this as a summary of PL 1st days:
No Malta Taghna Lkoll, no meritocracy, no tista ma taqbilx... Permanent secretaries asked to resign and then BA asked to resign! Complete incompetence and ignorance of the constitution! And... no accountability... who is going to shoulder responsibility for this?
1) No true intention to work together
2) Incompetence and ignorace
3) No accountability

Christine Bajada

Mar 14th, 23:33

MEPA under de Marco - PN's biggest failure !

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Mar 14th, 23:01

Who introduced the system of Permanent Secretaries on a contract for a period of time ? If my memory does not fail me, it was Dr Austin Gatt who spearheaded the system.

As to the joining of the Ministry of Justice and that of Home Affairs (principally the police), it was Dr Guido Demarco who was the first such minister.

This is history.

D. Farrugia

Mar 14th, 22:11

Dr Demarco , For you a parliament secretary is Irrelevant? it means that you're trying to construct a campaign bit by bit for the position of PN Leader .But with a negative attitude you won't suceed.... Be positive!

Jay Aquilina

Mar 14th, 22:04

lil kull min ivvota ghal PN, ghadkom ma tistghux tnizluha li hadtu tkaxxkira nobis, qisu l PN biss irid ikunghal malta. tafu li qass gimgha m ghaddiet mir rizultat glorjuz u ghalikom qisu ghaddew 4 snin bil kitba tal passat taghkom? hatu ftit cans marelli. insomma bid deni li ghad ghandkom kollox possibli lol

salvu calleja

Mar 14th, 21:55

OH yes..... looks like it's hard for Dr Demarco to detach himself from the old politics, the verdict is casted loud & clearly, and if Dr Demarco is going to contest the leadership with this GonziPn attitude I can see no bright future for the Nationalist Party

P Caruana

Mar 14th, 21:19

Dr. De Marco, although we don't share the same political views, I always admired you as a gentleman. Don't change your attitude now from opposition.
Playing negative will take you nowhere. You well know the result of that !!!
After 25 years, you now need to sit back and allow the party chosen by the MAJORITY of the people to govern. I am sure Mr. Cutajar will prove you wrong. Good luck Mr. Cutajar

Alfred Farrugia

Mar 14th, 21:04

Does Hon. Dr. de Marco remember when senior Civil Servants who had academic qualifications lost their seniority as a result of an ad hoc ’exam’ and interview during the time of the PN administration? A couple of hours were given more importance than a career and years at the university!

Hugo Mizzi

Mar 14th, 20:43

All the highest grades in the Public Service including Permanent Secretary were expected to tender their
resignation by the eve of the general election held last Saturday 09/03/2013. If they did not adhere to this provision in the Public Service Management Code it is a shortcoming of the previous Nationalist Govt.
The newly elected Prime Minister would have only had to accept their resignations.

Ronald Cauchi

Mar 14th, 20:12

The permanent secretaries under a nationalist government were on a three year contract. They did not rise through merit and seniority which is how the civil service on the British pattern used to be. Their only qualification was loyalty to the government. This is a far cry from what some of us remember the civil service used to be a long time ago.So the new government is doing exactly the same.

P Sciberras

Mar 14th, 19:40

Dr De Marco, it looks that the Wipe Out your party had just suffered did not taught you a lesson. This type of a negative approach of everything the PL has has said during the last 5 years, and again started on day one, of this government, is only music for whats left of the once PN. I wish that this type of approach will continue, as it keep draining what's left of the PN survivors.

Ms Sandra Grech

Mar 14th, 19:38

Well done Dr DeMarco! Isn;t firing of civil staff illegal? Why not take it to the EU?

A. Mizzi

Mar 14th, 19:36

MALTA TAGHNA ILKOLL , Dr. Demarco mhux tieghek u tal-PN biss!

Nahseb li l-PL ghandhu dritt jiehu xi decisjoni l'hemm u l'hawn?

Joseph Grech Attard

Mar 14th, 19:30

If this is the man who would be contesting to head the PN, then the party would be stuck where it is today! If what Mario Cutajar did is unconstitutional, PS should take him to court! The USA changes not only PS but also all ambassadors, etc. PS need to work very close to the government in power & are not there to 'keep in check' or 'lick' ministers. That is the old, rejected way of doing politics

Paul Galea

Mar 14th, 19:28

Fejn hu issa Franco Debono?

carmel parnis

Mar 14th, 19:04

Allura issa ghandna x nifhmu li il is segretarji permanenti li se jinhatru se jkunu political appointees ?

Victor Vella

Mar 14th, 19:04

as a shocking change - It is better for DeMarco to talk about the shock that he and his party took last Saturday. Demarco or his party are going to talk about shocks, irregularity and bafflement. It is better that first try to gather his party from the dust and just does to more than half of the Maltese good to shut his mouth and hide.

P Bonnici

Mar 14th, 18:59

Dr Demarco, your government had plenty of time to separate the ministries, yet you failed.

I am very disappointed with the PL and the double standards. That's dishonest politicians for you, from both parties.

Edmond Micallef

Mar 14th, 18:57

It seems that even from the opposition, after the mammoth bashing endured by the electorate, Dr De Marco and Co. want to keep on dictating their agenda.

Thank you, but no thank you mate.

Although under the same ministry, home affairs and justice are the portfolio of two able but different lawyers - managed differently but complimentary to each other at the same time.

Relax Dr. de M, relax.

Charles Massa

Mar 14th, 18:56

Dr Demarco l ewwel nett hemm zewg persuni differenti u mhux persuna wahda bhal ma kien fil cabinet taghkom. U mhux ahjar tara is sitwazzjoni fil PN

Henry S Pace

Mar 14th, 18:56

' "The appointment and removal of permanent secretaries is defined in the Constitution of Malta which states that Permanent Secretaries are appointed and removed '

Should we consider that this request is Unconstitutional ?

Susan Cassar

Mar 14th, 18:54

Thank you Dr Demarco for pointing this out ...keep a sharp eye out on these guys ghax jghidu haga u pup mill ewwel jagħmlu kontra irrid nafdhom imma difficli ha naraw..ghax mux imbilli 'change of direction' issa narawl'fejn!

Henry S Pace

Mar 14th, 18:54

'Mario Cutajar's appointment as designate head of the Civil Service as 'a means to

politicise the public service'

This is the American style of running the administration,

Henry S Pace

Mar 14th, 18:51

Way back in 2012 Pl intention was that Carm Mifsud Bonnic would be forced to resign.

Obviously fit the vote of the most intelligent Franco Debono.

joseph camilleri

Mar 14th, 18:34

well said Dr.DeMarco

Carmel Camilleri

Mar 14th, 18:26

What has Franco Debono and company to say now about the Police and Justice porfolios being held under the same MInistry?????????

Paul Caruana

Mar 14th, 18:12

Come off it, Dr Demarco...the civil service has always been heavily politicized....in the PN's favour! The current administration is simply taking preemptive steps, within our constitutional boundaries, to ensure that there are no spokes in the wheels of the administrative branch of government.

Henry J Bonett

Mar 14th, 18:06

The system kept all the outgoing Ministers in check!!! Come on, please, It is clear we still have learnt nothing from what has happened to the Party. Shooting from the hip will get the party nowhere. It needs to regroup.

Eve Axiaq

Mar 14th, 18:03

U hallina sur Demarco! Ghidilna qabel kemm kien hemm laburisti Kastilja u permanent secretaries. U xi nghidu ghal Dar Malta fi Brussels?
Din li se tibqghu tpingu lilkhom infuskom li dejjem kontu fuq is- sewwa u fair ma kullhadd mhu se twassalkom imkien, kif filfatt gara. Ahjar ma titkellmu xejn.

Pippo de Marco

Mar 14th, 17:54

I would want every shred of the old regime out of the way after so many years of one party government. Besides, how 'impartial' were the PS's anyway ?

But it is a major mistake for Justice not to have its own Ministry. Perhaps PL doesn't have enough in-house legal expertise, or maybe they are just waiting for a casual election and the political return of FRANCO ? :-)

V. Cauchi

Mar 14th, 17:54

The motive behind PermSecs was to have a resident top civil servant in a Ministry who would guarantee policy/administrative continuity notwithstanding political/personal change of Minister. Soon Ministers were transmigrating PSs with them as personal acquisitions and subjecting them to performance contracts. Moreover there was the bane of non-fixed dicasteries w/in ministries, unlike Italy/France.

Joseph Attard

Mar 14th, 17:54

An excellent analysis by Dr Demarco. The pale blue is already shifting to pink....before inevitably turning red.

Geoffrey Farrugia

Mar 14th, 17:48

Qed tara Mario x'jigri meta thalli il-korruzzjoni, neputizmu u klijentelizmu jahkmu l-gvern u l-partit.

Li kieku hadtu hsieb toqghodu attenti u taraw li ma jsirux hnizrijiet, fosthom fil-Qorti, kien ikun hemm cans ikbar li tibqghu fil-Gvern. Issa troppo tardi. It-tort ta' dak li jista' jigri (ghadu kmieni biex tiggudika) fuqkom qieghed u hadd izjed. Issa ghamel kuragg u issaporti.

George Sciberras

Mar 14th, 17:45

Mario de Marco is a sore loser. He should have helped his Party close the gap. He is now the armchair critic pointing fingers at everyone, conveniently forgetting he was the Minister responsible for MEPA for three years.

Saviour Aquilina

Mar 14th, 17:44

Where is Franco Debono to give JM a lesson on Minister of Justice and Home affairs?? Or now its ok for HIM?

J. Grech

Mar 14th, 17:34

Would be interesting to hear what Franco Debono has to say about this.

Joseph Fenech

Mar 14th, 17:31

Mid - dehra Franco Debono sar aktar IRRELEVANTI ghal Labour. Inqdew bih, ghasru kull nitfa propaganda minnu u issa wara ir - Rebha, marru kontra dak li kien jippriedka u li l - PN kien diga ghamel, jigifieri fiered il - Ministeri tal - Gustizzja u l - Intern. U biex jumiljaw lil Dr. Herrera ghamluh taht Manwel Mallia

Chris Calleja

Mar 14th, 17:20

The civil servant is permanent, it is the minister that changes. Continuation in government is actually required, if this is stopped, then we will have to restart afresh every five years!! But on the other hand are we sure 'The Permanent Secretary has to advise the Minister regarding what is doable and feasible, and what is not.' has been occurring?

Joseph Borg

Mar 14th, 17:15

Demarco refrained from being part of the negative campaign orchestrated by the PN before the election. Apparently he has now forgot that that type of campaign has led to the PN's historical defeat. He wants to follow the path of Simon Busuttil and Pawlu Borg Olivier.

The more PN officials continue expressing such a destructive approach, the less the chances of bringing back the PN to its glory.

Tarcisio Bonello

Mar 14th, 17:14

Did Mr. Mario Cutajar consult Dr. Joseph Muscat before asking for resignations ?

My feeling is that If he acted alone then he should be dismissed for not following the Government's new way of dealing with these matters.

I also feel that Dr. Muscat should give us and Mr. Schultz an explanation of what happened here.

We are European after all.

Paul Meilak

Mar 14th, 17:08

Dan Gvern Ipokrita .

LJN Galea

Mar 14th, 17:08

I think that Hon. Dr.Mallia is much more competent than Dr.Karm Mifsud Bonnici where disaster struck when he took over!!!

Alan Deidun

Mar 14th, 16:56

spot on, as always Dr. Demarco!

Mr Lawrence Calleja

Mar 14th, 16:56

Li tpoggi l-Ministeru tal-Gustizzja bhala second class ghall dak Tal-Ministeru ta' l-Intern hi buzullotta. Kien il-PN li wara li nehha din il-buzullotta, poggihom fl-istess livell ta' Ministeru, u wara ghamilhom zewg Ministeri separati. Izda Muscat rega tefghana snin kbar lura. God hear us, God graciously hear us.

Martin Saliba

Mar 14th, 16:53

He also described Mario Cutajar's appointment as designate head of the Civil Service as 'a means to politicise the public service' sur de marco , ed tijd li liehor kien laburist ? Ijad tijd li pozizjoni bhal dik tmur ghan nazjonalist ? Int taf bizejed li in nies ta madwarek trid tkun taf bcertu certeza li huma lejali 100%. Halli pozizjonijiet ohra imorru ghand minn haqqu u mux minn nafu .