Malta for all indeed (1)

The decision by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to retain Marlene Bonnici as Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU in Brussels sparked comments that reflect political bias rather than respect for the truth.

When Eddie Fenech Adami (then Prime Minister) appointed me to the vacant post of permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the result of the general election in May 1987, one of my main tasks was to restart the recruitment of officers on a professional basis to replace appointments based on political bias. One way was public calls for applicants to scholarships for courses at Oxford University meant specifically for diplomats.

Bonnici was one of the successful applicants. Word had reached my ears that she came from a family with known sympathies for the Labour Party that had emigrated to Australia and returned to Malta.

I decided not to share this information with the selection board and she was unanimously chosen on her own merits.

Bonnici’s performance justified her choice and she received a number of promotions culminating in that of Permanent Representative in Brussels to succeed Richard Cachia Caruana under the outgoing Administration.

I was one of the few to congratulate her publicly following this the appointment.

The age of ‘Malta for all’ started many years ago. May it go on to be respected in deeds.