Only three of the previous 10 permanent secretaries who served at ministries under the former administration have been retained, as the Government yesterday announced 14 appointments to the posts.

The Office of the Prime Minister said there would be a transition period and the permanent secretaries who have not been kept would be “utilised” in projects compatible with their grade. This means everyone’s potential would be made use of, the OPM said.

One of the first acts of the newly elected Labour government had been to invite all permanent secretaries to submit their resignations.

Sources said only one refused to do so: Chris Ciantar, who worked at Wasteserv and later became permanent secretary at Mr Pullicino’s Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs.

Under the new appointments, permanent secretary Paul Zahra has been retained from the previous administration but now takes over at the Ministry of European Affairs. The two others who have been kept on are James Calleja at the Ministry of Education and Alfred Camilleri at the Ministry of Finance.

Joseph Cole has become permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Borg at the Ministry of Tourism, Brian Montebello at the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Environment and Joseph M. Callus at the Ministry of Transport and the Infrastructure.

Joyce Dimech is now the permanent secretary at the Ministry for Gozo, Joseph Camilleri takes over at the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Rights, Paulanne Mamo at the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and SMEs, Mark Musu at the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family, Kevin Mahoney at the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security, while Mario Rodgers is permanent secretary at the Ministry for Energy and Water Conservation, with Joseph Rapa at the Ministry of Health.