Only a few changes were made in top civil service posts after the last general election.

According to an internal memo, most of the permanent secretaries retained the same post they occupied in the last legislature. There were only a few exceptions.

There is a new permanent secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, an additional permanent secretary at the Ministry for Finance and a new permanent secretary at the Ministry for Education and Employment.

All the other permanent secretaries, except for Joseph Camilleri, who had served as permanent secretary in the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, retained their post.

Apart from Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar, the Office of the Prime Minister now has three permanent secretaries.

There were only a few exceptions

Joyce Dimech was confirmed as permanent secretary (strategy and implementation). She is joined by Vince Muscat, who moves from the Tourism Ministry and is in charge of financial services and identity, now falling under the Prime Minister’s wing.

Mr Muscat was succeeded by Ronald Mizzi, who was permanent secretary when Konrad Mizzi was minister within the Office of the Prime Minister. Dr Mizzi is the new Tourism Minister.

Joyce Cassar, a former director general within the Office of the Prime Minister, has been promoted to permanent secretary responsible for people and standards.

Anthony Gatt, the former permanent secretary at the Ministry for Competitiveness under Manuel Mallia, was moved to the Ministry for Energy and Water Management, headed by Joe Mizzi.

Former Education Ministry permanent secretary Joseph Caruana is succeeded by Frank Fabri, who was promoted to permanent secretary from director general.

The Finance Ministry now has two permanent secretaries. Mr Caruana will be responsible for administration while other aspects, such as budget and financial matters, will still be in the remit of Alfred Camilleri, one of the few permanent secretaries who also served under the previous Nationalist administration.

According to public service rules, only the Principal Permanent Secretary and the permanent secretary at the Finance Ministry are pegged to the topmost salary scale of the civil service (Scale 1 – €43,462 + benefits).

Asked whether Mr Caruana would be entitled to the same salary scale as Mr Camilleri, Mr Cutajar had still not replied by the time of writing.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com

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