Surprise! Surprise! Some may find the comments of Mr Mario Cutajar, Principal Permanent Secretary, on The Malta Independent last Sunday inappropriate. Others may think his comments were in place and in order. I did find Mr. Cutajar comments out of order.
The Government Principal Permanent Secretary, Mr Cutajar is reported to have said in an extensive interview that persons of trust appointed within the administration are necessary. Indeed he is correct. But he is absolutely wrong when he stated that this is necessary after the Partit Laburista served 25 years in Opposition. This is certainly a politically biased comment and is not consonant with the office of the Principal Permanent Secretary. This comment is highly irregular and is politically motivated to appease his master.
His statement implies two things. Both are wrong. On one side of the coin, the implication in his comment is that persons with the necessary qualifications and expertise will not be called in because of their political affiliation. This is blatant political discrimination. On the other side of the same coin there is a camouflaged political comment. Mr. Cutajar tried to give the impression that during the previous legislatures persons were excluded because of their political beliefs or affiliation. On the contrary, the number of persons witha different political opinion or affiliation from that of the previous administration was endless. Persons from various professions and with a wide range of expertise were called in to give counsel and guidance irrespective of their political predispositions.It is pertinent to mention two esteemed gentlemen. One led the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. The other led Air Malta. Both are senior ministers in the PL Cabinet now. Successive PN administrations were open to a large extent to those who showed that they can and want to contribute effectively and diligently to the common good irrespective of their political leanings.
For a moment I will take Mr Cutajar comments as a slip of the tongue otherwise "TaghnaLkoll" was nothing more than an empty promise. I am certain many civil servants who opted for change for a wide range of reasons did not expect this style of management. They know that this style of management will only lead to nepotism and discrimination. Their career progression may well be on the firing-line. But I am prepared to give Mr Cutajar the benefit of the doubt. He may wish, or he may be ordered, by his masters to rephrase his comment to avoid further distress and commotion in the corridors leading to the Office of the Prime Minister.
If Mr. Cutajar honestly believes in what he said then this is the beginning of the end of the civil service. His comment and the application of his line of thought will gradually erode the motivation, confidence and trust of the many hardworking civil servants.The demarcation line between the executive and the proper administration should continue to be well defined and should be safeguarded by none other than the Principal Permanent Secretary himself. He should, at minimum, emulate the code of ethics and standards which were to a very high degree adopted by his predecessors. The demarcation lines were clear for everybody to follow.
The siege mentality, promoted by Mr Cutajar will unfortunately lead to the deterioration of the service one expects from all civil servantsregardless of theirpolitical beliefs. The civil service is expected to efficiently serve and implement in the best way possible the wide range of services the community may require from time to time.
The broad consensus amongst the social partners which supported the notion that the public sector should not be dragged in the political fray should continue to be sustained, possibly improved. The Principal Permanent Secretary should not in any way get involved in the political ramifications and should strive to protect the role and importance of the civil service. Should Mr Cutajar stand by his comment, which I hope he will be persuaded to drop, it would be another hint that civil servants like the rest of society are not equal in the eyes of the powers that be. Let us hope that those with the duty to stop this manoeuvring for political gain will do everything in their power before it would be too late.The Party in Opposition should take the challenge head-on and start plotting guiding lines for an independent and efficient civil service.