The Malta Union of Professional Psychologists has called on the psychologists’ board to resign over claims of injustices and favouritism in the awarding of warrants.

Replying to a question by The Malta Independent, union president Bernard Caruana called for the resignation and added that “with such a scandal, the only honourable solution is to resign”.

But the Family and Social Solidarity Ministry later said that the main bones of contention raised by the MUPP were resolved through documentation of all correspondence and results of meetings held between the two sides. The board also issued a statement, saying that its duties are to work in the public interest.

In a press conference given before the presentation of warrants, Mr Caruana said the union has always said that some of the board members are not professionals and, to make it even worse, some are not even psychologists.

He said the board decided not to award a warrant to Mariella Blackman, who graduated as a counselling psychologist in 1995 and who has been a practicing psychologist ever since.

Ms Blackman, who is the union’s vice-president, was not awarded her warrant yesterday after the board decided – unilaterally – that her degree, which she got from a London university, is not equivalent to the degree you would get in Malta. But Ms Blackman is in possession of a letter from the University of Malta that her degree is equivalent.

Ms Blackman wrote to the board providing it with a copy of this letter but the reply was that the board will not meet just to discuss her case. Mr Caruana said the union has a number of other complaints but said he was not in position to comment about them since the union has not investigated them yet.

The board is composed of Mary Anne Agius as chairman and Dr Evelyn Caruana Demajo, Olivia Galea Seychell, Patrick J. Psaila, Dr Angela Abela and Dr Sandra Scicluna Calleja as members. Anne Scolaro is secretary to the board.

Mr Caruana said each of the board members should disassociate himself or herself from the decision not to award Ms Blackman her warrant. Moreover, Mr Blackman said that she was holding them personally responsible for damages and promised that “the issue will not stop here”. She mentioned the Ombudsman and the Law Courts as possible avenues.

Ms Blackman said that with the warrant granted in London after she completed her degree, she can work anywhere in the world but in her home country this is not possible because of a board which decided not to grant the warrant.

“This is blatant injustice and favouritism. People who are not professionals are assessing the professionals. I do not know on which grounds the board decided not to award me my warrant but the truth will surface. This is just the beginning,” she said.

As a sign of protest, the executive members of the Union of Professional Psychologists did not attend the ceremony during which a number of psychologists were awarded their warrants. The warrants were distributed by Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina during a ceremony at the Mediterranean Conference Centre yesterday afternoon.

In a statement issued through the Department of Information, the Family and Social Solidarity Ministry said that it was a pity that the ceremony, a first for psychologists in Malta, has had to be marred by the union’s concerns.

The main bones of contention raised by the MUPP are also proven to be resolved through documentation of all correspondence and results of meetings held between the two sides.

The ministry said that the question of the Malta Psychology Profession Board’s legitimacy has been explained and proven to MUPP time and again.

The MUPP was informed that applications for warrants were kept sealed by the board’s secretary until the eligibility criteria were established and agreed upon by all board members, including MUPP’s own representative on the board.

Two so-called “solutions” suggested by MUPP have also been thoroughly discussed, the ministry said. One falls outside the remit of the ministry and as such must be looked into by the associations concerned, namely the setting up of a Forum for Psychology in Malta. The second, referring to the co-option of another representative of MUPP on the board, is not permitted by the Act itself which specifies that the board should not have more than seven members. On both counts the ministry followed legal advice.

The board chose not to grant the warrant to Ms Blackman in line with the established criteria which were laid out in full transparency. The board is correct in following this criteria. As has already been explained to the applicant and the union, once MUPP’s vice-president submits necessary documentation proving eligibility, the board may recommend that MUPP’s vice-president be granted a warrant at a later date, the ministry said.

The psychologists’ board also issued a statement, saying that its responsibility is first and foremost in the public’s interest and that its duties are to carry out its work according to the law.

The board said that the applicant in question had, over some months, failed to provide the necessary documentation within the established deadlines.

No application had been opened before the criteria had been established, the board said.