As the audit officer at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) threatens to resign over the fact that the man he hand-picked to be appointed as investigative officer has not been reinstated, the Ombudsman has presented a possible solution to the problem.

In a memo sent to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant, Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino provided copies of correspondence between him and Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja.

Former Mepa investigative officer and PN official Carmel Caccopardo had applied for a post in the authority’s Environment Directorate, but later found that Martin Seychell had been chosen instead of him.

Mr Caccopardo had written to the Ombudsman, claiming that Mr Seychell was incompetent and that the Mepa chairman was biased against him.

Meanwhile, reinstated audit officer Joe Falzon has threatened to resign unless Mr Caccopardo is reinstated as investigative officer.

The Ombudsman has written to the Mepa chairman, saying that he does not believe he should go into the merit of the decision.

Nonetheless, he has sent a memo to PM Gonzi and Dr Sant, proposing a gradual change, so that there could be close collaboration between the Ombudsman and other institutions that carry out similar functions to that of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Such institutions, as listed by the Ombudsman, would include the University Ombudsman, the Commissioner for Children and the Police Board, among others.

Particular advantages of such a decision would be that this would strengthen the independence and autonomy of the institutions, and their investigative capacity.

The Office of the Ombudsman would start servicing the administration of the institutions, while at the same time providing technical support necessary to the specific investigation.