It is ridiculous that, proportionately speaking, Malta is the country in Europe with the most departments and ministries within the public service, and yet it is the least productive, Azzjoni Nazzjonali deputy leader Anglu Xuereb said yesterday.

AN believes that the public service needs to be reduced in size and if the departments and ministries are made smaller they will be more hands-on and less bureaucratic, he told a news conference.

“We were the first to talk about The Whistleblower Act, and now even the Prime Minister has mentioned it in his party manifesto,” said Mr Xuereb.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) studies have shown that we have one of the highest percentages of people in the public service in Europe and this only leads to more bureaucracy, he said.

“Take, for example, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. There are about 450 persons involved, and yet an application process can take years and years to be approved, and this is not fair. Also, it is not acceptable that the heads of department change each time according to who is in government. It is important that they begin to function independently from ministerial interference. The Mepa Auditor’s Report shows clearly how the minister influenced a decision taken in breach of regulations and ethics. This demonstrates the low level to which the public service has fallen,” said Mr Xuereb.

AN does not want Malta to remain a “nation of beggars”, where people have to go and beg at the minister’s office to ask for favours. The Maltese are being brainwashed politically because they have to be of a certain political colour in order to obtain a favour.

Mr Xuereb also said: “The various departments need targets, assessments and accountability. We also believe that if the government does not have ministers who are suitably qualified for a particular area, then a small number of technocrats from the private sector need to be appointed, and these can be remunerated with fiscal incentives,” said Mr Xuereb.