With reference to Mr Schiavone’s letter in response to mine of 22 April, I would like to point out to him that I am more familiar with the case than he thinks.

The Ombudsman’s conclusion that there “was no misconduct” on the Ministry’s part does not mean that there was no responsibility. Mr Schiavone, if I “accidentally” got hold of your wallet containing €2,700 and there was no “misconduct” on my part, am I not morally compelled to return to you all your money? Of course, I am! And don’t insult anyone’s intelligence by saying otherwise! Now, the situation is that, legally, I only have to give you some €1,000, but you have to give up any legal claims connected with the case. You have to give up the €1,700 and accept the sop to Cerberus as ex gratia, which I have been told means out of the kindness of the Ministry’s heart. And if the Ministry is not to blame, then who is? Why didn’t you tell the readers that the teacher’s case involved a department under the Ministry of Education’s authority that wrongly evaluated the teacher’s MA degree and for 12 years he was underpaid by Lm100. The Ministry never provided any justification for that evaluation.

One more thing, Mr Schiavone, you say there is no bullying – can you explain how this teacher concerned was once employed as a casual teacher in spite of having an MA and teaching experience simply because he was not a citizen of Malta and therefore did not have a vote! And then, when dual citizenship was allowed, he was considered a Maltese from birth! That is a contradiction! Even if he weren’t Maltese, if he had the qualifications he should have been paid and given the benefits like any other teacher – not to do so is discriminatory and discrimination is bullying. I remember reading about this in past letters to the Independent a few years back.

So, Mr Schiavone, if the Ministry is not to blame, then why doesn’t it say who is? All I know is that the Ombudsman recommended the Ministry to pay and it would be silly if he got the ‘innocent’ to pay while the ‘guilty’ go free. And if the Ministry is so generous of heart that it wants to pay ex gratia, then it should have done so from the start and save the Ombudsman and everybody else all that trouble.

Here in Gozo, Mr Schiavone, everybody gets to know each other’s business – small grapevine.

Mary Camilleri

VICTORIA