On 22 April, in a letter entitled ‘The Pubic Service Management Code and the EU Charter of Human Rights’, Diane Oswald claimed that a letter to The Malta Independent on Sunday of 25 March questioning a public officer’s freedom of speech as being limited by the Pubic Service Management Code (PSMC) was erroneous and referred to section 7.2.4 of the PSMC. I did some checking and found that the section dealt with sexual harassment and not a public officer’s relations with the media. On checking section 7.5.2.4, I came across this, which I copied: 7.5.2.4. Public officers should refrain from answering questions put to them by representatives of the media, irrespective of whether the information to be imparted is considered significant, trivial or already public knowledge. All inquiries should invariably be directed to the Department of Information.

Similarly, requests for press coverage of any government activity should be channelled through the Director of Information. Tip-offs to the press by public officers regarding any item of news which directly or indirectly concerns government or which concerns third parties but takes place within government precincts are similarly strictly prohibited.

Can you give feedback on this, Ms Oswald?

Michael Refalo

NADUR