Over the past decade I have worked directly with a large number of civil servants. I share with you a personal reflection on my experience in this field. I must admit that the sudden shift from my legal profession to the organisational structures of the civil service was, to say the least, extremely challenging

On my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs in 2003, I had no idea what to expect. Prior to entering the Casa Leoni offices at St Venera my perceptions of the civil service were unclear because my only dealings with them up to that day were only limited to our exchange of correspondence regarding legal issues.

On my second day in the office I remember requesting a high-ranking official to organise the setting up of a computer. Incidentally, the computer that landed on my desk was the same one that had been formerly used by George Pullicino when he occupied that office. The official did not mince his words and remarked, perhaps sarcastically: “Hold on a moment! Welcome to the Civil Service. Things move along at a snail’s pace here”.

As a newcomer, that comment was, to say the least, less than enticing. I felt my patience wearing thin for the installation process to begin. Fortunately, however, my computer was up and running by the end of the day. From that moment onwards I gradually grasped all that was fundamentally necessary in order to establish and develop effective and successful working relationships with these officials, always bearing in mind that my role within the Ministry was of a temporary nature. When my time is up I leave, whereas officials would stay on.

I must also confess that initially I endured some difficulty in coming to terms with my role as the parliamentary secretary, performing on the outer rungs of a full ministerial position. I was not politically responsible for any department. Actually, it took me a while to fathom the fact that the person who retained a central position and was accountable for the performance of the ministry and all the departments attached to it, was in fact the minister.

It also took me some time to discover the varying degrees of talent that lurks within the civil service. My daily tasks inevitably brought me closer to establish communication channels with them on a variety of issues. Eventually I found out that this organisation did, in fact, hold the potential for helping me reach those targets that were assigned to me by the minister. After fully understanding its administrative structures, I could somehow predict the success or failure of the various tasks and projects that were at hand.

During the course of gauging the personal qualities of the government employees I was dealing with, I realised that the civil service is composed of cautious, but bright, persons who are ready to serve and assist the nation in making progress– persons who are fully aware that one fine day they too may be publicly criticised or get entangled in some political controversy.

The civil service is duty bound to abide by a defined set of administra-tive rules and procedures which serve to uphold the principles of good governance. When issues such as setting up a project or enhancing human capacity arise as a result of political or ministerial strategies, one must follow a clear set of procedures, albeit beaurocratic. However, full compliance with these procedures ensures that the administration steers clear of possible criticism.

Throughout all the years that I have shouldered the heavy burden of my responsibilities, I have always approached my tasks with great caution. I became so accustomed to this stance that during the course of my daily routine I was always harping on the importance of following all administrative procedures to the slightest detail.

Quite frankly, the civil service welcomes this approach in the course of its working relationships with politicians. Furthermore, government policies cannot and should not be dictated from behind desks in a manner that is normally synonymous with right-wing dictators. Patience, humility, and a readiness to listen and understand are the principal key elements that help to move things forward.

Having worked directly with the civil service, I can assure you that there are numerous persons out there who are eager to work and assist. Unfortunately, though, there were some who initially, for reasons best known to themselves but pretty obvious to most, attempted to create obstacles and stifle change. Over time however, they too became part of a motivated team.

My experiences of the civil service over these years were indeed very positive. The level of support and cooperation extended to me by this Organisation throughout the several administrative projects that I created was indeed tremendous. The progress of a nation hinges heavily on a combination of political will and the civil service’s ability to implement policies. On a separate note, I honestly feel that the criticism that is occasionally directed at the public sector is uncalled for and unfair.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who have helped me perform my duty towards the country. To those who were less cooperative: a gentle reminder that the salary they draw is paid for by the people.

Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici is a Nationalist Member of Parliament