Government started this week resolute and decided to remove John Rolé, the iconic pioneer of foster care in Malta, from his post at Agenzija Appoġġ only to retract it the day after following a public outcry.

John Rolé was involved in the setting up and in the running of the foster care unit at Agenzija Appoġġ thereafter. With his kind and gentle manner, he saw foster care in Malta grow from 27 foster carers in 1998 to 210 by the end of 2013 and from 27 fostered children to 270. With his persistent and unrelenting efforts, he pushed for the recognition of foster caring within society and with policy makers.

Fostering the foster care culture

And the service has since developed. A fostering team was established, procedural guidelines were drafted and a Child in Care benefit, as well as a special fund specifically for children under a care order, were introduced. In 2007, the first ever fostering act became law, after the then Minister Dolores Cristina obtained the required fiat from Lawrence Gonzi's Cabinet to present the bill in Parliament. Through all these years, foster care received political support rather than political intrusion.

In defence of the carer of carers

As soon as the unofficial news of Mr Rolé's removal was out, foster carers showed their concern - privately and in public - even through an on-line petition in favour of Mr Rolé and, in the final instance, in the interests of the fostered children. How could it be? He knew them all by name. He was there whenever they needed him. He stood up for them whenever duty called. The foster carers would not accept that the expert in the field, the most experienced and the one who actually cared so much about fostered children and foster carers alike had just got the axe. This was not the way to treat a gentleman who truly considers his job as a vocation.

Foster carers were expecting a review of the 2007 Act, as has been promised to them. They were expecting further support and access to better resources and services. They were expecting to have an evaluation of best practices and care plans to be able to offer a sense of permanency, security and stability to children for whom there is no hope of return to the family of origin. They were expecting more commitment but they were definitely not expecting this.

After all they are the modern-day heroes who have unselfishly offered these vulnerable children the love and care that only a family can provide.

Fostering Labourite meritocracy

Mr Rolé's transfer was a devastating blow to foster carers who come to love the children as if they are their own, so the public outcry is more than comprehensible. However, it should not be forgotten that in the last two years quite a few other dedicated civil servants, ranging from the Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces to the Chairman of the National Sports Council, have been unceremoniously ditched, despite serving their country well.

We were told by a Labour Opposition that "You may not vote for us but you can work with us" but the rolling heads syndrome of the Labour Government would simply not wither away.

The peculiar silence of the national broadcaster

In the midst of the Rolé controversy TVAM, the national broadcaster's Breakfast Show, invited the chairman of the Foundation of Social Welfare Services for an interview. The Foundation is Mr Rolé's employer. It was thus an excellent opportunity for the chairman to provide explanations but, even more so, a golden opportunity for PBS to engage in authentic investigative journalism and be the first with the Foundation's version of the facts.

There was nothing of the sort. On the contrary, it was utter silence, as if nothing had happened. This goes to show that the national broadcaster is progressively sinking to further lows, choosing to feed its audience cheap propaganda rather than factual information and genuine discussion.