Principal Permanent Secretary for Public Service Mario Cutajar announced FRiday that he will be retiring.

Speaking at a conference for Public Service Week 2022 in Ta’ Qali, Cutajar announced his retirement after 46 years as a public officer. Cutajar said he informed Prime Minister Robert Abela of his decision to retire when the previous legislature ended.

Cutajar said that Abela wished for him to stay on until the new government comes into place after the 2022 general election. Cutajar fulfilled Abela’s wish and said that his last public appearance would be at the Public Week Service conference.

“I was given the privilege of being a part of the public service, where we changed the way public service is given. Positive changes to strengthen the public service was made in short amounts of time, which improved its accessibility and efficiency,” Cutajar said in a speech.

Cutajar also said that recommendations from the Ombudsman regarding the public service have always been fulfilled.

“I will leave this position satisfied that we have managed to change the public service and have achieved several successes. I am convinced that we have left the public service better than how I found it,” he said.