On Friday evening the Public Service recognised the work of public officers who stood out in their work during the past year, in a ceremony held under the patronage of the President Dr George Vella, and which brought to an end the first edition of the Public Service Expo.

In his speech, the Head of the Public Service Tony Sultana described the public officer as the greatest resource that the Public Service has, and stated that such occasions reward motivation, innovation and the officer’s sense of belonging.

The absolute majority of this year’s awards were open to nominations from public officers themselves. Almost 300 nominations were received, a Department of Information statement said.

The awards given were the following:

Best Green Initiative was awarded to Engineer Ramon Tabone from the Directorate of Engineering at Mater Dei Hospital. Tabone worked on a project where he reduced the waste of heat from the hospital’s chillers, by utilizing this same energy to heat wards and domestic water. It is estimated that one million liters of fuel was saved, and carbon emissions were reduced by more than three million kilograms.

Best Digital Solution was awarded to the Information Management Unit of the Ministry for Social Policy, for the development of the platform 'mySocialSecurity.' This tool offers personalied social services, where an applicant may view what benefits one is eligible for.

Inclusion Award was given to the Community Policing team in Marsa. This team has established several activities leading to more inclusion in the community, as well as serving as a bridge between minority groups and the authorities.

Inspiring Social Responsibility Award was given to the Malta Food Agency, for the distribution of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish to soup kitchens and food banks.

Project of the Year was awarded to the Department of Active Aging and Community Care for the 'Dar Padova' project, a clinic with a number of holistic services under one roof for the elderly in Gozo, also providing the facility of a night shelter.

Team Recognition Award was given to the Industrial Relations Unit (IRU) within the People and Standards Division, for its work on workers' conditions, in particular with their negotiation and conflict resolution skills in their daily work.

Quality Award was given to Business First, after consistently obtaining positive results in quality internal controls of the Public Service. The Passport office and the eID office within Identity Malta, the Office for Consular Services, the One-Stop-Shop for Public Officers and Health Care Funding have obtained the Quality Label.

Best Practice in Good Governance Award was awarded to the Standards Authority for Social Care, after the National Audit Office (NAO) described this authority in a recent audit as a ‘fine example in good governance’.

Role Model Award was given to Police Constable Aiden Brignone Carachi, who was described by his colleagues as a diligent and ethical person who carries out his duty carefully. He was instrumental in saving from death a person who was suffering a stroke and was not accepting help.

The final recognition of 'Outstanding Effort Award' was also given by the Head of Public Service Tony Sultana, to the Civil Protection team. These officers were recognized for going abroad last February and assist the victims of the earthquake in Turkey.

In his address at the ceremony, President of Malta George Vella said that renewal has become part of the present and future of the work of officials and workers in the Public Service. During the Public Service Awards Ceremony, the President stated that work within the Public Service can never be static. “The Public Service itself must always evolve and change, to meet the needs of a dynamic society. We all understand that technological advancements play a central role in further achieving this goal”, said President Vella.

The President remarked that in the modern context of everyday life, while a large part of the population—such as the elderly—still seeks face-to-face public services in departments and offices, there is a growing percentage which seeks to be served in the shortest time and with the least inconvenience possible. This, said President Vella, clearly shows the value of mobile technology that offers immediate solutions, without leaving one’s home and wasting long hours in queues or on the phone. “In today’s fast-paced life, these services are no longer considered a luxury, but rather have become a necessity,” added the President in his speech.

Before the Public Service Awards Ceremony, President Vella and Mrs Vella visited the Public Service EXPO, which is held for the first time this year. The President noted that this created a lot of space for new ideas and visions which will further strengthen the efficiency of the Service. “I have seen public officials skilfully implementing and, on several occasions, even developing solutions. This is also an element of the new face of the Public Service because it also offers specialised careers with various skills”, said the President.

This desire for the Public Service to reach ever higher levels, said President Vella, is evident considering that the Maltese Public Service has been certified as the best country in Europe in eGovernment, year after year, by the European Commission. The President stressed that Maltese and Gozitan citizens expect a motivated and ambitious Public Service that invests in the future.

The President thanked all public officials for their commitment and congratulated the officials and departments receiving awards for their work in various fields.