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Karl Schembri
The Director of Local Government has told MaltaToday he has no intention of enforcing his own directive issued to the Ghajnsielem Local Council to sack a clerk who was unqualified for the job.
Replying to questions sent to his department, Natalino Attard said he had “no jurisdiction on the employment of local council employees and it is up to any injured party to bring a case against the council if he or she feels aggrieved by any decision taken by the council”.
His reply was in stark contrast with his earlier intervention last February, when he had informed in writing the Ghajnsielem council to remove clerk Bibiana Sultana from her post as “she had not enough qualification to remain in her current position”.
Instead of sacking her, the council awarded her full performance bonus after the warning. She was also about to be appointed Executive Secretary last year until the Gozo courts issued a prohibitory injunction stopping all procedures.
Sultana was employed as Ghajnsielem clerk five years ago with three O level certificates although local council regulations state that secretaries need at least five certificates. She has a grade 4 in Maltese, a C in Italian and a C in English. She also got a D in mathematics.
Even though in possession of less qualifications than other applicants for the same post, Sultana was recommended for the job of clerk by a board set up by the council in 2000.
Last year she was allowed by the council to apply for the post of executive secretary and also to process applications from other individuals interested in the post.
Ghajnsielem Mayor Frans Cauchi had agreed that Sultana had no qualifications when compared to other applicants for the post of executive secretary when contested in court but he defended her appointment.
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