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Karl Schembri
The former Chief Executive of Forum Malta fl-Ewropa set up by the Foreign Ministry to merge MEUSAC and MIC says the new structure “never took off” because it “depended on instructions from the ministry”.
Sylvia Sciberras, who handed her resignation from the forum at the end of last April after just six months heading it, told MaltaToday that “had the forum been autonomous, it would have functioned perfectly” – a charge the ministry strongly denies by hitting back at Sciberras for being mostly abroad during her term and not being able to dedicate enough time to Forum.
While refraining from divulging the reasons behind her resignation, Sciberras said: “In my opinion, the Forum never took off not because it was not given a clear role by government but because it depended more on instructions from the Ministry. It lacked the autonomy.”
“I resigned from Forum Malta fl-Ewropa at the end of April, 2006. My reasons for resigning were first given verbally to the Permanent Secretary followed by a letter which was copied to the Minister where I referred to the conversation I had with the Permanent Secretary and during which I had specified the reasons for my resignation. It is unethical on my part to divulge the reasons.”
Since her resignation, the forum has remained without a chief executive.
During her term, Sciberras still remained a GRTU Council member and a member of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
“The ministry was fully aware of my position,” she said. “I do not see any conflict of interest since my participation complemented my work at the Forum and enabled me to liaise better with Civil Society.”
But according to the minister’s spokesman, Chris Scicluna, Sciberras “had agreed to gradually cut down on her commitments abroad” before taking up the post on the forum.
“These commitments were taking up most of her time and she was asked to choose between her post at Forum Malta and her commitments abroad,” Scicluna said. “It was mutually agreed that the commitments in ECOSOC could not co-exist with her role as CEO Forum Malta fl-Ewropa.”
Launched a year ago by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, the forum was intended to incorporate the functions of the Malta-EU Information Centre and the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC).
Meanwhile the foreign ministry is currently awaiting clearance from the Public Service Commission to employ new staff to serve on the forum.
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