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James Debono
More than two months after the MEPA board agreed to re-appoint architect Joe Falzon as its auditor, parliament finally convened to confirm the appointment of the man whose reports have long been a thorn in the side for Environment Minister George Pullicino and MEPA.
Government MPs showered praise on Falzon, with Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici declaring: “We are confirming Joe Falzon because he is doing a good job… He might be slow but his pace is sure.”
Environment Minister George Pullicino referred to people asking him: “How can you have an auditor who is so negative about MEPA?”
Pullicino replied that the auditor serves a role of verification and a redress for the common citizen. But despite confirming the auditor in his post after keeping him in limbo since the end of February, there was no unanimous agreement in parliament on whether all reports prepared by the auditor should be made public.
It was opposition deputy Charles Buhagiar who called for the publication of all reports prepared by the Auditor. But while Pullicino stopped short of a blanket “no” to the publication of reports, he defended instances where these reports should not be “externalised.”
Pullicino referred to a letter sent by Ombudsman Said Pullicino in February, stating that “the office of the auditor should not be seen to be in contrast and act as if it were in a state of continuous conflict with the authority, but rather as a means to promote its efficiency.”
Pullicino defended instances where the publication of a report does not “give the desired result for the progress of the Authority.”
Asked by Charles Buhagiar why the reports are not published, Pullicino replied that these reports are already made available to complainants, who can pass them on to the media. “Judging from what I see in the media, these decisions are accessible.”
But Buhagiar replied that he was not even given a list of the auditor’s decisions when he requested them in parliament.
Government MP Mario Galea went on to suggest that the auditor, like the ombudsman, should publish his case notes in an annual publication.
“This is an initiative taken by the ombudsman. Nothing keeps the auditor from doing likewise,” said Galea.
Buhagiar expressed agreement with Galea’s suggestion but Pullicino remarked that the auditor already published details on particular cases and that these are published in MEPA’s annual report.
Charles Buhagiar insisted that as an architect he had a right to know what the MEPA auditor had to say on particular cases.
“We should not only know about decisions made public by those making the compliant. Architects should know the contents of these reports which can be relevant in their appeals against particular decision.”
Pullicino was more hesitant, insisting that one should not confuse the role of the auditor with that of other legal bodies.
“The auditor does not express a judgment on any case but investigates whether MEPA followed the correct procedure. He does not say whether a complaint is right or wrong. He is concerned with the procedure.”
Charles Buhagiar insisted that the reports should be published so that the country becomes aware of MEPA’s shortcomings and a national debate takes place in order to address these shortcomings.
Pullicino replied that public discussion is already taking place in the media. He also pointed out that making all reports accessible would require a change to the law.
Charles Buhagiar also touched another of Minister George Pullicino’s raw nerves: asking him about Carmel Cacopardo’s role in the Auditor’s Office.
“Cacopardo is a person chosen by the auditor to assist him in his work. The law does not provide for the appointment of assistants to the auditor. We should not discuss this person. This is a matter which I leave to the MEPA board.”
Carmel Cacopardo’s term in the Audit Office expired a week ago. This means that when Joe Falzon is formally re-appointed he will lack the services of an investigator. Effectively the Audit Office will remain until Cacopardo is reconfirmed by the MEPA board.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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