PD call on Prime Minister to bring amendments to Public Administration Act into force

Partit Demokratiku MP Godfrey Farrugia has asked the Prime Minister to bring into force a number of amendments to the Public Administration Act, introducing measures intended to safeguard good governance.

“As a sign of good will, as a unifying gesture so necessary to unite our beleaguered nation, still deeply divided after a brief and fierce electoral campaign, Hon Dr Marlene Farrugia and myself invite the Hon Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to issue the Legal Notices necessary to empower the following articles of The Administration Act Chapter 497 which to date are not yet in force,” he said in a media statement.

The recommended amendments to the Public Administration Act aim to affirm and implement the values of public administration and include making appointments by competitive selection on the basis of merit, guidelines on appointments to posts in the public service and the creation of a Merit Protection Commission to audit the appointment of employees of government agencies and government entities and verify that they are made in accordance with the law.

“With this meaningful act those amongst us who voted for good governance will be immediately appeased and made to feel acknowledged and respected,” said the PD in a statement, listing the proposals.

Such a move “will go a long way towards strengthening our young democracy” and augur well for the upcoming legislature, Farrugia said.