PN: Government preventing standards committee from carrying out its duties

The Nationalist Party has insisted the government is doing its utmost to obstruct the work carried out by the Committee for Standards in Public Life.

It said there have been a number of attempts by the Speaker of the House and Opposition committee members to convene the committee to no avail.

“PN members on the committee have requested the committee convene at least five times, while the Speaker tried twice to find a date which would be suitable for all members, but government representatives always said they were busy, or did not even reply,” the PN said.

The PN said this was another attempt by Robert Abela “and his friends” to evade the Standards in Public Life act.

“First they took the process to enact a new commissioner, and they are trying to prevent the committee from convening to prevent it from carrying out its duties,” a statement read.

Government members react

Reacting to the PN’s statements, the government’s committee members slammed the “partisan attitude” of the Opposition, in a letter to the Speaker.

In a letter authored by Justice Minister Jonathan Attard and PL Whip Andy Ellul, the PL “categorically denied that we directly or indirectly hampered or in any way obstructed the [Standards for Public Life] Committee from conducting and completing its work.”

We are confident that parliamentary courtesy demands a more respectful approach than political statements devoid of substance.”

The statement also noted the “contradictory behaviour of the Opposition, which in Parliament opposed a law put forth by the government to provide an anti-deadlock mechanism precisely with the aim that this very important office does not remain vacant due to the capricious attitudes of the PN.”

The statement further brought attention to the fact that the committee and all its members had met on April 19 2023 with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in order to discuss the proposals that were made and what is being done in this regard by the office of the Commissioner for the Standards in Public Life.

“We reaffirm our commitment to ensure that both the office of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life and the Parliamentary Committee continue with their work. In this regard, however, it would be good if all communication and proposals for meeting dates and times are coordinated through official means.”

“In light of the deplorable approach of the Opposition members, this letter may also be published to clarify our position as Government members on this committee,” the letter ended.