Minister says law gives him prerogative to appoint Transport Malta CEO

How does the Labour Party's former chief executive get directly appointed to the role of CEO of Transport Malta?

It is perhaps the first test of meritocracy for the new Labour government, or a desperate attempt at filling in the posts vacated by the men loyal to the former transport minister Austin Gatt.

But Transport Minister Joe Mizzi has defended his choice by referring to the Authority for Transport in Malta Act, that gives him the right to appoint TM's chief executive, especially following the resignation of Stanley Portelli from the top position earlier this week.

"James Piscopo has experience in management, he is a competent individual, and he will engage himself fully into the improvement of service at Transport Malta... the law itself refers to the minister's appointment of roles such as CEO of Transport Malta."

James Piscopo was seconded from Air Malta's accounts department in 2008 to take over Labour's day-to-day running, a move which aimed at undercutting the influence of then secretary-general Jason Micallef.

But Piscopo's appointment to chief executive of TM still flies in the face of Labour's criticism of similar appointments before, something that was latched on by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi today:

"Until some time ago, Labour criticised the appointment of MEPA's chief executive, without a call for applications... why is Labour doing what it had criticised in the past?"

Indeed, Labout never shied away from highlighting un-meritocratic appointments, such as that of Ian Stafrace, the MEPA chief executive who was formerly the authority's lawyer. When Stafrace and the director of environment Petra Bianchi were appointed to the MEPA board without any call for applications, the PL accused the Nationalist government of political interference.

Then again, Labour is looking for antidotes that can shake off the influence of former transport minister Austin Gatt, the Rottweiler of the Nationalist government.

Inside Transport Malta, a super-regulator that oversees land, maritime and civil aviation, the stakes were always high. Chairman Mark Portelli and chief executive Stanley Portelli's tendered their resignations not out of political courtesy, but because they would never function without Gatt as their patron.

Portelli himself had interests in maritime transport, as a director of family business Virtù Ferries, and as a shareholder with other similar business groups in the Manoel Island yacht yard: Midi plc, which runs its own marina at Manoel Island, and Victor Bezzina of Bezzina Ship Repair amongst them.

Transport Malta's chief officer of enforcement Ernest Tonna, enjoyed a double salary with his job at TM as well as the Malta Freeport's senior security manager, while being part of the PN's and Austin Gatt's security retinue.

Still, without Piscopo's efficient management of the Labour Party's daily affairs, his move into Transport Malta risks leaving the PL stripped off of the human resources it needs to keep the party well organised and reinvigorated after its successful electoral campaign. The new government has already 'raided' the Labour-leaning newsrooms of the island, tapping communications personnel and journalists from the party and even the GWU organs, to join the ministerial secretariats.