48 whistleblowing reports lodged with Justice Ministry

48 whistleblowing reports were lodged with the Ministry of Justice since the law was enacted in 1 September 2013 and came into force in 1 January.

As yet, there are however no available statistics on the reports of alleged corruption being investigated by the different ministries and departments. The Minister for Justice is now considering setting up a centralised unit, to oversee the whistleblowing officers in each and every ministry or government entity.

A year after the Whistleblowing Act was enacted in parliament, a seminar was help to take stock of the impact of the law.

Godwin Pulis, employed by the Justice Minister to coordinate the calls that came in, said that he held around 48 meetings with different people.

Those who wanted to report a wrongdoing were calling to the justice ministry, after which Pulis would guide them to the proper officers who would take in their report.

“We noticed that the majority of reports were being lodged by third parties, such as an elderly reporting a wrongdoing that had happened before his eyes. We also noticed that some of them would not follow up their report with the correct persons they would have been directed to,” Pulis said.

The Whistleblowing Act was enacted to offer protection to employees, both in private and public sector, to report any wrongdoing or illegality while protecting their confidentiality. However, it was noticed that a substantial number of the reports received were lodged by individuals who were not employees but who had witnessed a wrongdoing.

The seminar saw suggestions on whether the law should be expanded to cover individuals who were from outside an organisation.

It was also proposed that any financial compensation should go towards the strengthening of the legal aid office, a free legal assistance service that would be offered to whistleblowers.

Addressing members of the media following the morning seminar, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the Whistleblower’s Act, coupled with the removal of prescription on acts of political corruption, serve to strengthen the principle of good governance.

“It is important that we see this law into action. In this sense, it is still a works in progress as we study what amendments are necessary to strengthen it,” Bonnici said.

Bonnici urged the people to make use of the tools available.

Also present for the seminar was Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi who also had words of praise for the minister after having followed up on what was agreed in parliament on the Act.

Azzopardi said strengthening transparency and accountability was in the interest of all who respected democracy. He also urged people to come forward with any illegalities at any place of work, being in the public or private sector.

“Corruption must always be reported, even when it is happening in a private company,” he said.

Azzopardi went on to propose that the law should be extended to members of the disciplined forces.