Prime Minister heads for quick exit and dodges questions by journalists, again

PM on public service: 'You're the engine of government'

The Prime Minister this morning attended the Public Service’s graduation ceremony where he presided over the signing of a public-public partnership between the University of Malta, the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology, and the public sector.

At the end of the ceremony – where roughly 200 public servants received accreditation for courses they had undertaken – journalists lined up outside the hall waiting for the Prime Minister to take questions, as usually happens after a press event.

But a government spokesperson present for the event, whose role is to handle the media, told journalists that the Prime Minister was "not aware" that they had questions to ask and that he had already left through another exit.

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said that the partnership was part of the government’s electoral promise for a better, more efficient public sector.

The Prime Minister this morning attended the Public Service’s graduation ceremony where he presided over the signing of a public-public partnership between the University of Malta, the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology, and the public sector (Photo: Ivan Consiglio)

The PPP will see the Centre for development, research and training converted into the Public Services Institute.

Cutajar said the public sector had been found lacking in a number of areas, one of which was a lack of leadership with decisions often not being taken and simply moved on from one person to the next.

He said the government was determined to fill all of these gaps with better training being a big part of the solution.

Muscat said those working in the public sector had a difficult job in changing the culture and mentality that those working in the public sector are lazy. 

“We have made great strides forward, I can feel it and I think that the nation is also starting to feel the difference,” said Muscat.

Muscat said that a system of key performance indicators is being introduced into the public sector because only by monitoring progress can one know whether progress is actually being made. 

The Prime Minister also said that mystery shoppers will be visiting government departments to better understand what is lacking and gauge the quality of service citizens are receiving.

Muscat stressed that politicians are only temporary, but those working in the public sector are permanent and it is they who must implement the decisions taken by politicians.

“We are like the drivers of the car but you are the engine and only by having an efficient and strong engine can a driver win a race,” Muscat said.