Public administration under the spotlight“The lack of action with respect to those involved in the clear case of abuse uncovered in the Ministry of Education a week ago continues to put our country’s public administration in a bad light” – Carmel Cacopardo, ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson.The 89-page report including witness statements given to the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life provides a clear case of multiple ethics breaches by the Minister for Education Justyne Caruana.

If one were to focus only on what was carried out with the ministry one concludes that it was not only the minister responsible for this breach but also the person occupying the role entrusted to ensure that these abuses do not take place in the first place – Permanent Secretary Dr Frank Fabri. Witness statements indicate that a coverup was also planned, making things even more serious.The fact that this happened by the minister responsible for our children’s education in collaboration with the highest civil servant within the ministry who should have prevented all this from happening adds to the severity of the matter.The report suggests that an investigation for a violation of the Criminal Code that may lead to imprisonment should take place. However, political responsibility should be carried at once independently of any criminal proceedings that may be taken against those involved.When the case is crystal-clear, it is indeed despicable that neither the Prime Minister nor the Principal Permanent Secretary have taken prompt action. Their dilly-dallying means that they are also responsible for this filth.***Dell fuq l-amministrazzjoni pubblika ta’ pajjiżna“Il-fatt li ġimgħa wara li ġew ikkonfermati l-abbużi ċari li twettqu fil-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni għadha ma ttieħdet l-ebda azzjoni fil-konfront ta’ dawk involuti jkompli jitfa’ dell ikrah fuq l-amministrazzjoni pubblika ta’ pajjiżna.” – Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party, Carmel Cacopardo.Ir-rapport ta’ 89 paġna li jinkludi x-xhieda mogħtija lill-Kummissarju għall-Istandards fil-Ħajja Pubblika jagħti stampa ta’ ksur ta’ etika ċara mill-Ministru għall-Edukazzjoni Justyne Caruana fuq diversi livelli. Imma anke jekk wieħed jillimita ruħu għal dak li ġara fi ħdan il-ministeru wieħed jikkonkludi illi mhux biss kienet il-ministru responsabbli għal dak li twettaq imma is-Segretarju Permanenti Dr Frank Fabri li approva dak li twettaq minkejja li jokkupa kariga li suppost tara li dawn l-abbużi ma jsirux. Mix-xhieda jirriżulta li kien hemm ukoll attentat ta’ ħabi tal-provi li jagħmel dak li ġara iktar u iktar serju.Il-fatt li dan twettaq mill-ministru responsabbli mill-edukazzjoni ta’ uliedna bil-kollaborazzjoni ta’ l-ogħla kariga fi ħdan il-ministeru li hija proprju inkarigata biex dan ma jseħħx iżid fil-gravità tal-każ.Ir-rapport jindika il-possibiltà t’investigazzjoni ta’ ksur tal-kodiċi kriminali li jista’ jwassal għal priġunerija. Madankollu ir-responsabbiltà politika ta’ dak li seħħ trid tinġarr minnufih irrispettivament minn kwalunkwe azzjoni kriminali li tista’ tittieħed kontra l-persuni involuti.Huwa tal-mistħija kif la l-Prim Ministru u lanqas is-Segretarju Permanenti Ewlieni ma kienu kapaċi jieħdu azzjoni immedjata dwar każ li  hu ċar daqs il-kristall.  Riżultat ta’ hekk iridu jġorru huma ukoll fuq spallejhom ir-responsabbiltà għal dan il-ħmieġ.