Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1372546
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 MAY 2021 NEWS PHOTO JAMES BIANCHI PEN backs Camilleri's call for elections but seek legal reforms PEN Malta wants wider consultation on legal changes required to make the council accountable to writers and publishers, saying proposed elections at the end of May are 'symbolic' JAMES DEBONO PEN Malta, the national organ- isation representing Maltese writers, will back a proposal by the National Book Coun- cil's executive chairman Mark Camilleri to make the govern- ment-appointed body more directly accountable to writers and publishers, rather than ex- clusively to the government of the day. But in a more nuanced posi- tion paper, PEN, an offshoot of the international writers' or- ganisation, is insisting on wid- er consultation with all stake- holders on the legal changes required before elections for the council's chairman are held. The debate on the council's composition was triggered by its outspoken chairman Mark Camilleri, himself appointed in 2013 by the incoming Labour administration on the back of his anti-censorship campaign. Camilleri wants to launch di- rect elections for his post, by convening a Writers' Congress he set up in 2019, and has asked for candidates to come forward and contest the role. Camilleri has challenged the government on a host of issues, ranging from corruption to the Mediterranean Conference Centre's refusal to book the Malta Book Festival during the traditional November month by instead favouring the Cirque du Soleil spectacular. PEN is proposing that the Na- tional Book Council should be made up of elected members and a chairman, as well as a government's representative. It wants the council to focus exclusively on policy-making, while an executive director chosen by the council follow- ing a public call would be re- sponsible for day-to-day ad- ministration. Presently both the executive and policy-making role are oc- cupied by the same person. "Our starting point is that no- body knows better than those driving the publishing industry in their various roles what their challenges and opportunities are. To this end, they are the ones who should have a voice and a clear say in the admin- istration of the book council. We also recognise the fact that government is also a stake- holder and should be equitably represented on the council," said acclaimed writer Imma- nuel Mifsud, on behalf of PEN Malta. In April, Camilleri announced his intention to organise an election for writers and pub- lishers to appoint the next head of the NBC. Camilleri said he will contest the position to earn himself a three-year ten- ure, having served since 2013 at the helm of the Council. "If I am reconfirmed at the head- ship of the NBC, the govern- ment will have a greater obli- gation to support the Council by implementing its legal mandate through the National Congress of Writers". He also insisted that the gov- ernment's cultural entities cannot be in the hands of gov- ernment appointees. "It must be artists and cultural stake- holders to decide who is best to run the entity that address- es their sector. I am asking all the heads of government-run cultural entities to take up my example and build their own democratic structures by an- nouncing their own election." But PEN Malta is calling for a more prudent approach. Mifsud said that before such elections are held, there needs to be a dialogue with stake- holders on the mandate, strat- egy and the changes to the law which have to be made. "More- over, such a reform needs time and shouldn't be rushed until we have a more comprehen- sive policy for change in this regard," Mifsud said. PEN Malta regards a pro- posed vote called by the cur- rent council at the end of May for changing the current process as a "symbolic" one, since there is no legal frame- work that would recognise the changes proposed. "As authors and publishers, we can have a vote in which we say whether we agree or disa- gree that the council should be elected, and then present that as a basis for reforming the way the council is set up." In its position paper on this issue, PEN Malta is calling for further discussion and open dialogue to ensure the govern- ment allocates a yearly budget to the council, as well as all the resources to be able to deliver on its mandate. For this aim PEN Malta is calling on education minister Justyne Caruana, who is re- sponsible for the council, to start a consultative process for the reforms with a view of en- suring the greater stakeholders' representation and a longer- term strategy for the Maltese publishing industry, leading to reforms in the law and policies governing the council and the sector. PEN Malta insists the chang- es required go beyond the per- sonality of Camilleri, noting that its members have different opinions on the public position he has taken, while recognising that under his chairmanship the council "has achieved some unprecedented milestones." Ultimately what matters most for PEN is making the council more accountable than ever and not just to have it appoint- ed exclusively by the minister. "These are important changes that need to be debated and finally reflected in a change to the law." jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt National Book Council executive chairman Mark Camilleri (top) has unilaterally announced an election race for his post, which is generally a government appointment. Immanuel Mifsud, speaking on behalf of PEN Malta, backs the call but says proper consultation and legal reforms should precede such an election, so as to make the NBC truly accountable to writers and publishing houses "Nobody knows better than those driving the publishing industry in their various roles what their challenges and opportunities are. To this end, they are the ones who should have a voice and a clear say in the administration of the book council"