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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 MAY 2023 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Appreciation: Maurice Abela MAURICE Abela, who died last week, was one of the great builders of the Maltese modern civil service, his career in it spanning the colonial, Borg Olivier, Mintoff, Mifsud Bonnici and Fenech Adami administrations and lasting well into the late 1990s and later. With other protagonists like Fred- erick Amato Gauci, Edgar Mizzi and Frans Hili he was among the best at- tuned to the needs for a modernisation of civil service perspectives, duties and work practices. And they did do their best to ensure that this modernisation happened. In Abela's case, his contribution was backed by studies abroad from which he brought back competences that the civil service did not have previously. They gave him a unique understanding of Malta's economic and social realities that was never bookish but anchored to the real time consequences of adminis- trative action. This made him realistic about the extent to which political and economic reforms could be pushed forward but well equipped to drive for- ward the administrative effort needed to somehow get them implemented. Two qualities stood out in his ap- proach, competitive as it was: loyalty to the government of the day; and a com- mitment to hard work at all times. His long and distinguished career had sev- eral ups and downs, but the ups quickly succeeded the downs as it was realised by successive governments that he was really committed to the civil service ethos of loyal service to whoever was in government. The advice he gave was always what he thought would be best given prevailing circumstances and in tune with prevailing government poli- cies, but then he would follow and de- fend the adopted line even when it went contrary to what he had advised. Mean- while, his ability to work full time at all times was legendary, giving him another competitive edge among his fellows. I remember him with respect as a negotiator for the Borg Olivier admin- istration with the then EEC on matters related to the Malta-EEC Association Agreement; for a time, under the first Mintoff administration as the Perma- nent Secretary at the Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs Ministry where I served; under the second and third Mintoff and then the Mifsud Bonnici administrations as a top trouble shooter and administrative fixer; later as a clear headed consultant on international economic relations for the public sector between 1996-1998. At all times, his performance was impressive. My condolences go to all his family. Alfred Sant, MEP Birkirkara European day for independent living DEINSTITUTIONALISATION and Per- sonal Assistance for persons with disability are two main subjects linking to independ- ent living for persons with disability. Article 19 of the United Nations Con- vention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) compares the right to liberty with the right of persons with disability to live in a and be part of the community. It operates as a prohibition on institutional models of supported ac- commodation for persons with disability and requires national investment in com- munity-based living options. The UNCRPD urges the closure of the institutions and emphasises for persons with disability to live independently in the community. Persons with disability should be able to access all the right ser- vices they need in the community. Education is fundamental to the devel- opment and growth of a person. Persons with disability should benefit from a good quality education, in an inclusive setting. This is essential to then be able to live independently with the right support. As per UNESCO, "Education is a basic human right that works to raise men and women out of poverty, level inequalities and ensure sustainable development..." Unfortunately, we have a situation where students with disability are finish- ing their educational years without the necessary skills to live independently, let alone to find a job. We are still in the pro- cess of discussing a professional Personal Assistance (for persons with disability) reform. In the past, this issue was never given the importance it merits and today we have a situation where persons with disability still cannot live their life to the full and according to their wishes. They are living a segregated life (in all its dif- ferent forms) which is being imposed on them due to the lack of services and Per- sonal Assistance which should have been already running for years now. MFOPD augurs that no one continues begging for what is his/hers by right – an independent life with the right support and services in place. Marthese Mugliette President, MFPOD