Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1526409
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 SEPTEMBER 2024 NEWS 'I shoulder my responsibility every day' Those interested are invited to follow the Application Procedure by not later than Friday 13th September 2024. Details about these vacancies and application procedure can be viewed on the following link: https://bca.org.mt/vacancies-2/ Head – CEO Office Jobs Plus Permit Number: 857/2024 Head – IT & Data Management Jobs Plus Permit Number: 858/2024 THE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY IS RECEIVING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSTS: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 some, including the Nationalist Party, who made no difference be- tween the two. The identity card number is unique to the person… there have been no allegations and no instances have been flagged of an ID card number that has been re-issued… the hospital authori- ties, my colleague Jo-Etienne Ab- ela, have said they found several human errors in the hospital sys- tem. […] the systems [across govern- ment] do 'speak' with each oth- er but I also understood that the hospital system allows users to insert additional data. The health authorities were clear that there were human errors and action has been taken to address these. On the case involving the 'death' of a person, I am not informed of an- yone who was not registered cor- rectly at Identità. This was a case of an error in the hospital system. But you can surely understand people's concerns. People ask themselves whether their personal and medical details are in somebody else's possession. I cannot answer for the health authorities because I do not have visibility of their systems… Yes, but you form part of the same government. Is government concerned? Is it thinking of how to bring these systems together to ensure that an ID card number gives the same information across the board? If there isn't concern we will not be taking certain measures. Government electronic systems do 'speak' to one another and can transfer data between them. But we are focussed on trying to minimise human input as much as possible to minimise the risk of human error. The latest scandal to erupt is that concerning LESA. Jason Azzopardi has not only made allegations but also asked for a magisterial inquiry. He has claimed that two top officials, including the CEO,were accessing the backend of the electronic system so that a fine issued to a Maltese driver can be transferred to a tourist and their hired car. The Maltese driver gets cleared, the hire company pays the fine and recoups the expense from the unsuspecting tourist and someone at LESA gets a bribe; a win-win situation for all at the expense of the tourist. The allegation is that one of the officials, who is a Labour councillor, used the scheme to benefit voters ahead of the European Parliament election. This is a very serious allegation; what is your reaction to it? Just after I was appointed to this job I had a report from the Audi- tor General in 2021 on LESA that flagged some concerns and made a list of recommendations. Go back to last year and the Auditor General published a review say- ing the recommendations were implemented. On the IT system used by LESA, the Auditor Gener- al said he was happy with an audit that was carried out on it and was also satisfied with the manner by which LESA acted on certain con- cerns that had been flagged. As regards the allegation made; I am open to any scrutiny whatsoever. People who have nothing to hide should adopt such an approach. People around me know my in- tegrity… Have you ever tried forgiving a fine to anyone? There are people who have ar- gued with me because I told them that I do not engage in such be- haviour. And I do not even have access to the system. I do not tol- erate abuse so much so that when I became minister I changed the police fine system from a manual one that was open to abuse to an electronic one that immediately registers the fine. If I am in favour of abuse, would I have introduced such a system, which is a move in favour of good governance? On my watch, we have sent out legal letters to recoup millions of euros in outstanding fines and proceeded with court action in certain cases. Is this the behaviour of someone who tolerates abuse? But can it be that in the agencies on your watch there are some who are corrupt? Can you have the certainty that nobody in these agencies wants to abuse? I can speak with certainty on my behaviour. I refer to what LESA and its CEO said in a statement that they are open to any scru- tiny. I do not tolerate abuse and every entity on my watch has to be open to any type of scrutiny. I look forward to the scrutiny be- cause it can put everyone's mind at rest. So, you will not oppose the magisterial inquiry Jason Azzopardi has requested on LESA? Why should I oppose it? I have never done that and I will never do it. I am open to every scrutiny, whether it concerns me person- ally or the entities that fall under my remit. Do you feel that with all that has been happening you should shoulder political responsibility? I shoulder my responsibility every day. I have been home af- fairs minister for five years now and I have not only stood up to abuse but ensured that internal structures are strengthened. The irony is that the persons calling for my resignation are people who either spent years not paying tax or who had the courts repri- manding them… You are being political now but people are worried when such an allegation is made. Agencies on my watch not only stood up to abuse but reported it to the police and more than that strengthened their structures to ensure the risk of abuse is mini- mised. This is a continuous pro- cess. 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