Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/478858
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 MARCH 2015 News 7 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Psaila wrote that the orders came directly from the private secretariat of the Gozo minister and there were also instanc- es where those on sick leave were af- forded protection by the same secre- tariat. He continued saying that the inter- ference did not stop there: members of selection boards were facing so much pressure that ministry employ- ees tried to avoid being members of such boards, so much so that the Pub- lic Service Commission had asked for his opinion about what the reasons could be. In blunt phraseology, he wrote: "So strong is the interference that every- one was being declared not guilty." Psaila explains in detail that he had to ask for the director of internal au- dit to look into the procedures fol- lowed by the discipline board. Turning to overtime and allowanc- es, Psaila wrote that workers were being paid for overtime which they had not done, and given allowances without justification. Finally Psaila ends his letter to Lawrence Gonzi by stating that: "I am trying to do my very best not to allow the Gozo ministry to col lapse and the civil service to become helpless and lose the respect of the public who expect us to serve. I have been warning that this intervention without justifica- tion should stop. "I ask you with all respect to intervene to stop all this, which is undermining all that we are here for. "I am asking you because I do not have the power to act." On 16 June, three months after he sent his first letter, Frank Psaila wrote again to the Prime Minister. He referred to the meeting with God- win Grima: "Yesterday I had a meeting with Dr Godwin Grima, Principal Per- manent Secretary, who told me that he was asked to convey your request that I retire on reaching age 60. The reason given for this is that there is incompat- ibility between my Minister and me." After pointing out what he saw as in- compatible, Psaila concludes: "…your request that I retire makes me a proud public officer and a proud Gozitan. So I have no qualms whatsoever to accede to your request and hereby ask to retire from the Service on reaching 60 on the 16th October, 2005." When contacted by MaltaToday, Grima confirmed that such a meeting had taken place. "The Prime Minister had told me to inform Psaila of his resignation, and I recall Psaila telling me that he will be putting pen to paper and writing to the Prime Minister as to why he felt he was being unjustly removed from his posi- tion," he said. Grima added that he did not recall ever seeing or hearing about the first letter that Psaila had sent Gonzi. Giovanna Debono could not be con- tacted. Frank Psaila would not comment when contacted. Further details are available in the Government Gazette dated Friday 13 th March 2015 and the Ministry for Gozo's website: https://mgoz.gov.mt/en/Pages/Procurement/Tenders/Tenders.aspx Alternatively documents, can be personally picked from: The Ministry for Gozo, Pjazza San Franġisk, Victoria, Gozo. Submissions will be received at Projects Malta Ltd, The Clock Tower, Level 1, Tign� Point, Sliema until the 7 th April 2015 by 10:00 am CET. Late entries will NOT be accepted. Call for Tenders Build, own and operate a Modular Floating System in Banju tas-Sorijiet area, Marsalforn Bay, Gozo PROJECTS MALTA LTD IS WHOLLY OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MALTA AND IS SETUP TO PROMOTE AND COORDINATE NEW PUBLIC PRIVATE INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS IN MALTA. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Projects Malta 15 x 3.pdf 1 Wednesday/March11/2015 12:0224PM that this intervention without justifica- tion should stop. to stop all this, which is undermining In blunt phraseology, he wrote: "So strong is the interference that every- one was being declared not guilty." Psaila explains in detail that he had to ask for the director of internal au- dit to look into the procedures fol- Turning to overtime and allowanc- es, Psaila wrote that workers were being paid for overtime which they had not done, and given allowances Finally Psaila ends his letter to Lawrence Gonzi by stating that: "I am trying to do my very best not to lapse I retire on reaching age 60. The reason given for this is that there is incompat- ibility between my Minister and me." After pointing out what he saw as in- compatible, Psaila concludes: "…your request that I retire makes me a proud public officer and a proud Gozitan. So I have no qualms whatsoever to accede to your request and hereby ask to retire from the Service on reaching 60 on the 16th October, 2005." When contacted by MaltaToday, Grima confirmed that such a meeting had taken place. "The Prime Minister had told me to inform Psaila of his resignation, and I recall Psaila telling me that he will be putting pen to paper and writing to the Prime Minister as to why he felt he was "I am a proud public servant and a proud Gozitan" Frank Psaila