Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/527016
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 JUNE 2015 News 3 MATTHEW VELLA LABOUR MP Marlene Farrugia has dubbed an attempt at forc- ing ministers to seek the Prime Minister's clearance before giving comments or interviews, as tanta- mount to turning Cabinet mem- bers into "puppets on a string". Ministers will require the ap- proval of the Office of the Prime Minister before giving interviews, according to the revised Ministe- rial Code of Ethics. The slimmed-down code is now accompanied by a host of manuals gleaned from the civil service code, but has a new entry on ministers' relations with the media: they will have to seek the OPM's approval on statements, interviews and ministerial activities. But backbencher Farrugia, a vo- cal critic of the Labour administra- tion's record on governance and the environment, has decried the new rung of control set up inside Joseph Muscat's office. "Nothing is better than allowing each part of a team to reach their full potential by letting them offer ideas and debate them. [But] by passing them through the OPM's sieve, you're telling ministers that it's useless for them to have their own minds… and that means it will be the OPM that decides when and how a minister's statement is transmitted, the difference often being that one minister gets por- trayed as a capable communicator, the other as an incompetent," she told Radju Malta's Ghandi Xi Ng- hid. A critic of the way her partner Godfrey Farrugia was treated by OPM staff during his time as health minister, Farrugia said ministers should enjoy "enough confidence that they will deliver." Farrugia was however critical of "elements" inside the government whose "interests go beyond those of the country." Referring to allegations of the fast-tracked €1.65 million com- pensation deal for property owner Marco Gaffarena, Farrugia said La- bour could be fast losing support among its staunchest adherents. "The word out there is that it is payback time – these scandals are generating this kind of comment from the people… I hope the gov- ernment convinces the people that this is not true." Farrugia, who will not be seek- ing re-election, said she still wants Labour to adhere to its centre-left direction. "Irrespectively of the party's pro-business slant, it is all the more important that a centre- left party demands a sustainable economic development and con- scientious business climate." She defended her role as the proverbial thorn in Labour's side, proclaiming that she wanted to "prevent the government from misleading the public… The elec- torate will, in the next three years, consider whether the government has misled them or not." Farrugia, who has broken ranks with Labour to actively protest against the siting of a private uni- versity across 90,000 square me- tres of the natural park at Zonqor Point, said she feared that land- owners in the area were hoping for a quick profit. "I hope this is not true, although that's what some farmers in the vicinity of the area told me… I hope the government I form part of is not thinking of selling off the people's trust for the benefit of four individuals." She said she often raised her con- cerns personally with the Prime Minister, but said the direction Muscat took on ODZ construc- tion would be one she will oppose. "To me Zonqor was a shock… if at this point in time we don't help the government change its direction, I fear there will be further entire en- vironmental destruction." CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Although newly-engaged part-timer workers at Air Malta were transferred to In- spectra's book, the plan was halted and the employees had their con- tracts renewed at Air Malta up until September. But Micallef, who in the past said she would not tolerate any interfer- ence in her stewardship of the airline, denied any political interference. "The plan was shelved because Air Malta wanted to treat all part-timers equally, but we did not managed to get all the unions on board," she told MaltaToday. "We reached an agreement with the General Workers Union, which understood the airline's position, but the UCC did not accept. The man- agement then decided it was unfair to treat all part-timers differently: passenger handling and loaders one way, and cabin crew the other." Micallef said that Air Malta ac- cepted that a more holistic and sus- tainable way had to be found for the part-timers' conundrum. On the other hand, Edward Zam- mit Lewis was evasive with Mal- taToday when asked over his role in shelving the plan after employees registered their protest with him and government officials. He said he agreed with Air Malta's decision to shelve the proposal and that part-timers should enjoy the same conditions of work. He did not reply on whether the government was back-tracking on Air Malta's restructuring by shelving the transfer of workers. Since Labour's election to power, the airline has seen the departure of two CEOs and three human resource managers. Cost-cutting has seen Air Malta apply new charges for on-board services, the abolition of reduced child fares, and downgrading meals to a simple bottle of water and a ba- guette. But the UCC has demanded a per- centage on sales of items on board, as an incentive to pursue Air Malta's di- rection at generating new revenues. Air Malta's management also wants to see a lower ratio of cabin crew to passengers, and to get pilots to work more hours akin to some industry standards: pilots and cabin crew are paid for transport to and from the airport, command high allowances on top of their salaries. Ministers 'like puppets' under Muscat's media rule Tourism minister agreed with plan's shelving Good Morning MALTA When early and fast delivery is your priority TNT Malta is now operating direct connections to and from its Euro Hub in Liege with the TNT- owned aircraft. With our international team of experts, we connect industries, businesses and people - everywhere, every day, every time. There is no better way to experience the power of our network and its people, than by shipping with us. Contact us at: 2558 4600 www.tnt.com sales@tnt.com.mt Marlene Farrugia: Labour to be judged at next election over "whether it misled electorate or not". 'Let it drown', one angry worker was overheard saying about Air Malta when Maria Micallef announced plans to hive off part-timers to Inspectra, to be outsourced at lower wages. Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis did not support the plan