Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/694236
20 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 Opinion O ver the time since Malta joined the European Union, we managed to effectively adopt all legal obligations and updated Directives. However we have not as yet succeeded to fully adopt the EU's way of thinking in some areas concerning public administration. This in my view is the case when it comes to appointments in strategic and sensitive posts such as those of chair in key authorities and similar constituted bodies. When in opposition, the PL many a time drew the government's attention to the way it was appointing persons who did not possess the qualities which certain public offices demanded, with the result that members of the public were at times neither served nor protected as indeed was the function of the institution involved. Over the past 12 years we have witnessed, and as a country experienced, the process which the European Parliament adopts before the approval of a government nominee for posts such as those of EU Commissioner and appointments to the European Court of Auditors. The applied procedure is still alien to our own way of dealing with public appointments. Those nominated by the government of the day to chair a public authority are spared any sort of parliamentary hearing, interview or as some refer to it, grilling. One also finds that at the UK House of Commons for example, the Treasury Committee is tasked with the scrutiny of the nominees for governor of the Bank of England, and the chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority, amongst others, prior to these being appointed. Through a public hearing the committee is mandated to establish whether those being nominated, primarily fulfill the criteria of 'professional competence and personal independence of the government'. The time has come to start thinking on raising our standards' bar and reflect as to how we can reform our existing practice and process when appointing a chair of a key public authority. Do we truly believe that the appointments should be on one's own merit? How can the government adopt a more open and fair process to ensure transparency? Maybe we need to start thinking and discussing whether such public appointments should be widely publicised to encourage a diverse range of applicants through a public call. Whether present or previous political activity should or should not bar a person from appointment. Should the selection criteria be known and published? This may contain terms and conditions of appointment which can include that those appointed should not engage in other professional or advisory activities, remunerated or otherwise. Whether there is a need to submit a declaration of any possible conflicts of interest at nomination stage. The possibility that, as in the case of government ministers, an appointed chair should submit to parliament a declaration of assets. The maximum term of office should also be established, and whether the individual may serve in the post for more than one term. In such a case no reappointment or extension for one final term, is made without a satisfactory performance appraisal. At a time when the public is rightly demanding more accountability from their elected representatives will it not be appropriate that a Parliamentary Select Committee will invite the nominee to a public hearing, scrutiny? Hearings may not be binding – but ministers will then consider any relevant considerations made by the committee before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment. Would such a process, if not altogether eliminating accusations of cronyism or nepotism, which does no good either to the selected person or the organisation concerned, at least engage the public rather than leaving it disenchanted and critical? We can keep on being locked- in our thinking on this subject, doing what we have been doing for the past half a century. Or we can rethink, revise, and courageously reform our method of appointments to certain critical public posts, which by EU standards are outdated. Public service should serve to improve lives. One way of achieving this is by having persons chairing key public bodies who possess the qualities of good leaders, are objective, competent, accountable, honest, and above all have loads of integrity. They are the ones who are ultimately responsible to guarantee delivery of the objectives of the authorities established by Parliament. Evarist Bartolo is Minister of Education and Employment Not to appoint cronies Evarist Bartolo Bavaria 10.80, Registered: Valletta, Malta – VAT paid Built by Bavaria Yachts (Germany) – 2000 Model, Length overall - 10.80m (35.5ft) Furling mainsail – 25.80sqm Genoa – 31.60sqm Keel – Deep draught bulb keel Cabins – 3 doubles Length overall – 35'2" Length hull – 34'3" Length waterline – 30'2" Beam – 11'10" Draft standard – 5'1" Draft (deep option) – 6'4" Displacement – 12,540lbs (approx.) Ballast – 3,170lbs (approx.) Sail area – 660sq. ft. (approx.) 2 Water tanks – 55 gal. (approx.) Fuel Tank – 40 gal (approx.) Height of mast above waterline – 48'8" Engine – Volvo Penta D1-30, 28hp Head room in main salon – 6'2" Deck With Non Skid Texture In Grp Teak In Cockpit And Cockpit Floor Steering Pedestal With Instruments Board Teak Folding Cock Pit Table Cockpit Shower Hot And Cold Stainlees Steel Bimin A3 With Sunbrella Cover Stainless Steel Sprayhood With Sunbrella Cover Navigation Lights, Deck And Steaming Light, Mast Head Anchor Light Stainless Steel Pullpit, Push Pit And Stanchions 4 Gebo Opening Deck Hatches 6 Gebo Openining Side Windows On Coachroof And Cockpit Cockpit Cushions 2 Stowage Lockers In Cockpit 1 Gas Locker In Cockpit 3 Kg Gas Cylinder Stainless Steel Bathing Ladder Walk Through Cockpit With Removable Helmsman Seat Anchor Chain Locker In Bow Anchor Bow Roller Electric Windlass With Controls From Foredeck And From Cockpit Cqr Galvanised Steel Plough Anchor 16 Kg Stainless Steel Anchor Chain 8mm X 50m 4 Stainless Steel Mooring Cleats 2 Stainless Steel Spring Cleats Mainsheet Traveller On Coachroof Genoa Sheet Cars And Tracks On Side Decks Halyards And Mainsheet Led Aft On Coachroof Electronic And Navigational Equipment Autohelm St 50 Tridata — Log, Speed, Depth Autohelm St 50 Wind Instruments — Wind Speed And Direction Autohelm St 4000 Auto Pilot Simrad Vhf Radio Dual Station In Cockpit And Nav Station Vhf Antenna On Masthead Lowrance Gps Chartplotter Radar With Radar Radome Of Mast On Transom Compass Radio With Speakers In Saloon Mast, Rigging And Sails Selden 2 Spreader Deck Stepped Mast Selden Furl In Rig With In Mast Furling Mainsail Furlex Furling System For Foresail With Furring Genoa Harken Selftailing Halyard Winches X2 Harken Selftailing Genoa Winches X 2 Selden Rodkicker With Gas Spring Adjustable Back Stay Tensioning Tackle Stainlees Steel Standing Rigging With Rigging Screws Windex On Masthead Interior/Accomodation Pump Toilet With Sea Cocks And Preparation For Holding Tank Connection Shower In Head, Disposal Via Electric Diaphram Pump & Filter Roller Blinds For Hatches Shore Supply Battery Charger Refrigerator Compressor Hot Water Boiler From Engine Heat Exchanger & From 240v Immersion Heater Two Watertanks — 350lts 8 Berths — 3 Double Cabins + 2 Single Settee Berths In Saloon Large Saloon Drop Leaf Table With Drawers And Bottle Stowage Galley With Refrigerator, Stainless Steel Sink And 2 Burner Gas Cooker With Oven Storage For Crockery, Waste Bin Cabins With Hanging And Shelved Stowage Lockers Forward Facing Chart Table Electric Switch Panel With Trip Switches 240v Outlet At Chart Table Shore Power Panel Hot And Cold Fresh Water Pressurised System 12v Service Battery- New 2014 12v Engine Battery- New 2016 Safety Equipment Electric Bilge Pump Manual Bilge Pump Fire Extinguishers 2kg Powder Abc Class Stainless Steel Emergency Tiller Harness Jack Stay From Cockpit To Foredeck 4 Harness Points In Cockpit Machinery Volvo Perkins Diesel Engine Md2030- 30 Hp With Sail Drive Volvo 2 Bladed Folding Propellor Rev Counter Oil Pressure Gauge And Audable Alarm Temperature Gauge And Audable Alarm Electric Fuel Level Indicator Single Lever Engine Control Fresh Water Cooled Engine Sea Water Filter Fuel Filter Operating Hours Counter Diesel Tank 150 Lts This Bavaria is a superb J&J designed Bavaria Yacht-2000 model and almost 36 feet in length featuring many extras from the standard specs. She was always kept in pristine condition with anti- fouling and new anodes just applied (early June). Only serious buyers phone 7989 9838 FOR SALE A much loved boat, just under 36ft, with permanent pontoon at Ta' Xbiex FOR SALE AT €56,500