Tibdil fil-Kostituzzjoni u l-ħatra ta’ Franco Debono

 

L-inkarigu ta’ Franco Debono biex jieħu ħsieb il-konvenzjoni Kostituzzjonali li tista’ twassal għall-hekk imsejħa Tieni Repubblika fl-opinjoni tiegħi hi deċiżjoni żbaljata.

Fil-programm elettorali tiegħu il-Partit Laburista ġustament jgħid li t-tibdil kostituzzjonali meħtieġ għandna naslu għalih wara diskussjoni li fiha tkun involuta is-soċjeta’ ċivili. Is-soċjeta’ ċivili kellha tkun involuta anke’ fl-għażla tal-persuna bl-inkargu li tipprepara din il-konvenzjoni. Taqbel jew ma taqbilx miegħu Franco Debono hu persuna diviżiva u m’huwiex fil-fehma tiegħi l-persuna addattata għal din il-biċċa xogħol delikata.

Partijiet kbar mill-Kostituzzjoni jeħtieġu maġġoranza ta’ żewġ terzi biex jinbidlu. Jiġifieri għall-parti l-kbira tal-Kostituzzjoni ma jistax ikun hemm tibdil jekk ma jkunx hemm kunsens. Il-kunsens tista’ tasal għalih bħala riżultat ta’ diskussjoni serena li fiha kull min ikun involut iħossu liberu li jesprimi l-veduti tiegħu.

Hemm diversi partijiet delikati tal-Kostituzzjoni li jeħtieġu li jkunu mibdula, imħassra jew aġġornati għaż-żminijiet tal-lum. Għalhekk hu neċessarju li l-proċess kollu tal-konvenzjoni jkun wieħed li kull persuna involuta jkollha fiduċja fih.

Naħseb li bl-inkarigu ta’ Franco Debono l-proċess tal-konvenzjoni kostituzzjonali beda ħażin.

 

Following the footsteps of Austin Gatt

The Labour Party in Government has appointed Mr James Piscopo, until a few days ago Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Party, as the new Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta. He replaces Dr Stanley Portelli who in his turn was also handpicked for the post of CEO of Transport Malta by former Transport Minister Austin Gatt.

There is no general rule which determines the manner in which Chief Executives of public corporations are appointed. Some were handpicked, others were selected on the basis of a selection process. In most cases there is the overriding rule in specific legislation that the final decision has to be confirmed by the Minister in office.

At the end of the day it is a matter of policy. Will merit rule the day or will top posts be filled on the basis of the political criterion of being considered as a position of trust?

The PN in government used both methods. During the electoral campaign which ended a few days ago Labour emphasized that it will act on the basis of merit.

It seems that we are back to where we started.  Labour is now following in the footsteps of Austin Gatt.