From political appointment to permanent fixture on the state payroll
Watch the transition begin from political appointments to the state payroll (which last only as long as the term of government) to permanent positions on the state payroll with non-political jobs at state authorities and corporations, to which they have been appointed politically rather than recruited properly and fairly.
Not satisfied with a mere five years at the trough, the Taghna Lkollers are looking for ways to turn their temporary sinecure into security of tenure.
Here’s Edward Zammit, who was Edward Zammit Lewis’s head of secretariat from day one, even when he was a mere parliamentary secretary – he’s now been put on the permanent payroll at the Malta Tourism Authority, with a top job that should have been advertised but was not.
Not only did Zammit get that job without a competitive process, but he isn’t even remotely qualified to do it. I say this with full background knowledge in the field: Edward Zammit’s entire professional experience is in designing stands for trade and commercial fairs and designing office interiors. It is in that context that I know him.
He has absolutely no background at all in “International Marketing Relations, Special Projects and Events and Customer Care Unit”, which is how the Malta Tourism Authority has described his position, except for designing and executing corporate stands for those events.
Of course, the problem here is not simply a matter of contained abuse, but of abuse with knock-on effects. This is not a matter of a suitably qualified person being abusively appointed to the post, but of an unqualified person being appointed to that post. The abusive manner of his selection is a separate issue.
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150125/local/MTA-recruits-Tourism-Minister-s-right-hand-man.553175
A clear abuse of power – but nothing new there. Same thing happened a few days before the last general election was due. .
And way before. But let’s not go there or I’ll have the entire Stamperija crew accusing me of Gonzi-bashing.
The same stamperija crew that brought Gonzi down.
It seems that this is the only defence that Labour offers for the current abuses.
The people were promised a different way of governing. It seems that in 22 months this government has outpaced the Nationalists’ 22 years of government in this respect.
Aghtuh chance miskin. He will grow with the job.
Grow with the job – not a blow one I hope .
Meritokrazija fil-prattika skond il-PL
He studied at Leeds Metropolitan University, Paola Technical Institute and the Lyceum, Hamrun.
He was an apprentice in the maintenance department at Toly Products.
He was no bright spark in electricity, but he was later employed in the design department where he was more productive.
Some three years ago he was a manager at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre.
Above all he was always a diehard Labour supporter.
I see that you chose to leave the most pertinent point till last.
Edward Zammit Lewis continues to appoint people without experience and qualifications.
Zammit Lewis continues to disappoint. Why was Edward Zammit removed as his head of secretariat and given that position to keep him quiet? Wasn’t he good enough?
Well done, PM, for the meritocracy you promised before the general elections. You are no longer credible.
Such Taghna Lkoll people should set up stages at events and not take these jobs. We are now used to this.
50,000 euros a year for someone without the commensurate qualifications and without the position being advertised. Vera gvern tal-hbieb.
I was under the impression that the government could not do this, that there is a policy somewhere on how recruitment should be done.
Is the PN going to remain dormant?
Are we going to continue to say heqq, another Taghna Lkoll appointment and act as though nothing happened?
Tghid he’ll get a white Merc and put Minister’s BFF on the dashboard to avoid a ticket for illegal parking?
The worst is that if and when the Nationalist Party come to govern, they still have a useless and dangerous group of people in top key positions that are ready to undermine them at each and every turn.
In my eyes this is as bad as the oil scandal. But no one seems to bother.
Meritokrazija, onesta’, trasparenza, zicc. Kemm qarraq sew bil-poplu.
That is why we have a mess in some things. The so called ‘experts consultants’ know fu..k all and their only qualifications are being billboard stars, ONE TV employees, Taghna Lkoll singers and blue eyed boys and girls.
Hence a fiasco (for which we are paying dearly) in oil hedging, some laws changed multiple times till they get them right, etc.
Now tourism is no joke; it can go as it came, suddenly. All we need an incompetent at the helm or God forbid (I am always worried about this) a terrorist act.
Then adio to economic growth and PERCENTAGE debt of GDP.