Hello

Every civil servant in the country has received a personal letter from the Prime Minister thanking him or her for his or her splendid service in the last five years. The achievements of the Civil Service were duly listed and ascribed to their devotion to duty. It sounds wonderful.

The recipients are well aware that between election campaigns this government has acted enthusiastically on the policy of shedding everything run by government employees. Privatisation is a religion. We have privatized the Lotto Department for reasons as yet unexplained. At every point PN Ministers have justified their dedication to the privatize-at-all-costs religion by claiming that the civil service is inefficient costly and slow. I wish they would make their minds up.

Mr C retired from the Civil Service two years ago after giving 42 years service. From the lowest clerical grade to the top of his profession and through an amazing array of difficulties he evidently served his masters to their satisfaction. On his last day at work he cleared his desk, as Head of Department and went home. No Minister called him upstairs for a drink, there was no souvenir watch to take with him for long and faithful service. Nothing at all. No private employer, not the worst possible would see of an employee of 42 years standing so despicably.

Prime Minister Gonzi’s state paid election publicity may not be as effective as he hopes.