International Public Services Day celebrated with special awards

On Saturday, June 22nd in the evening, the Public Service acknowledged the work of public officers who stood out in their work last year during a ceremony held under the patronage of President Dr Myriam Spiteri Debono.

Speaking on the occasion, Public Service Head Tony Sultana said that on this special day for public administration, it is appropriate that public officers continue to be motivated for their work. He referred to the Public Service Expo, where various skills were discussed, and it was very important to evaluate what current skills we have and how we will take care of them.

The awards adjudication board received hundreds of very high-level nominations, which further confirms that with the contributions of all public officers, the administration makes a positive difference in people's lives.

The awards received were as follows:

The Quality Award was given to the National Blood Transfusion Service, which achieved the best results in terms of the quality of the service given. On the other hand, the Office of the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, the English Language Teaching Council, the Gender Violence Unit, and the Employee Support Programme within the Office of the Prime Minister obtained the quality label.

A Best Practice in Good Governance award was given to the Malta Council Science and Technology MCST after the National Audit Office (NAO) had words of praise for it in a recent audit.

The Best Digital Solution has been awarded to the Ministry for Gozo and Planning for the Events in the Gozo App. This digital app solves the problem of fragmented information about the island of Gozo and is used both by Maltese and foreign residents as well as tourists. Apart from this, this app has an interesting design and a state-of-the-art technical interface.

The Best Green Initiative was granted to Water Services Corporation. Last year, the corporation announced the issue of the first green bonds in our country, valued at €25 million. The issuance of these bonds is in line with sustainable development goals and the European Union Green Deal. This funding will go to larger and more efficient plants, the installation of solar panels, the improvement of sewage purification plants, and the improvement of new water.

An inclusion award was given to San Miguel Primary Education Resource Centre. Full education is provided at this centre to students between 3 and 11 years of age who have complex learning difficulties through sensory methods and individual attention. The centre puts into practice an inclusion policy whereby the same students meet with other students from mainstream schools to enjoy and learn together.

The Role Model Award was awarded to Ms Marcelle Muscat, Customer Interface Manager at the Lands Registration Agency, who, despite great personal challenges, continued to believe in the importance of continuing to carry out her duties and beyond. Ms Muscat should offer inspiration to everyone for her commitment and perseverance. Muscat shows great passion for the work so that clients are finally served in the best way possible.

The Inspiring Social Responsibility Award was awarded to MITA Cares, a committee within MITA that continuously works to support non-governmental and voluntary organisations. These include Puttinu Cares, the Malta Trust Foundation, Caritas, Dar Bjorn, the Karl Vella Foundation, Appoġġ and others.

Project of the Year was awarded to SportMalta for the Olympic Pool project in Cospicua. This project involved excellent facilities with the latest technology: dressing rooms, offices, control rooms, water heating systems, air conditioning, and adequate space for spectators. This pool also has different dimensions as a water depth, from a deep part for artistic swimming to low parts for swimming instruction.

A team recognition award was given to the Logistics Section within the Ministry of Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, which provides its services in colleges and schools across Malta and Gozo. This is a multidisciplinary team that not only intervenes when problems arise but also carries out various prevention work through regular inspections in schools. Last year, this team carried out 514 projects.

During the evening, the “Outstanding Effort Award” was given by Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana to the emergency team at Mater Dei Hospital and Gozo General Hospital. This is a team composed of specialized doctors, emergency nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, technicians, and other health workers who work together for one purpose, offering all possible assistance in cases of emergency. In Malta, ambulances are sent to around 150 patients in critical conditions every day, while the Department offers a service to around 280 patients every day. In Gozo, the emergency department sees around 90 patients per day, while the pediatric emergency section welcomes 70 to 100 children every day. Emergency services are provided 24 hours a day throughout the year, continuously.