When computers go AWOL… check protocol

When the new Labour administration walked into its new government offices last week all it found were bare desks and empty cabinets.

Exasperated newly-elected ministers and government officials walked into offices bereft of any files and stationery, while allegations of office equipment going walkabout ran riot.

But while everyone was left scratching their head over what had happened, it turns out that an actual procedure that follows with a change in administration exists - and MITA, government ICT's agency, has kept track of every single PC and laptop used.

Between all the ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister, including the House of Representatives, there were a total of 150 PCs and 159 laptops. 90 PCs and 106 laptops were either re-assigned to new personnel or are still being used by personnel who occupy a position within government.

However, according to MITA's spokesperson, a total of 60 PCs and 53 laptops were bought back by the users employed with the PN administration.

This, because MITA did make a lucrative offer: the price of these PCs and laptops varied between €25 and €1,024. The minimum charge of €25 went to that equipment which MITA considered as "fully depreciated" - i.e. purchased by March 2008.

Equipment that was sold at €1,024 had been purchased in 2011.

This 'deal' was in accordance with guidance issued by government, where laptops and PCs used by officials within the ministry's secretariats could be purchased by the respective officials.

"This equipment typically depreciates steeply in value every year and a purchase option is deemed a cost effective option," MITA's spokesman told MaltaToday.

"In cases where PCs were provided by MITA through a leasing agreement, the purchase price was set at the exit cost option of the lease."

In other cases, there was a minimum charge of €25 for every computer which had been fully depreciated.

As the government ICT agency, MITA centrally provisions government with PCs. These PCs are leaded with leasing agreements, typically of five years and include an extended warranty on the equipment, a service level agreement covering all repairs on the hardware within defined service levels and insurance of the equipment.

At the end of the agreed period, MITA and government have the option to retain ownership of the equipment at no cost.

According to its spokesperson, MITA had also thought of the incoming administration: prior to the general elections, it had leased and configured 224 PCs and laptops which were made available to the chief information officers within each ministry.

"A procedure is in place to provision users with the relevant ICT services including a user account, email and office productivity software," the spokesman explained.