Updated | PN says statistics’ chief’s termination under wraps for weeks

The Nationalist Party has expressed concern at news that National Statistics Office director Michael Pace Ross’s contract was not renewed at its termination on Monday, demanding that the Malta Statistics Authority issue a statement on the matter.

“We would expect the MSA to inform the public and international agencies like Eurostat, formally, of this news and to give the necessary information about who is occupying this role until somebody replaces Pace Ross,” the PN said.

The Opposition said the director-general’s role was an important function that was expected to be independent of the government and answerable to the supervisory MSA. “We are concerned that this decision was kept under wraps for weeks… the independence of the NSO’s data is crucial for our country to enjoy the respect of European and international institutions. NSO data is an important tool for policymakers because it gives a clear picture of Malta’s challenges and opportunities.”

The PN has called on the MSA to ensure as short as possible a transition period for the new director-general. “The NSO must retain the respect and esteem of Eurostat. The PN expects the choice of a new director to be independent of government and in observance of Eurostat’s code of practice. It would be dangerous if the government tries to influence this process.”

In September, the statistics watchdog issued revised data for the gainfully occupied after claiming that data presented by the National Statistics Office ignored a reclassification of construction workers in the public sector – members of the former resources ministry – were moved to two new ministries and now classified under the public administration cohort.

The development followed criticism by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna in relation to the NSO, accusing it of not giving a true picture of the employment situation. He was reacting to comments by the Opposition that, going by NSO figures, in the first 13 months of Labour, the public sector had soared by more than 2,000 employees.

Pace Ross however said that the reclassification had no bearing at all on the size of the government workforce. Resource Ministry employees had always been considered as part of the civil service, he said.

Government says Opposition is ‘clutching at straws’

In a reaction, the government said that Pace Ross’ three year term had expired and that they had decided to issue a fresh international call for applicants.

“The Nationalist administration appointed Mr Pace Ross as director general and the current government retained [him] until the end of his contract. He can re-apply for the post together with other suitable applicants.”

The government said that the Malta Statistics Authority had informed Eurostat about this news on 7 November and that the announcement was gazetted in the Government Gazette on the same day. They also said that the post of Director General was left vacant from January 2007 to November 2008 during the previous Nationalist administration. “The National Statistics Office have just gone under great scrutiny as part of the changeover to ESA2010 and the Excessive Deficit Procedure,” the government said. “Eurostat and the European Commission have verified the data and confirmed their validity.”

“In an attempt to clutch at straws, the Opposition has again resorted to be negative. They are trying to shed doubts through irresponsible statements for the benefit of its petty partisan and negative approach to politics.” 

MSA statement

In a statement, the MSA said Pace Ross was informed that his contract would not be renewed on 4 November 2014, and that an open call would be launched for the next three-year term for NSO director.

The MSA said the appointment of Joseph Bonello as acting director was gazetted on 7 November, and that Eurostat’s director general Walter Radermacher was also informed of the decision.