NGOs: Muscat should assume responsibility for conflict of interest appointment

Eleven environment NGOs have condemned Joseph Muscat's defence of his appointment of a Planning Authority employee to the tribunal which decides appeals from the PA's own decisions.
Muscat, when prime minister, appointed Martin Saliba to the tribunal which decides appeals on Planning Authority decisions, whilst Saliba was on leave from the PA, and with the assurance that he would retain his job at the PA after his stint on the tribunal.
"An adjudicator was appointed to decide on cases where his employer – past, present and future - was a party," the NGOs said.
Furthermore, Mr Saliba did not ever disclose this issue, which revealed that his financial security was guaranteed by his re-assuming his PA job.
"It is evident that such a situation would lead to bias especially when considering Martin Saliba's track record in deciding controversial large projects including the Tumas/Gasan Mrieħel Towers, db/ ITS and the Central Link project," the NGOs said. 

"As a result of Mr Saliba's appointment as tribunal chairman, the continued concealment of his employment with the PA, and critical tribunal decisions, appellants' rights have been breached. Joseph Muscat tries to defend his actions...