Ramona Attard cannot remain on the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal.

While congratulating Dr Ramona Attard for her appointment as President of the Partit Laburista, Repubblika considers that the spirit of good governance and justice necessitates that her new role renders untenable Dr Attard’s position on the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal; consequently, she should resign from this tribunal with immediate effect.

We would like to point out that this Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body which is supposed to be independent of Government, and not its tool.

We had already criticised Dr Attard’s nomination to the Tribunal a few days after Joseph Muscat’s resignation; she had occupied a position of trust as a consultant to Dr Muscat. We had stated that it is unfair to appoint persons on the basis of political loyalty.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has the duty to ensure that justice is done and is seen to be done, and therefore the obligation to see to it that Dr Attard is removed from this board.