Transport Malta wins Good Governance Award as public service recognises excellence at ceremony

Transport Malta was awarded the Best Practice in Good Governance Award during a ceremony recognising outstanding achievements across Malta’s Public Service, held at Verdala Palace under the patronage of President Myriam Spiteri Debono.

In a statement, the Office of the Principal Permanent Secretary said that the award was presented in recognition of Transport Malta’s work following a positive assessment by the National Audit Office on the Public Service Obligation for inter-island transportation and the iScrappage Scheme for the purchase of motorcycles. The recognition highlighted the authority’s commitment to transparency, accountability and effective public administration, a statement said.

The ceremony celebrated public officials, departments and agencies that have distinguished themselves through excellence, innovation and dedication to public service.

Addressing attendees, Spiteri Debono praised public officers for their service to citizens and their ongoing efforts to strengthen and modernise the Public Service. She stressed the importance of technical competence, impartiality, loyalty to the Constitution and respect for democratic principles, while underlining the need for ethics, transparency and accountability to remain at the core of public administration.

Head of the Public Service Tony Sultana described the awards as an opportunity to recognise officials who have gone beyond what is expected of them. He noted that while a career in public service often involves sacrifice, the results ultimately contribute to improving people’s lives. Sultana also encouraged public officers to respond to criticism through continued hard work and success, rather than words.

Among the other major awards presented during the evening, the Healthcare Funding Department within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Health received the Quality Award for achieving the highest standards in service delivery. Quality Labels were awarded to the Public Service Commission Office, the Department of Examinations, the Police Community Policing Team, the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA) and Residency Malta Agency.

The Best Digital Solution Award went to the team responsible for rolling out Microsoft Copilot across the Public Service. The initiative involved an investment of around €4 million and has already seen more than 5,000 licences distributed across various government offices.

A second recognition involving Transport Malta came through the Climate Impact Award, awarded to the Shore-to-Ship project developed in partnership with Infrastructure Malta. The project enables cruise liners berthed in the Grand Harbour to connect directly to the electricity grid and switch off their engines, resulting in an estimated 90% reduction in emissions and air pollution.

The Inclusion Award was presented to the Public Cleansing and Maintenance Division for its bottle collection service for elderly persons and individuals with disabilities under the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS). The service is delivered through specialised vehicles and dedicated staff.

The Role Model Award was awarded to Angele Cushieri and Rennie Tanti for their dedication to Puttinu Cares. The pair have spent more than two decades supporting patients who travel abroad for specialised treatment. Puttinu is expected to offer 49 free apartments in the coming months for patients and their families.

The Inspiring Social Responsibility Award was presented to the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) and Agency Appoġġ for the STOP the Violence programme, which works to break cycles of violence and abuse through specialised training and outreach initiatives.

The Ministry for Gozo received the Project of the Year Award for the Gozo Aquatic and Sports Complex, a modern facility spanning more than 5,000 square metres across three levels. The project incorporates sustainability and accessibility features, including natural lighting and energy-efficient climate control systems.

Meanwhile, the Team Recognition Award went to the team behind the Malta School Games, a national sports programme organised by the Directorate for Curriculum, Lifelong Learning and Employability within the Ministry for Education and Sports.

During the ceremony, Tony Sultana also presented an Outstanding Effort Award to Enemalta’s distribution team in recognition of its essential work in maintaining and upgrading the electricity network, often in challenging conditions.

The evening concluded with a special recognition from Spiteri Debono to representatives of government entities and departments that demonstrated dedication, commitment and professionalism during and after the severe weather event known as Storm Harry in January.

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