The role of the MEPA audit officer

Abstract

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEP A) Audit Office was set up by an amendment of Act No. XXI of 2001 section 17C of the Development Planning Act. The Minister of Rural Affairs and the Environment, Perit George Pullicino had the foresight to appoint the Audit Officer in order to enhance the confidence in the planning process's transparency. At first the Audit Officer received both complaints and requests for investigations, until in November 2006, with the setting up of the Complaints Office, the Audit Office only handled investigations, either through formal complaints from the public or through the Audit Officer's initiative. The Audit Office became quite popular after the publication of various reports both in the Annual Reports and in the newspapers. People gained confidence in the Audit Officer who had the courage to come out with the truth regarding various planning investigations. However, after the investigating officer in the Audit Office carried out an investigation about the MEP A Chairman, the Audit Office came under fire. The investigating officer's contract was not renewed, the secretary in the Audit Office was transferred to another office and the Audit Officer was left alone in an empty office. The newspapers carried out a series of articles about the situation, and even the public had their say. The Role of the Audit Officer deals with the function of the Audit Office and the way things developed from the inception of the office to the present day. Although the office is now being run normally, it is still in a state of flux. Research was mainly carried out through Annual Reports, newspaper articles and Audit reports and interviews.