A new identity for the Public Service

May 10 2023

The Public Service launched its new identity, with the vision that with more investment in technological infrastructure and digital skills it can continue to modernise itself and the country.

The launch was made by the Head of Public Service Tony Sultana, during the opening of the first edition of The Public Service Expo. This event is gathering all the Public Administration under one roof, with the Expo serving as a showcase for the best digital tools that the Public Service makes use of in every sector and area of life.

The Principal Permanent Secretary said the modernisation the Public Service is going through does not stop with technology, as it is also a matter of mentality, with the introduction of new practices, more relevant procedures, and innovative tools among others.

While addressing the heads of the Public Administration, Mr Sultana explained his vision of one public administration for one people, which does not distinguish between departments, agencies and entities, but is based on ambition to achieve greater results.

“Only this way will we be able to look forward and continue to modernise this country,” concluded the Principal Permanent Secretary.

The first EXPO of its kind

The Public Service Expo, which is being held at the MFCC Ta’ Qali, exhibits various intelligent systems that are used on a daily basis in the Public Service. These include systems that facilitate local permits, benefits and social security, personal healthcare, application processing and parking systems among others.
One may also see digital systems of unique interest, including bomb disposal robot, digital kitchen, holograms of statues, passport system identifier, 3D Costume Scanning, various robots, eSports simulators and digital scanning of notarial archives.

Digital systems that assist the country on a national scale will also be exhibited, including the Emergency Management Control Centre, Air Traffic Demos, the dashboard of the Malta Stock Exchange, a medicine testing laboratory, and the digital system which operates the Tritoni fountain among others. There will also be digital tools used in diplomacy, in agriculture and natural resources, various virtual realities and virtual tours of attractions of interest.

The EXPO will remain open until Friday, 12 May 2023, with the last places available only through registration on the public service site – publicservice.gov.mt.

#MaltaDaily

208,000 passengers took the bus in just one day on 21st April

May 10 2023

According to newly released statistics, Friday 21st April 2023 saw an absolute record of over 208,000 bus passengers travelling in one day.

This is a whopping increase of 4,500 passengers when compared to the previous record registered on Friday 4th October 2019.

During the entire month of April, 5.4 million passengers travelled by bus, which is a similar level as the previous month. When compared to April 2022 and 2019, this is a rise of 41.1% and 13.0% respectively.

Over 4.2 million passengers used their Tallinja Card during April 2023 to travel, showing an increase of 31.7% when compared to 2019. There were also 6,000 new Tallinja Card registrations.

The General Manager of Malta Public Transport Konrad Pule said that wile the record number of bus passengers is a positive signs, it is believed that more passengers can be attracted through measures which make journeys shorter and more attractive.

#MaltaDaily

Just Bants: Gozo should get its independence so we double our Eurovision chances

May 10 2023

Maltese Eurovision fans, we understand you’re currently heartbroken over the fact that our boys didn’t make it to the final despite their best efforts. Honestly, we’re with you; we were on edge until the very last moments to see if our sweater-wearing symphony could throw a Hail Mary a get us into the final for the first time in two years, but alas.

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Now, standard Eurovision procedure dictates that frustrated fans begin to dish out the yearly rhetoric; “Stop spending so much many on Eurovision”, “it’s a neighbours game”, “we should stop participating altogether”, and so on. Whether you agree with these statements is beside the point but clearly, something has to be done, and we have an idea.

Before anyone gets ahead of themselves and takes this article too seriously, this article is purely post-performance paroli; sensational speculative satire of sorts. But maybe… JUST MAYBE… would giving Gozo its independence double our chances of getting into the Eurovision final?

Let’s face it, a sizeable chunk of our country’s musical talent has originated from Gozo. Our sister island has produced a fair amount of local favourites like The Travellers, Michela Pace, Morena, Denise, Micimago… the list goes on. So what if we had to explore an alternative route? If giving Gozo its independence constitutes an additional Eurovision entry alongside Malta, together with a Eurovision Song Gozo, what’s to say that THAT would be our very ticket to Eurovision glory?

Don’t get too ahead of yourselves though… we’re just kidding.

Or are we?

#MaltaDaily

Authorities should explore students taking Matsec exams in their own schools, CEO suggests

Authorities should explore students taking Matsec exams in their own schools, CEO suggs

May 10 2023

Taking to LinkedIn, CEO of eCabs Andrew Bezzina addressed the traffic issue around Malta following various students arriving late to their exams due to heavy gridlocks in various localities.

He explained how, as a father of two, ‘it won’t be long before my kids are sitting for their O-levels and my family will have to shuffle between work and ensuring they get to their exams.’

Calling this a logistical nightmare for families, he suggested authorities exploring carrying out Matsec exams in the student’s respective schools or in regional catchment areas.

This would, according to Bezzina avoid generating more traffic as it would not have ‘students from all over the island flood into a single examination centre.’

‘Rather than students travelling to their exam centres, the exams should come to them’ he said. Citing his own company’s data on traffic flows which seem to clog during Matsec season.

‘Transport authorities could draft cycle and walking routes for students within a five-kilometre radius and even encourage public transport for students as an affordable and reliable alternative to being driven to their exams.’

What do you make of this suggestion?

#MaltaDaily