Broadcasting watchdog advised to 'go slow'

The Broadcasting Authority has been advised to "go slow" until the Prime Minister nominates new board members to replace two who resigned more than a month ago. Government sources told the Times of Malta the authority's board had not met for the past two weeks following legal advice that no "major or controversial" decisions should be made until the two new members were appointed. "Although the authority's legal counsel, Ian Refalo, did not say that the authority is not constitutionally constituted, he advised the chairperson it would be better to go slow until the two members who resigned are replaced," the sources said. A few weeks ago, the dean of the Faculty of law, Kevin Aquilina, a former chief executive of the authority, said the broadcasting watchdog could still function with just three members. The Constitution lays down that members of the Broadcasting Authority are appointed by the President of Malta following nominations by the Prime Minister after consulting the leader of the Opposition. In practice, however, the government and the Opposition make two nominations each and the chair is usually agreed upon by both. In the case of the present chairperson, Tanya Borg...

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