It’s not easy being Maltese today wherever in the world you reside, seeing your country’s name splashed all over foreign news items, without background photos of the Grand Harbour or the Gozo Channel.
I cannot be a regular writer of a newsletter read by thousands in our diaspora, and ignore the unwordly matters that are being discovered from one day to the next, or from one hour to the next.
I am very conscious that this column might irritate die hard supporters of the two parties, that is those for whom loyalty to the party trumps that to the country and to truth. This is a risk I am ready to take.
Although the allegations of corruption against Mr Schembri and Minister Mizzi have long been made, after the revelation of their involvement in the Panama Papers, the alleged involvement of more than one person from the Office of the Prime Minister in activities related to the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was for me shocking to the Nth degree.
The story of a gift of a work place paid by the government, given in such a flippant way and without due process as seems to have happened for witness Theuma, and the payment of wages apparently without the need for doing anything at all, was ugly in its demonstrated arrogance of who was pretty sure these matters would never see the light of day. Naturally this is not an isolated incident, and administrations of whatever colour do this, however for those who have never had the slightest benefit of a similar process, that is the majority of Maltese, how can they not ask how the hell do that some people manage to get on such a gravy train?
Nevertheless, my biggest question marks regard the Prime Minister himself, Joseph Muscat. This is a person who, after so many years of a Nationalist government, completely changed the face and fortune of the Labour Party, and was the leader behind a complete renewal and notable developments especially in the economic and social spheres, where the country’s economic growth is the envy of the European Union and laws on the rights of minorities are considered to be at the cutting edge not only in Europe but the world.
In a contrast almost unbelievable to behold, first we had the breaking news of the Panama Papers, where no plausible reason was provided where two persons at the forefront of government had set up accounts in Panama, with the Prime Minister chosing to retain their services, which was a risky political decition. They could easily have been suspended until investigations be undertaken following which any necessary decisions could be taken.
Then, Muscat chose to remain involved in operational matters related to the investigation into Caruana Galizia’s assassination, for example as a recipient of secret service information and considerations for the concession or otherwise of pardons to accused people, and this after he had initiated libel proceedings against the journalist, so therefore his conflict of interest is clear. Not only that, but he permitted Schembri to also receive secret service information when Schembri also had libel cases against Caruana Galizia (which have now been dropped).
Here, Muscat could simply have passed on any role concerning any considerations related to the investigation to the Deputy Prime Minister, Chris Fearne, and not permit anyone who had a conflict of interest (including himself) to have any involvement, so that justice not only be done, but be seen to be done.
Finally, the decision by Muscat not the resign fortwith but to wait until January also troubles me. It was said this was done due to the selection process for the new PL leadership which will be contested between two people, and this process needs to be completed before the resignation occurs. I don’t buy this explanation – after all, in Malta a Deputy Prime Minister is already appointed, and his work is to be ready to take on the role of Prime Minister when the latter is not in a position to do so. I do not understand why this would not be applicable if Muscat in fact resigns immediately, regardless of when the PL leadership changes.
Although it is extraordinary that more than one person in the Office of the Prime Minister is implicated in the murder, the political crisis Malta is going through in my opinion is squarely due to these principal decisions taken by Prime Minister Muscat.
It is true that the Nationalist opposition is taking advantage of the situation. What else would you expect? This crisis could have been managed much better and attenuated if Muscat hadn’t taken the decision to concede absolutely nothing to the questions and accusations that were being made by the opposition, its sympathisers and other members of civil society.
Partisan persons there are aplenty, and acts of violence are happening – insults, egg throwing, threats etc. These acts of violence are to be condemned. It has to be said nonetheless that confidence in institutions and the integrity of the office of the Prime Minister has been undermined by what has and is still happening.
There are those who interpret the Prime Minister’s actions as indicative that he also has something to hide. I do not have such an impression on the man, however the three particular decisions I mentioned in this article are of concern to me and I do understand why others might interpret them differently. Time will tell.
My last word and appeal, not only to the Maltese diaspora but also to those still living in the fair land back home, comes from another ex Labour Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff, whose many example of rhetoric to his followers or the country would be ended with the words ‘Malta first and foremost’. Malta, not the party.
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Mhux żmien faċli tkun Malti llum tkun fejn tkun fid-dinja, tara ‘l isem pajjiżek imċappas fl-aħbarijiet b’ilsna oħra, u mhux fi sfond ta’ ritratti tal-Port il-Kbir jew il-Fliegu t’Għawdex.
Ma nistax inkun kittieb regolari ta’ fuljett li jinqara minn eluf fid-dijaspora, u ninjora l-ħwejjeġ ta’ barra minn hawn li qiegħdin jinkixfu minn ġurnata għall-oħra, jew minn siegħa għall-oħra.
Jien konxju li din il-kolonna tista’ turta lil min huwa partiġġan taż-żewġ naħat, jiġifieri dawk li għalihom il-lealtà lejn il-partit tagħhom jiżboq il-lealtà lejn il-pajjiż u lejn il-verità. Dan huwa riskju li lest li nieħu.
Għalkemm l-allegazzjonijiet ta’ korruzzjoni kontra s-Sur Schembri u l-Ministru Mizzi ilhom magħrufa, wara r-rivelazzjoni ta’ l-involviment tagħhom fil-Panama Papers, l-involviment allegat ta’ iktar minn persuna waħda mill-uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru f’attivitajiet relatati mal-qtil tal-ġurnalista Daphne Caruana Galizia għalija kien xokkanti għall-aħħar.
L-istorja tal-għotja ta’ post tax-xogħol imħallas mill-gvern, mogħti b’mod daqshekk flippanti u mingħajr proċess xieraq bħal ma jidher li kien għax-xhud Theuma, u l-ħlas apparentement mingħajr il-bżonn tat-twettiq ta’ xejn affattu, kienet kerha fl-arroganza ta’ min jidher li kien pjuttost żgur li dawn l-affarijiet qatt ma kienu se joħorġu fil-miftuħ. Naturalment dan mhux każ iżolat, u gvernijiet ta’ kull lewn għamlu dan, imma għal min ma bbenefikax minn proċess simili, jiġifieri l-maġġoranza tal-Maltin, ma jistgħux ma jistaqsux dak kif anke llum hemm minn jgħix fis-sakra u min mejjet għal qatra?
Madankollu, l-ikbar mistoqsijiet li għandi f’rasi jirrigwardaw lill-Prim Ministru, Joseph Muscat. Dan huwa l-persuna li, wara tant snin ta’ tmexxija Nazzjonalista, bidel kompletament il-wiċċ u l-fortuna tal-Partit Laburista, u kien il-mexxej wara tiġdid sħiħ u żviluppi notevoli speċjalment fl-oqsma ekonomiċi u soċjali, fejn it-tkabbir ekonomiku tal-pajjiż huwa l-għira tal-Unjoni Ewropea u l-liġijiet tad-drittijiet tal-minoranzi huma meqjusa minn ta’ quddiem mhux fl-Ewropa imma fid-dinja.
F’kuntrast bilkemm jitwemmen, l-ewwel kellna l-istorja tal-Panama Papers, fejn l-ebda raġuni plawsibbli ma ngħatat għalfejn żewġ persuni fil-quċċata tat-tmexxija tal-gvern kellhom kontijiet fil-Panama, u l-Prim Ministru Muscat għażel li jżomm is-servizzi tagħhom, li kienet deċiżjoni politika riskjuża. Faċilment dawn setgħu ġew sospiżi sakemm isiru investigazzjonijiet u wara jittieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet neċessarji.
Imbagħad, Muscat għażel li jibqa’ involut fl-operat tal-investigazzjoni tal-assassinju ta’ Caruana Galizia, per eżempju bħala reċipjent ta’ informazzjoni minn servizzi sigrieta u kunsiderazzjonijiet għall-għoti jew le ta’ maħfriet lin-nies akkużati, u dan wara li huwa stess kien għamel libell kontra l-ġurnalista, u għalhekk huwa ċar li kellu kunflitt ta’ interess. Mhux biss, imma jidher li ppermetta wkoll lil Schembri li jirċievi informazzjoni sigrieta relatata mal-investigazzjoni, meta Schembri wkoll kellu każijiet ta’ libell kontra Caruana Galizia (li għadhom kif ġew irtirati).
Hawnhekk, Muscat seta’ sempliċement jgħaddi r-rwol ta’ kunsiderazzjonijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-investigazzjoni lid-Deputat Prim Ministru, Chris Fearne, u ma jippermettix lil kull min kellu kunflitt ta’ interess (inkluż hu innifsu) milli jkollu x’jaqsam, biex il-ġustizzja mhux biss issir imma tidher li qed issir.
Fl-aħħar, id-deċiżjoni ta’ Muscat li ma jirriżenjax minnufih imma li jistenna sa Jannar ukoll tħassibni. Intqal li dan sar minħabba li l-proċess ta’ għażla ta’ kap ġdid tal-PL se jkun kontestat bejn tnejn min-nies, u dan il-proċess irid jitlesta qabel ma r-riżenja ssir. Din l-ispjegazzjoni lili ma tinżillix – wara kollox, f’Malta Deputat Prim Ministru huwa diġà maħtur, u xogħlu hu li jkun lest li jagħmel ix-xogħol ta’ Prim Ministru meta tal-aħħar ma jkunx fil-pożizzjoni li jagħmel dan. Ma nifhimx għalfejn dan ma jkunx applikabli jekk Muscat fil-fatt jirriżenja minnufih, jinbidel meta jinbidel il-kap tal-PL.
Għalkemm huwa straordinarju li iktar minn persuna waħda fl-uffiċċju ta’ Prim Ministru jkunu implikati f’każ ta’ qtil, il-kriżi politika li għaddejja minnha f’Malta fl-opinjoni tiegħi hija biss ir-riżultat ta’ dawn id-deċiżjonijiet prinċipali li ttieħdu mill-Prim Ministru Muscat.
Huwa veru li l-Oppożizzjoni Nazzjonalista qiegħda tieħu vantaġġ politiku mis-sitwazzjoni. X’tistenna li jiġri? Din il-kriżi setgħet ġiet immaniġġjata ħafna aħjar u mmewta kieku Muscat ma ddeċidiex li ma jikkonċedi assolutament xejn lill-mistoqsijiet u l-akkużi li kienu qiegħdin jintefgħulu mill-oppożizzjoni, is-simpatizzanti tagħha u membri tas-soċjetà ċivili.
Nies partiġġjani hemm bil-kif, u atti ta’ vjolenza qiegħdin isiru – tgħajjir, tfigħ ta’ bajd, theddid eċċ. Dawn l-atti ta’ vjolenza huma kundannabbli. Irid jingħad madankollu li l-kunfidenza fl-istituzzjonijiet u fl-integrità tal-uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru ġiet imsejsa minn dak li ġara u għadu jiġri.
Hemm min jinterpreta l-aġir tal-Prim Ministru bħala indikattiv li huwa wkoll għandu x’jaħbi. Jien m’għandix dik l-impressjoni fuq ir-raġel, imma t-tliet deċiżjonijiet tiegħu li semmejt f’dan l-artiklu jħassbuni u nifhem għalfejn ikun hemm min jinterpretahom mod ieħor. Iż-żmien itina parir.
L-aħħar kelma u appell tiegħi, mhux lid-dijaspora Maltija biss imma wkoll lil min għadu jgħix f’din l-art ħelwa, tiġi minn eks Prim Ministru ieħor Laburista, Dom Mintoff, li ħafna mill-eżempji tiegħu ta’ retorika kemm lill-partitarji tiegħu jew lill-pajjiż kienu jintemmu bil-kliem ‘Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox.’ Malta, mhux il-partit.
1http://inewsmalta.com/blogarticle.php?ID1=33949, retrieved 9/12/2019
1http://inewsmalta.com/blogarticle.php?ID1=33949, retrieved 9/12/2019
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