Speaking truth unto power: Din l-Art Helwa's lobbying role

Din L-Art Helwa was conceived and set up 40 years ago primarily as a lobbying organisation. The art and craft of successful lobbying is both to provide informed and constructive criticism and to cajole and, if necessary, hassle and harry those who have the power to make decisions affecting our daily lives - in Malta's highly centralised system this is almost invariably the government of the day.

The objective of any lobbying system is to influence people's views and opinions - including those of politicians of all persuasions - to achieve the ends we seek, in our case, in the cultural heritage and environmental fields.

Over the last 40 years, Din l-Art Helwa has conducted its lobbying campaigns courageously, responsibly and constructively, never criticising without also offering solutions. Almost always in the face of government lethargy or opprobrium, or both.

Some friends have rebuked me for making pronouncements that, by implication - as they saw them - were critical of the government and therefore undermined it. Yet, what they overlook is that Din l-Art Helwa has never made any political distinction between Red or Blue or Green. Indeed the mark, value and strength of our comments has been precisely that we had no political axe to grind. And those having the breadth of vision and the national interest at heart have recognised this - including, I am glad to say, some politicians I know.

We have been neither Red, nor Blue, nor Green. Din l-Art Helwa has always been neutral as between governments - of whatever complexion. But to be neutral and impartial is not to be indifferent. It is never to look the other way. It is to make distinctions between good and bad policies. Between dysfunctional or comatose governments, and those whose policies are beneficial to our country.

We have been equally severe in our criticism of both Red and Blue. My distinguished predecessor, our founder-president, was labelled "Public Enemy No.1" by one government. And I myself was named in Parliament for expressing a different view from the one held by ministers.

The role of Din l-Art Helwa is to safeguard Malta's rich cultural heritage and natural environment. To do this effectively it must be prepared to speak truth unto power - however unpalatable that truth may sometimes be to those in power. To fail to do this in the face of any government-neglect of our cultural heritage or our environment-would be to traduce the very purposes for which we were set up 40 years ago by those men of vision who sensed instinctively, and only too accurately, the way our political masters would treat our cultural heritage and our environment.

Part of any government's lot is to shoulder criticism. We may vent our criticism on the government in power, of whatever complexion, because we expect the people we elect to power and responsibility to deliver efficient administration and governance. Glow-worm politicians with their self-importance and specious slogans come and go. But they are ultimately accountable to the people they are meant to serve.

For our part, it is our responsibility to highlight - as fairly and objectively as possible - the environmental and cultural heritage issues. With time they have become ever more pressing. Our politicians must be made to understand through our lobbying that the environment and cultural heritage matter. That they ignore them at their electoral peril. That they must therefore - in their own self-interest - exercise the political will to make the necessary improvements.

It is essential for us to speak truth unto power. This means offering clear, frank, unbiased, balanced, unvarnished but constructive criticism. We care more for accuracy than for the feelings of the subject of our criticism, or their partisan supporters. Nor should we defer to them. We have always spoken and written our minds without fear or favour.

If to look at Malta's cultural heritage and the state of its environment with sombre realism and an unwillingness to trim our sails or to tell reassuring stories is to be accused of criticising government, then so be it. I prefer to insist on truthfulness and accuracy in the cause of truth - in the cause of improving the state of our island and our quality of life.

We shall not be silent. Our role is to lobby in a forthright manner with all the intellectual arguments we can muster those who have it in their gift to enhance our cultural heritage and natural environment through the strategic decisions they take, and to produce constructive solutions for the way ahead.

This may sometimes mean dissent, debate and criticism as well as dialogue and agreement with the government of the day. But the over-riding objective will remain the achievement of a better Malta in cultural heritage and environmental terms, not supine and complacent support for any government - or whatever complexion - which is not doing its job as we would earnestly hope to see it performed.

This said, let me also add that we are indeed appreciative that steps are being taken to alleviate some of the heritage and environmental issues. There is a greater awareness, both on the Government and Opposition benches, of the stiff environmental and heritage challenges that face us. And a sense of wanting to do something about them. I would like to feel that the robust tone of our lobbying has had something to do with this.

In conclusion, it is Din l-Art Helwa's role to try to change for the better the way government approaches our cultural heritage and environment. We try to help the cause of good government in these areas. Good government means bringing to bear all the knowledge and all the arguments you can from inside and outside. Debating and arguing them as frankly as possible. To try to reach the best solution. This is what we have tried to do. And will continue to do. Impartially - with boringly inconvenient arguments to government if need be.

For ultimately we have to ensure that when it comes to doing something about our cultural heritage or the environment we, as individuals, are not treated as insignificant by those who have the power to change things.

When I was young there was the Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany and Mussolini, White Supremacy in South Africa, Franco in Spain, Salazar in Portugal. Closer to home, there was colonial Malta and the nihilism of the Eighties.

Now they are all gone. It is individuals who, in fact, changed things. This is why it is important for us all, as individuals, to be prepared to give voice to our concerns. Not to connive or acquiesce at the degradation of our Islands through our idleness, or simply a wish for an easy life. This is why Din l-Art Helwa speaks up. And shall continue to speak truth unto power as it has done over the last 40 years.

Mr Scicluna is president of Din l-Art Helwa.