Authorities should lead by example

Minister Francis Zammit Dimech saw fit to give us a lecture about the meaning of "clientele", according to the Oxford Dictionary in his Talking Point (August 25).

Let me confess straight away that in my opinion the Minister is carrying the can for the collective failure of this administration to deliver on a multitude of promised projects. However, his latest contribution to this newspaper begs a few questions.

Regarding the outflow of sewage from the Qawra boathouses onto the perched beach, did it have to be Super One to highlight this disgrace? Are the government and Mepa claiming ignorance of the flagrant illegal use of these places?

I have personally witnessed a warden hounding a tourist who happened to be smoking a cigarette in Valletta. Howbeit that no warden noticed anything when barges of construction rubble were being dumped into the sea?

Is it true that in Malta, under this administration as with other administrations before it, the law is not even-handed? Mepa in particular is a an indefensible case in point, strong with the weak, but very weak with the strong. It is futile to cite examples in this regard, as they are too well known.

The minister wrote about the mess and eyesore created by taxi drivers washing their cars along the main entrance of Valletta. All our parliamentarians, the police, environment wardens and prominent members of Mepa use this entrance; does it really need the common citizen to report such an illegal act?

Dr Zammit Dimech asked the question, what scenario should we consider, one of heavy enforced regulation or self-regulation?

My answer is that there is a grave need of credibility in the authorities themselves. They should learn that they are duty bound to uphold the regulations they enact without fear or favour, before appealing to Joe Public. Only when an example is given by those at the top can Dr Zammit Dimech expect the public to follow. Anything less will be a manifest waste of time and resources.