Spirit of Sir Humphrey

While leafing through the pre-budget document, I came across this gem of a paragraph on page 73 in the section on the proposed taxation reforms:

"It is to be stated that the options presented should not be construed to constitute a definitive policy approach towards taxation policy from a short and much less from a medium term perspective. This is an area of ongoing work and research, taking into account and anticipating the dynamic evolution of the local and international economic and social contexts. There also remain issues for consideration over the medium term, which, although relevant for taxation policy in Malta, were not considered to be of a priority nature at this juncture."

The author must have been inspired by Sir Humphrey Appelby, master of obfuscation, among other things. Played admirably by the late and lamented Nigel Hawthorne, Sir Humphrey was one of the three main characters of the 1980s British sitcom "Yes Minister" and its sequel, "Yes, Prime Minister".

It is comforting to note that Sir Humphrey's spirit lives on in our civil service.