Colin W. Garnett, Sliema.
The Mistra soap opera
The recent general election continues to offer unexpected melodrama. As a student of politics for over 50 years, I find the ongoing reverberations of the Mistra Bay issue thoroughly absorbing. Judging by the amount of media coverage and the many comments I am hearing from my Maltese friends, the Mistra affair does seem to be assuming the proportions of a Maltese soap opera.
Day by day the fascination grows as new characters are introduced to the awaiting audience. Tuesday, a former special consultant; Wednesday, a party general secretary; Thursday, the Mepa auditor; and doubtless others waiting in the wings. It seems to have all the indications of becoming a Maltese epic. Personally, I can barely wait for the next instalment, and ultimately, of course, the denouement. Will Prospero prevail? Will Caliban come through? Will life on these enchanting islands ever be the same?
However, in the meantime, as an uninvolved, but totally bemused observer, several points puzzle me, though perhaps like Winnie the Pooh, I am a bear of little brain.
1. Mepa. In my experience of any such governmental/public committees not only were all members rigorously vetted on appointment, but at the beginning of each meeting every member had to declare and have minuted any interest, however small, in the business under discussion. Does this happen? For surely without such structural openness and probity, it seems rather like putting the foxes in charge of the chicken coop.
2. From the report on March 26: "It seems to me that the Labour Party did not have a strategy," he (the secretary general of the Nationalist Party) said. "They found a card in the end, and at that stage Alfred Sant didn't have the proof that what he was saying was the case. This is a fact and I didn't want the party to lose the election or risk losing the election against a party that did not have a strategy, but only resorted to mudslinging... Today, retrospectively, I would do the same thing because the Labour Party did not deserve to win the election without a strategy... My job was to see to it that... together with others, we won the general election."
Assuming that the reported quotation used in your report is an accurate representation of what the PN general secretary said, does it mean what I perceive it appears to mean? Namely, that come what may, winning the election came before all else? Or in other words, that the PN election victory was a greater good, ultimately transcending public probity and integrity, indeed, even morality itself? I sincerely hope that I am wrong in my understanding of what the secretary general of the PN is reported to have said within the context of the Mistra Bay issue.
My sincere hope is that for the benefit of all the people of Malta, indeed, for democracy itself, The Times will continue to cover this fundamental issue of public probity in the objective and open manner it has pursued hitherto.
Finally, may I commend to all participants in this gripping drama, Denis Healey's dictum, "When you are in the hole, it is time to stop digging!"
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alfred agius
Apr 3rd 2008, 22:38
Many thanks, Mr. Martinelli for agreeing that neither side deserved to win this election and govern this precious jewel in the middle of the med.
Joe Martinelli
Apr 2nd 2008, 02:11
You're right Alfred Agius especially since the MLP didn't even try to win the election. I correct that, the MLP and its ex-leader screwed up so badly that any NP imperfections compared to the MLP's became the model how to win an election - and they did!
With regards to Mr. Camilleri's rant, both space and prudence do not allow me to list all the scandals (and murder) under former Labour governments - the villas, roadworks in the middle of nowhere, the bribes to get on a waiting list to buy a colour TV when government ministers were enjoying their colour sets way before mere mortals could dream about owning one! Again, space does not permit me to continue. Your problem is a simple one and the sooner you get over it the better. You simply cannot re-write history. It's there, it's written, it's filmed, photographed and etched in our memory. And there is nothing you and your outdated leaders can do about it.
alfred agius
Apr 1st 2008, 21:55
Dear Colin, yes as you have correctly noted, winning the election came before everything else for gonzipn. Sheer macchiavellism - the end justifies the means!
Joe Vella
Apr 1st 2008, 17:36
Vincent Camilleri, Honestly, I do not think you have a choice whether to laugh or cry. I suggest that the only choice you have is to cry. The only think I caution you about is not to do all the crying at one time, becuase you have 5 more years to do all the crying the your hearth desire.
john fenech
Apr 1st 2008, 15:42
Charles why on God’s good earth need to I or someone else subscribe an opinion to mudslinging?
We live in an open and democratic society which accepts the right of expression, and then it’s up to the individual how to evaluate the message!
Again no one from the PN ever said if need be “I will make a pact with the Devil to win” or pass a law to forbid foreign interference. I will not ask you what would have been your reaction if the said article, in your opinion was adverse to theMLP.
To the article proper: Colin it is the responsibility of any party secretary to make sure that the Party will win an election. Quote your quote” This is a fact and I didn't want the party to lose the election or risk losing the election against a party that did not have a strategy, but only resorted to mudslinging... Today, retrospectively, I would do the same thing because the Labour Party did not deserve to win the election without a strategy... My job was to see to it that... together with others, we won the general election."
Would you prefer a party without a strategy to win? This is one of the themes why the Labour lost the election. Mind if you are following the news then you will recall MLP officials referring to these themes - not so well prepared programme and our message did not reach the middle ground voters. These and other issues contribute to a not so good strategy!
As regard to the Mistra saga I have already pronounced my opinion, if the law was flouted or a moral obligation is the issue then the perpetrator must do the responsible thing. But I am sure you subscribe to "that I am innocent till proven otherwise"
Vincent Camilleri
Apr 1st 2008, 15:41
You have to hand it to Mr Joe Martinelli. He is not only the Nationalist party’s apologist ‘par excellence’ but he is now also the undisputed master of euphemisms. His phrase “ NP government imperfections and with some individual's perceived non-adherece to the rules” knocked me off my chair!
Here are a few of the PN government’s imperfections and individual’s non-adherance to the rules”
1) Former Minister Jesmond Mugliette’s debacle with the ADT driving tests bribery case – Daphne Caruana Galizia screamed “Get rid of him for God’s sake” – yet Prime Minister Gonzi refused his resignation.
2) The Voice of the Mediterranean saga of mismanagement of public funds.
3) The bribery scandal at the maritime authority where very much like ADT licences were issued to boatsmen who were allowed to bypass the course and examination. No political heads rolled here either.
3) The alleged falsification of examination results by an officer attached to the Ministry for Gozo to procure a job for a constituent. The silence by the Gozo Ministry on this case was deafening
4) The overcosts and overruns in the Mater Dei project.
These are just but a sample of what Mr Martinelli describes as “NP government imperfections and some individual’s perceived non-adherance to the rules”
I do not know whether to laugh or to cry
Joe Martinelli
Apr 1st 2008, 12:51
No Charles, I for one will ot label anyone for expressing their view, unless of course, it is someone like you who, rightly so, declares his preference so openly.
What Colin should have at least indicated, is that with the NP government imperfections and with some individual's perceived non-adherece to the rules, it was still the preferred party to rule these islands of ours.
No one within the NP condones the breaking of any laws but the same could not be said of past Labour administrations.
Charles J Buttigieg
Apr 1st 2008, 11:22
Colin.now prepare yourself for a good bashing .They shall call you,a Sant follower and a mud-slinger and will tell you not to interfere in Maltese politics.Maltese democracy ,what? The day is still young,they will catch up with you soon. Do not get bashfull,plenty of that here.