No faulting the intentions

The Tonio Fenech saga has reached ridiculous proportions. It is clearly a case of political manipulation by those who are so eager to spin a story. So, what are the true facts? The Minister of Finance accepted an invitation from two leading businessmen to fly briefly to Spain to watch his favourite team in a football match. Flight is free since George Fenech owns the plane, very much like taking a lift in his car. Joe Gasan, through his connections with Ford (we all know of that) has free tickets and offers them to the minister, his son and his nephew, who are no doubt elated to be able to watch what I presume is their favourite team (I would not be and would rather go to Milan, as I know the Prime Minister would). It's George Fenech's plane. They are Joe Gasan's tickets. They are there anyway - nothing paid. Tonio Fenech pays for the accommodation of his family entourage. So what's the big deal?

I will belatedly premise that, after the fact and with hindsight, I have no doubt that Tonio Fenech, whom I know as a man of honesty, integrity and repute, would not have accepted the invitation. I will not go into the casino tender matter because, as I stated on television last week, I am not in the know as to the details of the existing process. But once the minister decided to accept this invitation, particularly after clearing up the matter with the Prime Minister, so be it. The Ministers' Code of Ethics states very generically that a minister should not accept a gift or service. To go to the extreme, does this mean that one cannot accept a wedding or dinner invitation? Does this mean that one cannot meet a businessman at a café to discuss some sort of business? Does this mean that ministers cannot move out of their ministries or their homes?

There is a (probably unwritten) code of ethics that regulates members of the judiciary regarding "socialising". Judges and magistrates are not supposed to attend weddings and other private receptions, unless strictly family. They also have a "secret" door in St John's Street (where their chauffeur-driven cars wait) through which they should enter the Courts of Justice. Then there is a dedicated lift for them and private passages in the form of a balcony for them to enter their chambers. But all of this has gone to the wind. One can see judges and magistrates walking in and out of the courts, mingling with the public. One can see them at weddings and private parties and drinking coffee at popular cafés. This is, I suppose (and I will not judge - excuse the pun) a sign of the times. And I believe that the reputation and credibility of a judge is not tarnished by socialising, but is more important than that of a minister. So let us let Mr Fenech be. Perhaps his famous "fatal flight" (how sick) was indiscrete, but no more!

On to Joseph Muscat and his "apology" for "Black Monday". I happened to live this despicable episode. I was at the time a Parliamentary reporter and heard the mob attacking the Curia's bookshop in Archbishop Street with trepidation, as did the whole of the House, including Labour MPs. Everyone froze and looked very concerned.

The socialist mob then went on to the PN club in Pjazza Regina and later burned out Strickland House and, after literally hijacking public buses (after threatening the bus drivers) at the City Gate terminus, they targeted Eddie Fenech Adami's house, terrorising and abusing his whole family, including his wife, elderly mother and young children. I happened to be one of the first to arrive at Dr Fenech Adami's house, to see the havoc and destruction that the mob had caused. The scene is spine-chilling even today. I had also heard on Xandir Malta (or Dardir Malta, as it was called) a false report that the Labour Party club in Birkirkara had been attacked). A concerted effort to justify the attack on Dr Fenech Adami's residence.

So, Dr Muscat, who I really believe has the best intentions in the world, must formally visit Dr Fenech Adami and formally apologise on behalf of the Malta Labour Party which sanctioned all the violent acts during its regime. Dom Mintoff apologised to Mabel Strickland for the attack on Strickland House.

He never apologised to Eddie Fenech Adami. The socialist mob was never restrained (not to say more) until the coming of Alfred Sant, at least, who gave them no space for violence. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici never apologised for the ransacking of the Courts of Justice and the Archbishop's Curia by a mob which he led into Valletta from the Malta Drydocks.

Dr Muscat, we appreciate your effort to apologise for these grave misdeeds against democracy perpetrated with the full backing and support of your party, but it needs much more than that.