Malta continues to slide in Corruption Perceptions Index

Christopher Grech

Nov 19th 2009, 15:45

I am not suggesting that Malta is NOT corrupt or corruptable. I just mentioned that if you are to calculate any index, it has to be on like with like terms.

After the tangentopoli crises in Italy, my Maltese friends, would say, "Oh how corrupt the Italians are!". I said that in Malta it is worse, and at least they put some people into jail, whilst in Malta, corruption does not see any judicial court-rooms!

To acknowledge is the first step, and to tackle it, is another.

Geir Nilsen

Nov 19th 2009, 13:37

John Abela and Mario Attard are completely right. Even in the world's least corrupt countries corruption develops if one party is in power for too long. Malta basically only have two parties which gets almost 50% of the votes each. This is extremely unhealthy. Perhaps the Maltese don't regard it as corruption, but placing friends in important positions within state departments like MEPA, VAT and ADT is very much so. Therefore a change of government must happen every now and then. Labour were in power for too long, but now the we have the same problem with the Nationalist party. I personally prefer the latter, but I think a change for the sake of change would be in Malta's best interest.

That said; Malta isn't far from Sicily, and the Maltese have the same mindset as the big brother in the north. In Northern Europe you can't give money under the table for a department of the likes of MEPA to 'prioritise' your building application. Here it's also literally impossible to pay to an account number for even large purchases. Everybody wants cash. I wonder why... Cheating, bribing and evading tax is the national sport.

Stop fooling yourselves.

Steve Borg

Nov 19th 2009, 02:50

@J Farrugia

illuminana Sur Farrugia. il-każ li qajjem Evarist Bartolo dwar il-Power Station ta' Delimara kien iwaqqa' gvern f'pajjiż serju. Ilum kollox indara u min fi zmien il-Labour kien jintrabat b'katina, issa joqgħod jitkellem dwar kemm hija mportanti d-dieta minħabba ċ-ċellolite u l-liposuction kemm hija tajba. Jgħidu li l-aqwa mħallef huwa r-referee tal-kampjonat tal-boċċi għaliex ikejjel bi spaga li ma tiġġebbidx u jkejjel sew.

U jiena naqbel.

Henry Jacobs

Nov 18th 2009, 07:58

Perception created by the opposition

d.magro

Nov 18th 2009, 07:22

What do you expect ? Corruption in the VAT department ( no resignation ), alleged corruption at the Malta Drydocks- Fairmount project ( no one resigns ), corruption at the VAT dept. Presently various cases of corruption by politics ( not being mentioned due to court cases ). The present Government PN , after 22 years in power has not succeeded in eroding corruption, but it is now on the rampant....check most of the self employed...their declared income.

Evarist Saliba

Nov 18th 2009, 07:13

M.Sciberras, and others who follow the same trend in their arguments, have a very valid point. Saying that corruption exists in a society is one thing. Comparing this to the level of corruption in another society is another.

However, perception, irrespective of whether it is objective or subjective, accurate or not, is a very important element in assessing the moral health of a society. Assuming that the basis of this index has remained the same, what worries me is that Malta is slipping in its grading. I do not care whether Malta is more or less corrupt than country A or B, but I do care if the perception is that we are going downhill.

The authorities should not bury their head in the sand.

Chris Farrugia

Nov 18th 2009, 06:26

Can't u all see that corruption in Malta is so rampant and so entrenched in our culture that we shouldn't even call it corruption anymore. People cry corruption and these same people are the ones who will use the back doors and other potential influences to reach thier target. At some point in life we all used friends of friends to jump a qeue of get some sort of favour with or without bribes. This is our mentality, this is how the maltese system works, starts from low down and goes all the way up.

When I read about stories of the ex-chief magistrate, I am surprised that such a story came to light and wasn't buried. Corruption is here to stay, and no change in goverment or ministries will solve the problem.

John Abela

Nov 17th 2009, 23:00

that's why its healthy to change goverment every few elections ...a clean slate...will generally reduce corruption..alotugh it may start growing again..we know how much it grew now...in the highest courts...vat dept..tenders..ministers ? the last joke in court...the famous loophole when the prosecutor uses the wrong charge..so the accused can get away scot free....we all know how a goalkeeper can act as if he tried to save a goal and let's it slide in and gets paid afterwards...no further comment...li hu minnu minnu imma ...naghti prosit lil Franco Debono suggeriment tajjeb.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Nov 17th 2009, 21:04

Have they included the City Gate Project negotiations , totally kept secret until last June !

MSciberras

Nov 17th 2009, 20:15

This article is highly misleading. This is Malta's ranking from the index:

Rank 45
Points 5.2
Number of surveys used to compile ranking 4
Confidence level 4.0 - 6.2 (the level of confidence that the ranking reflects reality on a scale of 1 - 10, where 10 represents 90% confidence )

The crucial factor here is the confidence level. This is extremely low - Transparency International here are saying that the Malta's ranking is not reliable. Malta is a tiny country and the complete disregard by the government of the international publicity these indices attract means that the compilers, probably receiving no official help to compile their analysis, had to use what material was available; recognised that this was inadequate - and left it at that. We are too small to merit further effort. But the damage of course is done. The result is this extremely damaging ranking, which tells the world (who like The Times journalist only looks at the headline ranking) that Malta is more corrupt than places like Botswana and Macao. The news story here is that once again, Maltese authorities blithely disregard the importance of marketing Malta, a place unknown to most, internationally.

James De Giorgio

Nov 17th 2009, 20:03

This is appaling news.

I demand an explanation from the government. The country has fallen twelve rankings in a year.

R.Gauci

Nov 17th 2009, 19:09

@ Joe Vella

In the past under a Labour Goverment people paid money to get a telephone line or a colour TV or a piece of land and under PN Goverment people paid money or sometimes with a piece of paper called vote to get a good job or any other favour that one would require!! Mention all facts Mr. Vella as half truth is worst then a lie they say ! Yes Corruption is widespread across the Globe not only in Malta but you have to be naive or dishonest trying to hide the fact that during the last years it didn't increased in our country!! I am not saying that PN Ministers or members of parlament are involved directly as I don't have any proofs in my hand to say so but you can't deny the fact that were a lot of cases involving Govermental Department and authorities recently !!! This is not a question of blue or red corruption hits badly every tax payer!!
I admire people like MP Franco Debono which is not afraid to talk in favour of transparency and which are loyal to the people which elects them keep it up !!

J Oatmon

Nov 17th 2009, 18:32

If you have an open mind, and you read about the 'can of worms situations' at the VAT, MEPA, ADT, the mess of inconsistent legal judgements etc. , then you are sickened by it all.

It is very obvious that Malta is failing to eradicate corruption, and by not taking effective actions against the convicted corrupters, they feel they can always pay off someone, to escape real justice - The VAT fiasco is a prime example - it stinks and the court judgements stink even more.

Mario Attard

Nov 17th 2009, 17:54

This clearly proves that when a goverment stays in power for a very long time, corruption becomes rampant. The arrogance shown by certain ministers says it all. The roots of political power have spread far and deep. We really need a fresh start.

Sandro Galea

Nov 17th 2009, 17:28

How is measuring perception different to actual measurement?

Let us take the example of water temperature. An actual measure of water temperature is carried out with a thermometer. Assuming the thermometer to be correctly calibrated one gets the actual water temperature by using a thermometer. Perception of water temperature is different. It concerns whether one ‘feels’ hot or warm or cold. Such perception depends on the circumstances one is in. For example, if one is sunbathing on a beach and goes into the sea water one is likely to feel cool even if the temperature of the sea water is some 26 Celsius. But that feeling of cool water is not a correct measure of the sea water’s temperature.

So a perception is a perception and nothing else.

The case of the Judge currently in court increases the perception that the Courts of Law are corrupt. But I am convinced that the vast majority of Judges and Magistrates are persons of integrity, independent of whether they were appointed under an MLP administration or a PN administration and independent of their political background.

So perceptions are a good measure of perceptions and nothing else.

Sandro Galea

Nov 17th 2009, 17:13

I agree 100% with Hon Franco Debono. We need all political parties to publish their accounts and their donations. If I recall correction, PN has accepted to publish its financing. PL is asking for the public financing of their party. There is a major difference between using public tax funds to finance political parties and political parties being obliged by law to publish all donations and financing received. Let us start with the latter as Hon Franco Debono is suggesting.

John D. Farrugia

Nov 17th 2009, 16:52

Some comments are unbelievable.

Are you politically blindfolded or living in gagaland? When will you learn to be honest (at least with yourselves) and say that white is white and black is black? Jesus!!!!

Peter Korsten

Nov 17th 2009, 16:29

@E. Gatt and others,

It's called 'perception', because it's not something you can measure like you can measure distance, temperature, or gross domestic product.

But before making baseless claims that this is caused by the so-called mud-slinging, perhaps you should familiarise yourself with the process that Transparency International uses to come to its index.

Are you really that delusional to think that those people read a few newspapers and write a report based on that? No, it's based on people doing business, and encountering corruption. "Ah, this will take a long time, unless of course you're willing to compensate me." Money under the table, that sort of thing.

We have a judge accepting bribes, a VAT department where you can bribe away your debt, and yet you maintain it's just a smear campaign?

My taxes go to the people giving lucrative projects and cushy jobs to their friends and family, and it's because of people like you that this will be the case for at least another three years.

Christopher Grech

Nov 17th 2009, 16:11

10. World Bank - Country Policy and Institutional Assessments for IDA Countries (WB 2008)

Not all sources rank all countries of the index. Because the coverage of these surveys and
assessments is not identical, the number of sources from which each country’s score is
derived is not the same for all countries. A country must be covered by a minimum of 3
different sources to be ranked in the CPI.

END QUOTE

Therefore these assessments are not identical.

Let us be honest, how do bankers do these indices, and on what basis? There are more questions than answers on how they did this index.

The best way is to do a seperate questionnaire on the business and personal people of the country (seen from local and foriegn eyes), and compare the same questionnaire with the other countries, and not from different sources!

Christopher Grech

Nov 17th 2009, 16:08

This CPI is quite a silly indicator. It tries hard to do something that is too difficult to do.
It does NOT calculate and compare things, like with like. From the horse's mouth, t his is the CPI methodology: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009/methodology

The CPI 2009 is calculated using data from 13 different surveys or assessments produced by
the following 10 independent organisations2:
1. Africa Development Bank- Country Policy and Institutional Assessments 2008 (AFDB
2008)
2. Asian Development Bank -Country Performance Assessment Ratings 2008 (ADB 2008)
3. Bertelsmann Foundation- Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BF 2009)
4. Economist Intelligence Unit -Country Risk Service and Country Forecast 2009 (EIU 2009)
5. Freedom House -Nations in Transit 2009 (FH 2009)
6. Global Insights, formerly World Markets Research Centre- Country Risk Ratings 2009 (GI
2009)
7. Institute for Management Development - World Competitiveness Report 2008 and 2009
(IMD 2008 and IMD 2009)
8. Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Hong Kong - Asian Intelligence 2008 and 2009
(PERC 2008 and PERC 2009).
9. World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report 2008 and 2009 (WEF 2008 and
WEF 2009)

Continued

Ramon Mangion

Nov 17th 2009, 16:03

@Mr E Gatt , corruption allegations have in a number of times been confirmed even by court, so please revise your facts

Joe Vella

Nov 17th 2009, 16:02

@ Maria Falzon

This survey results is based on perception. I believe those who carry out the survey ask a number of people in each country and the results are computed. It no wonder that the perception in Malta is what it is given the fact that Joseph Muscat and the PL, day in and day out, preach as corruption is rampant in Malta.

I guess this is the gift to Malta by Joseph Muscat and the PL. Marija Falzon, the time has long gone that one needed to pay an intermediary for having a service, such as a telephone line, installed on ones' home. Shame indeed on Joseph Muscat and the PL.

franco debono M.P.

Nov 17th 2009, 16:00

Malta needs urgently a law on political party financing. Very urgently. Then we would be the architects of modern political parties. Ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

g.c.Forte

Nov 17th 2009, 15:51

And I thought that I am living in the Garden of Eden, under the Christian Democratic God send government,to take care of me and my family. Prosit sur Gvern. But the most important thing is that those who are responsible, you always find them at the front row in church.

Sandro Galea

Nov 17th 2009, 15:42

According to the Transparency International website, evaluation of the extent of corruption in countries/territories is done by two groups: country experts, both residents and non-residents, and business leaders. In the 2009 CPI, the following seven sources provided data based on expert analysis: African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Bertelsmann Foundation, Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, Global Insight and the World Bank. Three sources for the 2009 CPI reflect the evaluations by resident business leaders of their own country, IMD, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, and the World Economic Forum.

The only reference to Malta I managed to find in the respective sources was in the Economist Intelligence Unit site.

Till a few years ago, Hon Alfred Sant was the Economist Intelligence Unit’s reporter for Malta (and he had forgotten to pay taxes on the money earned from this economic activity).

I am interested to know who is the Economist Intelligence Unit’s reporter for Malta at this time and who are the country experts, both residents and non-residents, and business leaders, who reported on Malta.

Why should Transparency International not be transparent with such basic information?

Can the Times follow this story in more detail?

Joe Tabone-Adami

Nov 17th 2009, 15:29

I once read that "when people speak ill of you, make sure you so live as to prove them wrong". Perceptions do not come from thin air, do they! It is also said that where there is smoke, you are sure to see fire.

Joseph Mizzi

Nov 17th 2009, 15:21

@Sandro Galea
I'll tell you what to do:

Follow the University Rector's example and muzzle the media. Stop it reporting the developments in the Noel Arrigo trial, the VAT scandal court cases, the Finance Minister's escapades locally and abroad, and other similar stories.

This will surely put us tops of the hit parade.

Stephen Farrugia

Nov 17th 2009, 15:07

I am sure that this report is wrong because we are a catholic country and we have values that go very far out at sea, enough to rescue our brothers and EU funds to do the job. Ifhem !

SLIEMA

E Gatt

Nov 17th 2009, 15:03

The CPI is short for ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ and not for ‘Actual Corruption Index’.

Successful mudslinging campaigns have the effect of increasing the ‘perception’ of corruption.

The ‘mudslingers’ can pat themselves on the back for contributing towards this dubious honour.

Peter Korsten

Nov 17th 2009, 14:54

"MLP’s and Dr. Joseph Muscat’s campaign to smear Malta’s reputation abroad is rubbing off and is being partially successful."

Alas, no. This is not based on media or anything, but based on reports:

"The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measures the perceived level of public-sector corruption in 180 countries and territories around the world. The CPI is a "survey of surveys", based on 13 different expert and business surveys."

After over 20 years in power, and basically controlling the public sector, who do you think is to be held accountable for the poor showing in the report?

Unfortunately, even if a contingent of angels came down from the heavens and told you that, you know, maybe it's actually real corruption that caused the sad score for Malta, it wouldn't change your unfaltering belief, would it?

John Abela

Nov 17th 2009, 14:50

j c micallef
'One wonders what ranks as corruption. In the USA (rank: 19) we all know where money gets you. Sponsoring the right congressman and having the right contacts could mean your survival there. The US Postal Services can never penetrate certain markets because there's fierce lobbying by banks to shake off competition'
now let's compare that with malta..we have ministers tal klikka socializing with business tycoons who probably sponsor their political campaigns setting up their pastisan tv stations full of propoganda anomalies...malta = monopoly and capitalism at its best...lets name a few monopolies in malta ..electricity enemalta ..hehe no need to comment...then there's the telephone,water,tvcable the exotique and forestals empires ..medicine empires ...dhalia perry and other super rich elite property owners..another empire hehe..slowly buying all the property in malta and building everywhere..cranes and concrete blocks everywhere environment? haha...wherever you look in Malta its monopoly at its best...and when you have big tycoons controlling goverment policies from behind ..then surely corruption will follow...viva l xmas hampers tc

Joe Micallef

Nov 17th 2009, 14:48

Some basic math.

- We are a country which is politically divided 50/50
- In this country both large parties have their own media
- The party in opposition generally says the government is corrupt
- The perception scale is 10 of which 4.5 to 5.5 happens to be the median unit
- The score obtained by Malta is 5.2
- Considering that the MLP media enjoys a larger share the government may regard the result as satisfactory
- The survey only has a decent confidence level where in a country the population of voters is largely detached from a political party. Not in Malta
- Guess what when the PL is in government following the next election (although with Joe this is increasingly doubted) the perception index will remain the same

Galea. L

Nov 17th 2009, 14:38

Sandro Galea
Stop living in cuckoo land Sandro and remove your dark blue blinkers.
Corruption is now not only perceived in Malta but also by outsiders.
How about another film in the Carry on series called "Carry on corrupting".

J Farrugia

Nov 17th 2009, 14:35

Corruption was rampant during the heydays of the Labour party in Government, AND NO ONE WAS EVER ARRAIGNED IN COURT TO FACE CHARGES EXCEPT AN INNOCENT PERSON WHO DECIDED TO SPEAK UP. While today - contrary to what used to happen before, those caught in the act or even suspected, are arraigned in court to face corruption charges and let the courts decide about it. Today we even have the Commission against Corruption. So tell those who are doing this survey that their studies mean absolutely nothing to us.

R. Caruana

Nov 17th 2009, 14:27

Wonder if anyone below has given the word 'Perception' any thought.

Perception is one thing; reality is something completely different. It's with the latter that I'd start worrying.

Mark Camilleri

Nov 17th 2009, 14:19

For the purpose of the CPI, how is corruption defined?
The TI CPI focuses on corruption in the public sector and defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. (http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2007/faq#general2)

Having court cases in relation to the Vat Dept scandal and corruption accussations of a Former Cheif Justice is enough evidence for Malta to be ranked much lower then it currently is. Don't complain!!

JBorg

Nov 17th 2009, 14:12

@Sandro Galea
So now even this is PL's fault! Do you want to say also that PL was also involved in the corruption case of the VAT Department?
Unbelievable how Maltese are still so blindly followers of their own party.

Raymond Cutajar

Nov 17th 2009, 14:06

Silence Says It all
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
then even president Mugabe says his country is clean

Mariella Galea

Nov 17th 2009, 14:05

OOPS! no longer l-aqwa fl-ewropa...

it seems that very few people knew that in the EU, those countries that were already corrupted things where going to be more corrupted. The majority listened to the old ding dong that as soon as we went in all corruption would cease ( cause that's what they've been told...hahaha) Poor idiots, and they've dragged us all in.

BTW @ Sandro Galea

It's not labour that's making a bad name for Malta.... Have you ever heard of Birdlife Malta and the PN Government. Open your eyes mate

J C Micallef

Nov 17th 2009, 14:02

Amongst the countries that rank before Malta there are:
Chile (!!!)
Uruguay
Cyprus
Dominica

One wonders what ranks as corruption. In the USA (rank: 19) we all know where money gets you. Sponsoring the right congressman and having the right contacts could mean your survival there. The US Psotal Services can never penetrate certain markets because there's fierce lobbying by banks to shake off competition. Now, what would you call that?

Though I am quite sure that in Malta we have much to improve on as regards corruption, I wonder if perhaps this is just one of those organisations whose real motive is hidden in the dark.

M.Brincat

Nov 17th 2009, 13:57

U dan l-index isir bl-affarjiet li hargu fil-berah!

Ara kieku jikfu l-borom kollha

M Attard

Nov 17th 2009, 13:56

@Sandro Galea

You're right we have been downgraded because of PL's smear campaign. Do you know why Transparency International did not reply to the local Media House ..... because they have a small office secretly tucked away in the Glass House at Hamrun. and only listen to One News and read l-Orrizont.....

U Hallina mela vera qed tghix fil-qamar int.

eric saliba

Nov 17th 2009, 13:52

@ sandro galea. are you by any chance referring to the 'malta file' that was distributed by the Pn to scare off investment in malta? or maybe when a prominent PN top man urged german factories in malta to close down so that there will be an increase in unemployment???
we do not forget!!
i will wait for the PM in tomorrow's reply to rebut Joseph's accusations of corruption if i were you!

maria falzon

Nov 17th 2009, 13:51

@Sandro Galea

that only means that Joseph Muscat is more credible that Lawrence Gonzi

adrian aquilina

Nov 17th 2009, 13:49

malta needs to stop and totally start new..all ministers must never be in politics and a set of politicians that represent all are put in their place..a totally and complete change of mentality in society about just about everything..schools need to teach kids about life and thinking for yourself and change the maltese view that corruption is ok and religious fundementalism must stop..but none of this will happen so lets keep falling down,not much further to go as we remain the country with the worst politics,deliusional beliefs in the supernatural and a backward society who cant even drive or form a q at a shop..
could be such a nice country....sad

Tonio Bone

Nov 17th 2009, 13:44

Corruption has been around from the days man evolved to walk on two feet and started to value possessions. This country is not immune from this corruption virus that eats insatiably at moral values and wipes away any form of level playing field.
It's not a question of PN or PL either, they don't have any anti-viral injections for it and it continues to thrive undisturbed. In PL days corruption was more the in-your-face type, with money exchanging hands to obtain licences on restricted imports, to the simple Lm 20 paid to get a defective phone line or 1st generation colour TV sets.
Today it is more refined, more under the table. No more penny pinching. Now we talk millions of this and millions of that. Contracts, silent partnerships, commisions, taking a seat on this or that particular board table, selling this or that national jewel, going for this or that contract....and the list is endless.
Is anyone surprise they all fight like miserable bitches to be in the hot seat?

P.Cassar

Nov 17th 2009, 13:37

Now we have become accustomed to see Malta MOVING DOWN WHEN THE BEST PLACES ARE UP AND MOVING DOWN WHEN THE BEST PLACES ARE UP.

AND ALL KEEP SMILING.