On November 25, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, probably with a smile, said the Opposition Leader’s “bubble” (the allegations of corruption over the BWSC power station contract) had burst because the European Commission had decided to close infringement proceedings against Malta.
The Prime Minister was also quoted as saying: “...let us allow enough time for all questions to be asked. Let us answer the questions,” adding the government wanted to be as transparent as possible.
Does Dr Gonzi really believe the Maltese public is so gullible and is not intelligent enough to see beyond the smokescreen? As the American Indian used to say about the white man: “Man speaks with forked tongue.”
To start with, the European Commission burst his bubble by categorically stating the Maltese government “jumped the gun” as no such decision had been given and none would be made for a while yet.
Dr Gonzi says he wants all questions to be answered and the government to be transparent (a buzz word he regularly uses to portray himself whiter than white). Yet, together with his “bulldog”, Austin Gatt, he refused to allow the Public Accounts Committee to interrogate witnesses who suddenly “lost their memory” or refused to answer the Auditor General’s questions. If Dr Gonzi and Dr Gatt have nothing to hide, why prevent the PAC from grilling those who, because they might incriminate themselves, did not give full and proper evidence. Do they not realise the public can read between the lines when the Auditor said he found smoke but not the fire in this sordid saga, which, I fear, will prove to be a fatal blow to GonziPN. Don’t they know that to have smoke you must have fire?
As a lifelong Nationalist supporter (and one who wishes to remain so), I am fast losing faith in this government and especially in a leader and Cabinet who can talk the talk but simply cannot walk the walk. In a Prime Minister who preaches and wants transparency but cannot deliver.
The Labour Party in the UK fell on its sword through its mendaciousness; their double-dealing and corruption. I do not want to see the same happen to the PN but there is growing disaffection among the party’s supporters. I’m afraid that unless Dr Gonzi abides by his own “transparency” creed, then there is little hope of his becoming Prime Minister ever again.