Grandstanding on corruption

There is currently a lot of talk about democracy. A great deal is said about others without as much as bothering to venture a look in the mirror. How often does it occur to us that, even in seemingly democratic countries, there are serious democratic deficits? For instance, when the political elite together with the big business elite, making up a small percentage of the population, usurp all the power in a society for a long period of time?

Sounds familiar? The influence of the “political business” class who have intensively supported the Nationalist Party and who seize top contracts while donating funds to same, is not to be underestimated. This, of course, also helps the incumbents enormously when people are called to the polls: that once every five years vote which many perceive as what qualifies us as a democracy.

Now, after nearly a quarter of a century of Nationalist governments, our Prime Minister wants to show us how his government will be fighting corruption. But after so many years in power, Lawrence Gonzi sounds more like Alice in Wonderland with a wish list, and not worth serious thought. If he meant what he said why hadn’t he and previous Nationalist governments acted earlier? Why now? Maybe because there’s so little that’s left for grabs?

Institutions which supposedly see to the good governance of this country are already in place. But have they been well-resourced and have they been allowed to function properly? Not quite.

We’re currently discussing in Parliament amendments to one such toothless national organ, the Permanent Commission Against Corruption. A commission set up after PN won the 1987 election. This commission’s caseload dwindled over the years. Is this because of a lack of corruption to investigate? I don’t think so. There are various reasons, but most of all it is about the public losing trust in it.

The members of the Nationalist government seem to have now understood, and have data which shows, that a significant chunk of the electorate has had enough. They realise that maybe the end of the PN’s tenure in office is nigh, so they are now trying to erase from the national psyche the idea that this is a corrupt government, by “strengthening” anti-corruption measures. Even to the most naïve it’s clear that this is a case of too little, too late.

Large government entities and projects have been tainted by wrongdoing. The public hospital, the power station extension, White Rocks, the Fairmount Fjord and Fjell conversions at the Malta Drydocks, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Transport Malta, Air Malta, Enemalta… even the allocation of plots at the Addolorata cemetery hasn’t escaped the claws of institutionalised corruption.

An internal report commissioned by the PN after the 2004 European Parliament election clearly showed the government that it was going in the opposite direction of good governance. People with no particular skills were being appointed in the highest positions and they got appointed because of who they knew and not what they knew. Meritocracy has become just a word and political patronage is the driving force behind this government.

Still the permanent commission against corruption found nothing much to investigate.

Last September the Prime Minister reiterated the mantra that he wants to strengthen the fight against corruption, implying that a fight is going on albeit a weak one. Do tell us about it.

At the same time though, Dr Gonzi told his interviewer that he sees nothing wrong and that he would repeat the exact same process in the case of the power station extension tender, for example. This, when the Auditor General concluded that “The National Audit Office’s inquiry did not come across any hard and conclusive evidence of corruption, even though, for record’s sake, one cannot fail to mention the lack of cooperation from certain stakeholders who contended that they could not recall certain events or information. A case in point is Mr J. Mizzi, local representative for the tenderer awarded this contract (BWSC), who was considered one of the key players throughout this inquiry. Although summoned by the NAO on three separate occasions, he repeatedly cited lack of memory when asked certain questions.”

Surely Dr Gonzi does not have the peace of mind that all was above board.

Labour is all for strengthening and creating new institutions which fight corruption. Joseph Muscat presented Labour’s proposals in this area last year. Note that Labour is committing to its action plan from the opposition, not after decades in government. Important policy planks are that politicians will face investigations, even after 10 years if involved in corruption cases, thus the removal of the time-bar. A Labour government would also present a law on party finances and a parliamentary commissioner for standards will be introduced, to monitor MPs’ and ministers’ behaviour.

On the other side of the political spectrum, it is evident that the Prime Minister is clutching to straws, his last shards of hope. Grandstanding on corruption, at this late stage, is nothing but wool over the electorate’s eyes.

Dr Dalli is shadow minister for the public service and government investment.