Betrayed by JPO (2)

The Richard Cachia Caruana case has reminded me of the literary character, Innocenzo La Legge.

In the opening chapter of one of the most famous novels by Eugenio Silone, Fontamara, the author describes the state of affairs in the Fascist stricken village of Fontamara.

The poor farmers, rendered poorer still by the regime, could not afford to pay the electricity bills although they accepted the bills, saying that “a piece of paper could always come in handy”.

Innocenzo, the tax collector, refrained from distributing bills after he was shot at and nearly killed. However, he was later told by a villager that most probably the shot was not aimed at him, at Innocenzo La Legge, but at what he represented, the tax. Innocenzo very wisely reiterated that had the shot hit its target, it would not have killed the bill distributor but him.

Al buon intenditor, poche parole. Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Mr Cachia Caruana and now... sotto a chi tocca!