The Prime Minster himself addressed a press conference to let us know that May is coming in April this year. Now, don’t get me wrong, I welcome any such event with open arms. But, seriously, did such a press conference merit the partaking of a prime minister?
Over the past years, Malta hosted some of the most renowned pop, rock and dance artists in the world. So what is the big deal?
Some might argue that the main thrust of Joseph Muscat’s message was a unifying one. I, for one, was not impressed. Neither were various newspapers, television and radio stations, judging by their choice of headlines, all of them concentrating on Brian May. No one, it seems, is interested or believes this government when it speaks of national unity. And the government can only blame itself on this one.
This government promised to put political differences aside and treat people on the basis of their merit not political creed.
This government pledged a Malta for all. But, over the past 11 months, this government has acted in a crass partisan manner, shamelessly rewarding those who serve the Labour Party and castigating those who are not seen as being close to the core of that same party.
Political rhetoric concerning cross-party embracement of national festivities and about the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition laying wreaths together on such occasions only go to highlight how we live in an age of make believe, the Humpty Dumpty guide to politics, where words mean nothing more nor less than what the Prime Minister chooses them to mean.
A creepy silence is forming like a heavy mist across the public sector
The political divide is going to increase not decrease over the coming months and years and this as a result of the government’s actions. Public appointments, promotions and employment have become once again political chips in a back-scratching game. Valid people are being pushed aside and replaced by less competent people all across the public service. But the Prime Minister is expecting us to ignore this reality.
We should therefore accept as good governance the fact that in Muscat’s first days as prime minister, permanent secretaries were shown the door. We should consider as normal that the head of the civil service is a Labour diehard, well known for his militant partisan views and who boasts his extreme dislike of the opposing side. And what can ever be wrong with the fact that anyone of whatever political sympathy who had contributed under the previous administration is sidelined?
We should now all forget that David Felice was replaced by Jason Micallef at the helm of Valletta 18. We should close our eyes to the fact that the Commissioner of Police was parachuted from outside the corp. And why should it really matter that today the Police Corp has more deputy and assistant commissioners than the London Metropolitan Police?
It is really not a problem that so many Labour Party officials, MPs and failed candidates have found themselves in lucrative publicly-funded positions. Or that some army officers had more promotions in three months than other officers will ever have in a lifetime serving the nation. We can now ignore the fact that good, valid people had their contract terminated or were not reappointed simply because they did not feature on some Labour billboard before the election.
The Prime Minister wants us to forget all of this and be happy because Brian May is coming to play in Malta. Prime Minister, you reap what you sow.
It is unfortunate that a number of unsavoury traits are re-establishing themselves within the public service and beyond. Public sector employees have started to talk in hushed voices or avoid voicing their concerns. This government, which totally failed to deliver on its promise of being a government for all, has, however, gained a reputation of being a government that acts swiftly and heavy-handed when faced with dissent.
As a result, a creepy silence is forming like a heavy mist across the public sector. Such silence is a pity because the worst thing that can happen to this and any government is that it stops listening to warnings. It is like disabling the warning lights on your dashboard. You will end up doing a lot of damage to your car and realise it only when it is too late.
No person should fear its government and when such sinister tacit fear permeates the national circulatory system, then it is a sign that something is rotten in the State of Joseph.
I hope to be there when Brian May performs in Pjazza San Ġorġ. But Prime Minister I will be applauding his music and his genius and certainly not your efforts to bring about national unity.
nvella@pn.org.mt
Norman Vella is a Nationalist candidate for the MEP elections.