Speaking in a political conversation on Labour’s One Radio lately, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat seems to have lamented on his government’s proneness to commit ‘silly mistakes’ without entering into the merit of particular cases.
Now, the world over, take ‘silly’ to mean – as all decent dictionaries, old and new, would define it – as lacking in common sense or judgement; foolish. It is obvious that, by so doing, the Prime Minister gave a very superficial, if not false, picture of many mishaps and debacles his government was embroiled in during the last weeks and months.
The month of June was particularly a mensis horribilis in this regard with one serious case surfacing after another and with the government supplying no credible explanations, if at all. And new cases are carried forward to July as well.
Muscat’s government, though not even past its first half of this legislature, seems to have lost all the polish and glamour of its first few months and is now seen as having entered into the mediocrity zone, becoming lacklustre as time fast devours its term of office.
The various serious cases that were mostly revealed by the independent media may be described in more ways than one but calling them silly amounts to an insult to our collective intelligence. How can you describe as silly the Mark Gaffarena scandal which, as days go by, is revealing itself as a pluri-headed octopus, with various ramifications and sub-plots?
How can you describe as silly, the Żonqor Point saga, which was kicked-in by the Prime Minister saying that it was going to be a project whereby the environment will be safeguarded and compensated for and then everyone realises that it is exaqctly the other way round?
And also in connection with this so-called ‘American University’, how can you consider as silly the outlandish management of this project by Mepa’s chief executive officer, who was chastised and condemned for his behaviour by all environment NGOs?
Shall we call the Prime Minister’s own judgement as silly, having made one, two appointments of police commissioner and failing miserably in the process in such a way that he himself had to order their termination in this very sensitive position?
Joseph Muscat’s government seems to have lost all the polish and glamour of its first few months
And what about Muscat’s other decision to assign to both these former police commissioners other delicate duties within the government and which are considered to be a ‘golden gift’ to people who were, objectively, not fir for purpose? Is this also not just silly?
Likewise, the Maltese people cannot subscribe to Muscat’s theory of silliness in the case of the very unprofessional way in which the Tallinja card was introduced with thousands of Maltese suffering the consequences of a minister and government that bombastically promise heaven on earth and then fail miserably for the umpteenth time. Remember the same minister’s promises about road projects and oil exploration.
Muscat should also be tested on the three main planks of his electoral programme, that is, accountability, transparency and meritocracy – ATM for short. In fact, it is so much evident that Muscat’s ATM has been shattered.
That this government is completely shunning its self-imposed policy of meritocracy is evidenced over and over again with so many unjust and unjustifiable appointments, promotions, hand-outs and strict ‘job for the boys’ policy. This newspaper was in the forefront to expose the innumerable instances where meritocracy was shamelessly ditched and buried.
As for accountability and transparency, it’s enough to register Muscat’s refusal to publish agreements of national importance, such as the deal with Henley & Partners; the agreement with Electrogas and Shanghai Electric about the gas-fired power station; the agreement with Autobuses de Leon in connection with the public transport; the agreement reached with the government of Azerbaijan; the €88 million State guarantee on the €101 million loan granted by Bank of Valletta to Electrogas and also the agreement signed with the Sadeem Group of Jordan over the development at Żonqor Point.
I am pretty sure that, in his heart of hearts, Muscat acknowledges that these are not silly matters but, rather, very serious matters that are potentially damaging to the country.
On the very same day that Muscat made this silly declaration, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil reiterated that “numerous scandals with a whiff of corruption” characterised this administration’s first two years in power.
At this stage I beg to reproduce a quote by George Bernard that was mentioned recently by a correspondent in The Sunday Times of Malta: “Power does not corrupt man; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.”
On my part, I would like to make two genuine suggestions to the Prime Minister: the stench of corruption is overwhelming and the stables need cleansing on a drastic level; Muscat should keep in mind that old universal maxim – when you are in a hole you must stop digging.
Kristy Debono is PN spokesman for financial services, IT and gaming.