Our country has been grippedfor over three months by what I believe has been an unnecessary political crisis. When I say unnecessary I do not wish to diminish the gravity of the situation but because I still can’t understand why the Prime Minister has chosen to disregard the feelings of the thousands of citizens who placed their trust in him.
The issue is further compounded by the fact that it appears he might have done all of this in an attempt to save the political lives of two of his closest advisors.
The Prime Minister made a big mistake. He chose to stand by his friends rather than protect the common good. In doing so, he has damaged his own reputation and by default that of Malta.
He has unwittingly offended the sentiments of the 20,000-odd citizens who switched to his party, many probably for the first time, at the last election. He has ‘betrayed’ their trust and reneged on the promise made by his party to introduce a culture of good governance.
The moment it was established that Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri had set up secret companies in Panama, they should have immediately offered their resignations. Failing that, the Prime Minister should have removed them. That would have been the right thing to do and this crisis would have been averted.
Whether what they did was illegal or not is totally irrelevant. There was absolutely no need to await the result of audits to find out how and why they set up the structures or what money if any had passed through them.
That could easily be done by investigations after their resignations or removals.
In my book, the fact that they set up the companies was more than enough to warrant their dismissal. I hope we have not reached a stage when we condone the setting up of companies in tax havens that only serve to lessen one’s tax liability in Malta. This is the real reason why people and companies set up these structures. It is immoral and unfair to the tax-paying Maltese and also makes a mockery of fiscal morality.
In the midst of undoubted economic well-being, we are living through sad times
To quote a current Cabinet minister, it is like having two laws – one for the gods and one for mere mortals.
I have heard the argument that the Prime Minister is probably riding on the feel-good factor to see him through this crisis. Of course the Labour government has had successes to date, principally in the economic sector, but “man does not live by bread alone”.
On a political level, I would plead with the Prime Minister not to ride roughshod over the sensitivity of Maltese citizens. The previous administration was prone to doing this on occasions, and they paid the price at the polls in 2013, notwithstanding the fact that the economy was also performing well at the time.
If there is a hint of arrogance in the way this crisis is being handled, then this might also prove to be a political mistake. More and more people have shown that they are averse to arrogance. Citizens of goodwill are thankfully starting to embrace a culture in which they don’t like to be dictated to by politicians.
Rather than talking down to them, politicians need to explain the reasons behind their decisions and stay close to the people, and listen to their complaints, aspirations and suggestions.
I was astounded to read that Mizzi is reported to have said that he set up his Panama company because he felt that as a husband and the father of two children, he should give something back to his family.
This is mind-boggling. I too am a husband and the father of not two but four children. Is he recommending that I follow his example and set up a similar company/trust and transfer my wealth there? No, minister. My assets are all in my country and I pay whatever taxes are due. Does Mizzi believe that he is a special case?
I feel in the midst of undoubted economic well-being, we are living through sad times. This government had a golden and probably unrepeatable opportunity to make a real difference in our lives.
That we have had to endure this state of affairs, which could have been avoided, is very disappointing to say the least. The quicker the Prime Minister effectively puts this saga behind us and his government gets back to doubling its efforts to move our country forward, the better for all of us.
Tony Zammit Cutajar is a retired businessman.