Invariably summer triggers a political shut down as Parliament heads for recess and parties shift into a slow gear amid the stifling seasonal heat. Civil service employees take leave and all legislation is put off until cooler climes return.
In recent times it must have been the summer of 1998 that broke this trend as arch rivals Alfred Sant and his nemesis Mintoff battled it out in Parliament and beyond. This led to a snap election in September with dire consequences for the then Prime Minister and his beleaugered Labour Party.
Keen political pundits have observed that summer time has taken a new dimension for the present administration. As the seasonal stupor sets in, Labour in government has utilised this time to introduce measures by stealth. One classic example was last year’s legal notice exempting development on hospital grounds from an environmental impact study. The new regulations were to apply to Mater Dei, St Luke’s, St Vincent de Paul, Mount Carmel and Gozo General Hospital.
The legal notice was enacted on the eve of the Santa Marija feast. Apart from the unusual timing, the waiver immediately raised questions on its legality with respect to EU laws. Eventually, after much wrangling and debate, the legal notice seemed to have lost its appeal and was quietly put aside, at least for the time being.
This summer, Labour seems to have started earlier with its seasonal political manouverings with a number of appointments in key government positions being announced over the last few days amid the Brexit hysteria that has gripped the media headlines.
Even more brazen has been the announcement regarding the American University of Malta licence. For all the National Commission for Further and Higher Education reassurances, it seems that the process adopted in the granting of this licence/recognition has taken a somewhat surreal development. Insisting there has been no political pressure put some wry smiles on many people’s faces.
As the seasonal stupor sets in, Labour in government utilises this time to introduce measures by stealth
Clearly in the AUM case, procedure has been turned on its head. As a norm projects of this magnitude follow a specific path: expressions of interest, followed by an analysis of the prospective bidders and the selection of the successful applicant. This is in turn followed by an examination of the chosen offer and the fulfilment the attendant requirements. In the AUM case things worked out differently.
In this case our Prime Minister first unilaterally sealed a deal with his Jordanian investors. He then hastily (or not) identified the sites amid national protests that fell on deaf ears. When all was done and dusted, the scrutiny and procedural processes commenced and predictably confirmed.
Even more audacious was the proposed criteria established for the granting of the licence.Whilst it is good and standard practice to issue a licence after all criteria have been met, in this case, the permit was issued subject to conditions. It’s as if a person is granted a licence to operate as a doctor provided that he achieves the required qualifications.
Once again Labour in government has swept over the established bureaucratic norms excusing their dismissal in the name of ‘investment’. This is of course not the first time that Labour has adopted this approach. In 2013 a similar mise en scene prevailed when our energy assets were hived off and swathes of real estate transferred to Shangai Electric.
In the meantime other significant contracts and national deals have been sealed without a hint of a publication of the respective arrangements and prices agreed.
Time and time again the Prime Minister has given us assurances that all is well and nothing untoward is happening under our very noses. I for one am not convinced.
Is this not the same person who only a few months ago had several versions dished out on Konrad Mizzi’s infamous Panama accounts? Is this not the same person who assured us of a serious and independent audit?
The sun may be out and shining and we may all well be engrossed in the attractions of our summer outdoor life but one thing is for certain – while most of us are enjoying the sun, sea and sand, this will be a time when important government decisions may be taken never to reach the attention of the unsuspecting public and this in the name of the silly season!
info@carolinegalea.com
Caroline Galea is a Nationalist Party election candidate on the sixth district.