To err is human, but to persist in repeating the same errors time and time again is an insult to honest citizens who strive hard to make ends meet. During the last couple of months, the corruption crisis which has unfortunately transformed the administration of Joseph Muscat, has seriously deepened and is getting worse every second. It is eroding the high level of trust which the great majority of the Maltese gave to Dr Muscat in 2013.

A wide variety of people voted for Dr Muscat in 2013 because they wanted change. The issues which Dr Muscat stressed during the electoral campaign, namely accountability, transparency and meritocracy, were spot on and people believed every single word he uttered.

But so soon after Dr Muscat’s rise to power, hundreds of ‘persons of trust’ secured positions of great importance and authority in various ministries. Some of these ambitious people, together with certain government ministers, have now left the Labour government looking red-faced and bewildered both locally and abroad, while dragging it slowly, like a sinking ship, to its eventual downfall at the next election.

The Panama Papers scandal was the worst case of alleged corruption to hit Dr Muscat’s government. The eroding level of trust in the government as a result of the Panama allegations plus other instances of wrongdoing by various ministries is leading Dr Muscat to his sudden downfall.

The Panama affair has attracted the attention of the news media for quite some time now and the majority of people are very agitated, angry and frustrated, as shown by the huge demonstration held in Valletta last Sunday which was attended by thousands of people.

Unfortunately, however, the citizens of these islands, as always, remain bitterly divided and often see events through their partisan lenses. In such circumstances, regrettably, there isn’t going to be any harmony for the people of these islands during the coming months until Election Day, which is due to be held some time next year.

In the meantime, though, I’d like to say a word of praise for George Vella, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his dedicated service to our country. In my view, Dr Vella is the only honest minister in Dr Muscat’s Cabinet who deserves our special admiration.

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