A minister behaving badly

I remember that more than33 years ago when I entered the Malta Public Service, one of the veteran public officers gave me some advice which I have never forgotten. He told me that when one serves his/her country in the public service, it is essential that he/she does nothing which will reduce his/her impartiality when dealing with members of the general public in the future.

Likewise, one should avoid all familiarity with members of the general public because keeping one’s distance ensured objectivity, impartiality and fairness when taking decisions and in all other actions. As such, things like close friendship with certain members of the general public, the acceptance of small gifts at Christmas, the acceptance of small favours, etc., should all be avoided by the serious public servant.

Several years later, when I served in government departments where one had a great deal of interaction with the general public, I always remembered my old friend’s advice. I still remember how some businessmen used to try and strike up a close relationship with public officers in order to try and gain an illicit advantage from such a relationship. I had forgotten these experiences of those now distant days until, the other day, I read about the case of PN Minister Tonio Fenech.

I find it unacceptable that a government minister should accept to go abroad in a businessman’s private jet. I am sure that if a public officer had done the same thing, he/she would have found himself/herself under investigation for having breached his/her code of ethics.

I will not enter into the other issues mentioned in the media because it is true that these might entail simply throwing mud at a government minister. However, I believe that no defence can be mounted against one simple fact : Government ministers should keep a safe distance from businessmen and, as such, they should certainly not accept offers to fly in their private jets!

Tonio Fenech has made a serious error of judgment. I will not enter into the controversy about whether he should resign or not. However, please note that other opinionists and myself have now been proved right when we wrote about the Machiavellian Nationalist network of interests including top businessmen and captains of industry. The facts speak for themselves.