One presumes that the reason the secrecy clause was dropped from the controversial Individual Investors Programme was due to possible contacts between Brussels and Malta.
The bad image saga Malta is going through right now locally, and worst of all in the international media, is harming Malta’s economy as well as its reputation.
The Maltese do not deserve this. The Labour government has a clear mandate to legislate but not on this matter.
The Labour Party never included the IIP in its electoral manifesto, for its own reasons.
Whatever these reasons are, the electorate is expressing its opinion on the sale of citizenship and it seems that the government is listening somewhat.
The Nationalist Opposition is extending the hand of cooperation to the government, in order to reach a consensus. There is still time to do so.
Removing the secrecy clause was a step in the right direction. Now consensus talks have started. I’m sure both Labourites and Nationalists want a fruitful outcome.
Let us put politics aside. Both sides of the House accuse each other and are rigid in their stands.
A consultative referendum or an abrogative referendum is not going to erase the harm that is being done right now.
The only solution should come from the very top – consensus between the government and the Opposition. Without this, I’m sure all of us, Maltese and Gozitans, will regret having a golden opportunity for a consensus and seeing it pass by us.
I am sure the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition are capable enough of coming together and finding a common sense solution.
We should be proud of our nationhood, our identity and national unity.