In their pastoral letter for Lent, the bishops mention “cases of corruption which are of an almost institutional nature” and which are “eroding the moral fibre of our society”. They were right to emphasise this point, because it is worrying that corruption has become part and parcel of daily life in these islands.

Unfortunately, it is a fact that, today, stories about corruption have become daily topics of conversation: corruption by public officers; embezzlement; bribery in sports; tax evasion; social benefit fraud; unjustified absence from work; etc. The list has become endless and shameful.

However, it is not enough that we are aware of the enormity of the problem, we also have to do something about it.

The government is already doing its utmost to eradicate corruption. Still, we have to go beyond this and try to identify the seeds of corruption if we are to achieve lasting solutions to the problem.

First of all, it is obvious that nowhere in the world is there a country which is free of corruption in some degree.

Indeed, corruption is a negative aspect of human life that has been with us since the dawn of time when human societies started evolving. This said, there is still a psychological aspect to the problem that needs examining.

It is a fact we need to educate people that advancing through corruption is not something to be admired but is abhorrent and to be shunned because of its negative moral and social consequences.

We have to start from our younger generations. We have to show and explain to them that such things as stealing from the government have negative consequences for all members of society.

If I evade tax, I am not showing how clever I am. Rather, I am being utterly selfish and adding to the taxation burden of others what I should have paid myself.

No, it is not an admirable way of using my brains if, in the morning, I report for work but, after a couple of hours, I leave to carry out a clandestine part-time job.

The reality is that I am a person who could not care less for the welfare of my colleagues who will be added with extra work, which I should be doing myself.

It is wrong to bribe a football player to win a substantial sum of money through betting.

Such behaviour ruins sport. The beauty of healthy competition is totally eliminated.

Corruption in Malta has a long history

Corruption in Malta has a long history. It used to be an integral part of the colonial mentality of the Maltese. Unfortunately, some Maltese still behave as if we are still living in colonial times when fooling your colonial masters and conning them was regarded as a form of patriotic resistance to the foreign occupier.

Education is not the only solution to the problem.

To eliminate corruption, we have to be draconian with those who abuse in this manner, especially those who have been placed in a position of trust.

We cannot have public officers and people who are there to serve the government and the public abusing of the privileges of their position to fatten their pockets.

We also must not be simplistic and just deal with the symptoms of the problem. We have to go further and deal with its causes.

One can do nothing about greed, which is one of the negative sides of human nature.

However, cases of corruption are not always cases of greed.

There are instances when despair leads some people to seek a way out of their problem through some form of corruption.

As such, we have to make sure that nobody is forced into erring because s/he does not enjoy the minimum conditions for a dignified life.

Are there workers who do not receive a living wage? Should we raise the minimum wage? Are some workers being exploited by their employers? Are there unjust forms or rates of taxation? Are there people whom the State is not supporting enough?

These are the questions we should be continuously asking ourselves in order to eliminate the sort of environment that leads to corruption.

Finally, we also have to go on strengthening and consolidating the legal framework that will be a major asset in the fight against corruption. The present Labour government is to be congratulated for passing the Whistleblower Act last summer.

We have to encourage people to report acts of corruption and we must ensure the protection of individuals who do so. However, we must not rest on our laurels.

We have to continually strive to plug all loopholes in the law and remove all opportunities in public life that could motivate corruption.

We have to encourage integrity and reward it.