Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a very powerful statement at the funeral of Robin Cook in August 2005. In the main eulogy, Mr Brown, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, had said that power must be continuously accountable to the people.
That is why, when the National Audit Office released its report on fuel procurement by Enemalta between 2008 and 2011, drawing some damning conclusions, Times of Malta immediately sought the reaction of the person who, for most of that period, was politically responsible for the State energy corporation. But Austin Gatt felt he should be left alone once he has ended his political career.
Subsequently, this newspaper ran an editorial criticising the former minister’s refusal to comment publicly on matters that occurred when he occupied high public office and, so, wielded the power that Mr Brown spoke about.
Because, like Mr Brown, it believes that power must always be accountable to the people, this news organisation feels that accountability does not expire when one is no longer a minister.
Dr Gatt apparently prefers to think otherwise. He is, of course, wrong.
He errs if he thinks he can escape political responsibility for any wrongdoing that could have happened under his watch, and persists in his error – the matter, thus, becoming diabolical – when he continues to refuse “to speak to the media on this and on all other political matters”, as he noted in a reply he sent to Times of Malta in response to the editorial mentioned.
A right of reply to an article criticising him for not replying. How ironic!
Why should he speak to the media? Because, as former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi – his boss until last March – said in early 2009, journalism and politics are two ways of serving individuals and society. Dr Gonzi also noted that there was a point of convergence for both sides to work at the service of people.
Yet, Dr Gatt insists: “I refuse to be part anymore of the media circus.”
After declaring that he has no problem commenting on the NAO report “in the proper institutions, be they the Public Accounts Committee or others”, he adds that he has “no obligation, ethical, political or otherwise, to talk to the media”.
“I have absolutely no problem with people commenting on my times as Cabinet minister but I have no duty to answer,” he then says.
What an affront, not just to the media but, more so, to the people he refers to.
Dr Gatt must bear in mind that, on taking his oath of allegiance when he was appointed Cabinet minister he solemnly swore to “bear true faith and allegiance to the people and the Republic of Malta and its Constitution”.
The events he was asked by this news organisation to comment upon took place when, as minister, he formed part of a government that was elected by the people to serve the people.
It is opportune to remind Dr Gatt what he himself had said in an article that appeared on this newspaper on August 17, 2005, titled ‘Managing Communications
“There is today little sense of belonging, of corporate responsibility, of feeling that one is part of a greater whole. With the false premise of autonomy or independence, some individuals think they are not answerable to anyone and purposely play the press – which is obviously very accommodating in creating issues – to embarrass other officials, including ministers.”
Enough said.