For years, Daphne Caruana Galizia wrote extensively about politicians and those entrusted with public office. Her blog was read by thousands because it was a running commentary like no other. She uncovered political scandals which shook the country to its core.
Other times, she alleged that politicians and holders of public office abused their positions. She now writes no more. Eight weeks after her assassination, her killer is yet unknown. But truth must prevail, and justice must be done. What Caruana Galizia wrote cannot be allowed to wither away. Daphne has been laid to rest, but not the scandals she uncovered, and the corruption that she alleged. That must be investigated, and fast.
Caruana Galizia spent her adult life exposing what politicians and holders of public office did their best to keep under wraps. For that, she got the flak – the target of countless law suits. Only a few months before her death, Minister for the Economy Chris Cardona filed a record number of lawsuits against her and froze her bank accounts.
Caruana Galizia alleged that Cardona visited a brothel while on government business in Germany. Before that about Egrant, which according to a whistle blower belonged to the spouse of the Prime Minister; its documents held at the now infamous Pilatus Bank. Claims which the Prime Minister and his spouse deny.
Caruana Galizia spared no one – across the political divide, and beyond it. The Commissioner of Police, the Attorney General, and holders of public office were the subject of her controversial running commentary. But it was about the Prime Minister and his inner circle which she wrote and alleged the most.
As expected, the aftermath of her assassination, the compilation of evidence – against three men, arraigned in court and accused with her murder – is getting the media’s attention. But it would be wrong, and dangerous were her allegations, very often the result of true journalism, to be ignored because Daphne is now no more.
It is the Prime Minister and his inner circle who, should this motion be approved, and its content implemented, will be running scared
For this reason, a few weeks ago, I presented a motion in Parliament asking for a board of inquiry to be appointed to look into allegations made by Caruana Galizia. This motion is to be debated in Parliament on Tuesday.
In my motion, I requested that the Prime Minister appoint a board of inquiry, in accordance with the Inquiries Act, led by three retired judges known for their integrity and honesty, with one serving as a chairman, that are agreed upon by a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives.
The board would be tasked with:
Investigating the behaviour of public officials and officials employed with any entity established at law; investigating the leadership of every government department or any entity established at law, including but not limited to, the Police Corps, the Office of the Attorney General and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit.
Examining everything else falling under the functions or the responsibility of any department or entity, that is related to, or impacts, government services; determining acts of corruption, abuse of power or other crimes committed by the aforementioned individuals, and any shortcomings committed by these individuals and entities in carrying out their duties according to the law; making recommendations deemed necessary and opportune based on the conclusions of the board.
In a clear attempt to deflect attention from the serious matter at hand, the government initially said it had no qualms with my motion being brought before Parliament, and then, through its usual apologists tried, foolishly, to portray my motion as an attempt to undermine Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia – himself the subject of a couple of blogs on Daphne’s running commentary.
Delia denies the allegations made, and pulled back – contrary to the Prime Minister, and Chris Cardona, among others – the lawsuits he had filed against her and, together with the rest of our parliamentary group, backed my motion. Of course, my motion, in line with Article 124 of the Constitution, which defines public officer as “the holder of any public office or of a person appointed to act in any such office”, asks for all persons who fall under this category to be investigated.
But it is the Prime Minister and his inner circle who, should this motion be approved, and its content implemented, will be running scared. For years, they did their best to muzzle Caruana Galizia, through legal means, and bullying tactics.
For reasons as yet unknown, Daphne was muzzled for good, but as I have already stated, I shall continue working for concrete steps to be taken immediately by Parliament.
I will work so that all that Daphne investigated and wrote about does not stop here. The people deserve to know the truth. And those who erred must answer for their actions.
Chris Said is a Nationalist MP.