Two unrelated events this week held underlying similarities. The first was the seminar ‘Archaeological Fragments’ organised by Heritage Malta. Archaeology seeks to understand past civilisations, the origins of the human species. Fragments of material objects may seem unimportant but to the trained eye they have stories to tell.

The second event was a talk by planetary scientist Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory in Rome. Astronomy is a science which also seeks to understand the past, in this case the origins of the universe. It tries to distinguish the history and ages of different stars, all ancient but some more so than others, millions and billions of years old.

It is human nature to want to understand the world around us. Astronomy studies the chemical composition and distances of planets but it also provokes big, fundamental questions such as ‘where do we come from?’ and ‘why are we here?’. From another perspective, religion also attempts to address these questions. The two are not incompatible, as Consolmagno, who is a Jesuit, explained.

In both archaeology and astronomy, and many other areas of study, experts try to piece together the parts, to make sense of the world. We first need theories, to begin to assemble the jigsaw puzzle of data. These theories may then be supported by relevant facts, which could be taken as evidence. Archaeologists search and dig up the ground beneath our feet, uncovering and interpreting. Astronomers look far and deep into the dark night skies. The fragments and samples are relatively few, and the uncertainties are many.

People try to make sense of the available information in the best way possible, but the discovery of new information may lead to new theories. Being a good scientist, archaeologist, historian, or even a criminal lawyer, policeman or any kind of investigator, also means accepting that a theory based on fragments can be wrong. Fresh data can open up exciting possibilities, leading to new thoughts and to reinterpretation.

Inadequate responses

In different ways, everyone therefore wants to make sense of the facts and the fragments, to discover cause and effect, the history and reasons for events. It is hardly surprising that, faced with high-profile stories subject to magisterial enquiries which seem interminable, people will use whatever knowledge they have to put together a picture.

The country is still trying to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of information surrounding the scandals of the last two years

The country is still trying to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of information surrounding the scandals of the last two years, such as the Panama Papers. We do not yet have the whole picture, only snippets and fragments. Some of the pieces are still elusive, for example, the role of 17 Black.

This company surfaced in connection with Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi, responsible for major government tenders such as the new gas power station and the hospital privatisation. A connection was also reported between 17 Black and a company with links to the power station. Is this all just a spotless and normal coincidence, or is there more to it?  Who owns 17 Black, anyway?

We do not have enough information for a decisive conclusion to be reached, but enough for speculation to thrive. As fellow columnist Ranier Fsadni rightly said in the Times of Malta this week, it is a Cabinet member’s duty to explain his actions to the public. Mizzi’s unconvincing responses have generated persistent suspicion and negative comment in the media, including the international press. The handling of the situation has produced disastrous results.

If Mizzi believes he can brush all this off and let the clouds pass overhead, I think he is wrong. Too many people are frustrated by this apparent lack of accountability to the public, and they will press on. They will continue hunting for information and asking questions until the pieces somehow fall into place.

A bilingual nation

A recent survey of bilingualism in Malta indicated that around 20 per cent of the population speak English most frequently at home. This led to a small outburst of negative comments on social media, with the usual blinkered bashing of English speakers.

Why can’t everyone just recognise and accept that we can and should be a bilingual nation? Maltese is the national language but Malta cannot do without an official second language to communicate with the rest of the world.

Before English was first introduced into Malta’s administration some 200 years ago, a similar role was fulfilled by Italian, and for a long time they overlapped. And if we want to keep on attracting people from all over the world to live, work and invest in Malta, English is essential.

It is perfectly possible for any average person to speak and read two languages fluently and with ease. Writing is always harder, but also within reach. If many people in Malta are unable to cope well in both languages, one main reason must be that our educational system is not up to the task and has failed us.

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