The saga of the tenders issued in connection with the Luqa old people’s home further strengthens my views about the creative ways the authorities play the game and get away with it. It shows the standards of ‘integrity’ among those running the country.

It reminds me of a recent case whereby an acquaintance was ‘assured’ of a direct order for a project aimed at dyslexic children in State schools. This individual kept tweaking the bid as instructed for a good nine months on the understanding and assurance that it was a direct order, only for a call for quotations to be (secretly) issued and another bidder was given the deal. For some odd reason, the person I know was never given anything in writing although being reassured that it was confirmed.

On contacting the Minister of Education about this lack of integrity, the individual received a curt email saying the minister does not get involved in such matters and that all was done in order.

In my opinion this attitude does not tally with what one reads on the minister’s website that he “is known for being a proponent of civil rightsin Malta”.

I agree with Machiavelli when he said that “politics have no relation to morals”. Quite a sorry state for a country to be in where everyone in power unashamedly tramples on others as if nothing had happened.