It’s a bit like cluedo. The postman shot the cuckoo in Manikata on day 1. The bus driver shot the lapwing in Bugibba on day 2. Odds are on for the panel beater shooting the flamingo in Bidnija on day 3. #closetheseason #flagrant #josephzommkelmtek
Taghna Lkoll. Used to be we’d say “they think they can get away with it”, now we’ve upped the ante and we say “they know they can get away with it”. What’s “it”? Anything. Abso-effin-lutely anything. No use getting all het up under the collar, no use pointing fingers at this or that. It’s official. Joseph Muscat’s Taghna Lkoll Labour Party cum Movement (sic(k)) is not only expert at scraping the bottom of the political barrel but it also excels in packaging the detritus thus obtained and selling it as pure gold.
We have already dealt with the assault on democratic respectability that has been perpetrated in the first few months of Labour’s government. Ministers acting as mini-despots, brazen nepotistic (uxoric?) appointments and schemes that are very transparently hatched solely to repay electoral debts and please those who naively formed a “movement for change”. The very foundation of Taghna Lkoll’s “cheaper energy” scheme is built on associations and dealings with entities of the most dubious international standing coupled with a sell-out to anything ringing of Remninbi investment (no questions asked).
Which brings us to the Passports for Sale saga. As I type, our Prime Minister – that is the Prime Minister of a democratic republic that proudly participates on the world stage – is a main speaker at a conference in Miami where he will be flogging Maltese passports on the cheap in much the same way as Nidal Binni (forgive me Nidal) flogs his Blue Pain Relief. “Passaport Malti… int taf x’ifisser”. So our PM’s in Miami, bitch…
When I step on the scene
Y’all know me, ’cause I walk with a limp
Like a old school pimp a real O G
I’m rocking vans
I’m in the sand
I’ve a got a red bull and vodka up in my hand– LMFAO (I’m in Miami)
And pimpin’ he is. Because let’s face it. You only have to have swallowed so many of the Taghna Lkoll pills so as not to be able to differentiate between what the going rate for privileged citizenship investor schemes is and the Taghna Lkoll version of “Pimp my Nationality”. The organisation chosen to wheel and deal with the passports is about as legit as it can be – exploiting loopholes and opportunities offered by Banana Republics in desperate need for some extra cash. The clientele in such a market are not exactly the creme de la creme of high society and you can bet your last passport cover that the attendees at the Miami and London parties are the kind whose names appear in the Interpol kind of Who’s Who … not so VIP then.
It doesn’t stop there does it? Our Prime Minister is setting up his international street hawker stand just off the Florida Keys and be sure that he will be promising absolute anonymity to anybody prepared to fork out the piles of Jeffersons. In an astute move, the new scheme does not oblige the government to publish the names of successful applicants in the Government Gazzette.
Seriously. Our jet setting Prime Minister currently in Miami dealing in republican passports on the cheap had tried to convince us that he is an international diplomat of the highest quality – from the UN to Washington to Israel to Palestine, we are supposed to believe that with the advent of Muscat on the international scene we will soon be seeing a solution to the Palestinian Problem, Syrian Troubles, the African Immigrant Exodus and probably soon enough he’ll have a cure for cancer. The Taghna Lkoll mouthpieces have not hesitated one bit in promulgating the message of The Great Communicator cum Part Time Passport Salesman in the local news. It’s beginning to look and sound more and more like Cuba’s Granma in the eighties.
Meanwhile let’s hope Muscat took some dollars with him to the conference. I’d hate to see him fumbling through his pockets at the cocktail bar only to notice he has no cash on his person… “Do you have change for Maltese passports?”
In this latest round up of commentaries on recent events J’accuse takes a look at a number of issues that have been hot in the past week. Unfortunately due to other commitments posting on this blog has not been as regular as I would have hoped. Here then is a look at why J’accuse finds that this Labour government is becoming more and more of an embarrassment to democracy. Let’s see a few of the last weeks’ events:
I. Doublespeak
Once again I join other observers who have by now noticed that in dealing with the press and media this government opts for half-truths or prevarication.
Joseph Muscat’s replies about Air Malta’s restructuring – a boomerang deviated onto Tonio Fenech’s lap in what Muscat believes to be a sly move – is just one example of our government still thinking in opposition mode. In this case we have a clear indicator that this Labour government is either unaware of, or unwilling to take on, the Responsibilities of Government (my capitals). So what if Tonio Fenech or whoever else had appointed a team for Air Malta’s restructuring? Is it not the responsibility of this government to look into the plans and see whether (a) it agrees with them and therefore gives them its go-ahead, or (b) any of these plans need re-directing in the sense of vision and goals.
Muscat prefers to play the three monkeys with the whole business – this is a typical corollary of his behaviour when in opposition. It clearly demonstrates that he has no clue about alternatives (or as he would call them “roadmaps”) and so prefers to keep the opposition-hat on just in case the restructuring is a failure: in which case he will obviously blame the previous government. But that is not the business of government is it? The chain of responsibility necessitates a different type of answer – if, for example, Air Malta’s plans include a possibility of privatisation you’d expect the Prime Minister to know.
It’s not just Muscat. Manuel Mallia has chimed in with Muscat and introduced a new term in Maltese language “inveritiera“. What’s that exactly? Are they trying to be politically correct about the word “lie”? Mallia’s remit is quite the mess right now and the performance of the (outgoing) Brigadier in an interview about his resignation and future left much to be desired. Another one having difficultes coping with double speak is Konrad Mizzi. The way he screened the questions from journalists about his wife’s appointment is absolute balderdash. The hot potato is thrown here and there while nobody (NOBODY) in the Labour government assumes responsibility.
If this were not the party that had busted everyone’s balls whinging about political responsibility when it was in opposition we’d not be so interested in this so very sudden volte-face.
II: Bad Company
The topic of the John Dalli and Shiv Nair appointments are being dealt with perfectly well on Daphne Caruana Galizia’s blog. There’s no denying that when the resources available to that blog are put to good news it can trump any amount of excuses for journalism that our decrepit excuse for a fourth estate has become. Glaringly Shiv Nair’s closeness to the Labour government (and his evident hand in deals from China to North Africa) goes directly against Joseph Muscat’s 15 points to combat corruption when in government. Nair’s wheeling and dealing may be convenient for the likes of the dupes that populate our government benches – at least they may SEEM like to have a plan – but in partnering with the devil to fulfil their hapless electoral promises they are only (slightly) postponing the inevitable implosion.
Whether one is black listed by the World Bank or whether his recent dealings raise huge question marks (from Bahamas to OLAF) the fact of the matter remains that this government has no qualms dealing with persons who cause many an eyebrow to be raised. Worse still is the unshamefaced approach with which such cavorting takes place – and the replies that are given in response to any questions are preposterously bereft of any semblance of accountability.
It is becoming tougher and tougher for this government to speak of any form of accountability. Take Anton Refalo who still got away with his incredible declaration of assets. His performance in the Gozo channel Call-Back Saga would suffice to get him the boot in any other government worth its name. Not this one of course. (The Sunday Times is the latest to call for his resignation). At no point will these matters be tackled – no sir – as there is always a scapegoat reply (such as look at what the others did). Anton Refalo is also responsible for retaining the services of the disgraced Joseph Grech who has now been found suspiciously wanting in another scandal relating to the fraudulent use of funds by the Gozo Action Group.
It never ends does it? Varist blames “people working behind his back” for the stipend flop this week (remember the calls for Giovanna Debono’s head when some funds were lost thanks to hopeless action by people under her responsibility?). Bad company and a shameless approach to accountability : the assault on democratic representation is not about to begin … it is in full swing.
III. Neutralising Simon
There was another farce in parliament. With Joseph Muscat choosing to use (abuse?) of his parliamentary privilege to shut Simon Busuttil up. Busuttil’s line of questioning fits in clearly with the notion of responsibility and in any case parliament is not about concrete proof. The merest suspicion can be voiced in parliament and it is up to the MP voicing it to bear the consequences – should he lie then it is his credibility as a politician that is at stake. Muscat chose to refer to his speaker who came up with a magnificent interpretation that made a mess of the whole history of parliamentary privilege (that dates back to the mid 1500s).
We have a Prime Minister that is unable to face truths, deviously slips out of uncomfortable situations and who prefers to grandstand on the international stage while secretly hoping that his investment in a band of shady characters might help him pull off the greatest escape ever. Joseph Muscat and his party spent opposition signing cheques that would obviously bounce. The great unwashed loved his parading and swallowed his populistic approach to the hilt. Once in government the free for all in appointments was soon to be followed by an incredible demonstration of ineptness. It would not be so bad if the long term effect would not be the complete and utter erosion of our institutions.
The Malta Labour Party’s Taghna Lkoll has managed to prove that it is what we suspected all along: Small ideas for small people.
“What the medicine is to disease, the law is to public affairs” – Justinian.
When the party in government fails to notice that it is actually in government after more than hundred days that it has been warming the seat of power then what you have is a bomb that is ticking away waiting to explode. While the nationalist party’s Rapport tat-telfa (Election defeat report) was published last week, the future Labour party’s report is actually a work in progress – being drafted daily by the government, the party and its apologists.
The ethics of convenience
The Franco Mercieca affair was a perfect litmus test to illustrate what is going on. The red lights flashed at so many levels that it was impossible to keep up. First of all, and most importantly, was the blatant disregard of the concept of a Code of Ethics and how it should work. A code of ethics, by its very nature, works only when there is no waiver. A “waiver” – whatever that means in Taghna Lkoll talk – flies in the face of the very purpose of why a code of ethics exist. [Note: I do not question whether the waiver was justified or not. I question whether the power of the Prime Minister to grant such a waiver does or should exist. It should not.] A code of ethics needs to be applied in a blanket manner. Should the need to apply a “waiver” arise then that should set the alarm bells ringing because what that really says is that a person appointed to a position within the cabinet has an ethical conflict of interest. The question is not whether he should get a waiver but whether he should still hold that position.
Much has been made of the unique healing qualities of Franco Mercieca. Even if it were so and this Gozitan turns out to be more efficient than the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary votive section that should only mean that Franco Mercieca’s place is more valuable in his clinic than on a seat in the patchwork cabinet formed at the Taghna Lkoll horse-trading market. Joseph Muscat can glare at the questioning press all he likes and qualify his Imperial Waiver with all the postillas and caveats that he may invent on the spot. He may even come up with witty retorts about past deeds of the Evil Gonzi clan. None of that lessens the fact that this cabinet’s operation insofar as conflicts and interests are concerned seems to be fast requiring a Manuel Mallia Amnesty – or better a box of amnesia pills. Thank god that the Taghna Lkoll Pills seem to still work on the general congregation.
Before you accuse me
There’s a story in the Indy this week. It’s a follow up to the saga at San Vincent de Paule residence where the order of the day seems to have been a series of musical chairs and “politically motivated” transfers. SVDP is not the first, nor the last, of workplaces where “meritocratic” moves are being put into effect. I know of a particularly jarring story of a career diplomat in the foreign affairs who found himself plonked on a desk rubber stamping papers from one day to the next – you know because in this case meritocracy means: “if you run for a local council on the PN ticket then you deserve to be demoted to nothingness”. Back to SVPR. The botta e risposta by the two parties is interesting if only for the manner in which it throws us back aeons in political development. The race to mediocrity is still on ladies and gentlemen.
Having first transferred some workers then returned them to the original job after reactions from Unions (UHM of course – we’re back to the blue and red union delineation) the Labour party issues one of its Newspeak reactions peppered with TaghnaLkoll talk. The useless transfer and re-transfer were apparently made because “the government listens” and “is working to find solutions”. The TaghnaLkoll release continues “The decisions taken were all in the best interests”. Really?
It all makes sense now. “Jiena nemmen f’Joseph ghax hu jemmen fija”. You’d be surprised how many people there are out there ready to believe the shoddy explanations coming out of TaghnaLkoll HQ. The nationalist party better pull its socks up and stop flirting with the marketing politics of Joseph Muscat. Forget the TeamPN cock and bull and get down to some real team building. The country has had enough of rhetoric… in fact it is drowning in it and risks becoming a lost Atlantis.
The Nationalist Party has called on Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca to apologise to workers who were transferred and later returned to their original job, rather than boast that the decision was reversed because the government listens. In a statement, spokesman Mario Galea said that the transfers were withdrawn after pressure from the UHM and the Opposition, and some are still to be reversed. On another matter, Mr Galea said that the government should stop the clique who had taken over the running of the hospital. It is a shame that the home has been turned into a political football with employees working with fear and tension. In a reply, the Labour Party said that the PN has not learnt the lessons of the election and is still a negative party. The PN had left the situation in shambles and was now criticising the Labour government for working to find solutions. The decisions taken were all in the best interests and agreed to with the union, the PL said. (The Malta Independent)
Anglu and Audrey
Yesterday was a day in the sign of bias. I got an early taste of what was to be when I skimmed through the Times while waiting for my meeting with dentist and anaesthetist at the crack of dawn in hospital. The right side of the paper was dominated by the headline of Anglu Farrugia’s allegations with regards to Magistrate Audrey Demicoli and a case of hers that was overturned on Appeal. Farrugia must be feeling in seventh heaven what with the fact that this case seems to vindicate on paper his allegations of “thousands of rigged votes”. Until the original case (that had dismissed the allegations) was overturned by Michael Mallia on appeal, Farrugia had turned into an object of ridicule (remember Simon telling him “u harguk ta’ hmar”? The joke’s on Simon now I guess.
But back to the case itself and the not too subtle accusations of bias that Farrugia directed at Magistrate Demicoli. Subtlety was never part of Anglu’s repertoire (having watched his performance on Xarabank you really have to ask where his forte truly lies in any case). In formulating his tirade against Magistrate Demicoli Anglu Farrugia left little space for imagination as to who he was referring to. Demicoli was guilty, according to Farrugia, of being her father’s daughter – and that his having militated in the PN in the seventies and eighties must have surely affected her judgement in a case where a private entrepreneur was accused of bullying his employees as to when and how to vote.
Let us begin by pointing out the obvious – that the last thing the judiciary needs at the moment is a tirade of politically motivated accusations, particularly when this comes from one of the (admittedly lesser) papabili for the post of justice minister in a future labour government. Judgements in the Magistrates’ courts are regularly overturned on appeal. What is important in this (and other cases) is to note the reasoning at the two levels of decision. What we had here was a disagreement between the Magistrate’s court and that of Appeal on the conclusions to be reached based on the facts before them. No big deal. I see numerous cases get overturned on review at the European Court too – it’s the point of having a possibility of review is it not?
The main point here is that the judgement at each level of the courts was made on merit and that the accusations of bias by Anglu Farrugia are gratuitous, frivolous and self-serving to say the least. What they tell me about this aspirant Justice Minister is that he has no qualms to denigrate and throw mud on a judiciary that is in trouble if he believes that it serves his political needs. I say “he believes” because I still cannot see how in Anglu Farrugia’s obfuscated (a word some trolls love to use) way of thinking – a condemnation of a private individual for bullying his employees into voting can actually be seen as directly linked to the need for a minister to resign.
Bias? In this case the only bias is in Anglu’s mind. The silence coming from his own party on this very issue should speak volumes to the man who thinks that Colombia is an African Nation and who needs to produce a bar chart to explain an increase in tax. That’s two numbers Anglu – no need for a chart.
Well done to Magistrate Demicoli for her replies to the press. “No comment. There is a code of ethics that precludes me from replying otherwise”. Finally some good, common sense.
