We often tend to forget that
as taxpayers and citizens, we are the prime employers of our country’s institutions. Malta’s institutional bodies, such as the
police force and the armed forces, are based in the Constitution and are tasked
with serving the people and the law, not the powers that be. They are duty-bound to protect our interest
against any (read: even government) forces that might try to undermine their
rights and well-being.
This fact has been totally
lost in the Maltese “winner takes it all” political culture, to a point where
the institutional bodies no longer serve the citizen, but serve the master who
appoints them. It is a telling sign that
authorities established by law to be independent and self-sufficient are
controlled by people appointed by the same government they are supposed to keep
in check. Are we so naïve to expect
fair-play and protection in such circumstances?
How can someone expect a chairman or a commissioner to be independent
when they are hand-picked by the government of the day to make sure they do not
hinder their political goals.
As any employer would expect,
periodical evaluation is key to determining an employees’ performance. But I ask, how would we rate our institutions;
the authorities paid by our tax money, to serve US? In a time of such political turmoil, are we
happy with the performance of the people we pay to defend our rights against
all that is wrong?
Are we happy with a police
corps rendered toothless by the instability brought about by having five
different commissioners in as many years?
A Police Commissioner who is an avid fan of the person he is supposed to
be investigating, placed there intentionally to serve as puppet to his
master? A police corps that does not
investigate serious allegations surfacing in the media? A corps that takes orders by Castille on when
to investigate Castille itself? A corps
perceived to be taking orders in a way to delay the investigative process and
thus going against the principles of the law it is bound to defend and adhere
to?
Do we enjoy watching MFSA become
complacent to private banks that allow PEP accounts and business transactions of
dubious origins? Why are we not punishing
organisations that get embroiled in financial scandals such as Panama Papers,
or catering for individuals such as “Corrupt Government of the Year” Aliyev? Do we allow our country’s Financial Services
sector, employer of thousands, to get its reputation tarnished by a group of
corrupt individuals without a moral compass?
What about fair-competition and a level playing field for other
financial services organisations that follow the rule of law? It has taken us years to build this industry
and a lot of diplomatic effort to defend our financial jurisdiction from being
hailed as a tax haven, and it will take no more than such a scandal to put it
in danger.
Are we not incensed at the way
FIAU is powerless to pursue its findings because it is brick-walled by the
police’s unwillingness to investigate the very people that control it?
These are the questions being
posed by our citizens. The people are
getting restless and feeling depressed at our institutions’ inability to stand
up and shield them from injustice. To
accomplish their raison d’etre. You can
sense the discomfort of living in a country where institutions protect the one
percent instead of the common man. We
can only sympathise with the men and women who have to work in these
institutions, knowing they can only do so much; knowing that they are being
subjected to public ridicule and embarrassment by their superiors. Knowing that they are being forced to betray
the public’s trust.
But the people, as their ultimate
employer, are watching. And judging all
the way till the election.
And in this election, an
alternative is available. The Forza Nazzjonali coalition, led by PN leader
Simon Busuttil, has already pledged that it will change the law such that key people
heading our independent institutions are appointed by a two-thirds
Parliamentary majority, to ensure their independence and impartiality, and to
ensure they are not obedient to any master. Moreover, an inquiring magistrate
for cases of corruption will be appointed in the same manner, with the power to
initiate inquiries and investigations on his own initiative, without requiring
the Police Commissioner’s, the Prime Minister’s or the Attorney General’s
instructions.
A new Malta can be born from this crisis. The choice
is up to us.
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