Flogging a dead horse
What began four years ago with an analysis into the 36,000-vote loss suffered by the Nationalist Party has evolved and swung over onto the other side. People and organisations are speaking out in full force against the volume of errors for which the Labou
Rachel Borg is an independent columnist based in the tourism industry
One by one, two by two, each day we have another influential person, organisation or body declaring to the country and the offices in charge that certain practices are no longer tolerable and have exceeded any level of acceptability. Warnings are issued regularly.
What started as a claim by Joseph Muscat that they were at the beginning of their mandate and made mistakes by rushing ahead with their enthusiasm has now become a pattern of abuse and corruption. The country now faces institutionalised failures across the board.
“Don’t believe the experts” – that is what Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson tried to feed the people during public debates and on the road. So, the people trusted them both and the result is the terrible uncertainty facing the UK following the Brexit result. The public was also misled into thinking that the country would still have access to the single market and that is also now looking more and more unlikely. In fact, the whole outlook for the economy of the UK is that it is increasingly under threat. Even where immigration was concerned, very few of the problems they would face by keeping out the workers from the EU were actually mentioned at the time of the referendum. Now the chickens are coming home to roost and the picture emerging is one of having shot themselves in the foot.
Here in Malta, not only are the experts speaking out and issuing statement after statement and caution after caution, but so are the foreign workers who came to Malta to build a life here and contribute intellectually and economically to the GDP of the island. They speak about how they nurtured the businesses that grew in the financial services sector or the gaming sector. They are not the ones who bought passports to be able to move around Europe without even first stepping foot on the island. They set down roots here and actually employ people in good jobs. They are not the ones who tried to launder their money. They are the honest workforce and managers and directors who form a body of industry across the economic spectrum.
Now Minister Chris Fearne is himself deriding what he would say are the few culprits that are common in any organisation giving it the bad name or practice, for the predicament of the PL. All the while, the agencies and organisations whose job it was to weed them out and rid our country of the negative factors causing it so much grief at this time were absent and missing in action and the catastrophic result is plain to see.
Of these culprits, there is no one more so than Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who singlehandedly rode this horse on amphetamines to the finish line and now blames the stable for having it die of exhaustion after the beating it took.
One of the latest statements is that made by Anthony Ghio, former head of the Malta Communications Authority who was forcibly removed from his post on instructions coming from Castille. “Former Malta Communications Authority Chairman Antonio Ghio has said that it was the current government that set a ‘dangerous precedent’ regarding the removal of heads of regulatory authorities.”
While Joseph Muscat is saying that the PN would create a dangerous precedent by getting rid of Joe Bannister if it wins the election, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has already created a dangerous precedent by getting rid of him as MCA head, Dr Ghio explained.
Muscat continues to find scapegoats anywhere and everywhere. Actually, in anyone but himself and his buddies, who are the rightful owners of this catastrophe around us.
I begin to suspect that even his own loyal supporters are wondering when the blame will be laid on them too. Because who remains innocent with Muscat? Michelle Muscat, Joseph Muscat, Chris Fearne, Chris Cardona all try to shift the disgrace onto third parties whilst morphing these third parties into an abstract idea when it comes to their own and solidly onto named individuals when it comes to those who speak out.
Now it’s the Russians who are to blame, says Muscat. Perhaps credibility when it comes to charges being laid on the Opposition is not sticking anymore so they need to find a new enemy. Is he trying a Trump-in-reverse because Russia and elections is a common search nowadays? Or is he simply trying to discredit the Russian lady who gave evidence on the Egrant affair? This when many Russians are among those who have bought citizenship through the IIP, and probably followed method of payment instructions given to them by higher-ups in Castille.
On all fronts – political, environmental, administrative, financial, economic, international – experts are warning strongly about the serious consequences we are facing unless we change direction.
This early election, whatever the motivation for it was, now presents itself as an opportunity to choose a new horse and jockey to have a chance at winning again.
In New York, veterinarian Dr Mark Gerard was convicted of fraud for masterminding a horse-racing scandal that involved switching two thoroughbreds. Muscat tells us that he needs his two thoroughbreds, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi, and will race them again. Would you place a bet on them and do you think the same fraud can be repeated and ensure a safe bet?
This government has treated this country like their own racetrack, cheating and defrauding at will and raking in the bets. The races have now been analysed and the suspicions are there for anyone to judge and come to their own conclusions.
Muscat continues to avoid public scrutiny and rejects even the magistrate’s assessment of evidence presented. The consequences begin when the opinions of experts are also rejected and dismissed as fabricated or false accusations.
But when evidence supports evidence and one organisation echoes another it is foolish to continue denying the arguments and facts and attempt to deflect onto the latest dark horse.
Muscat is increasingly on the defence and running out of smirks and grins in reply to journalists’ questions. Maybe there is some pressure from within his own party to counter the accusations being made against him and Keith Schembri at this time. This kind of response, however, is more like the product of knocking back a few at the każin tal-Labour than it is about statesmanship.
In a week’s time, we will go to the polls and vote. It’s a blue moon chance to clean out the stables once and for all and look forward to enjoying a normal life again with all its challenges and opportunities. Come on Malta!