Going around in circles
Many times when we have to deal with a government department or entity, but also in the private sector, we find ourselves going round in circles.
Rachel Borg is an independent columnist based in the tourism industry
As we get bumped off from one section to another until finally, with some luck, we may find someone who actually takes responsibility to serve the customer and resolve whatever issue it is that we are enquiring about.
There is a sub-culture which instinctively leads people to anticipate these road blocks and take preventive measures to circumvent them. That is, they know who talk to in order to be served as they need to. Or they have the appropriate language for any event.
This system excludes most foreigners (though not all), law abiding citizens and conscious objectors who resist the path of favour.
The system is street-wise and becomes quite expert in rising above obstacles. It is a trade of the past. One that was required before citizen’s rights and the law and the constitution were created to level out the playing field and give everybody equal right and access to information, security and service.
To have our Prime Minister and his own Parliamentarians resort to the same method of escape and derogation of responsibility is truly unfitting for a modern society and culture. But, knowing full well that this system is still cultivated and indeed promoted and encouraged more than ever nowadays, it is almost second nature for many to simply follow its self-serving rules and go with them.
The dichotomy that exists nowadays and which is plain to see in the methods employed by those who are called to task, has been common practice these past years.
Our Prime Minister is the subject of a Court Investigation. He says he wants nothing to come in the way of justice and to impede the investigation. But he appeals against it happening.
Konrad Mizzi and Chris Fearne say there is nothing to hide about the energy and health contracts. We are still in the dark about crucial information. Only today, we learn in an off-hand manner that Vitals Global Healthcare has been sold to a major US company called Steward Medical Group, about whom, though, we are not told anything.
Keith Schembri is always pure and innocent.
The Commissioner is doing his job as is the Attorney General and everyone else at the FIAU who did not ensure that the recommendations found in their report were investigated as recommended.
MEPs are doing an excellent job of calling the kettle black and the media is not only the servant but also the master of information and the deliverers of the message.
The message has been delivered and everyone thinks it is the coming of the Messiah, here to call to mind our sins and forgive us our trespasses.
We should bow our heads in shame at having given in to this gerrymandering of public opinion.
MP Chris Said spoke from a place of truth and set out the facts clearly when raising his motion for an enquiry into all allegations made by Daphne on her Running Commentary blog.
What a poor and weak response from all the Government members of Parliament. Stuck as they are in the medieval times where justice is in the hands of the strong and powerful.
And so, we are once again taken around in circles: words – parliament – words. Repeat. Words – corruption – words. Repeat.
It is clear for all to see now, from whatever political camp they may be. It is farcical, abusive and is exceeding common decency. That deficit in common decency is what is becoming more and more evident to not just Maltese and Gozitan citizens but also to foreign countries and neighbours. That is what causes them to be appalled by this behaviour. To stand back and furrow their eyebrows.
They, the ones who stand outside, are quick to give their reaction and response. We, on the other hand, are slow and calculating in our response. Most times, the simple way is to completely ignore what is happening and plan the next weekend break. Now it’s the festive season, then it’s the cold weather, then it’s the Champions League, then its Summer on the way, Festa season and then school starting and before we know it, it is Christmas again. Shopping is good, exams are done and Facebook is all we need to keep up to date with the latest topics.
The truth is that this is not the way to prosper. Indeed, it almost certainly will lead to a catastrophic crash. We only need to look at the soaring national debt to see that something is not quite adding up.
Then the public will need to be the catalyst for change and out of that need a leader will emerge, capable of doing the right thing. But we cannot afford to keep on going round in circles and going from one horse to another without any regard for getting the agenda right, whether that is the national debt, transparency, good governance, citizen’s rights and liberty, freedom of expression, security, social services, health, energy, the environment and climate change, animal welfare, social housing, the elderly and of course, industry and the economy. Respect for the Constitution and the Presidency. Sometimes we forget that when we sacrifice any of those and focus only on one aspect, then we will suffer.
It is preposterous and wholly unjust that corruption stands as a legitimate counterpart to normality. Restoring decency, freedom of expression, liberty and the sovereignty of Parliament is essential to any modern society that wants to call itself so. When members of Parliament are elected to represent a constituency, they are expected to defend the needs, interests and values of the society and not just of the party.
It means that until then and hopefully every day forward, individuals will come through who challenge the broken system and create a functioning one where the direction is forward and resolution is normal and a day is an ordinary day which belongs to you and not handed down to you by a benevolent source.