The value of an oath
There are different types oaths; oaths of office, when someone is assigned to public office, oaths in relation to court cases, oaths of allegiance when someone joins a brotherhood, etc.
Oaths are strong because traditionally they are invoking God, for those who believe, as a witness to their swearing. Usually to seal an oath one has to kiss the cross or swear on the bible or holy book. When taking an oath in court the witness is promising to say the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If caught lying there are legal implications, such as, perjury. Perjury can lead to a prison sentence.
Those who value the strength of an oath are livid to see that some politicians in Government as well as those in high echelons that took oaths of office and declared and promised loyalty to Malta, the Maltese people and the Constitution with God’s help ignore what they were sworn in for. For them it is just a routine, business as usual. Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wanted to portray Malta the best in the world. Well, we are somewhat unique. We have politicians who intend to stay on no matter what, they leave or resign when pressure is too hot or else when cornered. They don’t resign out of their own volition or because it is ethically correct to do so. After all they are accountable to the electorate who elected them in. Unlike other countries where politicians caught lying will have to go. A famous example is that of US President Nixon in relation to the Watergate scandal.
The aftermath of the assassination of the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia exposed many wrong doings by certain people who occupied office. One can argue but they resigned as Prime Minister, Minister, Member of Parliament, Police Commissioner or Chief of Staff, all carrying Public Office. True, but the Prime Minister and Minister in question are still Members of Parliament. They have taken oath as MPs first and foremost. Any illicit allegation by an MP is glaringly wrong.
The fact that the revelations that are unfolding on a daily basis and nothing is done, or they stay put, goes to show that they don’t value the oath they swore to. For them money comes first. For them an oath is just a rubber stamp or a procedure which has to be carried out for them to be able to carry their duty. It is blatant that either they don’t know the strength of an oath, its value, or else they know but just cannot give a toss and think that they can get away with it because they judge people as being stupid.
The Government always cites the statement that institutions work. They do for the common citizen. How can they work if the institutions don’t value the strength of oath and that no one is above the law? Had it been otherwise on just a slight allegation they would have been summoned to appear in front of investigators and as a consequence resign.
Some people who are still within the Government’s parliamentary group think that they are surrounded in Teflon, hence nothing sticks. For them it doesn’t matter if they disregard the value of the oath of office they took at the beginning of the legislature. For them it doesn’t matter if they tarnish Malta’s reputation. What counts is their pocket.
If the value of oath is valued as it should be then many of the cases we are hearing would be investigated without undue pressure from the media and general public. Investigators won’t drag their feet. They didn’t swear on oath to be loyal to the Government or Prime Minister but to Malta. I hope the new Police Commissioner will value his oath and do his job!