Truth chevaliers - Alfred Sant
It’s curious to note how many champions for the truth have emerged to publish “needed” information about this or that labour front ranker. One can only admire their assiduity till one remembers to ask: Where were these knight errants in the defence of truth during the years of the Fenech Adami and Gonzi administrations?
In those years did they not have similar information fit for publication with the same details and contrasts?
I agree that any sin committed yesterday – should it exist – would in no way excuse one being committed now. However I find that the hypocrisy of those who today ply their saintly games is just as odious as today’s and yesterday’s alleged sins. For when one probes the motivation of those who today seek sainthood, one is likely to find that there has been umbrage at personal expectations not having been granted satisfaction, or because some other person who should be looked down upon has made superior progress careerwise.
Shall we ever break out of this vicious circle by which we close our eyes when sins can be alleged against those whom we root for, but then blow at full blast the trumpets of justice and truth when the same could be alleged against those whom we do not support?
Closure
The ugly episode regarding the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia should be brought to a close as quickly as possible – not by way of burying and forgetting the whole affiar – to the contrary – but by ensuring that all the truth is brought out into the open and that all those responsible, no matter who they are, are fully punished under the law.
It is disquieting how investigations seem to move forward at a snail’s pace. It is certain that now this is not happening because an effort is being made to keep going at a slow pace, but because our organizations and institutions are only able to function in this manner. They stll run according to what they have inherited as procedures and models for how things should get done, despite all changes in circumstances.
It is a way of life that all are accustomed to and all seem to like even if every insalubrious story... or almost... ends up buried in sand. We cannot let this keep happening.
The highest rate of byelections
When you come to think of it, the Maltese Parliament today has the highest rate ever of members who acceded to it through byelections/co-options that happened long after a general election. And thank heavens at least, that this occurred not because MPs died when in office, so that the co-option procedure was needed to replace them. MPs simply resigned their seat. What has happened can only be considered as a normal part of the Maltese political reality.
On the other hand however, perhaps we should watch out not to let this process devalue the democratic awareness of citizens who might reflect as follows: What use is there in voting for one or the other candidate, since soon they could get replaced by people who did not get elected but have found favour with the powers that be?
In second place, no matter who does get elected to Parliament, there should flourish inside it a full commitment for matters to be resolved according to people’s expectations. Will this commitment remain intact if those present in Parliament have not been elected to the job?
This applies above all to whoever is leader of the Opposition.
VAT rates
At times of economic uncertainty, debates about more taxes, less taxes, become more intense... especially regarding consumption and production taxes.
When firms and families are experiencing a crisis in their income flows, the burden of current taxes in their everyday lives can be quite heavy.
VAT comes first in line in this profile. There is still much evasion in so far as it goes, but for a wide range of transactions it has become impossible to evade.
As of now in Malta, those who have been most vociferous to contest it were the small enterprises. One can understand fully how it squashed them, for while their sales declined, they ended up having to pay VAT on products and other output for which they could as yet record no income.
European regulations limit the extent to which VAT rates can be slashed in member countries. However, has the time not come for VAT rates to be adjusted according to the economic situation in which a country finds itself ...? so that when times get rough, VAT rates dip almost automatically...?
The European Central Bank and the environment
The Green Deal as a powerful, co-ordinated effort on a number of fronts has become a fundamental anchor of the EU’s action programmes, mainly targeted to counter global climate change. So practically every initiative undertaken by the Union must somehow reflect the imperatives of the Green Deal.
The European Central Bank has also become part of this thrust. Over the months, it has made adjustments that introduced criteria which reflect “green” aims into the monetary policies it has run. In the beginning I was not concerned about this. I considered that conservative voices which expressed worries were exaggerating.
Today, I am not so sure. Like European national central banks, the ECB is considered to be an institution that must be allowed to operate technically under the direction of people appointed to take independent and technically well grounded decisions, focussed on the control of inflation.
But now if this “technical” and “independent” system is being given powers in the environmental field (and possibly others later), would it not be entering fields of public action that in a democracy are considered to be the domain of political decision-making?
Investments
Some investments are undertaken by mega companies, others by ordinary citizens who wish that the funds they have saved do provide them with income that helps to enhance their living standards.
Many pensioners have discovered that their savings deposited with banks are hardly providing them with much extra money to spend, since interest rates have largely subsided in recent years. So they’re turning to investment in shares. The problem here was and still is whether such investments are safe enough and will not result in extremely painful losses.
In recent years, the EU developed rather stringent measures to safeguard investors. Now, with the Covid 19 crisis, there is a growing need for direct investments to be stepped up in order to nudge firms away from collapse. True, this has become a strong priority but equally, there is a risk that such investments could end up in smoke. The safeguarding of small investors’ interests is a priority that cannot be allowed to slacken.