Malta will keep succeeding – Owen Bonnici
The Financial Action Task Force’s decision to place Malta under monitoring was very unjust and very undeserved.
It was unjust and undeserved because as recently as last May we achieved a positive outcome after being objectively evaluated by MoneyVal. That report put Malta as one of the countries which has the most compliant or largely compliant outcomes as far as recommendations put forward by MoneyVal are concerned.
So much so that in that same MoneyVal report there is not even a single recommendation wherein Malta is non-compliant or partially compliant. This comes as a result of the wide range of changes, reforms and improvements which have been pushed forward in order to improve further our financial and governance structures.
As Prime Minister Dr Robert Abela said on Wednesday evening, the fact that the decision is unjust and undeserved should not mean that we should pull up a brick wall or stop the dialogue with FATF. Rather, we should do the exact opposite and keep the conversation going in order to convince the FATF about the changes which we as a country have undertaken and will keep undertaking.
This is a reformist Government and the agenda of reform and of strengthening of the areas which need bolstering and improvement should and will keep going forward because it is, after all, in the best interest of the Maltese and Gozitan citizens at large. This is a Government which believes that Malta should be a modern State with strong Governance structures.
Having strong regulatory structures and the best institutions possible means, at the end of the day, better safeguards for the rights of families and businesses in Malta. In the last days, a strong message was pushed forward at FATF level about the reforms we did together as a country in the last months and years. This occurred without at any moment putting aside the national interest or by adopting positions which could affect adversely the prosperity of Maltese and Gozitan citizens.
Prime Minister Abela was clear, direct and categorical in assuring the people at large that he will not only remain close to Maltese families and businesses, but also that our country and our economy will keep moving forward. We will support Dr Abela in this endeavour with all our focus, energy and commitment.
I have no doubt that under his headship, Malta will succeed in overcoming all obstacles. Malta will keep succeeding.
It was a very hot evening, or at least I felt that the heat was draining every ounce of energy I had left in me after a busy day at the office and at the constituency.
However, the views of Ġnien Għarusa tal-Mosta were majestic and the evening itself was very enjoyable. My friend Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was launching his autobiography. I arrived at the Ġnien on time, but not knowing the place very well I ended up walking in the wrong direction until I found the correct way.
Therefore the evening had already started when I arrived and I quickly sat down on the first empty chair I saw. Jeffrey was being interviewed by veteran broadcaster Reno Bugeja and it was evident that both Jeffrey and Reno were really enjoying themselves.
It was indeed a lovely chat and Jeffrey spoke about the main events occurring in the last twenty-five years from his point of view. He, as we all know, was a protagonist in some of the main history-changing events taking place during this period: the 2008 election and the introduction of divorce are probably the most important. There are others: his stand against the cement factory in Siġġiewi and his near election to Parliament under a Labour ticket come to mind.
I also enjoyed the conversation, arranged in the form of a panel made up of Keith Demicoli, Saviour Balzan and Deborah Schembri, which occurred during the same evening about the book.
Saviour was Saviour, dribbling the ball with a skill surpassing that of Cristiano Ronaldo but very smart and effective in the way he says or does not say things and words.
Deborah was fantastic in describing the dynamics behind the singular partnership which she had unexpectedly built in the Moviment IVA days with Jeffrey. She was a pleasure to watch and she came across as very natural and sincere.
Keith was, in my view, the most non-politician of the night. By his own admission he did not share Jeffrey’s views on divorce back then but still he expressed his admiration for politicians like Jeffrey who put colour into politics, speak their mind and are not afraid of taking positions which do not follow squarely party lines. He described the book as a must read for all those who want to enter in the world of politics.
For me, Jeffrey’s main achievement lies in being, over time, a tremendous change maker without spending a minute in Cabinet or utilizing executive authority.
His strength lies in his amazing ability to convince, to take decisions and to be …. Jeffrey!