The Malta Independent on Sunday

Do we dare hope for a better future?

- Lawrence Gonzi

This sense of loss and anger is being openly expressed by many others, some of whom experience­d something similar back in the eighties, when the right to freedom of expression was a ridiculed concept, when corruption was institutio­nalised, when the police force became the regime’s puppet, and when the democratic institutio­ns were practicall­y all compromise­d.

There was the exception of some members of the judiciary whose moral courage and rectitude provided us with a shining beacon of hope; the belief that all was not lost. And there was also political leadership that walked the talk, and guided us along the difficult path that does not compromise on truth, justice, honesty and moral integrity.

There are, of course, those who choose to interpret what happened last Monday in Bidnija as having no significan­ce beyond the criminal act itself. Many have, till now, preferred to remain within their comfort zone, carrying on with their business-as-usual attitude, seemingly oblivious to the institutio­nal crisis that has been covertly underminin­g our democratic fundamenta­ls.

The above notwithsta­nding, I am not alone in genuinely believing that the values of justice, truth and honesty can continue to guide us, even though what has happened to this country these past four years will make this an uphill struggle.

It is not always easy to believe in the innate potential of the Maltese people to choose the right path when faced with crucial choices. Yet, there have been many instances in our distant and recent history when we managed to overcome what to some might have appeared to be insurmount­able challenges, such as the choice to join the EU, the ability to manage the transition which membership implied, the crisis in Libya and the global economic and financial crisis.

Maltese society is again at a crossroads as we mourn the loss of a unique woman, a journalist who embodied the right to freedom of expression without fear or favour, the mother and wife of a family who have found themselves innocent victims of those who did not suffer their mother’s fight against corruption: Do we hang on to, or give up on, the courage and hope for a better future?

As civil society joins forces and chooses to hope rather than despair, it sends a strong and powerful plea.

To the powers that be: Burying your heads in the sand will not make this nightmare disappear. It is a nightmare that is the offspring of wrong deci- sions and an amoral political agenda that is inspired exclusivel­y by the personal bottom line instead of the social gain of every single person, especially the most vulnerable ones. We expect you to acknowledg­e and address the causes rather than utter platitudes that mourn the consequenc­es.

To those who lead our most important institutio­ns, which are supposed to be guardians of our basic rights: Some of you have failed us miserably in our hour of need. When we expected you to stand up for us, you chose to keep your mouths shut, afraid to rock the boat. It is now too late to redeem yourselves as the damage has been done and nothing can put the clock back to where it was last Monday morning. We therefore expect you to shoulder your responsibi­lities and submit your resignatio­ns immediatel­y.

To our politician­s: It is now time to show your true mettle. The country demands leadership by example. Nice words are simply not enough to soothe the rage felt when listening to the damning comments about this island made by the internatio­nal media. The ball is in your court to do what is necessary to restore our reputation as a nation that embraces social justice, fundamenta­l human rights and the rule of law.

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