Some are more equal than others

This famous sentence excerpted from the book Animal Farm written by George Orwell in 1945 is valid until this very day.

I would like to remind everyone that the current party in Government won the 2013 election on the catch phrase, ‘Malta Tagħna Lkoll’ , with the main promise under this statement is that people will be rewarded according to meritocracy.

If one looks at different countries around the world, especially dictatorial regimes, the people live in squalid environments whereas the oppressor becomes wealthier. Let’s have a glance at the local scenario. We aren’t living in a dictatorial country, however, it could be said that the Government is there for the very few. Scandals and allegations of corruption, especially under the former Prime Minister’s tenure, were common practice. Even a current Minister, then also a cabinet member, Hon Evarist Bartolo coined the famous statement, there is a law for the gods, and a law for the animals. This is enough proof that even a prominent cabinet member felt that some are more equal than others.

I would like to remind everyone that the current party in Government won the 2013 election on the catch phrase, ‘Malta Tagħna Lkoll’, with the main promise under this statement is that people will be rewarded according to meritocracy. Now, seven years down the line, one wonders what meritocracy means. Meritocracy has been thrown out of the window. Meritocracy perhaps according to the bank account? Or maybe close allegiances to politicians? On what basis were people assigned to certain posts? Through qualifications or experience or through being buddies with people in the higher echelons within the Government? I am not going to mention cases as the list is never ending, as well as the fact that they have already been reported in the media many a time.

What do we say about the rule of law? For the very few the law doesn’t apply. However, when it comes to the rest of us the law comes down hard. For example, why did former Minister Konrad Mizzi abscond to the UK for a while? Apart from the fact that his actions raise more and more questions, he was in total disregard of his constituents.

Others still have immunity from prosecution. Is it a sign of déjà vu or are they waiting for the new Police Commissioner to be appointed to detail him/her?

When mentioning the rule of law, if one wants to stretch it further, one can see the bending of planning rules and parameters, as a result development is mushrooming everywhere. Building contractors are becoming wealthier and the rest poorer.

The Government boasted a surplus which, in the eyes of many, the economy is doing well. If so, why isn’t the effect of the alleged surplus trickling down to those who need the most? Why are there nearly 90,000 people in dire risk of poverty? The Government’s so-called marketing stunt regarding the economy all came crashing down recently due to the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic.

This is when the Government committed itself to a financial salvage package it itself could not honour. As a result, many that suffered financial hardships due to the pandemic were left to fend for themselves. This is in contrast to the recent flower show in St George’s Square in Valletta, attended by no one, where the Government found some 50,000 euros in its coffers to squander.

Some people are more equal than others, yes, it is now more evident than ever. It is ironic that a supposedly left leaning party has business interests at the top of its agenda. The new Prime Minister promised continuity, he was right. More of the same!