On Thursday night, the Department of Information sent all newsrooms in Malta an email containing a link to a video clip.
Curious, we thought. Normally, the DOI sends a messenger round with footage from Government when our politicians are involved in high level events around the world when the Maltese press do not attend. Sometimes, the same is done through an internet link.
However, this was a first. This was a link to video footage of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi after his return from China, where he was negotiating a deal with Shanghai Electric for a sale in the stake of Enemalta.
No press. No cameras. No journalists. No scrutiny. Just a minister looking into a camera and telling Malta exactly what he wanted (or was told) to tell us. Is this the way things are going to be done? Is this the state of Maltese democracy? Is this the state of checks and balances? Are we learning more from China than we thought we were learning? Are we beginning to embrace their style of politics too?
The Minister gave no specific details of what went on in China. It was just a wishy-washy statement which was made to appease people. And hence the title of this leading article: Made in China - state approved, slightly tacky and with a few defects.
The reason why Konrad Mizzi was in China was one of national importance. This newsroom, and others, were snubbed when the Prime Minister and his entourage went to China and only the selected few were invited to cover the event. We were given the explanation that things will work on a rota system from now on and that we would be invited to other events abroad - which, to be fair, we were.
But this time, not even the selected media were invited. The power station issue is one that was an electoral pledge by the Labour Party and there has now been a blanket ban on the matter as people start to wonder whether or not this deal will actually materialise.
This is not the way to do things. If the government did not want a press entourage to attend for the visit, the least that could have been done would have been a press conference with the media in attendance where journalists could ask questions and probe for more details. As things stand, a debate is due to be held in parliament, and while Dr Mizzi will be under the scrutiny of MPs, he will not be under the scrutiny of the media, the fourth establishment.
One truly wonders how this massive majority has affected the government's approach to democracy, transparency and accountability. This is not the way to do it.