When Stephen Sondheim wrote his classic “Send in the Clowns” back in 1973 he surely had no idea it would be so appropriate for Malta in 2015. The song is a very sad reflection on the ironies and disappointments in life. Far from funny, the sombre tone could be the signature tune for Muscat, his Government and the sad losses our country is facing thanks to their special ways.

Muscat’s cabinet, the largest in our political history (and, let's not forget, the most feminist) is made up of some very interesting characters. Some are hardly ever seen. Others are hardly ever heard. Then there is that one who (like his wife) simply disappears.

Remember that day in Parliament, during Question Time, when Konrad Mizzi did not turn up and his bench mates could not (or would not) say where he was? Well, since then Mizzi has never turned up again, not for Question Time, nor for any other reason.

Off to Botswana

I have heard the PM and his wife will be attending the Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Botswana, which opened last Monday.

Now, why would our PM attend a conference on Local Government? He is not the chairman of the hamlet of Burmarrad. He is not even the mayor of St Paul's Bay. He is our Prime Minister.

That said, according to the programme, the second plenary session, which opened on Wednesday, was to deal with good governance. Hopefully Muscat made it to this one. Who knows, maybe he might learn a thing or two in Botswana.

Or maybe he’s gone to play the salesman. "IIP anyone? We offer very good packages for health and education investors. ODZ may be included."

 Silence is Golden

Under Labour, it’s not just ministers who sometimes disappear.

Back in March the Prime Minister announced the colossal 200 million-euro investment in our health system. Barts was seen signing the deal. Then we found out that Barts will not be investing a single penny. No, they will be providing university teaching services to train foreign students who would like to come to Gozo to study medicine.

Three months later, it looks like Malta and Gozo have been removed from the Queen Mary University website. The only reference is the March story that there will be a Gozo branch but… the section actually showing the Gozo branch is gone.

 Of course this does not necessarily mean anything. The University could be up-grading the website or perhaps the Government is fine-tuning the deal.

What I find particularly curious is the vagueness about the actual investment itself. We heard that there were three bidders. Then we heard nothing else. Do we know who these bidders are? How transparent is the whole process?

Let’s not forget that, even for the infamous non-existent power station, there were three bidders. A winner was selected. Now our Government is guaranteeing that bidder, from our coffers, to the tune of €88 million. Now you see a worthy bidder. Now you don’t.

 The Only Way is Up

Do you remember the song chosen by PL for one of their electoral campaigns “The Only Way is Up”? How prophetic of them to choose this song.

After only two years at the helm, we get to know that the national debt has shot up by half a billion euros, or 10%. This means that between 2013 and 2014 the national debt increased by 3.4% as opposed to the 1.3% increase for the equivalent time in 2011 and 2012. Why?

We are only half-way through the legislature but the list of scandals keeps going up. It includes Australia Hall, Café Premier, Old Mint Street, Electrogas bank guarantee and the Socar/Azerbaijan oil deal.

It also includes the cabinet members, some wives, some friends and some connections. But who’s counting?

Just the taxpayers, who were never Taghna Lkoll to begin with.