The Labour Party won the general election in a spectacular manner following a brilliantly planned and well-funded campaign. Muscat had put good governance, meritocracy and transparency at the fore-front of all issues. Being aware that various sectors of society were disillusioned and dissatisfied with the Nationalist Party, he promised us an era of a new way of doing things.
Until a few months ago, I was a keen Labour Party supporter and member. I loved the party and many times defended its principles and policies throughout the difficult years in Opposition. I believed that, unlike the Nationalists, a Labour government would serve the country in a much more efficient, transparent and moral way. I was so thirsty to experience a Labour government that I consider 10th of March 2013 as one of the best days of my life. Only a genuine supporter who was not expecting personal favours can understand what I felt on that particular sunny winter day. What I expected was the promised era of good governance, transparency and meritocracy.
With the benefit of hindsight, I believe the Labour Party had promised the unimaginable to various sectors of society in an attempt to win votes. Muscat and the party clearly didn’t contemplate enough the repercussions of certain promises and possible deals struck before the general election. We are now witnessing the classic boomerang effect that will clearly haunt Muscat in the years to come.
The official statistical figures indicate a robust economy, a good level of job creation and an ever-growing tourism sector. The situation is far from being perfectly rosy and the government still needs to tackle the issues of poverty, precarious jobs and the well-being of low income families in a concrete way. The vital manufacturing industry is going through tough times but nevertheless, the government deserves credit for the overall economic situation. The deficit control is also being handled in a commendable way. The red light scenario that Simon Busuttil was envisioning is laughable and seems to be the usual gloom and doom that any Opposition prophesies.
The robust economy, however, cannot allow the government get away with everything. I have come away with the impression that Muscat is over abusing his outright trust by the electorate over Simon Busuttil. Only the unprincipled can turn a blind eye to the immorality, incompetence and bad deeds we get to know about on literally a weekly basis. Cabinet members engaged dozens and dozens of individuals from outside the public sector to fill in sensitive executive roles on the basis of trust more than anything else. These particular Cabinet ministers as well as the Prime Minister are now reaping the fruits of the seeds they sowed by engaging individuals who are clearly not fit for purpose to say the least. The recent case of the 18-year-old newly appointed director is the cherry on the cake. If this had to happen under my watch, I would bury my head in shame. The Café Premier and the Gaffarena cases cannot be dissociated from the C word. On Monday, we got to know about the boarded-out son of Assistant Commissioner Zammit being given a 60K job with Enemalta. On Tuesday, we had the scandal of a retired police constable being re-employed, quickly promoted to Sergeant-Major and then re-retire with a much higher pension. The famous power station pledge turned itself into a joke. We were promised a two-year deadline and failure in delivery would have led to a resignation. We were also told that this new power station would make it possible for the government to reduce the utility rates. The rates were actually lowered but the power station is, up to now, pie in the sky. This inevitably leads me to ask the million dollar question of whether or not we really need this power station. We have individuals getting paid to locate venues ideal for a certain purpose, tailor-made jobs for the boys in Brussels, Labour Party cronies serving in the diplomatic corps, the recently demeaned ministers’ code of ethics, the apparent disregard for the environment, the amateurish way in which the citizenship scheme was introduced and later updated and re-updated, the relocation of the “Monti” stalls saga, which is not only immoral but also a clear example of bad taste, the way in which the electorate got to know about Sai Mizzi's envoy position and also the mystery of her whereabouts (irrespective of her possible future achievements), government backbenchers appointed as “chairmen” on various boards in exchange for their silence; the list goes on and on endlessly. I might as well steal Konrad Mizzi’s expression and voice it loudly. “Shame on you”!
The government as a whole urgently needs to pull up its socks and get its act together to first and foremost put into practise its main pledge of meritocracy, good governance and transparency. Only then can it hope to avoid losing more than half of its large majority in just five years. As far as my family and I are concerned, we certainly will not be casting our vote irrespective of any potentially excellent economic scenario by the end of the legislature. Needless to say, the PN is not in a position to give lectures about good governance and transparency. Joseph Muscat should thank his lucky stars for the sorry situation the Nationalists have got themselves into.
Michael Portelli
DINGLI