In my previous article, I cautioned the Opposition from taking political stands, which may be termed “ad personam” or “against an individual”. I insisted that it is political ideals or motivations that should be questioned rather than the personal life of individuals. As a result I have been accused that Labour's falling standards are rubbing off onto me. However, from my viewpoint it is Labour’s standards that are rubbing off on the PN and the latter is weak in reacting to Labour’s criticism.

In the past weeks, there has been a series of articles in It-Torca and L-Orizzont about what were termed as the “Spjuni of Tonio Fenech” or the “Spies of the Nationalist MP Tonio Fenech”. These individuals, whom I do not know, were accused of divulging sensitive information of an economic nature to the Opposition MP Tonio Fenech. A media campaign was set in motion clearly intended to put pressure for disciplinary action to be taken against them for divulging, what the same newspapers portrayed as state secrets. Luckily, all the other newspapers did not take the cue. Most probably, this story ended in the Labour stables as none of the English newspapers wanted to handle it.

Ironically, Government now is divulging information to the media concerning the personal files of individuals. Labour Parliamentary Secretary, Michael Falzon fell into this trap when he divulged information about BOV employees who had received a golden handshake from the bank. The rather unorthodox way he got the information was rightly questioned by The Malta Independent.

It is also clear that other items of news appearing in the media concerning the Department of Lands are being dished out by the Government. Unfortunately, the perpetrators of these supposed leaks are not being qualified as spies but as benefactors. Since the Department falls directly under the Office of the Prime Minister, certain sensitive information can only be obtained from Castile, after someone gains access to the files and divulges the information to a friendly English newspaper.

The Prime Minister has stated that Government is going to carry out a thorough investigation regarding how certain lands contracts were drawn up under the Nationalist Administration. Carrying an audit is a positive move but the way this investigation is being conducted smacks of political biaswith even a hint of corruption since only half truths or incorrect ones are being published.

Therefore, I would ask, is it not a case of Government acting in the same manner or worse than the so-called “spjuni” of Tonio Fenech? It seems that for this Government, it is legitimate to hand information to the Labour Party but it is wrong if similar information is handed over to a Nationalist MP. Incidentally, an MP is recognized by our Constitution. A party official has no administrative or executive recognition.

A few days ago, the Deputy Party Leader of the Labour Party, Toni Abela called a press conference to brief journalists about a deal involving the purchase of a building in Valletta, which was leased to HSBC. The lease on this property expires in a few years.  I ask Toni Abela, how did he obtain the information in question? Does he consider those who gave him this information as spjuni or benefactors? Or is it the case that the party in government believes it is legitimate to handle and discuss information found in Government files? This was the case in the past and the situation has not changed after 2013.Therefore, my next question is what changes is this new Labour government offering the Maltese? This is the question that Abela needs to address.

Instead, Abela queried the motives that prompted the PN Government to purchase the property, which formerly housed HSBC Bank in Republic Street. He accused the PN that it had bought the premises without a purpose in mind stressing that it is the Labour Government that gave this large building a role by offering it to Konrad Mizzi for his Ministry. The lack of a satisfactory reply from the Opposition to a simple direct question posed by Toni Abela leaves me perturbed.

To be fair, the story is totally different. The PN had a noble purpose in mind in purchasing this building. It was aiming at turning the Grand Master’s Palace into a tourist attraction and therefore needed to relocate a number of offices currently in there and that were holding up finalizing the works. This explains, in part, why Parliament too was relocated to new premises. Besides, the offices of the Attorney General were also situated at the Palace and Government needed to find a suitable alternative. In this case, the building had to be in Valletta and as close as possible to the Law Courts. Following the construction of new offices for the Attorney General in Straits Street and the fiasco that ensued, Government opted to purchase the former HSBC building.

It was the change of Government that brought the entire project to a standstill and instead of moving the Attorney General to the former HSBC premises, the new Labour Government opted for astatus quo as it is presumed that Konrad Mizzi wanted an impressive building for his ministry. In the process, Heritage Malta’s  project to turn the Palace into a unique tourist attraction was shelved. I am sure that as a politician, Toni Abela knew about this project. But I am puzzled as to why the PN was not capable of giving Toni Abela’s a straightforward reply to his simple question thus showing lack of political prowess.

I do hope that this Government takes up the project again. Perhaps, the project was abandoned because it prefers that the Palace should carry on housing the President of the Republic rather than becoming another asset of Heritage Malta. Whichever choice Government makes, it is important that the historical value of this Palace is enhanced. If the focus will be on a presidential palace, Italy can once again offer a model about how we can go about it. The Quirinale Palace in Rome – which was once the historic seat of the Popes – is now being opened to the general public. Rather than focusing on its past history, its current usage is being emphasized, that of being the palace of the President of the Republic of Italy. Perhaps, this could be another project which the President of Malta or her Foundation should take over by turning this whole building into a truly presidential palace, where the main attraction would not be the Order of St John but the modern young state of the Republic of Malta.