The recent scandals exposed by the international media are of great concern to each and every honest citizen and society at large.
Nevertheless, offshore banking allows the wealthy to launder money and evade taxation. Often, the methods are perfectly legal. However, the secrecy provided by tax havens fuels corruption and undermines countries’ ability to collect their fair share of taxes.
Whatever is being said, the authorities make a considerable effort and go to great pains to act as if nothing bad and illegal h s happened that the people should know about. All is being swept under the carpet in the hope that people would one day forget about it and what they really wanted to know.
The people have an absolute right to know what political and any public figures are doing and meddling in some particular area.
The Prime Minister, ministers, and other public personalities should come forward once they have been caught red-handed in such scandals to review their position in government.
It is a fact that some people went into hiding not to be exposed to uncomfortable questions asked by the media wants to know.
Whenever such scandals are uncovered, ministers lie low in order not to be embarrassed with pertinent questions regarding their involvement in such scandals.
Political corruption is the use of powers by ministers in government and other officials for illegitimate private gain. An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties, is done under colour of law or involves trading in influence.
Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, influence peddling, graft, and embezzlement. Some forms of corruption – now called "institutional corruption" – are distinguished from bribery and other kinds of obvious personal gain. A similar problem of corruption arises in any institution that depends on financial support from people who have interests that may conflict with the primary purpose of the institution.
Effects on politics, administration, and institutions in politics, corruption undermines democracy and good governance by flouting or even subverting formal processes. Corruption in the legislature reduces accountability and distorts representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of law; and corruption in public administration results in the inefficient provision of services. It violates a basic principle of republicanism regarding the centrality of civic virtue.
More generally, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of government if procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and public offices are bought and sold. Corruption facilitates environmental destruction. While corrupt societies may have formal legislation to protect the environment, it cannot be enforced if officials can easily be bribed.
Patronage refers to favouring supporters, for example with government employment. This may be legitimate, as when a newly elected government changes the top officials in the administration in order to effectively implement its policy. It can be seen as corruption if this means that incompetent persons, as payment for supporting the regime, are selected before more able ones.
In politics, corruption undermines democracy and good governance by flouting or even subverting formal processes. Corruption in the legislature reduces accountability and distorts representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of law; and corruption in public administration results in the inefficient provision of services. It violates a basic principle of democracy, the centrality of civic virtue.
More generally, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of government if procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and public offices are bought and sold. Corruption undermines the legitimacy of government and such democratic values as trust and tolerance. Recent evidence suggests that variation in the levels of corruption in high-income democracies can vary significantly depending on the level of accountability of decision-makers. Evidence from fragile states also shows that corruption and bribery can adversely impact trust in institutions.
Favouring relatives (nepotism) or personal friends (cronyism) of an official is a form of illegitimate private gain. This may be combined with bribery, for example demanding that a business should employ a relative of an official that controls regulations affecting the business. Seeking to harm enemies becomes corruption when official powers are illegitimately used as means to an end. For example, trumped-up charges are often brought against journalists or writers who talk about politically sensitive issues, such as a politician accepting bribes.
Corruption facilitates environmental destruction. While corrupt societies may have formal legislation to protect the environment, it cannot be enforced if officials can easily be bribed. Laws rights enable corrupt countries to gain illegitimate favours.
The people expect what was actually promised prior to the 2013 General Election, but from today’s outlook it is completely opposite to what was actually promised in the Electoral Manifesto, and time and again stated on electoral platforms around the country.
Voters who wanted to vote "with their heart", and to “get a transplant”.
However, they were all deceived with all the empty promises.
This is all factual
Henry S. Pace
Sliema