Many people find comfort in believing that lies and deception, corruption and greed are the normal circumstance of the human nature for it would take great effort and courage to believe the opposite and defend it.  In this way, people who depend on making their way through life on the strength of lies gain some power to impress.  In these past years we would not be blamed for thinking that the truth is a poor match for the horseman riding the dark side.

But they would be wrong. 

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi – Truth alone will endure;  all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.

And time is approaching now with gathering speed.  From every angle, the call for truth is persisting and reaching over the cacophony of lies.  As it progresses it gains momentum. 

This week we have seen no greater believer and defender of the truth than Simon Busuttil, leader of the Nationalist Party, as the Independence Day occasion was celebrated for all the country. 

We are now in a kind of situation where even though actions and outcomes seem to support the lies and deception, they are no more than a lingering bad smell of rancid meat.  Those with any sense will turn away and look for a more pleasant odour.

It is, naturally, a shame when those who can and whose duty it is, to expose lies and resist the ability to extend them, take a weak and obliging path, condoning the wrong. But as long as this government is in charge, we will have to endure and face the consequences. 

The truth cannot stay hidden, though.  The accounts in Panama will spit out their owners who will no longer hide behind a woman’s skirts;  the tanker in Marsaxlokk will be in plain sight and no one in their right mind will motor close to it;  finances will be short, no matter  what the ratings say;  the sick in the hospital corridors, the misery in the public correctional facilities;  land given out like ‘perlini’ at fancy weddings with all the trimmings; the high rises that are built on sand;  the universities that come from nowhere; the price of fuel, water and electricity but most of all the endemic deceit at the heart of it all.

We need to have all contracts made public now and not in some forgotten time.  Contracts for the hospital in Gozo and at St. Luke’s and above all, the contract with Electrogas Malta Consortium and Enemalta and all the other financial commitments made by the government that went with them.  In my view, it is essential that these contracts are made public before Konrad Mizzi has to appear before the EU committee on the Panama Papers.  Anything less and they will be pouring petrol on the fire.

People are sensing this inevitable force for truth, knowing that it will happen and they will make it happen.  Many have already fixed their sights on the PN to make sure that the future will not be the same as it is now because they are sick of it.

It is not something that is unique to our country, the lies and manipulations.  But other countries or organisations have checks and balances, have a sense of public outcry that leaves them no other choice but to own up to their misdeeds.  Only in Malta, what is supposed to be a democratic and free country, do we have our leaders thinking this wild fantasy that things will remain hidden and protection is available as long as Joseph is the PM.

International organisations are not immune either to the kind of syndrome that permits them to ignore truth and justice and proceed as normal with decisions that fly in the face of honesty.  We expect far better from them and it is no wonder when confusion takes over.

If one man is prepared to commit his word on cleaning up this filth, on generating a renewal of faith in the ability of the people to achieve this change, then we need to offer our support in every way possible, changing the mindset from negative to positive (because those who believe that the power of corruption is greater than the voice of truth are the real negatives here) and getting behind him.

It is not an easy journey and many people can say what they have been through when trying to speak out but the truth is also mighty.   With it comes the quality of life we lead.  Without the truth everything is tainted.  So if we want to have a healthy and prosperous life, it needs to be based on a trustworthy and solid foundation.  From there will come the proper education, the real opportunities for all society, a healthy environment, social justice, moral wellbeing based on sound principles and a right to spending time with family in the home and outside it. 

When people start to see that it is not from money itself that they acquire this quality of life, but from a decent government freely elected, doing an honest job, they can begin to make a choice and not allow any fear to come between them and their decision.

All around us are daily consequences of the misuse of trust and need.  Dr Muscat and his persons of trust are responsible for the worst cases that have come to our attention and for which precious little has been done to uncover the truth.  Presenting a façade of sympathy and peace to placate the protesters has worked well for now. 

So another lie is used to cover the lies beneath – the idea that avoiding conflict and confrontation is the better way.  If we allow this transfer of guilt to go on we will have given up our rights and very soon, our country.  When you see that the space around you is closing in, when the sea (and not just) is covered in slime, when homes have no harmony and prospects become dim, then realisation sets in and time begins its work to turn back to the truth and get it out.

Just as many people felt they had just cause and gripe in the last election to reject the PN, with so much happening now that screams corruption and mismanagement, there will be the individual cases that will collectively head to the polls to do what should have been done already and kick this crew out to make way for sound principles and honest leadership.

Fix your course on a star and you will navigate any storm – Leonardo da Vinci.