From Mr V. Spiteri

The polemic about the Law Courts cleaning contract that was given to people closely associated with a man charged with bribing members of the judiciary has opened up a debate about apportioning and defining political responsibilities.

In order to examine this particular case in depth, one needs to know whether such an occurrence has been previously contemplated by any past or present administration. If so, were existing standing procedures to vet not only the employees of a company, but also its directors, in force?

If the answer is in the affirmative, then the civil servant who failed to carry out his responsibilities according to the prescribed procedures is guilty of dereliction of duty, and should suffer the consequences of his actions.

It does not make sense to accuse a minister of wrongdoing, if someone else chose to ignore established procedures.

If anyone disagrees, I ask him to consider a scenario where a minister of a party in government will be liable and answerable for the deliberate wrongdoing of someone who, prompted by the Opposition, seeks to cause his resignation.

I suggest that this is not a tenable situation, regardless of Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Edward Zammit Lewis pontificating to the contrary. If this was the law of the land, as both these learned gentlemen suggest, than in my opinion it will be insulting a gentle animal to say that the law is an ass.

The consequence of this fallacious train of thought is manifestly evident. A minister will then be justified, to surround himself only with people holding a paid-up membership card of his party, whom he can trust not to embarrass or cause him trouble.

Dr Jose Herrera made a song and dance – accusing the Nationalist Party of partigianismu (partisanship). Does his version of ministerial political responsibilities make sense in the context I am offering for consideration?

I suggest that what has happened this time was not contemplated by either side of the political divide. The likely truth is that a parliament where lawyers predominate, failed to anticipate and enact legislation to address such an incident.

Being wise AFTER the event, is not an indication of immense wisdom that Jose and Edward can claim as their own, despite their theatrical finger-wagging performance on Smash TV

The public needs to know what is being done now to avert a repetition of this incident, whereby 65 parliamentarians proved themselves to be no better than a troop of baboons.

Victor Spiteri

ATTARD