“I must point out two points at this stage. First that the Auditor did not exclude corruption and secondly that people who have something to hide chose not to collaborate with the Auditor. And that is why this investigation raises more questions. This contract is another bubble and who knows when the truth comes out”
The current situation in the supply of electricity is a clear example of a government which has been dragging its feet for many years. It is very peculiar that when families and industry alike suffered another increase in the water and electricity tariffs, the country experienced a number of blackouts. Another example of paying more while getting less. In recent years the Maltese suffered an increase in a number of taxes, tariffs and other administrative costs but notwithstanding this, in general, the service received got worse.
The controversy about the new power generating plant at Delimara is very serious. The report of the auditor general highlights the most important issues which need to be taken on board if the government wants to be accountable and transparent. The shortcomings and irregularities exposed both by the Labour Party and by the auditor in his report clearly expose that this contract raises more questions for which answers until now are very vague.
The contract signed between the government and the Danish company BWSC should be made public since we are talking about public funds being spent by the Maltese government. As such the commercial excuse made by the minister, in such cases should not continue to be used. Any government should avail for himself the option to make public these contracts. I add that these should be made public automatically and not with the go ahead and permission of a private company. This is another example that the contract signed is much more in favour of the private interest rather than the public.
The Nationalist Party was happy that the Auditor General did not find evidence of corruption. However what the Auditor did say was that “The NAO’s inquiry did not come across any hard and conclusive evidence of corruption, even though, for record’s sake, one cannot fail to mention the lack of cooperation from certain stakeholders who contended that they could not recall certain events or information.” The auditor particularly mentioned Joseph Mizzi the local representative for the tenderer awarded this contract and as such a key person to this inquiry.
One has also to keep in mind the resources and the remit of the NAO which cannot possibly have access to all the necessary data for investigations. Of course if key people do not collaborate at all how one can pretend that evidence of corruption will be found? I must point out two points at this stage. First that the Auditor did not exclude corruption and secondly that people who have something to hide chose not to collaborate with the Auditor. And that is why this investigation raises more questions. This contract is another bubble and who knows when the truth comes out.
The Archbishop and parliament
On the occasion of Labour Day, the Archbishop His Grace Pawlu Cremona visited The Palace and all the staff who work in the different offices including the office of the President and Parliament. It was the first time that an Archbishop formally visited The Palace and all its employees. It was a pleasure for me that together with HE President George Abela greeted him and accompanied His Grace in all offices of Parliament. He took great interest in the work performed behind the scenes for this institution to function. I presented His Grace with a book of the official history of the Maltese Parliament and on behalf of the staff thanked him for his visit. The staff is crucial for us representatives of the people to be able to perform our duties. They are playing an important role in the functioning of democracy.
Also Archbishop Cremona visited both political parties represented in Parliament when he paid a visit to the respective headquarters. This also shows the role that parties have in our society and by his visit he acknowledged the importance of their existence. This does not mean that Church and state should be one. The separation of these two is commended however both should work together on a number of issues for the benefit of all the citizens irrespective of their creed or political allegiances.
Last Thursday a new Speaker of the House of Representatives was sworn in. I had the privilege as Deputy Speaker to preside over this ceremony. Once again I salute Louis Galea for the two years that we worked together and wish him well in his new responsibility in the European Court of Auditors.
I also welcome Michael Frendo as the new Speaker and wish him well. I look forward to work with him for the benefit of the parliamentary institution. As he rightly said in his address, Parliament needs to adapt to the reality of the Lisbon Treaty and the new roles that national parliaments have in the European Union. In our case we need to work more to be in line with other Parliaments since we lack a number of resources. We cannot continue to be a Parliament without the necessary tools. We owe this to our people and to the country. Let us all rise to the occasion and improve our parliamentary democracy.
Carmelo Abela is Deputy Speaker and Labour main spokesperson for industry and foreign investment
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