I would like to comment on a letter that appeared in the Sunday Times (21 May) from Carmel Saliba entitled Justice Must Be Equal For All. Abraham Lincoln spoke of “a government of the people, for the people and by the people”. Beautiful words signifying a ‘holy trinity’ – in this case duality – in which the government and the people are ONE and EQUAL! But are they? In practice, Mr Saliba, the people have created a Frankenstein monster, very often the government stands aloof and above the people that gave it power and only comes down to the people’s level during election times. Even the titles used suggest inequality: in England, Malta and elsewhere, I guess, high-ranking politicians are addressed as “The Right Honourable’’. Are you any less honourable? In the USA this is minimised, as even the President himself is addressed simply as “Mister”.

Mr Saliba, you speak of the need for equality in justice. We see what is happening, but no one does a thing. We read in the papers how a certain MP’s case is speeded up through the justice system while other cases have been going on for decades! Recently there was mention in this paper of the case of a teacher who claimed to have been bullied into signing a document in order to get a payment decided upon by the ombudsman – a document demanding that he forfeit any legal claims he feels that he may have in relation to the case – and he must accept this as a favour? As far as I know, Mr Schiavone has failed to answer the questions put to him in my last letter.

But, Mr Saliba, what I feel is the absolute proof of the inequality in justice is the fact that the Ombudsman supports the Ministry’s document stating, among other things, the fear that the “settlement would constitute a precedent to similar, but less deserving claims, that might arise in the future”. – Is justice not based on the concept that we all get what we deserve? Is it fair that the Air Malta chairman gets €500,000 a year in salary, and others get tens of thousands in consultation fees, and yet everyone acts as if it would mean the economic end of Malta if a person is given the few hundreds or thousands that he or she deserves?

So is Lady Justice blind? I leave the answer to you.

Mary Camilleri

VICTORIA