When William Shakespeare wrote the Merchant of Venice in the late 1500s, he did not have Malta in mind, or the way we conduct our political scenario. In brief in the play Shylock a moneylender loans money to his rival Antonio, setting the security at a pound of Antonio's flesh. When a bankrupt Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock demands the pound of flesh, as revenge on Antonio who had previously insulted and spat on him.  The morale of the story is a carbon copy of the PL’s stance today. The PL is continuously seeking comfort for its actions by looking back at the previous administration, finding faults which are similar to the ones this administration is committing, and attempting to justify its unbecoming political behaviour thus.  

What has been repeatedly called and drummed in the minds of many in the run up to the general election as wrong-doing, the PL had promised it will do away with and will hold accountable those entrusted with public office. This pledge unfortunately has, early in this legislature, already vanished in thin air. This is not auguring well at all.

In this regard the PL has a huge responsibility to shoulder. In making the quantum leap to higher political ethical grounds and standards, as promised it would prior to the election, the PL should break free from the past.  This is now a must.  If the PL fails to do so, it would continue to put in an awkward position many of its loyal supporters and the latterly converted to its fold.  Much worse, it will corner and burden the new PN leadership team, who will be coerced to abandon its think-tanks, advisors and policy makers tasked with preparing policies and strategies that will improve the quality of life once called back in office, and succumb to pressures to repeat the same mistakes. This may become a vicious circle.

This approach is not in the best interest of the socio-economic and political development of these islands. On the contrary, this would throw the islands back to the days when the rights of people were trampled upon and justified claims were bartered for gifts and tokens of all sorts and forms.

This brings me to another piece of literature which has been dramatized, documented, narrated, taught at schools, discussed, and lectured written in the early 1940s. Animal Farm by George Orwell gives a detailed account of a farm takeover by animals. They thought this would herald a new chapter and a better life. They dreamt of a world where all animals are equal and all property can be shared, that is until the pigs took control and one of them became the leader. Soon, the principles of revolution were side-lined and the rest of the animals realised they had even less freedom than they had before.

During the past months we have witnessed alleged discrimination, abuse of power, politically motivated  transfers, transparency has been blurred, lack of  accountability and nepotism, despite that we had been otherwise promised. A bit like the animals on animal farm by Orwell.

Abuse of power can take various forms. The recent incident in which the present Gozo Channel Minister was involved is the cherry on the cake. We are expected to believe that, with some divine intervention, the Gozo Channel vessel returned to the quay to take the Minister to Gozo home. This must be beyond everyone’s imagination.

It is masochistic of the Minister for Gozo to publicly flog himself with a blunder, similar to that committed by a former Gozo Channel Chairman and which had led to latter’s being relieved from duties by the former administration. That incident is still fresh in the memory of many, but perhaps unfortunately not the Minister for Gozo.

For the second time a Gozo Channel vessel had to return to the quay to pick a caller who was left stranded on the quay. Gozo Channel like all other companies has rules, regulations and a code of practice which are applicable to all customers irrespective of their status in society. The Minister entered a cul-de-sac and the Gozo Channel duty manager was immediately suspended from work for ordering the ferry back to Cirkewwa.

Some days later the Company confirmed that all charges against the duty manager were dropped and he has resumed duties as if nothing has happened. Rightly so, the duty manager who was unnecessarily suspended from work will also receive the full salary for the days he was suspended. Is this not abuse of power?

Irrespective of their political leanings, Gozo Channel workers cannot but notice that their place of work has been unnecessarily dragged into the political arena due to the Minister’s abuse of power.

No one should be surprised if sooner or later workers at the Gozo Channel will use this incident in support of any future disciplinary proceedings the management of the company may institute against any Gozo Channel worker. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander after all.

No wonder more and more people, privately and some even publicly, are trying to find ways to turn back time, while privately hitting themselves on the head for not speaking out loud enough when it was most needed.  

I am certain that many of those who, for a wide range of issues, chose to cross party lines today realise that there must have been other ways to address their concerns.  This possibly excludes the ones who, for defecting, were promised a prize.

Many PL supporters are finding it hard to defend their party and resort to the rehearsed rhetoric of “this is what the PN did whilst in Government”.  By its actions, the PL is showing that it cannot only match but do better on the previous government, notwithstanding that it is sinking the ship at a faster pace.

Can you take the Minister’s word of honour on this issue? I for one will when pigs fly!   

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