In English the idiom ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ refers to the age old wisdom of damage control. It is simply logic that dictates that it is always wiser to take hold of a situation and solve a growing problem rather than to attempt to solve it after the problem has grown beyond control.
Our Labour-led government would be wise to heed this piece of age old advice. The sale of Maltese Citizenship for a meagre lump sum with no investment required was criticized as ill-advised from the start. The government was told in no uncertain terms, by both the opposition and civil society, that such a scheme would be detrimental for Malta’s image across the globe. It was warned that it would be wiser to implement a scheme which was investment orientated as opposed to mere sales orientated. Sadly our government ignored all the pleas that were made and used its nine seat parliamentary majority to steamroll ahead.
A few weeks down the line we have all seen Malta’s name being denigrated across the globe. Reputable media outlets such as The Financial Times in London, CNN, Euronews and major media outlets in Italy, Canada, Australia and even Russia have heaped ridicule and criticism at the Maltese government approved scheme. To add insult to injury Finance Minister Edward Scicluna himself admitted that the scheme was perhaps ill conceived whilst speaking in Brussels whilst Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, speaking on One Radio admitted that things were done without any consultation.
On January 15th this scheme is up for discussion at the European Parliament despite the frantic hysterics of MEP Joseph Cuschieri who failed to even convince his own S&D colleagues. Our government can choose to take a bullish attitude, ignore the damage that is being done to Malta’s reputation and allow the European Parliament to debate a scheme which our government keeps persisting on despite the ongoing onslaught of criticism. Alternatively it can invest its energy in ensuring that consensus is reached and that good sense wins the day.
The Nationalist Party has time and time again insisted that it is open to being constructive on the issue. The Nationalist Party has time and time again insisted that it is open to a scheme that would truly encourage investment whilst preserving the sanctity of our national identity. The choice is now in Labour’s hands.
In the European Parliament Labour enjoys no nine seat majority. In the European Parliament it cannot shut out criticism by using sheer numbers. Whether Labour likes it or not the debate will occur. Whether the debate will be a humiliating experience for Malta or a chance for Malta to demonstrate that it can rise up to the occasions rests entirely in the government’s hands.
One thing is certain; as is, Labour’s attempt at selling this scheme as being perfectly in line with the norm of such schemes has failed to convince anyone. Hopefully our Prime Minister wakes up and smells the coffee on time!
Kevin Plumpton is a candidate for the MEP elections on the PN ticket