No, I did not get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?  News casters and media reporters continue to inform us of a huge tent going up and down at Mater Dei Hospital.

At Enemalta, the temporary appointment of hand-picked senior managers made news. Against all proper industrial relations procedures, a call for applications to fill these posts was not issued while a promise to issue a call to fill these same posts at some later stage was made.

The Arriva saga continues with very limited disclosure of information about the cessation of the contract with Arriva and the way forward. Commuters are now eagerly waiting to see marked improvements in bus routes, without having to pay higher bus fares and without an increase in Government subsidies.   

The change of heart on the adoption of kids by same sex couples continues with opposing views and very little professional and expert input to protect the best interests of children. This issue should go beyond any political commitments, religious beliefs and other considerations. The topmost concern should be the well-being of the adopted children and nothing else.  We cannot get this wrong too.   

These ever shifting stances are nauseating. Many must have blamed it on the influenza season.        

Government must learn not to back itself into corners. Government should seek sound advice before committing pen to paper. Did Government think that managing a country was similar to running the village club?  Have members within Government thought that they can run a country by trial and error?  Government must show leadership. Away from the political rhetoric which may arouse some, Government must demonstrate a clear vision. Government must hold all fitting pieces of the jigsaw puzzle in hand and be ready to place them at their appropriate place at the right time. So far Government has not shown that it is able to this. Government must seize success, know what it looks like and must learn how to achieve it.               

The Individual Investment Programme or as more commonly known the citizenship sales scheme is a case in point. This issue has been on the national agenda for the last quarter of last year and it seems that this will continue to drag on.  It all started when Government, out of the blue and at maximum speed, legislated for the sale of our citizenship. Notwithstanding the protests from the Opposition benches and others which included close PL allies, Government over-ruled all objections and proceeded with the sale.  A high powered delegation, led by the Prime Minister, went on an international road show with the specific objective of promoting the sale of our citizenship, bringing it to the attention of international media houses. Regretfully, Malta attracted negative international media publicity.      

Under pressure, Government was left with no other option but to make changes to the IIP.  Within days Government announced that foreigners seeking to buy our citizenship will no longer have their identity kept under lock and key. This change was not enough as pressure continued to mount on Government.

Government and the Opposition continued with their efforts to find an alternative way forward, but on the 12th December last year the Leader of the Opposition broke the news wherein he highlighted the reasons for halting the discussions on the sale of citizenship. This was immediately counter-reacted by another press conference by the Prime Minister. A dead-lock was registered.  Pressure continued to mount. It is very clear that, on this issue, Government does not enjoy the support of the people.  The sale of our citizenship was not part of the PL electoral manifesto, and the glorious and famous slogan by late Dom Mintoff of “Malta l-Ewwel u Qabel Kollox” was thrown out of the window by none other than the PL as is clearly evident.

Forced to make further changes, Government sought the mediation skills of Mr Tony Zahra, former MHRA President, the sound advice of Professor Joe V. Bannister, Chairman of the Malta Financial Services Authority and the input of Mr David G. Curmi, President of the Chamber of Commerce. During these meetings Government made further changes to the scheme.  However, the underpinning concepts of the sale of citizenship remained unchanged.

Though Government has on his side the services of the Principal Permanent Secretary and the MCESD Chairman, both former trade unionists, Government was not alerted that seeking an alliance solely with the Chamber of Commerce was fuelling a rift with the other members of the MCESD.  Once again, under pressure, Government had to convene another meeting for the irritated MCESD members. Whether the meeting was a photo shoot or a productive meeting remains to be seen.  As was expected, further recommendations for changes were made.

At the end of the MCESD meeting, the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said “Malta must choose between being a leader or becoming a follower on selling citizenships to followers”.  Many think otherwise, this includes also Hannes Swoboda, the President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, home to the PL.

At this late hour, Government should suspend the IIP immediately, take stock of the situation, publish a green paper and give time to time. This may restore the international respect and credentials which Malta enjoyed until lately. The creation of wealth and prosperity should and must not be at the expense of our national identity. Government must find alternative ways to improve our standard of living, after all this was promised without the sale of our citizenship.  

Gejtu Vella

[email protected]