After a long break, we parliamentarians have finally moved to the new Parliament House. No offence meant to whoever arranged the ceremony but, I’m afraid, it lacked taste and could have been much better.
According to some sources in the cross-party political grapevine, the Prime Minister originally wanted a big show: Bigger than the closing of the Marsa power station and the launch of the interconnector put together, although not as big as the eventual opening of the new power station (whenever that happens).
I was expecting light projections, fireworks and music. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Renzo Piano was invited far too late. Even ordinary wedding invitations are sent three weeks in advance. Inviting the world’s most famous architect should not have been an afterthought.
Piano’s building is outstanding. I am proud to work in it and even more proud that it represents the vision of the party I form part of. The new technology and the live transmissions have their advantages. Now, if you want to check out for yourself what goes on during parliamentary sessions, you will be able to get most of it from the TV channel (although cameras will be focused on speakers and not on some of the interesting side-shows).
Now, you don’t need to take my word for it that Konrad Mizzi is hardly ever in parliament during question time. You will be able to see it for yourself.
As for his frequent absences, this week was a case in point. He wasn’t present on any of the days. When we asked about his absence, we were told he is away on political business.
Now that is interesting. Is he away buying, selling or negotiating anything important behind our backs? So far this government has made us strategically vulnerable to Chinese interests in the area of energy. It has roped our education and health sectors into deals where things are not what they seem. And the Russians might just possibly be racing into our sports sector. You’d think Malta was on offer at a closing down sale.
Or is Konrad Mizzi on another trip to China, perhaps to find and set up an office – a functioning office – in Shanghai? It’s a task that seems to require specialist skills beyond those of Mizzi’s richly paid wife.
Piano’s transparency
Something very particular about Piano’s design is the overwhelming feeling of transparency as you walk through the corridors, from room to room.
The building is divided by glass walls. There is no way of keeping secrets. So far, I haven’t seen any of the Ministers using the beautiful office space they have, spreading over two floors. You see, the Cabinet is so large that it has commandeered even the office space of the floor assigned to the Opposition, not just the one assigned to government.
Whether the transparency of Parliament House will make the Government less inclined to scorn accountability and simple decency is another matter.
Owen Bonnici attacks Simon Busuttil for not condemning Giovanna Debono sooner. Honestly, if there was a Minister who should have zipped his mouth it really should have been Owen Bonnici. He, not his wife, partner or girlfriend, was accused of breaking the law through negligent driving, without him even hinting at resigning or taking a sabbatical until he cleared his name (he was later acquitted of all charges).
Then there is Anton Refalo. What an interesting man, this “poor” minister. He apparently services a loan of over €780,000 by paying €2,250 monthly… when he has a ministerial salary of €45,329. He actually owns 27 properties (although he has just declared he owns 16). It is even said that he is an avid collector of antiques. If all this is true, with such financial wizardry he really should be put in charge of Malta’s economy.
In contrast to all this, Marlene and Godfrey Farrugia have stood out with their strong sense of transparency. Hats off to their sense of humour. The flowers they brought to the new Parliament House, with the message that flowers can grow in Parliament (an allusion to the well-known title of Oliver Friggieri’s novel) totally upstaged everyone at the opening ceremony. Bravo.