The Malta Chamber today noted with grave concern that for far too long, successive governments from both sides of the political spectrum have condoned and indeed seemingly encouraged the squandering of public funds.

It is worrying to read about a number of cases of flagrant abuse, bad management, dubious decision processes, conflicts of interest and outright lack of coordination between different elements of the public sector with citizens expected to pay endlessly for the damage. Continued reports emerging in the press suggest that the situation has, at some point, gotten out of control.

From the Malta Chamber’s point of view, fiscal responsibility, like a coin, has two sides. Over the years, the Malta Chamber has repeatedly advocated compliance and adherence to all legal responsibilities within the business community. But while businesses keep their side of the bargain, they are disheartened to learn of long patterns of dubious judgements in the public sector that the country has clearly not yet managed to eradicate. Evidently, there cannot be fiscal morality on one side and total disregard on the other.

It is, therefore, the duty of the Authorities to instill fiscal morality in the country’s taxpayer. It is likewise their responsibility to lead by example and ensure that citizens and taxpayers are given full satisfaction through the judicious use of the resources by them contributed.

Clearly things can only improve, and improve they must. The business community expects and deserves nothing less, the chamber said.