The reaction to the news that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM’s Chief of staff Keith Schembri hold a Trust in New Zealand and that both had set up a companies to administer their assets and interests has drawn the ire of people in Malta and Gozo, regardless of political allegiance.

Dr Mizzi admitted that his company was Panamanian and eventually yielded to the backlash and announced that he would be keeping the Trust, but closing the company. Keith Schembri, on the other hand, has admitted that he too holds a Trust in New Zealand, but has not divulged the domicile of the company he had set up.

This newsroom has chased and hounded the pair for replies, and leading articles have already been published, saying that the only right thing to do would be to repatriate the funds in Malta. Yet, we have been brushed off and repeated telephone calls and emails have gone unanswered.

This whole affair has rattled a lot of people. Many are now sick and fed up with one scandal after another. It is just coming up three years since the Labour Party came to power and we have already seen two cabinet members removed, or asked to resign because of their dealings.

But it is perhaps Alternattiva Demokratika’s Chairman Arnold Cassola, who hit the nail on the head on Monday. A few hours before the PN press conference to announce a national protest against corruption, Dr Mizzi summarily said that he would be closing his company, hoping, it seems, to pull the rug from under the PN’s feet.

But Dr Cassola said that the behaviour of Dr Mizzi and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was an insult to all Maltese – and he is completely right in what he says.

The AD Chairman points out that while Konrad Mizzi has pledged to submit his assets to audit, it is virtually impossible to do so in Panama. While he is correct in saying this, it must also be pointed out that just because a company is closed, it does not mean that another one, two or even three, could be opened as soon as the other is defunct.

Prof. Cassola also pulled no punches in going after the Prime Minister, asking how he can one minute say that he has no issue with the company being opened, and then shortly after, the whole house of cards comes tumbling down.

This government simply cannot continue in this fashion. It seems like whatever the scandal, those involved just slip and slide and dodge and weave. Until, of course, the evidence comes out in the public sphere. People are not stupid. You do not have to be a Labour or PN supporter to realise that what went down with Panamagate simply should not happen in a modern democracy. And this is why what was said by Prof. Cassola held more weight.

Those with political baggage on either side of the house cannot comment. It is becoming very clear that Dr Muscat’s cabinet is micro-managed and there is no room at all for disloyalty and dissent. However, it is about time that any decent MP’s on the government benches do what they swore to do and uphold the interests of their constituents. Malta being Malta, they will not sacrifice their political careers. But the least they can do is band together, organise an internal rebellion and face their leader with their fears. Political rebellion is a tool of democracy, not a show of disloyalty against a leader. If there are any within the PL that are true to its core beliefs and are loyal to their Constituents, then what they should do is clear.  If the geberal public cannot shake any sense into the government, then maybe they can.