To begin, we may cast aside from our mind and our emotions that Daphne Caruana Galizia was the award-winning journalist who earned an important honour for Malta at a time when our name was being besmirched all over the media of the world over the Panama papers and instead stop and feel and recognise as we should, the real-life person, woman, mother, wife, sister and persona that she was.

It is not easy to do because her talent as an investigative journalist, blogger and staunch critic pervaded not just the pages on which she wrote so intuitively and intelligently, explaining in detail, complex deals and financial transactions but it was seeped into an extraordinary wit, purpose and courage that even the thought of a small part of it would make most people afraid and run.

As her readers gleaned her pages and articles for that interpretation they sought and needed to keep balance in the world toppling around them, they simultaneously realised that as Frodo was weighed down to deliver the ring to the mountain, so too her far-reaching reporting was going to cost her dearly. 

The story has culminated in tragedy.  A woman has lost her life under the most depraved circumstances. 

Previously, the Russian whistle-blower in the Egrant allegations heard that voice telling her to flee for her life.  Things were not going to end well if she remained here.  It was convenient for her to go and she found her way out.  Her father was also fearful of the events surrounding his daughter when he was visited by police making enquiries about her.  Together they must have seen that her only possible chance to come out of this danger was to leave Malta.  What will happen to her, we don’t know. 

We know what happened to Daphne.  We cannot be graphic about it, as perhaps Daphne would have been, her every word a tool to deliver the painful truth about the way things were.  We do not know why and how and who is responsible.  By now, though, she would already have shed some light on what happened. 

We are urged not to rush to conclusions.  Former Police Commissioner John Rizzo said there were cases of retribution which went back 22 years, as the perpetrator of the revenge waited patiently for the right moment.

Whether circumstantial or not, yes, Monday 16th was not just any day.  It marked the anniversary of the burning of The Times publishers 38 years ago – albeit the date was one day later, it was in fact, a Monday, Black Monday as it has come to be called.  And the magistrate on duty was none other than Consuelo Scerri Herrera, who had come under Daphne’s scrutiny for mis-conduct. 

But besides the physical coincidences, we are also at an ambiguous time politically, since the latest scrutiny of Adrian Delia, now Leader of the Opposition has also provoked controversy and anxiety amongst its own party supporters.  Her recent unwarranted remarks on the family of George Borg Olivier must have exceeded the tolerance level of many.  But we were not the ones walking in her shoes and it is not up to us to select and de-select those parts which sound unduly aggressive or intrusive.

The fact of the matter is that the woman has been silenced.  The one lone voice that changed the course of events and struck at the heart of the truth will no longer state her case and put forward her evidence.  The many cases of libel that are pending in court, lodged by Minister Chris Cardona in the case of the alleged visit to the German brothel on the one hand, and all the numerous others to do with the Panama papers now face an uncertain outcome.  Who does that suit? 

Then we remember only too well the allegations revealed in the months preceding the last general election.

Compare that to the crater in the ground, a blast the scale of which was never seen before in Malta and you cannot avoid to reach some conclusions.  The material used in the explosive is said to be Semtex, the same as that used in the PanAm flight and the killing of Giuseppe Falcone.  Not just your household bomb.

We are not just looking at someone taking offence about a personal comment.  These are far-reaching investigations that in normal countries that abide by the rule of law, would be thoroughly investigated and the culprits charged or removed from office if found guilty.

We had now entered a world of organised crime and we all know that those who live off such criminal activity do not go quietly.  On the contrary, they buy silence. 

Malta is become well accustomed to having its silence bought.  We all know how.  Could some third parties also have influenced the elections, both of 2013 and of last June 2017?  Will the FBI also investigate such possibilities as they have done in America with Trump and Russia?  Why did Joseph Muscat mention that Russian influence piece at the time of the Egrant story?  Did he actually know something and spun it around in a 360 degree?

All we know is that from fearing an illegal migrant who might poach our work as a painter, a rock cutter or a builder, we were led instead to a depraved killer. 

Joseph Muscat is the Prime Minister and leader of the country.  He is responsible for where he takes our country, politically, economically and democratically. He has failed utterly, completely.  He failed to protect Maltese citizens.  He squandered our democratic privileges and re-wrote the direction of the country from an EU member to a third-world state.  But we are not surprised because Labour never learn and think they are above the law.  That has always been the case, not just with previous serious events and killings under their rule, but whenever they pretend to have a special formula which completely immunizes them of the consequences.

Daphne’s tragic death will be remembered every day.  Each time we reach out to view her blog and read her articles. Each time we search a second opinion. Also, whenever we need a little humour on some mundane news.  The way she so precisely created the image she wanted to portray is unmatched by any other journalist.  With her it was not just about a fact – it went beyond that to the essence of the spirit behind motivations and actions.  It was uncomfortable for many but with hind-sight, if they had some humility, they would see that it was an opportunity for them to grow and learn from what was being said.  Instead, many rushed to the courts screaming libel, libel! 

Daphne went to St Dorothy’s school.  As a pupil and student there myself, I can say that in a very calm and normal way, we were immersed in a culture and learning environment that rested on sound principles and contributed to make us conscious adults.  Some prefer to avoid to be conscious beings, aware and open.  But the level of courage and commitment shown by Daphne was an altogether extraordinary one.  She was blessed with the support of her family, for whom it could not have been easy to live with the risk of something being done to her, as has, sadly, so very sadly, happened.

I am tempted to say that her page should continue to appear in the Independent on Sunday, blank.  Her words echo in our head, though we may have to search deeper for them now.  Or perhaps they can re-print past articles which are still very relevant today.  What else did she have in her archive of work?  Or rather, what was she currently working on that endangered her life to this extent? Like past musicians, some manuscripts may lie on the side, waiting to be taken up.  What about the libel cases against her?  Can someone carry on in her place to present the material?  It is just too convenient for some to let things be buried now.  You may say that the content of the libels is already public knowledge. No, the evidence still has to be presented and challenged.  Is that what some feared?  To the extent that silence was the only avenue?

Possibly.  Or possibly we have a depraved individual amongst us.  That individual must not be allowed to get away with this.  Even if that person will be hounded for decades.  For that to happen, we need to re-build our institutions.  Anything else is just white-wash. 

We all deserve better.  Most of all, Daphne Caruana Galizia deserves better.

The time has come for change and change without compromise. 

May she rest in peace.