During a discussion held as part of a public policy course at the University, in which I participated, we considered the advantages and disadvantages of governance in small countries.

Top quality observations came from the students. Problems that arise due to the fact that a small state still needs to cope with issues that are as extensive and complicated as those faced by a bigger polity,made for a concentration of minds. And the question came up: would being part of a greater entity make better sense for a small state than going it alone?

And here, another point raised was: does possessing its own language and culture count as a plus or a minus for a small country? I was surprised to note that a majority of the students present counted such a factor as positive. A small country that has its own cultural – spiritual, if you prefer – identity would be able to cope much better with arising challenges than another small country which hardly has it. That was indeed a curious way of thinking at a time when cosmopolitanism is getting so much praise.

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Welcome

Let’s give welcome to a recent message by Justice Degaetano. If I understood correctly, in it he emphasized the need for inquiring magistrates to possess when on the job the means by which to conduct investigations, namely executive and mandatory powers. 

Today however I can only spice such a welcome with a dash of irony. In the fight against corruption and abuse of power, already more than twenty years ago, as a Labour government we had put forward this proposal and set out to implement it following wideranging consultations.

The PN were not interested. And wonder of wonders, the representatives of the judges and of the legal profession discoveredall the objections one can imagine to ensure that the proposal stayed a dead letter. It would contradict the way by which in Malta, judicial functions were laid out – so they claimed. This was nothing more than an excuse intended to keep everything as it was.

If now, one is glad to note that things have started to budge, the query that arises still is: what kept objections in place for so long and how come it is only now that matters have acquired some movement?

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Regarding books

These last years, the standing of books has improved in Maltese society, and not just because publications continued to increase in number. Most of all, the Book Council has been taking new initiatives to promote reading and raise awareness about Maltese books. What still remains to be done though is to find a more convenient location from where to organize its annual book festival.

Moreover in the print media, some space is again being given to regular reviews of new and old books. In the past, in contrast to European and American papers, Maltese ones were omitting to cover new publications. At least this has started to change although hardlyon a systematic basis.

It is on the distribution front that the situation remains dismal. Actually matters have deteriorated. With the exception of some two larger emporia, one finds that stores in our towns and villages which used to carry a relatively wide variety of books, now either display next to no books or are caught with just one very limited selection of publications. That’s a great pity.