The court testimonies this week sent further ripples of shock and horror through the country. We saw the resignation of Chris Cardona as deputy leader of the Labour Party while the integrity of the Police was put into question by a now ongoing investigation into ex-Police Commissioner, Lawrence Cutajar. In November, Dr Chris Fearne had stated that the damage to the country's reputation was ''almost irreparable'.

Since then, a change of government has helped take off some of the international pressure, and the COVID-19 pandemic further distracted the world from the unfolding scandal which put a temporary halt to the court testimonies. However, it is clear that as the hearings resume, it remains just as crucial as ever that the people of good-will in this country have a serious discussion about the way forward. I am not referring to a partisan shouting match in Parliament; that never achieves the desired outcome.

We have to leave our various coloured hats at the door, and talk to one another with positive intentions, seeing each other as Maltese rather than as members of any political party. We must focus on cleaning out all the muck from the Augean Stables, for even an economy built on corruption is not sustainable. Therefore, what better way for the country to hold this conversation than through reviving the discussion for Constitutional reform?

Good governance must be a collective conversation with identifiable benchmarks and standards. As President, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca had gotten the ball rolling by chairing a Steering Committee to discuss the reform of the Constitution, promising a bottom-up approach.

This process has since stalled, so as to allow hurried amendments to be sped through Parliament in an attempt to get the Venice Commission off our backs. It is understandable that government wishes to move things quickly, to patch things up and move on, but the result has not been renewed trust in our Police Force or in our institutions. One does get the impression that due to the tribal mentality in the country, that the push for truth and justice has run into certain obstacles. It seems some people are being protected, while crucial reforms remain on the shelf out of convenience. While we have a new Police Commissioner, for example, it would be unwise to simply trust that everything will work itself out if left alone. We cannot afford to take such a risk. The reforms as concern justice cannot be left to be worked out behind closed doors. We require transparency and justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.

In October 2019, the American Embassy released a loaded statement, offering the assistance of the United States in resolving the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. “It is not too late for Malta to bring Daphne’s killer to justice in a credible manner,” the Embassy stated.

In court this week, acting Police Commissioner Magri stated that the FBI, which were involved at the beginning of the investigation, that the "are no longer involved but I’m not sure why.” He also stated that the Police lacked the resources to properly investigate the Panama Papers, despite the Home Affairs Minister at the time stating in October 2019 that the Police would receive any resources they needed for their investigations.

Why then was the offer of assistance from the FBI turned down? Why are proper investigations and seizures not being conducted as we speak? We must acknowledge the short-comings in our system, no doubt designed to protect a few key individuals. If resolving these issues has become too messy internally, then let us at least accept the help of an impartial and neutral third force - such as the FBI - and then there shall be no fear or favour on the path to justice.

As for the reforms our country needs? The Steering Committee, chaired by the President, should rejuvenate the conversation for Constitutional reform, and allow the country to discuss the various challenges and issues which currently face us. When in operation, the Steering Committee stood ready to meet NGOs and hear out private citizens as well as politicians. A bottom-up process for Constitutional reform would allow everybody to have their say and influence the way forward. Unions, NGOs and interest groups all the way up from the humblest association all the way up to the Malta Chamber of Commerce would have a tangible way to influence policy. The way forward for this country must be forged by common ground and the will to improve, not through conflict and cloak and dagger manoeuvres. Surely, we have had enough of those. It is time for the sun to shine again.