The Maltese diplomatic service has declared an industrial dispute. The reason - “widespread nepotism”. Never, ever has the Maltese diplomatic service resorted to industrial action. Labour has pushed it to the brink. In a desperate attempt to valiantly stand in the way of Labour’s bulldozing of meritocracy, the diplomatic service is threatening to strike.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued what has been deemed an “irregular” call for applications. The call is designed to allow unqualified persons to assume diplomatic roles. The UHM, on behalf of the diplomatic service, complained that the call “breaches standard recruitment processes” and that “it circumvents existing recruitment mechanisms and opens a back door to unqualified persons”. It warned that “this would severely undermine the service”.
“What you know, not who you know” was one of the billboards of Labour’s Malta Taghna Lkoll (Malta belongs to us all) propaganda. “You might disagree with us but you can work with us” was another hollow slogan. Meritocracy was the rallying cry of Labour’s movement.
Meritocracy is a modern word - appropriate for Labour’s ‘modern’ movement - coined in 1958 by sociologist Michael Young. The ideals of meritocracy include social, political and economic advancement based solely on talent and open competition, eradication of discrimination and equality of opportunity. This is what Labour promised. It delivered the opposite. Labour rigged the system. It handpicked individuals to run national entities, chair important institutions, lead the civil service, and manage ministries based on nepotism, patronage and clientelism. Labour is hardwired to look only after its own, at the expense of the nation.
For years Labour secured power and positions for family, friends, and lovers irrespective of their competence or aptitude. Positions were created even when absolutely unnecessary to satisfy demands of friends and family. Individuals who were eminently unfit were appointed to posts for which they lack any ability whatsoever. In some cases, the same individuals were appointed to multiple posts or given several direct orders. And so many times they damaged the country.
Adreana Zammit, the daughter of Ian Borg’s canvasser, was given direct orders for over 108,000 euro even before she had graduated as a lawyer. She was forced to resign. Karl Stagno Navarra was appointed Head of Public relations with Air Malta despite admitting to spending 10 hours of the day working on his propagandistic programme Pjazza. Air Malta’s precarious situation forced the slashing of its staff but Stagno Navarra hangs on.
James Piscopo, Joseph Muscat’s close ally and former purchasing clerk at Air Malta was made Transport Malta CEO and then Lands authority CEO. He was forced out in disgrace after Keith Schembri exposed his 600,000 euro in a Jersey offshore bank. A police investigation was launched. Over a year has passed but no charges have been brought against Piscopo. He remains director at Enemalta.
Joseph Cuschieri, another of Muscat’s close allies was made Malta Gaming Authority executive chairman and then MFSA CEO. At MGA Cuschieri allowed Malta to become what Sicilian prosecutors described as “the Mafia’s ATM”. At the MFSA he was allowed to suspend himself after his Las Vegas trip with Yorgen Fenech was revealed.
Jason Micallef, Super One Chairman, replaced the talented David Felice as V18 chairman only to bring the country into disrepute. 72MEPs demanded his sacking. PEN international expressed its dismay and requested government to reconsider his promotion to Valletta cultural agency chairman. The Dutch city twinned with Valletta as 2018 European capital of culture refused to send representatives to Malta in protest at Micallef’s offensive comments. 250 international authors expressed profound concerns about Micallef’s behaviour.
The list of Labour’s appointees that brought shame to the country is endless - Tony Zarb, Lionel Gerada, Johann Buttigieg, Adrian Hillman, Danijel Bogdanovic, Amanda Muscat, Lawrence Cutajar, Silvio Valletta, Frederick Azzopardi, Joseph Cuschieri (Ambassador to Greece), Michael Zammit Tabona, Karl Izzo, John Dalli, Sai Mizzi, Alfred Grixti, Andreina Fenech Farrugia, Aldo Cutajar, Mario Cutajar, Robert Falzon, Edward Caruana, Ray Aquilina, Jimmy Magro. And yet Labour continues to appoint inappropriate and dangerous party loyalists to important and sensitive positions, allowing them to live off the state as a privileged parasitic class. Employing layabouts and wastrels is a luxury this country can ill afford.
In a small country with a limited pool of bright talented citizens, it is imperative that only the best qualified should be appointed. Instead Labour restricts its choice to party insiders or willing sycophants. The economic and democratic success of the nation depends on selecting the best, irrespective where their political loyalties lie. The emphasis should be on ingenuity, hard work, individual initiative and expertise and, most importantly, integrity. Instead Labour’s capricious recklessness deprives the nation of the most talented.
A true meritocracy project provides incredible yields for the country. Meritocracy, infused with virtue, should ennoble not only the individual but the state. Labour’s betrayal of meritocracy resulted in the appointment of many whose sole qualifications are blind loyalty to the party or to the individual minister, and whose objective is self-enrichment and the preservation of the party’s power. Many of them obstructed justice, concealed facts and denied the public the truth, solely to protect their political masters. A procession of Castille staff stonewalled the Caruana Galizia inquiry board. The speaker himself refused to provide information requested, even when given the opportunity to speak behind closed doors. Frank Fabri withheld information from the Standards Commissioner to protect Justyne Caruana.
Labour let us down. They promised meritocracy. Instead they champion injustice and unfairness to protect themselves. While incompetent party functionaries quickly climb the ladder, others are systematically excluded, despite their outstanding competence and because of their integrity.
Malta desperately needs leadership that cultivates the aristocracy of talent in the interests of efficiency, fairness and prosperity. If Malta hopes to compete and avert decline it must transform into a republic of merit. That can never happen with a party that depends on cronyism and nepotism for its own survival.