'I'm sure it could have been handled much better," former Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo said, when asked if in hindsight he thinks Vitals Global Healthcare was a mistake.
“The proof of this is the fact that the government is still trying to deal with it,” he said.
In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Bartolo was asked about the controversial Vital Global Healthcare and Electrogas contracts.
He said that the details of these contracts were never brought to the attention of the Cabinet. “When you go into the nitty-gritty of these contracts, they were not discussed in terms of placing them under a lens and seeing what they entailed.”
He was asked why they weren’t and whether they should have been, given that these were two major contracts.
“I don't want to give a glib answer which sort of exonerates my responsibility or simply say that it has nothing to do with me. When it comes to responsibility, regulation, scrutiny and accountability, it shouldn't and cannot be concentrated only in the Cabinet.”
He highlighted the importance of having functioning institutions to ensure good governance.
“Yes, it is important to have a government that should try to do things the right way. It is important to have an opposition in parliament and a parliament that holds government to account (…) But then it is important to have a whole process when it comes to awarding tenders... the National Auditors Office and all the institutions that have to do with awarding tenders etc. doing their work. My point is that one needs these institutions for checks and balances. As a former minister I can tell you that we need institutions to protect us from ourselves. We are human beings. It is important to have honest individuals and people who have a sense of values who try to uphold public morality, but you cannot simply depend on this. You really need institutions to work effectively.”
Taking the VGH contract as an example, this newsroom pointed out that the NAO came out with damning reports about it and that the Opposition MPs have been crying foul over VGH for years, and thus did their job.
“Again this is something that is ongoing. The negotiations are still ongoing to try and address the shortcomings that have been pointed out. From what I can tell, from my colleagues who were involved in it, it was not easy to extricate themselves from that tender. It is still ongoing and they are still trying to ensure that we don't end up in an even bigger mess. If the tender is moulded in a way where it is a lose-lose for government, it is important to at least, as much as possible, try to salvage from it, that you defend Malta's public interests. But it does show that things could have been done much better.”
Under former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s government, there were times when Bartolo posted messages on Facebook which were critical of issues that had arisen at the time. However, he has been criticised for not being vocal enough or being too cryptic in the face of the scandals that had occurred.
“I've also been criticised for being too vocal, whether it was cryptic or not. I think they were quite clear,” he said. “I love this country with all its faults, but I don't love its faults. I think the country deserved better and I think the Labour Party deserved better; so I wasn’t doing it out of any superior position to preach to people about what they should do. It wasn't easy, I was in inner turmoil and I had a couple of sleepless nights dealing with what we were going through.”
When it came to Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi, he said he was quite open and even named them. “I wasn't cryptic when it came to the Panama Papers. I made it very clear that it's not acceptable for people in public life.”
Asked whether the Labour government took too long to deal with Mizzi and Schembri, he said yes.
“I wouldn't place myself as a judge over the two of them but politically, I would say that we took too long and even when it happened, I warned that this was not going to go away. I kept being promised that steps were going to be taken.” Asked if he was referring to the Panama Papers, he said “yes”. He also said that there were ministers who had spoken clearly with former Prime Minister Muscat about it.
The former minister was asked about Muscat’s resignation in 2019 and speculation that he was pushed out by Cabinet.
“When something like the 2019 situation happens, you cannot pin it down on one factor. There was a mixture of things. The situation was becoming untenable. International pressure, social pressure – and here I'm not just referring to the civil society protests. I think that in a democratic society it is important that citizens speak up.”
“There were people even inside Cabinet, and I was one of them, who were saying that the situation could not go on.”
Former PM Muscat had promised meritocracy, accountability and good governance. Many would argue that he failed in doing this. Asked whether he thinks Muscat was being honest with the people when making that pledge, Bartolo said: “I would rather not answer for him. It would be interesting if you were to ask him now what he thinks."
Bartolo said that what he could say, from his own experience, is that introducing these values into society is a work in progress. “It's not easy. And you have to keep on working at it. There is always the temptation not to be inclusive. For example, when it comes to career advancement that should be based on merit, rather than on who you know.”
“It is said by a number of sociologists and anthropologists, that in small societies like Malta, personal relations are stronger than institutional relations, are stronger than regulations, are stronger than frameworks. So for us, as there is easy access to people in power, it is so much more difficult to ensure that there is good governance when it comes to career advancement, when it comes to recruitment, when it comes to promotions, when it comes to awarding tenders. These kinds of close, personal relations can work against good governance. Our small size though, should not be used as an excuse for not trying and for not working at it."
"It's a cultural issue. There are people who would say that a sign of loyalty or friendship, for instance, should be to do away with rules and if there is a promotion or tender to give it to me on that basis. Obviously, we should not accept that kind of logic."
Public inquiry
Bartolo was asked about the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry’s findings, that the highest echelons of Castille had created an atmosphere of impunity and that the government had to bear responsibility for her death.
“I don't agree with it. I think that it’s always very easy to point your finger at others. I said during the inquiry that when situations like that happen and when we look at our culture, we should have the courage to have a national examination of conscience. It's very easy to say that it is the government's fault or the fault of politicians or corrupt business people or criminal elements.”
He said that he is still disappointed that this examination of conscience conclusion did not happen as he believes that after the situation that resulted in the assassination and other stories related to corruption "if we really want to set things straight, we have to carry out a national examination of conscience. I'm not saying we are all equally to blame as that would be dangerous".
"What happens in a country is not the sole responsibility of one sector. Politicians should have an examination of conscience, the judiciary, business people, accountants, citizens, the media, we are all responsible. There is nobody who is not, somehow or other, responsible. I'm not saying we are all responsible to the same extent or in the same way, but life in a country is a whole ecosystem, where you have different factors inter-related to each other.”
“So when you talk about corrupt politicians... corrupt politicians live in an ecosystem. We should ask deeper questions, like what is allowing all this to happen and what can we do to address this and improve (…) I'm not speaking about people with specific responsibilities not facing justice and the consequences, but I'm saying that if we really want to address the shortcomings in society, it’s always easy to say it’s the fault of politicians, who will in turn say that it is not their fault as citizens want them to be that way. We should take a good look in the mirror.”
He clarified his position regarding the Daphne public inquiry when pressed. “When you are responsible you are responsible, I'm not trying to get away from that. Where I think the inquiry report would have been better, is to have an honest look at all the different sectors of society contributing to our shortcomings. Because the shortcomings in our society are not the sole responsibility of one sector, for example, I think the courts should have a good look at itself, the judiciary also, the professions... When things happen, it also happens as either there is complicity or there is indifference.”
Asked to explain how, exactly, the courts are to blame, he said: “My point is this. If for example cases that deal with corruption take 7, 10 years, what message are we sending to society? If I was taken to court on corruption allegations and the case is taking 10 years I would have enjoyed the fruits of my corrupt practice long before there is a judgement. That is why I am saying that we all must have the courage, as politicians, as Cabinet, as the Opposition party, the judiciary, the professions.”
Giving the example of the 2008 financial crisis, he said it was more of an ethical crisis. "When you allow banks and financial companies to offer unsecure schemes, built on illusions of quick money, and these schemes collapse, there is complicity not just on the part of banks, but financial advisors, auditors who said things were done properly, etc.
“The inquiry was a bit superficial in coming to its conclusion. It should have been a stronger report sending a message to everyone that we are all responsible for improving things on the island.”
Bartolo agreed with the changes Abela made regarding appointments to top posts. “Among Abela's big achievements over the past few years has been the devolution of power from the hands of the Prime Minister, as that is a very dangerous characteristic of the Westminster mode. That kind of power is very dangerous as it basically makes you a one-man government. If you are in a position to appoint law enforcement, the judiciary, regulators, that is dangerous, especially in a small society where there are family connections, friends, political networks, business networks.”
Migration
The former Foreign Affairs Minister was asked about migration. Government has argued that EU countries were not doing enough in solidarity with Malta. Bartolo does not see this changing in the near future.
“Unfortunately, if anything, it's getting worse. The news there is not good at all. At least, when it came to the war in Ukraine, there has been solidarity, but not the same kind of solidarity is being shown for migration coming from Africa.
He said that between 2005 and 2020, around 22,000 migrants arrived in the country, the majority leaving from the Libyan coast, and a few from Tunisia.
“Out of those 22,000, our EU partners only took around 2,000, less than 10%. That shows what kind of solidarity there is. The same applies for Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus – it has been quite difficult for the Mediterranean states, even though we are one third of the EU member countries, to get our partners on the eastern border and the north to share this responsibility.”
Looking at election campaigns all over the EU where migration is used as a “scare issue”, he said, "the numbers, the effects and impacts are exaggerated, with language being used such as that they are coming in with a hidden agenda to change our western civilization and Christian identity, even though some of those migrants are Christian. It is a very convenient way to mobilise voters by exaggerating the negative effects and not mentioning the positive effects migration has”.
Asked further about the issue, Bartolo said that Germany and France relocated most out of the EU countries.
The best way to deal with migration is to have a range of policies, measures and tools, including helping in the development of Africa, he said. “I'm sure that millions who move would prefer not to move, and would prefer to live and build a life where they were born. So assisting in the development of Africa, going for prosperity and equality in relations would help. At the same time, it would help to have regular migration.”
“We must remember that Europe is facing demographic suicide. In Malta more than elsewhere because we have the lowest birth rate in the EU. We are moving towards a reality where we will have 500 million middle-aged and old Europeans and 2.5 billion Africans who are mostly children and young people.” This is why Europe must participate, as partners, in Africa’s development, he said.
Asked about Malta’s hard line on migration and for his take on reports of the AFM ignoring calls for rescue or to allow boats carrying migrants to dock in the country, Bartolo said: “I think it is unfair. There have been some incidents where there were difficult decisions to take and difficult situations to manage. But on the whole, we have taken in many more than we can cope with. It is interesting that even the Pope, who is a champion of migrants, referred that it is unfair to have, because of the indifference of a lot of European states, a few coastal states taking on more than they can cope with.”
“Please remember that given the size of our country and the level of development, every thousand who comes into Malta, is like having one million going into the European Union. When one million back in 2015 entered Germany from Syria, it was considered a migration crisis. We've saved over 22,000 people. Most of the time the attitude we've seen (from other EU states) is ‘we'll give you money to keep them there and it’s up to you in terms of what to do’.”
“I believe that we need to work harder with Libya, to get the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration to participate in the running of migrant centres in Libya, to improve the situation there.”
Racial issues
Asked whether there are double standards in the way Europe is treating Ukrainian migrants compared to those coming from Africa, he said he has no doubt.
Bartolo believes that there is racial prejudice and also probably religious prejudice. “This has hurt Africans and Arabs quite a lot.”
Bartolo also believes that there are racial issues in Malta. “Diversity and inclusion are more difficult than rejection and exclusion. It's an act of civilization, where you decide that you are going to be human. I am different from you, have a different religion, a different skin colour, a different culture and you decide to accept me; we decide to accept each other.”
Education is key, he said, as is working together. “While there is racial prejudice and racist behaviour, there are also cases of people getting on with one another. Once they know each other and recognise each other's humanity, they accept each other.”
The country needs to work on this, he said.