The decision of the Court of Appeal delivered last Monday has vindicated Daphne’s last words: “there are crooks everywhere you look”. The Court of Appeal decision on the hospitals’ case is shocking: it drives home the point that the institutions and authorities which exist to protect us were in fact in collusion with Vitals/Stewards in order to enter into simulated contracts “intended not to provide medical care but for other reasons”.
This is the worst possible certificate confirming that this country is led by crooks. The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that the government led by Joseph Muscat has acted in collusion with Vitals/Stewards, as a result defrauding the public purse.
The Court decision is a 99-page document replete with legal jargon which, however, at the end of the day boils down to one single word: collusion. Government acted in collusion with those seeking to defraud us. Heads should roll!
The list of those found guilty of collusion includes the then Prime Minister, the Attorney General, and the office holders in charge at INDIS Limited (formerly Industrial Parks) and the Lands Authority.
Faced with such a decision how can anyone ever have faith in authorities and institutions?
Having the authorities in collusion with crooks is a negation of all that we have been taught to expect from the state and those running it.
A number of those responsible are no longer in public office. Others are however still around. One of them, Professor Edward Scicluna, who, as former Finance Minister had the responsibility for managing the public purse, is currently Governor of the Central Bank of Malta. He should have resigned from the post of Governor on Monday morning, minutes after the Court of Appeal decision was delivered. I fail to understand why the Opposition has not yet moved a motion in Parliament requesting his immediate removal.
Edward Scicluna is a complete disgrace. He will not resign as he hasn’t the flimsiest idea of what political responsibility is all about. Hence, he should be removed by Parliament.
Three years ago, when giving evidence at the public inquiry into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, Edward Scicluna had, through his own testimony, depicted himself as a spineless Minister of Finance, weak, soft and cowardly, incapable of acting decisively when faced with abuse.
Then he had stated “why should I resign if someone else did wrong?” He had further informed us that to enter local politics he had left his Brussels comfort zone.
By not acting appropriately and using his authority as Finance Minister Edward Scicluna is, after Joseph Muscat, the ultimate politically responsible for this daylight robbery. Instead of paying the political price he was however rewarded with being appointed Governor of the Central Bank. As Finance Minister he even managed to revise upwards the salary and perks of the Governor of the Central Bank, in anticipation of his appointment to the post!
Can we have confidence in a Central Bank Governor who has amply proved that he has no balls? He has time and time again proved that he is incapable of shouldering responsibility.
Scicluna is not alone. There are others which facilitated this daylight robbery. They too should shoulder the blame and resign or be removed. These include the Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg, the Permanent Secretary in Konrad Mizzi’s Ministry (Ronald Mizzi), and the ever-absent Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà. All of them have contributed to this mess which has resulted in Malta being ruled by crooks. There are crooks everywhere you look. They made it possible.
An architect and civil engineer, the author is a former Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party in Malta. [email protected] , http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com