We are far more used to government scandals than we should be, and this is due to the sheer number of them we have witnessed over recent years.

From the Panama Papers, to the now annulled hospitals deal, from the disability benefits racket to what we are seeing happening right now with Identità. And these are just to name a few.

It is not normal, it is not ok, and the government should be given a failing grade when it comes to good governance. All of it has an impact on us. The hospitals scandal, for instance, saw public funds squandered which could have been used to improve the health system, and the Opposition is absolutely right in demanding that every cent given is retrieved. Regarding the Identità scandal, we have all seen the reports of people having medical appointments made by someone who has the same ID number.

The government prides itself on the country's economy, but businesses do take note of the scandals.

Asked about the impact of the frequency of corruption scandals in the country on businesses, CEO of the Malta Chamber of Commerce Marthese Portelli said that "they always have an impact on business. Corruption scandals effect credibility and trust, two very important components when doing business. Corruption scandals create unfair playing fields. Corruption scandals also erode general public trust in the Maltese system itself. Good governance is very important - it is required at all strata".

Whenever there is a scandal, or major inefficiencies identified within the government, she said, "ethical business stands to lose and rogue traders continue to ride roughshod over those who are operating in the right and correct way".

This is not to mention the impact it has on foreign companies who might be looking to do business in Malta. If a country has a shady reputation, then what kind of businesses will it attract?

Portelli was also specifically asked about the Identità scandal. She said that businesses rely on official documentation, such as ID cards, for their proper functioning, and management of commercial risk. "Ethical businesses are being faced with higher commercial risk arising from uncertainty on the veracity of the ID card as an official document."

This newsroom also asked Portelli whether businesses feel there is unfair competition and whether the government has a favoured few when it comes to contracts. She said it does. "Yes there is this feeling among businesses, that some businesses may be more favoured over others. This is where accountability and transparency come into play," she said.

Such a sentiment does not appear out of nowhere. If businesses feel that there is an uneven playingfield, or that a favoured few are given priority, then that is fertile ground for corruption. More transparency and better good governance would go a long way to fixing this image.

The Malta Chamber has also issued a proposal to help government do businesses with good companies.  It is calling for the introduction of a whitelist and a blacklist. It said that the whitelisting system would ensure that government entities engage with reliable and reputable suppliers - this should include financial stability, legal and financial compliance, quality certifications, performance history, adherence to ethical standards and capacity to meet government requirements. The blacklisting system would include established criteria against defaulting contractors and defaulting service providers, the Chamber said.

If introduced, perhaps it should also include companies which have a shady legal past.

Whitelisting should serve to give peace of mind to the contracting authority, that they are doing business with businesses that are administrative, financially and technically in order, Portelli explained. Blacklisting will serve to ensure that those who repeatedly fail to observe their contractual and legal obligations, as well as those who act unethically, are made public, she said, adding that this information is needed at government level, but also by businesses and the general public.

This is a proposal the government should consider implementing.