The political class currently in office is not capable of practising what it preaches. It is no wonder that this country has long gone to the dogs.

The debate in the Parliamentary Select Committee on Standards in Public Life has opted for the lowest possible standards in adjudicating the ethical behaviour of Members of Parliament. On Wednesday, with the Speaker's casting vote, Parliament sent a very clear message: it is not bothered with the unethical behaviour of its members.

Clayton Bartolo was not forced to resign from his Ministerial responsibilities as a result of the report of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life which established that together with his Gozitan colleague Clint Camilleri he was in breach of basic ethical rules. Bartolo was forced to resign on the basis of an FIAU report relative to payments received by his wife. The FIAU deemed these payments to be suspect and requested the Police to investigate further. To add insult to injury, action to fire Bartolo was not taken when the FIAU released its report, but when it was realised that the media was aware of the matter.

This means, clearly, that in government's view, the unethical behaviour of its ministers is of little consequence. An apology (or an admonishment) is, in Labour's view, sufficient to clear the air. In fact, this is what was decided by the Parliamentary Select Committee for Standards in Public Life. A long-term suspension from Parliamentary duties would have been more appropriate for both ministers.

In fact, those involved, while accepting to apologise and repay back some €16,400, or being subject to an admonishment still reiterate that they are innocent: they emphasise that they followed the rules! Consequently, they underline that they consider their unethical behaviour to be of no consequence whatsoever.

We will probably have a whole replay of this farce, with roles reversed, when the requested investigations on PN MPs are finalised and Anthony Bezzina, Justin Schembri and possibly others are in the dock to respond to the reports drawn up on their alleged absence from their public sector workplace. Apologies, and, possibly refunds, will be requested.

The point at issue is that the majority controlling the Parliamentary Select Committee on Standards in Public Life, is not willing to act seriously on unethical behaviour.

It seems that the Labour-led government has had a backlash on its past actions relative to the unethical behaviour of its MPs.

Readers may remember the Rosianne Cutajar phantom job at the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS), incidentally another area for which Clayton Bartolo was politically responsible. There was also Justyne Caruana's creation of another phantom consultancy for her boyfriend, Daniel Bogdanovic. Cutajar was squeezed out of the Labour Party parliamentary group, only to be subsequently rehabilitated. Justyne Caruana resigned as Minister for Education and eventually did not present her candidature at the subsequent general election.

It is also of interest to note how those who made it all possible, the top civil servants, were dealt with in the developing saga.

Frank Fabri, Permanent Secretary at Justyne Caruana's Ministry, had resigned from his post after the Commissioner for Standards ethics probe. He was subsequently rewarded by being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Aquatic Resources Malta at the Ministry responsible for Fisheries. At a time, he was also involved in the running of ITS itself, when the phantom job was created for the benefit of Rosianne Cutajar.

Pierre Fenech, Chief Executive Officer at the ITS, and directly responsible for the creation of Rosianne Cutajar's phantom job, was defended by his then Minister, Clayton Bartolo. Pierre Fenech, consequently, is still at his ITS desk as his unethical behaviour was apparently of no concern in the wider public sector.

We have still to be informed as to whether the Permanent Secretaries at the Gozo Ministry and the Tourism Ministry are to be sanctioned for the creation of the Amanda Muscat phantom consultancy. After all they were in the thick of it, when their role is specifically intended to avoid the creation of such a mess!

Even the civil service must shoulder its responsibilities. Superior orders cannot justify anything. Accountability is not limited to holders of political office.

These are the prevalent standards: Labour's governance at its very best. A quantum leap in Labour's ethical standards.

An architect and civil engineer, the author is a former Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party in Malta.  [email protected] ,   http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com