Friends of friends

This article appeared in the Malta Independent on Sunday on February 7, but a relative who just made contact through Facebook asked me about the goings-on vis a vis the notorious blogs, so here you go.


The island is agog with the alleged shenanigans of a member of the bench and friends of friends across the partisan divide through a blog. What the last week had indicated to me is that there are many voyeurs who lead such dull lives that they get their excitement from other people’s alleged proclivities.

I do not lead a particularly thrilling life, but I get more pleasure from reading a good book then revelling in malicious gossip. The latter is unfortunately a human trait, which many succumb to rather than control. Too many people seem to enjoy sordid, scandalous and distressing blogs until they become the victim of the venom.

I recently received copies of the blog in question from one friend who was disgusted at its content and another friend, who though disapproving of certain attacks, was not so censorious about this particular one.

I am no Mother Teresa, but scurrilous stories do not interest me and I found myself cringing, even though I am not a fan of the victims of the vitriolic attack, and there was no way I was going to plough through all the sleaze.

However, if true, the allegation of an Administration of Justice investigation, on that particular member of the bench regarding property deals, is of public concern and it is a shame that those allegations have been kept in the closet until it became a question of bitter revenge.

What was also interesting to note was the revelation that exposure on that particular blog depends on whether one is a friend or an enemy at that particular time. The not so veiled threat of course is “better not cross me, or else”. Talk about being a bully!
I am no shrinking violet and believe in exposing corruption. But I also believe in bringing to public attention all wrongdoing not only those that suit my agenda.

On a small island it is inevitable that there are close links between social and political life. It is also healthy that politicians from both parties socialise. It would be a sad day and bizarrely reminiscent of fascistic tendencies if a politician thinks twice about attending a party, where the majority of people attending belong to the Opposition, because his/her intimate affairs might be brutally exposed on a blog.

Yes, if one is on the bench, or holds an important position in society, one must choose one’s friends carefully but that does not mean that that person has to lead a monastic life. On the other hand, people in public life, particularly those on the bench, cannot parade their bohemian way of life when they are representing the establishment and furthermore sitting in judgement of others who also choose to challenge the establishment rules. One does not practice the latter only when it suits.

An important question that arises out of this sorry saga is: What exactly is the Commission for the Administration of Justice there for? Is it to protect their own or to monitor that justice is indeed done?

I remember questioning the Commission’s role years ago, but since I am writing this too close to the deadline I cannot go through my files to report what exactly I had focused on. But I do remember being called by the then President for a ‘chat’, which got nowhere.
The President is the chairman of the Commission (ex officio).
Maybe this is yet another arm of the establishment that needs reform. Not that the public seems to be impressed with current reforms.

The Mepa and the Public Transport reforms have hardly been widely acclaimed.
The public was not happy with the deal struck with the bus owners and drivers and it is sceptical that the service will improve if many of the same drivers will still be running the service.
Promise of training will not wash since this has been done before with an improvement only seen in a handful of drivers.

As for Mepa, despite the PM saying "This is possibly the biggest reform I have ever been involved in", he has been reported as being evasive by various papers when asked about a legal notice on planning obligations on the Freeport and about a meeting with Renzo Piano about the future of the Valletta project.

And criticism of the Authority still appears daily, Michael Briguglio, the chairman of Alternative Demokratika posed the question “Did anyone expect Mepa to refuse the outline development proposal for the extension of Delimara power station when Mepa is consistently acting like a rubber stamp for the government?

The NGO, Nature Trust had expressed concern that on the eve of the reform, the Mepa board was still considering mega projects. "If the authorities really believe in the reform and sustainable development and want to get the public to believe that there is a goodwill to really improve Mepa operations, such decisions should have been postponed till the reform is in place within a few months time," it said.

The political scene is dire. The government is failing to gain public trust and the Opposition does not seem to be moving in any given direction. It is all over the place. Why on earth, for example, is the leader of the Opposition, Joseph Muscat embarking on a world tour, when he has still to impress the electorate that might vote him to power?

Just having a wife called Michelle does not make him an Obama.