In the last three decades, I cannot recall one politician or one top senior public official accused of corruption. Even Lorry Sant – the late and despicable Labourite politician, allegedly at the centre of all evil in the World, according to the media back then – was not even proven to be remotely linked to corruption.
This is a country where corruption is non-existent.
In fact if anyone even dares suggest that corruption exists he or she should have his or her head examined.
Of course, no one is quite willing to define corruption or what is in itself unacceptable.
For example, Louis Galea was never convicted of corruption, but the activities that took place in the Auxiliary Workers’ Scheme prior to 1992 and in the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools before 2004 – both under his ministerial captaincy – were tantamount to corrupt practices in my eyes.
For his sterling work we have sent him to the Auditors’ office in Strasbourg. Just the right job for the right person!
But then, Louis Galea is an untouchable - even Joseph Muscat refuses to raise the issue of Louis Galea’s past.
There were several other cases of errant politicians. I could mention a few but then again they say I am being personal when I mention them by name.
The late Labour minister Patrick Holland was perceived to be one; but there are many others Nationalists whom I could mention, too.
Now, with the auditor’s report clearly pointing to serious deficiencies in procedure and tendering processes, Tonio Fenech – the man who takes umbrage at the fact that MaltaToday revealed that he was gallivanting on a private plane with big business – has hit back at MaltaToday.
Since then another more significant story has focused about his ‘relationship’ with the Montebello brothers and his personal new residence in Balzan: a story everyone should check out on the links below.
He has hit back at MaltaToday in two ways. First, he libelled us over the private plane story after his colleague and backbencher Franco Debono revealed the matter in a parliamentary meeting; then, he blessed an advertising boycott orchestrated by Edgar Galea Curmi and Keith Zahra against MediaToday publications.
To ensure that the boycott is rendered 100% successful, the Finance Ministry has enlisted Jesmond Bonello, the director of Content House and a member of Malta Enterprise, the marketing house renowned for its direct orders from government and for packaging campaigns to suit the tailor-made propaganda directives from Castille.
But let us not digress. Let us get back to Enemalta.
What are the highlights in the Auditors’ report? Well the first comment is about Alex Tranter. The Auditor says that he should have resigned a long, long time ago.
Then Joe Mizzi, Joe Pirotta’s in-law, was simply uncooperative. Mizzi was the man reported to have got away with a sizeable and handsome commission adding up to millions.
The auditor referred to the fact that the unsuccessful bidders were kept in the dark and he also said that when the emissions limits were changed, the tender should have been reopened accordingly.
He went on to say said that Lahmeyer International, the consultants that were blacklisted by the World bank, should never have been used.
The auditor talked of MEPA being misled about the export of toxic waste – the details here are complicated, but let’s just say that MEPA issued the outline permit on the basis of an EIA which talked about Marsa’s waste, not Delimara’s.
The fact that the contract seems to have been drawn up specifically to favour the Danish company, and to disadvantage Malta with penalty clauses is another issue, as is the excuse to sidestep ordinary procedure because of ‘urgency’.
After having seen this long list of misdemeanours there are two people in whose hands I would definitely not leave my money. The two people are Austin Gatt and Alex Tranter.
Poor Tonio Fenech has to cover up for Austin Gatt’s literal f*** up at Enemalta. And this explains his reluctance to be forthcoming with the press.
Thankfully, State TV is headed by ‘objective’ individuals such as Joe Pirotta, who have little or no interest in embarrassing the political class.
I can understand if Pirotta allows State TV to become another Eileen Montesin-styled Mintoffian station. And one can make allowances to State TV if it tolerates hard-nosed blue-eyed sycophants like Lou Bondi in their weekly gate-keeping show.
What I cannot understand is why The Times continues to treat its readers with such disdain, which probably explains why the daily Times has lost over 15% in sales and the Sunday Times more than 9%.
Yesterday, The Times heralded the auditors’ report by saying that there was no hard evidence of corruption. It was a copycat translation from In-Nazzjon header. It was unsigned for a very obvious reason, because it was scripted from the Office of the Prime Minister.
How sad. More so, when one realises that the auditor is an independently-appointed body without the remit to declare whether something or someone is corrupt or not.
The fact that The Times continues to diligently spin for the State, no matter what, makes me wonder whether we should really expect to take it seriously after all.
Once again, I have to come to terms with the fact that this country has no evident or perceived corruption. I have to believe that the administration of our taxes is taking place in most honourable of ways and that all this concern about alleged corruption is the fruit of our imagination. I have to believe that everyone has good intentions – even Tonio Fenech.
Which is why I expect all those backbenchers who have been sweetened by all their appointments awarded to them by the Prime Minister – after they cried and wallowed like children - are expected to swallow humble pie and say nothing when faced with a debate on the subject of the auditors’ report in our most honourable House of Representatives.
Who’s who Edgar Galea Curmi is Dr Gonzi’s personal assistant and a fundamentalist Catholic.
Joe Pirotta is the Head of the Editorial board and mistrusted by the Labour Opposition.
Joe Mizzi is a former Enemalta employee and the father-in-law of Joe Pirotta’s son.
Keith Zahra is a non descript official who works for Tonio Fenech
Tonio Fenech is Tonio Fenech
Alex Tranter is Chairman of Enemalta and works with Nationalist mega businessman Zaren Vassallo.
Lorry Sant was the former Labourite minister who passed away years ago.
Jesmond Bonello, former Times journalist, member on Malta Enterprise, close friend of Alan Camilleri and director of advertising agency Content House.
Tonio Fenech has categorically denied asking JPM Brothers to carry out works in ... Rainbow were sub-contractors for JPM Brothers and I cannot comment on the www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/12/09/t2.html
Tonio Fenech, his annus horribillis
Tonio Fenech’s mishaps throughout the year dented the credibility of ... And then came Montebello-gate, or Jerma-gate, or Fenech’s big house renovation www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/12/27/t1.html
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