Hey everyone. I am in a super good mood, so I will not be reacting to Jesmond Bonello’s libel actions.
Allow me to make just a small note: I am going to love appearing in court to indicate how Jesmond Bonello, a former Independent and Times journalist, rose from being a Richard Cachia Caruana ventriloquist to a major recipient of numerous contracts because of his political contacts and political patronage.
Loosen up, Jes. Go for a long run, sweat it out, get into shape, because this is going to be a jolly good time for me and all the witnesses lined up to give evidence about you and your company. If Labour is scared to tackle you because you have roped in the services of Miriam Dalli, that does not mean that I am, too.
This has nothing to do with you being a Nationalist. There is nothing wrong with being a Nationalist. This is all about political and commercial apartheid. But then, you wouldn’t know about that, would you?
I will be taking some time off by the way, but when I return I will be regaling readers to some interesting snippets about Mr Bonello and what political bigotry is all about. But more so I promise to repeat every word, question, query, evidence produced in court in these newspapers.
Yesterday, as most of us do not recall, was the anniversary of Malta’s membership in the European Union.
Six years in a club. And gee, I already feel better. I had an invite from the PM. I would have loved to attend but unfortunately could not.
Usually six years goes by and there is something to show.
So since I am in a rather benevolent mood I have taken the liberty of looking at some issues and comparing them to their status before accession, that is 2004.
I have decided to award for an achievement, a St Emilion; for a situation of parity, a packet of Panadol; and to a degenerating situation – a holiday with David Casa.
1: The quality of our air and our seas Well yes, asthma is up and so are figures for pulmonary diseases, there are more toxic gases in the air and more cars on the road. The new energy plant extension will ensure higher emissions levels. Water purity in our taps is still a problem, but one must say that the water quality in our seas is slightly better. Though the massive sewage spillage at Wied Ghammieq is still there.
Sorry about this but it will have to be a holiday with Mr Casa.
2: Hunting Well, we are at a stage where the inaction of George Pullicino after 2004 – and the hunters’ representative Lino Farrugia’s insistence that he had a solution when he did not – have led to infringement procedures and eventually a half-baked decision from the European Court, and finally a political solution to the hunting question. But as the controversy continues, and it is clearer than ever that illegal hunting is still rampant, the future of hunting in spring is very much in doubt. Both Gonzi and Muscat refuse to be categorical about the no hunting in Spring.
Panadols would do.
3: Democracy Did you say democracy? Well, the democratic structures that should have been improved covered the electoral system, public broadcasting and the judiciary.
On all three levels, the situation is very much a status quo. No change here.
Please bring in the Panadols.
4: Studying and living abroad With EU accession, the exodus of some hundreds of graduates and undergraduates to EU countries incremented, and with that a slight brain drain... but on the other hand a possibility for better financial gain for the individuals and intercultural exchange. I loved to see the eurosceptics to be the first ones to grab a job in Brussels or Luxembourg.
St Emilion, s’il vous plait.
5: Corruption and conflict of interest Under the new administration, the same nepotism and favouritism that existed in prior administrations continued, and with it the political nepotism that has existed under separate and different political parties. Even the definition of conflict of interest has become an issue and the barometer for tolerating unethical behaviour has been thrown out of the window. Alex Tranter still thinks the word ‘conflict of interest’ refers to a punk group. So does Zaren Vassallo. Transparency international has awarded us a higher corruption index, which is why someone like Tonio Fenech has a permanent smile on his face when he flies on private jets.
A holiday with David Casa is a perfectly justified choice.
6: The state of our roads Six years on and guess what? We have the Commonwealth dictators to thank, as well as the ageing Pope. Were it not for them, we would very much be in the same situation we were in years back. So, the verdict has to be a slight improvement. The flowerbeds, and the greenery is also a big improvement. Why we needed the EU to get our potholes eradicated beats me.
A demi-St Emilion is in order.
7: Waste disposal Yes, Maghtab does not stink anymore, although on some days it does. Bubqara is full of radioactive and toxic flyash covered with soil and rubble, is not closed but as we all know the toxins will seep out in the years to come. The recycling programme was a veritable failure. And the eco-tax on plastics and packaging a questionable measure.
Needless to say, a demi-St Emilion.
8: Cost of Living After the introduction of the euro and the slight drop in some food and beverages prices we were back to the same old prices, and since then we have never looked back. It has been a price hike since EU accession and worse still, the cost of eating out has become exorbitant. True, there are better deals with increased parallel importation but the cost of medicines is still prohibitive.
The anchored salaried folk continue to receive the full brunt of taxes and their purchasing power has been radically diminished.
A holiday with David Casa.
9: Travelling Cheap travelling has improved the range of destinations for many of us. So thumbs up for cheap flights, even though it took ages for a decision to be had.
St Emilion, definitely.
10: Social trends Young people have become more open and liberal, but wait, that has little to do with the European Union. Facebook, less conservative parents and changing times has more to do with it.
Nonetheless, surface politics have nothing to do with the reality behind the scenes. One in four still separate, single mothers are on the increase, teenage pregnancies also, gay couples are a reality and abortions abroad are on the increase. But the Church and the State continued to uphold its stand on divorce and cohabitation and gay rights. Even though we have the first openly gay MP (Karl Gouder). Unfortunately it will have to be a holiday with David Casa.
11: Procurement procedures When we thought that the EU would bring some sense in the whole procedure of contracts, we were saddened to realise that the EU is in fact in need of some transparency too. It was this newspaper’s editor Matthew Vella who campaigned (rather successfully) for EU parliamentarians to be more transparent about their expenses and accounts. So one should not be too surprised if the lack of transparency in the tendering and the scandalous tendering process does not attract any attention from the EU. Not to be too surprised with the type of civil servants running the delegation here and the ones in their box file offices in Brussels one should not expect any great moves or shakes.
Another holiday with David Casa.
12: State of our health and education services Big improvements on paper, but when one looks closer, one realises that the same endemic problems continue to arise. The issue of long waiting lists in the health sector coupled with bad administration, the absence of certain preventive medicine and the rising cost of health does not bode well.
In education, the situation is slightly better though it has to be said that the issue of extending more specialised education for peripheral groups in need is still on the horizon. And the gap between state and private schools remains palpable.
Bring me the Super Panadol...
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