In a couple of days media reports announced the resignations of the Chairman of the Water Services Corporation and that of Malta’s Ambassador to Ireland. Both persons are Nationalist veterans who have resigned for different reasons. However, the word ‘resigned’ has to be read with caution. Up to now we only have a resignation letter from Architect Michael Falzon, and up to the time of writing we do not know whether this is another loop in the whole string of feigned resignations.
It has been reported that Minister Austin Gatt has ‘turned down’ Michael Falzon’s resignation. While the minister did his job in attracting the attention of the WSC board on unjustified overspending, it is not his function to ‘turn down’ a resignation. The resignation was not tendered for some ‘personal’ reason but because the chairman felt he no longer enjoyed government’s trust. The minister’s letter is explicit and leaves no doubt as to what the minister had in mind. He asked the pertinent question of how financial variations in connection with the waste sewage plants being built in Mellieha and Tal-Kus in Gozo were being treated ‘superficially’ by management. The minister also threatened an investigation by the Auditor General and in case of fault-finding, the person/s responsible would have to carry the burden.
Another section of the media reported that Minister Austin Gatt and Architect Michael Falzon would meet to discuss the issue on Monday. How can that be when the chairman had tendered the resignation ‘with immediate effect?’ Is the chairman having second thoughts about his ‘resignation letter’? In case that the chairman would stay on, would the minister keep his word and order an investigation by the Auditor General? If the minister refrains from giving such order to the Auditor General, is it not appropriate for the Auditor General to conduct an investigation of his own initiative? The minister is reported to have said that it is his responsibility to safeguard public finances coming out of taxation.
Eureka! We have had so many instances of the squandering of public finances that it is high time that some minister recognises this. During a span of nearly twenty years, ‘over-running’ of public finances was so huge that it has run into many millions of liri. I had always doubted that ‘state-of-the-art’ roads could cost much more than they are really worth.
I congratulate the minister for his letter, but honestly I have my doubts that this is really a good piece of political drama. No one would be held responsible for over-spending, the Chairman might keep his job, and we would be blessed with continued water cuts and hefty bills.
Ambassador’s resignation
Ambassador Richard Muscat tendered his resignation after the Irish press published the allegation that an ambassador’s son had acted illegally and committed the crime of assaulted rape. Both the ambassador and his son have denied such accusations but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no other alternative but to accept Muscat’s resignation.
There is no doubt that Malta’s image has been tarnished especially through reports that no charges could be pressed against a diplomat’s son due to diplomatic immunity. The Muscats have declared they did not invoke diplomatic immunity and the ex-Ambassador declared that no charges were pressed against his son even though the alleged incident took place more than ten months ago. This time, the Ambassador had to go even though he committed no fouls of his own, but public offices carry with them more onerous burdens than one would expect.
It was a mistake to appoint Mr Muscat in the first place. The Voice of the Mediterranean saga, where the company’s spending went berserk under his chairmanship, was proof enough that Mr Muscat could have been the best radio broadcaster from Sicily, but that alone would not make of him a good administrator. If the Nationalist Party were indebted to Mr Muscat, it should have offered him an employment within its own structures.
Water flooding and lack of nurses
David Casa was scandalised by the Leader of the Opposition’s statement that he wanted to know how the government was planning the financial feasibility of Mater Dei hospital. He described Alfred Sant’s visit to the hospital as a U-turn and wanted to assert that Mater Dei was one of the government’s pillars of good governance. As soon as Mr Casa stopped putting pen to paper, the media quickly informed us that there has been another flooding at the ‘state-of-the-art’ monument. As consolation, the Foundation for Medical Services rapidly announced that the hot water had been wiped out and that we would be thrilled by an inquiry into what went wrong.
Mr Casa did not comment on the latest news that the government had forgotten the childcare centre and will make amends. Nor did he highlight the pre-occupation of medical and paramedical staff over the news that the Casualty Department is situated a long distance away from Maternity Wards, with the consequent risks to expectant mothers. The hospital at Tal-Qroqq (taking more time to build than the Pyramids at Giza) has proved to be another example of bad planning and squandering of money. Let’s hope that no further incidents are reported, bearing in mind that patients are vulnerable persons, many of whom have mobility problems, and that their lives would be at risk in cases of serious mishaps.
The ‘importation’ of foreign nurses is another confirmation of bad planning, reminding me of the case of the bride who furnished her home much before finding a husband. The MUMN and Labour’s spokesman for health have for years enticed the government to train more nurses. As the MUMN has declared, the engagement of foreign nurses is a temporary measure. I suggest that the authorities concerned would have a re-think about the qualifications being asked from would-be-nurses and the length of their University course. Theoretical instruction is the foundation of competence, but practice makes perfect!
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