Il-Kantilena tad-Dritt

cantilena aftrol

Issa ġejna f’sitwazzjoni illi kullimkien, nafuha,
Qegħda tmexxi inkontrastata l-era ġdida, dik tal-kruha.
Kruha mhux biss f’ta’ madwarna, fejn tgeżwirna bis-siment,
Imma fl-ogħla istituzzjoni, tal-abbuz il-munument.
Illum jekk int rgħib u vili, tara biss il-komdu u l-flus,
Tiġi osannat għax bieżel, inċensat talli qazquz.
Jekk frodajt u ksirt il-liġi, waqqajt għaż-żufjett dil-gżira,
‘Heqq jaħasra għandu familja, għamel hekk ħa’ jdawwar lira’.
Jekk int traditur bil-provi, ġakbin biċ-ċertifikat,
Premjijiet u posts mill-ogħla, tal-azzar l-eqqel suldat.
Jekk vjolenti u prepotenti, ma’mpurtax għax tkun ta’ ġewwa,
Jekk jitgħawwġu irranġajna, ‘mma jekk le, mexxi bid-dnewwa.
Jekk trid xogħol, kemm tlissen kelma, et voilà: person of trust.
Ejja magħna, l-bokka wiesa’ għal ġol-barrel of disgust.
Hekk jew hekk, hemm il-fiduċja li l-pajjiż ma jagħtix każ,
Li l-Maltin dejjem qed jgħajjtu, imma n-nies dejjem bi ngħas.
Super island with great commerce, ħafna minna minn għalina,
Imma qed niżżerżqu f’niżla li twassalna l-Argentina,
Iz-Zimbabwe u f’dittaturi, fejn min hu mill-agħar jiggverna,
U jiċċelebra għax jafda, f’dik il-laissez faire eterna
L’hija ftit it-trademark tagħna, tar-relaxing island life,
Ta’ pajjiz-karkur bla hassle, speċjalment madwar is-sajf.
Sadattant min għadu raġel, min hu serju u għandu kuxjenza,
Jrid jaffronta mewġ ta’ gideb, u jiskonta dis-sentenza
Li tingħata lil min b’sinsla, għadu jagħmel differenza,
U għalhekk kalunnji, inġurji, kliem mibżuq b’anki vjolenza,
U l-batut, miskin, li jafda, lil min wegħdu s-salvazzjoni,
Żommu mxebba’ u njorant pesta, nevitaw kull tip t’azzjoni.
Wegħdu ibħra kbar ta’ bnadar, u imkatar kuluriti,
Solidarjeta’ bonsai, sadattant orbotlu l-viti.
Damdam slogans kommoventi, u urih li’ ed tieħu ħsieb,
Għidlu xi ġmiel ta’ tfal għandek meta tmurlu wara l-bieb,
Żommu sod fil-preġudizzju u konvint fl-użu tal-bluha,
B’hekk tiżgura poter itwal u t-trijonf bla tarf tal-kruha.

Ġo dil-ħajja trid taċċetta ċerti ħwejjeġ bħala fatt.
Kollox jgħaddi, kollox tidra, pero’ il-kruha le, dik qatt.
Ma tistax toqgħod pass lura jekk bi ħsiebek tgħix ta’ nies.
Huwa dmir li jiġi mxejjen dan il-madmad hekk moqżież.
Il-korrotti hemm bżonn li jinżlu minn dal-pedestall tal-jaqq.
Illi jiffaċċjaw egħmilhom u li jieklu l-ħobż tal-ħaqq.
Kulmin jaħsel jibqa’ sieket għax il-gvern itih il-manna,
Qed ilibbes lil uliedu l-ħwejjeġ ħorox tal-kundanna.
Qiegħed jgħallem lin-nies t’għada li l-medjokrita’ vittorja,
U li ħajtek int trid tgħixha b’ħafna flus u mingħajr glorja,
Li l-kodard u l-giddieb bravu u li dejjem tirbaħ trid,
Illi li taħseb għal rasek l-ogħla kmandament tal-ġid.
Li aħjar tkun loser għani għax imxejt lejn fejn ħaduk
Milli timxi b’saqajk proprja avolja fl-art hemm xewk u zkuk.
Jekk hemm ruħ, din mhix opzjoni, lanqas għall-aħħar tal-vili.
Aħseb sewwa f’li qed tagħmel, għaliex mhux eterni l-mili.
Għax m’intix se tieħu euri, meta jasal it-tebut.
Int warajk ‘l uliedek tħalli, u il-kruha, meta tmut.

Pietru Caxaru

The secrecy of the institutions and the silence of the lambs

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We have recently seen and heard members of important public institutions pleading their case for absolute secrecy, for keeping important information hidden. Some have even started threatening that disclosures could result in imprisonment. Others plead for their right not to comment or explain.

There comes a time, and we have seen a number of them in the past years, where hiding behind secrecy and silence is no longer a valid option. There comes a time where the public needs to understand. In certain circumstances, the public has a right to be properly informed, to be encouraged to understand the issues at stake and make their own sensible judgement. The public has the right to expect re-assurances that the public institutions are doing their job correctly and efficiently and therefore merit trust and respect.

Confidentiality is always limited and is never absolute. It is not a value or principle in its own right. Confidentiality is certainly not an end in itself. This results clearly from such laws as the MFSA Act, the Professional Secrecy Act and the whistleblowing legislation. Certainly confidentiality was not intended as a ‘rogues charter’, or as a screen to conceal derelictions of duties and possible criminal activity or acts of maladministration by the same institutions.

Trust cannot be assumed but must be gained. Leaving the public in the dark on significant developments implies that the public is being considered as fools and idiots, as sheep who may be ignored and disrespected with impunity. When this happens, the public will rightly start doubting whether the institutions are on their side. Their confidence in public institutions will evaporate and they will suspect that the true object behind the stubborn, obsessive, incomprehensible silence is to keep the public from knowing and understanding what is going on. They may even suspect that secrecy is actually helping the wrong people: the criminals, the lazy, the incompetent and the abusive regulators and agencies.

The law is not there to allow public institutions to hide from public view and to ignore public demands for better understanding of important issues of public concern. Confidentiality is there to allow the public agencies to do their job serenely and efficiently. It is not there to facilitate criminality or conceal public abuse.

Secrecy is not a magic wand which public authorities can wave to hide their inefficiencies, their inertia and their failings, or to render themselves immune from criticism and from the moral, political and possibly also legal consequences. Public agencies are exactly that, publicly accountable institutions with public responsibilities. They are not private clubs or secret societies.

L-ikbar gidba

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L-ahhar elezzjoni intrebhet fuq l-ghajta tal-ikbar gidba politika li qatt intqalet: “Malta Taghna Lkoll”. Kulhadd jaf f’xiex ninsabu llum. Ma nistghux ikunu iktar ‘l boghod mill-proposizzjoni li Malta hija taghna lkoll.

Infakkar, b’ezempju tal-imghoddi, in-nomini minn Gvern Nazzjonalista tal-Imhallef Philip Sciberras u tal-Imhallef Joseph Azzopardi, li ejja nghiduha kif inhi, m’humiex ezattament Nazzjonalisti D.O.K. Dan jurina kif sa ftit snin ilu (2002 u 2003, rispettivament) ma kien hemm xejn stramb jew straordinarju li ex-partitarju laburista jigi nominat Imhallef minn gvern Nazzjonalista, u hekk ghandu jkun.

Xi haga bhal din hija llum fantazija li wiehed lanqas biss johlomha bil-lejl. Ghalfejn? Ghax l-ghajta ta’ “Malta Taghna Lkoll” kienet l-akbar dahka fil-wicc fil-politika Maltija minn zmien l-Indipendenza ‘l hawn.  Il-verità hi li Malta hija tal-ftit. Tal-ftit li jhaddnu twemmin politiku partikolari, bir-rizultat li l-bqija gew marginalizzati ghal kollox, indipendentement mill-kompetenza o meno taghhom.

L-effetti ta’ dan kollu digà qed jinhassu. Ahsbu fil-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija, ahsbu fiz-zekzik li jinqala’ meta kawzi partikolari jigu quddiem Imhalfin partikolari. Mhux ha nidhol fil-kwistjoni jekk il-Gustizzja hijiex qeghda issir fil-fatt. Il-punt ewlieni li kulhadd qisu nesa huwa (u dan jafuh anki l-istudenti tat-tieni sena fil-kors tal-ligi) li “Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.”

Illum dan il-kuncett sar aljen. Ninsabu f’sitwazzjoni fejn il-fiducja fl-istituzzjonijiet tmermret u jekk l-affarjiet ser jibqghu sejrin hekk (garanzija jekk jitla’ Muscat) ser iwasslu ghal kroll istituzzjonali. Il-verità hija wahda. Jista’ jkollok lil Padre Pio Imhallef, però ma tridux jiddeciedi kawza bejnek u l-Knisja Kattolika.

Dak li qed jigri llum mhux semplicement li qed jintaghzlu nies ta’ certa estrazzjoni politika ghal certi karigi. Morna ferm lil hinn minn hekk. Qed jintaghzlu, kwazi esklussivament, attivisti politici, jew nies imparentati maghhom, ghal karigi fejn suppost l-imparzjalità u l-indipendenza huma kriterji ewlenin.

Dan wahdu jurina kif “Malta Taghna Lkoll” kienet l-ikbar gidba politika li qatt intqalet. Issa wasalna ghall-gidba li jmiss: “L-Aqwa Zmien ta’ Pajjizna”.Il-Bank Centrali digà qed jghid mod iehor (https://www.centralbankmalta.org/file.aspx?f=51492).

The passion for politics

Maltese society certainly makes for an interesting socio-anthropological study. Across vast swathes of the population one finds three potentially dividing lines – football, religion (il-patrun u l-festa tar-rahal) and politics.

Football demands and expects total loyalty. That’s the way it should be because football is nearly completely based on strong underlying strains of passion – in other words you do not change football team. There are a few exceptions but any change is normally half-hearted and dictated by specific circumstances.

Religion on the other hand is based in faith. Changing religion has become commonplace and accepted – ultimately most religions are similar and to some extent identical in their demands on our morals, conscience and beliefs in particular the monotheistic ones like Islam and Christianity so any change is not so demanding or extreme. However it would not occur to anyone to change the patron saint of the village they come from especially in those cases where the same village has one, two or more festi dedicated to different patron saints. Again here it is a matter of passion which is very similar to the passions which run amok in football.

It is unfortunate that the same passions also run through our political belief. I use ‘belief’ with clear intent – it should be a political leaning or an opinion but for us Maltese it is truly belief. This is where we err. Politics should never ever be based on belief. As soon as our political opinions became beliefs we automatically elevated our politicians to the level of patrons and saints. We do not dare think that they could ever go wrong. We will go to great lengths to justify every slip up, even the most heinous of crimes by our politicians … if we are of the same ‘belief’. And God help them if we are not.

What we have not understood yet is that politics is embedded in discussion not belief, in making coherent arguments and implementing policies for the good of all; not in impassioned speeches on what makes a good laburist or a good nazzjonalist. The politicians of old from both sides put country before party – even those
most reviled did this when occasion demanded. Not any more. The struggle for power now dominates our political arena. This has been grossly fomented by an overly consumeristic and materialistic society. Malta has thrived over the last three decades in particular and this has shifted our politicians’ focus. We had some nice slogans in 2013 but they remained just words on billboards.

Time for change is ripe – we need to take politics back to its right place away from our hearts and passions, closer to our minds such that we can formulate impassioned policies and proceed to their timely and proper implementation.

Rule of Lawlessness

Readers. Let us for a moment imagine that we live in a society that is crippled with corruption. And let us imagine for another, that, after more than a year of taking the country for a ride with the use of endless delaying tactics, bare faced lies and political trapeze artistry, a Prime Minister has finally been forced to pull the plug. People accuse the man of running out of corruption-proofing membrane and of being unable to plug the multiple leaks, ignored over the past years, which now threaten to burst the banks of his office and drag him out in an uncontrollable vortex of swirling, filthy water.

Others say he is a victim. His gallantry so endless, that he has forfeited one fifth of his rule for the sake of the country’s name, stability, economy. Order.

Pause. Rewind: What were his options?

Lie. Consistantly and try to stick to one version. Cover up the mess dead quick with maximum damage limitation precautions and while you’re at it, fire decoys constantly to deflect and divert public’s attention. Ensure the invaluable help of all institutions created to prevent, sniff, identify and prosecute the wrongdoers. Hire, rotate, transfer and fire till you find your man. Of course they’re not autonomous. They just appear to be so.This one looks like he’s in control. Bump him up elsewhere. Increase his salary by a few thousand euro and he’ll definitely bite the bait. Done. Identify someone you know to be one of ours and while you’re at it  ensure he’s the dullest of the lot. You don’t want him asking any questions do you? He’s perfect. He’s useless. Sweet guy though. Harmless. Well, when he stops being nice, he’s launched.

Problem. That one looks serious. Make it impossible for him to stay, surround him by more semi literate oafs and before you know it… poof…he’s gone… too proud to stay….too straight. He’ll hand in his resignation and you can then have him replaced. By another one of ours, of course. Bingo. Thats the one. So long as he has a pulse, he’ll fit the bill. What about her? She’s has been there for ever and doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere dispite our best efforts. She’s dedicated, hard-working, honest, the lot. Well, we’ll have to ride this one out. Disable her. Disarm her. And watch her flap aimlessly.  And if none of the above works…make her ambassador. Get her out of the country. Compromise her. Compromise a member of her family. Anything.

Then, one day, if you happen to run out of lies and those banks look like they are bursting, call an election. Minimum 33 days from dissolution of parliament to election date. Take that option….no time to lose. Promise the earth. Never admit fault. People don’t care.  People like us. People believe us. Promise the earth. It will all be over soon. They’ll forget. If we believe it, they will. Promise the earth. Promise the earth. Repeat after me. Promise the earth. Its working. Its working. Promise  the earth. They believe. They believed. We did it.

Ħaqq Malta

It-tribalizmu fis-socjeta taghna qatt ma kien daqshekk ovvju kif inhu f’dawn il-granet. Joseph Muscat kellu hafna ghajtiet qabel l-elezzjoni li ghaddiet pero wahda mill-izjed li kienu ghogbuni kienet dik meta qal li l-politika mghandhiex taqsam poplu u li progressivament il-politika ghandha ssir irrelevanti ghax in-nies m’ghadhomx interessati fil-politika imma n-nies rizultati jridu. Kemm kellu ragun. U kemm ghamel ezatt l-oppost!

Fil-fatt il-maggoranza tad-decizjonijiet tal-gvern ta’ Muscat ziedu l-qasma u l-firda fis-socjeta’ taghna. Kien hemm min kien qal li dan kien sintomu ta’ bniedem perikoluz li ried igib fix-xejn id-diskussjoni politika billi jdajjef il-klassi politika li kien jifforma parti minna hu stess, sabiex b’hekk hu jiddomina u jiggverna bla xkiel u diskussjoni.

Fil-fatt dan il-kliem ma kellu l-ebda intenzjoni makkjaveljana jew perikoluza – kien sempliciment kliem fieragh biex jappella ghal dik is-sezzjoni dejjem tikber ta’ l-elettorat li l-politika partiggjana qazzitu. Kull ma kien qed ighid kien qed ighidu biex jintghogob u xejn izjed. Fil-fatt Dr Muscat kellu opportunita’ inkredibbli f’dawn l-ahhar erba’ snin li jnaqqas it-tensjoni u b’hekk il-poplu jibda jikkoezisti b’mod aktar armonjuz minflok ighix fi stat permanenti ta’ glied fuq kull livell socjali.

Dan hu dak li jmissu jahdmu ghalih il-partiti taghna. Partit politiku ma jezistix biex izid jew johloq divizjoni. Partit politiku jezisti biex jikkontribwixxi ghall-gid komuni halli pajjizna jimxi l-quddiem. Minflok il-partiti taghna llum ma jitilfux okkazzjoni biex ikasbru lil xulxin – id-djalogu ma jezistix. L-emozzjonijiet pwerili jirrenjaw u l-boxxla ntilfet. Importanti li ghall-gid taghna u tal-generazzjonijiet futuri ahna ghandna naghmlu sforz biex niehdu pass lura mill-mandra li qeghdin fiha u nirragunaw ftit.

Ir-ragunar huwa fil-fatt wiehed semplici hafna – is-socjeta’ taghna x’qed tiehu mid-dikotomija politika li ghandna bhalissa? Dawn il-partiti x’kontribut qed jaghtu meta jiggvernawna li ma nistghux naghtu ahna lilna nfusna? Ghandna verament bzonn li nkunu parti min partit? Hemm xi cans li nibdew nahsbu b’mohhna individwalment? Id-decizjoni li tmur tivvota jew li tibqa’ d-dar trid tittiehed b’raguni u b’sens – mhux bi protesta. Tibqa’ d-dar ghax ma temminx li l-individwi li qed jipprezentawlek il-partiti ser jirrapprezentawk kif imiss. U ghandek kull dritt.

Min ma jridx jippartecipa fil-process demokratiku ghandu kull dritt li jaghmel hekk u hadd m’ghandu d-dritt jippriedka u jghid li tivvota huwa dover. Min hareg biha din? Mhux il-partiti politici taghna ghax hekk jaqbillhom ighidu sabiex jibqghu dejjem izjed rilevanti. B’hekk ikompli jizdied it-tribalizmu politiku-socjali li sfortunatament sar parti integrali min hajjitna.

Wasal il-hin li nahsbu ftit. Jirbah min jirbah fit-3 ta’ Gunju mghandux iwaqqafna milli nahdmu kontra din il-politika tad-divizjoni, tat-tghajjir u tal-hmieg li darrewna biha l-politici taghna. Wasal iz-zmien li nirrejagixxu billi niggieldu kontra l-injoranza u l-medjokrita’ politika – Malta jisthoqqilha hafna ahjar.