SOME ARE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK – TAX-PAYERS ARE WOUNDED, BLOODIED AND OUT OF POCKET – but

In Maltese we have the expression “kulhadd jibqa’ b’tieghu”, roughly translated meaning the status quo remains, the haves remain having and the have-nots remain not having.

Now, let us take a quick appraisal of the two following topics: (a) we have been led to believe there was an enormous scandal in the procurement and purchase of oil supplies for a number of years, involving millions of euros; (b) we have been led to believe there was enormous irresponsibility and total lack of accountability in the construction of Mater Dei Hospital involving millions and millions of euros.

So far, so good – but that is the status quo, so far.

Now, let us take a look at two opposite sectors – the Private Sector and the Public Sector.

Let us begin with the Private Sector. It is revealed that a large corporation, or a group of companies, or a large company has been subject to systematic fraud, misappropriation, subject to corruption and commissioning-taking in the purchase of supplies, that accountability and auditing have been lax and irresponsible – what happens?

The Chairman, or Managing Director, the Board of Directors, the CEO and his top management, including those responsible for financial accounting and auditing, are held responsible, are immediately suspended or dismissed and naturally made subject to Court proceedings to determine their degree of accountability – or lack of it – and ultimately for fraud, misappropriation etc with the administration of appropriate legal proceedings and consequences.

Now, let us take the Public Sector. Thousands of hours are spent enquiring, questioning, debating, pontificating and procrastinating – and we come to learn that A cannot remember talking to B; C cannot recall receiving emails from D; E denies having met F when all the evidence shows otherwise; G received a clock from H as a token of admiration and on and on and on it goes.

That is, going round and round in circles, but actually nothing happens.

Let us revert to the Mater Dei situation; who was or were the Prime Ministers responsible at the time? Who were the Ministers involved; who were their Chiefs of Staff; who was responsible for the purchase of materials; who was responsible for accounting and accountability; who was responsible for monitoring the financial expenditure by thorough and responsible auditing? Above all, who was or were overall responsible for the mentoring and monitoring of this project?

Much the same can be said for the oil commissions business.

Ultimately – what is to happen?

Public opinion firmly, very firmly, believes that absolutely nothing will happen. Nothing has happened in the oil commissions scandal and nothing will happen in the Mater Dei scandal.

Yet, these are the TWO GREATEST EVER SCANDALS in the Public Sector, milestones of irresponsibility and maladministration, involving hundreds of millions of euros.

So, ultimately, we revert to ‘kulhadd jibqa’ b’tieghu’. That is, those who have profited and become rich retain what they have, remain immune and continue to enjoy their profits – and the poor mug tax-payer? Well, this nobody of mere numbers remains wounded, bloodied and out of pocket.

A message to our administrators – WELL, THAT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Tax-payers DEMAND justice.

Will we ever get it?

ALBERT JEROME FENECH