Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1231020
IN the midst of last November's political crisis, a brilliant rocking piece was produced by Brikkuni - Alla Illiberani - with singer Mario Vella mocking the neo- liberal politics of Joseph Muscat and his administration, released at the height of the 2019 street protests. You can find it on YouTube. You could say it was, rather unfortunately, 'forgotten' after December along with that political scandal, even though Brikkuni's music echoes the sentiment of those tired of the reckless development and the corruption of the industries and politicians in thrall to the man- tra of never-ending economic growth. That crisis seems so long ago, having been cut somewhat short by the resignation of Joseph Muscat, the surprise election of Robert Abela and the pandemic that took over our lives. You will not hear Vella's music on the national broadcaster or of course the political stations. Not because of its quality. The language does breach the genteel standards required of broadcast TV. But the reality is that the an- archic spirit of Brikkuni's music is a direct punch in the gut of the Maltese establishment, and it is for that reason that this sear- ing attack on the political class will never be aired to your living rooms. Instead, you will get a di- et of award-friendly, generic pop pap, rather than the trenchant words of Alla Illiberani, which will remind you of the inescapa- ble problems that still lie beneath the surface with us, haunting us forever. I do not want to sound petty, but the intention of Prime Min- ister Robert Abela to bend over backwards to the likes of hunting supremo Lino Farrugia to open the spring season for some 7,000 hunters while the rest of Malta is being asked to make a sacrifice and stay indoors, is an indica- tion of how political wisdom is often overshadowed by electoral considerations. Everyone knows that Maltese and Gozitan hunt- ers cannot be trusted with a gun; every time they descend onto the Maltese and Gozitan garigue they decimate every living creature they see. They represent what is ugly about the Maltese: that dev- il-may-care and fatalist approach to all things in life, nature includ- ed, without any consideration for the wider community. But the fact of the matter here is that even should hunters be granted the concession to dero- gate from the EU ban on spring hunting to shoot just one species, quail (summien), the EU rules are clear: for every 1,000 hunters registered for the season, there must be seven enforcement of- ficers out there monitoring the hunt. That means, 35 police of- ficers or monitors. Abela will decide in the next day or two. Rest assured that deci- sion remains trapped in a mind- set that forms part of this par- ticular Maltese DNA. We remain subservient to the lobbies, the 'traditions', the construction in- dustry, the hunters, a reluctance to tax, the two-party system, our Catholic and conservative roots, and our habit of returning to the conventions that govern our way of life. Even if they are not bene- fiting us. COVID-19 is a rude awakening that things will have to change dramatically. The glorious years are over, the economy is broken, the days when Maltese refuse to work menial jobs are over, the handouts (will soon be) over, the days when companies and individuals can accept not to be probed or to avoid taxes are over. The big profits, the financial rip- offs, the double economy, the buzzwords from the brave new digital world and the endless quest for luxury and bespoke rubbish, have had their day. We will have to change and to return to ground zero. And in- deed everything must change. When Abela sits back to de- cide if hunting for quail will be allowed or not, he will not just be deciding on the fate of a bird. He will not just be permitting thousands of hunters to roam the countryside and play Ram- bo… he will decide whether he is any different a leader to Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, or Joseph Muscat, the people who played the pipers' tune. Abela's small and seemingly ir- relevant decision is an eye-open- er of how willing or unwilling we are to stick to our ways, of how unwilling we are to challenge the status quo and get out and change the world. The world is changing before us and we want to continue hanging on to the old world. Even Europe will change, and we must also come to terms that we cannot be overtaken by the shadows of yes- teryear or be bullied by a Euro- pean Union that has failed every- one. We must come to terms with the fact that if we want change then the change must start here at home. And Robert Abela must be that catalyst for change. 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2020 OPINION Saviour Balzan @saviourbalzan Alla illiberani Police get ready to spring into action When Abela sits back to decide if hunting for quail will be allowed or not… he will decide whether he is any different a leader to Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, or Joseph Muscat