Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1287818
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 SEPTEMBER 2020 OPINION FAST-FORWARD a couple of years, what do you think the most memorable moment/s of 2020 will be? Locally, we've been spoilt for choice. Maybe you'll remember the 'the ultimate weekend experience', three days and two nights of drunken pool partying amid a pandemic, or, the time Malta opened the floodgates to COVID-19 by prema- turely welcoming tourists, you may also remember Malta's revitalized destination strategy i.e. as a 'festival island' aimed at attracting masses. If there is one thing we will all remem- ber when we think of 2020, it is how our leaders, from the prime minister to the opposition, went about securing our well-being during a pandemic. It was evident that the Maltese govern- ment did actually have a framework in place to contain the transmission rate of COVID-19. As a nation, we also did our bit – we came together, followed strict policies, respected one another and did our utmost to ensure that the diffusion of COVID-19 was kept to a minimum. However, as summer approached, gov- ernment decided that a laissez-faire atti- tude towards the pandemic was sufficient. Little did we, the citizens, know that we were about to go on a road trip through Dante's inferno. To be fair, the majority of people con- stituting society were pretty aware of the likely consequences associated with abruptly alleviating COVID-19 measures. However, we wrongly assumed that our leaders were also blessed with this 'divine' logic and we erroneously overestimated their capacity to anticipate the long-term ramifications of impulsively alleviating COVID-19 measures. Overnight, with absolutely no regard and no shame, Malta applied a band-aid strategy, the Trump-inspired crisis man- agement framework: ignorance, incom- petence and impunity. Describing the last few weeks as igno- rance in abundance is an understatement. For example, it does not take extraordi- nary cognitive capabilities to comprehend that branding Malta a 'festival island' dur- ing a pandemic is absurd, by both local and international standards – as was ev- ident by the influx of negative press and social media attention this strategy gath- ered. Another example: the claim that COV- ID-19 is particularly mild in Malta. This sweeping statement is irresponsible and short-sighted. Do we have empirical ev- idence to substantiate this claim? Could it be that COVID-19 is 'mild' because the worst is yet to come? Ignorance is so blissful amongst the up- per echelons in Malta, that the Medical Association of Malta needs to strike on what seems to be a weekly basis. Incompetence in Maltese politics does not discriminate by political party – it's a phenomenon. Everyone wears the in- competence badge with honour. Out of all the members constituting the Maltese parliament, did no one realise that a pan- demic might actually represent a golden opportunity? That is, not a lip-smacking opportunity to Scrooge McDuck-dive into pools of filthy lucre, capitalising on crisis by hosting mass parties that other countries had passed on. Rather, it could (even should) have been an opportunity to win new votes through tackling crisis effectively. Given our cur- rent situation, we may conclude that no politicians seem bothered to legitimate- ly earn a vote by working for it (perhaps they assume our loyalty?). Maybe this blinkered vision is the result of incompetence, strategic ignorance or a coalition between the opposition and the current government. However, the general apathy Maltese politicians adopt towards voters and their concerns reveals that our interests are considered insignif- icant. And politicians may be underesti- mating our abilities to critically reflect and demand accountability for political blunders. With the situation as it is and as it has been for the past few eras, the Maltese people are not provided with a healthy democracy, one with contrasting view- points and healthy debates. The final pillar of Malta's crisis manage- ment framework: impunity. Reflect on the effort you put into your work each and every day. Apparently, if you, an ordinary citizen, fail to perform effectively at work, on the third notice you're fired. How is it that citizens are held more accountable than politicians for their performance? If this does not infuriate you, I am not too sure what will. The system in place is neither just nor fair. Politicians do not seem to be held accountable for their mis- takes, negligence and irresponsibility in Malta – we have yet to see a politician re- sign for a series of uncalculated decisions. Abandoning your country and lead- ership position during a pandemic for a vacation is quite a good example of impu- nity. So is branding Malta a trash can for mass tourism. The people have elected each and every politician to lead the country – lead by example, or, is this the 'illuminati'? Does a position in politics guarantee perma- nence? Why is it that Malta's political sit- uation is so dire? Why do politicians fa- vour commercial interests over and above human welfare? Why are we, citizens, not doing anything to change the situation? Malta's democracy is in a state of crisis; we do not have an opposition; we do not have a leader and we do not have any al- ternatives. What we have is a train wreck. However, as passengers, we can either choose to demand political reform, or, we can remain complacent phantoms in a system rigged towards political oppor- tunism. A Trump-inspired crisis management framework Kristina Buhagiar Malta's democracy is in a state of crisis; we do not have an opposition; we do not have a leader and we do not have any alternatives. What we have is a train wreck.