Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1396480
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 JULY 2021 OPINION Ivan Bartolo Ivan Bartolo is a Member of Parliament for the Nationalist Party They wore a coat SOME people view the words 'ethics' and 'politicians' as being impossible to co-ex- ist together. I blame no one for this, but it is saddening that everyone is put in the same boat. You must remember well when we used to speak of a scandal, and they used to tell us ''bring us the proof, and go straight to the Commissioner of Po- lice.'' Now, when everything has been put down in black and white, they tell you: ''The people do not care about cor- ruption or about Daphne's murder.'' The people are only interested in their pockets. Pockets which have been filled generously. But not everyone's pock- ets. The solutions provided were only short-term and people were left behind. Nonetheless, unfortunately, there are still people who reason this way. These people only see what they want to see and that is why we are being put in a worse position. People with good will and intentions do not reason in this way and they do not want to be an accomplice to such reasoning. More persons must stand up, including the Maltese Church which has an obligation to speak up when it sees that what is right is missing and not remain quiet. Priests should be an example, not to be afraid from any criticism and any con- sequences. We cannot close our eyes in the face of all this. We cannot remain living in this dead silence. Because the silence continues to give them strength. It is true that if you speak out, they will try to silence you. It is true that they will continue to offend and tease you, because their tabernacle yields cash and I'm not referring to the tabernacle found in the centre of our churches. But don't worry! Now we have the hate speech unit! They told us that they will not look at anyone's face. They call you "a traitor of your own country" as a former justice said when writing about the PN MEPs Roberta Metsola and David Casa. The former justice wrote ''Who betrays his own homeland, is not even wanted by a rub- bish pit''. Imagine if I had to appear before this former justice, what would have happened to me! The behaviour of the corrupt,is evi- dent everywhere. A few days ago, a sup- plementary question was made by my colleague David Thake in the House of Representatives and the minister said, ''Give work to those who know how to do it and let the other cook the sausage''. They have transformed Malta into a jungle. And if you don't believe it, here are some significant examples: The father of a family painted the fa- cade of their house and had to hire a cherry picker, due to the road being narrow, and the local council did not give him permission to set up the scaf- folding. He is not powerful and so we send a local warden outisde his door. In the same locality, a house collaps- es ina huge cloud of debris and dust, without any Planning Authority permit visible anywhere. Not only that, but the work commenced before the agreed time. Eveyrthing depends according to what and who you are. With regards to poverty... we created consultants regarding poverty. None- theless, poverty has increased. This means that they are handing out money from our taxes, to give us advice about poverty. And poverty has increased. Can you understand this? Everything happens so that they can collect votes. Even when they advise you to go take the vaccines, you will find the signature of the Minister of Health. The national TV station broadcasts only that which is beneficial to Labour – a threat to democracy. And repeat- edly they tell us to "let the institutions work". Between 2009 and 2012, in order to solve the problem of hundreds of own- ers that have been since 1981 living out of a purchase agreement, The Nation- alist government built houses on land which belongs to others. A government ruled by Lawrence Gonzi paid €5 mil- lion to owners who had been robbed of their property. This means that 700 families became owners of their home. A labour government, who created this social plague inn the first place, in the last three years made only eight families owners of their home and spent only €500,000. The Ombudsman declared the 2016 process for the highest three posts in the Police Force as being a joke. In the Kordin Correctional Facility, suicide attempts and 12 deaths have en- sued. Authorities continously reject any allegation of the institution not giving humanity to any individual. The word 'conscience' has become a word of the past and is today considered irrelevant by many. Is money your only priority? Is getting a job with the government your only priority? A direct order? Is your priority getting a cheque without knowing the reason for it? Your priority... because some Minister made you dizzy and told you ''Go vote, and next week you will have a home from housing". Your vote is your own weapon. Do not give your blessing to immoral behav- iour with your vote. With your vote do not give blessings to obscenities. With your vote, say no to cheating and hiding which have become a hobby. With your vote do not confirm manipulation, the purchasing of votes, robbery, injustice, and the murder of a journalist.