Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515076
Bend over, here it comes again Racial equality in housing Renee Laiviera is NCPE Commissioner Daniel Xerri is an educator Daniel Xerri Renee Laiviera THE recent conviction of another seven benefits fraudsters received very little attention in mainstream news and almost none in people's social media discussions. This is no surprise given that the two major scandals to rock the government last year did not seem to shock people as much as one would have expected. Have we really become so habituated to stories of corruption that nothing fazes us anymore? Both the benefits fraud scandal and the driving licences scandal are brazen manifestations of a deeply entrenched culture of clientelism in Maltese politics. It seems that some MPs are entirely comfortable with the idea of exercising their power to help their constituents irrespective of what a request consists of. These politicians do not lose any sleep over whether a constituent's request has gone through the of- ficial channels or if proper proce- dures have been followed in or- der to accede to it. They make no qualms about bending the rules or even breaking them if the end result is to the satisfaction of the person who has voted them into power and promises them their continued sup- port. The minions within ministry cus- tomer care units and the executive offices of government agencies are encouraged to follow suit given that their job's very existence is depend- ent on the current and future suc- cess of the politician they answer to and the government they work for. Hence, in exchange for fealty, they do favours for those who feel enti- tled to such assistance through the claims of partisanship even if grant- ing it might be unethical or plain illegal. On their part, many people seem to believe that their political sup- port gives them an inalienable right to demand such help from their elected representatives and their various underlings. When these people need something from the government apparatus that might be highly difficult to get or might not be theirs to claim, they see nothing wrong in bypassing all ad- ministrative levels and processes so as to place their demand directly with their MP. This culture of clientelism has long thrived in Maltese politics and has created many injustices, most of which have affected individual citi- zens and the general public in ways that have not always come to light. However, the present ubiquity of electronic devices and widespread access to social media make it far easier to gather and share evidence of such government sanctioned cheating. When the evidence was so ir- refutable that two major scandals made the news in the space of a few weeks last year, it was deep- ly disconcerting to hear the prime minister justifying the existence of such clientelism rather than pro- posing ways of eradicating it alto- gether. Those who never benefited from clientelism would be right to feel crushed by the perpetuation of this state of affairs and its potential escalation in the future. They can- not but be excused if they lapse into acquiescence. This is where the acronym BOHI- CA is quite apt. Used by cynical mil- itary personnel during the Vietnam War, it refers to adverse situations that persist for so long that endur- ing them seems to be the only pos- sible response. Locally, if there ever was an example of a BOHICA sit- uation, this habituation to institu- tionalised cheating would be it. And that is scary for anyone who values the rule of law, good governance, and public accountability. Let us just hope that we do not get to a point in this country where things are completely FUBAR, to use another acronym. Those who know, know. SARA, a young woman of African descent, was seeking a place to call home. Eagerly respond- ing to a rental advert for an apartment, she met the landlord at the property. However, as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that the landlord's decision was not based on Sara's ability to pay rent but rather on the colour of her skin. The landlord, harbouring biased beliefs, abruptly informed Sara that the apartment was no longer available, leaving her to grapple with the sting of discrimination and the harsh real- ity that the colour of one's skin could still be a barrier to finding a place to live. This scenario depicts a person who is refused accommodation based on skin colour. More than ever, instances of discrimination in hous- ing are unfortunately prevalent. Prospective tenants may encounter prejudiced attitudes from landlords, leading to unequal access to housing opportunities based on racial or eth- nic criteria. These instances not only violate the principles of equality but also contribute to a divisive and exclusionary society. While social media can be a powerful tool for communication and information sharing, it has also been implicated in facilitating or am- plifying racial discrimination. Addressing the challenges and needs of these people is exceptionally pertinent in view of the significant increase of foreigners in Malta, whereby more than one in five residents were foreign in 2021. Maltese legislation explicitly prohibits dis- crimination on the basis of race or ethnicity through the Equal Treatment of Persons Or- der. This legal instrument mandates that "no person, establishment or entity, whether in the private or public sector and including public bodies, shall discriminate against any other person in relation to… (d) access to and supply of goods and services which are available to the public, including housing". The NCPE plays a crucial role in addressing and combatting racial discrimination in hous- ing. Through its mandate, the NCPE investi- gates complaints concluding with the issuing of an Opinion with recommendations to ad- dress the discriminatory practices. This work also raises awareness about the importance of equality, and collaborates with various stake- holders to foster an inclusive environment. In this regard, persons experiencing racism in the access to housing are encouraged to report their case to the NCPE so that it can be inves- tigated. While the NCPE works to promote equality, a collective commitment is required to fully tack- le racism and discrimination when it comes to housing access. Eliminating racial discrimina- tion in housing requires sustained effort and collaboration from individuals, communities, policymakers, media, and society as a whole. Housing is a fundamental right that should be accessible to everyone, irrespective of their ra- cial background. The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) can be contacted on: 2276 8200, equality@gov.mt or NCPE's social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter - NCPE.Malta) maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JANUARY 2024 4 OPINION Politicians do not lose any sleep over whether a constituent's request has gone through the official channels or if proper procedures have been followed in order to accede to it