Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1522634
Don't believe me? What fol- lows is a word for word repro- duction, of Robert Abela's ac- tual reply. "We made mistakes, of course we did. But one thing I feel no remorse about, is that: if you were to ask me whether, in these past months, [my gov- ernment] could have given a single minute's worth of more commitment, work, dedica- tion and sacrifice… it would be difficult to find one. It doesn't mean we didn't make mis- takes: but our commitment to the national – not partisan – cause was… TOTAL." [His emphasis] And if that's not enough to convince you, on its own: he continued by complaining about all the lesser 'minions', within his government's hi- erarchy, that 'let the side down' by not 'pulling the same rope'… while somehow man- aging to continue 'praising himself', the whole time! "But is this commitment be- ing felt by everybody, across the board? It's a question I would like to throw out there, because… I'm not just talking about people who are in the top tier, LIKE ME [my em- phasis, this time], because I'm very satisfied with their work, commitment and dedication. However, when you start go- ing down the pyramid… peo- ple in government structures aren't there to have a cushy job [Yes, he really said that!] and I want to make this mes- sage clear. Those who want that kind of work must take a decision tomorrow, before it is forced upon them." Honestly, though. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Robert Abela really DID hire Penultimo, as his personal speech-writer. Because let's face it, folks: that's almost a text-book, blow-by-blow man- ual on precisely what NOT to say, under circumstances such as these. Not only did Robert Abela manage to convince all his lis- teners – in the space of around five seconds flat – that he very clearly did NOT understand the warning message, fired across his bows by the elector- ate last Sunday… but he also managed to deflect the blame for all his own failings, onto the very people whose support he needs the most: if, that is, his general plans for the im- mediate future also include 'surviving the current politi- cal sh*t-storm' (apart from the usual 'boating holiday to Sici- ly', of course). That is to say: Malta's pub- lic service employees. People 'lower down the political pyr- amid', than himself. Subordi- nates, further down the line… You know: the same 'pesky, meddling civil servants', that Robert Abela's own govern- ment had actually appointed to those 'cushy jobs', in the first place… and – not in all cases, perhaps; but certainly in quite a few few – SPECIFICALLY IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR PO- LITICAL SUPPORT!! But wait, it gets better! Among other accusations, the Prime Minister now blames those civil servants for 'not taking decisions, unless they are forced upon them!' I mean, it's almost as though Robert Abela is trying to cre- ate his own, unique definition of thew word 'Irony', here (you know: just to add to the list al- ready started by Alanis Mori- sette, back in the 1990s). On one hand, he is blaming the people he appointed him- self, for actually accomplish- ing the tasks he himself had given them to do (specifically, I refer to the task of 'imple- menting government policy', which – in case the Prime Minister has forgotten – re- mains the primary function of any self-respecting Civil Ser- vice, to begin with); But he's also accusing them of 'only taking decisions when they are forced to' (a criticism that has, oh! so often been lev- elled at himself, in the recent past); and above all, of enjoy- ing 'cushy jobs'… …. which, by definition, re- fers to jobs where the employ- ee is paid a handsome salary, for doing 'nothing-or-next- to-nothing'; but what really makes those jobs so 'cushy', is that there are never any con- sequences to be faced, by em- ployees who (for whatever rea- son) screw things up. I mean, the question almost asks itself, doesn't it? Whose job is 'cushier', might I ask? The civil servant, who po- tentially faces any number of internal disciplinary proceed- ings in case of poor perfor- mance (and sometimes crim- inal repercussions, too: as we all saw recently in the Vitals case)? Or is it the Prime Minister: who first 'praises himself' for elections he didn't actually win; and then 'blames every- one and everything else', for a defeat that was ultimately brought about by his very own (unacknowledged) failures and shortcomings? But, oh well. Once again, I suspect this is something a professional consultant might have warned Robert Abe- la about (if he hadn't already chosen Penultimo, naturally): "Oh, and one last thing. Whatever you do: do NOT complain about 'cushy jobs, further down the political pyramid'… unless you want people out there to start ques- tioning whether you yourself actually deserve the 'cushy job' THEY had entrusted you with, at the last election." Just saying, that's all… 11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JUNE 2024 OPINION "We made mistakes, of course we did. But one thing I feel no remorse about, is that: if you were to ask me whether, in these past months, [my government] could have given a single minute's worth of more commitment, work, dedication and sacrifice… it would be difficult to find one.