Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531100
THE other weekend, The Sunday Times of Malta carried a report about 'Gozo's network of illegal surveillance' that is allegedly mon- itoring the activities of the Malta Ranger Unit to tackle illegal prac- tices. For me, this is not a surprise. It would have been a surprise if offi- cial monitoring activities in Gozo were not subject to an informal monitoring system that acts 'as an early warning system' for those who could be liable of being caught in the act of what are being de- scribed as 'environmental crimes'. The idea that an official moni- toring system is subject to an in- formal and unofficial monitoring system is not something exclusive to Gozo. It exists all over the world wherever small societies are moni- tored for breaches of the law. Gozo is a small society living on a small island and so is the perfect place for this 'monitoring of monitors' to take place. This sort of monitoring existed even before the advent of mobile phones. I remember a now de- ceased Director of Works saying that as soon as he decides to visit the sister island, the department people in Gozo would know about this decision, making a surprise visit practically impossible. The ship's radio on the ferry would serve to alarm the Gozitans of anyone visiting Gozo. The ferry captain was normally a Gozitan by birth or by adoption and 'naturally' allowed this use of the ship's radio. Once, when the late George Bonello Du Puis was finance min- ister, he decided to organise a sur- prise visit by inspectors from the tax department to check whether Gozitan restaurants were follow- ing their obligation to charge a service tax that preceded the VAT system. The tax officials were sent to Gozo for the planned surpise in- spections on an AFM vessel about which no Gozitan had any infor- mation. They duly landed in Mar- salforn where they proceeded to visit the first restaurant on the list. By the time this first 'successful' inspection was over, all other res- taurants in Gozo were closed! The expense of this visit was far more than the tax retrieved, of course. With today's means of com- munications – especially mobile phones – monitoring the monitors is easier and more efficient. Organising monitoring sys- tems with the intent to help oth- ers evade being caught breaking the law is not an original Gozitan way of doing things. It happens wherever it is possible, more so in a small society such as Gozo. This includes activities that could fall into the realm of corruption, obstruction of justice, or illegal activity, depending on the actions involved. When people organise monitor- ing systems to warn others about investigations or inspections in a way that helps them evade detec- tion of some illegal activity, such as tipping off people about an impending police raid or environ- mental inspections, their actions would be tantamount to obstruc- tion of justice – at least technically. Intentionally hindering or pre- venting law enforcement or regu- latory authorities from performing their duties is illegal. Warning in- dividuals about upcoming raids or monitoring the presence of reg- ulatory inspectors to help people from being caught is, of course, tantamount to aiding and abetting illegal activity, which can result in criminal charges. When the cost of monitoring breaches of the law becomes pro- hibitive, it leads to several signifi- cant challenges and consequences, including making it easier for un- lawful activities to go unnoticed. Prohibitive costs for monitoring breaches of the law can create a gap in enforcement, leading to increased noncompliance, ine- quality, and inefficiencies, while also driving innovation or policy changes in monitoring methods. This is actually the situation that the Malta Ranger Unit is facing. They will never win the 'war', but their efforts are commendable and have to be appreciated. Big cats for neighbours On New Year's Eve, I discovered that I had some feline 'neighbours' that I did not know about! Four lions and a leopard were found to be living in poor con- ditions in a Naxxar property, ac- cording to animal rights group Vuċi għall-Annimali. People from the Environmental Resources Authority (ERA), the Veterinary Regulations Department (VRD), and the police visited the site, but unfortunately, these big cats have to remain on the property as the VRD does not have the resources to take them into their custody. But no one should worry as the police will keep supervising these animals! This nonsense of people illegally owning big cats, some of whom subsequently realising they can- not afford to keep them for a long time, goes on. Moreover, this story shows that the authorities are practically helpless when faced with such sit- uations. I have been one of the few voices that have complained about such animals being kept by individuals without any impunity. The owners of the cats are usually rich people, apparently flaunting their unde- clared money by owning big cats. This is dangerous territory and the government is not doing enough about this problem, apparently be- cause some big cat owners are also supporters of the party in govern- ment. Meanwhile, we keep continually discovering more big cats owned by fat cats... The great escape! Four men jumped out of a plane that had just made an emergency landing at Malta International Air- port on New Year's Day, leading to a police and Armed Forces of Mal- ta manhunt. Two of the men were subse- quently arrested while two re- mained on the run. The incident occurred when a Turkish Airlines flight heading to Morocco request- ed permission to land in Malta as a passenger was feeling unwell. Shortly after the plane landed and while crews were working to retrieve the sick passenger's suit- case, four other passengers made a quick getaway from the plane's rear door. The Police and the Armed Force of Malta were both alerted and a manhunt got under way. The man who reported feeling ill, a Moroccan national, was taken to Mater Dei Hospital. The Turkish Airlines flight then continued its journey to Morocco. Was this escape planned with the Moroccan who felt sick being part of the plot? Anyway, this story puts the se- curity around the airport in an incredibly insecure perspective. It certainly does not reflect well on the security system in the airfield. How on earth can four men escape from a plane in such a manner? This should worry the authori- ties that, on their part, should seek to investigate the lack of security in the only international airport that serves this neutral island! 3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JANUARY 2025 OPINION Monitoring the monitors micfal45@gmail.com Michael Falzon The activities of the Malta Ranger Unit in Gozo are allegedly being monitored It would have been a surprise if official monitoring activities in Gozo were not subject to an informal monitoring system that acts 'as an early warning system' for those who could be liable of being caught in the act of what are being described as 'environmental crimes'.