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6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 Structural reforms needed to enhance transparency and accountability Editorial THE National Audit Office investigation into the lifting of Fortina's land restrictions in 2019 is yet an- other reminder of the systemic problems that hound Malta's public institutions. The NAO probe shows how public institutions have a problem with transparency and account- ability, which acts as a convenient cover-up for wrongdoing. For starters, it is inexplicable how a valuation report commissioned by the Lands Authority that set compensation at a maximum €23.9 million was kept hidden from everyone. Despite being refer- enced in board minutes, the report was never dis- closed, let alone discussed. Officially, the valuation report remained a works in progress, even though it was concluded and presented to the authority's chair a month after commissioning. And yet, no one bothered to ask about it. Unfortunately, the ex-judge who kept the report to himself—Lino Farrugia Sacco—and even lied to authority board members, is no longer here to state his case. We will never know what crossed Farrugia Sacco's mind to partake in the efforts to conceal a report that valued the lifting of restric- tions at a whopping €16 million more than what Fortina ended up paying. But one other person identified in the NAO in- vestigation is around to answer for his behaviour. Keith Schembri, the highest non-elected official in Joseph Muscat's administration, knew about the higher valuation but was part of the efforts to con- ceal the report, according to the NAO. Whether Schembri acted of his own volition or had the blessing of Joseph Muscat is immateri- al. Schembri was Muscat's most trusted person. Schembri's omnipresence at the heart of every scandal from the Muscat era makes it impossible to fathom that the former prime minister knew nothing about his shady dealings. But the mere fact that the former prime minister had decided to keep Schembri on board after the Panama Papers scandal erupted and afterwards when it became known that 17 Black was owned by Yorgen Fenech, makes Muscat as culpable for Schembri's sins. A criminal investigation is required to get to the root of the problem. The police complaint filed by Fondazione Falcone's Malta branch led by Robert Aquilina, and lawyer Jason Azzopardi, in line with the new requirements introduced this year to ask for a magisterial inquiry, was a welcome move. If the police register no progress over the next six months, or do nothing about the complaint, the complainants can go to court to ask for a magis- terial inquiry. But the Fortina investigation reveals much about the lack of accountability and transparen- cy in government that transcends the mere facts that emerged in this particular case. The Fortina Group is not the only private company that has, over the years and over different administrations, benefitted from government's 'generosity' when it comes to the disposal and lease of public land or the changing of deed conditions. It will not be the last, either. Malta requires a bi-partisan effort to enact laws and mechanisms that strengthen transparency and accountability. To start with, we need a proper political party fi- nancing law with an overseeing body that has the teeth to enforce existing legal provisions. Today, we have a law that is simply a paper tiger. After this is done, we need a mature debate on state fi- nancing of political parties tied to the number of votes obtained in a general election. But we need other structural reforms: Independ- ent valuations for all deals involving public land should be published and the parliamentary com- mittee that evaluates these deals will be barred from proceeding unless the documentation is pub- lished; a land and concession portal where people have access to deeds, valuations, beneficial own- ership certificates, and conditions tied to the sale or lease; a statutory lobbying register accompanied with a register of meetings and gifts for MPs, min- isters and top government officials, to shed light on who meets whom and why; a mandatory conflict of interest recusal log for all government agencies; a publicly accessible portal where the declarations of assets, interests and income for MPs and min- isters can be scrutinised; give the NAO powers to impose sanctions against officials who suppress and withhold information. With goodwill from all sides these structural changes can be introduced to ensure better gov- ernance and reduce the risk of wrongdoing and corruption. Above all we need honest people in positions of power; the one thing no legislation can impose. However, human frailty can be mitigated by en- suring that the mechanisms to prevent, identify, stop and prosecute wrongdoing are in place and working effectively and efficiently. It's the least we expect in a country that believes in justice and fair- ness. Quote of the Week "No recollection of key developments." – Former Office of the Prime Minister Chief of Staff Keith Schembri's words to the National Audit Office when queried about government's 2019 deal with the Fortina Group that saw the latter pay significantly less compensation than that indicated by a valuation report Schembri and the Lands Authority chair had kept hidden. MaltaToday 10 years ago 14-Year-old charged with involuntary murder of his Friend in tragic beach incident 23 September 2015 A 14-year old boy has appeared in the dock before the Gozo courts, charged with invol untary homicide in connection with a trag- ic beach incident which led to his friend's pa ralysis and eventual death. Young James Xuereb hadsuffered spinal in juries when the accused, who is also 14 and a friend of the victim, had landed on Xuereb's backafter the twohad jumped in to the water, from a height, at Xatt l-Ahmar in Gozo on 9 July this year. Xuereb had been rushed to hospital, com plaining that he was unable to move his arms andlegs. Emergency doctors' worstfearswere confirmed when it was found that Xuereb's spinal cord had been damaged in the colli sion. The youngster, who had been looking for ward to starting 5th form at the end of sum mer, remained ina criticalcondition since the incident and succumbed to his injuries only 10 days ago. Presiding over the Juvenile Courtin Xewk- ija, Gozo, yesterday, Magistrate Joe Mifsud called on beachgoers to be mindful of oth- er bathers and strive to take the necessary measures to prevent such tragedies from be- ing repeated. The court heard Police Inspector Bernard Spileri testify that police investigations had concluded that Xuereb had jumped into the sea moments before the accused, whose leap into the water apparently landed him square ly ontopof the victim.The duty magistrate at the time had not felt an inquiry to be neces sary at that stage,added the inspector. [...]