Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/252940
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2014 26 Letters Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. "I have been brought up to believe that you cannot choose your own referee and that the referee's decision is final. There is an honourable tradition in British public life that those charged with authority at the top of an organisation should accept responsibility for what happens in that organisation." This was the immediate reaction of Mr Gavyn Davies to Lord Hutton's report on the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly. There is a lesson to be learnt from the words of the resigning head of the BBC. Essentially, Mr Davies was publicly ac- knowledging that as head of the organisa- tion, the buck stops with him. No such fatalities are ever seen in Malta. In writing to the Prime Minister and tendering his resignation, he was showing that he was prepared to carry the can. The first lesson is his acceptance of the culture of accountability. Here is a person taking full responsibility for the act of a subordi- nate. The Hutton report found the BBC at fault and listed its faults: "The incorrect reporting of a BBC journalist and the act of omission on the part of the BBC, the fact that the BBC did not probe sufficiently when being put on notice by the govern- ment that the report was false." The resignation is what enshrines the workings of a healthy democracy, even if a closer look at Lord Hutton's report con- firms that what we accuse politicians and their appointees to be in Malta, may well apply in Britain too. The British media and the public believe that the stern looking and stiff upper lip Lord Hutton and his findings are nothing but a whitewash. Their reasoning is based on the 'core' issue in this turbulent and sad story. The fact that the United Kingdom's interven- tion in Iraq came about based on the premise that weapons of mass destruction were being stacked, was a blatant lie. The Hutton report is a coup for Mr Blair, but it does not change in any way the fact that the US and the UK have, to date, not dis- covered any weapons of mass destruction. The Hutton report conveniently fails to explore the veracity of the laughable statement in an intelligence report that the preparedness of the Iraqi war machine was such that Mr Sadam Hussein could deploy chemical weapons in 45 minutes. Per- haps Mr Blair did not 'sex up' the report but that statement is in itself incredibly ludicrous. The Hutton report should not in any way soften the resolve of journalism here in Malta. There are definitely lessons to be drawn from the 'responsibility' shouldered by managers when the going gets tough. If we require anything in this small republic it is more daring journalism that chooses to ignore the established powers that be that have controlled the mindsets of most of our editors for far too long. The Hutton whitewash and the lessons to be learnt E%*TOR*AL • FeCruary Simon Busuttil: what was wrong then, is right now In my opinion, the leader of the Opposition has a lot to explain after the prime minister revealed what Dr Simon Busuttil had said during European Parliament de- bates in June 2011. I'm sure that many of your readers may have missed what Dr Joseph Muscat said on 19 January in Fgura, when he quoted, word for word, in English, what Busuttil had said. I think it would be very interesting to compare to what he is say- ing today about another subject, which is also the sole competence of a member state – in this case, his own country. On 8 June, 2011, while address- ing the European Parliament, during the debate on the Revised Hungarian Constitution, MEP Simon Busuttil said: "Madame President, this debate on the Hungarian constitution is f lawed for two main reasons. It singles out one member state out of 27, and concerns a national issue which falls within the sover- eignty of member states. First of all, if we are going to discuss the content of a constitution of one member state, we should, if any- thing, debate the constitutions of each and every member state. Some of the elements which are being contested can, in fact, be found in a number of other con- stitutions in other member states, and yet we are only debating the constitution in one member state. This is wrong. "Secondly, one has to ask what power, what competence, do we have to bring the issue of a na- tional constitution in the Europe- an Parliament in the first place? Member states have a sovereign competence for establishing their own national constitutions, and in this case, we should respect the right of the Hungarian people to determine their own constitution adopted by the democratically- elected national parliament. The debate we are having today on the content of this constitu- tion should, if anything, be held amongst Hungarian people, and not in this House. Whether we like it or not, whether we disagree or agree with this national con- stitution, we should respect the sovereignty and the hierarchy of law, otherwise we would be set- ting a dangerous precedent. "So when we single out a mem- ber state, and when we try to act against our competence, we send the wrong signal. We would stand accused of political instrumen- talisation, and we would be un- dermining the trust of citizens on our own Constitution. We should not go down that dangerous road," then MEP Simon Busuttil concluded. I would ask readers to substi- tute the word 'Hungary' with 'Malta'. The words 'Hungarian Constitution' with 'Maltese Citizenship'. The word 'Constitu- tion' with 'citizenship'. The words 'Hungarian people' with 'Maltese people'. And they will easily realise that what the leader of the Opposition is saying today on the IIP is completely the opposite to what he said on 8 June, 2011 in the European Parliament. The only and big difference is that in June 2011 he was an MEP, prob- ably without the slightest idea that he would end up as leader of the PN and Opposition leader in 2013. So he could say whatever he genuinely believed to be the right thing to say. While today, as Opposition leader, he has to keep in mind his own part y's and the Opposition's political interest, apart from his personal political career ! To which Simon Busuttil should we give credence, then? The MEP, or the leader of the Opposition? Eddy Privitera Mosta Cultivating a space for photography It was with great pleasure and satisfaction that I followed on the local news stations the statements of the Parliamen- tary Secretary for Culture, Jose Herrera, on the setting up of a Malta Cultural Hub. In fact, the expression of interest will soon be issued. What was great news for photographers was that, at last, someone was taking notice and becoming aware of the need for Maltese photographers to be assisted and encouraged. In fact, the Minister twice made refer- ence that photographers will be catered for in this hub, which, it seems, will not only provide a meeting place, but also logistical assistance for NGO associations within it. It makes my years of incessant lobbying for having a place for photographers to meet, exhibit and network seem worthwhile. The hub will benefit not only local culture but also the promo- tion of our island beyond our shores. I have insisted on this is- sue mostly by myself, clamouring for help from the authorities on this issue for over 20 years. Al- though I was every time told that I was justified in my demands, unfortunately, until now, nothing concrete was ever offered to us photographers – we seemed to be always left out in the cold, unlike perhaps other forms of art practices. Ever since taking up his post, Dr Herrera and his staff have shown interest in the genuine plea of all photographers and, when this hub will eventually ar- rive, it would signif y another big step for the recognition and ad- vancement of local photography. May this hub become a reality soon so that the thousands of people who share my passion for this important medium will be helped to further their work, standards and enjoyment. Kevin Casha President Malta Institute of Professional Photography Simon #usuttil