Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/530451
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 JUNE 2015 News 3 MATTHEW VELLA OPPOSITION leader Simon Bu- suttil is to publish a package of 'good governance' proposals which he says should be any government's blueprint on transparency and ac- countability, and that will be a fu- ture Nationalist administration's own guidebook in governance. In an interview on Radju Malta's Ghandi Xi Nghid, where he railed against the Labour government's "institutionalised corruption", Busuttil hit out at Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, calliwg upon him to assume responsibility for con- troversial decisions taken in the Lands Department and MEPA, both of which are in his portfolio of responsibilities. "We are witnessing obscenities we first saw in the 1980s. The Gaf- farena expropriation is a classic example… it's government-blessed corruption. [Parliamentary secre- tary] Michael Falzon met Gaffarena beforehand, he went on vacation with him… "Why were part of the govern- ment offices expropriated when the lease was due to expire in 2028? Because Gaffarena wanted a deal… and this institutionalised corrup- tion emerges from the exaggerated valuations that made Gaffarena a millionaire just from 50% owner- ship of this property." He was referring to the deals which enriched Gaffarena, after he bought one half of a property in Old Mint Street, Valletta, which the government then expropriated for over one and a half million eu- ros in cash and parcels of land. Busuttil said it was outrageous that under a slimmed-down code of ethics, belatedly published three months since its approval, minis- ters' spouses no longer need to de- clare their earnings. "It's a recipe for corruption," he said. The PN leader said he was deter- mined to change these things and that by the end of 2015, he will have issued proposals promoting good governance for any government to lead by example. "I will publish the code of ethics that will be in place on the first day of a new Nationalist government." Busuttil said it was clear that Muscat was paying back obligations debited during his time as Opposi- tion leader. "What type of prime minister do people want? One that is turning people into millionaires because of these obligations? We have to clean up politics, and even in this difficult climate I will not lose heart." Busuttil, who took part in the pro- test against the siting of Sadeen's private university at Zonqor Point, also said it was unacceptable that any private investor is granted a deal behind the people's backs without a public expression of in- terest. "The land over there also be- longs to people who are going to be turned into multi-millionaires to sell their land," Busuttil said. "If you are going to do a project, choose a development area or somewhere that is already commit- ted. How can Muscat hammer out a deal behind people's backs with a foreign investor, without a public call? Aren't there other investors interested? And what sort of track record does a construction compa- ny have in education? What stand- ards can this company have to be granted a licence for a university?" He also accused Labour of aiming to intimidate the Opposition and employing a '1980s style' of silenc- ing critics. "We've had insults in parliament, the Speaker suspending the House twice, and a government minister shouting at me just for asking ques- tions about his wife. Having Kon- rad Mizzi picking his wife to enjoy the exaggerated salary of €13,000 a month is to me institutionalised corruption." He said the Opposition would not be intimidated, and that it was obliged to ask the same questions that ordinary people were asking. "I will defend people being called 'spies' by Muscat," he said of three workers currently under discipli- nary procedures for allegedly ex- changing confidential information as part of a team of advisors to then shadow finance minister Tonio Fenech. "If the government persists in this political discrimination, it is only going to worsen the current climate. We will fight this breach of human rights. These people are brandished as 'spies' by the Prime Minister for giving their advice to the shadow finance minister… it is unacceptable." JAMES DEBONO GRECO, the Council of Europe's corruption watchdog, has called on Malta to revise its code of eth- ics for parliamentarians, which was adopted in 1995, to make it en- forceable. According to GRECO the Mal- tese code also needs to be amended to regulate matters which are not already covered, including gifts, the misuse of confidential information and the disclosure by MPs, at the start of parliamentary debates on particular issues in which MPs may have a personal interest. The 1995 code introduced a Reg- ister of Members' Interests which contains personal information sub- mitted by each member, some of which has so far not been available for public scrutiny. In its annual report which GRECO published this week, it ex- pressed concern on the conflict of interests of Maltese Parliamentar- ians who are "generally part-time legislators who maintain their pri- vate practices". According to GRECO the private interests of parliamentarians cre- ate the "potential for a conflict of interests due to the personal and professional networks and business links built across Malta". GRECO feels that one issue faced by parliamentarians is that of pub- licly demonstrating "decision-mak- ing independence" while still being exposed to this potential conflict of interests. On a positive note the report notes that a number of good dis- closure rules and practices have been introduced in recent years and that the Maltese parliament demonstrates a "notable level of transparency in its formal legisla- tive processes". While GRECO commends the fact that a code of ethics for parlia- mentarians had been introduced al- most 20 years ago, that code needs a "thorough revision and update". This is because it does not suffi- ciently cover some topics that one might expect to see in such a code. These include third party con- tacts, misuse of confidential infor- mation, and the misuse of public resources. These resources may include money, offices, equipment, facilities and staff. Moreover several of the provi- sions in the code raise substantial questions and ambiguities with regard to their application. These include rules on the acceptance of gifts, honoraria and the disclosure of personal interests at the outset of parliamentary debates. "There is no designated source of counselling or training on the code, and it also lacks an adequate super- vision and enforcement mecha- nism," the report says. GRECO notes that a Standing Committee is working to address ethical issues in parliament and that draft legislation is now under- way to reinforce ethical conduct and accountability in public life. Describing the adoption of this leg- islation as a step forward, GRECO is proposing that it should apply not only to members of parlia- ment in general, but also to min- isters, parliamentary secretaries, parliamentary assistants, as well as employees in a position of trust and persons engaged as advisors or consultants to the government and any statutory body. Busuttil rails against 'institutionalised corruption' in Labour administration GRECO calls on Malta to revise MPs' code of ethics Good Morning MALTA When early and fast delivery is your priority TNT Malta is now operating direct connections to and from its Euro Hub in Liege with the TNT- owned aircraft. With our international team of experts, we connect industries, businesses and people - everywhere, every day, every time. There is no better way to experience the power of our network and its people, than by shipping with us. Contact us at: 2558 4600 www.tnt.com sales@tnt.com.mt Opposition leader will publish proposals for good governance and code of ethics that will be put into place on first day of new Nationalist administration Simon Busuttil