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Malta Chamber Of Commerce Urges Prime Minister To ‘Do The Right Thing’ Or Be Remembered For Causing ‘Confusion And Instability’

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One of the most prominent groups representing Malta’s private business sector has called on the government to do the right thing in this “defining” moment for the island, urging the Prime Minister to distinguish himself as a “statesman” and not a “self-serving politician”.

“There are defining moments in history that determine the future trajectory of a country, and Malta is currently in one such moment,” the Malta Chamber of Commerce said yesterday.

“This is when the integrity of our leaders matters most, when so many people are genuinely upset and feel profoundly betrayed when flattery is out of place and provocation is dangerous,” they continued.

Maltese society has been left in shock in the wake of revelations implicating some of the top officials in Maltese government in the planned murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

With everyone glued to their phones checking on the latest updates, and protests engulfing Valletta, Maltese shoppers avoided the capital during Black Friday last week, traditionally a busy day for businesses.

“This has unfortunately brought the country to a standstill, characterised by a level of uncertainty which we seldom experienced in the past,” they said of the current situation the island finds itself in.

“The Malta Chamber appreciates the Prime Minister recognising the gravity of the situation, that has implicated his office and his person. His announced resignation was the right thing to do.”

While the Chamber applauded Joseph Muscat for resigning, they warned of representatives ignoring society and becoming self-serving politicians.

“It is the humility to bow out promptly, modestly and responsibly without any shadow of a doubt that distinguishes the statesman from the self-serving politician. This applies to all politicians irrespective of which political party they are from and whether in power or in opposition. The independence of the country’s institutions is another serious objective we have all come to appreciate more” they said.

The chamber condemned the fact that Malta’s political crisis was now affecting the island’s financial sector.

“This sense of prolonged uncertainty for businesses and investment is rendered even more serious by the negative attention our country is attracting, with potentially unimaginable consequences. The hiatus the country has descended into must be lifted” they said.

They called for five points to be upheld in Malta if the country wanted to move forward.

  • The country needs to deal with all forms of allegations of political corruption since every hour of inaction is considered damaging to the country.
  • Ethical standards are there to be respected by all members of our society including the entire political class.
  • Chamber expects a full, deep and immediate clean-up of the whole system in the shortest period of time.
  • People have every right to protest responsibly. This sacrosanct right must be assured and crowds should be provided all the opportunity to do so, while any form of confrontation avoided. All parties need to ensure that their crowds are managed appropriately.
  • Though limited by his role as determined by the Constitution, the President of the Republic is called upon to advocate balance and statesmanship during these troubled times.

“Thus, on behalf of all hard-working entrepreneurs and ethical businesses, who provide jobs and a livelihood for thousands of Maltese families, the Malta Chamber calls on the Prime Minister to once again rise to the occasion and do the honourable thing expected of a true statesman,” they said.

“The Prime Minister can bring an end to this stalemate the country has crashed into. Within the context of current confusion and instability, history will remember him for it” the statement concluded.

What do you think of the Chamber’s position?

READ NEXT: Evarist Bartolo Says He Regrets ‘Believing Everything I Was Being Told’ In 2016

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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