This is not a fun time for Malta. Our institutions are under pressure to investigate the most serious corruption claims the country has ever witnessed. And it’s all happening at a sensitive juncture: our economy is thriving, Malta is heading the EU Presidency and a general election could be around the corner. 

On an island where partisan politics rules way too many aspects of life, the temptation is to galvanise ourselves into political tribes and spend our time preaching instead of thinking. But with our financial services industry under the spotlight and our credibility at stake, we simple can’t afford to do so. Whatever side you’re on, Malta absolutely needs to end this stalemate, and only the truth can do that. So if you want to break the mould and actually do something useful that could help the country get to the bottom of this situation, here are some suggestions. 

1. Channel your inner Sherlock Holmes

Instead of writing and rewriting your next angry Facebook post or Whatsapp message, why not support the investigative effort?

Malta has thousands of people who work across government and throughout the financial services industry. If we put some of the best minds together, we can scrutinise and fact-check all the statements, documents and allegations being made across the board. 

Perhaps you can memorise Panama’s company law to spot any inaccuracies in what people are saying. Or just run a search and re-read old news reports and press statements about Panama Papers to look out for inconsistencies in official reactions or interviews. The more eyes we have on this, the easier it will be to uncover the truth. 

2. Send your leads and observations to whoever you trust

There’s a lot of eyes on this case and everybody is looking for information – so if you find something useful, don’t sit on it. 

You can either go to the police or the independent media houses (Times, MaltaToday and Independent), who have teams of journalists working on this story. They are the people on the ground who can ask questions to the protagonists on camera. So choose your most trusted source and send your leads their way. 

If you’ve got a good follow up idea, remember it’s best to go directly to the reporter who wrote the original story. If you can’t find an email address of a specific journalist, it’s useful to know that Times of Malta journalists usually use this format: [email protected] while the other two newspapers use the first letter of the journalist’s name followed by their surname followed by @mediatoday.com.mt or @independent.com.mt.

You can always speak to us too, by emailing [email protected]. We will deal with your information in the most confidential manner possible. 

Remember, sometimes even the silliest of details could mean a lot to people who are looking at the finest elements of an investigation. Then again, keep in mind that the people working on this story are incredibly busy and under pressure so don’t waste time with niceties and don’t expect them to either. 

3. Share evidence-based stories 

A lot has been said about evidence in this case and whether or not there has been enough documentation to substantiate the allegations being made. We’re not going to go into the merits of that discussion, because people can make up their own minds. But we all know the difference between a really divisive partisan post that’s just intended to offend and a useful one that could help enlighten even the most partisan of individuals. Keep this in mind next time you’re tempted to share something. Let’s unite to get to the bottom of this, not divide and make things even worse than they are already.  

4. Encourage whistleblowers to come forward

Allegations of this magnitude cannot be pulled off without the help of some kind of support structure. This means there are a number of potential whistleblowers on both sides of the political divide that can either blow the lid on the whole operation, corroborate facts, or stay silent. But just think about how difficult things must be right now for these people.

If you know somebody in this position, or somebody you think might be in this position, reach out to them and remind them that there are ways of giving out useful information while retaining anonymity. And give them a hug of support. They will need it. 

5. Call for a proper public inquiry

If you want to write another Facebook post to vent your frustrations, do it usefully without being unnecessarily divisive. Remember, every Maltese person has an interest in getting to the bottom of this story one way or the other – so let’s work together instead of against one another. One way for this to be done is to have a proper public inquiry made up of impartial representatives from the judicial and financial sectors approved by both parties.

Here’s a Facebook post you can use to make it happen:

Malta needs a proper public inquiry with clear terms of reference which enjoys the support of all the government, the Opposition, the institutions and the independent media. It must be headed by the country’s best investigative minds and must present a conclusive and public report that holds everybody to account for their actions. The public should also be invited to follow the inquiry in full, both physically and via live-streaming. #MaltaNeedsTheTruth

BONUS: Donate to the ICIJ

If it weren’t for the Pulitzer-winning International Consortium Of Investigative Journalists, we would have never known there was something to investigate in the first place. It was only thanks to the biggest data leak in history that we found out key government officials had undeclared and secretive companies in Panama. 

Following 20 years of successful international investigations under the stewardship of the Center for Public Integrity, ICIJ is now being turned into an independent nonprofit news outlet. ICIJ is currently accepting donations which it says will go to supporting ICIJ to continue to produce groundbreaking cross-border investigations with global impact.

Got any more suggestions? Write to us in the comments below or on Facebook, or email [email protected] 

READ NEXT: Egrant Exposed: The Comprehensive Explainer You’ve Been Waiting For

Chris Peregin

Christian is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who founded Lovin Malta, a new media company dedicated to creating positive impact in society. He is passionate about justice, public finances and finding ways to build a better future.