Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party will later today participate in the Valletta demonstration against corruption. AD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo explaining the party’s position, said:
“Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party is participating in tonight’s demonstration because it is essential to publicly demonstrate the need to defend the country’s reputation which is under currently siege. The end result of the current state of affairs will be a serious blow to our economy and consequently to employment.”
“From the declarations made so far it is pretty obvious that those participating in this manifestation have varying and contrasting objectives. It is reasonable and acceptable that today’s manifestation will focus on current corruption issues and on the recent developments concerning Keith Schembri, Chief of Staff of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who is doing his utmost to avoid the scrutiny of our Courts. It is also reasonable and acceptable to consider these developments in the context of the commemoration of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, on the 25th month since her assassination.”
“Corruption and her close relative bad governance are colour-blind. They go beyond today’s party in government and include yesterday’s party in government too, today in Opposition, as is even reflected in the investigative articles of Daphne Caruana Galizia, assassinated twenty-five months ago.”
“Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party is not only preoccupied with the corruption unfolding before our very eyes. We are also preoccupied with yesterday’s corruption and the theatrics in arraigning various persons to answer for their alleged crimes. The oil scandal, for example, uncovered in 2013 is still a long way from being concluded.”
“The cause of all this is weak and weakened institutions which require a major overhaul, which everyone speaks about but no one of those who have the power are, so far, willing to undertake.”
“AD’s participation in this public manifestation is an uncomfortable exercise as it signifies rubbing shoulders with those having substantially different views. Our presence is however essential to underline that not all those willing to speak up against corruption and in favour of defending the country’s reputation are tainted with a diluted credibility.”
***
Il-korruzzjoni u l-qariba viċina tagħha l-governanza ħażina m’għandhomx kulur
Alternattiva Demokratika illejla se tieħu sehem fid-dimostrazzjoni fil-Belt Valletta kontra l-korruzzjoni. B’referenza għal dan iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika Carmel Cacopardo qal:
“Alternattiva Demokratika qed tieħu sehem fil-manifestazzjoni tal-lejla kontra l-korruzzjoni għax hemm il-ħtieġa urġenti li lkoll flimkien pubblikament niddefendu r-reputazzjoni tal-pajjiż li hi taħt assedju. L-impatt aħħari ta’ dan kollu jkun impatt fit-tul fuq l-ekonomija u bħala konsegwenza ta’ dan fuq il-livell tal-impjiegi.”
“Huwa ovvju mid-dikjarazzjonijiet li saru diġa li dawk li qed jipparteċipaw f’din il-manifestazzjoni pubblika għandhom oġġettivi diversi u li jikkuntrastaw. Nifhmu u naqblu li l-manifestazzjoni se tiffoka fuq il-korruzzjoni tal-lum u fuq l-iżviluppi dwar il-każ ta’ Keith Schembri, Chief of Staff tal-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat, li qed jaħrab mill-lenti tal-Qrati. Nifhmu u naqblu li dan kollu għandu sinifikat ikbar fil-kuntest tat-tifkira tal-ġurnalista Daphne Caruana Galizia, f’għeluq ta’ xahar ieħor mill-assassinju tagħha.”
“Il-korruzzjoni u l-qariba viċina tagħha l-governanza ħażina m’għandhomx kulur. Imorru lil’hinn mill-partit politiku illum fil-Gvern u jinkludu ukoll lill-partit tal-Gvern tal-bieraħ, illum fl-Oppożizzjoni, kif anke rifless fil-kitbiet investigattivi ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia, assassinata bħal-lum ħamsa u għoxrin xahar.”
“Alternattiva Demokratika mhix biss ippreokkupata bil-korruzzjoni li qed tiżviluppa quddiem għajnejna illum. Aħna ippreokkupati ħafna ukoll dwar il-korruzzjoni tal-bieraħ li dwarha kellna teatrin biex ittellgħu n-nies il-Qorti biex iwieġbu għall-allegat għemilhom. L-iktar każ frisk f’moħħna, l-iskandlu dwar ix-xiri taż-żejt żvelat fl-2013 ma tantx jidher li hemm ċans li jkun konkluż fil-viċin.”
“Il-kawża ta’ dan kollu huma l-istituzzjonijiet dgħajfa u mdgħajfa li għandhom bżonn riforma mill-qiegħ: riforma li kulħadd jitkellem dwarha imma li ħadd minn dawk li għandhom il-poter ma daħal għaliha.”
“Il-preżenza tagħna f’din il-manifestazzjoni hi ftit skomda għax qed inħokku spalla ma spalla ma min għandu ideat sostanzjalment differenti minn dawn. Però hi preżenza essenzjali biex naffermaw li fil-pajjiż mhux kull min hu lest li jsemma’ leħnu kontra l-korruzzjoni u favur id-difiża tar-reputazzjoni tal-pajjiż hu imċappas b’nuqqas ta’ kredibilità.”
