In view of what has been happening recently in the Ministry of the Interior, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “The issue of real transparency is becoming a grave concern in our country. While the ombudsman has taken the initiative to investigate complaints with regards to promotions in the Army, Minister Mallia is trying to stop him from doing so on the grounds that it is not the Ombudsman’s remit to initiate the investigations. The Minister is also refusing to give the motivations behind the transfer of a police sergeant from Gozo to Malta and back again to Gozo, all in one day. Minister Mallia should stop trying to hide the real motivations behind such behaviour.

“Considering also that Minister Konrad MIzzi is refusing to publish the Electrogas contract, Minister Owen Bonnici is blocking the publication of the Henley citizenship contract and Prime Minister Muscat has been negotiating secretly in Brussels to moor a gas tanker 12 kms away from Malta whilst telling us in Malta that this is impossible, we are witnessing a real attack on openness and transparency.

“Transparency and disclosure are the hallmarks of a vibrant democracy,” concluded Prof. Cassola.

…

Fil-kuntest ta’ dak li kien qiegħed jiġri dan l-aħħar fil-Ministeru tal-Intern, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Il-kwistjoni tat-trasparenza vera qed issir kwistjoni reali f’pajjiżna. Filwaqt li l-ombudsman ħa l-inizjattiva biex jinvestiga ilmenti dwar promozzjonijiet fl-Armata, il-Ministru Mallia qiegħed jipprova jwaqqfu milli jagħmel dan għax qal li mhux xogħol l-Ombudsman li jibda investigazzjonijiet. Il-Ministru qiegħed ukol jirrifjuta li jiżvela x’kienu r-raġunijiet wara t-trasferiment ta’ suġent tal-pulizija minn Għawdex għal Malta umbagħad lura għal Għawdex, u dan kollu f’temp ta’ ġurnata. Il-Ministru Mallia jeħtieġ li jieqaf jipprova jaħbi r-raġunijiet veri wara għaġir ta’ din ix-xorta.

“Meta tikkunsidra wkoll li l-Ministru Konrad Mizzi ma jridx jippubblika l-kuntratt tal-Electrogas, il-Ministru Owen Bonnici qiegħed iżomm il-pubblikazzjoni tal-kuntratt taċ-ċittadinanza ta’ Henley u l-Prim Ministru Muscat kien qiegħed jinnegozja bil-moħbi fi Brussell biex jankra tanker tal-gass 12 -il kilometru ‘l bogħod minn Malta, filwaqt li f’Malta jgħidilna li dan mhux possibbli, qed naraw attakk reali fuq it-trasparenza u politika fil-miftuħ.

“It-trasparenza u l-imġieba miftuħa għall-iskrutinju huma l-pedamenti ta’ demokrazija ħajja,” temm jgħid il-Prof. Cassola.