Personally I believe that whoever enters Parliament wants to better the life and conditions of the Maltese Islands and its inhabitants. Our Islands have seen tremendous steps forward in all aspects of our life, including our Social Services, Health Services and Industry.

In a word I believe that our Islands and we as the general public have benefited hugely from when we achieved our Independence and became a Republic.

Whenever I went abroad for conferences and meetings and I mentioned our Islands’ free child care, educational and health systems, plus our workforce equipped with the latest technology and conditions, many were simply amazed that an Island so small without any resources whatsoever can achieve so much.

Politicians Remain Active

I believe that former politicians never leave their active participation in public life and interests in politics. This is something that clings in their blood and veins all their lives.

As these former members are not any more tied by party policies and rules, these people can provide and give much more honest and sound advice.

Personally I remained active in politics as General Secretary of the Former Parliamentarians Committee and Representative as Delegate in the European and Council of Europe Former Members Association in which I was also elected as President for the period of 2 years and till now an Honorary President.

It was just last month that due to my health issues, I tendered in my resignation after many years as Association Secretary to the Association President and to the Hon Mr Speaker whom the Association falls under.

The Association held several Conferences in Malta and as a Gozitan also in Gozo. We also hosted the Canadian former members in our Islands when I booked them at the “Kempinski Hotel” which they very much enjoyed.

Last Committee Commitment

The last Committee commitment was a series of suggestions that the Former Members Association submitted to the Hon Prime Minister and the Hon Leader of the Opposition several months ago.

A meeting with the Hon Leader of the Opposition was held by the President Dr. Noel Buttigieg Scicluna, Dr Francis Aguis (delegate) and myself.

After discussions on several points the only proposal that the Leader of the Opposition agreed with was only one item “That the Political Parties be subsidised financially by the State.”

All other suggestions were disregarded.

Personally I found this strange and I also believe that the Opposition Leader did not even read or consider the suggestions submitted.

The Hon Prime Minister has not even responded to the Association’s request even after many months has passed since the Association wrote to him and even telephoned his office for the said meeting.

List of Suggestions

I am therefore submitting the following list of suggestions that the Former Parliamentarians have proposed to our Political Leaders for the further perusal and comments.

Finally, I do suggest that when former political heavyweights, such as Dr Alfred Sant, Mr Evarist Bartolo, Dr Christian Zammit and Mr Jesmond Marmara and several others air their views on general political subjects. One has to open their eyes, ears and mind.

A general review is much needed for a better approach and a better way of life for one and all.

The list of the submitted comments follows below:

It is the wish that the Association of Former Members of Parliament, which Association continued to interest itself in the management of the highest institution of the Country, the Parliament, transmit its opinions on how it understands that it should be formulated both the Parliament itself and the Elected Members.

The attitudes, behaviours, choice and regulations that relate both to Candidates before they are given approval by the Political Parties they will represent as well as for when they are approved, and also when the choice of Members has been made by the public. The Association of Former Members of Parliament is convinced that they have a vital and essential part to promote and protect the ideals of how there should be a general improvement for a better Parliament and Politics in the Country, including Social Benefits and Economic Progress both locally and internationally.

Although the time for Members to participate in Local Elections has passed, many Former Members of Parliament still contribute in one way or another to the evolution of policies in their respective Parties. This takes place in the form of dialogue and writing with opposing colleagues where they can put forward their ideas and principles freely so that they may still represent the needs of their former communities and constituents.

These are some of the points that the Maltese Association arrived at after several discussions:

The Choice

The Political Parties must first and foremost properly and completely vet each candidate who shows his/her own interest in participating by placing his/her name with a preferred Party. When a person is showing interest, it means that he/she knows what he/she is going for and is ready to make those sacrifices that a contestant has to make. The choice will be that of the person without any pushing or pressure because they are professional or popular in the particular district.

It is happening that several candidates are being pushed to contest without having the genuine willingness to work and make the sacrifices that a person elected to Parliament has to make with dedication during the legislature. The input of work from these person/s is missing, without such effort or contribution, damage is being done the candidate and the party they represent.

The Parties must create internal systems to prepare each prospective participant the Parliament’s regulations – what do the procedures mean – what to expect as soon as they enter the Parliament – what does the first speech that one wants to make mean – the Constitution of the country – the regulations and procedures of the Parliament – the debates how and what must be done – the updates and participation in them, etc.etc.

These much needed preparations should first be made by the political parties before the elections and by the Parliament as soon as a person is elected. Currently every person who is being elected for the first time is not being properly prepared. The Association understands that these preliminary points are of importance for the better performance for those who will enter political life and thus a person will know why he entered voluntarily and not forced.

Governmental Funding

The Association is of the understanding that for the future the “Necessary Funding” should be given to Political Parties so that there are no obligations to any “Individuals” or “Private Firms” that support a Party in Government and the Opposition under obligations . This step is essential for Honest Governance – Transparency is an important prerequisite for a better future.

Personal and Family Assets

The Association has been noticing the sadness and humiliation that a Member of Parliament goes through every year when his/her personal assets must be put on the Table of the Parliamentary House. The Association understands that this procedure does not serve anything except for the general public to speculate about one person and another on the wealth or poverty that they may have. This is done without any effective result since no verification researches are carried out regarding the entry or exit of the individuals concerned. All that is happening is that something personal is being exposed in public without verification and with no value, only speculation, envy and reproach.

The suggestions of the Association are that each Deputy should submit the assets of all relatives who live within the family to the Auditor General. He will then verify their authenticity, and only in the case that he finds any anomalies in the submission that a person has declared, will then present his findings to the Chamber’s Table. Only in this way and with this system will the individual’s privacy be protected, as well as a more serious and genuine verification being carried out by a competent Authority. This will protect elected individuals from the ridicule and contempt they can currently be exposed to.

Last but not least any Member of Parliament or Trust Officer in a Ministerial position must not hold any share in the name of any Company or Enterprise. There should never ever be any doubts about conflicts of interest.

Conditions For Elected Members

When individuals who are skilled and interested in entering public life, they all see and verify with financial calculations that exist in Parliament and those in private. So far as the conditions are, a person finds that the remuneration of the Members of Parliament is ridiculously absurd and bears no comparison to the remuneration offered in the private sector. This applies especially to those who have a family and already enjoy an income much higher than that offered by Parliament. It is ridiculous that a Prime Minister, Minister, Members, have a much lower income than the Officers, Heads and Chairmen who fall under the leadership of the same Ministers. In fact a Member of Parliament’s income is being calculated on a part-time basis with an income of scale 10, which is the same as a clerk.

The work of a Member of Parliament is much more important than this and should not continue, we therefore suggest that this gross anomaly be remedied as soon as possible, preferably in the next election.

Suggestions for the Future

The Association understands that in order for the Country to prosper and have more people of a certain capacity to contest in future elections, there must be the following conditions:

That every Member of Parliament should be appointed on a Full Time basis.

That a Member of Parliament should/should be entitled to a pension if he has served a legislature, even one when they reach the established age. The anomaly that Members of Parliament who have worked more than the stipulated time to be given the Pension when they retire – there are those who are not given these pensions because because they have entered Parliament at a mature age, then the whole time is not is given to them. Thus they remain without taking their Pensions. This should also be taken into consideration where they are given the pension. A pension should be given “Pro Rata of the time he is a Member of Parliament even when he enters by a random election.”

That the wages are formulated in such a way that those who occupy a place in the High Institution are remunerated with an appropriate income – which income attracts a person of a high level in education – behavior and interest in a good and prospective contribution to the Country. When these regulations and remunerations come in, no Member of Parliament will be able in one way or another to do private work during the Legislation, except for the Doctors who will be able to give some work in the Government Hospitals when there is no Sessions of the Parliament voluntarily and without payment.

Nor should the Elected Members be given any other Commission in any Committees – Boards – etc. etc. They should concentrate only on the Parliamentary work. With the exception of Doctors that they can keep themselves up to date and not lose their skills. No one will be able to practice Advocacy – Appraisals – Notaries – etc. etc. These professions during the Legislature will be serving people of bad character – speculators, Companies, etc. etc. they are influencing Members of Parliament in their decisions. These practices in the opinion of the Association are destroying the good and credit that the Supreme Institution is supposed to lead by example. So far this could not be done since the remuneration of Members of Parliament and those of the Opposition are so poor that they do not allow Members of Parliament to live a decent life with the financial income from Parliament.

The Association also notes that any person who approaches Members of Parliament or Ministers on aspects of investment or property, should have their discussions recorded and minutes the of meetings taken.

M.E.P’s. Elected representatives in the European Parliament should, while keeping close to the political groups of which they are members, primarily work together for the good of their country.

Association Proposals Regarding This

All Elected Members will be on a Full Time basis.

That the remunerations reflect the high position of those elected.

That every Member of Parliament should be provided with an office with at least two full-time employees with them in order to carry out all the necessary studies and researches.

That the behavior of each Member should be an exemplary one as well as that the behavior both outside and in the Parliament should be supervised by Authorities of the Chair or nominated by the same Chair. Mr Speaker should not allow accusations to be made in Parliament, i.e. mudslinging, by any Deputy if they are made without any basis but only when they are made in a speculative way.

Parliament should also provide assistance to the families of Members or ex-Members who have either died or were not elected and this in order to continue to strengthen and encourage citizens to contest our elections. There were several cases on both sides, where the family members and children were left without the financial help which was sorely needed.

Pensions/Protocol

The Association is insisting on the suggestions it has already made and submitted for several years, that the Pension is granted to Parliamentarians when the retirement age is reached. In the case of death, the pension is given to the Widow/Widow or Partner with the already established system.

That even after a person ceases to be a Member of Parliament, they must continue to hold the title of Honourable as well as enter officially in the list of the Protocol of the Country in an appropriate manner that requires the position of a person who has occupied the best position in the Country.

This is always of course providing that the ex-Member does not have any case of corruption against him. The system that gives 6 months pay after Ministers leave Parliament should also be extended to the other Members of Parliament.

Transparency – Responsibility

To avoid suspicions about good and open leadership where the public an begin to have more trust and respect towards the Parliament and the Parliamentarians, there is a strong need that in general the contracts and certain agreements that have been made, should be published in the their entirety to provide full public transparency.

With regret the Association notes that there are instances where contracts are not being published due to some excuse or other that there is commercial sensitivity, or something else, they are creating doubts about the open management of the administration. Justified or not.

Therefore the Association is suggesting that systems should be created that give more transparency and responsibility where much more transparent systems are established that involve contracts or distribution of the properties of the Public to Third Parties.

Since the People are becoming much more aware about the Environment – the Culture – the history and the Historical Heritage that our country enjoys, the Parliament should pay much more attention to the complaints about these of the people and the Environmentalists.

It needs to give a much more aggressive push so that substantial funding is made and voted to continue for the researches in the Archives of the Libraries so that the glorious past of our Country becomes more well known.

That the Parliament gives much more importance to landscapes – villages – cities – old and cultural buildings. That the countryside is maintained with a farming permit where they continue to work on the land so that a natural environment is maintained.

That in the villages the Village Core is maintained and does not change. If this is not done our country will lose its entire character. This ends once and for all. Government Lands should not be given to a private person without full consultations with the various Entities.

The people are not happy that public land is given to a private person for a particular purpose and after some time it is changed to a commercial one by changing the previous purposes. These procedures should be changed where the land belonging to the public is protected. Therefore, the system where Government Lands are given must only occur after a public referendum gives their approval, such referendums are held at the end of each year in Switzerland.

The only exceptions should be when the Public Land is going to become a National project by the State.

The Committee also understands that absolutely no Building Permit or any permit for Businesses in the Outside Development Zone should be given. The regulations are already there. What is needed is to observe the laws and immediately enforce every case of their violation.

Records of Agents/Companies with Ministers

A list must also be kept of the persons representing any Company or Firm from the Ministry who are meeting with him/her. This is essential in order to maintain order and so that everything is recorded as being in order.

Parliament and Attendance

The most valuable and transparent thing to occur in Parliament was when the Speaker’s Office became independent and no longer fell under the leadership and authority of Parliamentarians. Thus the Office of Mr. Speaker has been working independently and not under the authority of the Parliamentarians. Thus a Democratic and much more transparent system was created than existed in the past.

The Association is of the opinion that Question Time should be extended. Members will be able to put one or two follow up questions only. Others can also put questions not only the same two other questions on the same subject. Thus more members will be able to participate in the discussion and give their opinions.

Another step forward was made when Parliament introduced the televised system of hearings and working groups. This is giving the people an opportunity to see and hear how the Parliament works. We feel that even here there is a need for there to be much more prudence and to stop the insults or scolding between the parties. This does not do and does not give support to these Committees.

If the system changes and the Members of Parliament come on a Full-Time basis, Parliament should start functioning during the day during the week. The Parliament Building must be family friendly and in a way that makes it accessible to female Members of Parliament, especially those who are parents/mothers, so that there are the necessary facilities. A Child Carers Centre system is created for Members of Parliament with Children where the need exists.

Another suggestion is that in the Parliament Building there should be a Kitchen/Dining Hall that provides food at certain times during a day of sessions as soon as the Parliament is functioning during the hours of the day.

Accountability

Every Member of Parliament must be accountable and transparent in every obligation and position he is in charge of. Especially if they involve finances/public contracts. In this way, any doubt of the lack of transparency that may arise from the public, can be verified in a substantive and accurate way.

The trust of the people is on some occasions losing the respect and trust it has both in Parliament and Parliamentarians. Therefore, there should be a solid – continuous and wise vigilance to remove these doubts and suspicions and show that things in the Parliament are being managed wisely and according to the satisfactory regulations that a serious Parliament follows.

The Association understands the importance of each Ministry maintaining impartiality and seriousness whenever a Ministry hires or seconds Employees or persons in the Ministry that it manages.

The Association understands that no Ministry should employ Family Members in the positions of his/her Ministry. The Ministry is a Government Department and should never be considered a Family Business. The Public is very much against Family Members being Employed in the Ministry or in high positions if they fall under the Head of the Family Member/s.

The Association also understands that no Minister should be in any employment of any Companies – Enterprises or in any other employment for 5 years after he ends as a Minister of those who used to fall under the departments he was leading.

It should be given a day every Sunday where the Public can visit the Parliament during the Day or Half Day. This can be the following Saturday or as may be established by the Office of Mr Speaker. The public will be accompanied by a Person who has knowledge of the Parliament and Its Procedures.

The Association is not generally in favour of any quotas for women to enter Parliament as Members, as we understand that this system can be unfair to male candidates if some of them get more votes than Female Contestants, but the female is chosen because of its gender orientation.

The Association understands that a person is elected on his/her merits no matter what.

Therefore the Association is proposing that if the Parliament really wishes to increase the female presence in the Parliament, while as the Association has already claimed that it does not agree with this system, since it will happen, we are proposing this which follows:

a) That 5 women contestants from each Party that manages to get into Parliament, or in this case where there are more than two Parties, in a proportional way. For those who do not go up but have contested the general election, in two consecutive legislatures, the Parliament must nominate those women who have obtained the most votes with the Parties they have contested.

b) This way the Parliament is introducing and giving an opportunity to the female gender to participate for no more than 10 years and thus there will be enough time for each individual to be able to show their skills.

c) This process should only be for two terms of legislation’s and then it will be stopped.

Broadcasting

Since there are always complaints from the Party that is in the Opposition about the Broadcasting not being Fair and Balanced, the Politicians should see if the time has come that this State Enterprise should not fall under the management of the Office of the President.

The Parliament should take care to stop in any form speeches of insinuations without a solid basis of verification, particularly derogatory/defamatory words.

Transparency

1) Both the People and the Media must be given all the information about every contract of Land Grants or any Big Projects that are done in their name. After all, the Members in the Government and Opposition are elected by the people who need to know what is being signed or given in their name.

2) Therefore every single Contract must be approved by the People before any contract is signed.

Means of the Average

1) Since the Media plays a basic part in the process for the democratic system, it is necessary that they recruit Professional Workers who are capable of making demands and questions in an intelligent way and not Partisan as it is being done. Many so-called Journalists continue to repeat the same questions over and over with a political purpose and goal only. So much more serious journalists than these supposed Journalists are needed.

2) In this way more Accountability is introduced – This is most important for our Islands and the General Public.

The Ombudsman

1) The Association understands that as soon as a person is appointed as Ombudsman or any Equivalent Position, they must be given the power so that their sentences are immediately executed and implemented.

3) They must have the Power to make them as well as the sentences they give, with force and binding. It does not matter what it costs to appoint the Ombudsman or similar necessary posts.

4) This does not detract from the rights of Individual/s who can also turn to the Courts to request remedies.

The Courts

Since we prepared these suggestions several reforms have been made by the Government in the Courts systems, we are therefore limiting our observations with these points:

1) That there are specialists hired to make the necessary reforms in and of the antiquated laws that should not now exist in our Courts.

2) That while the onus is given to Courts/Magistrates/Judges and Lawyers, the Association understands that the main onus should be with the citizen.

3) The present systems are not adequately in favour of the citizen, but only on the professionals who work in the Courts.

4) The citizen cannot understand how cases can last for so many years when a person is brought to Court with an accusation and also that cases take many more years to be sentenced.

5) Some Professionals who work in the Court should be careful not to profit from clients’ properties. Therefore the Authorities of the Courts must be much more vigilant in what is happening around them and under their eyes.

6) The citizen looks to the Courts as the shield of protection of his/her rights and therefore it is very important that Parliament and the Senior Officials of the Courts see that the system is working correctly.

The Presidency

1) The Association is not in favour of the President of the Country being appointed by popular vote. If this is done, the electoral system will be changing like the American or French one, where the President has “Almost Absolute Power.”

2) The Association understands that the best system is for the President to be neutral and outside of Politics.

The Prime Minister’s Office

1) The Association understands that Civil Servants should be the basis for the democratic system in every Legislature and Government.

2) Ministries should limit how many trust workers they employ with them. We understand that this is important in management, but the the rights of all of our civil workers must be protected.

3) In this way the Governmental systems continue to run in an orderly manner and according to the country’s regulations.

4) In specific cases when a civil servant is found to have a conflict of interest in their position they must be immediately replaced.

5) Therefore the Association understands the need that Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries must have their trust workers – understood with the outlined limitation.

The Introduction of New Blood

1) Last and not least the Association would like to put to the discussion a suggestion if Ministers in Office should make two or three Legislators only. This is in order to introduce new and innovative blood in the posts.

2) This is a suggestion that the Association understands should be discussed in a mature and intelligent way both by the Politicians themselves and by the Public.

Lino DeBono,

Former Secretary of the Former Members of Parliament

Permalink: What I believe, by Lino DeBono