System has not failed – Justice minister argues

By Kurt Sansone

Flying in the face of criticism Justice Minister Austin Gatt does not believe that the allegations of bribery against former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and Judge Patrick Vella amount to a failure of the system. "What we have witnessed is strictly personal," he told MaltaToday.

The appointment of a new Chief Justice was announced yesterday after a three-week hiatus while the Prime Minister was visiting Australia.

Justice Minister Austin Gatt told MaltaToday that since appointments to the Bench are made by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister it was necessary to wait for Dr Fenech Adami’s return from abroad.

Reacting to calls for a reform in the method of appointments of members of the judiciary, Dr Gatt pointed out that different systems exist in different countries and the system adopted in Malta is similar to that existing in many other countries.

Dr Gatt cautioned about missing the wood for the trees. "What we have witnessed is not a failure of the system, which has in fact served this country admirably for a good number of years and produced top notch members of the judiciary in all senses of the word. What we have witnessed is strictly personal and moving the goal posts will not make that simple fact disappear."

Dr Gatt was answering questions put to him prior to the announcement that Judge Vincet Degaeatano was appointed Chief Justice.

kurt@maltamag.com