Interview • 02 February 2003

Soldiering on for heritage

Martin Scicluna is an often outspoken retired UK Ministry of Defence civil servant and British army man, now spearheading Din L-Art Helwa’s fight to preserve Malta’s historical and natural heritage. He told Julian Manduca what he thinks of life in Malta

Martin Scicluna is retired, but has no intention of slowing down. That may be somewhat hard to believe from someone who was responsible for counter terrorism in Northern Island within the British Ministry of Defence during the time when violent campaigning was at its height.

Martin Scicluna marks that as a high period of his career together with his time as spokesperson for British Defence Secretary of State Michael Hestletine, when the nuclear debate was at its height and Scicluna had to confront the Greenham Common women and change public opinion about the desirability of UK’s nuclear programme.

Scicluna brought all the negotiating skills he sharpened during his long career to Malta a few years ago and has shown that he is not prepared to mince his words about Malta’s inability to organise itself in a coherent manner.

One year ago, in a now famous speech Scicluna coined the phrase ‘private affluence and public squalor’ to aptly describe much of Malta’s landscape, environment and cultural heritage. He had also said that Malta’s "prime deficiencies lie in leadership, organisation and co-ordination."

Scicluna will soon – February 22 - address the AGM of Din L-Art Helwa and his speech promises to be as plain-speaking as any before.

I caught up with Martin Scicluna Wednesday and he told me he stands by his statements of a year ago. I asked him whether he believes his clarion call had fallen on deaf years: "I would like to think people’s minds are now more focused on issues related to cultural heritage and the environment.

"I regard the setting up of the National Commission for Sustainable Development and the Committee of Guarantee under the cultural Heritage Act as indicative of that awareness - albeit neither of them have delivered anything yet."

While Martin Scicluna is not impressed by the leadership qualities of the political class in Malta, he would not commit himself to a direction for Malta’s future.

Being the Executive President of a non-political organisation that operates on a national level and sometimes has to walk a fine tightrope, Scicluna would not be drawn to taking sides on EU membership or who he would like to see winning the next election.

He did, however, say: "the mood of the people is in favour of EU membership, but such is the polarisation in Maltese politics that the result of the forthcoming election is too close to call."

But Scicluna is concerned about the problems Malta faces whether we join the EU or not and still sees a leadership problem.

"I look for manifestation of leadership through the exercise of political will and I don’t see it – one only has to look at the way in which governments have dealt with hunters and trappers and those that have illegal boathouses to see what I mean."

Anyone who has lived in Malta for even a short time will be excused for thinking that those who should be leading this country have abdicated their responsibility in certain areas and strictly speaking should resign. I asked Scicluna if he thinks the culture of taking on political responsibility and accountability will ever take root in Malta.

"The problem is that politicians will only respond to what they believe will threaten their position in power and the public and civil society must be vociferous enough to make those in power understand that if they don’t do what is expected of them they will be ejected."

It, of course, occurs to me that EU regulations and directives may be one thing that would move Maltese politicians to action: "The discipline which EU regulations and standards will set will focus politicians’ minds and cause them to change their priorities," Scicluna concurred.

Din L-Art Helwa’s official position on the EU and its advice to its members is that: "On balance we believe that Malta’s entry into the EU would benefit our cultural and environmental heritage. It would be preferable to remaining outside the EU."

Does Martin Scicluna think we have any good politicians?

"There are some good individuals, but they don’t seem to be able to get their act together."

Not many people have had the opportunity to get a close look at both Alfred Sant and Eddie Fenech Adami, but Martin Scicluna had the possibility to work with both as adviser on – mostly military - security matters.

Security is certainly something on people’s minds since September 11, but Scicluna is not alarmed by arguments that Malta could be a target.

"In the widest sense – not military security, but more importantly economic and social security – the upholding of the rule of law - are of vital importance to Malta and what every government should be striving to achieve.

"It would be wrong to focus on military security because I really believe there is no threat to Malta. Nor can I conceive of any scenario that could alter this assessment.

"Our geographical position leads me to believe that Malta could be the victim of a proxy attack – other nationals could be attacked while they are in Malta – but I don’t envisage an attack on Malta directly."

Well a terrorist attack on anyone could be disastrous for Malta and I asked Martin Scicluna whether he had any advice on how one could be prevented:

"The key to any counter terrorism is good intelligence – our links with other intelligence organisations must be good and constant."

Is Bush making the world a safer place I ask: "The short answer is yes. But, I don’t think that what Bush is doing will affect us except economically.

"In the long run Bush will be making the world a safer place, but there will be short term destabilising impacts and Malta will be affected economically – tourism in particular."

Martin Scicluna was impressed with both Eddie Fenech Adami and Alfred Sant and believes both are very committed to Malta. "Eddie Fenech Adami must be praised for making Malta a more pluralist society and giving our economy and infrastructure the boost they needed. He has a vision for this country."

His experience with Alfred Sant: "I was able to observe what a quick mind he has - he certainly radically improved the organisation and focus of the Armed Forces of Malta."

Martin Scicluna’s return to Malta was not long ago. Is he impressed by what he found: "Living in the UK – which is not a big country – there is much less personal involvement than here. Here, we tend to get more involved with one another and everything is therefore more polarised. If I could change one thing I would like to see a more considered approach to other people’s views – we are so intolerant in Malta.

"Although the country has done relatively well economically, we seem to suffer from two penalties: we have been very careless with our environment and cultural heritage; and people have become more egotistical, which is manifested in a general lack of courtesy."

One of Scicluna’s best-remembered suggestions was the suggestion that the army should be engaged in a massive clean up exercise and the suggestion is seriously being considered by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, George Pullicino.

The idea did not receive support from everyone, but Martin Scicluna points out that by no means was he suggesting that the army should remain responsible for keeping Malta clean.

"The idea is that the army would take on a crisis action lasting three or four months. The army has the resources, equipment, discipline and organisational capabilities to do the job.

"I would hope the initial impetus would encourage the central government and the Local Councils to cope with keeping Malta clean. The difficulty at the moment is that because the island is so shabby it almost encourages us to dump and litter. But if the Islands were cleaned properly by the army I would be hopeful that tideness would be maintained."

Is Scicluna content with Malta’s record of looking after its historical buildings?

"No. We could do so much better. I’m hopeful the new Heritage Malta organisation will be able to do better, but in the final analysis it is all about the kind of resources, both financial and human, that are allocated to do the job. So far we have made a fairly hesitant start. I am hopeful that in the long term things will improve."