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Eunuchs have always intrigued me. Eunuchs, I was brought up to believe, were compelled to have their testicles thrown away to allow for their freedom of movement within their masters’ harem. In some particular cases, eunuchs were called upon to sing romantic ballads in their effeminate vocals.
Well, the eunuchs are back in full force.
The reaction to this budget could have been a rehearsal for a conclave of eunuchs. Some media machines and some of the so-called social partners and the Opposition should be ashamed of themselves. Never before have we had to witness such a poor reaction against a Niagara of increased costs brought about by a fuel hike that has been coming for some time.
Together with the Opposition, the reaction to this amazing surcharge of not less than 50 per cent has been unbelievable, akin to some saying “ouch” after being decapitated.
I cannot understand how the GRTU, supposedly representing small business, has in all their wisdom taken such a mouse-like approach. With such hefty bills, small businesses will no longer be able to cope. Some will simply disappear or stop functioning.
“Why work for the zokk?” some say, rightly so.
The trophy for the most mild reaction definitely goes to the Federation of Industry. It sounded more like a complaint from the union of ballerinas. Industry is facing an uphill struggle with the price hikes and nothing in terms of incentives – the future appears bleak and yet the FOI can only croak.
It is not only the government that needs a change, but the people who run these associations. The disposition with the social partners to agree not to rock the boat is understandable. They are in their vast majority infatuated with the Lawrence Gonzi administration.
Since when is the government’s credibility supreme over the interest of the members? And when we all thought that the unions would do the worrying for us, their reaction to the surcharge has been arguably the quietest since the disappearance of the dodo.
And what about the withholding tax? Has anyone realised how this will lead to an inflationary effect and cost of living increase?
The GWU and worse still the UHM, have been lost in an ocean of buzzwords but do little more than hum feeble threats.
The Champions league award must however go to the Labour party. I have this uncanny feeling that most of the MLP back bench is either lost in staring at their bank statements and that the front bench is simply waiting for what the leader has to say.
And then we come to the Maltese media. In the real world, it is natural that the media take sides. In the case of this newspaper, you will discover that our first love is to our readers. No political allegiance in the foreseeable future.
So it is no great surprise that the Times is possibly the staunchest supporter of the Nationalist administration from what we have come to know as the independent press. Now, it is no secret that the Times has been close to the thinking and feelings of Profs Gwido De Marco. Those who have worked with the Times have talked of his divine and helpful intervention at times and his not so small influence in the way the editorials germinate.
All the other nasty rumours that he writes and vets the editorials are I would think, far-fetched. Gwido is not that kind of person and neither is the editor!
Yet, reading through the editorials one cannot deny that the Times’ bias has been unabashedly raw, very much like uncooked prawns marinated in Wardija olive oil and extinct Maltese garlic. The editorials have been so one-sided that someone concocted the fairy tale that they were scripted by someone with a brief from the Office of the Prime Minister. It could only be believed if it were true. I am sure it is false.
But the overwhelming fondness for the government does not stop with the leaders. The Prime Minister is suddenly pictured walking into church and his every movement documented as if the Times were the PM’s chronicle. Thankfully for all of us, most well-known churchgoers keep the praying part a private affair.
At least I never saw anyone tripping over to take a snapshot of Eddie rushing off to mass… and needless to say, Eddie would have felt uncomfortable and stopped it. It turns too sad to believe that someone in the media is still impressed with such Enid Blyton-styled marketing. It gets worse when the Times finds no one to blame but the Labour party for all the country’s ills and guess what: it comes at a time when the MLP can best be described as a carbon copy of Petain’s Vichy France – submissive, divided and incapable.
And if you dig deeper in the newspapers angle, it appears that the government is applauded for everything it concocts… stop: other than the doings and makings of one minister.
He comes by the name of Austin Gatt. It comes as no coincidence that the minister happens to be Big Bad Austin Gatt.
Things have to be put into perspective here. I was born 43 years ago, when the Times considered independent Malta the next best thing to drinking cod liver oil. So you will not blame me if I see ‘through’ this giant of a newspaper.
This newspaper is run by people, and people have fancies and pet hates, some of whom have served and served very well in the campaign team of Profs De Demarco and more so, daddy’s son.
So when I read an editorial that hits out at BBAG and starts to resemble like something out of MaltaToday, I take out my amateur archaeologist kit and dig deeper. Is it a coincidence that daddy’s boy is indeed not a PN candidate in Gharb, Gozo but in the same district as… BBAG?
Now BBAG is a man you can call names and describe as brash and rude and so on. But a Gonzi government run without BBAG and championed only by the Zammit Dimechs, Deguaras, Tonio Borgs, Georges and the Giovannas of this world would be a remake of the worst of the Borg Olivier years.
Love him or loath him, Gatt is a doer, has a plan, knows about deadlines and does not worry – at least for the moment – about his electoral chances. Compared to some of his cabinet ministers who wouldn’t slay a malaria-carrying mosquito if it voted PN, Gatt means business and in this country we need people like that.
You do not have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate that there are people who are close to the Times who wouldn’t mind favouring Dr Gatt’s closest constituency rival. To say such a thing may be considered brash. But it is a fair comment in the circumstances.
I recall that one time, when for my sins I served as editor of the Circle – the coffee table magazine inserted in the Sunday Times – I was landed with a decision that I could not change. It was some days before the 2003 election, and for the front page I was asked to place the mugshot of daddy’s boy. Here out of the blue, on the eve of an election, he was telling his life history as if his evolution was crucial to the political developments in the eighties and nineties.
What worries PN oldtimers is that the idea of painting dark clouds over BBAG is not only a case of editorial policy but something more sinister.
Back to what BBAG has to say about the MSCED: he did say it is a talking shop. With hindsight he is probably right. It cannot be otherwise. In former years, it was John Dalli who chaired the MSCED. The MSCED has since been without a senior government minister as chair. The present MSCED chairman does not have the charisma or muscle to direct policy and the end result reflects much of what BBAG had to say.
I have this creepy feeling that this administration is spending more time on spin, control and visibility in contrast to explaining, bridging and content. There is no real world anymore. Everything is choreographed, everyone is an actor and even the eunuchs are turning out to be fakes.
To Oskar’s chagrin, I have no one left to turn to, but to the virtual pussycat on my monitor. I click…miao, miao, it meekly replies!
sbalzan@mediatoday.com.mt
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