It is all about who you are... or not?

Well it could happen to all of us. Could it not? Driving in a car and unexpectedly you hit someone. U iva I did not mean it. 

But traditionally if this does happen your car is impounded and kept under lock and key in some dingy police parking area until further investigations are concluded. Only God knows when you will see your car back. Years back an aquaintance on a jet ski accidentally killed a fellow friend on another jet ski; he was not allowed to return to England for the record time of six months until all investigations were concluded here in Malta.

You could be sailing your boat into harbour at 10am and unknowingly you carelessly drive your boat over an unassuming 81-year-old who is fishing from his smallish boat. It could happen to all of us.

But wait a minute, can anyone guarantee that we will treated in the same manner by the courts, the AFM, the police and the MMA? The same person who killed an 81 year old had his sailing boat returned to him in record time. I am curious to see if this procedure is applied to every unfortunate bloke who manslaughters someone at sea.

It is a taboo to raise this particular incident in public. I wonder why? Why? Are certain people beyond reproach? And yes I am talking about John Zarb, the man who allegedly manslaughtered Mr Gatt Baldacchino - by accident of course. I have no problems stating that I have never heard of such a hasty court inquiry and such a super quick release of a vessel.

The next thing we should be expected to hear: U iva the unfortunate man was 81, it did not really matter. It seems so!

It took a record two hours for the court expert to release the vessel. X'espert dan? Wonder if Joe Bloggs will be afforded the same courtesy.

And the story I am afraid repeats itself with so many other things. It makes a difference it seems as to who you are and from where you come from. Whether you are waiting in a queue to get served or waiting for some needy drug to cure your ailment.  It is all about who you are. This country which we love and hate in very much the same dose, has this amazing ability to make distinctions based on apparently how one looks or percieved. 

And this goes to prove that the fundamental issue facing this small Republic, is all about democratisation and equality.