Malta’s reputation is at a low ebb. The impact of the uncertainty that characterised the last few weeks is still putting our economy and jobs at risk. It will not be easy to bring our country’s reputation back to where it was where it was respected. Our reputation is not totally under our control. 

The rebuilding of a country’s reputation is not done through the presentation of a national policy that bears fruit at the local level. 

We need to fix the damage that was done to our country’s image. Our foreign policy needs to focus on convincing other countries that Malta is truly working to strengthen its weaknesses, particularly through institutional reform, increased accountability and increased transparency. 

We need to work to attract interest in our country again, before we attract investment. There is currently no interest in Malta let alone investment. We have to start over and this is an issue of concern for all. Each and every one of us needs to move on and see that progress is made.  However, this is not happening yet. 

No one knows when normality will reign again in Malta. The saga of the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia is still ongoing and each court sitting reveals new information, some of it shocking. This story has yet to come to an end. 

For Malta’s reputation to recover, the Government led by Prime Minister Robert Abela must address the issue of the rule of law, must see that justice is done as it should be so that we can move forward, must make the necessary reforms and, where required, make a clean sweep as well as strengthen our weak institutions.  

Above all, a Government led by a new Prime Minister must see to it that there is transparency, especially in connection with Government contracts. This will avoid another scandal like the sale of the hospitals to Vitals. 

The Dalai Lama said that A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity. An apt quote given what we have been through!