Chamber of Commerce urges Prime Minister to do the right thing

The Malta Chamber of Commercehas called on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to “rise to the occasion and do the honourable thing expected of a true stateman” in a fresh bid by the business community for the PM to step down immediately.

The Chamber said it was making the call for Muscat’s immediate resignation on behalf of all upstanding and ethical businesses on the island.

“There are defining moments in history that determine the future trajectory of a country, and Malta is currently in one such moment,” the Chamber said. “This is when the integrity of our leaders matters most, when so many people are genuinely upset and feel profoundly betrayed, when flattery is out of place and provocation is dangerous.”

“It is the humility to bow out promptly, modestly and responsibly without any shadow of a doubt that distinguishes the statesman from the self-serving politician. This applies to all politicians irrespective of which political party they are from and whether in power or in opposition.  The independence of the country’s institutions is another serious objective we have all come to appreciate more.”

The Chamber said it appreciated the Prime Minister recognising the gravity of the situation, that has implicated his office and his person. His announced resignation was the right thing to do.

“The Prime Minister has claimed that he intended to vacate his position in January, which means that he remains head of Government till then.  In a separate communication however he has also informed journalists that he shall only be taking care of day-to-day matters until  his formal resignation.  This has unfortunately brought the country to a standstill,  characterised by a level of uncertainty which we seldom experienced in the past.”

This sense of prolonged uncertainty for businesses and investment, is rendered even more serious by the negative attention our country is attracting, with potentially unimaginable consequences. The hiatus the country has descended into must be lifted, the Chamber said.

“Thus, on behalf of all hard-working entrepreneurs and ethical businesses, who provide jobs and a livelihood for thousands of Maltese families, the Malta Chamber calls on the Prime Minister to once again rise to the occasion and do the honourable thing expected of a true statesman,” it said.

“The Prime Minister can bring an end to this stalemate the country has crashed into.  Within the context of current confusion and instability, history will remember him for it.”