The judiciary and business

Some business organisations have said that the case over the two judges will have a negative effect on commerce and investment.

The outlook and opinion of the Chamber of Commerce is more positive in that it believes that this situation has been dealt with in the most professional of manners by all the authorities concerned, including the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the police and the Commission for the Administration of Justice.

The chamber also acknowledges the role of the secret service in bringing these unfortunate matters to light. The facts developing over this past week or so have amply demonstrated that local systems and procedures deliver and that no Maltese citizen is, or may be, considered to be above the law.

This should contribute towards enhancing the credibility of our country rather than impairing it. The chamber strongly believes that Malta does not need to give any proof to the world in terms of credibility and that this is not lost as a result of isolated incidents, no matter how serious they are.

It is a fact that in recent years, Malta has not managed to secure the level of foreign direct investment flows which it deserves.

However, the chamber is convinced, and has expressed itself extensively on the subject, that this is not due to the country's credibility.

Over the years, Malta has managed to attract and keep a reasonable level of foreign-owned companies, most of which have been recently expanding.

The economic environment and conditions offered by the country have, in the main, encouraged these companies to stay in Malta, expand and consolidate rather than discontinue their local operations to relocate elsewhere.

While echoing the same sentiments of astonishment and disbelief which are currently being felt across the entire country, the chamber reiterates that it does not believe that the controversy will affect business and commerce in any particular way.

Imports and exports are envisaged to emerge unscathed. In the same way, consumer expenditure is not expected to be directly affected.

Rather, it is anticipated that the current gain in momentum will continue to intensify.

Investors should be encouraged by the manner in which this case was brought to light and treated thus far.

The chamber therefore continues to envisage that these circumstances will, ultimately, have a neutral effect on the local business community which is expected to carry on in its functions in an entirely normal manner.