Government’s silence on FOI requests undermines transparency and accountability
Momentum expresses deep concern at the government’s continued disregard for the Freedom of Information Act, following yet another case in which the Film Commission failed to provide information about the Mediterrane Film Festival’s extravagant spending.
FOI requests are one of the few direct tools available to the public to hold institutions to account. Authorities have up to 20 working days to respond. Failure to reply is a breach of citizens’ rights and a violation of the principle of good governance.
A request filed by The Shift News sought a list of payments made to award winners and the festival director for the 2024 Mediterranean Film Festival. The Commission initially claimed more time was needed, but has since remained silent, and it is now well beyond the legal deadline. This unlawful refusal to respond denies the public the transparency it is entitled to, especially regarding how millions of euros in taxpayer funds are being spent.
Dr Matthew Agius, executive member of Momentum, said, “Freedom of Information is not a bureaucratic exercise; it is a democratic accountability. By ignoring the law, the government sends the message that it has something to hide. Every unanswered FOI request corrodes public trust and undermines the very idea of responsible governance. When authorities obstruct or ignore FOI requìests, they weaken democracy and fuel suspicion of mismanagement or misuse of public funds.”
The lack of response from the Film Commission, particularly under the leadership of Johann Grech, is not an isolated incident. It follows a pattern of resistance to scrutiny and accountability.
Momentum calls on the government to respect the legal FOI deadlines, ensure institutions are held accountable, and guarantee that information about the use of public funds is proactively published, not hidden behind walls of silence.
Is-silenzju tal-Gvern dwar it-talbiet tal-FOI jdgħajjef it-trasparenza u r-responsabbiltà
Momentum jesprimi tħassib kbir dwar in-nuqqas ta’ rispett kontinwu mill-gvern lejn l-Att dwar il-Libertà tal-Informazzjoni, wara każ ieħor fejn il-Kummissarju tal-Films naqas milli jipprovdi informazzjoni dwar l-infiq esaġerat tal-Mediterrane Film Festival.
It-talbiet tal-FOI huma ftit mill-għodod disponibbli għall-pubbliku biex l-istituzzjonijiet jinżammu responsabbli ta’ għemilhom. L-awtoritajiet għandhom sa 20 jum tax-xogħol biex iwieġbu. In-nuqqas ta’ tweġiba huwa ksur tad-drittijiet taċ-ċittadini u ksur tal-prinċipju ta’ governanza tajba.
Talba ppreżentata minn The Shift News talbet lista ta’ pagamenti magħmula lir-rebbieħa tal-premjijiet u lid-direttur tal-Mediterrane Film Festival 2024. Għall-ewwel il-Kummissarju qal li kien hemm bżonn ta’ aktar ħin, iżda minn dakinhar skiet itarrax, u issa hija ferm lil hinn mill-iskadenza legali. Ir-rifjut li wieħed iwieġeb huwa illegali u jċaħħad lill-pubbliku mit-trasparenza li għandu dritt għaliha, speċjalment rigward kif qed jintefqu miljuni ta’ ewro f’fondi.
Dr Matthew Agius, membru tal-eżekuttiv ta’ Momentum, qal, “Il-Libertà tal-Informazzjoni mhijiex eżerċizzju burokratiku; hija responsabbiltà demokratika. Kull meta jinjora l-liġi, il-gvern jibgħat il-messaġġ li għandu xi ħaġa x’jaħbi. Kull talba tal-FOI mhux imwieġba tnaqqas il-fiduċja pubblika u ddgħajjef l-idea ta’ governanza responsabbli. Meta l-awtoritajiet jostakolaw jew jinjoraw ir-rekwiżiti tal-FOI, idgħajfu d-demokrazija u jqanqlu s-suspett ta’ użu ħażin ta’ fondi pubbliċi.”
In-nuqqas ta’ rispons mill-Kummissarju tal-Films, partikolarment taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Johann Grech, mhuwiex inċident iżolat. Isegwi xejra ta’ reżistenza għall-iskrutinju u r-responsabbiltà.
Momentum jappella lill-gvern biex jirrispetta l-iskadenzi legali tal-FOI, jiżgura li l-istituzzjonijiet jinżammu responsabbli, u jiggarantixxi li l-informazzjoni dwar l-użu tal-fondi pubbliċi tiġi ppubblikata b’mod proattiv, mhux moħbija wara l-ħitan tas-silenzju.
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