LowResMBR

MALTA
BUSINESS REVIEW
PUBLISHER
MBR Publications Limited
OFFICES
Highland Apartment - Level 1,
Naxxar Road,
Birkirkara, BKR 9042
+356 2149 7814
EDITOR
Martin Vella
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Marcelle D’Argy Smith
SALES DIRECTOR
Margaret Brincat
DESIGN
MBR Design
ADVERTISING
Call: 9940 6743 or 9926 0163/4/6;
Email: margaret@mbrpublications.net
or admin@mbrpublications.net
CONTRIBUTORS
J. P. Abela; Antoine Bonello; George Carol;
Harry Cooper; Jean Paul Demajo; Natasha
Gowens; Josef Joffe; Antonella Mercieca;
Estefania Narrillos; Zita Perahai; Ryan Heath
Gediminas Vilkas; Anna Wiener; Charlie
Williams;.
SPECIAL THANKS
CDOI; European Parliament Information Office in
Malta; European Parliament, Directorate- General
for Communication; European Research Council;
HSBC; MITA; MORGEN EUROPA; The New Yorker;
OPR; POLITICO SPRL; Politico Global Policy Lab;
PKF Malta; Taylor & Francis Group; The
Parliamentary Secretariat For Financial Services,
Digital Economy And Innovation; C. M. RUBIN;
UNCTAD; David Wine.
PRINT PRODUCTION
Printit
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Many of those most excited about crypto don’t
work in tech, and their financial futures are
uncertain."
By Anna Wiener
Disclaimer
All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by copyright may
be reproduced or copied and reproduction in whole or part is strictly
prohibited without written permission of the publisher. All content
material available on this publication is duly protected by Maltese
and International Law. No person, organisation, other publisher or
online web content manager should rely, or on any way act upon
any part of the contents of this publication, whether that information
is sourced from the website, magazine or related product without
first obtaining the publisher’s consent. The opinions expressed in the
Malta Business Review are those of the authors or contributors, and
are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.
Talk to us:
E-mail: martin@mbrpublications.net
Twitter: @MBRPublications
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MaltaBusinessReview
EDITORIAL
Malta Business Review
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the
freedom of an individual or community to articulate
one's opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation,
censorship, or sanction. The term "freedom of
expression" is sometimes used synonymously, but
includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting
information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.
It is an integral part of the fundamental right of
freedom of expression, as recognized by Resolution
59 of the UN General Assembly adopted in 1946,
as well as by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights (1948), which states that the
fundamental right of freedom of expression
encompasses the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
Denying us the basic principle of the right to know, even if this is bound to secrecy
by the Court, means that we are accepting to be restricted and reject one of the
most significant human right: that of receiving and imparting information. The
right of information has been as vibrant in the hearts of marginalised people as
it is in the pages of academic journals and in the media. Regrettably, local media
are either agenda-bound to serve their master’s voice, or compelled to be
massively sanctioned if they report the story as it really is. This is not surprising
since food security, shelter, environment, employment and other survival needs
are inextricably linked to the right of information. It is more democratic for the
media to be available for all and not a commodity to be purchased by a few.
This implies that in Malta we are not being allowed to exercise our basic
fundamental human rights since we are obstructed and hindered by one kind
of excuse or another.
It is becoming clear that the right to information has to be legally enforceable
and we must campaign to demand more transparency of official records. A
social audit of government spending and a redressal machinery for the citizens
who have not been given their dues is necessary.
Its independent existence as an attribute of liberty cannot be disputed. Viewed
from this angle information or knowledge becomes an important resource. An
equitable access to this resource must be guaranteed. The right to know is a
necessary ingredient of participatory democracy.
The right to know is the basic indivisible from a democratic polity. This right
includes the right to acquire information and to disseminate it. Right to
information is necessary for self-expression, which is an important means of free
conscience and self-fulfilment. The attempt of the court in this case should be to
expand the reach and ambit of the fundamental right by the process of judicial
interpretation. This is the only way to expose graft and punish corrupt officials.
Over the past three decades, right to know laws have become one of the most
innovative and effective means of protecting the environment and public health.
These laws, also known as information disclosure, serve a number of key societal
interests. Right to know laws helps to improve the efficient functioning of
democracy, of the economy, of the market and of the state. Armed with better
information, people can make informed decisions, and press for change.
Right to know laws also promote a democratic decision making and the power of
ordinary citizens. Equipped with better information, citizens can participate on a
more equal footing it regulated entities permitting, land use and other political
decisions.
Martin Vella
Editor-in-Chief
Malta Business Review’s editorial opinions are decided by its Editor, and besides reflecting the Editor’s
opinion, are written to represent a fair and impartial representation of facts, events and provide a correct
analysis of local and international news.
Agents for:
www.maltabusinessreview.net
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