A Rent Seeker's Paradise

by Mark Camilleri

Mark Camilleri was the Executive Chairman of the National Book Council under Joseph Muscat’s and Robert Abela’s Premiership and also a Labour Party delegate. Camilleri broke rank with the government and the Labour Party after the 2019 political crisis and today is no longer a government executive. Through this book Camilleri, shares his experience, his knowledge and also untold stories about government-sanctioned criminal activity.

This is the story of how disgraced prime minister Joseph Muscat, his chief of staff Keith Schembri, and former energy minister Konrad Mizzi, abetted and covered for Darren Debono, a Maltese oil smuggler indicted by the United States government. Through Darren Debono, the Maltese government refuelled a foreign warship in foreign waters while officially refusing to allow it to refuel on Maltese territory. The Minister of Police, Emmanuel Mallia also participated in the abetting and covering up of the money laundering in the illegal oil smuggling business. Camilleri argues that Joseph Muscat’s proximity to criminals was by design and not by accident and explains why and how. Joseph Muscat earned the title of Person of the Year in Organized Crime and Corruption by the OCCRP in 2019. Although he cannot prove it, Camilleri is completely convinced that Joseph Muscat, apart from being involved in corruption himself, was also aware in advance of the plan to murder Daphne Caruana Galizia. I give detailed explanations in my book.

This is also the story of what happened in the government and the Labour Party during the November/December 2019 political crisis and after the Panama Papers scandal in 2016. The book explains how the bureaucracy and the civil service were essential to executing the corruption of Joseph Muscat’s government.

Last but not least, Camilleri gives credit to Daphne Caruana Galizia who was right on many things, but mainly on the corruption behind the Electrogas deal and the new power station which eventually lead to her murder. Daphne was also right on the Minister of Economy, Chris Cardona who visited a brothel when abroad on a ministerial conference and Camilleri covers all this because Chris Cardona terrorised Daphne financially by issuing garnishee orders against her. In addition, Camilleri also shames another Minister who had a similar life passage to Cardona and also participated in the cover up of the Panama Papers scandal.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

184 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. While far from immaculately written, and well deserving of a good proof-read, Mark's book is a very important first-hand contribution to contemporary Maltese history. More of such books should be written through the perspective of people from all walks of Maltese life.

[Arnas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book and very eye-opening. More than once I found myself thinking "I knew this was a thing, but I didn't know it went that deep".

Great also as as a reader you're reading it from the POV of someone who has been involved in Malta's many iconic scenes, and has brought forward concrete results locally & nationally, from wearing different hats at different times (executive in the book council, as an activist, a party delegate etc)

My only dislike is that some text was repetitive when it involved Mark's personal, albeit fascinating life.

[M.J. Camilleri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m glad that books like this are being written. We need more details and views about the sad state of Maltese politics. But most of what is in this book has already been written, and by people with a better grasp of English.

With a lot of editing, less personal history, and a dispassionate tone, this could have been a good series of articles, maybe in a newspaper, where they would have reached a wider audience.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Objectively a very generous rating but it's one I'm more than happy to give. Allow me to explain.

You can quibble on some aspects, strongly disagree on others (Evarist Bartolo - LOL, spine of a snake), but the only hope of Malta ever getting out of the rut it's in is with books like this one.
The fact there's a dearth of similar critical assessments of the nation may be a correlation not causation, but it certainly shows a lack of critical thinking, courage or both.
So whilst objectively it deserved a slightly lower rating, the book and author deserve credit for lifting the lid on the situation the country is mired in. Here's hoping it's the first of many.

[Gus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone interested in the modern political history of Malta. It provides context to the before and after of the political crisis of 2019, which resulted in the collapse of Joseph Muscat's government.

Rent-seeking, in this context, is the act of growing one's wealth without creating wealth and/or producing anything. It is not necessarily illegal (and oftentimes it isn't) but usually corruption is involved.

The book starts with a brief history of rent-seeking in the Maltese islands. The next chapter focuses on the early life of the author and is one of my favorites as it paints a clear view of the country in the 80's and 90's.

The rest of the book covers different topics, such as: an smuggling operation of Libyan oil (with the full approval of the Maltese government); additional information regarding Muscat and his gang's role in the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and, lastly the corruption (and stupidity) of the Labor Party.

The last chapter is the most personal and my favorite. The author goes into detail about his ostracizing by both the Labor Party and the University of Malta because of his life as a dissenting bureaucrat.

He's got an irreverent but very honest style that I really enjoyed.

As mentioned by other users, however, the book really needed and editor.

[Ryan Scicluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If any Maltese citizen genuinely desires meaningful change in their country—politically, socially, and economically—they should consider distributing copies of this book to every household across the nation. Such an act would provide even the most steadfast loyalists with the chance to read and perhaps gain a deeper understanding of their reality and the true extent of the country's political challenges. The issues Mark addresses in this book continue to cast a long shadow over Malta, and their repercussions will undoubtedly persist for years to come. Writers like Mark, unafraid to speak the truth, are exactly what the nation needs more of.

[John Christmas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous no-holds-barred take on corruption in Malta! Readers will be shocked by the details Mark Camilleri dug up to make this the best book to read for anyone who wants to understand Malta's government. This is exactly what Malta, and the rest of Europe, needs! Camilleri is a fearless writer who won't let the elites get away with their scams against the people.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read to understand all the garbage. A Maltese Roberto Saviano

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched. Sad situation of Malta at the moment

[Christian Scifo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and insightful book. I had not ready for a while, once I read this book I wanted to read more!

[Matthew Degiorgio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Loved the rhetoric aspect of it and fun read