TMID Editorial: An isolated apology
The Chief Justice has apologised for what he described as a miscommunication incident.Last Tuesday, photographers and videographers, other than those employed by the government, were prohibited from entering the law courts where the ceremony to mark
The Chief Justice has apologised for what he described as a miscommunication incident.
Last Tuesday, photographers and videographers, other than those employed by the government, were prohibited from entering the law courts where the ceremony to mark the opening of the forensic year was being held.
It took the media by surprise, also because the media had been officially invited to attend. It is usually the only occasion in any year when cameras are allowed to enter the law courts, specifically the hall where this occasion is held yearly, in the beginning of October. Journalists were informally informed that the decision had been taken by the Chief Justice, Mark Chetcuti.
As is to be expected, the media reported that its camerapersons had not been allowed to cover the event. The Institute of Malta Journalists was also quick to point out that such a prohibition was unacceptable.
Later in the day, the Chief Justice issued a statement, via the Department of Information, explaining that it appears that the prohibition was a result of miscommunication. He said that there had never been any year in which he had ordered that videographers and photographers should not be allowed into the courtroom where the opening of the forensic year was being celebrated.
"What happened," the Chief Justice said, "was the fruit of a genuine mistake for which the Chief Justice apologised".
It is hoped that, next year, things will turn out differently. After all, videographers and photographers have covered such an event for many years, and it would be a sad day if this practice is discontinued. If anything, we should start discussing whether videographers and camerapersons should be allowed to be present in courtrooms for certain big trials, as is done in other countries.
What we would like to point out, after what happened on Tuesday, is that the Chief Justice was man enough to admit that there had been some kind of miscommunication, indirectly saying that there had been no intention to stop photographers and camerapersons from entering the law courts.
Many other people, in top positions in the country, have made mistakes but then did not have the courage to admit it. We are referring mostly to politicians, people who are in the public eye on a daily, if not hourly, basis, and who have often made errors of judgment for which they were not capable of saying sorry.
They only do so, it seems, when they feel that are losing votes. Otherwise, they plough on as if nothing has happened.
Why does it take politicians so much to apologise for the wrong that they do? Do they feel so superior that they believe that all that they do is perfect?
We must also mention other people in high positions, especially those who are paid by taxpayer money, who have also been responsible for mishaps for which they did not say sorry. Sometimes, even after glaring mistakes, they were given even more lucrative appointments.
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