They were all about fake data. Economic metrics are notoriously hard to calculate. It is probably the most complicated thing in the universe. If the data themselves are unavailable, because the government keeps them hidden, then how can those metrics be double-checked?

I wish we’d understand that this is not so much about politics, but about the science of economics. It is the academics who should be kicking up a stink.

Edward Scicluna carries his title proudly and never fails to prefix his name with ‘Professor’. He is an academic. So are many of the columnists who write about economic matters in the papers.

Economists cannot produce conclusions without data. When the government releases data, we assume, because we are in the EU etc., that the data are correct. But this 88 million Euro scandal puts serious doubts on the trustworthiness of the figures released by our government.

Why won’t they talk about this? What is it that would cause economic turmoil? Is there something ELSE we’re not being told?

Money lost can be regained. But trust is lost forever. And I’m not referring to the people of Malta trusting their government. I’m talking about international financial players and credit rating agencies trusting the Maltese government on financial and economic data.

Simon Busuttil was the deputy leader of a political party.

Kurt Farrugia is a government official in the Office of the Prime Minister. Not a party official.

But the Maltese cannot make the distinction.

It’s a question of trust. Economic data is not something you can go and verify yourself. Just look at the Toshiba scandal.