Norman Hamilton
Labour leadership is Where's Everybody's unbiased business!
I was amazed by Peppi Azzopardi's missive of April 2, replete as it was with blatant presumption, arrogant assumptions and inane remarks. It would seem that Mr Azzopardi is looking in a mirror as, to me, he is one of the few "chosen ones" in Lawrence Gonzi's kitchen Cabinet. I consider him to be a prominent PN strategist along with other members of the Where's Everybody? set-up. Needless to say, they have every right to do what they wish in their personal capacity; their act jars only if the bias spills over into their professional capacity when presenting what should be unbiased TV programmes on a national station that is funded by the taxpayer's money.
Mr Azzopardi reiterates that "analysing the electoral verdict is also a matter of national interest". No doubt about that. Discussing the internal MLP election for a new leadership is another matter. And discussing the same topic ad nauseam smacks of strategic partisan politics rather than an attempt to inform and educate TV audiences.
I will repeat what I wrote a fortnight ago, namely that Where's Everybody? - that is, Mr Azzopardi and Lou Bondì - would do well to look into their own backyard and identify other topics to discuss which are "important to the people". Should they encounter any difficulties in this choice of subjects, I may give them a tentative list:
a. The alleged vote buying which, if proven, would fall under the Corrupt Practices Act.
b. The reason why so many former PN ministers and parliamentary secretaries were not elected this time around.
c. What motivated the Prime Minister not to appoint former ministers and parliamentary secretaries to ministerial posts.
d. What induced the PN's secretary general to announce he was going to stand down and who is expected to be his successor.
e. The reason/s why Malta was precipitously rushed into joining the PfP in full disregard of decent consultation with the opposition when such a decision did not at all feature among the 353 electoral pledges of the party once again in power.
f. The Safi supermarket/Mepa permit to build villas instead of a farmhouse at Safi.
g. How the present government plans to rule the country with a one-seat majority, given all the prevailing circumstances.
The list is endless, but what seems to be uppermost on their agenda is the need to show their own preference for particular persons to form the new MLP leadership. This is in sharp contrast to the MLP media's stance regarding the same exercise carried out by the PN. The Labour media never mentioned any preferences with respect to the new PN leadership following Eddie Fenech Adami's resignation.
In this direction I am also implicitly answering correspondents Mark Fenech from Birkirkara and George Caruana from Mosta, and I will do this with the help of Dr Gonzi himself as quoted in The Malta Independent on Sunday of March 30. The Prime Minister was reported as saying that "I understand and accept it is the Labour Party's democratic right to elect its own leader and I intend to fully respect Labour's autonomy in doing that. Nor do I intend doing anything that in any way might intrude in this selection." Well said, Mr Prime Minister.
Mr Azzopardi has the gall to write: "Ironically, Mr Hamilton was invited by Xarabank to participate on the panel discussing the electoral result. However, Mr Hamilton refused our invitation by informing us that he was going to be abroad on the day."
With what degree of presumption does Mr Azzopardi expect that one should postpone one's previous appointments just to make an appearance on his Xarabank programme? The truth of the matter is that when I was invited to participate in his programme of March 14, I immediately informed his messenger that between March 12 and 15 I would be in Rome attending the Globe World Travel Market at the Nuova Fiera di Roma. In fact, I arrived back in Malta on March 15 at 1.30 p.m. from Rome in time to present my TV show on One TV that same evening. I particularly object to his insinuation that I "refused (his) invitation".
Mr Azzopardi states that Xarabank is there to analyse, inform and discuss. Yes, well done, but only if this were to be carried out in a completely unbiased way, which is certainly not the case when Xarabank and Bondiplus discuss their favourite subject, the Labour Party, in their own idiosyncratic way.
How can Xarabank's conductor be expected to be fair and impartial when he states, and I quote, "On a personal note, I hope that like every other citizen in this democratic country, I am allowed to have an opinion about who will make a better MLP leader and a better prospective Prime Minister of Malta and of all the Maltese. This is not only Labour's business. This is everybody's business." I would correct that last sentence and say: This is Where's Everybody?'s business. Sorry, Mr Joe (Peppi) Azzopardi, but - no deal!
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F Spiteri
Apr 11th 2008, 14:28
Point No 1:
Mr Charles Camilleri needs to upgrade his level of vocabulary because he seems too enthusiastic quoting the same sentence including proudly the two new doing words he learnt in every article written on this website! : "moaning and whining".
Point No 2:
Yes, programs MUST be unbiased like we expect the TVM news to be as well. Otherwise, TVM is ending an extension of NET. I don't have to further my studies to a PhD to analyise that!!!
Point No 3:
May I point out that Peppi should welcome some of the suggested ideas from Norman Hamilton as topics for future programs. I am sure he'll get audience's attention. But ... it is amazing how media prefers to continue attacking the opposition & cushion the government!!!
Kenneth zammit Tabona
Apr 11th 2008, 12:48
Dear Mr Borg et al
You firmly and absolutely refuse to understand that people like me genuinely want to see a strong and healthy Labour Party and not one that moans, groans and insults, throwing mudpie after mudpie without doing ONE positive thing to keep the good ship Malta afloat! For shame. Talk about spades and shovels; you are bent on digging your own graves thereby doing Malta a grave democratic disservice. Get your own house in order and produce a winning team and then we will talk. By acting like petulant kids and excluding people who think from your party affairs you are once again missing the wood for the trees and not seeing the big picture.
PHILIP BORG
Apr 10th 2008, 23:26
A simple scan of comments in here (and in any other anti-labour blog or forum):-
Many regimented commentators here come all out with a common purpose: shoot him/her who writes not to please the gonzipn minority government! Shoot him/her, whatever he says or writes! Just shoot him/her down!
I think i know Mr Hamilton since many years in different levels of his long and highly professional career as a broadcaster.
While he was injecting professionalism and objectivity as far as these blessed islands could take, others may well have been planting bombs, setting cars on fire and orchestrating all sorts of threats with the other hand drafting an official letter of condemnation! If some commentators today where not actually among those "ghandna bzonn lil kulhadd fil-Partit!" (1977), they may have indirectly approved that dark period by voting against anything Labour. And today, years later, they seem to forget all that and cover it all up by inventing other ways of twisting real facts. Oh yes, some objectivity! Some democracy indeed!
Congrats Mr Hamilton for not beating about the bush and calling a spade a spade, even if it seems that for the gonzi-lovers a spade may well take the shape of a microphone or a tv camera... But there again, 'where's everbody' to show the true spade?
Mr Borg Bonello is so right to ask PBS (whatever that really stand for!) to entertain all of us taxpayers with some in-depth examination of how the official PBS handles and hands down it's contracts. The fact is that we all know what the end product is, but as consumers we have a right to know what the ingredients and manufacturing process is made of.
mark tanti
Apr 10th 2008, 21:43
How many times I have to repeat to all of you that Labour never change. Yesterday's opinion by S.Micallef Stafrace and today's N.Hamilton's opinion makes me more believe in my opinion.
Norman, it is evident that you are still living in the past.
How do you pretend that the election of the MLP leader should not be discussed on our local media. ?
Norman with your writing you are not helping Labour to become an open and modern party. Your wrting does not bring new voters to your party because as I said before you are still living in the past and today's youngsters want to live in the presrent and in the future and not the past.
E. Borg Bonello
Apr 10th 2008, 20:08
How come these blue wise guys cannot stomach any criticism from labour opinionists like NH......instead of insulting can't you at least argue why Peppi Bondi Services ( PBS ha ha) cannot at least work out ONE single programme from the ones that NH suggested ... I will tell why not................because if they do they will hurt their beloved angel party ...because in this day and age any one who wins the numbers in this so called democracy is ALWAYS right and the one who loses is always wrong..... If for argument sake, the PB Services refuse to choose one of those programmes how about this one, I am sure this is EVERBODY's business:
" to scrutinise the PBS tender awards of programmes and how much each and everyone programme is costing the public .
Come come WE have a go at this show us how transparent this public funds are?
c busuttil
Apr 10th 2008, 18:58
Only Nikita supports Norman. Gosh, where's everybody?!
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Apr 10th 2008, 18:07
I never cease to be amazed at how parochial MLP diehards like Mr Hamilton can be. The MLP must surely be aware that they are not just electing a party leader but a potential Prime Minister and if this individual is not acceptable to the majority of the floaters the MLP will, tanto per cambiare, lose again.
I wish these people would grow up. Stop flagellating yourselves and boring us all. Get on with it and create a winning party. It is VASTLY overdue.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 10th 2008, 17:38
If the MLP want to close ranks again, as they did 17 or 18 years ago - it seems that they have not learnt any lessons, and they will continue moving 'forward' with never a lesson learnt.
Does NH realise that it's not the first time that a Government administered the country with a one-seat majority? It's not the end of the world, you know.
And does NH realise that, while it is true that the NP also needs a lot of soul-searching, it is not this party which is being deemed as unelectable but the MLP.
Charles Camilleri
Apr 10th 2008, 15:05
So we are in for an other five years of moaning and whining from Norman Hamilton. Poor The Times readers.
Norman you know what you are saying because you are an expert in presenting unbiased programs on our national station. We still remember how our national station was used when Norman occupied a high position for the creation of a new generation of socialists. pls tell us something about those days.
Joe Martinelli
Apr 10th 2008, 14:42
Why is Norman and other Labour supporters so incensed at the public at large speculating who will/should be the next MLP leader?
The elected leader will be the Opposition leader and the MLP should be thankful for all the publicity and personal interest on who that person might be.
Following the Dom Mintoff, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Alfred Sant trio, who next, may I ask, Joseph Muscat?
Of course, everyone will respect Labour's autonomy in electing their leader, do we have any choice? We who are not Labour Party members or delegates have no say. The deed will be accomplished by those within the Labour Party who are allowed to vote but that will not and should not prevent us, onlookers, to say what we think and what our preferences are since the eventual leader of the Labour Party could, maybe one day, be our Prime Minister should he/she chooses to be Prime Minister for the whole country.
martin borg
Apr 10th 2008, 14:10
But why is it that all labour party apologists like Mr. Hamilton go on the defensive whenever it is rejected by the electorate at the polls ?.
It is precisely this ' its none of your business' attitude in the face of criticism that has cost the MLP election after election. Instead of opening itself up and listening to all sources (be they biased, with a hidden agenda or of good will) the party and its apologists stubbornly dig their heads in the sand and refusing to accept the fact that the MLP to date is unelectable.
As to forming part of 'kitchen cabinets' Mr. Hamilton should really know better seeing as he has formed part of the kitchen shadow cabinet for a number of years now.
We all know the saying about " People in glasshouses " (with apologies to the MLP HQ edifice in Hamrun).
John Saliba
Apr 10th 2008, 13:07
Mr. Hamilton has a cheek to accuse Peppi Azzopardi and Lou Bondi of being biased and thus abusing a national station that is funded by the taxpayer. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Has Mr. Hamilton forgotten the days when he worked for the same TV station? Is he implying that he regrets his actions then? I doubt it. More than likely,like his three fallen leaders, he has no regrets. Shame, it's a pity Labour don't learn from their mistakes and after 32 years of rejection by the electorate (excluding the famous 22 months) they still find it hard to apologize to the nation for the darkest days in our political history. If their new leadership does not change direction and distance themselves from their past, in five years time they will receive the eight of March 2008 treatment.
George Caruana
Apr 10th 2008, 12:30
I fail to understand why Norman quotes the Prime Minister in trying to justify a response to my correspondence on the matter. Maybe he is thinking I am a member or ardent follower of the PN?! Beats me!
My point is unless MLP changes its mode of operandi, then contrary to what Norman asserted, his party is not able to select a new leader who can attract independent and floating voters. History proves me right, and not him. Hopefully for the good of this country, I am proved wrong.
Nikita Zammit Alamango
Apr 10th 2008, 11:30
Straight to the point and no beating around the bush! Prosit Norman we need more open minded individuals like you, who are ready to say the truth black on white :)
emanuel buttigieg
Apr 10th 2008, 10:21
Can anybody from the government and/or PN official side deny or confirm that Mr Cachia Caruana was expelled from some NATO meeting because Turkey objected to the presence of Malta and Cyprus as they were not NATO members?
This might give an answer to one of Mr Hamilton's question.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Apr 10th 2008, 09:20
Dear Mr Hamilton
I fail to understand why you seem to be miffed by all the interest the general public is taking in how and when the new MLP leader is to be either elected or selected! It is to me of paramount importance as this could be the man or woman I may well vote for in 2013.
Your quoting Lawrence Gonzi was gratuitous. As if LG can say anything else for a multitude of reasons?
It is though my democratic right and that of the others mentioned in your column to be concerned about who the next PM may be.
Remember ' the son of a duck is a floater'!
Tantissimi saluti
KZT