Lack of pairing keeps Malta away from Med Forum
Malta will not be represented at the so-called "five plus five" Western Mediterranean Forum in Mauritania tomorrow because no pairing has been agreed by the opposition for the vote to be taken on Wednesday evening on the debate in reply to the President's speech.
The "five plus five" Western Mediterranean Forum is made up of representatives of the governments of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Malta, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.
During yesterday's House Business Committee, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg asked opposition whip Joe Mizzi if it was possible for the opposition to at least pair the Home Affairs Minister so that Malta could be represented at this forum, as has always been the case.
Mr Mizzi said that, unfortunately, the opposition had decided on this vote days ago and there was no time for the Foreign Minister's request to be considered because the party's parliamentary group was not meeting before next Monday.
At the beginning of the legislature the opposition had informed the government that, until its new leadership was elected, it would decide on pairing on a case-by-case basis.
Through pairing, members of the opposition are coupled with members of the government who are away on official business and do not vote in those government MPs' absence.
Since this government has a majority of only one seat, it needs all its MPs to be present whenever a vote is to be taken unless pairing is agreed by the opposition.
Dr Borg said that, following the current debate, a debate on the Central Registry Bill was programmed for next Monday and today week, to be followed by a Bill on the accountancy profession.
Other items on the agenda include a Bill on refugees aimed at bringing Malta's legislation in line with that of the EU, a Bill to amend the number of people who could receive the national award Gieħ ir-Repubblika, and another on public administration.
At the beginning of the meeting, the first House Business Committee meeting in this legislature, Speaker Louis Galea hoped that the committee would help the House become more effective and efficient in its work and serve as a guide for members. He promised to give all the time and support necessary to committee members so that they could offer MPs the best possible support.
Dr Borg said that the government had its own legislative programme which it wanted to implement while respecting the opposition's rights.
This was how the Nationalist government had always acted. He pointed out that a good 85 per cent of laws were approved with the consensus of both sides of the House.
Mr Mizzi promised the opposition's cooperation, but emphasised it also expected to be respected.
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Dominic Fenech
May 20th 2008, 16:20
If the Home Affairs minister wants to attend the 5+5 forum, he can still go, as the government could still win a vote by the casting vote of the speaker.
Kurt Vella
May 20th 2008, 11:30
Many labour supporters writing here insinuate that the Nationalist Opposition back in 1996 had refused to grant pairing to the then Labour Government. I searched on this issue on Parliament’s website. There one can find any information he may require from the legislature starting in 1996 up to date. The pairing agreement was stopped by the opposition on the 24th of April 1997, when PM Alfred Sant insisted that Dr. Fenech Adami, then leader of the opposition had to be present in Parliament to put forward a motion regarding VAT. The opposition had informed the House Business Committee that EFA was sick and had to stay home, however when Government insisted that EFA should be present, the Leader of the Opposition against his Doctor’s advise attended parliament, risking complications. It is only is this light that the then Nationalist Opposition started refusing to grant pairing.
To The Times, the Med Forum is different from the 5+5 initiative.
John Saliba
May 20th 2008, 10:14
There you are, Labour at it again! Surely they must realize that it is in Malta's best interest to attend the 5+5 meeting. But let's be honest, when did they ever have Malta's best interest at heart. Surely it wasn't during the Integration with Britain period, nor was it during the Switzerland in the Mediterrenean era and definately not when they wanted to devalue our currency. One must also mention that even when they were in government in the seventies and early eighties they never acted in the national interest. Do I have to prove my point by mention 'the musical chairs with the judges', their insistance of closing all private schools, the closure of St Chatherine and the Blue Sisters hospital, oh, before I forget, the fact that they remained in government when the overall majority of the electorate voted for a Nationalist government. Just to add insult to injury, I must mention the harm they caused to the economy and the standard of living during those dreaded twenty two months.
This pairing issue will be remembered by the electorate, yes I know five years is a long time. But the electorate will remember.
Corinne Vella
May 20th 2008, 10:11
So the opposition expects to be respected, does it? When the MLP places more importance on its own bureaucratic intricacies than it does on Malta's participation in international fora that have a bearing on Malta's future, it gets the sort of respect it deserves - none.