Muscat reiterates offer to collaborate
The Labour Party was ready to to anything in the national interest, just like a parent did anything for his children, Labour leader Joseph Muscat has said.
He was speaking at Mellieha Labour Party club, where he was given an enthusiastic welcome by Labour supporters during a visit accompanied by party deputy leaders Anglu Farrugia and Toni Abela.
He said that what had irked the people most in the first 100 days of the new government was the arrogant attitude it had displayed, such as when it, without consultation, opted to take Malta into Partnership for Peace and when it decided to privatise the shipyards.
Although the government was trying to make Labour lose its cool, the MLP would stick by its offer to cooperate on national issues, which included the shipyards and ST Microelectronics, even though the easiest thing for the party would have been to sit back and watch.
Should the government agree to the GWU offer to set up a task force on the shipyards, the MLP would take part in the talks without conditions, Dr Muscat said. The ball was in the government’s court.
The party wanted the country to move forward as of now, not just after the election, Dr Muscat said.
Dr Abela said that on the dockyard issue, the MLP wanted a balance between the national interest and the interest of the workers.
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d.attard
Jun 22nd 2008, 10:45
Government's plan for MDD to become viable by 2008 failed miserably.
Government reduced the number of employees from 2600 to 1700. Yet it now concedes that a viable MDD needs to carry a much smaller work force than 1700. How did it get this crucial number so wrong, dooming from the outset the future of MDD?
Government lost a great opportunity for the MDD because as Government concedes, the present business climate is optimal. Pity.
And how does Government explain the fact that MDD related debt since 2003 amounts to
£300,000,000 when if it had sent all employees home and paid them their salary, the salary cost would not have exceeded £85,000,000 by much. How does Government explain the remaining £200,000,000 gap?
What surprises me most is that despite this and other Government fumbling on the MDD issue, Government still adopts an 'I know it all' attitude and instead of taking up the positive benefits from the fresh breeze in politics coming from the Joseph factor, it continues to insist on slamming doors. Pity.
Nikita Zammit Alamango
Jun 22nd 2008, 09:25
Dear Mr.Cunningham,
from what i ve read below you ve been following our new leader Dr. Muscat. Its a pity though that you only hear things like the honeymoon is over, while missing out on facts, like the one where Joseph actually said he is NOT against privitization. As the leader of a Social Democratic Party, he is concerned with the workers employment . Do you have a problem with that ? Ever thought of the burden on our economy of a couple more thousand unemployed ppl ?
And I'msorry that the cliches bother, but it seems Joseph has hit the nail on the head since they bug you so much. However, we dont hear you complain about cliches like "Finanzi fis sod" while the surcharge will increase once again ! Or, keeping to the point, the privitisation, just like entering PFP, was definitely not one of the proposes on the PN electoral manifesto, now were they ?
Oliver Cini
Jun 22nd 2008, 00:52
From what i am reading noon of you have ever went to the ship yard. i ask why we should continue to to give money to those people ? why? i worked there on ship from sea malta company and what we use to do in a week they use to take 2 weeks that is what you call working that is lazing about. I do understand that the people need to work. but people like me working in the private sector are feed up of working for others that is simply silly and stupid. MLP in general should not talk to much about this situation because they where the starters of this issues GWU should first see the whole aspect of the country rather then 1000 paying members. and the Gov should have consulted a little bit about this issue..
I see this matter not as political issue but as a financial issue for us tax payers is more worthed keeping those people at home rather than sending them at work... we should be more strict at work like big companies do around the rest of the globe..i wish that more maltese work will big international companies.
Albert Guaci Cunningham
Jun 21st 2008, 17:03
Since none of the questions were answered I take it that the MLP has no alternative plan to Privatisation or maybe you're all unaware of it............................if its ( the Plan) still in the making then we'll have to wait and see!! Until then we'll keep asking questions whether some of you like it or not............ here are some more facts from today's The Times
1)------The GWU describes the Ricasoli Tank Cleaning facility which is rarely used as "vital"
2)------The GWU feels that "the govt should LOBBY WITH THE EU TO CONTINUE SUBSIDISING...."
3)-------Against the Appledore's recommendation the GWU wants to hold on to Manuel Island
4)------Against the Appledore's recommendation the GWU insists that Dock no.1
in Bormla should become a repair dock again......
so here's the question ----does JM agree with the above proposals (as reported on today's The Times pg.7)?? Or does he prefer the privatisation choice?? is it so diabolic to ask a question to Joseph?? ............................Sorry if i dont repeat cliches with nauseating repetion like you....but cliches are for honeymooners and the honeymoon is over!!!
J. Bonello
Jun 21st 2008, 16:11
Does anyone realise that having the MLP & GWU on the task force would mean that the Government would in fact abdicating its decision making mandate as it would be in a minority? What happens than? What does the MLP & GWU expect? Eternal subsidies for the Drydocks? Isn't it about time to wake up and stop this financial hemorrhage once and for all?
D Camilleri
Jun 21st 2008, 14:40
Dr Muscat, if you want a fresh start for Labour get squaters off public land and fight illegal construction, I mean really fight it, then youll get the peoples support, youll surely get mine,
I`m not MLP or PN supporter, I`m just a maltese citizen who`s fed up of injustices but doesnt want to be a political party`s possession.
Its not I scratch your back you scratch mine, its i do my duty and pay my taxes and everybody else should do the same
I hope you dont fit the maltese politician stereotype and do whats just
mark tanti
Jun 21st 2008, 14:16
Now it is high that that EVERYONE stops saying that STmicroelectronics is a national issue.
ST workers are now really FED UP hearing misinformed and mistaken reports in the media. What ST Malta employees want is rest of mind so that their continuos competition with other ST plants in the far east and north Africa is won by ST Malta.
I.Ellul
Jun 21st 2008, 13:08
Dear A.Gauchi.
You know what... I wonder what your reply could have been if:
"where is Muscat's plan?"
JM came up with a plan... no matter what plan..
"against the idea of privatising??"
JM agreed or did not agree with Privitising..
"Is JM against more subsidies from the coffers??"
JM is favour or against subsidies.
No matter what the MLP and JM does, there is always going to be someone like you, ready to dirty dig whatever move he does. That is the reality... and I truly beleive that now it's becoming more and more obvious.... so what can I say keep it up!!
John P. Cordina
Jun 21st 2008, 13:06
@AGC
Your daily comments defending the government on every subject under the sun are becoming more and more frustrating and void of any real substance. Give us a break.
I.Ellul
Jun 21st 2008, 12:57
Dear A.Gauchi.
You know what... I wonder what your reply could have been if:
"where is Muscat's plan?"
JM came up with a plan... no matter what plan..
"against the idea of privatising??"
JM agreed or did not agree with Privitising..
"Is JM against more subsidies from the coffers??"
JM is favour or against subsidies.
No matter what the MLP and JM does, there is always going to be someone like you, ready to dirty dig whatever move he does. That is the reality... and I truly beleive that now it's becoming more and more obvious.... so what can I say keep it up!!
Joseph Buttigieg
Jun 21st 2008, 12:41
Why you being negative in your comments .Joseph Muscat is doing all his effort to start a new generation of politics in Malta,but it seem that some people like you don't agree .May be by time you understand,but of course thanks for your comment Mr.A.Gauci Cunningham
A.Attard
Jun 21st 2008, 12:23
Gauci Cunningham can't you see that your comments are pathetic?
Charles Cassar
Jun 21st 2008, 12:19
I'm pretty sure that he said that he was not against privatisation (although I realize that that is not quite saying 'I am all for privatisation'). I'm also under the impression that he stated that the MLP would be coming forward with its proposals with regards to a number of issues in the coming months.
J. Portelli
Jun 21st 2008, 12:19
@Cunning Man...
Dr. Muscat might be all wrong with any solution his party presents. Let's not forget there's a party behind Dr. Muscsat and not start adressing (attacking) him personally like we did with Dr.Sant. Maybe one day will come when things really start to change in this country, when we start respecting other people's views and opinions. Probably I'll be walking on a stick by that time :S
The fact that the government made its position about the Malta Ship building public, makes any further discussion about the matter from other institutions/parties/unions superfluous. No consultation was made with anyone whatsoever. Is this the new political era we're aiming for ? I hope not.
Johann Mifsud
Jun 21st 2008, 12:14
I'm happy to hear the opposition leader co-operating with the government and saying that he is ready to help the government for the interest of the country, but what JM is not telling us about the solution. For the last decades no one I repeat no one found a solution to the dockyards and it's workers and I can't see a bright future. I'm sorry for the workers but I think the right solution is privatization or else they all will be jobless by the end of the year.
May I ask a question which till today GWU hasn't answered.
Why are you against privatization?
Joseph Grech-Attard
Jun 21st 2008, 12:13
Is gonziPN ready to dialogue or impose? So far, the latter seems to be the case.
Pity that this news item did not give a summary of all of Dr. Muscat's speech but chose to, unintenionally I believe, mention only the problematic side. There were also many positive aspects for which Dr. Muscat, being the moral, ethical and honest person he is, praised the present government. This is something very unusal in our local, destructive manner of doing politics, but this news item chose not to report it. But why, may I ask? When shall we start to unite our people?
D.Axisa
Jun 21st 2008, 11:48
Here we go again...i hate living in Malta for this. Always politics. Why on earth don't we let our politicians sit down round a table and discuss all possibilities and come out with something beneficial in the national interest.
Why is it that people want to know what are the proposals before hand......come on grow up Malta and let us have a new beginining as'flimkien kollox possibli"!!!!!!!
A.Gauci Cunningham
Jun 21st 2008, 11:36
What JM doesn't seem to get into his head is that while we're happy to see him want to discuss in a task Force the people want soloutions...............now BEFORE we start discussing, is JM for or against the idea of privatising?? Is JM for or against more subsidies from the coffers??
................collaboration is a nice cliche......but you collaborate with policies, beliefs, expectations and plans........where is Muscat's plan? Can we see it? Can we see what ground JM is going to fight for? Or are we posturing for time hoping that somebody else (GWU) does the job for us!!...if the latters the case then its hardly a good start for JM leadership qualities..........