Sunday, 24th August 2008
Parliamentary Secretary spent 16 days at the Olympic Games
The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, Clyde Puli, spent 16 days in Beijing watching the Olympic Games on a trip that cost the public coffers €7,728.
He was joined by his wife and son, though when contacted yesterday his spokesman said their airfares were paid privately.
Sources said that some senior government officials were angered by the length of Mr Puli's stay in Beijing, especially considering that top officials of various countries - even those with prominent and successful athletes - limited their visits to a few days.
The Office of the Prime Minister declined to pass judgment on whether Mr Puli's stay was excessive and said that the decision was taken by Culture Minister Dolores Cristina and the Parliamentary Secretary after they received an invitation from the International Olympics Committee.
Mr Puli's spokesman defended the visit. He said: "The Parliamentary Secretary travelled economy class and not business class as any minister and high government official is entitled to do. The ticket of the chosen flight was bought after a call for quotations with the cheapest being chosen."
He added that the type of room chosen for the Parliamentary Secretary was the second cheapest out of five choices provided, as the cheapest type was already fully booked.
"Reservations followed a minimum stay period policy which was to be observed if one wished to be present for all of the Maltese athletes," the spokesman said, adding that this was a good opportunity for networking.
In fact, he said, the Parliamentary Secretary's stay in Beijing was not exclusively dedicated to the Olympic Games. He also attended a Commonwealth ministers' meeting as well as an informal meeting of EU ministers, the spokesman said.
During his stay the Parliamentary Secretary also expressed his support to each of the Maltese athletes, the spokesman said, adding that this presence was deeply appreciated by the athletes and members of the Maltese contingent.
However, sources contrasted the Parliamentary Secretary's trip to Beijing with Lawrence Gonzi's visit to Australia last year, during which the Prime Minister visited five cities and met members of the Maltese-Australian community in just 13 days. "He didn't have a minute to himself," the sources said, "and didn't stay an hour longer than necessary."
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Comments
Our clyde made a sacrifice,and had to stay there supporting our team with all those gold medals.Why all this fuss, many majors come and go with their family travellinfg all over the globe from the tax payer money.This is Malta, and these are the kind of flowers that grow in our parlament..
May I go a trip to the far end of the world to do nothing but watch sports?.........
thanks with the taxpayer's money of course!
But I ask myself - is it that hard to criticize with an open mind? Can't Frank Camilleri put aside his ideals and think independently?
Andre Vella
ADZ - Green Youth
His visit to Beijing and his stay there to watch our athletes participating in the Olympic games means only one thing. THAT AT LAST SOMEONE IS STARTING TO DELIVER WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED. "MORE ATTENTION TO SPORTS"
If the Goverment wants to take sports seriously all have to understand that you need to look in detail and understand the sacrifices our athletes goes trough in preparation of important events. And Olympic Games is a very important event. Mr. Puli is leaving no stone unturned trying to understand the difficulty and hard work done by all sports people.
We have been promised more commitment to sports in the past months and years. We have finally found a person, Mr. Puli (appointed by PM LawrenceGonzi) who is totally dedicated to sports.
Mr. Puli keep it up. You understood the value of sports and how important is to increase the number of those participating in sports. Sports is good for everyone. Sports create healtier citizens.
Its a pity that most of these blogs are being fuelled by politically biased persons who are only capable of continuing the Alfred Sant tradition of throwing mud at every opportunity.
Before slamming someone down please be informed that all MP's have a budget allocated to them for travelling which can be used as required in their line of ministry. When that budget is exhausted there is no more travelling. To all those big mouths who want to have an account of such budgets, such figures are always published in the November budget every year before the funds are actually spent.
If Clyde Puli wasn't at the Olympics the government would still have received criticism for not sending a representative like other countries do. One way or another, the government has to get the stick from some people who havent seen their favourite party in power for a quarter of a decade. Thats what I call destructive criticism.
Im sure that he will be a good Parliamentary Secretary and achieve the same good results in the near future within his political sector.
This although politicians can be easy the target of criticism on whatever they might do. Mr Puli, I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your hard work within a beautiful political portfolio with our Youths and Sports.
We (the citizens) criticize our politicians when they do not have the same feelings of the people concerned in various topics, but now that a Parliamentary Secretary spent this fact finding mission in the most important event world wide on his portfolio, some still criticize this act of ‘diplomatic’ representation by the person (not the President of Malta or even the PM) which is politically responsible from sport. Mr Puli was accompanied by his wife and son (a little child), who paid privately for airfares that could have spent a holiday elsewhere but instead supported Mr Puli while he was representing the Gov of Malta.
At least Mr Puli is a Maltese person who was elected in parliament to represent the Maltese people..
He did not come over BY BOAT to eat our tax and ruin the future of our children!
It means that unfortunately the Maltese society again by extension, perhaps not (sometimes even I am still prone to surprises), ends up justifying it.
Mr Peregin could you please ask your editor (or should I say source) whether he enjoyed his 13 day visit to Australia funded by tax payers’ money? How much did it cost us tax payers? He might tell you that he was only doing his job after all? But then following the same logic wasn’t Mr Puli doing the same thing?
Mr Peregin please advice your editor that there are some of us…..who know what he did last summer.
Congratulations to Mr. Puli for:
1) Representing Malta.
2) Supporting Maltese athletes.
3) Spending almost nothing.
4) Foregoing his entitlements.
There are plenty of things in this world to be concerned about and Mr. Puli is not one of them.
Now I know there's at least one honest politician in Malta!
Again I urge Chris Peregrin to give us more of the same: MPs, from both sides of the house and how they spend our money.
Well, perhaps the sort of promises the PN made (and again failed to keep up with) to the dockyard workers?
Sheer waste of public funds. Oh no, probably taken from the 'good causes' fund.
Come on all cut the crap.
Mr Puli was the only Maltese Government official in Beijing amongst representatives from over 200 nations.
Mr Puli chose not to take any staff compared to other Countries’ representatives who were all accompanied by delegations paid thru public coffers.
Mr Puli took his wife (who was also invited) and paid for her expenses.
Mr Puli travelled economy class and not Business class as any Maltese top civil servant is entitled to do. As said already by someone else his travelling costs were cut by 75%
Mr Puli attended all Ministers meetings he was expected to go…like any Minister or Junior Minister normally does.
Mr Puli left immediately after the Maltese athletes finished competing but not before the last one competed. A true gentleman.... (to be continued)
btw as someone already mentioned our athletes were out of the competitions in the first week so why did mr puli need to stay on??
No ....I guess it was all Mintoff's fault....*sigh*
You see the show goes on and on and it never ends.
I do hope that Clyde Puli enjoyed himself as he deserved 16 days rest from the awful mess or crap that we are in. And yes I am sure that his wife and son paid privately as I am sure that a lot of blah blah blah were spoken when he meet other Commonwealth and EU ministers who must have slapped each other on back on their very crafty WORKINGholiday. As I am sure that his room was all bamboo sticks, rattan bed etc. and he ate rice and drank water only.
Oh by the way did he meet the Maltese Ambassador there?
How nice, I together with others pay taxes/vat/surchargesfor Clyde Puli to go to watch the Olympics.
What did he learn from there that would be useful for this Banana Republic beats me.
Any brianwaves from any Einstein?
Beijing Bananas
GREAT JOB!!!!
WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY. OLIMPICS AND EUROVISION IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
FLIMKIEN KOLLOX POSSIBLI VIVA GONZI PN
Myself, I'm disgusted with this, especially since this is one of the 'new' faces in Gonzipn.
The fact is not that he went cheaply or not - fact is had it not been for one assiduous journalist, this would have gone unreported. OK, he paid for his wife and son's trip. Perhaps he slept in a single room paid for by us, and kept his family in another one which he paid for ?And let's face it - with or without Puli, the country went on unaffected !!!
You pretty much assume that people who counter your arguments have a hidden agenda/vested interests. It's not really your business to know (that's why I never ask about your agenda even though I'm pretty sure you have one) but I'll humour you, I'm no canvasser and have no connection with the PN in general and Mr Puli in particular.
This is one big storm in a teacup, especially if one assumes he's telling the truth and his family's travel was paid out of his own pocket. And Gonzi stopping staff parties is not the ideal comparison. Ministers and PS travelling in their official capacity is govt work.
And btw, referring to your previous comment, hypocrisy works both ways. How many of these people baying for accountability have stayed silent on the dockyard expenditure issue, or worse, taking the government to task for belatedly tackling the bull by the horns?
I' m not against sending athletes, but sending Mp's to hold their hands for 16 days is just plain weird!
Lets just hope that you're not a canvasser or something...cos that would rather spoil your arguments....
I am against indiscriminate and unjustified public spending (which is not saying that this one is), but surely a 16-day EUR 8,000 bill pales into insignificance when compared to a running bill over numerous decades into the millions of Liri and Euro!
Mr Puli was representing Malta but still, I believe he should give an account of expenditure even if only to shut these people up (fat chance!).
THIS is Mintoff's legacy. A socialist 'qamel l-ewwel u qabel kollox' mentality.
A couple of weeks ago,someone wrote to comment on some of the athletes' results demanding why taxpayer's money is being wasted and that they should have been flown home as soon as their events were over!! How stupid can people get?
As for the 1981-87 Govt, whilst it doesn't really have anything to do with the issue, I would like to ask who your gentleman was supporting at the time......
As for all of you defending this 16 day visit, I m sure you'll be seeing the light soon.
I bet everyone here that when the docks issue s news again..they'll get all miserly with their taxes.....talk about hypocrisy......
Surely not for us oridinary citizens but ONLY FOR THEMSELVES, BIEX IGAWDU U JIMLEW IL BUT.
we are the dummies,
TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA
Gold Medal to Clyde Puli, a newcomer who is to be very promising to be a worthy successor of all the PN MP's who put their fingers and also hands in the cash pie of the country. We taxpayers pay for the pie. But as some argued, we are in the 21st century what do you expect!!
BTW we have JPO in Malysia in a FORMAL making hilarious interventions in the meetings about "CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN SMALL STATES". You should hear what he said, it's just incredible!!! http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msrv/msfullart.asp?an=23506
Probably this trip helped the dear parliamentary secretary for youth and sports to actually learn something ............about sports.
I only hope he did not wear his usual 3 piece suits in Beijing.
You are right! BTW Cyprus did not win any medals either. A storm in a tea cup for the sake of having a front page story. Are we still considering ourselves as small fry next to the rest of the world. Should we be absent?
Like someone else said...if he didn't go there would have been an outcry as well, and €8000 is hardly over the top is it?
@ Josianne Attard...... well done for the homework.
€1,500 for an economy class seat and between € 7,400 and € 8,800 for a business class seat......... GEEEEZZZZ what is it you get for all that extra money? Gold plated seats? Cavier?
Someone enlighten me coz the difference is staggering.
Just another incentive to continue with your noble mission to serve the people of these unique islands.....pls bear all the sacrifices that go with your noble altruistic vocation and guide us.....and by the way London 2012 is just four years away!
George Orwell should be decorated with Gieh ir-Republika!
@E Cassar : It is sour grapes if I see my neighbour driving a brand new Red Ferrari which I can`t afford and say "I wouldn`t buy it as its engine makes too much noise". In this case, when all this was funded by the tax money, its not a case of sour grapes : its a case of an explanation and REAL justification needed. He had the opportunity ? NO - he (or the minister) created it for him THROUGH PUBLIC FUNDS, so the public has a right to know ALL THE TRUE COSTS, WHETHER WE PAID FOR ACCOMODATION AND FOOD FOR HIS FAMILY AS WELL, WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THE COMMONWEALTH MEETING AND THE INFORMAL EU MEETING AND WHAT WILL WE GAIN FROM THIS!
To me it sounds absolutely strange and fishy that EU and Commonwealth chose China for a meeting, meetings which we didn`t know about before!
I wish to the a parliamentary secretary one day.
Or else just say you were making contacts to see the possibility of holding some future olympic games in Malta - preferably f'wied Hal Qormi - we will show the world that we bake the best bread in the universe - at least so we boast.
how more silly can we get?
If the Author or any of the WHINERS had the same oportunity, They would have refused to GO I guess Heee ???? Ha ha ha ( Maltese Gemgem)
only recently people who use the Marsa Track are being obliged to pay €60 fee, that's good iniative to encourage people to exercise
How else can the government afford these extreme and extended side trips.
But I guess that can wait...Our Parliamentary secretary obviously believes that 16 days of morale boosting is more important...Who can blame him?
Lets hope he enjoyed his sweet and sour....
Chips on our shoulders my foot!
No nobody expects Mr. puli to drive around in a wreck or work from the back of some Kazin! as you put it. But simply to report for work and enjoy the perks which go with the job! But maybe not for 12 days! He could have stayed for a shorter time and upgraded his hotel and then he and his family would have been more comfortable. Impact does not depend on lenghth of time but on substance!
You have missed the whole point!
As for Malta being an affluent country! I am sorry to inform you we do not think everybody shares your view!
All officials attend the Olympic Games not only as spectators, but so that one exchange views and agrees on proposals and projects, yes even over a cup of tea. I will not discuss the projects we discussed within the International field, this is not the place, but I have three international meetings in Paris, Singapore and Malta which originated in Beijing. I am sure that the parliamentary secretary has managed to establish many valued contacts and started projects which could not have been made if he was not there or left immediately after. I can say that attending this greatest show on earth will surely motivate him. I hope that these kind of sensational articles stop and we see more how we can make Malta a hub for Sport able to boost our tourism economy and our level of sport.
Come on guys grow up, let Malta be like any other country. I'm sure any other country had a political representative in China.
And maybe the MP can tell us how he felt in the socialist paradise that China is. He wasn't very far away from the place where over 2000 students and civilians asking for democracy were massacred by government troops several years ago. I wonder whether he preached democratization there. The violent suppression of the Tiananmen Square protest caused widespread international condemnation of the PRC government. But in Malta a few years later China's mass murderer was feted by the local prime minister.
Everyone, please thighten your belts, leave your families short to pay for your electricity bills this summer, while some live it up at our expense!
Stefanou said he is fortunate enough to attend the opening ceremony, which will be held in Beijing on the evening of Aug. 8, 2008. Cyprus' Minister of Education and Culture, who is in charge of sports affairs, along with other high-ranking Cypriot officials, will also attend the ceremony, Stefanou said.”
And we are up in arms because one representative of the Maltese Government attended the games. Grow Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean...He can leave his office for 16 days, and no one really notices until an article appears......
Talk about an invisible PS....
We really live in a unique country!; O)
Deriding the performances of Maltese athletes will bring us nowhere. The six athletes who went to Beijing certainly gave their all, although I for one believe that William Chetcuti's performance eclipsed the rest. 8th place is a magnificent result for a 24/25 year old. One must consider that the Gold winner in this event was in his mid thirties. Let us not forget that William is currently being supported by the Maltese Government. Should we stop funding his endevours just because he did not yet win a medal?
Hence, rather than trying to mock our athletes, we should support them so as to hopefully reach that goal - to see the Maltese Flag flying on the podium in a medal award ceremony.
I would suggest you perfrom an online search so as to see how much an airline ticket to China actually costs.
An economy flight from Malta to Beijing is currently close to 1,500 euros and that’s not during the Olympic Games……a business class (please note not First Class) is 7,400 euros with Lufthansa and 8,800euros with Emirates. More than was spent for a 16 day visit. Well done Mr. Puli that’s what I call maximization of funds.
Not only, but he was on hand to support all six Maltese athletes during their events, something which is definitley highly commendable on his part.
But summer IS the silly season in Malta isn't it?
Informal meeting of EU Ministers they said ?? Do by informal we understand that they all happened to be there and they met over a coffee ? And how many were there ? Minsters ?? IS Mr. Puli an EU Minister ?? Results from this meeting ? Oh - there won`t be any results since it was an informal meeting we will be told.
Wife and son paid privately for the airfare ? Good !! And the accomodation ? Did they sleep outside ? And the food ? And the transport ? And the tickets to the events ?
"Due to the rise in oil prices (which are now at a 5 month low) we cannot give the promised tax cuts" ... VIVA IL-KONSISTENZA !!!