Monday, 6th October 2008
Hackers and loaves
Reports suggest that someone at Mitts - the government agency responsible for information technology - broke into the personal files of various private citizens in various government departments, including Inland Revenue and VAT.
The e-mail accounts of a number of members of Parliament were also hacked.
Charles Mangion asked for this issue to be urgently discussed in Parliament. The request was turned down.
To add insult to injury, the minister responsible for the sector said that he would be waiting for the result of the investigations but dubbed the reports in the media "a pack of lies".
Now, really, would any other European democracy take such a case so lightly?
The government announced its proposals for the new utility bills.
The Finance Minister said that "the government was aware of the effect this would have on families and was carrying out a socio-economic impact assessment on the proposed tariffs" (October 2).
Pretty interesting methodology. First you make proposals and then you carry out an analysis of the repercussions!
Some friends told me they would bet their bottom dollar that the government will be ready to settle for slightly lower price hikes than the ones proposed.
It would then start telling us that its social conscience drove it to make such a decision.
Old habits are hard to die.
I was pleased to hear the reassuring words of the Finance Minister who said that "the analysis carried by the regulatory authorities shows that the banks are in a relatively safe position" (October 1).
As a responsible opposition and as a party aspiring to govern this country, we are following developments in this sector closely.
We are fully confident that our regulators and market players have what it takes to weather the storm.
The Prime Minister is trying to play down expectations for the imminent budget speech.
He is saying that, given the current international situation, some electoral pledges will be put on the backburner.
Again, some observers tell me that this is a staple campaign aimed at deflating public expectations in order to have a better-than-expected reaction when a not-so-bad budget is presented.
That could well be the case since, prior to the general election, any economist worth his salt would have told you that there are problems ahead on the international front. Lawrence Gonzi has promised. Lawrence Gonzi must deliver.
The leader of this newspaper opined that "Half a loaf is perhaps better than none" (October 2), thus supporting the government's decision to agree to the European Pact on Immigration.
I come from another school of thought. This was one of the not-so-many instances where the other EU member states needed the assent of the Maltese government. I am of the opinion that our government - since it was representing all of us in the negotiations - could have bargained harder and obtained more.
From Day 1 we are giving up half a loaf.
We can only hope that there is really another half left.
I thoroughly enjoyed touring the Freshers' Week stands on campus last week. I think the KSU did a brilliant job and the whole event was even better than usual.
I could sense a genuine desire to discuss the role of the University of Malta within the context of a strategy for the country.
Until now we were served with little more than lip service.
Dr Muscat is Leader of the Opposition and of the Malta Labour Party.
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Comments
q is short for a cue. Happy now?
"Taking a q from loaf and half a loaf,..."
Excuse me? 'Loaf' and 'half a loaf' are not spelt with a q.
J.Martinelli
"Did the MLP, prior and during the last election campaign have 'any economist worth his salt (who) would have told you ( us) that there are problems ahead on the international front'?
If it did, how would it have proposed to cut the surcharge in half? "
Hear, hear.
Unless, perhaps, he's hoping that some readers of the Times (of Malta) don't read the British newspapers.
If it did, how would it have proposed to cut the surcharge in half?
I could be wrong but my unscientific count reveals that there were several such economists supposedly 'worth their salt', including Alfred Sant and Joseph and.....
But that was then and this is now. Hindsight (Joseph's favourite) is 20-20.
Moreover although we joined the EU (or Major Big Countries hence big / strong economies) this does not mean that we can manage a big business such as Germany France Spain same as one would a small one like Malta (only 140,000 employed.)
Minister Austin Gatt is ruthless – thank God we have Dr Gonzi with more experience in social policies and more balanced, down to earth decisions.
I also urge Dr. Gonzi not to allow the ministers around him to continue to lead him to think that the best way forward for Malta is to sell even more of Malta’s best jewels.
Bank of Valletta - Mid Med Bank - Our Postal Service - Malta International Airport - Sea Malta - Government’s lottery operations - Vittoriosa Marina - More recently even Manual Island and Pender Place were sold for purely commercial / private / business development.
This is not privatization. Malta is not for sale! is it?
Moreover it is unacceptable to think that notwithstanding the millions which came from A) the EU and B) selling parts of Malta; all ministries put together committed all of us to over 60 million IOUs – or debt too!
Some of what are supposed to be big loafs are nothing more than panini.
When will the customers be protected?
Very easy to implement. Loaves to be sold in bags, weighed and the price stuck on the bag.
Any cheaters must also be punished severely as they are constantly robbing the people out of their scarce hard-earned money.