Sharon Ellul Bonnici urges voters to look ahead, not at the past

E. Azzopardi

Feb 17th 2009, 00:02

Very good advice. However, it is said with more conviction when the past hurts and needs to be forgotten.

Wistin Schembri

Feb 16th 2009, 18:21

How can I know the real Sharon Ellul Bonici? Looking ahead or looking back?

Rita Portelli

Feb 16th 2009, 18:12

YES Sharon, I will definitely look ahead , not at the past. I will not think of the past, when you said NO TO EU, when you said partnership won. The problem is, you still work in Brussels, do you not? Dare you say to us again NO TO EU?

Adrian Cassar

Feb 16th 2009, 15:30

@ Silvan Said - With all due respect Sharon was not an MEP in this legislature so she does not need any second chances. So it is the ones who were sitting pretty in Brussels doing nothing that need a second chance.
And Personally I would not like any of them to represnt me again.

Sharon had the right to speak her mind in a democracy and today 5 yrs down the road from membership, she is proved right in many areas. Ask the Hunters, Shipyards, Farmers, Fishermen, Factorey workers etc...and what about Illegal immigration?

She was spot on and had a foresight on all matters. She can raise eyebrows in Brussels and not even Gonzi can do that. And that's why she will be on my ballot paper in June. I want someone who will be a real voice for me and my country and not lackeys and bench warmers!

Ask these people if Sharon was right or not.

Michelle Falzon

Feb 16th 2009, 15:14

@Philip Pace - If you were present at the launch and heard her speak about the issues she will be working on you would think and write differently.

Sharon included not only the 50+ but society at large. Her 7 points are the following -

Individual Rights - which covers a person from birth till death.

EU Funds - were she will be setting up a fund hunting office to help indivuduals of all ages, NGO, Local Councils to penetrate funding.

Irregular migration - were she said that she will act to make Frontex control our borders and lobby to have a readmission agreement with Libya to be able to repatriate migrants from there point of departure.

Health - She said it is unacceptable to have to wait for an operation with no fixed dates and for patients to be treated without dignity and mentioned an EU decision on the matter and that she will be working on this.

Education - She said we need to be able to prepare our work force to compete at EU level and we can't afford to lack behind.

Word limit reached.....

Joseph Borg

Feb 16th 2009, 12:36

It really seems that PN fanatics are feeling uncomfortable with the unity that has started to reign inside the PL.

Peter Xuereb

Feb 16th 2009, 11:52

I find Sharon's political hypocrisy way too hard to stomach. So venomously against Europe prior to membership, now she wants to 'serve' in Brussels? How much more blatantly opportunistic can one get?

One thing is true -- she owes Europe a lot. If it weren't for her past tirades against it, she would be a complete unknown. Having said that, what her actions achieved for her were notoriety -- and coupling this with this, her latest campaign, equates to absolute zero credibility. Presenting herself as a Labour candidate does not do the Labour Party any good either.

Point is that her past renders her incompatible with what she would like her future to be. In life one has to bear the consequences of one’s actions. One cannot try to deny the past...

Nick Galea

Feb 16th 2009, 11:46

HOW CAN WE JUST FORGET THE PAST? We can only judge the people we vote for on their past behaviour/performances etc...we dont know how they will act in the future...especially when their ideologies change as dramatically as this lady's...

Marylou Spiteri

Feb 16th 2009, 11:11

We would like to thank you all for your comments and for showing a keen
interest in Sharon Ellul Bonici's official campaign launch. If there is
someone who should apologize to the Maltese people is not Sharon, who
pre-accession advocated that Malta was not ready for membership, but those
who promised that membership would solve all our problems. Five years
after membership Malta is, in many aspects, lagging behind most (if not
all) of the other European Member State. Those who were concerned about
their children's future in 2003 because of Sharon's 'critical' campaign,
and still are because of her candidature with the PL for the upcoming EP
elections, should vote for David Casa. This should solve all their lurking
problems. On the other hand, those who want critical MEP's as their
representatives in the EU Parliament, which is composed of 780 MEP's, can
opt to vote for Sharon. For more information regarding Sharon's critical
views, we invite you to visit www.sharon4malta.com. We firmly believe that
there is nothing wrong in being critical in a democratic society. On the
contrary, at this day and age the art of criticism is a sine qua non
requisite for a successful politician.

Edgar Azzopardi

Feb 16th 2009, 09:53

SEB = i just cannot understand why the LP accepted someone like you to run on their ticket. MS. EB i think you should be looking to the future and not to the past as a blogger correctly said the more you spk about your past the more you remind us of it. What a joke!!

To remain funded by the Euro-sceptics makes one wonder!!

All that said, there are more valid candidates on the LP ticket than SEB could ever dream of aspiring to become.

J Galea

Feb 16th 2009, 08:55

Yeah sure...what if the maltese believed all the anti eu propoganda and rejected the yes campaign to eu membership. What future would we be looking at now?

It takes more than just a statement to win faith!!!

Silvan Said

Feb 15th 2009, 12:04

The problem with maltese politicians is that they always want to be given a second or even a third chance. This results in mediocrity and disastrous consequences for Malta. Politicians must be held to a much higher degree of accountability at all times. Ms Ellul Bonici was entitled to her campaign view and the people rejected that. She should now simply allow room for people who have the proven credentials to get the most out of membership.

M.Degiorgio

Feb 15th 2009, 11:07

My excuses, one can easily understand, my earlier comments here where intended for the letter ('Stitching' author launching London petition over ban) and not this one. I myself inadvertently posted them here instead.

Carol Ellul

Feb 15th 2009, 10:33

I really can't understand the attack against Sharon Ellul Bonici. She gave us a clear picture of what could happen once we joined, was she right on nearly 80% of what she said. The people then cast their vote and had a choice, yes or no. The yes campaign lied to the hunters, lied to the factory workers, lied to everyone as they just pictured a paradise and a fantasy world. Look at the roads 5 years down the line and they say it all. Factories closing down and people without work. Thanks Sharon you told us the truth, good luck.

Philip Pace

Feb 15th 2009, 08:51

It is quite easy for Ms Sharon Ellul Bonnici to urge voters to look ahead but not easy for those Maltese Citizens who still feel that Malta should have waited to become a member of the EU as these realised that our house was not in order due to the previous bungling of the Governments.

Probably some of these people fall over the 50 years plus bracket and as what usually happens in every type of election held, the aim is to capture the young voters but nobody thinks on these 50+ voters, as if they don't exist.

The 50 years plus people have experienced fully all the impacts that occured when Malta became an Independent state, then it became a Republic, so many Governments etc..

Ms SEB has not experienced this as she was not born yet or too young!

To win my vote she has to come up with something beneficial to the 50+ year old voters regarding their status, benefits, hard to find work!


A warning to her and all the other candidates from all parties, re this election and others!

Don't forget to include us as you shan't get a single vote

M.Degiorgio

Feb 15th 2009, 01:52

We are considered adult enough to vote and by doing so choose the party and people to govern us and put in their hands our future and the future of our children, but then we are treated like children and not allowed to decide and choose for ourselves what we can and can not watch! Good think that ridicule doesn't kill or we'll be dead by now! Some liberal country we live in, huh.

Matthew Delicata

Feb 15th 2009, 00:47

“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” - Edmund Burke

Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani

Feb 15th 2009, 00:04

Unbelievable!

Do you remember that infamous Friday evening on Xarabank when Sharon was *IN TEARS* because she was DEAD WORRIED that we were seriously facing the RISK OF JOINING the European Union? She was an incredibly staunch believer that EU Accession was some DEMON that had to be exorcised out of every Maltese soul... I surely remember it crystal clear...

Then soon after accession I was stunned to meet the Lady herself (in full business attire) on the plane back from Brussels!! My immediate reaction was: Of all people in the world what business could ever bring this one Lady to the place she firmly called HELL.

How can such a person ever hope to be honestly considered to be working FOR the EU. A Euro-Sceptic of this magnitude has no place inside of the European Parliament... Now unless she herself has been exorcised (or demonised? I'm confused!), the only reason to run for these elections is for her to undermine the European Parliament from within. I cannot believe in such a radical U-Turn.. A wolf in sheep's clothing!

Very Fishy!

p.grima

Feb 15th 2009, 00:01

The art of making U-turns par excellence, as usual.

Some say (conveniently) that we should forget the past but still keep coming up with the interdiction (interdett).

c camilleri

Feb 14th 2009, 22:08

I will try to forget the past as you have suggested Ms Bonici, but it is not easy to forgive the ones who promised us heaven on earth and presented hell instead. Would someone explain to me why Sharon should apologise for telling the truth. Should she maybe apologise for warning the hunters of their future or factory workers who were warned about losing their jobs or maybe the taxi and mini bus drivers were unaware of what free market meant maybe she lied when she warned us Malta shall be a frontier to illegal immigrants etc.. hmm maybe we shoult forget the PN promised us rights when becoming EU citizens such as gay rights and divorce. who should be ashamedand apologise? Sharon who has informed us what we'll face or the PN who lied & denied us our rightful rights. This time i will not make the same mistake again. this time i will follow the maltese saying you have all been quoting 'il-passat hu il-mera tal-futur' and that is why i shall not vote for the nationalists but my vote will go to people who will fight for us like SEB.

a darmanin

Feb 14th 2009, 21:38

a typical case of "If you can't beat them, join them." :)

A Cumbo

Feb 14th 2009, 21:35

Honestly most of these comments make me think I am in some third world country where one has no democratic rights... How can anyone say that Sharon has done some U turn simply because she was democratic enough and accepted our vote for joining the EU. I might have been in favour of joining the EU but I surely do not want some YES man representing me(like CASA) nor do I want to end up with people who don't care about anything the EU is about (like Montalto) what this country needs as Mr Farrugia put it this morning are more people like Sharon Ellul Bonici. Sharon is a critic and as a critic she will not be scared to fight for our rights, she has also been working in the EU and if any of you know anything about the EU you know that you need experience and contacts if we want to be heard and if we want to give a chance to Malta in the EU. I might not have agreed with you in 2003 Sharon but you and people like you will have all my support this time...

L..Galea

Feb 14th 2009, 21:20

L. Gauci
We need FIGHTERS, not LACKEYS, to fight for us in the eu. And she's a real fighter.

Alex Ellul
You forget the Euro 153,400 daily that we are sending to the eu apart from all the customs duties and levies while we pay the customs officers to collect them, part of VAT, the loss of the Italian Protocol, the loss of interests from our Central Bank's reserves which were transferred to the ECB so that it is now the eu that is taking the interests on OUR reserves, etc etc...

CARMELO(NENU)AQUILINA
Staqsi lil dawk kollha li spiccaw bla xoghol mminhabba l-unjoni ewropea u jghidulek min qalilhom il-verita.

Mur fuq http://www.cnimalta.org u ara x'kienu jghidu tas-CNI u tkun taf jekk dak kollu li qalu garax u huwiex qed jigri.

l borg
Then you should never have voted for EFApn or Gonezipn because they always told a pack of lies as evidence by what happened afterwards.

J Martinelli
How about concentrating on Canadian politics since you do not vote here?

Joe Vella (mellieha)Gianninu Saliba
As if the pn is a virgin with its past! Its past is disgusting.

Kuragg Sharon.

silvio farrugia

Feb 14th 2009, 20:22

How convienent for Ms Ellul Bonici ! Do these politicians think we can forget the banalities said about if we join the EU ? You should think before you say anything dear politicians as we sometimes remember even the little comments ! If elected will she join the Euero sceptics again.....as far as I know the socialists are the most in favour of the EU in the EU parl.Was she conservative ???

Joseph Camilleri

Feb 14th 2009, 20:06

@mike pace: you mean the socialists are relying on an eurosceptic for knowledge? Isn't it ironic that you refer to the 'right wing' activists when in fact it is right wing activists who are usually euro-sceptic?

What a mess!

Robert Spiteri

Feb 14th 2009, 20:03

L. Gauci,
You are right to say that Sharon was "one of the first to go and find a job there" as she was aware to defend the Maltese Citizens as an EU Affairs Consultant, unlike some of our EU members that has no idea how to proceed and solve important issues for the benefit of Malta and the Maltese Citizen. Convinced that Sharon has good qualities and ample experience, thus excluding all doubts will officially represent our country as an MEP for the coming June elections.

Paul Borg

Feb 14th 2009, 20:01

sewwa jghidu Sharon "min imaqdar irid jixtri" very credible polititian indeed.........

Claire Caruana

Feb 14th 2009, 19:43

How conviniently PL decides to forget the past at times! I will personally never forget Ms.Ellul Bonici's efforts to promote the no vote in the referendum, without even promoting any other direction that Malta should take in the globalisation era we are living in!

Victor Caruana

Feb 14th 2009, 19:36

Is it a disgrace that Sharon changed her mind? She;s not by herself. I remember a PL minister who who became a PN supporter. I remember a radio presenter who whole heartedly supported the PN. I remember counsellors who supported the Pn. Sharon is the black sheep. bdw she wouldn;t get my vote!

Denis Catania

Feb 14th 2009, 19:28

The illegal immigration issue is the most important. although she is right into looking ahead. We must look back and look at the beginning of the invasion of the illegal immigrants and see where did it go wrong.

@Sharon Ellul Bonnici: Whether you were for the EU or not 5 years ago, should not matter. But whether you are for illegal immigration or not will matter. The ball is in your court. You make the choice and we will make ours in June.

Denis Catania,
Save Malta From illegal immigrants.

wally vella-zarb

Feb 14th 2009, 19:11

Actually, it might not be such a bad idea if we were to look back at the past. We could then remember all the promises that were made before the referendum, how we would not be invaded by foreigners, how jobs would not be lost, how factories would not close, how Euros would be raining from heaven, how the hunters would be able to continue with their annual slaughter, how our roads would all be of a European standard, .....

Peter Borg

Feb 14th 2009, 19:04

its simply about getting a really good package if you get to become an mep, this goes for all the candidates.............

Joseoh Dalli

Feb 14th 2009, 19:03

Oh, the Guantanamo Prisoners again.
So pathetic, it's in the Government's hand, to accept prisoners and not the PL MEPs.

Alex Ellul, what jobs are you talking about?
Lat time I heard, about 200 and more workers now are unemployed.
And last time I heard also, we are getting far less money from the EU that is entitled to us.

Michelle Falzon

Feb 14th 2009, 19:00

I believe Sharon had the best interest of our country when she campaigned No to EU for a better deal. So, all of you who sound like a rusty machine vote for David Casa , you have a choice, I was impressed by her energy and knowledge regarding the EU, at least she moved on and worked hard, plus she has kept us informed and nothing passes un noticed. Thanks Sharon good luck we need a strong woman like you.

Joanne Micallef

Feb 14th 2009, 18:53

Personally I feel that an euro skeptic can do much more than a pro EU candidate in the European Parliament. From her various TV appearances through these years ( as since I do not know her personally I can only base my opinion of her from such appearances ) I think Sharon will be a very valid asset in the European parliament if she were to be elected.

Adrian Cassar

Feb 14th 2009, 18:48

I could write a whole list of people in the PN that one should not trust, but is today representing our country, as everyone in politics has been touched by some sort of scandal or had views that they believed in. Who has not ?, please throw the first stone. Regarding Sharon, she did what she believed was right at that time and now moved on once the people made their choice, but all of you seem to be stuck in the yes and no campaign. What has the layman gained from the EU, look around you...what's the big deal, so many things have gone wrong and this Government has no backbone. Look closely at the 5 years that we have been in the EU and ask yourself, what have I personally gained from the EU, what has my country gained, and what more could be gained and isn't , because of the incompetence of this Gov. Sharon for one thing knows more about the EU than half the present MEP members, she works hard and has the best interest of the counrty in her heart. Sharon you are our choice.

Saviour A Ellul-Bonici

Feb 14th 2009, 18:24

J Martinelli et al.
Without getting into rifts about credit or discredit, suffice it to say that what was held good or bad five years ago is not necessarily valid today and most progressive thinkers adapt to current situations. The reason for this is simple:- There is only one constant in life ' the constant of constant change.'

Franco Farrugia

Feb 14th 2009, 18:17

@ Dusty William: 'its only the Nationalists who looooove to mention the past, imsieken.'

There's a reason for that!

PS 'Imsieken? the PN? Hmmm.

J. Borg

Feb 14th 2009, 18:13

Why don't u all PN bloggers take a look at the last EU report and see what the maltese think about the EU. Though they say the EU helped in a way they are still SCEPTIC about how we are faring.
So, should we always bow our heads to what the EU says, where is our Independence and liberty.
So, yes we want people like Ms.Ellul bonnici who fight for our rights.
Joining the eu was solved by the election on 2003 and the PL always said that that the eu problem is closed now and that we have to look ahead and get the most for ourselves.
So, please PN bloggers grow up and look ahead.....

@ J.Martinelli
as if everyone who voted yes still has no regrets.......what a laugh

Robert Spiteri

Feb 14th 2009, 17:51

As part of this morning's audience I can say that Sharon's launch was magnificent thanks for the organization of her theme. Sharon emphasized to focus on the Maltese rights in particular EU affairs that need strict challenges from our EU members.

L. Gauci

Feb 14th 2009, 17:50

Sharon Ellul Bonici should definitely not be given a vote in the coming EU elections. Before the referendum she was urging the Maltese to vote against joining, but when we did join, she was one of the first to go and find a job there. Now she is trying to persuade us to vote for her. Who can trust a person who changes her mind so quickly? I think that she is not the only candidate that we should not vote for. Let us not forget that the three pesent PL MEPs voted to bring Guantanamo prisoners to Malta

Chrisopher Hayes

Feb 14th 2009, 17:42

It is perhaps a little disingenuous of Mrs Ellul Bonnici to ask us to forget the past given how particularly virulent her strain of euro-scepticism was. Her candidature strikes many as something of an own-goal for the PL. It is all well and good to promote the notion of inclusivity but there have to be pragmatic limits on how far you can run with the idea if you do not want to excite an unhealthy degree of scepticism and accusations of inconsistency.

mike pace

Feb 14th 2009, 17:32

Good luck Sharon don;t let the right wing activists distract your work because the Socialists needs your knowledge at this time of true and facts and let them answer you whatever they like because you are ready for them as you are a woman with solid values - Keep up Sharon

Abela Henry

Feb 14th 2009, 17:30

This is to all ye faithful, wannabe confucians and two penny critics. Its true that one has to learn from the past to avoid the mistakes of the future, sadly you never ever realize which part of the past to remember... So keep thinking the EU is this fairy tale land where nothing bad ever happens, and set all your pugs and chihuahuas to guard your home because in this world nothing bad ever happens. And dont forget to lock up all the Rottweilers, who needs them as guard dogs in this safe and perfect world anyway?

Alex Ellul

Feb 14th 2009, 17:27

@Joseoh Dalli: Quote from your comment: "she was a bit right in opposing the decision of joining the European Union". I agree; she was a bit, a very small bit indeed right, and mostly wrong. But now money comes into the equation, such as money that Malta is getting out of the EU coffers to improve our standard of living, our ways of working and also a great leap forward in the MEP's pay packets.

T Aquilina

Feb 14th 2009, 17:08

@ V Fenech
one theory is that a substantial number of the 20K votes AD garnered at the MEP elections were mostly from PN voters who felt, rightly or not, that it was in the nation's interest to be represented in various parties in the EU Parliament. The general election's results indicate this trend. Perhaps to some people, the nation's interest is supreme, while for others it is the party's interests that come first.

Mario Bonnici

Feb 14th 2009, 17:00

Many of the post here confirm that the PN is the party of the past.

Joseoh Dalli

Feb 14th 2009, 16:58

It's important to look ahead in life, especially in progressive politics.
Now let's be reasonable, and leave a bit of politics behind.

Look around you, she was a bit right in opposing the decision of joining the European Union. We weren't prepared for it, in fact, we're not gaining as much as the PN had promised during the campaign.
We were promised heaven, but it's not, a few of us in reality gained. Others remained in the same situation, while other unfortunately didn't go so well. In fact people's faith in the European Union has decreased drastically. Just ask anybody in the street.

Sharon Ellul Bonnici, is right, let's look ahead. I believe she's more then great to represent us, because she had foreseen most of the problem nowadays we are encountering, rather then just being "pro" for everything.
She's not telling us to forget the past, no, it's important to remember the past, but most importantly to look ahead.

Goodluck Sharon Ellul Bonici.

V Fenech

Feb 14th 2009, 16:36

Dear Nenu,

So do you know the reason why the Labour Party won the first MEP elections in Malta and elected an extra seat than the NP?

I emphasise Mrs Ellul BONICI quote: LOOK AHEAD!

CArdona Charles

Feb 14th 2009, 16:25

Haven't we all done some wrong decisions in our lives? So why mention what others did in the past ?Let us all move forward and move ahead. When someone small makes a u urn it is as if something big happened but when someone MORE important on the island make s a U turn it as if nothing happened.

Joseph Agius

Feb 14th 2009, 16:23

Ou est le change????

CARMELO(NENU)AQUILINA

Feb 14th 2009, 15:54

Il-poplu Malti dejjem il-quddiem ħares mhemx għalfejn tgħidlu inti Sinjura.
L-poplu Malti jgħid ukoll li "l-PASSAT HUWA L-MERA TAL-FUTUR."
Il-Maltin qatt ma huma ser jinsew dawk il-pariri foloz li kontu tippruvaw tbellawlhom intom tal-LE u tal-PL fir-referendum għall-Ewropa.
Il-Maltin huma inteliġenti ħafna iżjed milli taħsbu u timmaniġġaw inti u sħabek tal-LE u tal-PL.
Għax kieku ma kienux hekk tlifna l-vapur għall-Ewropa, u ma konniex nistgħu inħarsu lill quddiem fejn issa ilna inħarsu mhux ħażin, u fejn issa qed tipproponilna, u tgħidilna biex nibdew inħarsu inti, Sinjura.
Il-Malti ma javda xejn għax jaf ukoll, "LI MIN JAGĦMEL QOFFA JAF JAGĦMEL QARTALLA!"
NJifraħlek u nawgurgħalek li issa tibqa dejjem tħares lil fejn dejjem ħarisna aħna tal-IVA MALTA FL-EWROPA!

l borg

Feb 14th 2009, 15:30

when it comes to politics it is important that i look backwards at the politician before i vote to see if he or she is credible or just a political opportunist

James De Giorgio

Feb 14th 2009, 14:46

If Sharon is aiming at erasing the "Partnership l-ahjar ghazla" saga from our memories, she's going to fail.

Whenever anyone mentions Sharon Ellul Bonici, the first and ONLY thing that springs to mind is a woman distributing flyers against EU membership and advocating her MLP party's position is the correct one.

I do seem to remember Joseph Muscat telling us something similar. Well, all of Labour apparently.

victor vella

Feb 14th 2009, 14:45

Sharon, While wishing you all the luck, I believe that had the PL been present during the negotiations for membership and not listened to people like you and Alfred Sant we could have got a better deal out of it all, but no in the PAST which you now want us to forget as if it never happened you tried to put spokes into the wheels.One learns from experience which usually is in the past.I believe the PL has a lot of things to forget from the past,unfortunately for the PL people have an ability called memory and it can never be completely wiped out.People may forgive yes but never ever forget.

M Buttigieg

Feb 14th 2009, 14:40

Sharon, you are right. "We have to look ahead" because 'Il-Passat huwa garanzija tal-Futur'.

D Spiteri

Feb 14th 2009, 14:33

Can you tell us what and how you will be focusing on illegal imigration?

J Martinelli

Feb 14th 2009, 14:22

Precisely!

Voters should take Sharon's advice and look ahead and not take a chance.

There are many other candidates to choose from, many who saw that the association with EU was beneficial to Malta's future and should therefore not waste a vote on Sharon.

Sharon still has no regrets for her anti-EU campaigns of the recent past and the EU is therefore not the right place for her to be.

Going hand -in-hand with the recent convert, Joseph, is no guarantee that the lady has turned into a lamb.

Joe Vella (mellieha)

Feb 14th 2009, 14:17

That is what all they say, those who have nothing to speak off their past or their political past is tainted.

Wasn't there a Maltese Politician that once said along these lines, "ahfer iwa, imma tinsiex"?.

Gerald Fenech

Feb 14th 2009, 14:16

Sharon has experience and is an insider in EU institutions. Her knowledge of how the bureaucracy works and how we can get around it will surely be invaluable if she manages to make it.

Anthony Bugeja

Feb 14th 2009, 14:14

Il-Passat huwa l-mera tal-futur..................

Gianninu Saliba

Feb 14th 2009, 14:14

Yes, Sharon, you are right. Let the people forget the past. Labour's past is dirty; disgustingly dirty. We must forgetr that Labour were in government in 1948 and they between fought between themselves to such an extent that they resigned. Then they were in government in 1955 and this time they tried to sell our soul to the British crown; under the disguise of Integration, thanks to Gorg Borg Olivier the plot failed and they resigned. Then they were in government in the seventies and they fought with everybody, the church, the opposition, the business community, the banks, the doctors, the schools, so much so their regime was almost a dictatorship. In the early 80s the electorate told them that they were no longer wanted in government, but through gerrymandering they stayed on... against the wish of the people. The last time they were in government was for twenty two months in the mid nineties and again they had a major internal fight.. Thank God, they have been in opposition ever since. Let the people forget the past, but they must make sure that Labour is not elected in the future.

Joseph Camilleri

Feb 14th 2009, 14:03

Of course she wants us to not look at the past... Sharon did not just campaign against Malta joining the EU, but after membership she was actively involved with the eurosceptic Independent/Democracy group.

Now she's launching herself as a PL MEP candidate... and we're not meant to question how / why she has had this change of heart? Maybe membership was not such a bad idea after all? Can she clearly state whether she is in favour or not? Have I missed a public admission by her saying that she was wrong to campaign against membership after all?

U HALLUNA!

gaffarena joseph

Feb 14th 2009, 13:01

Wish I, know why you changed your mind in favour of being in the EU.
I, think the first step you have to make is in giving an apology to those who took you seriously and voted against the EU.

richard falzon

Feb 14th 2009, 12:49

Sharon it is not for you to tell us which way to look. In your campaign against the EU you never told us that if we joined there were advantages. It was all negative, negative, negative. Now you're saying that we can benefit.

Eric Psaila

Feb 14th 2009, 12:44

Ms Ellul Bonnici you mentioned in your campaign that you will fight against illegal immigration.
You also said that we should forget the past. Fair enough. However what worries me is this. How would you have voted if you were an MEP when the motion regarding accepting inmates from Guantanamo Bay was placed on the table. All PL MEP voted in favour. I am against and so are 88.4% of the Maltese according to the ongoing poll regarding this subject in the times.
I was also against St John's project. It was suggested in the local media that the PL was against the St John's project because the PL leadership felt the pulse of the nation and wanted to take this matter up in parliament to protect us. But is it not the case of two weights and two measures? On the one hand PL is against illegal immigrants yet PL MEP voted to accept trouble makers in our country. Did'nt the PL leadership know that we are in the majority against illegal immigrants. Please explain as I am confused.

Karl Abela

Feb 14th 2009, 12:42

On further thought.....Sharon Ellul Bonici & Co almost stole away our chance of joining the European Union.
Who can ever forgive you that Sharon? Me? My children? My children's children?

NO WAY !!!!

Brian Borg

Feb 14th 2009, 12:42

If Sharon Ellul Bonnici wanted to:

"safeguarding the rights of Malta and the Maltese as individuals; better access to EU funds; illegal immigration; health and education; the environment; the financial crisis, and the future of the EU."

She should have worked 5 years ago so Malta get into the EU because that is the only place were we could get these rights and funds.

Shame on you Sharon.

Alex Ellul

Feb 14th 2009, 12:35

A Roman philosopher once wrote: He who does not know his past is a fool.

F Cassar

Feb 14th 2009, 12:32

Ciss how convenient! After she vociferously opposed membership and did her very best to keep us out!!

Li kien ghaliha we cannot look forward!!

M.Gauci

Feb 14th 2009, 12:26

Heh, Nammira l-bniedem li ma jafx jisthi. Illum jghid mod b'konvinzjoni ta' iljun u l-ghada, wiehed jihu x'jifhem, li forsi ghax hemm cans ta paga pagun bhala MEP, il-bniedem jinbidel qisu ma hu xejn.

KMB huwa politiku fallut nobis, izda almeu l-principji tieghu zammhom. Kif tista tkun daqstant anti-EU u issa ssir daqstant favur ? Boq ma nafx, pero ghajb ghal partit Laburista li jaccetta kandidati hekk.

Vincent Zerafa

Feb 14th 2009, 12:23

What's the use of looking ahead, when at the present, people feel that EU membership has let them down! Five years have passed now. The majority of the Maltese, 54%, are against EU membership. Only 46% are in favour. This was published in the autumn survey.
What happened to the EU dream? Who are the ones who have really benefited in the EU?
Certainly not the man in the street.

M Borg

Feb 14th 2009, 12:22

Of course look ahead, not at the past!....she should be embarrassed of her past! Being mature to look ahead not backwards? For me being mature is to be responsible for what i said in the past, not hiding the dust under the carpet

Nicola farrugia

Feb 14th 2009, 12:14

Very convieniant now....Sharon Ellul Bonnici went on a warpath against the EU five odd years ago and now, seeing the opportunity to claim on what is a prospective future, has decided to let bygones, be bygones.

To begin with, if there is one thing we do not need in the European parliament is somebody who can perform a U-turn so fast depending on the tune and secondly, I suggest that Ms. Ellul Bonici should leave the political game to professionals and go home bake cakes instead of trying to ridicule the Maltese nation with her presence.

Dr Paul Sant-Cassia

Feb 14th 2009, 12:07

Well said for a politician, or more precisely, an aspiring one, Ms Bonici! The more you talk about the need to forget the past, the more you remind us of it - or more precisely you remind us of your past. I rather prefer Confucius: "Study the Past, in order to divine the Future". And why is it that these Euro elections seem to be bringing out the most naked ambition, the greatest hypocricy, and the most mediocre of candidates? .Ms Bonici should do better than merely listing a series of problems that everyone knows. I see no substance but a hunger for place, position, and emolument.

Godfrey Galea

Feb 14th 2009, 12:05

Good luck Sharon! You'll be a great MEP and an even greater asset for the party

J.Borg

Feb 14th 2009, 12:02

I agree with you Sharon......the past is dead and buried....it's the future that counts now

A.Saliba

Feb 14th 2009, 12:02

Very well, at least someone cares about the problem of illegal immigration. Good luck

Dusty William

Feb 14th 2009, 11:58

Dont worry Sharon its only the Nationalists who looooove to mention the past, imsieken.

Good luck Sharon!

M.Bezzina

Feb 14th 2009, 11:50

I agree it always nice to look ahead but not back.But certain consequences come as a result of the wrong decisions taken in the past.Good luck anyway!!