Updated: PL leader raises questions on recent arrival of immigrants in Gozo
Perici Calascione to sue Muscat for libel
(Adds Dr Perici Calascione's reaction)
The boatload of illegal immigrants which landed in Gozo some days ago had been given fuel and directed to the island when it was close to Italy, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said.
Addressing a meeting at Ta’ Cenc in Gozo this morning, Dr Muscat said he had a number of questions about this incident:
How could immigrants coming from the south end in the north? Did this boat enter like many others or in a different way? What had police investigations concluded? Was it true that the boat had been intercepted by the Armed Forces? Where?
Dr Muscat said that he was informed that the boat had passed by Malta and it had been spotted by the AFM. As it was moving close to Italy, someone directed it to Gozo. The Prime Minister wanted to keep this incident under wraps because he had lost control.
Dr Muscat recalled that when he had proposed giving immigrants assistance and letting them go three years ago, the government had been scandalised. The same proposal was now being made.
And when in October he advised the government not to sign the Immigration Pact as voluntary burden sharing would not work, he was told that compulsory burden sharing was not beneficial for Malta. Now eight months later, the government was calling for compulsory burden sharing.
During yesterday's meeting, Dr Muscat played a recording of a meeting held with hunters and trappers by Nationalist MEP candidate Alex Perici Calascione. Dr Perici Calascione was heard telling the hunter that they had been deceived by President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, then Prime Minister.
Dr Muscat said that when Dr Perici Calascione was making this statement, there were present for the same meeting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the PN’s deputy general secretary Jean Pierre Debono.
But in a reaction, Dr Perici Calascione said he would be suing Dr Muscat for libel because the recording he played was only a fraction of his speech and did not reflect the gist of it. Had Dr Muscat played a bit more of the recording, he would have shown his listeners that he (Dr Perici Calascione) had tried to factually prove that Dr Fenech Adami was not mad and had not deceived hunters.
He challenged Dr Muscat to quote all his speech or withdraw what he said and apologise.
Dr Muscat referred to the VAT corruption case and asked how much money was involved. He said he wanted to know who was to shoulder political responsibility.
Three weeks had already gone by since he first asked the questions and he had not yet been given a reply. A political judgement, he said, could be made in spite of investigations.
He urged supporters to vote in the June 6 elections and not to heed those who were saying this would be an easy election for Labour.
“This is a very difficult election for us. We need each and every vote. Everyone has to go and vote both for the EP and council elections,” he said.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr Muscat thanked Chiara for her performance at the Eurovision Song Contest yesterday and former Nationalist MP Louis Refalo who was present for the meeting and who had become a member of MLP.
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R. Gatt
May 18th 2009, 09:10
Dr. Muscat, wouldn't it be more suitable to explain to us why your MEP, you included always worked against Malta in the EU parliament. Would it not be better if you apologise to all the nation for the farce your MEPs managed to put up in the EU parliament. Did you read the article in The Times yesterday about the input the Maltese MEPs gave in during the last 5 years. Yours and you included should be ashamed to call yourselves Maltese. There only to help the PLe by throwing spanners in the works. Doing all in your power to minimise the funds we get. I do agree with one thing though. All should go out to vote with one thought on June 6. The PLe candidates have no desire to see Malta doing well financially and politically. It's not in their party's interest. Most of them, if not all all euroceptics. Vote for all PN candidated, the only ones who are not colour blind and know which buttoms to press.
As for the Calascione Perici case, Dr. Muscat should have played the whole speech. By the way, will PLe decide was Mintoff a saviour or a traiter. Crucification?
michael tabone
May 17th 2009, 22:02
Is the Prime Minister ready to pass the freedom of information act? When will he give the full information on these boat people coming to Malta? Why did they land in Gozo? Did anyone direct them to land there? Can the Prime Minister please explain? We are EU citizens now. Gonzi PN was wrong to assume that voluntary burden sharing would work. Now we are bearing the fruit of that misguided policy.
lgalea
May 17th 2009, 21:11
O. Grech
Anything wrong with taking Malta out of the eu slavery and colonial despotism?
Victor Mamo
May 17th 2009, 20:04
O. Grech
Completely agree with everything you said.
As for the rest of the comments, I will give the bloggers the benefit of the doubt due to the article being updated later on in the day. Though it does worry me that bloggers are not certain of their facts before commenting. Same goes for Joseph Muscat. Shame on Dr. Muscat's manipulation of Dr. Perici Calascione's speech. PL twisting the facts as usual. Bidu gdid indeed!
salvu calleja
May 17th 2009, 16:50
What's the NEWS Mr.Calascione..............we already know that.........but thanks anyway (skont iz-zokk il-fergha)
Charles Sammut (NY)
May 17th 2009, 16:47
What am I missing here? Where exactly was the boat when it was given fuel and who gave it directions to exactly where? It sure seems to me that the country is rudderless and there is no policy regarding these invaders. Malta absolutely is too small to assimulate these people.. Many like me had to leave to make a living abroad and there is no way it should be taking in all these hapless folks.
O. Grech
May 17th 2009, 15:43
Dr. Muscat, could you stop turning this important issue for our nation into a political ball? First of all can you also tell people that when the PM accepted he voluntary burden sharing the option was either voluntary or nothing. With time nationalist MEPs and PM convinced, through dialogue (and no Vetos) that obligatory burden sharing is appropriate. You have to start to walk before you run.
I m afraid that with your words and actions you are not convincing me. And allow me to mention the advert by Sharon Ellul Bonnici on a local newspaper today whereby it evidenetly shows how scpetic she still is in relation to EU...She held we are on a ship in the middle of the sea and we cannot get down....i take it that had she been able to, she would take Malta out of EU.
M.Buhagiar
May 17th 2009, 14:12
This morning a recording of the prospective PN MEP candidate Alex Perici Calascione was played during a meeting with the hunters held behind closed doors in the presence of Gonzi. Below is part of the recorded extract which everyone can easily listen to :
"Mela ma hemmx wisq fejn wiehed imur. Meta inti taqra dawk iz-zewg ittri ma tistax hlief tasal ghal wiehed minn zewg, u dawk l-ittri miktubin nirrepeti minn Prim Ministru, minn Kap tal-gvern u mhux minn Kap ta’ partit. Meta wiehed jaqra dawk iz-zewg ittri zewg konkluzjonijiet biss hemm, ma hemmx wisq fejn imur. Jew dan, Eddie Fenech Adami mignun jew ried jitnejjek bin-nies. Wahda jew l-ohra. Ma hemmx fejn iddur."
HO.HO.HO - Now they are criticising GOD ALL MIGHTY himself i.e. EFA
L-EWWEL QALBUHA LIL BORG OLIVIER U ISSA QED JIPPRUVAW JAQILBUHA LIL EFA .
VERU SKOND IZ ZOKK IL- FERGHA !!!!!!!
Mari Farrugia
May 17th 2009, 13:42
Albert,
Just one note ... It is not just EFA who was either crazy or "jitmejjel" bin-nies ... but it is the way Lawrence Gonzi and his PN works.
You promise heaven on earth ... guarantees to workers, low surcharge, more rights and even (incredibly) hunting and trapping.
'Jew mignun, jew jitmejjel bik'
Czarb
May 17th 2009, 13:31
If it is true then Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici should resign immediately. Its pretty evident that he is not suited for the job.
A.Gauci Cunningham
May 17th 2009, 12:50
What's missing in this report is the fact that during this morning's meeting a recording was played where a Nationlist MEP candidate implied that regarding the hunting issue the then Prime minister Dr.Eddie Fenech Adami was/is either "crazy or pokes fun at people" (jew mignun jew jitmejjel bin-nies). Is this what the PN has become??? Trying to ridicule one of its greatest leaders to win a vote or two!!!!!!!???? love him or hate him Eddie gave a-lot to the PN.....much more then perici Calascione would ever dream to!!! Isthu, isthu u komplu isthu!!!!
Charles Sammut
May 17th 2009, 12:39
"The boatload of illegal immigrants which landed in Gozo some days ago had been given fuel and directed to the island when it was close to Italy,"
Simon Busuttil was right. Burden sharing works after all.