Tardy Muscat keeps Gonzi waiting
Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat admits he is not a stickler for protocol but yesterday he arrived a full 30 minutes late to record the final debate with Nationalist Party leader Lawrence Gonzi.
The debate at the PBS studios in Guardamangia was scheduled to start at 1 p.m. but it only started some 45 minutes later.
Dr Gonzi turned up five minutes before the scheduled time but had to be escorted to the boardroom upstairs to wait for the Opposition Leader. At one point Dr Gonzi's aide was heard complaining to the Broadcasting Authority chairman that the Prime Minister did not have the whole afternoon at his disposal.
Dr Muscat finally made an appearance at 1.30 p.m., emerging from his car with jacket in hand.
To add insult to injury, one of his aides said there was "no particular reason for the delay".
Dr Gonzi had another appointment at 2.30 p.m. in Bulebel at which he arrived 30 minutes late, blaming the delay on Dr Muscat's tardiness.
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Franco Farrugia
Jun 4th 2009, 23:16
@Joyce Aquilina: I have nothing to do with PN. Just because someone speaks the truth and criticises your colour, it does ot mean that he or she belongs to the other party as you belong to yours!
I cannot imagine that Dr Gonzi would come and knock on your door, knowing that you are PL supporters. You say he did, and that he promised you things, yet, you didn't get them because you are PL supporters - hmmm, something is very wrong in this argument and I don't believe it.
And if your son wants a job, he should not wait for Dr Gonzi and his promises but should go and get a proper education and/or training. Like I did. Plenty of times!
And if you are really a senior adult as you claim you are, then, certainly, you are not giving a lot of good example: punctuality is of the essence, dear lady! Punctuality and good manners!
John MANGION
Jun 4th 2009, 08:39
SKONT IZ-ZOKK IL-FERGHA,
Late as Always;
Late for accepting Malta Indepence
Late to Accept Democracy
Late to Pluralism in Broadcasting
Late to Free Trading
Late for Telephony
Late for Power Station at Delimara
Late to Close Power station at Marsa
Late for Mater Dei
Late for Rehabilitation of Sant Antnin
Late for EU
Late for EURO
LATE
ALWAYS LATE
LATE in 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998., 2003, 2008
Late for Referendum
LATE
And LATE WILL BE IN FUTURE (After DEATH)
Galea. L
Jun 3rd 2009, 22:40
J Martinelli
Patience Martinelli, patience.
A. Camilleri
Jun 3rd 2009, 20:12
Reading some of the comments sent in by some readers convinces me even further that there are still many Maltese who are brainwashed. Some remarks are so petty and rediculous that they do not deserve commenting on. But, come on you guys out there, the PL leader, and the current Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Joe Muscat, is so arrogant; he should really be ashamed of himself firstly for being late, and secondly and particularly for not even bothering to apologise. If he does not respect others, mainly those who hold certain posts, like the Prime Minister of our country, can he really expect us to show any respect towards him. Come on, grow up and let's respect one another! I am not involving politics in my contention, but respect is certainly something becoming extremely rare in our islands, unfortunately, and mainly from certain quarters. Dr. Muscat, pride will get you nowhere. Moreover, if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. We know you could do much better, all over.
joyce aquilina
Jun 3rd 2009, 19:47
@franco farrugia,
for your information i am a mother of 2 young men and a grandmother and a good one and i have not ignored the light bulbs because i have yet to receive my voucher and you people of the pn don't even know the meaning of the words good manners mean.
you know what good manners is when dr gonzi came to my house before the 98 election and told me he would give my son a job as a policeman or at the malta freeport but because we are pl supporters as soon as he was elected he came with all kind of excuses.
Alfred Cassar
Jun 3rd 2009, 19:41
Oh how better it would have been with Dr George Abela as PL leader!! No arrogance, no childish bahaviour
john fenech
Jun 3rd 2009, 19:40
Punctuality is the yardstick by which professionalism and good manners are measured. Being late mostly annoys people and does not take into consideration other individual's schedules. It is fundamentally impolite and unprofessional to be late unless it is for your funeral
Ray Schembri
Jun 3rd 2009, 19:33
Little things please little minds !
J Martinelli
Jun 3rd 2009, 19:25
The only excuses for Dr. Muscat's tardiness and crass behaviour are from the usual sources. So, to use a Maltese saying - 'Ma min rajtek xebbahtek' I take it to mean that this sort of mentality transcends the Labour party from top to the very deep bottom!
J Vella thinks this is a good sign for Labour ...need I comment more?
It seems that Labour li'l elves still cannot swallow the fact that their delegates scrambled a few dozen eggs last year and chose the wrong person to lead them.
The one who they turned down is enjoying life at Sant' Anton and Verdala Palace, while Joseph drives his wonder car 30 minutes late, every time! Goes to show you!
Galea. L
Jun 3rd 2009, 19:20
J Martinelli
You will get your answer next Saturday and at the next general election Martinelli.
Picking up on such nit-picking shows that Gonzi apologists have absolutely no arguments.
Michael Seychell
Everyone knows that you have an axe to grind with Labour and even if The Lord himself had to be chosen as its leader you will still find something to criticize.
j.darmanin
Jun 3rd 2009, 18:25
mela qatt ma kien tard imkien il -priministru !!!
M Buttigieg
Jun 3rd 2009, 18:15
Arrogance at the highest level. Not even Mintoff in those black days Malta has ever witnessed did this arrogant move to his opponents. Viva l-ISTAGUN POLITIKU GDID!!!
Edwin Cachia
Jun 3rd 2009, 18:00
He is arrognat .... arriving 30 min late - leaving the Prime Minister waiting . Who do you think you are Dr. Muscat ?
J. Vella
Jun 3rd 2009, 17:16
ooooh what a tragedy! haha
well this article is just a good sign for Labour, PN has no issues on which to attack Labour so they make a fuss about such stupidities
J Martinelli
Jun 3rd 2009, 16:19
No Galea.L we are not moaning - we are appalled at Joseph's behaviour. Had Dr. Gonzi wanted to take political advantage he could have done one of two things - get on with the interview Joseph or not, or wait a few minutes and if still no Joseph, just leave.
A future prime minister? Who? Joseph? That will be the day!
Michael Seychell
Jun 3rd 2009, 16:18
JM showed that his arrogance has no limit, and this has been confirmed by his aide who stated that his leader was late 'for no particular reasion'.
If Drt. Muscat thinks that he humilated Dr. Gonzi by wait ing for him 30 minutes, he should know that the PM has come out of this as a true statesman and gentleman - virtues which are so lacking in Joe Muscat.
This arrogance by the M/LP Leaders is becoming contagious. Recently Jason Micallef raised a claim against PN media before the Broadcasting Authority - which is about 150 metres from the Red Glasshouse. Jason was late for the hearing just over 30 minutes.
It is becoming more evident that Muscat is listening to the M/LP officials to demonstrate his 'superiority' through arrogance. Muscat should keep in mind that those he is listening to are the same people who used to advice Dr,. Sant, and some of them even Dr. KMB, the result in both cases sent both former leaders to the rocks. JM open your eyes and ears before it becomes too late for you, and you will not even make it to become PM.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
S Darmanin
Jun 3rd 2009, 16:10
Arrogance as usual the new PL leader. Diga kibritlu rasu u dan ghadu mhux fil gvern ahseb u ara x sa jamel jhekk ikun prim ministru. Nispera li jiehu t tkaxkira li tixraqlu forsi jamel siequ ma l art
Adrian Gouder
Jun 3rd 2009, 14:47
Dr. Muscat says he's not very good at protocol.
This is not protocol, it is basic-most education. Dr. Muscat is turning out to be unbeleivably arrogant. Can anyone immagine him in power with an attitude like that?
Franco Farrugia
Jun 3rd 2009, 14:00
@ Joyce Aquilina - I am surprised at your lack of foresight and sense of good manners. What has good manners got to do with waiting for bulbs (which you probably ignored anyway!)? This is a question of good manners, common sense and decorum. A leader of the Opposition does not keep the Prime Minister waiting. A young person does not keep an older person waiting. Any person does not arrive late for an appointment. Or have we lost all sense of good manners? This is the kind of education that we have to instil in those younger than us. I sincerely hope that you are not a parent.
Galea. L
Jun 3rd 2009, 13:10
To all pn moaners. This is simply a petty issue which reminded me of the saying making a mountain out of a mole hill to try to gain political advantage. Horace wrote Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus; "the mountains will labour, a ridiculous mouse will be born. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_a_mountain_out_of_a_molehill
In Maltese we say "hoblot muntanja u twieled gurdien".
Phil Humphries
Jun 3rd 2009, 12:22
Dr. Muscat's conduct in his early days as leader caused me to think that a breath of fresh air had blown through the PL and that the days of sniping, gainsmanship and petty attempts to score points were over. On reflection, I think I was mistaken. Rather than appearing statesmanlike and a man capable of steering a divided nation through difficult times, Dr Muscat comes across as abraisive and disrepectful, and yesterday's unexplained lateness did nothing to alter my opinion.
Ultimately, people are judged by their actions and while this behaviour might impress PL diehards, I suggest that it did little to convince disenchanted PN voters that Dr Muscat is a credible alternative to Dr Gonzi. Or perhaps the PL are content to remain in opposition.
KFarrugia
Jun 3rd 2009, 09:56
Usual arrogance. Similar to his trip to Sicily during the presidential cermony. Does the new kid on the block already believe he's superior to all?
joyce aquilina
Jun 3rd 2009, 09:40
my mother has been waiting 3 years for a n eye operation,we have been waiting 1 year for the light bulbs which by the way i do not believe that because of the light bulbs my electricity bill will come less