Minister says economy may remain in negative territory this year

P.Cassar

Jul 2nd 2009, 12:24

@ Jason
I fully understand your point of view but there is another school of thought which holds that there is nothing better than the truth so that all concerned will act accordingly and try to save the situation. In the blind, everyone goes on doing little or nothing and suddently they come face to face unprepared. This is what happened to us. So while I respect your view, I still think that the second approach is better.

R Grech

Jul 2nd 2009, 12:10

@ Jason Agius: Of course, for you blue noses everything is going fine. You fail to mention though the restaurants that closed, the same people who are komdi at the restaurants. You seem to be one of them Mr Agius

A Galea

Jul 2nd 2009, 11:34

@ M Catania: I think you have a serious problem. First you say that the deficit came from the 80's, now that the projects were half baked. PN did always bake them though, just look how much it took to make a new hospital, and all that time to be done wrong! But you blue noses are always right!

@ J Martinelli: You dare mention neglect? Just look at what states were St Lukes, Mater Dei (Yes the new hospital!) the streets are, and you will realise where neglect is. So long for the evaporation of comments! It's better if you take you head out of the sand first!

A Zammit

Jul 2nd 2009, 11:28

@ M Catania: Half baked projects? Are you refering to Air Malta (the famous 'ghasfur tac comb' as said by PN) and investments such as SGS Thompson, Thomas De La Rue and the list continues? Are all these half baked projects? Maybe you fail to include Mater Dei, the roads still with holes that we have, or the new roads with holes already, overpaying contractors. But as usual, your blue tinted glass only shows you disneyland and not Malta. By new you maybe mean the power station, who was supposed to phase out the 'second hand' Marsa one? You are being pathetic!

@ J Martinelli: Neglect? Just see what I said to your colleague who lives in disneyland like you M Catania, and if you call Air Malta and the above mentioned neglect, then you do seriously have a problem. Because we have all the roads without holes, and the shortage of healthcare staff. And you try to answer by quoting another blue nosed? I think it is your comments that will evaporate now. What about the 'Money no problem' adopted by your beloved EFA? Keep your head in the sand Mr Martinelli, since you fail to see reality!

Jason Agius

Jul 1st 2009, 20:34

@ a vaassallo

kieku sejrin daqshekk hazin daqs kemm qed jghidu tar-restaurants (ghax minix narahom vojta jien) inaqqsu tikka l-prezzijiet mhux jibqghu jghollu
ahna dejjem nippretendu kemm se jnaqqas il-gvern

U haga ohra
Ftit ilu kienet fl-ahbarijiet li mizura li qed tghid int tiswa EUR 40 miljun. Lest thallas taxxa ghal dan is-sens?

Jason Agius

Jul 1st 2009, 20:31

P.Cassar

How wrong you are, my friend.
Had Minister Fenech, one year, or 6 months ago started saying "we are in a recession", the negative impact it would have had on consumer/business confidence - you wouldnt have imagined it. Your comment indicates to me you are not in business (No offence of course). In business, its all about confidence.

Had Tonio Fenech expressed worry of a recession 6 months ago, instead of 1% negative growth we would be hear discussing negative growths much much higher.

J Martinelli

Jul 1st 2009, 19:24

@ A Zammit

Talking about NP deficits over the last 22 years...

"For all the bad rhetoric that Eddie Fenech Adami got for accepting the role of President of our beloved Republic, he had visions. Perhaps at those times the visions were much clearer than they are today: water, power stations, airports, etc. But they were all necessary for a sustainable future. He did not worry about deficits that kept his predecessors from doing what was necessary. And that is what won him the election, my friends".

Those are not my words A Zammit, they appeared today in another paper signed Professor Pierre Mallia taken out of a much more comprehensive article mainly about Health Care.

So before you even dare mention deficits, think about the utter neglect of the infrastructure during the sixteen years of a Socialist dictatorship. Your comments will instantly evaporate!

M. Catania

Jul 1st 2009, 17:14

@A Zammit

Don't forget that PN had to lump MLP's half baked projects such st the Drydocks and Shipbuilding. And they had to built the country's infrastructure from scratch or are you better off with 2nd hand equipment as in your MLP's time....

P.Cassar

Jul 1st 2009, 16:57

PITY THE COUNTRY which has a finance minister (who many paraded as a financial guru) who says the country is not hit by the recession. Some months later he realises that a broadside has hit him and poor us.

A Zammit

Jul 1st 2009, 16:30

@ M Catania: Maybe you are living in dreamland, but we have a deficit, which accumulated during the 20 year of your beloved PN. Or maybe you are in too much dreamful state to know this...

M. Gauci

Jul 1st 2009, 15:55

Mr. Minister of Dreams and Legends, in 2010 you said that Malta will have a surplus. Were are the Blue eyed Blogs?

M. Catania

Jul 1st 2009, 15:45

@Gemgem apologists

You're perfectly right. All European countries experienced a growth with the exception of Malta. Because according to many self made Maltese economists Malta is faring badly due to Gonzi being at the country's helm. We would not have gone through this recession if we had Joseph Muscat .....

joyce aquilina

Jul 1st 2009, 15:44

tell us something we do not already know

David Galea

Jul 1st 2009, 15:17

I can quite believe that the economy may remain and i think will remain maybe worse still because as we all know next year is the 2010 WORLD CUP and i certainly will be following every single one of them, so don't worry be happy, we'll survive.

A. Mizzi

Jul 1st 2009, 15:03

What are we to expect a Piano Tax or Piano Contribution over and above other increases in surcharges?

Aren't the words "STOP" and "ENOUGH" in Dr. Tonio Fenech's vocabulary?

J.Bonnici

Jul 1st 2009, 14:45

So there are no signs of recovery as we have been told.
The worst is yet to come.

mario gellel

Jul 1st 2009, 14:17

AS if it is of a suprise???
Is it not always the same old story now that Elections are over???
It:s moving aside the magic carpet and throw all the dust that was hidden underneath it to our faces. Malta,prepare yourselves for the untold horror story.

Galea. L

Jul 1st 2009, 14:15

Weren't we riding the recession?

A. Vassallo

Jul 1st 2009, 13:59

@ Minister Tonio Fenech

To boost tourism in Malta, the goverment should follow France and slash the cost of restaurant meals via a cut in VAT down to 5% in a move to boost consumer confidence and spending as the European economy faces its worst slump for 80 years.

Criss Camilleri

Jul 1st 2009, 13:38

Of course it would remain 'negative' There is no Elections in sight until another four years. [?????] Only then will we hear, 'Finanzi fis-Sod'

John Schembri

Jul 1st 2009, 12:48

Makes perfect sense, raise fuel rates to further sink the economy. Keep W&E rates sky high. And don't forget the tough budget measures, Tonio, as the final coup de grace. We'll be sure to vote for you next election.