Gnr Psaila's parents file protest against Alfred Sant

Josef Muscat

Oct 23rd 2009, 17:49

@ Joseph Borg : you have facts, but at the same you keep finding it convenient to keep mentioning the swimming, which I repeat for the umpteenth time had nothing to do with this incident. Protests against the government regarding swimming are ridiculous. But, your seem to be idol, stated that Matthew was engaged before the election ( which is FALSE ). That is a very unfair and harming statement. And speaking about Matthew in particular makes it even more UNFAIR. What about that ?
@ Jurgen Bugeja : ghandek ragun, Muscat ma ghandu x'jaqsam XEJN . Ninsisti li f'affarijiet bhal dawn ghandna inkunu serji u ingiebu quddiem ghajnejna min ahna qabel nifthu halqna u naghmlu xi allegazzjoni. Mhux kullhadd jista' jghid li jrid, ghax f'certa cirkustanzi tista' taghti l-impressjoni li dak li qed tghid int huwa l-hsieb ta' l-organizzazzjoni li tirrapprezenta. Cert, izda, li dan il-kaz ma huwiex hekk.

Jurgen Bugeja

Oct 23rd 2009, 16:43

@Ray Gatt

Muscat x'ghandu x'jaqsam!!

Norbert Micallef

Oct 23rd 2009, 08:16

Some facts without comment -

Thefamily has not sued, but only officially protested against the allegation of favouritism in Gunner Psaila's recruitment, and the insinuation that he was recruited as some sort of 'pjacir'.

swimming is not a pre-requisite for joining. whether it should have been or not falls outside the scope of this issue.

The accident did not happen in deep water, as the deep part had already been traversed without difficulty.

there are criminal proceedings in which the Psaila family is involved as partecivile.

Dr Joseph Muscat the MLP leader has totally disassociated himself from Dr Sant's comments, and described them as personal, thus removing all traces of partisan lines from this issue.

Now may I suggest that all commentators take a step back, and objectively consider these facts, put yourselves in the family's shoes, and see how you would feel if out of the blues, a politician decides that your son was recruited before the election as some sort of political favour, when this is obvioulsy not the case, and when your son is lost to you for ever. Would you not protest?? Thewording of the protest itself is public and its clearly non-political.

Joseph Borg

Oct 22nd 2009, 23:13

This is so ridiculous! Shouldn't his family be filing protests against the government and whoever didn't check he couldn't swim instead of Alfred Sant?

This country has gone topsy turvy!

Karl Consiglio

Oct 22nd 2009, 20:04

It was the only piece of the interview I watched, was more than enough to make me change channel.

Ray Gatt

Oct 22nd 2009, 19:01

Don't anybody worry about a thing. Muscat will come out and say it was the PM that made that statement and asks for an apology from PN.

Peter Bonnici

Oct 22nd 2009, 18:21

@ Elena Spiteri. In the 30 years time somebody will still be discussing whether an apology is in order, and wondering how it would have never materialised. These people don't aplogise for big scale atrocities let alone for mud-sliging and showing disrespect. You can forget it.

charles zammit

Oct 22nd 2009, 18:16

i beleive that the poor lad's relatives should look beyond dr sant to sue for damages.

marthese mussett

Oct 22nd 2009, 12:05

I feel sorry for Mr.Psaila s family and I hope I don t ever have to go through what you ve been through,but please ,I m sure Alfred Sant did not mean to hurt anybody,he was trying to make a point,and everyone remembers this tragedy,Matthew seemed a peaceful person,loved by everyone,and I don t think he would have liked this.RIP Matthew.

Elena Spiteri

Oct 22nd 2009, 12:01

I believe most of the comments here are missing the point, Dr Sant did not mention Gnr Psaila to demonstrate his concern about the AFM recruitement, but to make a political accusation that the person concerned was recruited as a favour, without having the necessary qualifications, as some part of the PN election strategy. The family has every right to be offended by Dr Sant's insensitive remark, becuase this was not true. Whether or not he knew how to swim is besides the point. I hope Dr Sant apologises for this.

Josef Muscat

Oct 22nd 2009, 11:09

@ Mark DALLI U kull min jibqa' jsemmi l-ghawm - ANKE INT QIEGHED TPACPAC U TIKTEB U MA TAF XEJN. GHAL-MILJUN DARBA U NISPERA LI INT U KULLHADD IDAHHALHA GO RASU : L-INCIDENT MA KELLU X'JAQSAM XEJN MA JEKK WIEHED JAFX JGHUM JEW LE. Int ghidt ukoll li l-politici jibqghu l-istess u li jaslu biex jghidu kollox u juzaw lil kullhadd biex isostnu l-punt taghhom. Nifhimha. Tghid kollox imma, mhux TIVVINTA !

d.attard

Oct 22nd 2009, 10:43

Society, any society, evolves because it delves into episodes when things go wrong, with the aim of securing lessons that will improve the way that society does things.

That is why we have investigations of all kinds. This tragic event under discussion is one such episode. No longer in mainstream politics, dr sant raises important questions. If the answeres are out there than these should be given to us. If not, should we hold our breath while we wait?

J. brincat

Oct 22nd 2009, 10:43

I am not a supporter of Sant in any way but I do not see why he is being criticised for his comments. They are going off at a tangent when they accuse him of using a dead person for political gain. I do not believe this to be the case.He is highlighting an error in the system and stating that this should be rectified. The fact that a person died, though tragic, is something which is a by product of this error. We should stop messing around and deal with issues rather then petty mud slinging!!

Dr Francis Saliba

Oct 22nd 2009, 10:43

@David Attard & MIke Magri.

And if you say that a comment is "pathetic" and if you say "Shame on you Spinners" then it musy be so, because you said so!

David Attard

Oct 22nd 2009, 09:50

R Spiteri

I sugest you wake up talking about musical chairs ,lets talk finanzi fis sod ,materdei,enemalta be realistic about the present were families are getting poorer by the day and please lets not say its global recession again as 1000 Euro electricity bill for a family with a 1000 Euro income thats not recession thats pure lack of social concence.
As for this case why dont we ask for the truth rather then ask for apolgies from Dr Sant and Dr Muscat As some comments asked cant you people be honest with yourselves for once rather then talk this way .Pathetic !!!

Mark Dalli

Oct 22nd 2009, 09:43

Politicians will always be politicians...they use everything and anyone to make thier point!
we've had it from both sides and it will never stop!

Lesson: Change the Army Rules for admission cause it could happen again and again!
...and if there is anyone to sue ...it surely should be the Army Head for lacking to update army rules! We probably copied British army rules blindly without adapting them!! EVERYONE should know how to swim in the ARMY & POLICE & the Sea Company!!!

Mike Magri

Oct 22nd 2009, 09:25

To all GonziPN apologists and SPINNING Machinists....

All Dr. Joseph Muscat have to say about Dr. Sant`s comments to all of you, is simply... ASK HIM.. Period... This is not something new for the GonziPN Regime. We have heard it a hundred times coming out from Dr. Fenech Adami and his desciple, GonziPN...

Dr. Sant was NOT speaking on behalf of the Labour Party, but ONLY on a personal bases...

Shame on you `Spinners`.....

Muscat. Pat

Oct 22nd 2009, 08:53

@ Joe Stafrace.
Men who did know how to swim were chosen to join the Royal Navy so that when these sailors found themeselves by accident into the sea, the ship would not have to turn back. This was the era of the sailing ship, with ropes and accidents galore and where it took a ship ages to turn back and pick up people.
I used to consider myself a good swimmer, but swimming in the Chadwick muds never ever crossed my mind. Going into the muds without a life jacket was madness. After all, soldiers on patrol boats have their life jacket all the time, and there is no mud! Indeed, it is against the Navy regulations to be without a life jacket! In the meantime I give my condoliances to the family hoping that stupid accidents like this would never happen again; indeed it should not have happened!

Charles Caruana

Oct 22nd 2009, 08:34

Ara kif jista jkun li l-ghawm mhux parti mil-kapacitajiet li tkun fl-armata!!!!!

Colin Camilleri

Oct 22nd 2009, 08:13

I must admit that there is something really wrong going on in this country.

We have a politician who questions why was a person enrolled as a soldier/gunner if he cannot swim. The same politician asks and criticizes how could such a person be enrolled if the exercises involved exactly what the person CANNOT do. The same politician asks why those responsible did not take that FACT into consideration before taking the soldiers to ice cold deep waters, namely that some of the recruites CANNOT even swim.

What happens? Tragedy strikes! What happens again? The parents sue the politician who raised these questions on TV. They felt hurt. And what about the persons who were in command? the same ones who took the decision to take recruits into deep waters knowing some could not swim? Did the family and the gunner know that, even if recruites cannot swim, they may be asked to join exercises in deep waters? What did they do to circumvent this drawback? Because then whose responsibility is it? If I cannot swim, will I jump into the water? If I cannot climb, would I go to a climb a cliff?

Mickey Mouse country indeed.

Joseph B.Fenech

Oct 22nd 2009, 07:36

@ Martin Saliba - If there was political gain regarding the death of Karen Grech it was all and always in favour of Labour. It has always been given the impression ( !! ) that PN in some way or another had to do with it. But, may I remind you that your party had all the time to solve this case 1977 - 1987 ( 10 years ) and 1996 - 1998 ( 20 months ).

Roderick Micallef

Oct 22nd 2009, 07:24

In my opinion it is simply unbelievable that Mr&Mrs.Psaila have actually filed a judical protest against Dr.Sant but on the other hand have not filed any charges against who is responsible in the army. It is evident that swimming skills should be a necessity for the army,ideally, for every one, we live on a tiny island so swimming should be a basic skill, If swimming is not a necessity to joint the army but on the other hand platoons are required to train in water then something is extremely wrong in the army of Malta itself and not with Dr.Sant.
Ideally Dr.Sant's comment could have been evaluated and swimming should become a must to be able to join the army. I wonder if the soldiers that go out at sea to assist illegal immigrants can actually swim themselves? Is this an accident that is prone to happen once again in future? Who was responsible for the first accident and who will be responsible if it happens again especially if swimming is not made compulsory? It seems that we always point fingers in the wrong direction in this country!

Josef Muscat

Oct 22nd 2009, 07:16

@ Adriano Spiteri : who is blaming Dr Sant about swimming or not. After all swimming had NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING to do with Matthew's death. Yesterday's issue was about Psaila joining the army before the General Election ( as Alfred Sant stated ) and which is not true or after. Adriano, if you don't know the facts, just keep your mouth shut. I am so sure that you are one of the few ( and maybe the ONLY one ) that wrote in favour of the former Labour leader ( regarding this case ). I am also so sure that with such a statement he may have embarrassed a lot of people. Finally, I think that going back, he will not repeat what he said !

Carmel J Caruana

Oct 22nd 2009, 06:21

"being able to swim was not a requirement for the job"!!!!!!

I wonder why and who allowed this in the first place - it makes little sense. Althought I do not think that Gunner Psaila's parents were involved in lowering the requirements for the job perhaps others were. Perhaps Dr Sant may not be far off from the truth. Certainly if Dr Sant knows anything he is duty bound toward the electorate to make this known to all.

Adriano Spiteri

Oct 22nd 2009, 01:05

"Swimming was not part of the requirements for joining the army."

Blame the army not Alfred Sant.

martin saliba

Oct 21st 2009, 21:43

@John Montague. While i agree that Dr. Sant should not have mentioned the soldier to make a political point i must remind you that someone used two dead people for political gain when he promised that after the general elecections we would know who killed Karen Grech and Raymond Caruana especially when the deaths of these two people was because of politics in one way or another.

F.Grech

Oct 21st 2009, 21:00

I really think that A.Sant does not want this to ever happen again. To nobody. We have to learn from mistakes, this is how humans learn...from their mistakes.
Peace with Family Psaila.

Mike Orland

Oct 21st 2009, 20:48

This is bluntly rediculous, here we are going over board. The use of non politically related people to try getting a political advantage is being dragged to its limits????????

Naming a dead person to put up an argument against a political party??? Are we insane??

The PL has lately used too many people to critise the government. gunner Psaila, the Fenech family, oh thank god the new era is coming!!!!!

Yes a new era were people learn to hate politics and the people who do it because they are a bunch of leeches earning money on people's ideological believes.

TAL MISTHIJA

A Mangion

Oct 21st 2009, 20:03

@ John Debattista and Maria Pace

This is no "storm in a tea cup" and what Alfred Sant said does NOT make sense. This is Alfred Sant shooting from the hip. He could have easily checked his facts before making this gaffe. He was absolutely disrespectful.

Galea. L

Oct 21st 2009, 19:33

Manuel Micallef
Totally agree with you.
Why should Gunner Psaila be allowed to go on such training if he couldn't swim?
And why should soldiers who everyone knows would have occasion to have to go into water are allowed to join if they don't know how to swim?
With due respect what the family should be asking are these questions and not filing a protest because someone had brought up the issue of the power of incumbency and clientelism.

Denis Catania

Oct 21st 2009, 19:22

@Psaila family: I feel your frustration, but don't get dragged into this political game. Let it be. Let Malta's hero lay in peace.

Neville Zammit

Oct 21st 2009, 18:56

Dr Sant was right again, even on this point. How dare the army put people to swimming tasks when they don't know swimming? To all those crying shame on Dr Sant, you should cry shame on who was reponsible of engaging this person who later on died because he didn t know how to swim and a life was lost!

Vella Mario

Oct 21st 2009, 18:16

First of all, my sincere condolences to the Psaila family.
But Dr Sant is right. NOBODY should be above the law. Where is the OHSA. Are not ALL employers subject to Health and Safety laws of Malta. Shouldn't a proper risk assesment have been carried out, prior to such exercises which involved getting across deep waters and heavyly loaded with gear? Whoever was responsible, but did not carry out this risk assessment is still answerable, be it the Army and or the Governement. When are we going to learn to prevent tragedies and not weep in vain when they srtike, and all dignitaries who should shoulder responsabilities, simply march to front benches at funerals hiding their guilt, if they feel any, because apperently they have all gone immune to shame.?
Can somebody face the families and say "mea colpa, mea colpa" ?

michael cauchi

Oct 21st 2009, 18:15

@ malcolm seychell....

alfred sant better than eddie !
eddie never apologised for hurting 170,000 labourites when he challenged them in republic str !!

J.Camilleri

Oct 21st 2009, 18:01

The Psaila family should thank Dr. Sant. Because of him we now know that their son should not have been taken in deep waters if he couldn't swim and if swimming is not a requisite in the army. So someone IS responsible for his death and it should not be difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

a.dalli

Oct 21st 2009, 17:59

Yes it is a mistake to enrol someone in the Army and not capable to swin. It would be a bigger mistake if we do not correct this -
ability to swim should be a compulsory prerequisit for all Army, Navy and the police force intakes.

David Gatt

Oct 21st 2009, 17:58

To Gnr Psaila's parents:

I cried when I heard the news of your son's death. I share your grief. But pls do NOT ALLOW ANYONE, especially lawyers who may be MPs, to con/manipulate you into opening judicial proceedings against Dr. Sant. It's just not worth it...and it's not what Matthew would have wanted. Trust me on this.

R Spiteri

Oct 21st 2009, 17:53

Terremot....stagun politiku gdid.....musical chairs....some things never change.

No regrets....I apologise but.....nies fit toroq.....issa daqshekk......some things never change.

C. Farrugia

Oct 21st 2009, 17:50

Whilst my heart goes out to the Psaila family on losing their son, I cannot see the big issue about Dr Sant's *questioning*. I bet 95% of Malta would have at some time asked the same or similar questions: Why isn't it a pre-requisite that men should know how to swim before joining the army? And if it is indeed not a pre-requisite, why risk those same men by training them in deep water in almost freezing weather?!

I believe that each and every one of them should at least have been asked that question (whether they could swim or not) before the actual exercise? Someone must have responsible for allowing that risk!!

Too late as usual anyway, RIP Matthew....your life should, and could, have been spared.

malcolm seychell

Oct 21st 2009, 17:39

My sympathies with the Psaila family.

Dr Sant never learns.

Shame on you alfred, resign from politics.

John Montague

Oct 21st 2009, 17:29

Matthew Psaila's parents are absolutely right. How dare any politician from either political party try to use such sad circumstances for personal or other gain!

An public apology and withdrawal is indeed called for here.

Manuel Micallef

Oct 21st 2009, 17:19

Being dead, doesn't mean that we don't talk about cases anymore. I don't think Dr Sant was being disrespectful. He, rightly so, questioned how come he was employed very near the election and couldn't swim... no harm in disrespect in that.

What the family of this soldier should be doing, rather then suing Dr Sant for passing a comment, is to understand how come:-

1st he was allowed in the armed forces if he couldn't swim;
2nd if it is not a pre-requisite to be able to swim to enter the AFM, then how come he was taken to train in deep waters? who was responsable? Dr Sant?

S. Schembri

Oct 21st 2009, 17:15

What does last year's election has to do with all this??? Alla jbierek f'kollox trid tidhol il politika

Jon Agius

Oct 21st 2009, 17:11

"Swimming was not part of the requirements for joining the army."

Then why did they go to Chadwick lakes, and were given training in waters which are deep???

A. Vassallo

Oct 21st 2009, 17:11

Always the same, they will never change. Throw as much MUD as you can, some of it might stick to the face.

It is really a Shame!!!!!!!

S. Falzon

Oct 21st 2009, 17:11

Why does Dr. Sant always have to put his foot in it?

And what does Joseph Muscat have to say about all this? Is this his idea of reigning in and having control over his MPs?

He's issued countless statements on everything under the sun. And yet, is he going to ignore this gaffe?

John Debattista

Oct 21st 2009, 16:55

Don't make a Storm in a tea cup pls.......I D'nt think Dr Sant meant to Hurt Psaila's Family.

George Caruana

Oct 21st 2009, 16:50

And people still keep wondering why MLP lost last year's general election. Same MLP had to commission a report to understand their defeat, which had some important details, but none that really mattered to the crux of the problem. MLP had poor leadership. Period!!

Joseph Stafrace

Oct 21st 2009, 16:45

Strange but true, not even the Patrol boat crews are obliged to know how to swim.! On the other hand my father who was in the Royal Navy during the war did not know how to swim either!!

Joe Cassar

Oct 21st 2009, 16:45

As a parent, I would be more interested in seeing that justice is done with those responsible for the death of my son than in taking political pot-shots.

If being able to swim was not a requirement for the job, how come he was ordered to into water out of his depth loaded with equipment?

Who was responsible?

That is what the family should be asking.

S. Schembri

Oct 21st 2009, 16:35

If you don't say sorry, you get accused, & if you say it once, twice etc you get accused of not saying it honestly!!! keep moaning people...that's all you're capable of doing....apparently

Maria Pace

Oct 21st 2009, 16:33

I'm sorry but this time I don't agree with Gunner Psaila's parents. I think that what Dr. Sant makes sense and he was not saying it to insult the family in any way. I find this protest ridiculous.

James Grech

Oct 21st 2009, 16:33

I don't want to go into the merit of whether Dr. Sant was/wasn't right in mentioning this viz this fatal accident which truncated the life of Gnr Psaila. I personally would have not. However some people below immediately call for apologies not only from Dr. Sant but also from his party leader. What a laugh and how ridiculous are these statements...when one thinks of the present situations which are seeing members of gov, including PM himself not being accountable and responsible in their actions, Acions for which some Gov. MPs think that an apology should have been made but for which minister Fenech does not even think of making, let alone make.

P Dimech

Oct 21st 2009, 16:22

U iva issa nergghu nghidu Sorry u taparsi ddispjacina.

M Psaila

Oct 21st 2009, 16:20

If swimming is/was not a prerequisite for joining the army.why was this man ordered to go in water so high as to endanger his life,and why was he not asked if he could swim?.As far as I know there is no navy in Malta and soldiers are often asked to assist in emergency cases at sea,in which case it is incumbent on the authorities to see to it that personell asked to risk their lives are more than adequately prepared.

P Abela

Oct 21st 2009, 16:17

Dr Sant..how low can you go!! Many would have thought you had learned the lesson. It seems we were grossly mistaken.

victor vella

Oct 21st 2009, 16:12

Be a gentleman and appologies in public Dr Sant. Dr Muscat should shoulder part of this, he is the leader of the party of which Sant is a member.Mhux xi bicca apologia ohra issa nistennew biex taparsi johrog ta ragel.

Ernest Vella

Oct 21st 2009, 16:08

I did not see the program but if as said in the news than disgusting politics at its best...my respects to the family

Joe Morana

Oct 21st 2009, 15:55

My sympathies with the Psaila family.