Muscat differs from Sant on Gnr Psaila recruitment

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Oct 25th 2009, 01:58

@ john muscat

“Swimming is not a requisite to join the army in any country in the world. It is not even a requisite in the navy.”

What you are saying may be true – although I have no way of checking this out personally – but unfortunate events such as the very premature death of young Gunner Psaila suggest that the Maltese authorities should seriously consider making swimming and the ability to handle water obstacles without panic prerequisites for joining the army and police force.

As far as I am concerned, any new rules that will reduce the risk of such a tragedy re-occurring are welcome. Gunner Psaila may now be in a much better place than this mortal world, but his death will always be a source of great sorrow to his family, friends and colleagues.

john muscat

Oct 24th 2009, 18:47

Swimming is not a requiste to join the army in any country in the world. It is not even a requisite in the navy.

John Micalelf

Oct 24th 2009, 07:02

I'm no fan of Alfred Sant, and with no disrespect to the family of the couragious soldier, on seeing the interview on Dissett, I felt that his recounting the experience with hs serious illness overshadoes everyhting else he said.

Joe Grima

Oct 23rd 2009, 20:43

Alfred Sant has apologised to the soldier's family for causing them more grief. He is obstinate and never admits that he is wrong so he hasn't this time, still insisting on his theory that the Gunner Matthew Psaila had been employed before the election without having the requisites for the job. Joseph was correct to dissociate himself from these theories and showed what a gentleman he really is when he delivered his apologies to the family personally. There has been one more dissociation which seems to have passed unobserved. Joseph Muscat has clearly stated that the LP will not mess around with stipends and that's the official party policy. His statement distanced the LP and Joseph Muscat himself from Dr Sant's declaration about stipends on Dissett. .

S. Pulis

Oct 23rd 2009, 19:58

Dusty Williams
Iva Alfred Sant naqas bil-kbir f'dan il-kaz u ghandu jitlob aopologija. Naqas mhux ghax kien zbaljat u kliemu ma kienx jixhed il-verita' imma ghax semma bniedem li halliena u ghaldaqstant anqas kieku kellu ragun Sant qatt ma messu semmieh. Min jitlob apologija RAGEL ikun mhux BABBU. Jekk haddiehor huwa BABBU tkunx bhalu imma kun RAGEL! Naqbel hafna ma' Gauci Cunningham. Hawn hmieg x'jaqla kieku ried imma hu le ghazel xi haga ohra!

T.Camileri

Oct 23rd 2009, 19:50

As usual.

PN, spin machine working overtime.

dusty williams

Oct 23rd 2009, 19:19

@PETER BONNICI

AVUKAT M'INIX U LANQAS BI HSIEBI IZDA IZDA GHANDI XI HAGI LI INT SFORTUNATAMENT M'GHANDEKX - 'SENS KOMUN'. TANT DRAJNA BIL KORRUZZJONI HAWN MALTA LI SIRNA NACCETTAW KOLLOX BASTA MA JIKXIFX XI HAGA XI DEPUTAT LABURISTA - GHAX NGHODDUH BHALA MIGNUN.

U JIEN RAGEL BIZZEJJED BIEX NGHIDLEK LI JEKK HUWA VERU LI KMB DAHHAL 8,000 FEJN QED TGHID INT, GHAMEL HAZIN. U NAFU LI TILEF, JEW INT SIRT STATISTIKU?

@JOE VELLA
MELA HSIBTU BABBU JEW? DAQS KEMM HAREG JOTLOB APOLOGIJA EDDIE FENECH ADAMI LI ISTESS ALFRED SANT META QAL LI MA DAHHALX LIL IBNU L'UNIVERSITA FSTO BOSTA OHRAJN... HALLINA XBIN ...

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Oct 23rd 2009, 19:14

There a million examples of lack of accountability in this country right now...did it have to be this particular example Dr.Sant? You should have mentioned the power station mess where the laws of this country were changed ,seemingly or maybe out of sheer coincidence, before a company ,which will operate this power station with heavy Fuel Oil (going diametrically opposite to what the same PN had promised not so long ago), won the contract and which will emit 31 tonnes of dust everyday. Who is being kept accountable for the mess Enemalta is in for which we are paying through the nose? Who is being kept accountable for allowing 170 permits in ODZs to go ahead? And finally who is being held accountable for the dire straits our finances are in with a whopping 350 million euros in deficit and 116 million in interests every year?? These are the real cases of unaccountability that are causing and will cause further hardships on the people and it is on these issues that people should worry if they really give a hoot about their country. The dead on the other hand should be left to rest in peace!!

S. Pulis

Oct 23rd 2009, 18:30

Il-hazin jibqa hazin, indipendentament minn min ghamlu ghax huwa hazin!! Pero f'dan il-pajjiz vera hawn min hu wiccu TOST! Sa gimgha ilu skoss minnkom qbiztu ghal Tonio Fenech u issa ghax Sant ghamel zball (avolja m'ammettiex hu) qed tippretendu li jaghmel dak li l-Prim Ministru kellu l-obbligu li jaghmel b'Tonio Fenech - iwarrab! Kif ma nisthux! Jew nimxu b'id tal-hadid ma' kulhadd jew inkella biex nikkwota lis-Sur Joe Demicoli... inkomplu nsiru Banana Republic! Sant zbalja u zbalja bil-kbir pero mhux l-unika bniedem li ghamel zball ohxon! Kien hawn min ghajjar 'il-laburisti MUMMJI, kien hawn min sfida lil-laburisti ghax ma rnexxilux jarahom u kollox baqa ghaddej. Politikanti... jekk joghgobkom uru ftit dicenza - jekk ma joghgobkomx WARRBU ghax intom qeghdin fil-parlament f'ismi u jiena minix pur.........!

Peter Bonnici

Oct 23rd 2009, 17:52

@ Dusty Williams. Lanqas Joseph Muscat ma seta jiddefendi lill Sant, imm'inti Alla jbierek donnok ilhaqt avukat. Alfred Sant imissu ma specifikax il-kaz u minflok gab fatti konreti, u mhux waddab tajn bla bzonn.
Jekk Alfred Sant qabad ma kaz ta bniedem li dahal suldat qabel l-elezzjoni (skond hu) ghal vot, mela kemm imissu tkellem meta fin 1986 KMB dahhal 8000 ruh mal Gvern, biex iharsu lejn xulxin u jiehdu paga?? U xorta tilef !!!

Joe Vella

Oct 23rd 2009, 16:56

If Joseph Muscat really means what he said, then he has to options; one is to as Alfred Sant to withdraw his remarks and offer a public apology to the Psaila Family; secondly, failure for Alfred Sant to do so, the only option left for Joseph Muscat to do is to expel him from the PL caucus. Period.

Enough of hollow words from Joseph Muscat and the PL. They either practice what they preach or stop taking the Maltese Electorate for a ride. The Maltese electorate demand action and not cheap talk.

A. Farrugia

Oct 23rd 2009, 16:44

I agree with the concept of boosting accountability, but the example brought about by Dr. Sant was insensitive, especially if it was factually incorrect. His argument was solid, but his example only served to ruin the message that was being sent.

Whilst I'm all in support for more accountability, I'm totally against pursuing this value with incorrect examples at hand. Unless of course Dr. Sant will surprise and come out with hard evidence that his original claim was true. Somehow though, I don't think that will happen.

dusty williams

Oct 23rd 2009, 16:01

Jekk tidhal tahdem x'imkien ta periklu minghajr ma ghandek it-tahrig necessarju, x'tissogra li jigrilek? mhux li twegga jew titlef hajtek? nahseb li hekk beda jipprova jispjega Dr Sant, izda bhas soltu malajr iqumu dawk in-nazzjonalisti specjalment minn gol Kanada u jibdew idawwru d-diskors kif jaqbel lilhom. Dr Sant iddeplora dak li ghamlu n-nazzjonalisti qabel l-elezzjoni. Insomma biex jindemonizzaw li xi hadd in -nazzjonalisti jiehdu l-ewwel.

C. Caruana

Oct 23rd 2009, 15:59

I for one stand with Dr. Sant. Can anyone explain how a soldier, whose training involves wading with equipment in shoulder high water not be required to know how to swim. It is very dangerous isint it? yet it happened and a young live was lost. And who is being blamed... his comrades and lowly officers when it is the top brass that should be responsible for recruitment requirments. How is that for accountability? Dr. Sant's talk about accountability should be taken seriously.

N.Calleja

Oct 23rd 2009, 15:56

Dr.Sant is obstinate enough to refuse to apologise for his latest blunder. In comes his successor to declare that he and the PL disassociate themselves from Sant's insenstive declaration. But again the PL is trying to please everyone. Unfortunately they are displeasing everyone

dusty williams

Oct 23rd 2009, 15:44

tafu ghalfejn hafna minnkom qed ideffsu lil joseph muscat fin nofs?

ghax meta l-vapur ikun qed jeghreq tipprova taqbad ma kull hage li ssib!

m zammit

Oct 23rd 2009, 15:29

I feel sorry for the family of GNR Matthew Psaila and i think since Dr sant is still a pl member Dr muscat should make him apologies to the psaila family because all that Dr sant do when he speaks is hurt other people 's feeling because sometimes he is proud and arrogant when doing so, and i thought ALL HUMAN BEINGS had feelings

J Martinelli

Oct 23rd 2009, 14:09

"Dr. Sant is entitled to his own views, based on his knowledge of facts and for which he alone is responsible," Dr. Muscat told The Times".

Yet another half baked statement by Dr. Muscat akin to that 'statement of fact' that the 70s and 80s atrocities should never have taken place, perhaps intended to be the weakest form of apologizing!

"...based on his knowledge of facts" is a contradiction because facts are not owned, not by Dr. Sant or anyone else. Facts stand on their own, therefore while disassociating himself from Dr. Sant's rant, Dr. Muscat trapped himself in excusing the former's statement based on 'his facts'! Had he used, 'based on the information he had', then it would have been somewhat palatable.

Why is it so difficult for Dr. Muscat to state that Alfred Sant was wrong? Why is it so hard for the LP to own up to its errors and apologize? Why keep adding to the heap for which some day, hopefully, it will have a leader with enough guts to come clean and apologize for, since his/her predecessors fell short so badly?

J Brincat

Oct 23rd 2009, 14:09

@Elizabeth Camilleri

Dr Sant was expressing his personal views and was not speaking on behalf of PL. So I do not know why Dr Muscat is being dragged into the issue

When the odds are against the PN (as at present)it knows pretty well that it can rest on its elves who all come out to help. The strategy (simple really): build a mountian out of a mole hill.

And the story goes on and on, au nauseum really!

M.Bezzina

Oct 23rd 2009, 14:04

ELizabeth Camilleri (4 hours, 35 minutes ago)
" Dr Sant is entitled to his own views, based on his knowledge of facts and for which he alone is responsible"

alone is responsible ??? mela Alfred Sant m'ghadux parti mill-Partit Laburista? Mela Alfred Sant m'ghadux MP Laburista ??

Dr. Muscat, you should condemn Dr. Sant to be at least credible


So let takes an eg: If you live with yr family, and you have committed a crime does that mean they will arrest yr parents or family?
Because you are living with them with your reasoning!!

R Cutajar

Oct 23rd 2009, 10:34

Alfred Sant is an embarassment to his own party. What a stupid ass way to make politics by saying the first things that pop to mind on a whim and a folly. Thank God for elections!

ELizabeth Camilleri

Oct 23rd 2009, 09:24

" Dr Sant is entitled to his own views, based on his knowledge of facts and for which he alone is responsible"

alone is responsible ??? mela Alfred Sant m'ghadux parti mill-Partit Laburista? Mela Alfred Sant m'ghadux MP Laburista ??

Dr. Muscat, you should condemn Dr. Sant to be at least credible !!!

N Spiteri

Oct 23rd 2009, 09:12

Well Done Dr. Muscat!

You are confirming and acting in the way you promised since you took the PL leadership....what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong! Hope Dr. Gonzi will do the same and leard the lesson!

J Farrugia

Oct 23rd 2009, 08:48

When will this guy learn his lessons in humility? His sense of superiority made the MLP fall within 22 months and he did not learn a thing from his past mistakes. His political irresponsibility lost the MLp the government in 2003 and in 2008. When will he learn that he is a non entity?

r cutajar

Oct 23rd 2009, 08:36

Ex gnr--------while sympathising with the family's loss and surely the great shock and sad moments of those involved in such a tragedy ------ other details which Dr A Sant chose to highlight I am not qualified to do so
However the very last paragraph seems to be utterly lacking in the present administration( yes I do remember the 70's and 80's but now stop it let us look to the future) and Dr Muscat would surely score big points if he was to hammer that home
Who is ever accountable in Malta ? ---------The Taxpayer for one !!

joyce aquilina

Oct 23rd 2009, 08:04

prosit Joseph ,well said.please thallix lil Dr Alfred sant jaghmel iktar hsara,ma naffordjawx naghmlu aktar zmien fl-oppozizjoni habba fih,