'A recession of values'
Nationalist Party leader Lawrence Gonzi addressing the general council, yesterday. Photo: Jason Borg.
Values of respect for other cultures and populations, that have long been an integral part of the Maltese community, need to be strengthened, Social Policy Minister John Dalli said yesterday.
"Maltese people were never xenophobic, never resented foreigners and always lived alongside foreigners. Maltese people have always helped in a very generous manner those in need, whether Maltese or foreigners. That is the culture that we need to strengthen," he said during the Nationalist Party's general council.
His comments came just a week after The Sunday Times published a letter from a prospective blood donor who would not donate blood unless he was assured it would not be given to immigrants.
Yesterday, Mr Dalli also stressed the importance of strengthening relationships between children and their parents.
"I do not like listening to children being bombarded with the idea that they are protected by an EU convention. The rights of children are natural rights which come from having parents who look after them properly," he said.
Earlier, Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo said the financial crisis was brought about by a recession of values, which was reiterated by Party leader Lawrence Gonzi.
"The economic recession is the result of a recession in our values because there were those who put their hunger to become rich before anything else," he said.
Referring to the recent European Court of Human Rights ruling that called for crucifixes to be removed from Italian classrooms, Dr Gonzi said in European culture, and for the Maltese, the crucifix was a unifying symbol rather than one which divided. He said it was imperative to defend the right of those who believe in the symbol of the crucifix.
"Just like I have the right to see the crucifix, I defend the right of other religions to see their symbols. That is what makes us Europeans," he said, adding that this was an opportunity to stand up and be counted.
Dr Gonzi said the government was duty-bound to look ahead and not just until the next election. Referring to the PN's election battle cry "together everything is possible", Dr Gonzi said this could be seen in action when, despite its vulnerability, Malta remained strong when faced with the international financial crisis.
He said that, before the global turmoil, the Labour Party tried to conceal the challenges, even when the social partners accepted that there was a recession that could have had a very negative impact on the country, especially through job losses.
"It is shameful that the Leader of the Opposition does not recognise this situation and we hear proposals which would have enlarged the deficit out of all proportion, thrown an albatross around the economy's neck and scared away potential investors," he said.
He said the island should not be scared of reform, and stressed the importance of looking closely at medicine prices, which were much higher than in other countries. This was one of the pledges made in last week's Budget which included 72 electoral promises.
Earlier, Nationalist backbencher Robert Arrigo, who has long been considered one of the disgruntled MPs, said the PN needed to be close to the people "who lend the party their vote".
Addressing Dr Gonzi, Dr Arrigo said the year was full of problems but Malta managed to emerge with just a few scratches. The country, he added, needed to respond to the needs of the population, including those who lost their jobs.
"When we are far from the shore and are caught in bad weather, as happened in June's elections, we need to be able to go back to shore," he said.
The council was peppered with tributes to councillor Pawlu Aquilina, who passed away on Saturday.
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Joseph Ellis
Nov 17th 2009, 01:20
It is true that the financial crisis was brought about by a recession of values. But this recession of values also pertains to the political arena. As long as corruption is tolerated, if not engendered, nepotism is practised and appointments are made not on merit but on political allegiance, people will become ever more cynical of the political establishment
Some people can be manipulated by propagandistic exercises for some time, but not everyone and not all the time.
The Nationalist Party should re-discover the values which had ushered a new political arena in 1987. After 20 years in power, it is hard to find any trace of these values except for the rejection of physical violence. Otherwise, it is bound to face a long stint in the political wilderness and may even not manage to survive as a single party, torn as it is between its liberal wing and the official Christian Democratic establishment.
Joe Vella
Nov 16th 2009, 18:24
@ Louise Vella From all people you are one that should not accused others of paranoia. My comment is addressed to the Louise Vella that always post here, if you are not the same Louise Vella, my apologise
Albert Briffa
Nov 16th 2009, 18:09
I was there when Edwin Vassallo delivered his speech at the General Council. His message was not solely addressed at xenophobia, or the crucifix in the the classrooms. It was a politically correct comment that Edwin Vassallo passed: get our priorities right, built on human and humane values. If we get that formula right...than the rest will follow suite. Even Mr. Arrigo, a couple of speeches before Edwin Vassallo, made a plea that the PN government should show a human and humane face. Edwin Vassallo, in my view at least, was speaking about the results that political decisions should reach.
Enzo Caruana
Nov 16th 2009, 17:50
There are other values that have been diminished and need strenthening very, very badly. What comes to my mind are honesty, transparency, accountability and respect to the Maltese taxpayer who is paying for waste of public funds and bad administration.
J Attard
Nov 16th 2009, 17:23
Gonzi's values - Value Added Tax, sums most his values up :-)
B.Glanville
Nov 16th 2009, 13:38
Most of the ill feeling at illegal immigrants is the government 's own fault, for allowing them to work illegally, and yet reside at one open centre or another without contributing a single cent back in the form of tax. Could it be possible that the great number of Open Centre residents that await a lift from the Marsa main road are somehow invisible? Are the authorities really that blind? Why should an illegal immigrant be given open centre residence, free medical care and a monthly allowance and then be allowed to advertise openly to carry out an odd job here or there (all undeclared ofcourse)? The complete inaction on this issue is disgraceful. The 'recession of values' is clearly rife in the present adminstration.
Louis Gialanze
Nov 16th 2009, 13:27
So how does one explain the fact that 40 per cent of all inmates at Corradino Correctional Facilities are foreign? Moreover, through a parlamentary question we got to know which nationals commit most rapes on maltese women. Yes indeed the maltese are generous however we do expect our 'guests' to respect the law.
Louise Vella
Nov 16th 2009, 13:09
@T. Mifsud
I cannot follow your argument. Has some immigrant told you what you should and should not do? Has some immigrant approached you and asked anything of you? For if you are referring to the crucifix issue, well, that issue arose in Italy, not here. And the mother who took the matter to court simply expressed her wish to give her children SECULAR education. Europe's culture is one where the light of reason paves the way for science and the arts. It is one that promotes diversity, not paranoia.
Claire Bonello
Nov 16th 2009, 11:46
This condemnation of xenophobia is a bit rich coming from the exponents of the party which based much of its MEP campaign on a clip showing migrants and insinuating that they might be allowed to vote, when this was not the case.
Eric Gahn
Nov 16th 2009, 11:29
Hiding behind puritan masks now are we? But the REAL issues remain.
T Mifsud
Nov 16th 2009, 10:54
"Values of respect for other cultures and populations"
Exactly. They first have to respect us, in our homeland as they are guests, even unwanted guests. Surely they are not hosts! Therefore, if I am a smoker and you're not and you invite me to your home (or even I enter illegally uninvited through a window) I should respect you and therefore AT LEAST not smoke (at most skid off). Likewise if I am invited to the trespassers smoker house I would not ask him to put out his cigarette just because I am a non smoker. In any case I would never ask him to clear the house of smoke and open windows before I accept his invitation.
Well that is exactly the opposite what is happening today. Of course we do respect values, but we will NEVER respect those who impose on us different values than ours, IN OUR HOME!
We live on tourism and tourists go to see a country with all its history and values. Tourists do not impose their culture, history does. We must preserve our culture and protect it from others who impose on us.
edward bartolo
Nov 16th 2009, 09:54
What values?! And... who are you trying to fool?
The government's network is currently banning religious sites including Roman Catholic ones. In fact, the vatican's search engine is blocked through the government's firewall?!
Shame on whoever took this decision.
Again, who do you want to fool and what values?! Money?!
Please choose the reason of your report below: