Stricter law for bouncers

Joe Genovese

Feb 22nd 2010, 14:55

Mr Micalllef, please bear with me awhile, in the hope that it will emerge who's not getting the point.

"Condemn" is as familiar with schoolboys and grown-ups as unlicensed bouncers are common in Malta's clubs.

Then comes a time when the schoolboy comes across the more erudite-sounding "condone" and, in the mistaken belief that sounding almost the same must mean also meaning the same, frowns upon that which is common and elects for the rare "alternative".

So, for the schoolboy, the pedestrian is consigned to the lexical garbage can to be replaced by the esoteric, reinforcing the misconception that using it shows one possesses more grey matter than the average mug.

Without further putting too fine a point on it,.......do you get the point now?

John Micallef

Feb 19th 2010, 08:12

A typical example of how things works on this island.

More than the minister for this, i feel more comfortable to thank the italian embassy in Malta!

Luigi Tomassi

Feb 18th 2010, 22:34

@ J Micallef. You do have a point. And I don't think Joe Genovese derided you for your spelling mistake as such, because you spelt the word correctly in fact, but the word itself was wrong. Since your English was perfect, the word 'condone' might have been a bit of a shock, because that means that you 'support' violence.

MIchael Muscat

Feb 18th 2010, 18:51

So it takes two Italians to be almost beaten to death for the government to finally introduce proper regulations! I wonder when the government will decide to PROPERLY regulate the nightlife industry in its totality once and for all. May I point out that this incident in particular took place partly due to the fact that the nightclub in question was closed down at 4 am.....

J Micallef

Feb 18th 2010, 17:40

@Joe Genovese

Oh sorry...I guess you have a higher standard of education and you judge people by their words and spelling!!!!!!!!...........well you got the point!!!!

c. camilleri

Feb 18th 2010, 17:13

Greece has taught us a lesson how to treat bouncers who go over the limit with resultant death. Malta is still pondering what to do while people are being beaten up with occasional deaths.

Joe Genovese

Feb 18th 2010, 16:05

"I condone all sort of violence ....."

Mr Micallef, then it's little wonder you wrote what you wrote

"Condemn", perhaps. But condone.....?

J Micallef

Feb 18th 2010, 15:52

I condone all sort of violence but if one or two people commit a crime it does not mean all bouncers are the same....Its the same like when a magistrate is corrupt it doen not mean all the judiciary is corrupt. If a policeman is caught dealing in drugs it does not mean all the police force do the same. And using the same yardstick, if a bar owner should be held responsible for the wrongdoing of a bouncer, then the minister of justice should have resigned when the corrupt magistrate was found guilty, and the commissioner of police should have resigned when a police constable was caught dealing in drugs.....food for thought!!!

T Mifsud

Feb 18th 2010, 14:01

Security Authority is the wrong name! It should not indicate something to do with National Security, Homeland Security, Border Control, Public Security etc.

I would suggest the following: Private Security Authority, Security Licencing Directorate, Security Personnel Authority

Joe Genovese

Feb 18th 2010, 12:34

The law should draw the GRTU in this, in that its members undertake on signing up not to take on unlicensed bouncers.

This would apply to all members, not just to the wannabies.

Infringement of such a rule should make the member liable to breach of a legal contract as well as instant expulsion.

As a self-regulating body with the community's general interest in mind and at heart, that wouldn't be beyond its remit.

Ramon Casha

Feb 18th 2010, 11:16

The venues must be held liable for damages caused by the actions of the bouncers they employ. A nightclub owner is more likely to choose bouncers carefully and keep an eye on their behaviour if they know that they can lose half a year's profits when their bouncers beat up someone.

Vince DeBono

Feb 18th 2010, 10:18

I don't know about the old law or the draft amendments, but if today we get people working illegally as Security guards and they are not stopped by the authorities, what good will extra legislation be? ... without enforcement?

Why not go this evening and cull all the illegal bouncers ( and underage drinkers, unlicensed establishments and employees without a workbook ....) instead of wait until a new law and potentially another '''incident'''.

J Oatmon

Feb 18th 2010, 10:07

Well I really hope these proposed laws will impose high fines and/or withdrawal of licenses on the club/bar owners and/or the premises, in the event of illegal activity caused by their bouncers.

If it is just the bouncers who get fined - they will just move on to something else, like driving a minibus with schoolkids or a taxi with tourists.