Updated: Unions condemn insults at PM, Nationalist MPs

John O Scerri

Mar 8th 2010, 09:06

@ emmaniel Schembri
Sur Schembri - kif nibqa nsostni - il- marmalja Laburista ghada hemm minkejja dak kollu li ippruvaw jaghmlu l-leaders biex l-image hazina titnehha.
Hemm hafna li hasbu mod iehor .
Issa bidlu l-fehma .
Jekk xi darba kienu ser jivvutaw MLP
Issa wara dak li gara - il partitarji tal labour tefghu il - gebla fuq saqajhom .
Tippruvax tggustifika l-hazin billi tizvija mil l-argument ghax tkompli tghaffeg.
Jien..... il- hazin dejjem sejjahtlu hazin gie min fejn gie.
Inselli ghalik

emanuel schembri

Mar 5th 2010, 00:01

@John O Scerri
milli jidher int u bosta hawn ghandkom memorja konvenjentement qasira. Min minnkom, liema union harget inqar titkaza meta l-marmalja nazzjonalista kienet twerzaq SALLBU SALLBU (ghal Mintoff)? rajnihom fuq it-tv lil dawk imma ma smajna lil hadd jikkundanna lil dik il-marmalja Sur Scerri. biex tiskongra trid tkun pur!

Muscat. Pat

Mar 4th 2010, 18:02

@Mary Anne Borg.
Ma Joseph u Toni jaqbillek! Bit-taxxi f l-elettriku, il-tisjir, u l-hasil jaqbel lil GonziPN!

Kevin Borg

Mar 4th 2010, 17:51

@ R.Gauci

The big political problem is not on Gonzi's doorstep. It's in the Muscat's front garden. I agree with you that next time the elections are around, PL will win with a massive majority because expectations for a PL government are high. But what will the outcome be.

The price of oil by 2013 will be around 130 dollars a barrel. This is not a myth according to reliable economic predications. The myth is that PL will reduce the electricity tariffs. Do not get me wrong, I wish PL will do so but I assure you it will be impossible. The days of shabby financing are over. Just look at Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain.

By 2014 the people will be disgruntled and Dr.Muscat to make them happy, will propose the divorce bill in parliament. This will also fail if he gives a free vote. The progressive dream will by now start to wear out and people will have to face the stark reality that a PL Government is looking more like the budgets ‘tal-Qawsalla’ Mintoff used to unveil. What then? Will the usual Socialists panic politics start to resurface? Time will tell!

J Brincat

Mar 4th 2010, 17:42

@Mary Ann Borg

Have by by chance been reading a lot of comics lately?

R. Gauci

Mar 4th 2010, 16:07

@ Mary Ann Borg

L-Ismart Cities, Lufthansa Techniks, Aviation Parks etc huma mportanti u tajba pero ma jiggustifikawx il-fatt li qed ikun hawn min ibati specjalment il-pensjonanti u nies batuti. Jien ommi mhux sejra tahdem Smart City imma kont oghli tad-dawl/ilma se jaffetwa', zgur ma tikkonslax meta tiftah il-kont billi tghidilha li l-Gvern se jaghmlilna Smart City jew li se jinawgura hangar fl-ajruport.

Tibzax illum jew ghada l-elezzjoni se tithabbar u kif huma l-affarijiet il-Gvern se jiehu tkaxkira li tibqa tissemma fl-istorja politka ta` pajjizna. Jekk imbaghad jitla Muscat u ma joffrix soluzzjoni jiehu l-istess trattament.

Jesmond Abela

Mar 4th 2010, 15:54

To all the Labour Supporters - Oh give up !! sorry guys life goes on . if you be careful and use less consumption, definately you receive descent bills. You guys have to look after your interests, don't keep moaning and moaning cause you will end up living a boring life. Let's hope one day Mr Joesph or the labour party will be in power and he will give us a refund like what he is suppose to do with the car registrations (zic) - but I very much doubt it.
To Dr Gonzi - please keep with your good work for our nation.

Mary Ann Borg

Mar 4th 2010, 14:09

Il-Pjan ta' Joseph u Toni:
1. Jitla' Musumeci u jivvota favur il-Lejber (il-pjan falla)
2. Naghmlu protesta 'nazzjonali' jum qabel ma titressaq fil-Parlament il-mozzjoni (irnexxiet)
3. Jekk hemm bzonn naghmlu protesta ohra'nazzjonali' sieghat qabel il-mozzjoni fil-
Parlament (falliet, ghax hareg vera kemm kienet nazzjonali)
4. Bit-tgerfix li Joseph u Toni hasbu li hemm fil-backbench, se jkun facli ghall oppozizzjoni li
twaqqa l-gvern, kif tenna Tony Zarb stess fuq Bondi+ (falla)
5. Din -Ghaqda Nazzjonali tal-unions tibghat ir-rapprezentanti taghha fil-Parlament waqt id-
dibattitu (falliet, ghax tal-MUT telaq lejn id-dar, dizgustat qal)
6. Fit-2 ta' Marzu l-gvern jig xolt u tithabbar elezzjoni bikrija (falla)

Illum 4 ta' Marzu, Gonzi fil-gvern, backbenchers inqas agitati, Joseph jibqa' fl'opozizzjoni, Toni laqas jaf x'laqtu, Bencini mitluf u dizgustat, u l-Gvern ikompli fil-hidma tieghu bhal Smart City, il-progett tal-Belt, STR Techniks, aviation park li se jkun offrut lill kumpanniji ohra etc. PAR IDEJN SODI

R. Gauci

Mar 4th 2010, 13:42

Jien hallast € 237 dawl biss f'Jannar u xahar wara baghtli kont ta` € 354 ilma TOTAL ta` € 591 (Lm254) ta` 5 xhur meta qabel kont inhallas medja ta` € 200 dawl+ilma ghall-istess perjodu. Minn mindu biddluli l-meters il-units jisparaw qeghdin mhux iduru. Il-poplu mhux ta` xejn qed joqmos Dottor Gonzi, qabel kont nizzuffjetta b'min kien imur jipprotesta, llum qed nahsibha ninghaqadx maghhom..

joe gatt

Mar 4th 2010, 09:41

Walking early morning along the Buggia water front, one needs to thread carefully, not to step on human droppings!! Do not blame those poor Doggies please, there can be no mistake as this is usually accompanied by tissue or sanitary paper. There has been a noticable increase of this fertilization of the shoreline, more so since the illegal invasion of our country, but this may all be a coincidence, God forbid, if it turns out to be a (water bill) cost cutting/water saving trend. Think it`s d right time to invest in an ((Open Air Loo business)), it may be a future profitable trend after all. Use, reuse and tighten yr belts again time is here, buddies, sort of Back to the Past

Anhel Mallia

Mar 3rd 2010, 21:02

Jien illum ircivejt il-kont tad-dawl li jkopri il-perjodu minn Awissu 2009 sa Jannar 2010 ghall-ammont ta' € 265.00 qabiltu mal kont li kien wasalli sena ilu imma li kien ikopri minn Awissu 2008 sa Frar 2009 jigifieri xhar izjed u l-ammont kien ta € 145.00 Issa minn meta il-gvern tghana l-bozoz komplejt ghamilt spiza ohra biex biddilt il-bozoz ta' kullimkien u ghamiltom energy savers u ir-rizultat kien zieda ta' € 120.00


Jien taf il-min nikkundanna l-dawk kolla li qeghdin iparlaw fil-vojt kontra il PL, il-GWU, l-MUT ...... Jekk qeghdin tghidu li il-GWU huma pupazzi tal PL mela il-UHM u l-GRTU ta' min huma pupazzi. Qeghdin titkazaw ghax ghajjarna il-gvern Mafia u purcinell anzi muzajniex kliem oxxen. L-aktar meta tisma il-Toni Fenech u jajdlek li dawn il-kontijiet tridu tidrawhom u m'hemmx cans jorhsu. Nahseb dak il-hin tridt tkun altru bahnan li ma tghid xejn. Insew il-ministri li dawn qeghdin ipappuwa minn fuqna.

u iva issa s-sur Gonzi ha jgibli aktar xoghol, ha jrahasli t-taxxi u ha nghixu aktar kuntenti.... MHUX IDAHHAQ IJAD ALLURA MIN IDAHHAQ X JISSEJEAH ? nahseb it-twegiba tafu xini.

Mike Magri

Mar 3rd 2010, 18:43

Hey Guys... Why are you so worried about the savage costs of the water & electricity bills..!!
According to GonziPN & Company, we MUST all learn to `Economize` ta hi...!!!

Weeeeeelllll.... How this for a starter, MEN.....!!

Wash our clothes once every two weeks..!!
Take a shower once a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter..!!
Do away completely with our airconditioners..!!
Do away with our freezers..!!
Have our diners in candle light..!!
Do away with our electric blanket...!!
No electric kettles, ovens and microwaves...!!
No electric appliances, exept maybe a fridge-freezer only..!!
Forget the use of the computer..!!
Dont have any live plants in the house unless you have a well for watering them..!!
Cut down on TV Time by about 50% and turn to radio..!!
Insomma..and more, and more suggestions, which i am sure that you all can come up with...!!!

OTHERWISE.. We all have to take the Minister of Finance BRILLIANT, FANTASTIC and IMMACULATE advise and, "....all of us must START GETTING USED TO THE PAYING OF BILLS, You Know..."...!!! Woooooowwww.... X`gherf Sur Ministru tal-Finanzi...!!!!!

Gee whizzzz Sinjuri Anzjani... Dosen`t this remind us all of the 1960`s living standards...!!!

Michael Vella

Mar 3rd 2010, 17:55

@ I. Galea

It is brainwashed people like you (and Tony Zarb) with brilliant theories (that would make a brilliant plot in the next Dan Brown novel) that scare people away from voting for the PL.

j camilleri

Mar 3rd 2010, 17:20

Hallas ja gahan malti.

S Vella

Mar 3rd 2010, 17:03

@R Gatt
Nahseb ahjar tkun cert minn dak li tikteb inti u ticcekja l-affarijiet sew qabel tharbex hawn...ghax il-protesta ta nhar il-Hadd u t-Tnejn ma kienitx organizzata mill PL, imma min ghaqda ta Unions Maltin, u kull Union kienet mistiedna, imma l-UHM u l-GRTU li huma Forcina tal PN ghogobhom joqghodu gallarija u ma jiddefendux l-interessi tal-membri taghom, imma jappogjaw il-kontijit gholjin li sa nibdew nircievu. Il-PL appogja l-Ghaqda tal-Unions Maltin, MA KELLUX DRITT? FEJN HI DEMOKRIZIJA...?Jekk inti mintix isegwi x'inhu jigri nghidlek li F'Malta iva ghandna l-ghola zieda ta 29% fejn fil pajjizi l-ohra tal-EU gholew 1%. Tajjeb ukoll tkun taf li l-prezz ta zejt huwa orhos issa milli kien fi 2008 fejn it-tariffi kienu orhos, jigifieri t-tariffi tad-dawl u l-ilma gholew meta il-press huwa orhos milli kien meta z-zejt kien ghola mill lum, 3% ghola!
Ahna qed noqodu attenti biex nahlu anqas kif ghallimna l-Gvern pero ta dan ikkastigana ghax ghollielna t-tariffi biex naghmlu tajjeb ghal inefficjenzi tal-Enemalta!! Jekk ghalik u ghal kull minn hu ossesjonat, dan huwa gust, mela kompli hallas ghal inefficjenzi tal-Enemalta, imma jien u dawk l-eluf li kien hemm jipprotestaw ma naqblux, ma ghandniex dritt?? inti ivvota lil min trid pero tant iehor ahna!!

laurence schembri

Mar 3rd 2010, 15:13

R Gatt is not telling the truth. Put your money where you mouth is and produce it.

J. Scerri

Mar 3rd 2010, 14:23

@ lgalea

WHO IS AFRAID OF THE PROTESTS? If you know how to read, I said that if the protest was a REAL INDEPENDENT one, even I would have take it in consideration to PARTECIPATE as I'm really fed up to PAY for INCOMPETENCY of other people. But seeing the MLP2 (AKA GWU) in any protest means that's nothing serious going on & automatically the real names for the protest will change into a PANTOMINE or FARCE & so an enormous waste of time!!

Then from all people writing below I chose you because in every topic this site publish, YOUR writings are so MONOTHEMATICS & always with the same repeatative comments. Blaming the PN, Fenech Adami or Gonzi. Now if presently to criticise the Government is something very popular in this country (I'm one of them too), but trying to put Eddie under a bad light means only one thing : YOU'RE STILL FEELING THE TKAXKIRIET YOU & YOUR PARTY SUFFERED AGAINST HIM.

Because if I have to choose between what you write everytime on him or what OUR European Politician of the Year said/done in his GLORIOUS political career...bet who will I choose?

RGatt

Mar 3rd 2010, 12:30

@ S.Vella - L-argument kollu tieghu hu li is-sur Bencini qatt ma missu accetta li jiehu sehem fi protesta li organizza il-Partit Laburista tghid xi tghid il-GWU. Din ta' l-ahhar kulhadd jaf li taghmel dak li jrid il-PL kull meta jigbdila l-ispaga. Kemm il-UHM u l-GRTU kienu jkunu hemm kieku ma kienx hemm il-PL.
Rigward it-tariffi ghandek zball meta tghid li Malta hija l-ghola. Kieku flokok, inkun cert min dak li qieghed nikteb sakemm mhux qieghed nipprova nqarraq.
Jien ukoll ma niehux gost inhallas aktar sabiex ikolli servizzi tad-dawl u l-ilma u elezzjoni ohra kont qieghed nikkontempla li ma nivvutax, izda rega bdieli wara nhar il-Hadd u t-Tnejn. Hasra li m'ghawnx alternattiva sura ghal PN. Wiehed irid ikun ragel l-ewwel u mhux partitarju, billi jikkonsidra li bis-sitwazzjoni finanzjarja hazina globalment u l-prezzijiet dejjem jisdiedu taz-zejt il-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma huma dawk li huma. Meta il-prezz taz-zejt kien 12 il-dollaru il-barmil, Sant kien bghat kontijiet astronomici u m'bghad wahhal fil-haddiema tal-Enemalta. Sur Igalea, jien kont wiehed mil-ftit li ircevejt il-kont u int mintix tghid il-verita.
Lil dak is-sinjur li nhar il-Hadd mil-gallarija tal-kazin tal-PL tal-Belt xejjer il-bandiera Laburista bil-maqlub nghidlu PROSET ghax laqat il-musmar fuq rasu.

A Cauchi

Mar 3rd 2010, 10:12

It is high time we all disassociate ourselves from partisan politics and view the issue of tariffs from a down to earth point of view.
First of all in order for us to have potable water, the government uses up large amounts of electricity to make the reverse osmosis funtcion. We are a small island with no rivers and limited rainfall therefore our water tariffs will definitly be among the highest in europe.

With regards to electricity, we are lucky to have adequate street lighting in our roads, and public buildings such as schools and administrative offices need electricity to function. Being a small island with a small population, the cost of such lighting needs to be shared among the number of households. The more households the cheaper is the allocation for each. But it is high time we wake up from our political blindness and accept our limitations.

Even with these high tariffs, the economy is not facing the same fate such as Spain, Greece and Ireland.

Kelly Borg

Mar 3rd 2010, 09:43

There is only one thing I have 2 say, if the nationalist party has been in Government for 25 years, don't you think there is a reason why. Ask yourself why ?

u ghal dawk li maru l belt :
Irid naddi kumment wiehed......il Gvern Nazzjonalista ilu fil Gvern ghal 25 sena, nahseb al xi raguni ilu em daqsek. Ax ma saqsux lilkom infuskom ghalxiex ! ;-)

Tony Scott

Mar 3rd 2010, 09:42

@James Grima.
Fejn hrabt man?? Mela ma kellekx guts tirrispondini il-bierah??
Jien ghandi dubbji kbar kemm ghandek eta ghax hawn hekk qedt li ilek 40 sena tahdem, wara ftit fuq it-times tal-bierah qedt 35... iddeciedi!!! BTW nispera taf taghmilhom il-kontijiet fuq kollox!!!

@ others (sorry lil editur tat-times qed nuza il-kelma tieghek LOL) li tkazaw ghal kliem "Pulcinelli" jew "Mafjozi"...min jaf x'jidiehku bikhom MPs taz-zewg nahat...kemm semghu kliem ghar min hekk... jien l-uniku staghgib tieghi ghalfejn l-Unions
hargu jikkundannaw..insomma forsi halli jaghtu ftit cans lil poplu jheda naqra...

Il-bierah l-ikkundanna tieghi kienet ghal dawk il-MPs li qadu IXERDU DMUGH TAL-KUKKUDRILLI...

Ghadni niftakar meta "suppost" beda isir dibattitu biex nidhlu l-EU.. l-ewwel kummenti tieghi kienu "bidlu il-mentalita tal-poplu l-ewwel"....milli qed nara fejn konna bqajna...keep it up!!!

Mark Galea

Mar 3rd 2010, 08:56

@Mr Bencini - I suggest you are more careful and read the fable - the frog and the scorpion - you might associate with it ...

The story is about a scorpion asking a frog to carry him across a river. The frog is afraid of being stung, but the scorpion reassures him that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown as well. The frog then agrees; nevertheless, in mid-river, the scorpion stings him, dooming the two of them. When asked why, the scorpion explains, "I'm a scorpion; it's my nature."

Joe Fenech

Mar 3rd 2010, 08:49

On this rock, where inquisition rules, and lemmings dwell...the dark Middle Ages still thrive!

S Vella

Mar 3rd 2010, 07:48

@J Debono
Iva, QED TIPPROVA DDAHHAK ghax kull min joqghod go flat bhali la ghandu bir u l-anqas ma jista jkollu, U MA KSIRNA EBDA LIGI. Fejn tridna naghmluh fil-gallarijia??
Ahna l-anqas solar Panel ma nistghu naghmlu ghax Dottor Gonzi li responsabbli mill MEPA ma sosspendiex il-Bini ta Penthouses immedjatament! Fejn noqghod jien is-sid applika ghal penthouses meta skond il-kuntratt ma jistghax gha irid ihallielna l-istess footprint ta bejt,imma ghalkemm kien hemm xejn inqas minn 70 obkection, xorta tawh il-permess!! L-uniku triq li nidhlu l-qorti...jigifieri dahhal idejk fil-but u Alla jaf meta tinqata!!
Hallina gbin ghax bil-paroli tghid hafna affarijiet u hmerijiet.

Vincent Scerri

Mar 3rd 2010, 04:45

I'm sure lots of people from opposing political camps agree with me that Dr. Peter Micallef deserved a much better treatment as he was sworn in as a new member of parliament. I would have said the same thing were it a person from the other side of the political spectrum if he had the same geniality as Dr. Peter Micallef.

John O Scerri

Mar 2nd 2010, 23:42

Insults especially personal as seen on TV only show how low some people can go . It seems that what a previous MLP Leader tried to do in the past fell on deaf ears and the Marmalja still exists showing its fury from time to time Let no one think it is extinct .It is a dormant volcano waiting for the moment to intoduce the dark ages once again.
Where were such "few" crowds when the 1996/1997 tariffs were published. Were they in hibernation??????

walter caruana

Mar 2nd 2010, 23:17

Why is it that most bloggers are condemnig Mr Bencini and very few are questioning Mr Tony Zarb' actions. The reason is very simple. Tony Zarb is the general secretary of 100% politically motivated union controlled by the Labour party and nobody is shocked by his antics. Mr. Bencini is the president of the MUT which has an honourable history that it never associated itself with a political party even if the majority of its members have nationalist tendencies. In fact the first strike it ordered was against the PN in government. This time Mr Bencini threw away that honourable policy and joined forces with the PL/GWU and thus smeared the union's glorious past into the dirt. I wish to know what he hoped to achieve. Did he have the support of the council? Definitely he did not have the backing of the members. Why did he wear a red tie during Monday's protest? Was he trying to declare some hidden message ? Finally I appeal to the disgruntled members to remain in the union, join their efforts to oust Mr Bencini and his collaborators in the council and bring the union to its original position away from party politics

lgalea

Mar 2nd 2010, 22:57

J. Scerri All the people except a few are living not in a dream but in a nightmare under the pn regime. We have a lot of Nostradami in Parliament because we are always told that we have everything under control, the economy is moving forward, recession shall not hit us, etc...
Re your suggestion that MUT and any other union to hold a separate protest, why are pn apologists so afraid of protests? Is it because you are seeing that the people are fed up with Gonzi and his government and seeing the writing on the wall? Gonzi STOLE the election and is now facing the consequences because as they say you will not enjoy what you STEAL.

Alex Ellul Mintoff iggverna skond ma kienet tghid il-KOSTITUZZJONI, imma ma niskantax li tibqghu tghidu hekk ghax l-azzjonijiet tal-Gvernijiet tal-PN urew li xejn ma jirrispettaw anzi jkazbru l-KOSTITUZZJONI.

Michael Vella Meta nduna waqqafhom sur Vella.

J Farrugia Ghalfejn ma nbidlux l-IDCards? Gonzi has a minority government because it got less than 50% of the votes. If with 1 more vote PN should govern why did it try to prevent PL from doing so in 1971?

Joseph Vassallo

Mar 2nd 2010, 22:36

J Debono, you are mistaken, I fear;
[1] Your 4000 Kwh of electricity amount to more than €400 (4000 @ €0.161 = €644);
[2] Add the annual service charge of €65 and €59 water service charge.
[3] Water consumption costs €2 per cubic metre (1000 litres or 220 gallons in old money).
[4] If you didn't invest in sterilising equipment and chemicals, your well-water is unhygienic for domestic use.
[5] The next bills will operate a higher tariff.

I live alone and shower rather than bath; I run my boiler for 30 minutes before I actually need it thereby reducing my consumption to 6Kwh daily. Yet my July/November 2009 bill was €200; the Jan/July bill was €274; so you see, even ONE person uses more than the €400 you are talking about. By the way, I have no TV, air conditioning or heating and my lights are all energy savers. My washing is done with cold-water and suitable chemicals.

I reduced my water and electricity consumption by 38% and 15% respectively (2009 over 2008) but still my bill increased by 50% and 68% also respectively.

Government SHOULD investigate why?

Marco Galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 22:22

Renzo Galea iddahhaqx nies - int tghid lili ghomja bil-partit taghna mela int x'int? Jien zaghzugh ta 18 u ha nitkellem mhux b'dak li jghidli xi partit jew li nisma' imma dak li qed nghix. Missieri haddiem it-tarzna u hemm ghadu - kemm ili haj, jien u z-zewg huti qatt ma batejna l-guh ... meta ftaht il-fridge dejjem mimlija sibtha, u snacks niehu kemm irrid - ommi ma tahdimx imma bpaga wahda li kif edtlek mhix ta xi kuntrattur dejjem ghexna sew ... forsi ghax kapaci nirregolaw u ma nahlux?

U jekk ridt il-flus ghand uliedek: Jien flus il-bank ghandi ghax dejjem gemmajt u ma hlejtomx ... imma li ghandi nofshom mill-istipendju - dak li l-partit laburista ried inehhili - Dawk mhux flus misruqa minn uliedek kienu jkunu?

[ahjar ma kkummentajtx kif edt int uwx? ax ekk kien jaqbillek ghax il-PL jghallmek tkun kontra l-Gvern bla raguni biex tirrispondi ghall-verita li ghedtlek]

J. Debono

Mar 2nd 2010, 21:23

@ Frans Cilia

Be careful what you say. I understood your comment as saying that I am a thief.
Let me assure you, I just use common sense to decrease my consumption.

J. Debono

Mar 2nd 2010, 21:21

I will say it again.

I use 4000 Units of energy per year.
I am not stealing any electricity like some are implying, and Enemalta can check, and even replace my meter if they want.

I have a well and use only 22Units of water per year, mostly in summer months.

These are facts, and anybody with some thought and planning can go down to these levels and even better.

Points.
1. Solar water heater
2. Energy saving bulbs everywhere
3. Eliminate electrical kettle - use gas burner
4. A/C - I do not switch it on when a northernly wind is blowing - open window
- when I switch it on I set it on 26degrees and help with a fan
5. Do not leave rooms unecessarily lit
6. Insulation is the holy grail - double glazing, roof insulation etc.
7. I changed all TVs to LCD - consume less
8. Use microwave instead of oven to re-heat foods.
9. Leave frozen foods outside to tow, instead of using the microwave to tow

The list is endless, but most are happier grumbling about high prices than doing something about it.

M. Azzopardi

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:47

So all this fuss because of a rise of about 20 euro per month on a normal bill!! a lot less than if one consumes a packet of sigarettes a day, not to mention the coffee mornings, tombolas, lotto, super 5, ic cpiepet tad-deheb biex niffanfraw etc etc

Francis Cilia

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:31

@ J.Debono

Bilfors li jew qieghed tghix go pjaneta ohra jew int wiehed minn dawk li minhabba fik qed ikollna nhallsu dal-prezzijiet esagerati.........u nahseb kulhadd fhemni ghalxiex!!!

P.S. Insomma jekk taf kif sewwa taghmel ghax nixtieq inkun naf jien ukoll.

Joseph E Briffa

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:17

It's incredible what twisting of facts and gross exaggerations can do. Remember in 2008 when there was talk by Labour that the increase in tariffs was going to be 190%? Most people did not realize what this figure meant; this meant trebling of the tariffs, but still there was so much talk about families going without their daily bread, most people in business would go out of business, thousands of jobs would be lost. These apocalyptic forecasts turned out to be just what they were - gross exaggerations. So much so that life went on as usual, and their impact was absorbed by everybody. Not only that, but now people are saying that if these tariffs - reduced by some 20% in 2009 - were to be left in place we could carry on with our lives. So much rubbish has been driven in people's minds that people are expecting the 2010 tariffs to bring us near the edge of the proverbial cliff. According to Bencini, the increases are in the region of Eur 200 a year. So what's all this fuss about?. Surely 4/5 of families (excepting the needy 1/5 which are exempt) can live with this.

renzo galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:09

To all PN supporters who are thoroughly blind about their political party and try to justify any position of their party by all means, irrepective of the social economical status which easily lets you afford sky-high electricity/water supply bills... i say... would it sound better if you can save extra money and hand them to your children?? dont anwer me... just do the test... if you agree ~ you are reasoning logic and you need to join the protest... if you dont agree ~ i pity your crazy state...

s pace

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:08

Partisan politics apart, no side of the political spectrum can throw the first stone. Some PL supporters insults the prime minister in the streets. Some PN supporters insults PL politicians from electronic blogs. Its all the same thing.

It's part of democracy, and those who says that this is abnormal or a return to something of the past, does not know what they are saying or have no sense of rationality.

The scandalising for such a storm in a teacup is ridiculous, compared to what happens abroad. This is no defence to the PL, but to democracy itself.

leo attard

Mar 2nd 2010, 19:49

@j debono....if you have all that and pay only 400 euros a year then there is something fishy ----- maybe there is something wrong with your meter and enemalta should inspect it!!!! as regards those criticizing the insults hurled, well i recall authorities in the highest places calling certain sections of maltese society 'mummja' and 'hmar'.......if the general public has to learn to 'not waste', so do the authorities and they can begin by turning off the AC's in their offices! School children freeze and sweat in their classrooms........

D Scicluna

Mar 2nd 2010, 19:41

I find Mr Bencini as being consistent.

He had made it very clear that he had no hidden agenda in the protest and that he was not affiliated with the PL. He had to say this because it was obvious to him as much as it is to me and you that the crowd resembled that of a labour mass meeting.

Then, when he felt that this was getting too political (insults hurled etc...), he stepped out. He went home. He didn't want to be part of that. He had no other agenda other than that to protest against the tariffs.

I may be totally wrong, but I sincerely find his attitude consistent.

Martha Zerafa

Mar 2nd 2010, 19:18

@micheal sciberras ma nahsibx li kbira bizejjed biex niftakar lin nazzjonalisti jaghjjru lil mintoff salbu salbu..pero nahseb jekk taghra l bank account tieghu ma nahsibx li sallabnieh....iktar nahseb hu sallab lil gvern u lil maltin bil flus li rebah bhala taparsi kumpens:):):):) imma nsomma gejt f konkluzjoni li mhu ha nivvota l hadt ghax ma nafda lil hadt.wiehed aqwa mil iehor

Ludwig Flask

Mar 2nd 2010, 19:17

@ J. Debono: Check your figures commented. The recent bill I paid was a bit less than €400, but for a few months. 4000 units per year or a bill of €400 per year, either this is a joke, or your clocks are malfunctioning, or you have an energy saving, self generating energy system and you have private water supply system, unless there is something foul. Give us more details how you are saving, this would be beneficial to all.

Mike Magri

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:56

Guys.. I know that two wrongs don`t make a right.. But once i agree with the codemnation of the above `insults`, i must also say that some governmental and union authorities have also expressed their `Dispregiative` comments about the protest and its leaders themselves..

So another condemnation to the above is also Rightfully Justified and APPLICABLE ...

carmel Cilia

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:41

Sur Debono tista tghidli kif nista niffranka min kont ta 155 euro ta kamra zghira meta hlejt 35 euro f'konsum ta dawl, ilma xejn u 120 Euro ta l-arloggi tad dawl u ilma.
u Bil haqq l-ghajnunali semma il-prim ministru ta 17 il milljun euro dan x'inhu jekk mhux sussidju. U bilhaqq is-sussidju min kien qieghed ihallsu mhux il-poplu mit taxxi. Forsi qieghed ifaddlu bix ikun jista jzomm il-weghda li ghamel fl-ahhar elezjoni u jnaqqas l-income taqx fl-elezzjoni li gejja jew. Flimkien kollox possibli hux.

J. Debono

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:36

@ Sandro Caruana

Ilma ma nuzax ghax ghandi bir, bhal ma suppost ghandu kulhadd b'ligi.

9 xhur fis-sena nuza ilma mill-bir.

Uzu ta' ilma - 22 Unit f'sena, jew 7 Units kull 4 xhur!

P.S. M'inix qed indahhaq, qed nghid il-verita.

J. Scerri

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:31

@ lgalea

You're still living in dreamland it seems. If I remember well before the 2008 Election you predicted a wide vistory for the MLP. Then you predicted that this Government will fall last year. Last week you said that you're seeing the Election coming. I bet that you wrote before the Referendum that the Partnership would have won!!! Now can you please forecast for us the Super 5 numbers for tomorrow, so at least we'll have to chose the winning numbers from the other 37. Nostradamus isibuk il-hbieb nahseb !!!

Apart from joking now, Hearing what Mr. Bencini said today, one has only 2 conclusions to chose from. Or he got aware (toooo late) of the CAVOLATA he & his Union have done yesterday (By getting messed & mixed up with the GWU) or he's trying to get us people for a RIDE?

If the MUT wanted to be CREDIBLE, It should have made a protest by themselves or maybe at least making a joint-venture Rally with some VERY INDEPENDENT Unions. That would have been IDEAL (Maybe I was one of those who would have attended to it as I'm fed up too of paying for incompetency of others)

Sandro Caruana

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:21

@ J.Debono

Iddahhaqniex Sur Debono u nehhi l-ghamad politku li ghandek quddiem ghajnejk. Jien ukoll nehhejt il-water heater u nstallajt wiehed solar, bhalek bdilt il-bozoz ghal energy savers u A/C MA GHANDIX u d-differenza f'sena li ghamilt hija ta 300 unit. L-ahhar kont li hallast ta 4 xhur kien ta' Eur 364. Mela nsejt li l-ilma gie kwazi daqs id-dawl wara li l-gvern tar-ruh socjali nehha s-sussidju minn fuqu u fuq 35 unit gejna nhallsu 40% aktar!!!

Alex Ellul

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:21

@ Michael Sciberras - Perswaz li l-Istorja tal-Politika Maltija tafha sewwa izjed minni, u perswaz li taf li Mintoff ghamel 6 snin jiggverna din il-gzira MINGHAJR il-maggoranza tal-poplu Malti warajh meta f'dik il-kampanja stess kien qal li minghajr il-maggoranza ma jiggvernax. Dak zgur ittradixxa 'l poplu mhux Gonzi. U dakinhar l-ebda partitarju Nazzjonalista ma qam ghalih bhalma ssuggerixxa Tony Zarb.
@ J.Debono - Proset immens. Min jahdem bilghaqal u joqghod attent jiehu l-premju li haqqu. Min iberbaq, jonfoq u jahli HA JHALLAS...imma mbaghad mhux imur jipprotesta.

m busutil

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:12

Was the condemnation voted for by all the unions in Għ.T.U.M. (they seem to be slightly changing the name constantly). If so WHO ARE THEY TRYING TO FOOL

Emmanuel Ebejer

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:09

What's all the fuss about? Politicians are booed and insulted everyday in other countries. Ask Gordon Brown and Silvio Berlusconi. Do the Maltese politicians have some divine right?...I don't think so. It's time to grow up, BOYS & GIRLS!!

Kevin Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:01

ATTN. MR. BENCINI

No wonder this country is always going round in circles and doing the same mistakes all over again. People in this patch of rock in the middle of the Med have a very short memory.

Take for example Mr.Bencini. A case in point of a person who forgot what Labour did to the teachers in 1984. And believe it or not he was also there looking at a notice board to see where he has been transferred to after the infamous teachers lockout. And to add insult to injury he has come up with the phrase ' the teachers have never been in a worst situation than this' during one of the orgy's of hatred he organized for the teachers, leaving the majority of members of his union disgusted with such an attitude, because teachers are not part of the 'marmalja Laburista' Mr.Bencini has joined.

Mr.Bencini has crossed the line and went on the other side with the Huns. What next Mr.Bencicni invade Rome and set it on fire?

J. Debono

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:57

Ghalxejn qed nipprotestaw

Is-sussidji irridu jitilqu u kulhadd irrid jitghallem ihallas ta dak li qed juza.

Jekk ma tridx thallas tghallem franka.

Ahna qeghdin familja ta' 4. AC ghandna u nuzawh, televisions 3, game consoles il-hin kollhu ghadejjin, IMMA kullimkien energy savers bulb, solar water heater, u insulation tajba mad-dar kollha.
Nuza 4000 Unit ta dawl f'sena - kont ta 400Ewro f'sena.

Jien m'ghandix ghalfejn niprottesta.

M. Azzopardi

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:49

Bencini should resign. He does not represent us teachers anymore. We are not the type of people who insult others!That behaviour is exclusive for uneducated people like we saw yesterday! Shame on Bencini and GWU!

Mario Bonnici

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:44

@M.Galea
What? You call the labour supporters SLIME??!!
And you're the one that's disguted!!
Shame on you.

Michael Sciberras

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:43

@Martha Zerafa
Insejt meta waqt mass meeting nazzjonalista il-folla ghajtet SALLBU,SALLBU!!,ghall-Prim Ministru Dom Mintoff?

E. Azzopardi

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:40

Lill John Bencini.
Gralek bhal Guda, meta ix-xitan isserva bih, ra x'ghamel b'idejh, u ma jiddispra.

renzo galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:27

james grima... u zgur li qatt ma dertu bhala vjolenti ax dejjem attewlkom il qassissin... insejtu dak iz zmien ta l interdet??? jew meta fil mass meetings tal labour hrigtu twaddbu l gebel... jew bis sfafar jew bil qniepen tal knisja... u mur u hallina... ek ma tifimx tiftahx halqek habib ax et taqa an nejk... nies bhalek nikklassifikakom bhala nies omja... ax taraw il partit takom jamel il hazen u tibqaw blilluzjoni li tarawh bhala tajjeb...

V Battistino

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:22

This article is really apt in this Lenten Period.....Mr.Bencini, Mr Paul Pace and their fellow trade union condemners of the insult hurlers should read Matthew 27, 3 - 10.......

the writing was on the wall, and as a teacher, Mr.Bencini should remember what is taught to children in computer classes : trash in - trash out

And he should thank God that no criminal acts followed as otherwise, being the organiser of the mass activity, he could have been responsible after what was uttered from the podium......"Guda"," traditur", "mafia" and "purcinell" and mentioning people by names could almost sound like inciting hatred......

what a great lesson has been learnt !!...hopefully !

I still remember witnessing the late Alfred Buhagiar (at the time MUT President) running (escaping) down our street in Paola with a marmalja of MLP supporters hurling stones at home in the infamous 1980's !!

Darren Cassar

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:13

@James Grima

EFA and change in times made us a civilised country, definitely not Dr.Gonzi with his mediocre methods.

Joe Fenech

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:12

It is so sad to see how immature this rock is. Most Maltese go hysterical when it comes to what they think is political debate. In fact, it is not! The Maltese are a tribal society like Africa and they just need to belong to a group, be it Church, a local football team, band club, party... Why aren't there any Sociological studies on this strange behaviour of ours? GROW UP!

Clive Gerada

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:08

@ Marta Zerafa: Dawn in-nies ma jirraprezentawx partit, pero` jirraprezentaw familji mugugha mhux biss bil-kontijiet ta' dawl izda wkol b'affarijiet ohra. Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar hadd ma jista jighd jekk kienux PL, indipendenti jew PN dawn il-gruppi ta' nies.

Jien nemmen li l-partit li ghad irid jirraprezenta il-pajjizna ghadu irid jinholoq!!

A M Grima

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:05

Too little too late dear MUT ..... ma' min rajtek xebbahtek .....too late to say sorry now. One thing, min jinsa l-passat tieghu hu ikkundannat jerga' jghixu! Dejjem qed nitkellmu fuq passat glorjuz

smifsud

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:01

what the people feel they will say Mr bencini.....what do you think we are sheep that just follow.... the People have the power at the end ...it ours to use and decide how this country should move on ...if the elected gov dont listen to the many that are disgruntled then its fair game to get the type of attitude they got from some ...after all we are not holding pitchforks ...this is very mild compared to other countries ...and it will get worse if the gov dont listen to the people ....more surprises to come ....Power to the People ....freedom of speech and Democrcy .....the gov is for the people not for there own personal gains as politicians ...

A.Sacco

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:00

@Frans Sammut: ghandi rispett lejk bhala espert fl-istorja Franciza, imma tohrogx b'argumenti li qisek qed thallat il-hass mal-....grass! Mela fi zmien ir-rivoluzzjoni Franciza kellhom xi mezz demokratiku biex jitterminaw ir-renjuu tas-slaten?!. F'demokrazija bhal taghna, meta jasal iz-zmien, ghandek mezzi legali biex tnehhi l-amministrazzjoni. Imma tippruvax taqa' fin-nassa tal-gustifikazzjoni sottili tal-vjolenza. Bizzejjed l-MLP ghadda minn martirju biex jitnaddaf mill-elementi vjolenti fi zmien Alfred Sant. Trid li nergghu "back to square one"?

M Gatt

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:54

Mr Bencini, I thought that as the leader of the MUT you had more sense in your brains but it's obvious that you don't have that clout as a leader, no matter how much you seem to wish to portray yourself as being the champion of workers' rights. You knew that after whipping up the crowd on Sunday with hard-hitting words, the crowd would be in a frenzy and react in exactly the same way that you are now condemning. It was you as leader of the Unions who instigated this and it is you who has to shoulder the responsibility of your decisions. You have been so gullible as to fall into the GWU's and PL's trap and play to their music by going on an ego political trip. Now it is up to you to contain the damage of insults by resigning from your position or else changing tactics and trying to present your arguments in a more civilised manner. How can you say that teachers haven't had it so bad as this time when in the 80s, teachers got a taste of what the nationalist MPs got yesterday? Shame on you and your tactics!!

Paul Mangion

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:49

I did not vote last election and was considering to vote labour for the firat time but no way, its true, labour never change. I thought a true effort was being done but i was worng. I think if labour had to be 'fil-poter' how they like to call it we would turn the clock backwards. Im sorry i prefer serenity and peace of mind.

So from last election i would go a step forward and vote PN again.

E Gatt

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:48

A couple of other points we should remember that led up to the demonstrations were:
1. The spin that the government was not going to issue a permit for the demonstrations to take place.
2. The expectation that Labour’s Tariffs motion would lead to the government to collapse.

As an oil-dependent country we all suffer when the price of oil increases. Some of us face this sad fact and accept that we have to dig deeper into our pockets, and some of us want their neighbours to pay.

The crowds were big, granted, but the events of the last couple of days have highlighted Labour’s no-solution policy.

Ironically, the demonstrators’ message backfired and more people are realising that the government’s policy is unpopular but realistic and necessary.

Roderick Chetcuti

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:48

It's a free country. To protest is a way for commoners to sound their voice. Now we can do that. Dont remember that in the 80's you were able to do that...... without being shot at........ regarding ppl commenting here that their appliances are just 4 show now due to the high price of elecricity....... get a life..... if u cant afford it it remove it...... electricity bill are in constant fluctuatin all over the world........ if you afford an ac switched on all the time than I'm sorry you have to affod to pay the bill....

Michael Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:47

@ IGalea

Since i have been reading your comments, i have learnt to take you with a pinch of salt, since you are so obviously brainwashed by PL's propaganda (or any other institution affiliated to the PL). The bills in 1997, were not issued simply because Alfred San't s government was forced into an early election. If Alfred Sant was so brilliant (in your eyes) and detected the so called smoke screen at Enemalta which you write about, why the hell did he announce the increase in utility bills? To lose the election?

Your comment below is just as laughable as Tony Zarb's claim that the 1997 bills were not issued thanks to him and the GWU's silence!

renzo galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:45

il poplu malti ghalhekk qatt ma jitghallem jahasra... et naqra il kummenti u vera jiddispjacini li jn cittadin malti bhalkom...
innutaw illi meta go malta issir xi haga... dejjem bilfors trid tispicca tinqasam laburisti vs nazzjonalisti...
meta se titallmu nies maltin??? ekk xi hadd ikun et jirfsek andek tqum ad drittijiet tieghek... iva anka ekk trid tidhol fallejanza ma min ma taqbilx mieghu...
il kontijiet esagerati illi twaddbu fuq il poplu msejken huma ingusti... u huwa FATT
ahna bhala umani ghandna dritt ghad drittijiet taghna...
jahasra tibqawx m ghomija ghax n nanna jew n nannu kien laburist/nazzjonalist... tghallmu ghamlu l ghazla taghkom fuq dak li taraw jigri madwarkom...

S Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:44

@ R Gatt
Ikun ghaqli kieku dak il-qawl tghidu lis sur Vince Farrugia...li ghalkemm jirraprezenta union ghogbu jiccappas ma partit politku. Jien qatt ma ssehibt mal-GRTU ghax qatt ma fdajtu u meta nehha l-maskra li kellu aktar u aktar kont kuntent bid decizjoni tieghi, u ghamel sucess kbir ukoll fl-elezzjoni tal EU, kemm hu kif ukoll il-partit li ccappas mieghu!!
Ta l-anqas is sur Bencini ma cappas ma ebda karru politiku! intkom tal PN qed tipruvaw iccapsuh ghax protesta kontra Gonzi u l-Gvern tieghu ghax intkom li taghallmu d-demokrazzija, issa tiprettendu li l-anqas biss nipprotestaw halli nsemmghu lehinna kontra dak li ma naqblux mieghu.
Kieku hawn Malta il-poplu jaghmel l-ghazliet tieghu b'mohhu u mhux b'qalbu, kieku Malta kollha kellha ghal xiex tipprotesta ghax hadd ma jaqbel mat tariffi l-godda.
Fl-EU ahna ghandna l-ghola zieda ta tariffi!! Tal-misthija meta wiehed jara r-ricessjoni li ahna fijha.
Issa la l-kumpaniji u min ihaddem jircievi l-kontijiet u jibda jwaqqaf in-nies u l-qaghad ikompli joghla, u ovjament min hu qieghed jispicca fuq il-beneficji Socjali, umbghad naraw biex ha johrog il-Gvern ta GonziPN u x'sa jbellghalkom lilkom li taraw kollox BLU
B'hekk irid jisstimola l-ekonomija l-Gvern?

J.Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:43

It worries me that these type of people might be leading our country in the future. I will never vote PL if they are going to keep acting the same as they did in the times of mintoff.

steve cassar

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:41

S VELLA insejt li tal-pn ghandom xi haga hazina fid-DNA????

Ccharles Massa

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:37

Jekk il unions jifqu issa ikunu paxxew lil Gonzi u shabu u aktar jaghmluna tapit. Ejjew inkomplu ninaqdu u jekk ikun hemm bzonn naghmlu general strike s kemm ikun hemm bzonn,

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:35

@James Grech
Likewsie You must be livinig in a Red Plume!

@Joe Muscat
!!! :(

@C.Camilleri
"WARA l-elezzjoni qed nghixu bl-issikkar tac-cinturin u issa Xejn Mhu Possibli." Anzi Duminku Mintoff kien jissuggerixxi l-Issikkar tac-cinturin u li ma nistghux nieklu l-kejk kollu habib! Ara veru argument vojt!

L. Dimech

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:30

Joseph (Joe) Grima -"This is by far the worst Prime Minister Malta has ever experienced. If we all live to be a hundred we will not see any worse because lower than this is not possible."

Oh Joe, you must have been away from the country for some time then. RIDT TARA IL TAL-LEYBER HI, LIL MINTOFF, UL KMB U LIL SANT. How lucky you were to miss them !!

""I wondered at the time at the originality of the insults thrown at us which involved our mothers, our Party, our Leader and anyone connected with us known to the insultors""

See this is what I mean, these nationalists were taking lessons from those hamalli with funny nicknames and they became hamalli like them. Ma ..... how embarrassing !!

Well, having a good laugh on YOUR SHORT MEMORY is fine, but seriously, you must have been wondering where your thugs and the policement were. What do you think?? Very abnormal to have nationalists hurling insults at tal-leyber and getting off scott free?

Go back to the newspapers and read, read and read .....

bob tonna

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:24

martha its ok keep voting p.n but keep paying the bills

James Grima

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:17

S VELLA
I'm replying politely that PN was and never was a violent party. PN is and will always be made up from polite, and mature gentlemen. Just the complete opposite of the other red/communist side. About those examples you gave:
Min fejn gibtom habib? Ghax HADD ma sema dwarom ta!!!

John Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:15

I'm a teacher and member of MUT. I totally disapprove of the way our union is being governed. Irrespective of the motivation, MUT should have never joined forces with a political party. I will be resigning forthwith, from MUT.

c. camilleri

Mar 2nd 2010, 16:09

Is it possible that J. Bencini did not know what the protesters he led are capable of doing? John you will regret it more as time goes bye when you realise the trap that you have fallen into.
You have disgraced and betrayed the teaching profession by your behaviour and your irresponsible address to the crowd before you. Your incitement by against the people of the free press for just doing their duties merit your resignation from your post to make way for an other more acceptable person to the teaching profession. It is a pity that one cannot have the figure of teachers who attended the protests. It seems from the local media that the majority of the protesters were hard core labourites.

James Grima

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:59

@Mr. Camenzuli
Two words. How pathetic. This is your thanks to the PN, li ghamilna pajjiz civilizzat? Proset ehh!!!

adrian aquilina

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:52

its a demonstration,people are angry..nothing wrong with showing how you feel....the p.m. is not above being insulted.nobody is..shouldnt he be saying sorry for insulting us with over inflated utility bills and over taxation and a terrible infrastructure,bad roads etc etc.....you get respect only when you deserve it in life

joe muscat

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:49

@J Martinelli

Do you remember these words used by PN : "Parokki", "Mumji", "Qzieqez" so does this mean you are from the same cloth their members/supporters are cut from!

Frans Sammut

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:47

@Marco Camenzuli
It takes guts to speak as you did, my friend. I only hope you're not vulnerable to retaliation from the powers that be and their cronies. But if you are you must speak louder until we get rid of the hypocrites who would have us believe that this Government believes in the democratic process. What they believe in is steamrolling over the entire population. Alfred Sant had tried to effect a paradigm shift in local politics, unfortunately he was not allowed to carry out his unique programme. He had enemies to the right and to the left of him. As you correctly pointed out, we are now witnessing, rather, experiencing the consequences of those 1998 events. If I'm wrong on any score, pray point it out to me.

J Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:46

LGalea you are showing your true face by stating that Gonzi stole the election! How? Was it not your own leaders who admitted defeat because Gonzi won the election? Was it not your own delegates in each polling centre who saw to it that everything wasfair and nothing unlawful occurred? Or were your own delegates imbeciles? The truth hurts. Even by just one vote, the PN HAS A RIGHT TO GOVERN THIS COUNTRY with Labour in Opposition. Yes it was a wafer thin majority: 1500 votes, but still a majority of people not of chairs or sitting ducks. So have patience, jsut sleep it over for the next three years and then, another general election and we will let the people choose. By fair means and not through violence, as used to happen under Labour! And even if Labour succeeds in forming a government he will find himself saddled with the same problems THIS GOVERNMENT is saddled with. And then we will see what your government will do! Turn violent because there is no other way to escape the realities. That's the labour way, and that is why your party has been put in Opposition by the people for years now.

RGatt

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:44

Ma min rajtek xebbahtek Sur Bencini. Tlift il-ftit kredibilta li kellek. PL + GWU = Dizastru, u dan int tafu mis-snin 80. Kieku int kont ragel, la darba kien ser ikun hemm il-PL jiehu sehem, kont tirtira bhal ma ghamlu 'unions' ohra immexija min nies dicenti. Hasra li irmunkajt lil MUT warajk ghaliex jien cert li shabek ma jaqblux mad diskors li ghamilt il-Hadd, u wisq aktar ma dak it-tghajjir u insulti tal-bierah. Ara kieku saru dawn l-affarijiet fi zmien gvernijiet socjalisti kemm kont taqla bil-ponn u 'gas' tad-dmugh mil-marmalja, pulizija u SMU b'wicchom mghotti. Nixtieq kieku naqra xi kummenti ta dawn li jghidu li huma ex nazzjonalisti.

S VELLA

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:43

@ James Grima
Le qatt ma kienu vjolenti tal-PN?
Mela Ha nfakkrek ftit jien Little Blu Elve...Insejt li Tarcisio insejt kunjomu, ix-xeba li tawh? insejt il Balavostri li ntefghu fuq il-partitarji Laburisti fil-meeting ta Haz Zebbug? Insejt il-bullijiet li marru jkissru l-Airport? insejt il-Kazini tal PL li gew imkissra mill partitarji Nazzjonalisti? Insejt il-Bombi li kienu jsiru meta kien fil-Gvern il-PL? Insejt id-dizubbidjenza civili mmexxija mil PN ordnata minn Eddie Fenech Adami?insejt id-demostranti jintrabtu ma Kastilja? Insejt l-Armi li kienu nsabu Fil kwartieri tal-PN f'Tal Pieta? Insejt l-istorja mahmuga li ghandkom imcappsa mas 60'ijiet meta inqdejtu bir religjon u d-dnub il-mejjet? u wasaltu biex sahansitra dfintu n-nies fil mizbla u nies ma jinghataw assulussjoni ghax Laburisti? jew ma tiehdux gost issemhuom dawn il-hnizrijiet?
It tghajjir tan Nazzjonalisti OK? Salbu Salbu / Parokki / Pulcinelli / mumji / Pantomima / Hamalli / Insejtu kemm ghajjartuh personali lil Dr Alfred Sant? lil KMB Zero / Lil Mintoff dittatur? Kemm ghandkom memorja qasira....Insejtuhom lil dawk iz-zaghzagh fil meetings tal PN ta l-ahhar elezzjoni bi flokkijiet bi kliem oxxen???
AHNA MA NSEJNIJHOMX U DONT WORRY SA 3 SNIN OHRA HADD MHU SA JINSA LIL MIN WIEGHED L-ILMA JISFEN U ISSA GHAFFIGNA BHAL ROMBLU!!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:22

Our Prime Minister labelled the two demonstrations as ‘Pantomimes’. Pantomimes and clowns are synonymous. Is it OK for Dr.Gonzi to imply that the demonstrators were clowns performing a pantomime?

Jesmond Abela

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:18

Lil Imsieken Laburisti : semmejt ic cikkulata bhala ezempju wiehed u minimu. Ma nahsibx li cikkulata biss konna neqsin, konna neqsin mill aktar haga importanti ID DEMOKRAZIJA.

@E.Cini - Kapaci inhallas iva ghax nahdem u nipprova ma nahliex fejn mhemmx bzonn, u iva ircevejtu il kont ta dawl i l-ilma , u ga hallastu OK.

@EGalea - jien nghidlek li L-izpizjar milli ikollu jaghtik - Semmejt lil Mintoff ..lol Il bniedem li Hu stess kien jinsulenta lil Haddiema (staqsi lil EX haddiema ta Drydocks kemm kien jghajjarhom) saqsi lit tobba , saqsi lil teachers, saqsi lil listudenti u ibqa saqsi lil min trid , ghax lista twila ghandek. Apparti li insulenta lil Poplu Malti kollu meta baqa jiggverna kontra irida tieghu - Dak mhux insult jew ???!!!!!! Tista isemmili lima kazini harqu in nazzjonalisti please ? U kemm il darba wkoll. Insemmilek kazin nazzjonalista wiehed tal Furjana, li inharraq ma 20 darba. Le Hi ahna ma ninsewx ghalhekk qedin infakkru il hnizrijiet li ghamiltu inthom meta kontu fil poter ghal 16 il sena shah.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:11

@ S. Fenech

Jien miniex pur ghallhekk ma niskungrat. Read carefully what I wrote.

Joseph Portelli

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:09

As one of the most senior members of the MUT who served on the Council of the Union for 34 eventful years and who has the interest of the union at heart, first and foremost, i make a heartfelt appeal to all MUT members no to take any rush decisions that will result in weakening our union. During my time i always worked for the unity of the teaching profession. Instead you are free to consult with the MUT President and Council members about what you think is best to do in the present circumstances.

Joseph (Joe) Grima

Mar 2nd 2010, 15:05

@Victor Laiviera. How short some people's memories can conveniently be. When we tried to enter Parliament after the "87 election, we were insulted by PN supporters inches away forom us on Palace Square . I wondered at the time at the originality of the insults thrown at us which involved our mothers, our Party, our Leader and anyone connected with us known to the insultors. MPs were also insulted by bring their ailments into play. I have rarely seen such hostiliy and overt hatred towards peopole who, a few weeks before, had been running the country. Does Gonzi feel insulted being called a Pulcinell? No insult there. Simply la verita offende. This is by far the worst Prime Minister Malta has ever experienced. If we all live to be a hundred we will not see any worse because lower than this is not possible.

j.spiteri

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:58

Where are the condemnations when a mob of right wing hamalli attacked Dr. Alfred Sant at the university in Gonzi's presence? 'What's good for the goose is good for the gander.'

S Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:57

@Jesmond Abela
Dasgur li bis-serjeta qed jghid is-Sur Cutajar! Iva il-poplu qed jaqa lura u l-istandard of living niezel kulljum, tghid x'tghid inti u kull min hu ossesjonat bhalek. Il-poverty line u n-nies fqar regu feggu wara li l-PL kien irnexxillu jeliminahom. Jien nipreferi li ma kienx hawn ic-choclate imma kien hawn ix-xoghol u flus fil-bwiet tan nies, milli bhal lum bl-AC id-dar ghax xow! ghax ma naffordjawx nixgheluh, apparti l-apparat iehor li ghandna fid-djar u gejna ma nistghux nuzawh bit-tariffi li bellalna l-gvern ta Gonzi, u ma ninsewx li l-preszz tal-gas tripla u anki heater gejna ma naffordjawx!
@ G Micallef
Taf xi jmissek tfakkru lil poplu, li meta il PL kien imexxi l-pajjiz wiret sitwazzjoni li ma kellux minn fejn ihallas in-nies tac-civil tant li kellu jmur isaqqaf wiccu ma Ghaddafi biex jaghtih il-flus mhux idahhal taxxi fuq il-poplu biex jaghmlu tajjeb,
Holoq ic-Childrens Allowance, il-penzjonijiet, u l-beneficji Socjali kollha li ghandna l-lum u qed jinqerdu. Taghna l-leave, id-dritt tas sick leave, Sparijiet b'xejn, drittijiet ghan-nisa li kienu meqjusa tajbin biss ghal borma u biex igibu t-tfal , Edukazzjoni terzjarja ghal kullhadd inkluz tfal tal-haddiem, Linja tal-Ajru Nazzjonali u l-lista ta gid li ma tispicca Qatt!!
Grazzi unions!

charlo sammut

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:34

after yesterday not only the mut leader have to resign but toni and all the others that joined them in the protest if you can call that protest not LP MANIFEST?

Franco Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:32

@ Mr Bencini: 'he went straight home and followed the debate from there because he was "disgusted" at the insults hurled by the demonstrators at the government MPs.' >>>>So, first you lead your members in a manifestation in which you shouldn't have been present, and then, play the coward, turn round and head back home instead of staying there. What did you expect to happen in such a politically-charged manifestation in which you should not have been present. I repeat what I said recently: where was the GWU and what was its stand at a time when teachers were being harrassed in their work like never before? Come to think of it: where were you, Mr Bencini?

Martha Zerafa

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:31

jien kont certa li l elezzjoni tad darba li gejja nivvota labour pero meta nara hekk jerggha jdurli bil kbir!!!!kif qatt ma jitghalmu dan nies!!!!!

Joseph E Briffa

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:23

Tony Zarb represents the GWU which since its inception has been labour's kingpin.. In the first few years GWU did sterling work but when Mintoff took over as labour leader, it always served as Labour's poodle. Between 1971 and 1987 it was wedded to Labour. After that it kept committing one mistake after another, it ruined the drydocks which cost billions to the taxpayers, botched the Phoenicia and SeaMalta cases.. It's not easy for Zarb to convince because he has first to convince himself that his actions are in the interests of the workers not of MLP which, he knows, they aren't. He said he was quite happy with the 2010 budget but then some bright spark from Labour must have told him they were not happy with his statements and that he should do something for the Party. So he did not want to discuss the tariffs round a table but take to the streets in order to try to bring the downfall of the PN.

Ronald Cauchi

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:23

Why does anyone have to act like blushing virgins and get all scandalised at demonstrators hurling insults at Govenment members. Have they never seen or heard what Italian demonstrators call Berlusconi or British demonstrators call Brown.People demonstrate because theyre angry and want to vent their anger. Theyre not there to have tea and cucumber sandwiches.

gxuereb

Mar 2nd 2010, 14:05

U kemm saru sensittivi dawn ta' GonziPN!! Insew dawn kemm ghajjru lil Alfred Sant, lil Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici u specjalment lil Mintoff. Nahseb kemm ilni nsegwi l-politika lokali qatt ma smajt kliem dispreggjattiv u kattiv (hamallu u oxxen) daqs kemm uzaw il-partitarji Nazzjonalisti lejn dawn il-mexxejja Laburisti!

Marco Camenzuli

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:58

In 2003 I voted IVA and PN ,in 2008 I didn't voted because I have no interest .2013 ???????

Yes I'm going to vote .Do you see European TV ? Do you see European News ?
If yes ,did you saw the protest in Paris, Athens, Rome in these last months ? Like them we needed to be .

Yes 2013 I'm going to vote Labour for the first time in my life , yes because Gonzi for a man like me that I never was a supporter of both parties ,Gonzi is a lair, I'm goingto vote not for a party or another ,I vote for myself.
The last thing have to say is that in the past years I hated Alfred Sant in everything but nowadays I'm thinking tath Alfred Sant was right !!!!!

J Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:47

Nistaqsi: u billi organizzajtu jumejn protesti fil-Belt, u telliftu x-xoghol lill-haddiema maltin li tilfu gurnata minhabba l-protesta, x'HADTU? Irbahtu xi haga? Gibtu xi lira fil-but tal-haddiema li suppost qeghdin tirrappresentaw? Ghamiltulhom hajjithom iktar facli b'dal-protesti? Mhux kollox kif kien ser jibqa'? Il-Gvern biss ser jaghmel xi haga....ser jaghtina refund biex intaffu ftit mill-ispiza li hemm bzonn li ssir. punto e basta. Min rebah? Il-Gvern li ghandhu qalbu mal-poplu. Imma disgrazzjatament ghandna nofs il-poplu injurant.

Marion Portelli

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:43

Short and sweet Sur Bencini - ma min rajtek xebbahtek. It is by now far too late to go back on your footsteps!!

Gorg Attard

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:42

Inwaddbu zarbuna, nitfghulu katidral, dawn huma atti kriminali anke jekk ahna membri tal-ewropa. Mhuma qatt accettabbli. Il-hmieg tal-ewropej m'ghandhu qatt jasal lejn truf artna. U dawk il-laburisti li ISSA u LLUM QED JIKKUNDANNAW l-oxxenitajiet li dejjem wettqu partitarji laburisti kontra persuni nazzjonalisti, nghiduilhom id-dmugh tal-kukkudrilli qatt ma ghamel irgiel. L-irgulija titliob li qabel ma twettaq trid tara l-konsegwenzi. U l-konsegwenzi ghall-PL ser ikunu qarsa. Mhux illum imma meta tasal elezzjoni ohra u l-poplu jaghmel il-kontijiet u jiftakar.....jekk iridx jghix dak li qed naraw jigri llum, insulti, tghajjir, ecc., jew inkella jkun irid jibqa taht in-nazzjonalisti jghix fil-paci fl-ordni u bil-haqq. Dak hu l-ezami tal-Lejber. U fuq dan ser jehel zgur, anke jekk in-nazzjonalisti ma jivvutawx. U lil Claire Bonello nghidilha li bil-ghatx ser tibqa' ghax qatt mhi ser tara lill-partit taghha jtella mqar nofs deputat, ahseb u ara kemm ser ittellghu kandidat. L-ghira qatt ma swiet.

Robert Agius

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:41

I give up on this country. Everything in this country is either blue or red, everything is politicized. Of course I understand the parties motives for keeping things that way (it suits them both at the end of the day) but as for the rest of the nation, who vote (but particularly many who comment), I have no words. I must say I can't point my finger at politicians any longer. I do not subscribe to the point of view that every country gets the government it deserves but I sure do agree that Malta got into a situation that it indeed deserves. We never really discuss issues here in Malta, only sides to take. Oh! and those people who are still stuck in the 60's, 70's and 80's, get over it!!!

joe muscat

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:34

@G.Micallef
Habib il hazin hu hazin imma jekk trid tfakkar lil poplu Malti fakkru kollox

Min ma riedx is servizzi socjali u vvota kontra
Min ma riedx il pensjonijiet u qal ghax jixorbuha nbid
Min ma riedx jaghti il-vot lin nisa ghax qal dawk ghal kcina tajbin
Min ma riedx Air Malta u qal li dawk ghasafar tac comb
Min ma riedx li jinghata l vot ma 18 il sena
Min ma riedx gimgha xoghol ta hamest ijiem
u hafna aktar , jekk trid nkompli nsemmielek

C.camilleri

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:31

@ G.Micallef

Naqbel mieghek li -popu jinsa.
Qabel l-elezzjoni Gonzi Pn wieghed genna fl-art u li Fiimkien Kollox Possibli u WARA l-elezzjoni qed nghixu bl-issikkar tac-cinturin u issa Xejn Mhu Possibli.
Rigward il-lista li semmejt, hemm lista akbar ta servizzi socjali li ghamel gvern laburista u li int INSEJT issemmi.

C.camilleri

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:31

@ G.Micallef

Naqbel mieghek li -popu jinsa.
Qabel l-elezzjoni Gonzi Pn wieghed genna fl-art u li Fiimkien Kollox Possibli u WARA l-elezzjoni qed nghixu bl-issikkar tac-cinturin u issa Xejn Mhu Possibli.
Rigward il-lista li semmejt, hemm lista akbar ta servizzi socjali li ghamel gvern laburista u li int INSEJT issemmi.

M.Bezzina

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:31

G.Micallef
Min kien jikkontrollana u jcahhadna mic-cikkulata barranija u mit-toothpaste sura ta' nies?

Issa ghal 1 andek miljun min fejn taghzel cikkulata pero ma nahsibx li il bniedem bic cikkulata jghix habib!!

Min ried jaghlaq l-isptarijiet privati?
Tajjeb li jkollok il privat!!Imma x qed jigri go mater dei?Ghalfejn il waiting lists huma twal??U l-isptar privati mux qedin em ghall min jaqlaghha u jiekola ta!!Qedin hemm ghall min jaqla il belli liri li toddom fuq subghajk!!

Min kien jintimidana u jikkastigana ghax ma konniex naqblu mieghu?
illum min imexxi ma jaghtix kasek u jghaddi romblu qijed!!Jekk tiflah, tiflah jekk le ghereq!!

Se toqoghod issemmi il hazin?Hsibtek se tkun parzjali.Per ez missek semmejt li saru ic Childrens allownace, saret il penzjoni, il hajja kienet irhas, Inholoqot l AirMalta(tal ajruplani tac comb), is sea malta...daqs kemm hemm xi semmi!!Semmi it tajjeb u il hazin ukoll!!Ghax hekk turi is serjeta.Sfortunatament bhall ma jigir dejjem min imexxi il pajjiz huwa bniedem bhalna allura zbalji saru, isiru u jibqaw isiru!!

E.cini

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:30

@ Jesmond Abela Qabel forsi ma koniex nistghu nixtru cikkulata issa ma nistghux nixtru l-medicina, jaqaw ghadek ma rcevejtux il-kont tad-dawl u l-ilma! Jew wiehed min dawk li kapaci thallas ghall-inkompetenza tal-gvern

Roderick Mizzi

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:26

Ehh kemm twegga meta l-vitma tkun int! Kemm hawn min jinsa malajr. "Parokki", "Mumji", "Qzieqez" jdoqqulkom dawn il-kliem? Jew intkom xi tip ta nies li tippretendu li intkom tejdu li tridu imma jekk jmisskom xi hadd toqomsu?

In-nazzjonalisti tibqaw l-istess, Jekk laburist ixerred qattra demm taqilu panik, u jekk in-Nazzjonalisti jizvinaw lill xi hadd nahbu idejna.

Minix niggustifika li ghandu jkun hemm tajjir imma qabel nibdew nitkazaw ahjar inxommu taht idejna l-ewwel.

Btw veru li Mars nista nixtri imma ghandi problema daqxejn izjed difficli, ma niflahx inhallas il-post. Xi hadd irid ihallasuli? intikom kaxxa mars u TV tal-kulur jekk tridu in return jekk hawn xi hadd joffri.

Frans Sammut

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:22

I would like to register my concurrence with John Bencini and the other trade union leaders over their condemnation of insults the crowd hurled at MPs etc. On the other hand I would also like to point out that for the Great Revolution of 1789 to succeed, apart from the writings of Voltaire and the other thinkers of the Enlightenment, what was needed - at a pivotal level - was the direct involvement of the crowds that attacked the symbolic Bastille. Madame Lafarge would never be classified with the 'puliti' (who, incidentally used words, slightly less insolent against Alfred Sant a decade before) had a substantial role in the overthrow of the ancien regime. Harridans too have a part to play even if they are not expected to pay exorbitant electricity bills. Not only because the Constitution countenances their right to partake of the democratic process, but because they can be the most efficient tool when push comes to shove. Again, nobody would like to see a bloodbath in Valletta, but sometimes, I wonder, when I recall Monsieur Necker (I mean Austin Gatt)'s arrogant attitude, what else could be done to bring the high and mighty to their senses.

redrian micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:21

I think that protests are healthy for a country. we see so much protest on foreighn news , why maltese can't? It was a peaceful protest, so i see nothing wrong in this. The unions are there to protect their members and they are trying to do so, even though not all the unions. THANKS TO UNIONS AND TO THOSE POLITICIANS WHO ARE PROTECTING US

J.Tonna

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:19

Nispera li s-sur Bencini tghallem biex ma jhallix min juzah. Jew nesa' meta kien insultat, jekk mhux mghadded, mill istess nies, ghax fetah halqu favur l-ghalliema.

Joe Busuttil

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:18

Someone suggested that teachers should join the UHM. Try it out and see what you will get. MR% Bencini ,I don't agree with insults ,but the PN supporters did worse than that to Dom and Alfred. They will do the same to Joseph in the future. They don't have the monopoly of educated people as everybody knows that among their supporters are known criminals and hate bloggers.

J Martinelli

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:15

How nice! "Unions condemn insults at PM and Nationalist MPs". A very convenient, after the fact statement. Such sincere feelings!

Nothing Unions and the LP can do, after all such is the cloth their members/supporters are cut from!

A.Attard

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:15

Gonzi here you go again 'YOU WIN AGAIN'. The two protests held on Sunday and yesterday, reminded the moderate and reasonable citizens of the militant ways back in the eighties. Ordinary citizens now realise that the mind behind the protest was the PL to please their and the GWU die harders. Combined with the motion presented in parliament against the new tariffs, PL mistakenly taught that Gonzi would not get the full support in parlament and so it will destabilize the goverment.
However, he successfully did and confirmed his determination to complete his electoral program which includes reforms to eliminate the highly subsidies which permanently cause deficit. Democratic countries are not governed by people from the streets but only by Legitimate Governments elected democratically by the people.
I beleive that the whole issue had a very adverse effect on floating voters who never voted Labor and were thinking of doing so in the next election.

james grech

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:10

@G. Micallef
You are living in a blue dream. You can neither see the faults of the present nor can you fathom the changes that have taken place.
While I do not agree with any type of insult, let me remind you that it was the PM himself together with his pet, minister Fenech, who resorted to insulting the unions and the people that went to protest last Sunday and yesterday, with words such as "pulcinelli".

mario scerri

Mar 2nd 2010, 13:03

Ma naqbilx mat-tghajjir imma ma noqghoqux nilghabuha tal-martri. u ghandi xi mistqsijiet ghal Dr Gonzi.

Dr Gonzi mhux insult meta bhal dan iz-zmien sena. Ftahart li se tivvota bil-qalb biex jorhshu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma?

Dr Gonzi mhux insult li b dawn il-kontijiet qed titfa l-poplu fi tbatija bla bzonn, tpooggihom f riskju ta faqar u thedded hafna postijiet tax-xolghol?

Dr Gonzi mhux insult li tghabbi l-poplu w in-negozji b dawn il-pizijiet. Minflok taqta l-hela?

Dr gonzi mhux insult li kull darba toqghod iggib l-iskuza li ghola z-zejt?

N.Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:59

It's too late Mr.Bencini. Before condeming those who insulted the PM and the Nationalists members, you should have condemned your friend Toni Zarb who in a typical Mintoffian way insulted the PM and the Nationalists members calling them 'guda' and 'tradituri'. Besides you yourself Mr Bencini did not mince your words when you named media people and rival tradeunionists provoking booing and insults. What do you expect than? Did you forget that those who were beside you lately, are the same people who, amongst other barbaric acts, destroyed the teachers' institute? Did they ever apologise?

lgalea

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:53

G.Micallef ahna li ghexna taht diversi regimi nazzjonalisti nafu xi jfissru.
SWAT BISS GHALL-POPLU WAQT LI HUMA JIXXALAW FIL-LUSSU.

Jesmond Abela u l-bella kumpanija, Sewwa jghidu li l-kabura milli jjkollha taghtik. Insejt kemm kienu jinsulentaw lil Mintoff u lil kull Laburist? Insejt kemm EFA qatt ma waqqaf lill-partitarji nazzjonalisti milli jghajjtu "Sallbu, Sallbu"? Insejt kif EFA sfida u beda jghajjat "Fejn huma l-Laburisti"? Insejt li meta l-partitarji nazzjonalisti kissru u harqu l-kazini tal-PL qali li ghamlu hekk bl-ewforja? Insejt li kien hemm min qal "mhux issa imma ghada, ghada, naharqu kollox"? Insejtuhom in-nisa suppost puliti bil-borom u va*ijiet jipprotestaw? Dik mhux hamallagni, pantomima, teatrin u pulcinellati?

Michael Vella The bills were never issued because Dr Sant had seen through the smokescreen by the incompetents at Enemalta because they wanted the people to pay for their incompetence.

Antoine Spiteri How about Gonzi resigning because he STOLE the election and the people are now having to face the consequences of his incompetence? Kif jghid il-qawl, dak li tisraq ma tgawdihx u hekk qed jigrulu Gonzi.

C. Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:52

In-nazzjonalisti tajbin biex ibezzaw...ghax 3 snin ohra se jigri hekk u hekk jekk jitla il-PL fil-gvern. Dan ghax kien hemm 4 il-bierah li bdew jghajjru lil dawk dehlin il-parlament? Lanqas li JM mar jghidilhom biex jghidu hekk! Insejnih meta xi hadd ghajjar lil haddiehor mummji ftit tax-xhur ilu. Jew hadd ma kien l-niversita qabel l-ellezzjoni meta ghajjru lil Sant bil-marda li kellu.

James Grima

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:52

Kien hemm min semma li il protesta ta Dicembru ta 1997, kien hemm xi insulti. Kien hemm min semma l insulti tal universita. Ftakru haga, IL PN QATT MA KIEN VJOLENTI. Fejn kienu l insulti fl universita? Kontra min? Qedin tehduha mal istudenti ghax urew l opinjoni tahhom? Ma kellomx ragun? X insulti kien hemm fil protesta ta Dicembru tal 1997? Mhux vera kien hemm insulti. Din gidba ohra tas super one. Jien ma jinteressanix li zdiedu it taxxi. Jien ghal 40 sena hdimt, u ghandi biex inhallas, ghax naf li qeghdin f ricessjoni globali, u li ghandna gvern il gawra tieghu, li qieghed jghamel li jista biex johrogna minnha. Min hu ghazzien, u ma jridx jahdem, iva ma jridx ihallas, u minn fuq imur jiprotesta, u jkun rude. Shame red elves.

A. Vassallo

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:52

"The Ghaqda Unions Maltin this morning condemned the insults hurled at the Prime Minister and Nationalist MPs yesterday during the tariffs protests."

Who signed the press statement in the name of GHUM? John Bencini, Tony Zarb, Paul Pace and the so-called 8 other unions? Do they all think, like John Bencini, that the politicians had spoken and this should be respected? Meaning stop trying to protest against the government and trying all in vain to topple our legitimate government?

A reply from Tony Zarb will be very much appreciated.

J. Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:49

Franza jipprotestaw bil-kbir - hemm demokrazija ???
L-Italja jipprotestaw - hemm demokrazija ???
L-Germanja jipprotestaw - hemm demokrazija ???
Spanja, Portugal, Grecja, pajjizi tal (ex) East - kollha jipprotestaw.
X-hemm hazin ghalina l-Maltin ??? meta, meta inharsu lura naraw miljuni kbar
ta flus li inhlew fi progetti li se jergaw isiru, u meta fis-snin li ghaddew, qabel
il-krizi, id-dinja, inkluz Malta kienet ghaddejja min ekonomijja u kummerc tajbin
hafna (kienu jghidulna) ghalfejn ma hsibniex ghal maltemp, ghalfejn hafna miljuni
taru mar-rih. U l-prezz tal-medicini f-Malta ?????

godfrey ellul

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:42

Huwa fatt li t-tariffi l-godda tad-dawl u l-ilma qed iweggghu sezzjoni kbira tal-poplu, inkluzi hafna minn dawk li ghadhom ixaqilbu lejn il-PN, biex ma nsemmux lil min hu fil-business. Jekk imbaghad xi hadd holom li xi membru tal-PN fil-Parlament se jivvota favur il-mozzjoni, certament ma jirrealizzax li ebda MP mhu se jissogra dak is-siggu komdu fil- Kamra tad-Deputati ghal wicc il-fqir u l-batut!
Hemm hafna x'jista' isir biex forsi wiehed ma jweggghax hafna. Per ezempju, jien qed iddejjaqni l-mod goff kif se tahdem is-sistema l-gdida taht l-ARMS Ltd, b'mod specjali l-introduzzjoni ta' 6% imghax ghal min idum ma jhallas. Ghal min hu batut, jew pensjonant li jkun qed jistenna c-cheque tal-pensjoni biex ihallas dan il-kont ma' spejjez ohra ta' medicini etc, jidhirli li din is-sistema se jkun fiha speci ta' usura istituzzjonalizzata. Li ddum ma thallas kapricc, forsi nifimha, imma li tissikka zzejjed iebsa!
Ma mmorrux l-estrem, l-ahwa....X'tahsbu?

J Cassar

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:41

Addio Progressivi u Moderati! Labour hasn't changed...same elements...same old self!

h caruana

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:41

Sur Bencini haga wahda missek tghamel irrezenja issa,ghax meta smajt dak ittajjir kien missek tlaqt u turi li ma taqbilx , pero li bqajt kemm inti qbil maghhom. Issa tigi u tohrog stqarrija ma tghamel xejn gdid.

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:40

@M.CUTAJAR

Nixtieq nigbidlek l-attenzjoni li IVA f'pajjiz demokratiku bhal Malta taghna, dawk li ma jaqblux ma' dak li jkun qed jimplimenta l-gvern tal-gurnata pero' LE m'ghandux dritt jirrikorri ghall-arroganza, ghall-insulti jew ghall-vjolenza.

G. Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:36

Nixtieq verament li dawn li qed jitfugħ dell ikrah fuq dawk li kienu preżenti għall-protesta li huma, nazzjonalisti, laburisti, alternattiva demokratika, ħaddiema minn kull union anke UHM etc. nixtieq li jħarsu naqa lejhom innfushom u jgħidu imma jien għandi kuxjenza?? Qed tgħajru lil dawk li protestaw meta marru jaqbżu għall-Maltin kollha? Jekk jinbidel il-gvern u jkollna gvern tal-ħaddiem mhux għal kulħadd se jnaqqashom il-piżijiet?? Imbagħad x'ħa tgħidu dakinhar, tgħajruna li aħna nies annimali xorta??

Michael Catania

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:36

I feel I have no alternative but to speak out again, against all these petty allegations made by "humans" with such short memories. I always thought that these creatures are well educated and with a memory brain equal to mine. Alas I have been proven wrong.There memory is so short that I suppose they can't remember that they will have to pay their utility bills at the higher rate the next time round.NOW A LESSON IN NOT SO FAR DISTANT TIME
1. REMEMBER WHEN CONSERVATIVE THUGS ENTERED A CERTAIN MR. MIFSUD HOUSE AND BEAT HIM WITH CHAINS.
2. REMEMBER WHEN TONI ABELA AND WENZU MINTOFF WERE MANHADLED BY CONSERVATIVE THUGS ON THE FLORIANA GRANARIES .
AND FINALLY WHO IS MORE FAMILIAR WITH CARRYING ILLEGAL WEAPONS ON THEIR PERSONS.
Now if you conservatives feel intimidated by that bantering then your god better help you in the real world

J Spiteri

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:36

Quoting from:
http://www.timesofmalta.com.mt/articles/view/20100302/local/power-tariffs-mut-insists-it-has-been-consistent

"The MUT also pointed to footage of the 1997 protest when a small group of people used insulting and vulgar language against the Labour government and its then leaders."


Hellloooooo all the cluckers hereunder condemning with tears in their eyes the "socjalisti" and who are warning Malta to beware as that these "socjalisti" would never change(!!!)

Biex tiskongra trid tkun pur ... hekk dejjem ghallmuni lili!!!!!!!

I hope that at least you all realize that sometimes, it is worthed to think with your own mind and not repeat biased media's news in the blogs!!!! Ehhhhhhh .....

Michael Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:36

I don't see any reason to act all shocked by the choice of words used by the crowds against the PN MPs. In a protest, people generally insult the people they are directing their anger against, especilly when this anger is fanned by the organisers of protest. Let's not act all saintly and appear shocked, this is what is expected by any protest whether organised by the PN or LP (including the GWU)

What i do find shocking on the other hand, is the hypocracy demostrated by Tony Zarb and the GWU. I too am not happy with the increase in bills, but neither was i happy in 1997, when the GWU stayed quiet (despite the ridiculous claims made last night on TV by Tony Zarb). Unfortunately the man has ZERO credibility.

CATherine Desira

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:35

What on earth did they expect? The protests were not organised at all by the unions as they tried hard to emphasise. The protests were evidently 'hijacked' by the MLP no more and no less.

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:33

Il-Mibki President Anton Buttigieg kien jighid: "Il-Poplu jinsa!"
U veru tkun haga tajba li nfakkruh lill-Poplu:
Min ried jaghlaq l-isptarijiet privati?
Min ried jaghlaq l-Iskejjel tal-Knisja?
Min sawwat lill-haddiema tat-Tarzna li strajkjaw ghad-drittijiet taghhom?
Min kien jintimidana u jikkastigana ghax ma konniex naqblu mieghu?
Min kont trid ixahhmu biex ikollook linja telefonika id-dar?
Min kont trid ixahhmu biex ikollok TV tal-kulur id-dar?
Min kien jittappja t-telefons tan-Nazzjonalisti?
Min taht l-amministrazzjoni tieghu kellu l-Korp tal-Pulizija mimli hmieg?
Min issoppressa anke l-liberta' ta' l-istampa?
Min kien jikkontrollana u jcahhadna mic-cikkulata barranija u mit-toothpaste sura ta' nies?
Min kien jikkontrollana kemm niehdu flus maghna meta nsiefru?
Min kien jaghti transfers politici bl-addocc?

Jesmond Abela

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:33

@ Mr Cutajar - get a life and get real !!!!!

Int bis serjeta qied tghid ?????? isu kulhadd qied imgewwah bil guh .... u halliena man.

Konna qedin imgewhin meta lanqas bicca cikkulata ma kien hawn

james grech

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:31

@G.Micallef
Il mard qed igibu b idejh dan il gvern. This government has been squandering money during its previous legislatures and now it is seemingly showing concern. I doubt it that this is the reason. It most probably wants to pocket more money into the hands of the closely knit network of friends. What else could be the reason?

M. Cutajar

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:27

Għat-tbatija li għaddej minnha l-poplu naħseb li ż-żewġ protesti li saru sa issa kienu vera moderati u ta paċi. Għax gvern li jidħaq bik f'wiċċek ħaqqu għar minn hekk. Ċertu kummenti li qed naqra jaqbadni l-biki għax ma nemminx li hawn Maltin daqshekk leali lejn il-partit tagħhom li lesti jibqgħu ibatu.
Imma nsomma jien nixtieq nirringrazzja lill-GWU u lil unions l-oħra kollha talli għandhom il-kuraġġ iqajjmu l-poplu kontra min qed itih bis-sieq! Mhux hekk mela nibdlu bieb il-Belt u ntgħajru l-miljuni fi proġetti ta kapriċċi meta l-poplu għaddej minn tbatija ta vera!!

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:24

Nikkoregi lili nnifsi: Jalla dak li ksibna permezz tad-demokrazija f'dawn l-ahhar 23 sena ma nitilfuhx f'nifs wiehed.

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:20

G.Cassar

U ma tarax li dan kollu gheneb qares habib. Jien ghext taht ir-Regim Socjalista ghal 16 il-sena shah u naf xi jsarraf il-Partit Laburista habib! Int tahseb li hawn xi hadd kuntent bl-gholi tat-tariffi? Trid tkun mignun pereccellenza biex tieghu gost b'dan. Imma xi trid taghmel jekk hemm bzonn hekk ghall-ekonomija tal-Pajjiz?! Hawn xi hadd jiehu pjacir jibla l-pilloli u l-mistura? Imma jekk tkun marid xi trid taghmel! Jalla dak li ksibna permezz tad-demokrazija f'dawn l-ahhar 25 sena ma nitilfuhx f'nifs wiehed. M'inhiex nghid li l-gvern Nazzjonalista huwa perfett ta, xejn minn dan, imma ta' l-anqas jipprattika id-demokrazija u ma jintimida lil hadd ghall-liberta' ta' l-espressjoni tieghu!

Jesmond Abela

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:20

Is Socjalisti ma jinbidlu qatt u qatt ....... l-istorja ma jista ihassara hadd u xejn!!!!! Fis 60's u 70's kienu jghajru lil GBO , 70's - 80's lil EFA (bil harqa u il gazzaza) what a joke!!!!!...... hehehe insejtuhom dawn, u issa wara 20 sena fl-oppozzizjoni lil Gonzi. Vera kaz fejn ma titghalmu qatt. Tippruvaw taghtu "image' differenti imma ghal xejn. Id destin tal lejber qied ghal l-oppozzjoni biss.
Lil Laburisti li qedin jiktbu hawn nghidlihom illi tghidu x'tghidu li aghmlu in nazzjonalisti (hazin kemm hu hazin) hadt u xejn ma jista jghid li, il hazin tal laburisti huwa ferm ikbar u tan nazzjonalisti huwa biss zrara hdejn ic cangun tal lejber. Ghalhekk bqajtu fl oppozzjoni dawn is snin kollha ghax il poplu Malti ghadu ma hafirilkhomx tal hnizzrijiet li ghamiltu fil passat u anki issa fil prezent. Grazzi

George Spiteri

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:17

Kemm tinsew fej tridu x'ġara fl-universita fej kien hemm dibattitu ma l-istudenti tant edukati u ta livell!! Ħalluna għax qazzewna dan-nazzjonalisti! IMISSKHOM TISTĦU TGĦIDU LI INTOM MALTIN!! IL-GVERN PAXXUT U L-POPLU BATUT, U SSIB MIN SFORZ IL-PASSJONI JIBQA JAQBEZ GĦALL-GVERN!!

Joseph Scicluna

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:08

@ j.cauchi
it is you who should apologise for the marmalja!

A. Zahra

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:07

The crowd yesterday was a socialist crowd. And like all socialist crowds it insulted the MPs of the opposing parties. I have heard the same insults hurled by MLP supporters ever since I was a child. With the MLP and the GWU attitudes never change no matter how hard the present leadership tries to paint a different picture. They cannot change. It is in their DNA. Bencini should have known this.

paul abela

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:06

what a joke all these unions are. first they incite people hatred against the PN , then afterwards they condemn the insults.... UNIONS will never learn especially the GWU...they
are just loosers in all aspects....

G.Cassar

Mar 2nd 2010, 12:00

AHHHHHHHHH to most sanctified people are showing their disgust to some people throwing insults to the government MPs. So tell me are all you Saints happy with the Utility Tariffs? all of you are happy with the cost of living?You are as bad as those that see red only!! Never a word against blue eyed Wenzu.

Don't talk about insults and socialist mobs of 30 years ago. Is this what you have in your defense. Events that happened 30 years ago to justify the PNs clinging to power...how pathetic!! You forgot the celebrations after the elections of 1987 and the violance that came with it. The bodily harm to Tarcisio Mifsud, the University Students insulting Dr. Alfred Sant.............what a short memory madoff.

Gonzi PN's reply is always "we need to create more jobs" .....22 years in power and still begging for jobs..............what a failure!!!!!

D.MANGION

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:58

Reading most of the comments one can interpret a general line of thought.

-Better financially crucified but relatively free under the PN, than possibly physically crucified under the PL-

.....and somehow, strangely enough, I tend to be in agreement with such a line of thought !!!

Ara kemm qeghdin sew !

Our choice is between 2 styles of crucifictions !
No other options seem to exist !!!! Tal-biki !

Indeed....every people has the leadership that it deserves.

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:58

@g.ellul

Hekk imisshom ukoll!!! Il-veru imissna nisthu f'dal-pajjiz li minkejja li ghaddej minn ricessjoni ghadna nghixu, grazzi ghall-mizuri maturi li ha dal-Gvern askapitu li jidher ikrah. Dur dawra mar-restaurants u l-wine bars, malajr tkun taf! Ara l-karozzi godda fit-toroq! Ara l-livell t'ghajxien!

Michael Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:58

Last night, on a TV programme (Bondi +), Tony Zarb was asked why the GWU did not protest in 1997, when the price of oil was nowhere near the prices of today. Tony Zarb claimed that due to pressure from the GWU the bills were never issued. He forgot to inform listeners that the bills were never issued because the government of the time was forced into calling an early election. Instead, he actually tried to take credit for it lol!

Unfortunately, Tony Zarb and his GWU are not credible (putting it mildly). As we have seen time and time again, they only protest if the PN is in government. Not only that, but when under pressure to justify why the GWU acted in one way under a PN government and another way under a PL government, he comes up with the kind of rubbish he said on tv yesterday.

Why doesn't Tony come clean and admit to his members, that the interest of the worker's they represent comes second to the interests of the Labour Party?

tania parascandalo

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:49

It's no use now hearing Mr. Bencini condemning the insults from the people. Mr. Bencini you should know the maltese saying: " Ghidli ma min tghamilha u nghidlek x'int"
After all the people were triggerred by what was being delivered to them in the speeches.

Teachers: watch out!!!

E Gatt

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:48

Occasionally we all fall for gimmicks, and feel a bit stupid afterwards.

Mr Bencini is no exception. He probably believed all this talk about some people becoming ‘moderate’ but got a rude awakening instead.

Ray Buhagiar

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:46

Dawm l-affarijiet jigru waqt partita futbol ahseb u ara waqt dimostrazzjoni kontra l-gvern. Ma noqghodux nilaghbu tal-qaddisin....waqt dimostrazzjoni hekk jigri u min jahseb li Le qed jghix go bozza.

John Portelli

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:45

That's the maltese for you. Who says people ever change. They go underground one in a while as their power dwindle, but once they think they are in a powerful position, they act the same way as they acted in the past. So much for people changing about politics. I think instead of helping labour, we floating voters show why we are weary of the PL. Is this what they are going to do one they are in power.

J Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:45

what we have seen on Sunday and Monday were Dr Muscat's PROGRESSIVI acting within a movement of MODERATI......and the people who still find it difficult to understand the meaning of these two buzz words should now be able to understand Dr Muscat's meaning...

L. Dimech

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:39

Mr. Bencini - how can you effectively lead your union when you are so far away from reality?? You've just joined forces with the 'best ' enemy of the Government - God knows where the NP would be without Tony Zarb and his brainwaves, may God always keep him at the helm of the GWU and cosy bedfellow with the LP.

Serious leaders of other unions, who saw this coming, declared beforehand they will not join a politicised protest. Anything for an occasion to group up and show they haven't lost their verve, these protesters ! And this is only the beginning - wait till they get a sniff they're on their way to parliament .........

Had you one iota of smartness you'd think "why does Zarb want to protest when he has always shied away from the proper fora for discussion? " Because the man does not want discussion - he wants confrontation. So what did you expect the crowd to do, start chanting the Ave Maria?

Wake up pal, and go hand in your resignation. You have failed your members miserably.

Go get'em Tony Zarb. Show us what a champion you are....................

J. Debono

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:37

@ Deo Catania

You said "Il-verita twegga"

I understand this to mean that according to you the crowd's chants were correct - 'PN are mafia' and 'Gonzi purcinell'

Even if you are right and this is the truth, we are a democratic and civilised country.
We have every right to protest, we have every right to voice our opinion,
BUT we have NO right to insult anyone, however he may be, or use foul language.

No one likes to pay extra for electricity tariffs, we made our protest, the government will make his decision keeping in mind that most people are against a hike in prices, we have to respect this decision, AND we have every right to vote in the next election.

This is how a democratic country works, not by hurling insults!!

g ellul

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:36

Anzi ma waddbulux xi zarbuna...., jew xi statwa tal-Kattidral!!!
Mhux qed nghid li sewwa, imma saru dawn l-affarijiet f'pajjizi ohra membri tal-EU !!

Josephine Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:35

Tony Zarb was disgusted when he had to stay behind the railings in St. George' Square.
At least the policemen did not use tear gas to disperse the crowd and the unions who supported Mr. Zarb. I am against the new tariffs, but prefer to pay for what i consume rather than going back to the 80's. Watch Out, people!!!!!

D.Calleja

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:35

There's your proof if you ever needed it!!!

Does anyone really believe that the diehard LABURISTI MINTOFFJANI suddenly disappeared or got disorientated and lost their beloved party when Dr. Muscat decided to create his little earthquake by moving some furniture around the headquarters? The change in party name from MLP to the new PL did not confuse the dark elements of the mob - the aristocracy of the workers still know where their party headquarters are located and still heed the rallying calls of the old partners MLP-GWU!!!

Il-marmalja laburista is alive and well and waiting for its chance to romp, insult and terrorise!! And nothing will be done by the LP administration - they won't disown them or send them away because they still need their votes.

The only thing that has kept the PN in power for such a long time is that the MLP/PL/GWU/Mob have always managed to inflict enough self harm to fail the ultimate electoral tests - they somehow always manage to dissuade the floating or disgruntled voter from giving Labour a chance. The PN never needs to do much to win the elections because the MLP have always done their damnest to loose them!!

walter caruana

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:34

.@ all the leaders of the protest . You were all there a few meters from the rowdy crowd, why did you not tell the to stop the insults. I think that at the time glowering at theirdisgusting behaviour. You only conddemned them after Mr Bencini expressed his disgust and feared that the end result will be the disruption of the union of unions against the government for which the LP/GWU manoeuvered so hard to trap the other unions. I think that Mr. Bencini should dissociate from the GWU and apologise with all the members of the MUT and all the members of parliament who were insulted especially the prime minister

S Fenech

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:30

@ CJ Buttigieg
Biex tiskongra trid tkun pur.

To MUT members
It would be a pity if teachers flee from MUT. There are other ways and means how to get MUT back on track.

K Galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:27

Condemming AFTER the fact is no condemnation at all - the Unions have manipulated their members to aid the PL. Now that the mud has been trhown and some of it has stuck they are gleefully sniggering. It was a clear demonstration of the way we will eb governed if the PL win the next election - thank you for reminding those that do not want to see!

C Coleiro

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:25

Thank you to all the unions present yesterday in Valletta for showing us clearly what their agenda was! Some things never change.....

Thomas Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:24

As if the only people hurt by this government are only labour supporters. As if only labourites have to pay the hefty prices for utility bills. Some of those that threw insults at the PN bunch entering parliament yesterday where ex p.n 2 where with me.

R Grech

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:24

Mr Bencini - do the honourable thing and resign - you were a pawn in the hands of the MLP and you let down your members miserably.

charlie spiteri

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:23

L-irgiel jirrizenjaw meta jindunaw li mexxew folla li ma ghamlitilhomx gieh!!!

G.Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:21

Veru kaz li PL huwa bhal hanzir li taqtalu denbu u hanzir jibqa'!

A. Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:19

L-ikbar insult lil poplu Malti ghamlu l-prim Ministru Gonzi meta qal li kien se jivvota bil-Qalb. Qatt f'hajti ma hassejtni imweggha daqs dakinhar. Min hu bhali li ghandi naqra ta hanut zghir jaf x'irrid infisser.

lorraine anastasi

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:16

Have we forgotten when Dr. Alfred Sant , prior to the last elections , was booed whilst present at University?!!!! I'm no Sant fan but that was disgusting, taking place where people receive their highest education, whilst yesterday all that was out in the streets with cikku u l'poplu present!!!
Fejn irridu nisthu!

g. scerri

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:14

John Bencini's behaviour to me was correct. As a Trade Union, the MUT has a right to take part in a protest with the intention of defending the interests of its members. This participation outrages only those who see everything in terms of red or blue. Mr. Bencini was also correct in leaving when he did. What he was saying was that he was prepared to attend a trade union protest, but he was not prepared to be involved in a political protest. The Ghaqda Unions Maltin was also correct to condemn the insults hurled at the PM and other ministers and MPs. It is now up to the PL to do the same if it really wants to show that it is following new pathways.

M Portelli

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:11

What do you expect?! These people take liberty and are not in government, can you imagine in three years how they will react. I shudder only by thinking!

C.Sammut

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:10

Are we redirecting focus of this protest to the mishaps occuring during the protest?

J Busuttil

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:07

Mr Bencini you should have know beforehand that the people you had at the protests were MLP supporters some of whom have no time for democratic mood. And Pawlu Pace of MUMN you uttered a political phrase in you speech on Sunday.Let them (the socialists) throw insults at our Prime Minister and MPs you reminded everyone of you past.

Albert Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:06

Come on and let's admit to what we as Maltese all know: in Malta the only game in town is politics. Of course the protest was political. And ONLY political parties can mobilise people here. Remember the demonstration of October 2008? That had brought ALL the unions together. Yet the turnout was miserable. And, shortly afterwards, the CMTU split up.
This time round the attendance was far greater, because the LP supported it. And it seems that now it's time for the GhUM to split up.
In Malta the game is clear cut: you are either WITH the government, all the way 100 percent, or you are against it, all the way and 100 per cent. You are either red or blue. There is no way out. If Mr Bencini actually believed he was organising something "apolitical", he is living in cuckooland...which is very worrying considering he is the leader of Malta's oldest union.

M.Bezzina

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:05

Jien nemmen li la l poplu ghazel lil dan il partit biex jidderigi il pajjiz ghandu jirrispetta id decizjoniiet li jittiehdu.Missu jekk ma ridux il kontijiet sentejn ilu kellom cans jghazlu!!Billi jsir il kliem hazin u disprezz mhu se jinbidel xejn!!

Ramon Casha

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:05

Look at the way the voting took place and ask yourself, "is there a pattern?"

If each and every one of the Nationalist MPs voted against this motion, then clearly they were voting not as representatives of the people who put them there, but as puppets of Gonzi. Under the circumstances, the insults were merely premature.

Jurgen Bugeja

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:05

Ma nafx biex qed jiskantaw, l-istess affarijiet ghamluwhom xi studenti ta' l-UNIVERSITA qabel l-elezzjoni.Dawn suppost l-aktar nies edukati!!!!Minn jitkellem ek vera ma jafx x'inhi protesta anzi barra minn Malta jkissru u glied mal-pilizija mhux qed najd li tajjeb.Xi pretendew li jcapcpulhom jew!!

M Mifsud

Mar 2nd 2010, 11:03

Better late than never Mr Bencini!

Tony Muscat

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:59

I wonder who is most disgusted...whether us with Mr. Bencini, or Mr. Bencini with the mob!!

Andre' Callus

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:54

As if PM Gonzi could not sleep at night because a few people called him 'pulcinell'. It would surely have been better if such slogans were not chanted, but let's not make a storm in a teacup. With regards to the fact that Labour diehards were present for the protest, of course they were there, like there were also many other people, like myself, who never voted for Labour and have no interest in voting for this party.

renzo galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:54

fyi: yesterday was a national issue... there were pn supporters as well... wake up...

C. Sapiano

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:54

Even if the protesters were right and they are not, what does the mafia have to do with Dr.Gonzi. The people chanting such things are obviously of the lowest common denominator type but who is responsible must shoulder responsibility.

Marthese Gera

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:54

Min m'ghandux dnub jitfa l-ewwel gebla! Nahseb in-nazzjonalisti ga qed jaqbdu l-gebel ghax vergni u puri...........angli tal-paci!! Storm in a teacup!
Taf x'naf li ghandna sitwazzjoni politika farsa! U sadanittant kontijiet gholjin u gholi tal-hajja ma wicci kienu u jidher li se jibqghu.........for a change!
Pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse u ma nitghallmu qatt!

James Grima

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:50

I don't care if taxes rises up. I don't care if "unions" go out to protest. BUT I do care, to let PL and co out of government. I know for what I'm paying. And I know that our beloved government is doing its best to get us out of recession. So if someone doesn't want to pay taxes, than feel free and go on, and lower yourself, by voting Joe Muscat. How pathetic. Rude, bad manners, arrogant, u pastazi. These adjectives makes up the PL.

Victor Laiviera

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:49

What sheer hypcrisy. I was present in Valleta for the opening of parliament in 1987. The Labour MPs were booed, insulted and even physically manhandled by the nationalist crowd during the walk from St John's to The Palace.

None of the PN MPs tried to stop this - in fact, some showed their approval.

And what about the behaviour of some university students during the debate just before the last election? I was there too, and they behaved 100 times worse than anything that happened yesterday.

Joseph E Briffa

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:45

During the past couple of days we witnessed the process of democracy in action. The protest march was conducted by the opposition party under the baton of the GWU. The march was well organised and the security took jolly good care to check the rowdy elements to ensure that those twits would not give the game away by waving MLP flags or hurling insults. There was no harassment from the party in government or from the police. This was in sharp contrast to what used to happen in the 1980s when people protested because of power and water cuts and were beaten up. . On Sunday these outbursts from the protesters were nipped in the bud, but yesterday the organisers failed in their efforts to give a semblance of a national character to the protest. The vociferous elements of the protestors went natural and gave the game away. This should be an object lesson to the labour party and one hopes that they learn what democracy is all about and put it into practice. The events also show us that with all its failings and defects, the PN with its warts and all is the party that progressive Malta deserves.

l zammit

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:39

Bencini

Kullhadd ghandu jkun responsabli ghal l-azzjonijiet tieghu.
Bencini irrizenja ghax ahna ha mmorrru fil-UHM.

Teacher

Maria D.Sacco

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:37

I keep saying to myself that Malta needs a change of government, however, as soon as tv footage of the crowds and their comments and insults sink down I conclude that due to such extreme behaviour I have second thoughts.

jimi Xerri

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:35

Day dreaming is over - reality comes back to life or is it that Mr Bencini is feeling the threat to his position as President of MUT?
Politics and union matters should never mix!

walter caruana

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:31

remember Mr GWU/PL that during last election you had nearly half the population backing you. With that amount you should have filled the streets up to Rabat. So why was all that euphoria just because you filled 1/3 of republic street..Surely you cannot claim that you had the people behind you. If you consider that sample of people round the palace square as representing the maltese people you must have a very low opinion of the maltese. I never expect anything better from the leaders and followers of the LP/GWU. No matter how much they change their flag, emblem or name of party, their mentality and behaviour remains the same. My main concern is The MUT which always fought for the rights of its members such as the professional status, revision of salaries and safeguarding of conditions of work and holidays. . Can you compare the trearments received from the PN and the MLP/GWU. With your behaviour and speeches you have smeared the honourable name of the Mut. You have disgusted the majority of your members. They should unite, and force Mr. Bencini and those who supported him out of the council

Joe Cassar

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:31

What do they expect at public protests? This is very mild compared to what happens in other countries.

Grow up.

Anthony Briffa

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:27

It is now too late to be disgusted Mr. Bencini. You jumped on the wrong wagon and you put your once one of the most respected union in disrepute. You will soon have more regrets when you realise that you fell in a trap by PL/GWU. You have been used and you should either resign presto or the teachers must give you a vote of no confidence.

Michael Catania

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:27

The conservative are really hanging on to very fine and weak threads when they make such a big fuss over nothing. I was there at the protest and whats a few bantering comments made by people who knew insde themselves that life is to continue being a struggle made worst with the increase of these tariffs. MAYBE THESE CONSERVATIVES HAVE A SHORT MEMORY AND DON'T REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN THERE PRENTS CAME OUT WITH POTS AND PANS CREATING A DIN IN OUR CAPITAL. [I called them the blue rinse brigade}.
As for Bencini and if what is qouted is true then the sooner the GWU kicks up up his backside and send him back to the galleria crowd the better it for the ordinary worker

Noel Barry

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:25

What did you expect Mr Bencini. Those are the same people who support the party that locked you out, from work, for eight whole months for protesting. And those are the same people who took your places in classrooms to teach our children. Oh! Almost forgot. Remember also the ransacking of the MUT offices? Times change Mr Bencini.

Joe Fenech

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:22

"Mr Bencini....said he went straight home and followed the debate from there because he was "disgusted" at the insults hurled by the demonstrators at the government MPs."
** Oh really? And what about the locals who are suffering? Doesn't that disgust you? **

___

"This is not our style of doing things and this incident marred the otherwise decent and peaceful protest we had on Sunday......"
** What do you expect? To say Please and Thank You and things will be granted? You have to fight my dear boy to achieve things! **

___

" Mr Bencini said the politicians had spoken and this should be respected"

Now THIS is your true style Mr Bencini. Your involvement was purely cosmetic.

M Tabone

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:22

There are principles that are not sellable and should be respected. Seems like Mr Beninci is upset that he formed part of a partisan protest that happened to be futile and waste of time. He should know better that in a Democracy, decisions are taken in the House of Representatives. Some false moves are unacceptable and people will judge you with what you do and what you say to please a selected crowd. Seems that some people grow older but not wiser. I seriously doubt whether you are a deserving representatives of our teachers. Stepping down is the remaining option for someone who starts acting in a self-defeating fashion.

E Gatt

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:13

Well we all fall for gimmicks, and feel a bit stupid afterwards.

Mr Bencini is no exception. He probably felt that he was joining a ‘moderate’ group of people but as got a rude awakening instead.

Renato Joseph Costigan

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:12

To Mr. John Bencini......

' Once bitten twice shy '. Now the next move is either you resign as a president

or disassociates the MUT from the remaining unions. All teachers now must

resign 'en bloc' as a protest and form another union as it ws some days

before.

In Maltese:- Il-hmar taqtaghlu dembu hmar jibqa.

Mark Galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:08

@Mr Bencini - this story remind me of a fable - the frog and the scorpion.

The story is about a scorpion asking a frog to carry him across a river. The frog is afraid of being stung, but the scorpion reassures him that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown as well. The frog then agrees; nevertheless, in mid-river, the scorpion stings him, dooming the two of them. When asked why, the scorpion explains, "I'm a scorpion; it's my nature."

Mr Bencini, if I were you, I would be more careful ...

A. Vassallo

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:07

@ Mr. John Bencini, President of MUT and GHUM

You stated and I quote "This is not our style of doing things and this incident marred the otherwise decent and peaceful protest we had on Sunday. I condemn the insults and the language used and the people responsible should be ashamed of themselves."

Thanks God, finally you are seeing the light whilst realizing what sort of people you have involved yourself with. Those people were more interested, as they were given to believe, that the government will be toppled on Monday, as Toni Zarb thought, than what the Water and Electricity Tariffs were going to be.

All the people you had in front of you both on Sunday and on Monday were nothing less than Labour Party supporters. I am sure your members are not happy with what you are doing, and that is why teachers are joining the UHM and resigning from the MUT. You let things get out of your control.

Another thing, the chanting by the crowds of 'mafia, mafia' and 'Gonzi purcinell' showed nothing less than hatred towards other human beings, hatred that we have already seen on Facebook.

Joe Fenech

Mar 2nd 2010, 10:04

And also...haven't you ever seen protest abroad. When it's serious stuff, people smash shop windows, hurl objects at police.... So GROW UP and don't play the prudes! You're doing yourself a disservice. After all, protests are not there to thank the government. Nevertheless, violence is obviously not condoned.

Kevin Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:59

Kulhadd ghandu dritt li jaqbel jew ma jaqbilx mal protesti izda kulhadd ghandu jkun onest u jifhem sew li dawn il protesti huma vuci mill poplu meta xi haga tkun sew ilha iddejjaq lill hafna nies.
Ghaliex nilghabuha ta dojjoq u noqodu nitkellmu kontra xi kliem mhux xieraq li intqal lejn deputati tal gvern!
Kien awn xi hadd li stenna li gemgha ta nies fdik l atmosfera tieqaf milli tesprimi b dan il mod?
Jien ma mortx protesti ghaliex naf li kollox ghalxejn pero dejjem solidarju ma min hu batut u ghaliex qieghed fi sewwa.
Wisq nibza li l-ikbar problema gewwa dan il pajjiz hi li kulhadd joqoghod b kollox, jew ikun komplici gah dak li jkun qed jigri...............jiena dejjem kelli dubji li fil passat il Maltin kienu spalla ma spalla mal Kavillieri kontra l ghadu ghaliex ahna mahniex gens li niggieldu ghad drittijiet taghna.
Ma taqblux mieghi li x jghamlu x jghamlu il ministri kollox jibqa ghaddej.........'until the next time'??

Peter Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:58

@Mario De Bono
Can you pls quote your sources with regrds to the increase in the price of oil? As far as I know the price is twiddling between $70 and $80 per barrel. How come we are paying much more then when the price was more then $100 per barrel? Your argument is totally flawed, as is that of the Government.

ALFRED GRIXTI

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:58

The Nationalist apologists expressing sanctimonious disgust at the few people in the front ranks shouting abuse at the Nationalist MPs should know that such uncouth behaviour is not the monopoly of the GWU or PL. Nor is it the monopoly of the great unwashed and lower castes only. If they do their political research well they will find various instances of such behaviour at PN or PN sponsored events. Do they remember the Nationalist crowd chanting "Sallbu, sallbu!" whenever Dom Mintoff' name was mentioned at a partcular meeting way back in the 1980s?! Do they remember the insults hurled at Alfred Sant at a similar event held by the UHM in 1997?! And do they remember the impolite, intollerant way Alfred Sant, Harry Vassallo and Josie Muscat were booed and not allowed to make their point when they participated in a so called debate at, of all places, the Univeristy before the 2008 general election?!

Like Mr Bencini, I unreservedly do not approve of such behaviour. Thus, my my point of criticism towards the 11unions organising the protest on Monday is that they should have had stewards on hand to control such behaviour by nipping it in the bud.

Anthony Farrugia

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:50

John Bencini should either resign or call for a vote of confidence from a specially convened general conference. If not ,teachers should leave the MUT and ask the UHM to set up a section for teachers.
The usual suspects and harridans were at the demo yesterday; at least it served one useful purpose that "progressive and moderate" has no place in the PL/GWU vocabulary, after all the leopard doesnt change its spots.

John Zammit

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:40

In November 1997 I happened to be in Valletta during a demonstration by University students against the reductions in stipends. I can assure any one that the chants and words used by the supposedly more educated sector of our society were far from complimentary to the then Minister of Education Evarist Bartolo and Prime Minister Alfred Sant. Such things are to be expected in mass activities and Mr. Bencini ought not to be surprised at all. If I were to go further down memeory lane to the 1960"s I recall during the Gunta rallies people shouting that they had a dog which they called "Mintoff". In my opinion enough strings have been pulled and Mr. Bencini has found an easy way out to return to the old fold in the CMTU and co. As regards the new tariff rates the worst is still to come as the bills that are being received now are still with the old rates; I feel sure that the numebr of those who are now justifying the new rates would be more than halved when the bills with the new rates are recieved.

ALEXANDER PACE GOUDER

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:37

I fully agree with Mr.Bencini on the part were he mentioned the Insults. But the People are Hurt and in a way they were voicing the magority of the people. What I do not agree with Mr.Bencini is when he said that The Politicians Have Spoken. He should have added "But even The People Have Spoken. " At The moment we Maltese Citiziens cannot do anything BECAUSE WE DO NOT VOTE IN PARLAMENT. WE ELECTED THEM AND THEY SHOULD THEREFORE SPEAK IN FAVOUR OF THE PEOPLE. BUT NOW THEY GOT THEIR SEAT AND WHO CARES. (I HAVE KNOWN MR.BENCINI FOR MANY YEARS SINCE HE WAS A YOUNG SCHOOL BOY AND CAN SAY THAT HE IS A VERY KIND AND POLITE PERSON AND ALSO HAS A FANTASTIC NICE CHARACTER. SO i UNDERSTAND HIS REACTION . WE NEED SINCERE (TRUE,GENUINE) TRADE UNION LEADERS LIKE HIM. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MR.BENCINI.

B Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:37

In other times words like 'Parrokku' or 'Salbu' were used. So...?

b.vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:31

Remember the same situation when the UHM oraganised the same protest in Valletta aimed at labour government and the crowd did the same!!!!! This type of political motivated protests should be condemned.......But please remember what happened between 1996-1998.!!!!! The same......Let us be mature and condemned this Type of behavior now and before....L-attitudni Ipokrita ta certu Unions fiha x'tahseb imma.Imma l-poplu mhux imbeccili!!!

J.Cauchi

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:31

I smell a rat and that rat is called backtracking......if so Bencini can consider himself to be as credible as Vince farriuga. What has to be respected is our intelligence Mr.Bencini not a maltese politician's vote in Parliament. If Mr.Bencini can't stand the heat maybe his place is not in the kitchen!!

@all PN apologists---fejn kontu meta tal-UHM bdew jghajtu "Gakbini gakbini" dawk x'tip ta marmalja huma? Marmalja tal-puliti?

Carmen Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:28

Salbu! Salbu! Salbu?!?!... short memories?

Tommy Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:27

The mistake wasn't that the MUT together with the Unions on Forum protested in the streets. They are being denied a place on the MCESD, and have no place where to voice their complaints. It is democratic that such protests are held and the fact that they can be held is a feather in the PN's hat. What would have happened at such a demonstration under a PL government?
The mistake was that Forum accepted the GWU as a participant in their protest. The GWU does not want to give up one of its two places on MCESD, in favour of Forum.
The GWU should have protested at the MCESD and not abdicated on its right to do so in favour of taking to the streets.
I hope that the present council of the MUT has learned a lesson. As someone has already said, we already knew what the GWU is capable of, when we went out on strike in 1984.

s fenech

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:27

theatrics bencini, just theatrics. you have been told over and over again that you and your union are being used by the gwu and its string-puller, the labour party. now you have the proof. you have rendered the mut to a lapdog of a lapdog. now what are the teachers going to do about it?

Charles J. Buttigieg

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:26

@ Peter Vella

Yes Peter, I meant the 80s too as well as the 60s, the 70s and the 90s. I have a good memory and not a selective one at that. When Labour won the election in 1971 I felt disgusted with the aftermath of the violent demonstrations supposedly celebrating a political victory. Did you feel different in 1987and 2002? Do you not remember the very civil celebrations in 1996?
With all his faults and weaknesses Alfred Sant cleansed his party and since that time no serious incidents were ever attributed to the Labour Party; you need to remind me which leader cleansed your PN.
As to general strikes, I do remember the PN calling a general strike over the issue of a public holiday. You probably forgot the violence which ensued on that day and how many public holidays were erased from the calendar when the PN gained power in 1987. And now we are making a big fuss because some madding individuals threw disparaging insults to our PM and his fellow MPs!
We’re getting there, but we still need to grow up a bit more.

Chris Mifsud

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:25

Mr. Bencini, I agree with your cause for asking the govenment MPs to repeal the new utility rates but your big mistake was joining forces with the PL led GWU.

The GWU is nothing more than an extention to the labour party.

You cannot expect anything better from them. They and their sort are a bunch of ruffian uneducated militants who oppose anything PN, good or bad and who agree with anything Labour good or bad.

J Busuttil

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:19

I wonder why Mr Bencini was surprised and disgusted! What did he expect?

My next logical question is: will MUT be a respectable Union as it used to be?

We are living in 2010. The way to move forward is by decent discussions around a table and not insulting others in the streets!

James De Giorgio

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:14

Ahjar ha jitghallmu l-MUT ma jinghaqdux mal-marmalja!!!

Muscat. Pat

Mar 2nd 2010, 09:04

Oh my God, we are in the EU and we can't now "insult" politicians? Or is it the case where PN supporters and Gonzi himself, can insult Joseph with the "jaqq" "uff" and other inuendos, and the common PL suporters cannot? Many PN apologists feeling "sensitive" on the Times go on hateful bloggs insulting PL supporters viciously, day in day out, and they are "puritans" now? I think the Times wan't publish the insults that many commentators vomit on particular hatefull bloggs, and yet these same commentators, demand " etiquette" when it comes to their " persona"? In Westminster, it is a daily occurance with citizens throwing dung at MP's and Prime Ministers, and the world does not stop. PN and its gatekeepers must be pretty desperate if they think that petty incidents, will change the angry backlash of the angry tariff paying citizen.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:58

WHilst emphatising with MR. Bencini, it is really funny to note how people who take the trouble of commenting on these pages, in a vain attempt to prop up the party in Government feel so insulted by insults like purcinell and Mafia.

It seems they have a short memory. Only yesterday, in parliament, Tonio Fenech was stating that the unions were having their strings pulled....just the same as calling them pulcinelli....

If one has also followed the reaction of certain bodies not participating in the union protest, one could also note the adjectives directed at the forum. They also seem to have forgotten the a certain employer hurling abuse at a foreign union leader and calling him zibel on tv.

Ok, so I won't even mention Tony Abela(Pn)'s tirade aimed at a SUper one journalist before the last election...seeing that the video is still easily available on u tube.

Never heard the same beati comment then.,

Mario Busuttil

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:54

Nahseb li Dr Alfred Sant kellu ragun meta ried izid it tariffi u mhux minhabba iz- zejt .Id deficit huwa hemm tal bini fl -impjant ta Dellimara ahseb u ara la taghlaq tal Marsa.Lil Poplu fiehemuh sew kemm tridu flus biex tesdendew fazi f' Dellimara u il cable grid,,u mhux fl gholi taz- zejt biss. Kemm il UNIONS u l Gvern u l Oppozizzjoni tkomplux titqu bin nies u tippruvaw ghal gwadanni taghkom kolla imma tinsewx li ghad gejin xeba multi fuq l emissions 3yrs ohra u min ser ihallasom.....iL POPLU....it tariffi bil fors iridu joghlew u mhux ghax hemm l inefficjenzi jew li zejt ghola imma l enemalta dejjem trid tinvesti fuq il makkinarju modern....that is the Geniune Reason.......

Dr John Damai

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:54

Patriotism has gone out the window. Our Maltese politicians work to protect their personal foreign interests and do not care about us. We the people are looked upon as peasants. What politicians forget is we were the ones who put them there and if they keep pushing we will be the ones to take them out.

Mario Bonnici

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:53

I thank the 'Ghaqda Unions Maltin' for at least trying to stop the government. But unfortunately there's nothing to do against a stubborn Prime MInister.The battle has been lost. We have to move forward.
Regarding insults, we will leave them to the people at home when they will start receiving their electricity bills

Justin Saliba

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:52

I am very disgusted for the insults to the PN Mp's Ministers and the Prime Minister, thats why the GWU wonted the people to come and protest ? It look like more then a MLP mass meeting !

I am an ex pn that use to work at Net tv. I don't agree how Gonzi is going in Goverment and I dont agree with meny tings that are happing in the pn party, but for God sake we cant insult People to get what you need Mr Zarb !

We People will juge Gonzi with Our Vote in a General Election and not trying to insult the goverment to saport the "Partit Laburista " Mr Zarb !

The Unions must insist with Joseph Muscat on what he wont for the electrisity bills,

sharon muscat

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:49

What do u expect...these people never change,they are desperate and hey i dnt blame them after 20years in the oposition,which by the way no wonder they never win the election,pfffffffffff !!!

H Meilak

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:48

Imagine.....PN supporters hurling insults at MLP MPs in the 70's & 80's when MLP was governing. 1 Mater Dei would not have been enough!!!!

D Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:48

Politeness is for those that can afford to be polite.

Deo Catania

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:45

"Occasionally some of those present broke out into chants such as 'mafia, mafia' and 'Gonzi purcinell'. They also booed as they heard the swearing-in of new Nationalist MP Peter Micallef on loudspeakers."

@John Bencini. il-verita twegga siehbi.

Robert Paul Galea

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:43

as if John Bencini was not aware of what crowd he was going to have behind him yesterday. Having seen some clips of his speeches I thought he looked happy to get the crowd going and liven up things. That sort of crowd gets a buzz out of such an outing with all their mates and cannot go back home without making some noise.

Bencini knew exactly what he was doing and what the crowd was going to be there for.......the tariffs issue was the last thing the crowd was concerned about.........however they looked well prepared to shoot down gonzi and his team.

Mario De Bono

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:43

What did the MUT president, who makes so free with his members' private abhorration of his antics, expect from a crowd who are clearly diehard MLP supporters avidly waiting for their "turn" at Government? He has been shown to be a willing tool in the hands of the new cohabiting partners the MLP and GWU. How they must have rubbed their hands in glee at watching the MUT, so prominent in the battles of the past in standing up for teachers'rights against the same MLP/GRTU diumvirate who wanted them to submiot and succumb to their mores not so long ago. The fact remains that the price of oil has gone up. There is NO WAY the country can generate enough wealth to cover this massive increase in prices. The GWU should remember that it is the one responsible for the many archaic work practices that it introduced at Enemalta over the years, work practices that are bleeding the corporation. Enemalta now has a young, good management team.

Peter Vella

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:40

Why is Mr Bencini surprisedl? He has lived in Malta long enough to know what to expect from a political event sponsored by the GWU/PL . After all are not these the "aristocracy of the workers"! He should now bear the responsibility for the damage that he has caused the MUT. By the way his words and attitude on stage on Sunday are nothing to be proud of either.

@Charles J Buttigieg - I thought for a moment that you were going to make a comparison to the protests held in Malta in the 80s when you mentioned "police brutality". But the PL wants us all to forget its ugly past, doesn't it. Don't worry - we won't. Ever!

If the GWU and the PL really believe that the people are behind them let them put their money where their mouth is and call for a General Strike. As Joseph Muscat likes to say "the proof of the pudding is in the eating", so come on serve up the pudding!

I Abela

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:29

@ John Bencini - Whats your position man? What do you mean the politicians have spoken and this should be respected? If it comes to this.....the politicians have spoken a while ago but you didn't respect it and still organised the protest. Now the majority of the people and a considerable number of trade unions and other organisations are calling for the tariffs to be revoked and you (after organising a protest) are saying that the politicians have spoken and this should be respected? Something fishy here Mr. Bencini.

Peter Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:28

Imma x qed tippretendu min nies? L unions tkellmu, il gvern baqa jwebbes rasu. W ir ragunijiet li ta ma huma konvincenti xejn. L argument li uza il ministru Tonio Fenech bdiegh min nofsu. Mhux jekk irridux taxxi minflok zieda fit tariffi, imma jekk it tariffi humiex qed jigu ikkalkulati tajjeb. Ejja ghas sahha tal argument nghidu li iz zejd qed joghola mela allura anke it tariffi. Imma li il poplu mhux qed jihem, u ta min ifhemu sew, huwa ghala illum qed ikolna inhalsu tariffi ghola min dawk li hallasna meta iz zejt kien jiswa aktar min $120 il barmil, differenza ta madwar $40 fil barmil. Nistaqsi, mela jekk b'dawn it tariffi, diga ghandna familji bi problemi kbar, x ser jigri fil futur qarib jekk iz zejt ikompli joghola? It tireq li qabad dan il gvern hija wahda imwera, qed johloq incertezzi u mhux qied jahdem bil ghaqal. Jekk irid jikkontrolla id deficit, allura jmissu jinsa progetti inutili bhad dahla tal Belt, u jinvesti bis serjeta f energija alternattiva u nadifa. Jaghti hafna aktar incentivi biex in nies ukoll jigu motivati jinvestu f energija alternattiva, ghax bil pagi prezenti il familji mhux ser ikunu jistaw jamlu dan il pass.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:23

Of course I don’t condone insults yet it would be naïve to expect an angry crowd behaving like the Vienna Boys Choir. We should be thankful and brace ourselves that we no longer see looting, violence and police brutality like we still witness on our television when the other citizens’ of our European partners demonstrate their anger during mass events. Does this justify our lot calling the Prime Minister ‘Pulcinell’ and the MPs ‘Mafiosi’? No it doesn’t. We had progressed a great deal though and maybe soon we will start seeing the lejburisti hurl flowers and singing love songs like the Nazzjonalisti do during their mass activities. EFA’s one liner “Fejnhom il-Laburisti”, slogans like ‘Salbu, salbu’and the hatred which, day in day out, contaminates the Blog of the ‘elite’ upper class Lady is OK.

edgar gatt

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:21

Come on Mr. Bencini, dont try to impress us now. What do you expect when you organise a demonstration with the Socialists. Now would you, in the future, dream of doing a similar thing or would you rather go sit round a table and do the civil thing and discuss

R Agius

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:15

Bongu sur Bencini. Now tell us that you never in a million years thought that this was a political stunt! You have been used and manipulated by the GWU in the interests of the Labour Party!

Why don't you do the right thing and admit that we have not alternatives on this one and reducing consumption is the only way we can avoid paying for that oil! Do the honest thing!

C. Sapiano

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:12

The MUT had a right to protest but they now know what it means being with the militant left-wing movement. Hope the MUT severe their ties with the GWU or else teachers will start flocking to the UHM,

K. Borg

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:11

A demonstration is not a buffet Mr. Bencini. You were there - you subscribed to it all. The 'forces of change' will themselves never change; it's obvious, and you have to be a dolt, or apparently a union president, not to understand who the protesting people actually were: The usual louts and foulmouths that are the backbone of the usual political party.

It's too late to be disgusted now.

Alex Ellul

Mar 2nd 2010, 08:08

There was a young lady of Riga
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger;
They returned from the ride
With the lady inside,
And a big smile on the face of the tiger.

Dear John, that's what happens to whoever thinks he can ride on tigers.

s pace

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:56

Berlusconi faces such things (insults and more) almost every other week from town squares, and neither his media much less so himself, cries much about them. Instead he seems to take them in his stride.

Democracy entails freedom of speech, and also freedom of expression, whether crude or subtle. And when people are struggling to make ends meet, or as they say, they does not much go to the subtle. And neither are they obliged to.

About two years ago to the day, a similar political leader faced the same situation and probably worse, at, of all places, the University. For the matter. At those times it was said that the crowd was entitled to such an attitude. Probably, and so be it, but dont make a fuss with the situation inverted.

One side or the other, if you dont want to be insulted, dont enter the public life and political foray.

Charles Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:51

Why did they have to turn a National Protest that is supported by the majority of the population into a political farce? Do some never learn?

J Azzopardi

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:42

Lanqas li ma tafhomx Sur Bencini! Hallina!

M A Vassallo

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:42

Sur Bencini tafu ghal xiex dhaltu meta mortu spalla ma spalla mal GWU. Dawn huma l-istess nies li 30 sena ilu insulentaw u appogjaw regim li kasbar lill-ghalliema. Dawn huma nies li ma jinbidlu qatt u tista tibdel l-arma jew l-isem tal-partit ghax l-istess jibqghu. Nispera li bhala unjin ftahtu ghajnejkom. Il-fatt li kkundanajtu dan it-tip ta agir huwa pass il quddiem.

Charles Zammit

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:40

This is not the way people should sound their disagreement on a national issue. Hurling insults and the use of foul language are definitely not compatible with a democratic society and definitely do not contribute towards solving problems. I can well understand the disgruntlement of union leaders.

J Micallef

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:34

It's a bit late to be disgusted by the insults, isn't it. You were one of the leaders and if you wanted you could have stopped them. Do you have any regrests that you dragged down the formerly respectable MUT, now that the political rally was a PR disaster?

david meilak

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:33

So Mr. Bencini finally got a taste of what the whole protest was all about. Mr. Bencini what you saw is how this country willbe governed if PL ever win the general election. Its what keeps people like me voting PN, as no matter how things are under a PN government, I know that deep down a PL government will bring back the old style of politics and let lose all the skeletons in the PL's closet which have been collecting throughouth their years in opposition. No msatterhow many earthquakes they talk about....... the old style Labour is there for ever.

michael scicluna

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:23

WHAT DID HE EXPECT? PEOPLE TO CHEER NATIONALIST MP'S!!!! THEY'RE THE MP'S THAT ARE MAKING OUR LIVES HARDER AND HARDER, SO A LITTLE BOOING IS NOT GOING TO HURT THEM COZ THEY'RE HURTING US MUCH MORE

Antoine Spiteri

Mar 2nd 2010, 07:21

Mr Bencini ... I think you have to resign on this situation. After all you were leading the crowd.