Zarb reacts to Arrigo's comments
GWU secretary general Tony Zarb said in a statement yesterday that those who did not honour promises were betraying the people.
Mr Zarb was reacting to a speech on Monday by Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo who asked the Speaker of the House, Louis Galea, to investigate and take action over comments made last week by Mr Zarb when he described MPs as being traitors of the people because of the way they had voted in Parliament over the tariffs.
Speaking during the adjournment, Mr Arrigo said such comments constituted contempt of Parliament. He said that in their criticism of the government over the tariffs, the PL and the GWU were ignoring the high international price of oil and the assistance being given by the government to low-income families.
Mr Zarb said that those who were seeing the people suffering but still, through their vote in Parliament, agreed to impose further burdens, were betraying the people. It was also a betrayal when the people's representatives voted against the interests of their constituents.
Those who did not wish to betray the people had to choose between their seat in Parliament and the people's confidence. Mr Zarb said he would continue to speak for the people.
In other comments, Mr Arrigo referred to government plans for the building of a flyover at Kappara junction and said the authorities should not raise the level of the road too high because that would invade the privacy of neighbours, who would practically be able to shake hands with drivers from their balconies.
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walter caruana
Mar 11th 2010, 09:00
Dear Mr Schembri, if you follow the news, I mean all news , you would have heared the PM 's explanation. The newly appointed ministerial assistants can critisise any ministry except the one they are serving in. The reason is that he is taking part in the running of that ministry and anything he has to say can say it there. In the meantime he can critisise any other ministry. This is miles away from the heavy fine imposed by the labour party on ALL its members of parliament, ministers AND backbenchers who don't tow the party line.
J Martinelli
Mar 10th 2010, 21:37
@ P. Schembri
The last time a Labour MP decided to vote against his government for a totally legitimate reason, he was called a 'traitor' and exiled for fourteen years from his own Party Headquarters!
P. Schembri
Mar 10th 2010, 19:37
@W.Caruana. And what do you think this newly added position for the mp's does? Haven't you heard that it binds them not to criticise or vote against the government, or they will become political outcasts? Just see what they did when the time to vote against the tariffs arrived. Their silence and vote was bought with a position. That's blackmail.
walter caruana
Mar 10th 2010, 12:55
@ Mr Victor Laiviera. The nationalist members of parliament freely voted according to their conscience. In the past the labour members were forced to follow the party line under a threat of a fine of thousands of liri. REMEMBER
walter caruana
Mar 10th 2010, 12:45
Dear Mr Zarb can you distinguish between political and trade union issues? I'm 100 % sure it's very hard for you. The tariffs issue is a political one. The government could have taken the easy way out to appear popular like the LP/GWU are doing. Knowing that their road will lead to loss of jobs ,ruining the economy and encouraging the people to waste energy. But the Nationalist government opted to save jobs and encourage the people to appreciate that waste of energy means money going down the drain. The Nationalist government knows that low income people need financial aid and the government is putting aside thousands of euros to help them. The Nationalist members of parliament had the guts to follow the second option which is less popular but it is the only one that Malta needs. The LP/GWU are not responsible for the running of the country and therefore they say whatever will hopefully for them gain a few votes at the detriment of the real interest of the maltese. I congratulate the Nationalist mps for having the courage to act as they did. We know who are the traitors Mr Zarb.
Victor Laiviera
Mar 10th 2010, 11:26
It would seem that Mr Arrigo has suddenly shed his dissident garb and become a vociferous defender of the government.
Amazing what a little bit of care and attention will do, isn't it?