Desmond Zammit Marmarà
Is Labour ready to govern?
Although it is an acknowledged fact that the vast majority of the Maltese population are sick and tired of the present Nationalist government, many still ask themselves whether the Labour alternative is a credible and viable one. It is another acknowledged fact that people today prefer slow progress that does not impinge upon one’s daily life to fast progress with several shocks to the status quo.
Given the above, one has to ask the question whether putting one’s confidence in the Labour Party is the solution towards a better future for our own generation and future ones.
First of all, one has to point out that Labour lost three successive general elections precisely because people felt uneasy about the future should Labour be elected to government. In 1998, people were afraid of further political instability after the Sant-Mintoff clash that dominated the 22 months of Labour government. In 2003, voters were afraid of a special relationship with the European Union, which deviated from the norm found in most European countries aspiring towards a closer relationship with the EU. In 2008, with the major political parties head-to-head immediately before the general election, the politically suicidal proposal for a major educational upheaval with the introduction of the ill-fated “reception class” put paid to Labour’s hopes of being elected to government.
This time around, Labour seems to have learned the lesson that upsetting the applecart is to take the sure road towards electoral defeat. Given the metamorphosis within the party during the last three years, I see absolutely no reason at all why people should not place their confidence in the PL. Joseph Muscat has proved himself to be a very mature and capable leader. Yes, the Nationalist media paints a different picture of him as a person who tries to please everybody in order to win power. However, let’s be honest, who believes the Nationalist Party media today? Not even many Nationalist supporters themselves!
How would a future Labour government differ from the present Nationalist one? Dr Muscat is on record as stating that a Labour government would build upon all the good work of past Maltese governments, both Labour and Nationalist. Labour would also treat the electorate with greater respect, that is, there would not be any pre-election promises that would be conveniently forgotten once the general election was over. Economic growth under Labour would not mean placing unbearable burdens on the shoulders of many Maltese citizens. The opposite would be the case and taxes would be reduced and expenditure curbed while efficiently bringing in more revenue. Furthermore, all tax collected would be used in a more proper manner so that all citizens would stand to benefit. An innovation worthy of the creativity of the Labour leader would be to shift taxation from those who produce to those who pollute.
Regarding Malta’s EU membership, a future Labour government would do its utmost to ensure the Europeans treat Malta with the dignity and respect it deserves. Everybody agrees the present Nationalist government leaves much to be desired where exploiting EU membership to Malta’s advantage is concerned.
Labour would also strive to substantially increase female employment participation. This is a crucial issue for Malta’s economic development and although, to be fair, the Nationalist government has done its best to tackle this problem, the results achieved have been rather poor.
Since it is the middle class that has suffered most under the Nationalists, Labour would build a new middle class. An economy of high skills would replace that of low wages. The concept of the “living wage” would ensure that no Maltese citizens would be forced to live on the periphery of poverty.
Dr Muscat has always emphasised that Labour needs to fight mediocrity through an ambitious vision. The aim of the PL is to make Malta the best in Europe. He has stressed, time after time, that being European inherently means never accepting mediocrity and always striving to be the best in everything. The Maltese are not inferior to anybody and what other European nations can do we can emulate and even improve upon. This concept would be the foundation stone of a future Labour government. Translated into concrete facts, it would mean the government would work towards giving the best possible service in everything to all Maltese citizens. This would also entail the elimination of clientelism and corruption in politics and all aspects of public life.
Some readers might retort by saying the ideas are good and praiseworthy but perhaps too ambitious given the state of the country. Dr Muscat’s track record is the best guarantee of success. Look at what he achieved for Malta as a member of the European Parliament. Imagine what he would achieve for you and me as Prime Minister!
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Mr Paul Borg
Apr 29th 2011, 08:47
An article of rhetoric and cliches. This government must go sooner than later.
Mark Piscopo
Apr 28th 2011, 21:08
An excellent article. Kindly note that these below were not mentioned in your article
1) DrGonzi qabel il-Baġit 2010 ghamel surcharge qawwija fuq l-Ilma u fl-Elettriku u nehha is sussidju li kien jaghti fuq il kontijiet tad dawl u ilma.
2)Kellna żieda drastika fil-liċenzji tal-karozzi li qed jiżdiedu kull sena sakemm il karozza taghlaq dsatax il sena, segwit minn żieda drastika fil-ċilindri tal-gass
3)Zieda drastika fis sijsa fuq fuel,fl- alkoħol, Sigaretti, u minflok ma ta il-vawċers tal-enerġija huwa nehha dawn il-vouchers li jammontaw għal 11million fis-sena.
4)Xerrej li ha jixtri ghal ewwel darba propjeta pieghe jbati biż-żieda fit-Tariffi tal- MEPA segwit minn żieda drastika fil-Siment li żgur se jżidu l-prezzijiet tal-proprjetà fis suq.
5)Wara L-budget 2010 kellna zieda fic cilindri tal gas, rega ghola l-fjuwil, gholiet il bolla ghal min jaqbad 1600eur.
6) Il-Ministri inghataw zieda blura ta Eur500 fil gimgha bil mohbi f’allowances dirett mil minestri mhux mil budget allokati lill-Kamra tad-Deputati meta l-poplu inghata Eur1.16.
7)Gonzi hajagħmel Parlament ġdid u teatru bla saqaf li ha jiswina 100 miljun. Ajhar naqqas it taxxi min fun in negozjanti biex jaqtalom naqa l-ispejjez b'hekk jincentiva lil haddiem.
8)L-Gvern ha jintroduci "Second Pillar Pension" is-sena diehla jigifieri jkonna tnaqqis obligatorju fil-pagi taghna ghax tghola iktar il-bolla ghal kullhadd dan habbara il-gvern.
9)Ma kull 20Eur li tghati fuel johodlok Eur12 f’taxxa il Gvern!
10) L-isptar Mater Dei ghandu hafna inqas soddod mil- St Lukes meta giena miljuni kbar.
11)Inutli tghid sahha bxejn meta tmur ghand il privat biex tinqgheda bil ques kbar li jkun hemm.
12)L-Gvern ghamel estensioni ghal Power Station tal Marsa li tniggez
13) L-Gvern nefaq miljuni tal Euro mit taxxi taghna ghal Power Station li thammeg l-arja li tahdem bil heavy fuel oil mhux bil gas ghal arja iktar nadifa.
14)60elf familja jghixu bil minimum wage.
15) Ix-Xoghol zdied imma l-kundizzjonijiet u il-pagi li jinghataw huma dicenti ghal hajja tall lum?
16) 35% tal-Haddiema l-uniku mpjieg taghhom huwa part time b’kundizzjonijiet drastici.
Alfred Falzon
Apr 29th 2011, 09:13
The Maltese electorate will in time have to opt for the lesser evil!
Political parties have most often let us down by their empty promises and mismanagement when in power, but somebody has to run the country whether we like it or not!
What we have learned from experience is that promises are made to be broken, heaven on earth does not exist and altruism is an ideal lost in the mists of time!
Those who believe that change can bring about relief in many aspects of our social life, have only to look back and see for themselves how certain political elements behaved when in power and how sand castles were swept away by the ebb and flow of the divisive moods of certain politicians!
History repeats itself, unfortunately, and human nature is not prone to change overnight.
To those who think that victory is theirs, even if by default, it's worth reminding them that a week is a long time in politics and may eventually wreak havoc with their dreams!
We judge political parties by their deeds and not by their words!
And, by the way, we need badly people of integrity to run our country, not career opportunists and power-thirsty wolves dressed in sheep's clothing!
The Maltese electorate has grown wiser with time and, hopefully, will be in a better position to judge for itself and choose only those representatives worthy of its trust, even if this is will have to be paradoxically right across the board of the political spectrum!
Mr Charles Grima
Apr 28th 2011, 18:52
As far as I can remember, except for a meagre (and largely catastrophic) 22 months in power in the mid-90s, labour has not had a majority vote since...erm... uh.... wow! 1976.... 1976!!!
That really means something.... and to me, better the devil you know, than the devil you don't...
....although in actual fact, I will not be voting.... once again... none of the two parties are worthy of my vote.
Mr pacifico galea
Apr 29th 2011, 13:16
Hallina Sur Demartino. Tiftakar sewwa int ghax akbar minni imma mintix tghid kollox. Mela nsejt li fiz zmienkom il partit nazzjonalista irnexxielu jibghat lil magorranza tal maltin lejn l Awstralja, Canada,Amerika etc etc. Mela qed tghid ghal integration mal inglizi ma hadmitx. Taf kemm indifnu nies fil mizbla f zmienkom ghax kienu jxeqilbu lejn il labour. Tiftakar meta il knisja fliemkien maghkom kontu tajtu linterdett lil laburisti. U jekk nibqa sejjer ma nieqafx. Taf li kemm ilkom fil gvern il poplu faqartuh. Taf li Pajjiz tajtuh bxejn lil barranin. Ara kemm intom ipokriti dak kollu li kien ghamel il partit laborista tajtuh bxejn lil barani jew inkella qridtuh insemmi ftit MaltaDrydocks, Mid-medBank,SeaMalta u hafna ohrajn issa waslet l Airmalta li din dejjem ghamlet success sakem taljtu intom u haduha certa nies u fallewa u intom dejjem twahlu fil haddiema li qed jitfawa lura. Halluna nghixu tridu. U haga ohra insejt li il gvern taghkom harreg zieda ta 500 ewro fil gimgha ghalih u lil poplu tah bis 1.16 ghax qall li din bizejjed ghal gholii tal hajja. Il haddiem qredtuh ghal kollox ma haljtulu xejn anke id delizzjli li kellu u qad faddalu tridu teqirduhomlu. POPLU IFTAH GHAJNEJK GHAX DAK JEHODLOK IL LOQMA LI FADALEK
Mr Giov DeMartino
Apr 29th 2011, 18:15
Skuzani Sur Galea...ma konniex nafu li n-nazzjonalisti taw l-interdett lil-laburisti u li Borg Olivier kien jidfen lin-nies fil-mizbla. Anqas konna nafu li l-laburisti kienu waqqfu MINISTERU ghall-emigrazzjoni u li kienu jibaghtu l-banda ddoqq waqt li eluf ta' maltin kienu jitilqu l-Awstralja. Illum barranin jigu jahdmu Malta u mhux bil-maqlub. Il-laburisti qerduh kienu pajjiz. Ma kulhadd riedu jintegrawna mhux biss ma l-Inglizi imma ankl mat-Taljani. Guh, faqar u nuqqasijiet kbar kien haw fi zmienkom. Haga wahda ma kinitx nieqsa: vjolenza organizzata, korruzzjoni lampanti u bil-barka tar-regim, torturi u qtil fid-depot...Il-pajjiz taghkom iwahhax lil kull min jiftakru ghalhekk il-poplu ilu jichadkom kwart ta' seklu. U hazin ghalina jekk iz-zmien inessi u jtella' lilkom ghax teqirdu dak kollu li sar f'dawn il-25 sena. Dawn tawna Euro u 16-il centezmu zieda....Intom iffrizajtu l-pagu GHAL HAMES SNIN. Ghandkom passat moqziez wisq intom u l-poplu jippreferi rasu 'l isfel fil-h....taht dal-gvern milli jghum fl-ghasel taht is-sopcjalisti.
Mr Giov DeMartino
Apr 28th 2011, 18:33
Of course labour is not ready to govern. It has never been. In the forties Labour won 24 out of 40 parli\amentary seats It governed for some 30 months. Then we had several minority/coalition unstable govts. In. Then labour won the general election hoping to integrate us with Britain. Luckily Mintoff's diabolic plan failed miserably. We had all sorts of violence and our constitution was withdrawn. Thanks to Dom. Mintoff won again in 1971 and Malta went back to the Time of the Tyrants. Labour won again in 1996....they couldn't govern for more than 20 months....And who told you that the majority of the Maltese are sick and tired of the present administration?. Labour want to make Malta the best of Europe. What a cheek. The person who did more than he could to keep us outside Europe now wants to make us the best in Europe. Dawn jafu jisthu jew le?
Mr pacifico galea
Apr 30th 2011, 00:19
Min semmilek li nazjonalisti taw lintrerdett? min semmilek li Borgolivier diffen nies fil mizbla? Jien qedtlek li dawn graw fi zmienkom ghax tant kontu indanati illi dahaltu il knisja maghkom biex taghmel dawn oxxenitajiet. U zgur li il barranin jigu jahdmu hawn Malta kull fejn thares hlief suwed ma tara jahdmu b paga mizera u bla permessi u jiehdu xol il Maltin.u Haga ohra bhalissa trid tghid li m hawn guh u faqar mela tghix fil qamar. Taf xhawn bhalissa nies jibku ghax maghdomx biex jixtru xjieklu ghax imbazwrin bil kontijiet ta dawl u lilma u haddiema jahdmu b paga tal qamel u jekk tmur laboor office biex tilmenta jghidulek ma nistaw namlu xejn u jekk issir jaf lemployer li mort tilmenta l ghada tispicca bla xoghol.Ftahar b ewro u 16 centezmu hej taf li id diesel kemm ilkom hemm it tripla fil prezzz taf li il gass ghola ghal erbgha darbiet li kien. QED TGHID GHAX IL PAGI GEW FRIZATI GHAL 5 SNIN. INTOM KEMM ILKOM HEMM IL HADDIEM LANQAS DINJITA MA HALEJTULU TAF KEMM HA ZIEDA IL HADDIEM EKMM ILKOM HEMM? XEJN ANZI HADTULU LI KELLU U GIBTU LIL KULHADD ARKUBTEJH. IMMA INT KUNTENT GHAX IL PAPPA ILLEK LI DAHALTTA SUR DEMARTINO
Mr Giov DeMartino
Apr 30th 2011, 12:26
Jekk trid tara l-faqar tal-Malrin m'ghandekx taghmel hag'ohra hlief iddur dawra madwarek u tara eluf ta' karozzi li mank baqa' fejn iddur; vilel u appartamenti lussuzi li ftit tara bhalhom f'pajjizi ohra; bicciet tal-bahar: speedboats, cabin cruisers, dghajjes.....safar sfrenat is-sena kollha -safar ghall-btajjel tafx mhux ghall-Awstralja,- postijirt ta' divertiment full up regolarment, niex jitlahalhu u jieklu u jixorbu barra, parties tal-precett, grizma, tigijiet, birthdays, ghax ghadda mill-ezami.....eluf u eluf ta' ewros. gugarelli li jiswew il-belli liri, ilbies mill-aqwa....eluf u eluf u eluf jingabru regolarment ghal kull xorta ta' bzonn immaginabbli, settijiet tat-tv anki fil-kamra tal-banju, kompjuters, mobiles, ilk-problema taghna hi li nieklu wisq u wisq tajjeb li jkollna naraw kif naghmlu d-dieta. Infakkrek li meta tela' Mintoff fil-71 il-petrol kien 4 xelini l-gallun. Mintoff ghamlu lira, jigifiri HAMES darbiet izjed. Nispera la ma tinjoranix. Arriv..
Mr Angelo Vassallo
Apr 28th 2011, 17:36
@ Desmond Zammit Marmara
What did Jospeh Muscat achieve as a MEP?
He nearly made Malta lose millions of euros destined for the Sant'Antnin Recycling Plant. He tried very hard so that the money would not be given to Malta. Very patriotic. That is a good achivement isn't it?
Mr Paul Borg
Apr 28th 2011, 10:24
"what he achieved for Malta as a member of the European Parliament. Imagine what he would achieve for you and me as Prime Minister!"
What did he acheive? Can you enlighten us?
Your comment quoted above is an abused sweeping statement because no-one really knows what did Dr. Muscat acheive. The only think he did acheive is exposure into national politics.
Dr. Muscat was against EU membership and the introduction of the Euro amongst other things and this goes to show that he fails to read the signs of the times and gambles on the aspirations of the country,
He might be good in running a media campaign but it stops there.
Dr. Muscat is not fit or ready to run the country, he is superficial, we cannot gamble on the future of our country.
Fab Grima
Apr 27th 2011, 22:00
jiena irrid induqqu l ikel biex nghid jekk ux tajjeb jew le,ghax jekk ma niprovahx ma nistax nigudika.
Mr m farrugia
Apr 27th 2011, 20:42
il poplu tghallem, judging from your spelling int ma tantx tghallimt tidher
Mr joseph saliba
Apr 27th 2011, 19:36
Starting from the 5th para in six swipes of whitewash Mr Marmara tries to hide the empty cracks in the PL political jigsaw puzzle.
Mr Joseph E Briffa
Apr 27th 2011, 18:45
Mr Marmara' seems to be trying to convey the mesage that Labour is ready to take the helm of state come 2013. There is no doubt about that, for one thing because they have been in the wilderness for a quarter century and therefore more than keen to take over and for another JM's ambition to be a PM before he turns 40, like GBO and Dom. The question is rather whether the majority are prepared to entrust Malta to Labour not whether Labour is prepared to step in. JM is trying not to promise anything to the electorate except to keep all the good things the PN has done and simply improve on them. It should be quite a short manifesto for K Vella to draw up - keep all the good things and improve on them, ditch the bad ones; improve the quality of life even further, make the poor rich, and the rich richer; it's just that simple..
Paul A. Camilleri
Apr 27th 2011, 18:27
To all that are doubting Joseph Muscat, I say to you, that I know Joe personally and that he is a better alternative to Dr. Gonzi.
Is it possible that out of the 1200 winning votes the PN got in the last General Election none have crossed to the otherside? Well guys think again, as common sense and Math tells me that Joe Muscat is a sure winner in the next election with a majority that would place very close to what EFA got, if I remember correctly around 16000 votes on top. People are sick and have had enough of this Government but I stressed to Joe that a few old timers have to be put out to pasture. For the PN to match the likes of Joe will have to elect, as leader, Simon Busuttil, Karm mifsud Bonici or Mario de Marco. In the last election I did not vote for the PN as I always did in the past and guess what? they are definetly not getting my famiy"s 4 votes next time around, and to make sure that our phones are not bombarded with calls, they will all be not in a position to respond.
To Joseph Muscat I say keep up the good work and do not take any notice of what NET NEWS say about you and your party, Il poplu issa TALGHEM
Mr Steve Zammit
Apr 28th 2011, 10:09
I am sure that Joe can be a good friend, I am also sure that Lawrence can be a good friend too...But it doesn't mean that by being a good friend he can also be a good leader of a country. We have seen Dr. Gonzi excelling in his leadership skills these past few months with the Libya Crisis. I wonder how Joe would have reacted.
Mr m farrugia
Apr 27th 2011, 18:09
'Labour would build a new middle class. An economy of high skills would replace that of low wages. The concept of the “living wage” would ensure that no Maltese citizens would be forced to live on the periphery of poverty'
Lately it has become fashionable for labelling those who are striving and managing to be succesful in their lives as tal qalba, drinking the gravy etc. And those who are being succesful are not few.
With no offence meant, how can those whose only interest in the workplace is their shop stewart and union be succesful and make money?
And what shall we do under labour, give a living wage to all these lazy people from our taxes or force employers to pay this living wage so that these people earn as much as those who strive to succeed.
If one wants to succeed there are ample opportunities to do so, training, courses, eu funds etc. etc.
Robert Henry Bugeja
Apr 28th 2011, 10:10
The real good opportunities are there ONLY for the blue-eyed boys my friend. Please respect the people's intelligence. 24 years in power are more than enough I guess. This is not the Russia of Stalin. The last time I checked they call this a democracy. Labour is now the much needed option for a much needed change. Take Care.
Mr Joseph E Briffa
Apr 28th 2011, 11:43
If as it seems you are not capable of distinguishing between the former USSR and Malta after 1987, it is little wonder that you think that people vote for an alternative government simply for the sake of a change of an administration.
Karl Abela
Apr 27th 2011, 17:07
I can never forgive the labour party for almost ruining Malta's chance to form part of the EU and I can never vote for Muscat who formed part of the NO campaign (Labour) against the EU just for the sake of stealing power from PN.
Until Labour is completely flushed out from all its current people they can forget my trust in them.
Mr Carmelo Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 17:38
Yes - like a two year child stopping breathing until he gets what he wants....................
Godfrey Camilleri
Apr 27th 2011, 17:05
Muscat will get the best deals from the EU - how - by using the veto?!
Mr Paul Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 16:47
I see that, as always, those who are drinking tha gravy, have come all out against Joseph again, well let us pray that the PN do not come in power in the next election,as by jove we are all fed up.
Mr Carmelo Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 17:05
Thankfully the "all" you refer to and the "vast majority" that Marmara alludes are in your imagination.
At the next election the votes will be counted - then we will see - perhaps with your "all" and Marmara's "vast majority" you do not need to wait for the count
Mr Joe Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 17:09
Where's the gravy? Pathetic to say the least!!!!!
Anthony Portelli
Apr 27th 2011, 16:42
No!
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Apr 28th 2011, 14:09
@Joseph
Who is "Gog" another Zongi?
Joseph Scicluna
Apr 27th 2011, 15:46
With all your prophecies of what muscat wiil do if ever he is elected prime minister (Gog forbid), Marmara, you have relegated Nostradamus to second place!
Mr Carmelo Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 15:02
Is Labour ready to govern? No
Muscat, Farrugia, Vella, Trigona et al would have kept us out of the EU - this past few weeks - how would they have kept the Libyan tyrant out of Malta? - the island he vowed to take whenever he wished. They would not, just like their hero Mintoff could not stop the tyrant in 1979 making an 'unannounced' and unwelcome vist - we could have ended up with a Libyan in power. Not quite 'Switzerland in the Mediterranean' - the macho talk of emulating Italian neo-fascists and not accepting the boat people is a sick nonsense, Muscat the humanitarian (sic) would have saved 171 people then forced his way into an Italian port to unload them - how? All guns blazing? How? Just populist talk - no substance - Malta deserves better.
Mr Tommy Vella
Apr 27th 2011, 14:25
What did he achieve for Malta as a member of the European parliament?
Mr Joe Vella
Apr 27th 2011, 14:04
Dr. Zammit Marmara, why don't you start and list what Joseph Muscat achieved for Malta as an MEP? I dare you to.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Apr 27th 2011, 13:24
Desmond issa nafu x'jaf jiddixxa il-PN. Qabes kull limitu dicenti minn kull direzzjoni u ma nafx min hu lest ghal-aktar min din id-dittatura.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Apr 27th 2011, 13:21
"An innovation worthy of the creativity of the Labour leader would be to shift taxation from those who produce to those who pollute."
Mr. Zammit Marmara should be aware that the Government has been doing that since the previous legislature. On the other hand, Dr. Muscat is against removing the subsidies for construction, is for reducing tax on fuels, and for subsidizing water and electricity. If construction, fuels, and power, are not pollutants, than I do not know what is polluting this country, and what taxation exactly does Dr. Muscat plan to introduce.
Mr Kevin J Vella
Apr 27th 2011, 12:15
The crux of the matter is not what JM and MLP tell us they want to accomplish; it is easy to promise wealth, transparency, employment, a rightful place in Europe etc etc. It is easy to say that the solution to unemployment is to create jobs. As much as it easy to say that the solution to world hunger is to feed the starving or let other people do it! HOW are they going to do it is what matters? That is how do you plan by gaining employment? How do you propose to solve the challenges of Malta's industrial reality? How do you propose to solve individual level and institutional abuse when our those who should be safe guarding individual rights do not enforce the law? Malta's problems are more complex and the solution lies not in politically charged rhetoric. We've had enough of that for the past 50 years. What interests the people is "what is your precise road-map to make our lives substantively better"?
Mr Pat Hobson
Apr 27th 2011, 11:55
How about asking now 'IS THE PN READY TO GOVERN AGAIN????!!!!"
Mr carlos ellul
Apr 27th 2011, 11:52
Is the Gonzipn ready to govern? Because as long as we've seen, he had only limited itself in obeying the EU in everyway possible.
Mr George Portelli
Apr 27th 2011, 11:31
And who will believe what you say Desmond? Praising an amateur is babyish. Of course the Maltese are sick with hearing for 25 years that Malta is in an incredible mess but see what happened in these 25 years - 1987 PN, 1992 PN, 1996 MLP, 1998 PN, 2003 PN 2008 PN. I think figures speak for themselves.
Mark Galea
Apr 27th 2011, 10:59
PN needs to change - however I will not risk being led by an inexperienced leader surrounded by pre 1987 dinasours.
Mark Galea
Apr 27th 2011, 11:15
By the way, forgot to mention that after 1987 we became a democracy - The electorate can choose freely whom to elect to govern the country - and whom the electorate chooses I will accept, any of the 2 parties.
Mr saviour marquette
Apr 27th 2011, 11:37
PN needs to change ?did 'nt they change from PN to Gonzipn? and what was the result ?The worst government in the history of Malta.Yes its time for a change , time to put Malta's interests first.
Mr Reginald Borg
Apr 27th 2011, 10:44
Desmond, did you receive a revelation from ABOVE that the vast majority of the Maltese population are sick and tired of the present Nationalist government?
What we know is that between 1976 and 1987, the absolute majority of the maltese nation were sick and tired of the then MLP who governed against the people's will.
Lest we forget.
Mr Robert Galea
Apr 27th 2011, 10:30
Jien ma nafx fuq liema dinja qedin jghixu tal-labour. Maqtughin kompletament mir-realta. Jien nixtieq nghid lin-nies komuni biex jidhlu fuq il-website tal-Eurostat u fil genb hemm l-istatistika principali. Ma hemmx xi gherf biex tifhimhom quite straightforward.
Inflation
GDP Growth
Deficit
Debt
Unemployment
Resource Productivity(a measure of efficiency and sustainability)
Health
Education
U fittxu ghal affari taghkom ha taraw minn ghandu ragun.
Il dawk li ma jemmnux dawk il-figuri. Nghidilkom biex ma iddahlux raskom fir-ramel dik hi il-verita. Ghalhekk il-labour ilu daqshekk fl-oppozizjoni u ha jibqa hemm.
Minn irid ikun jaf x'qedin jghidu fuq Malta nissuggerilu jittajpja
Index of Economic Freedom fuq l-internet u araw x'qalu fuq Malta hemm u kif ahna ghaddejna minn din il-krizi.
Alfred Falzon
Apr 27th 2011, 10:27
At this point in time, the local Labour Party has distinguished itself for its highly contradictory stance of running with the hare and hunting with the hound!
Labour MPs show up in public manifestations in defence of obscene literature, speak openly in favour of gay marriages, others declare that they are against divorce and vote in favour of a private member's bill introducing divorce in Malta, leader Dr Joseph Muscat shares far right views with Italian Lega Nord Home Affairs Minister Maroni on illegal immigration (the sinking boatload of destitute refugees off Lampedusa being a case in point), others lend their unconditional support to hunters, Labour media apply censorship to news about ruthless despot Gaddafi's regime and, on the stage, they purport to play the moderates and progressives!
No, they still do not deserve our trust even if many of us today have developed an innate aversion for politics and happen to be floating voters!
One cannot please God and the devil at the same time!
The newly launched Labour Party flag is in itself a reflection of their muddled thinking and a clear indication of the mess the Party is in: a white shroud with a fading torch in the background!
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Apr 27th 2011, 13:27
What a diagnosis, wrong stetoscope.
Alfred Falzon
Apr 27th 2011, 18:42
@Lawrence Fenech
Being short is not necessarily sweet or bittersweet for that matter!
It's just plain evasion from the truth by making brief silly remarks that reflect blind bias and an inability to judge a grossly inflated political party indulging in double-dealings for the sake of fishing for naive votes!
Alfred Falzon
Apr 27th 2011, 19:48
@Lawrence Fenech
Being short is not necessarily sweet, nor bittersweet for that matter.
It's just plain evasion from the truth by making brief silly remarks that reflect blind bias and an inability to judge a grossly inflated political party indulging in double-dealings for the sake of fishing for naive votes!
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
Apr 27th 2011, 10:05
On the present showing the Labour party will win the next election by default not by performance.
Whilst opinion polls are merely snapshots of public sentiment, and not of deeply held opinions, the ‘floating’ voter can cause political tsunamis in elections
Mr Joe Micallef
Apr 27th 2011, 10:00
This opinion must qualify for Disney's hall of fame!
I particularly like the author’s “ability” to judge a person when he writes "Joseph Muscat has proved himself to be a very mature and capable leader! - Bollocks oops sorry BOLLLLLOOOOOCCCCKKKKSSSS of the first order.
.
Tony Fava
Apr 27th 2011, 17:52
Who is then a very mature and capable leader ? Your Gonzipn who behind everybody's back and that includes yours, like an unrivalled hypocrite increased his honoraria by 600 euros weekly and at the same time, was demanding sacrifices from the people. Your Gonzipn who heartily voted for the exorbitant increase in the water and electricity tariffs. And then shed croc tears when ARMS limited had made a mess of everything. Your Gonzipn who is now advocating that the new Delimara Power Station be run on gas at an expense of 30 million euro. Who your Gonzipn who has been deceiving the people since he was voted to power. Who your Gonzipn who with a pinch of salt denied the democratic right to vote to 2800 youths. Is that enough for today Mr Micallef ?
Peter Aguis
Apr 27th 2011, 09:08
Biased much???
Charlie Borg
Apr 27th 2011, 08:51
'Look at what he achieved for Malta as a member of the European Parliament. Imagine what he would achieve for you and me as Prime Minister!'
Ehm ... what did JM 'achieve' as an MEP?
What has the role of an MEP got to do with that of PM?
No, the PL is still not ready to govern. Wake up and put your house in order.