Fenech Adami - political hatred has eased
Former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami in reflections on Bondi Plus today said he did not think that Malta would ever suffer a repeat of the Tal-Barrani incidents of 1986.
Replying to questions by Lou Bondi', the former PN leader said many people today could not imagine the division that existed in the country at the time, but the people now realised the importance of having unity and serenity where everyone did his part according to his ideals in a civil, democratic and acceptable way.
The country had matured and there was no longer the political hatred of the past.
DIVORCE
Questioned on Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's actions in filing a private motion which eventually led to the introduction of divorce, Dr Fenech Adami said that he would never, as party leader, have accepted a situation where somebody elected on the party ticket acted independently of the prime minister, the party executive and MPs and filed a motion on such a controversial subject.
It would have been okay had that MP been an independent candidate, but somebody elected on the party ticket should respect the whip and be loyal. As leader, he would not have acted as if nothing had happened, Dr Fenech Adami said.
MARY FENECH ADAMI
On the passing away of his wife, Dr Fenech Adami said he was overwhelmed by the people's tributes. He was overwhelmed by how the people appreciated how she was always available and sought to help anyone, without distinction.
Dr Fenech Adami described his wife as a strong willed woman who never gave up in the various crises, never lost her presence of mind and always acted in the most natural of ways.
DOM MINTOFF
Replying to questions about Dom Mintoff, particularly his views on education, Dr Fenech Adami said Mr Mintoff seemed to have been scared of having the people educated beyond a certain level. Mintoff was not against education per se and he made primary school available to all after the war. But then he did not give proper value to advanced autonomous education.
Mr Mintoff had lots of positives, but he worried about power slipping from his hands. When he realised that the electorate would hand defeat to his party, he moved aside (in 1984).
Question on which was his sweetest political triumph Dr Fenech Adami said the 1987 electoral victory was the most important as it set in motion a train of events, including political reconciliation.
As to who was his most formidable opponent as leader of the Labour Party, Dr Fenech Adami said that was Dom Mintoff.
Mintoff had the gift of the gab, he knew how to work the crowd. Before he entered the political fray, he too went to Mintoff's meetings, Dr Fenech Adami revealed. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, his old friend in their University days, and Alfred Sant did not have the same quality as Mintoff had as an orator.
Dr Fenech Adami avoided questions on what he viewed as being the biggest obstacle in the way of victory for the PN at the next general election but said that in any democracy, having been in government for many years was a handicap. Inversely, however, being in Opposition for many years was also a problem, with people being led to wonder if the members of the Opposition were sufficiently up to the task, Dr Fenech Adami said, adding that he was not saying that they weren't.
BRIBERY OF JUDGES
Dr Fenech Adami said the case involving the bribery of two judges was one of the saddest periods of his time in office. He said that prior to holding a press conference (where he revealed the case) he had heard wire taps recorded legally by the police where criminals revealed what was going on. The case was something which he never imaged could happen.
The stabbing of his consultant Richard Cachia Caruana was among the most shocking moments. Cachia Caruana himself, with a knife in his back, had phoned him to tell him what had happened.
Fenech Adami said he had the presence of mind to phone (then minister) John Rizzo Naudi on another line and he advised him to keep Cachia Caruana on the phone and talking until an ambulance arrived. Dr Fenech Adami said he then rushed to Mdina, where Cachia Caruana was about to be taken out of his home. At hospital, matters were touch and go until emergency surgery was performed.
Asked to recall his reaction after the trial by jury that followed the stabbing, (where one of the accused was acquitted) Dr Fenech Adami said he had felt disillusioned and had declared that a change to the criminal code was needed so that in such cases, where politics were involved, trials should be heard before judges rather than a jury.
Dr Fenech Adami said he had no regrets about leading Malta into the EU. The positives by far outweighed the negatives he said. One possible negative was that many bright Maltese were now going abroad, although it was a positive that they had now more opportunities than before.
Dr Fenech Adami said he worried about the erosion of values in Malta, but said this was not caused by EU membership but changing times.
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Gordon Farrugia
Oct 15th 2011, 18:43
i can see that political hatred has eased:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111015/local/Ex-Sliema-mayor-to-face-drug-charges.389164
this story tells you everything - hatred and vengeance at its worst.
D Galea
Oct 15th 2011, 18:37
Thank God for Eddie .,and thank you Eddie.
R. Gauci
Oct 15th 2011, 17:11
Good to hear that even Dr. Fenech Adami admired Dom Mintoff and used to attend his meetings.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Oct 15th 2011, 12:23
Charles, George, Victor, u l-kumplament, grazzi ghalih tistghu tikkummentaw fil-vojt hawnhekk minghajr biza ta vendikazzjonijiet.
Wara li tghajjruh, ghidulu grazzi li bis-sahha tieghu tistghu taghmlu dan.
pat muscat
Oct 15th 2011, 15:22
Yes, ask those thousands people who were discriminated against because of their political views, won their claims in the commission against injustice and notwithstanding the Commission's rule they were not compensated their monies because they vote Labour !
George Azzopardi
Oct 15th 2011, 15:40
Zmienijiet jinbidlu .. pero jien sempliciment qed nghid li vera qed tagbugha .. min ma ghix dak iz-zmien jahseb li kien hawn xi Gestapo .. u hallina .. taf x'biza niftakar jien . tedid ta bombi ghal-ambaxxati .. u nies prominenti ohrajn imlahqin mal-gvern ... ma nahsibx li kienu gejjin mil gvern tal-labour dawn .. ghandek mohh biex tahseb min fejn kienu gejjin it-tehdid.
taf x'niftakar wkoll fi zmin l-80's bojkotts mil-PN u tehdid lil minn jirriklama fu xandir Malta u provokazjonijiet .. ghanka min EFA stess ..
hallina gbin .. are ssaqsiex lil laburisti li kienu jahdmu mal gvern u xebaw jaqalaw transfer kif tela EFA fil-poter
jien niftakara car w ton .. gemma ta Kriminalli quddiem depot tal-pulizija ezatt wara li tela l-PN fl 87.. jghajru lil-pulizija laburisti huma w diehlin d-depot tal-Puluzija u hadd ma jista jkellimom .. u nafx qed nghid.
Jien niftakar ex-pimps u kriminali jigru ma saqjn Ministri w jilhqu xuffiera.
U int sincirament tahseb li l-mibgheda poltika ma ghadiex .. naqset tista tghid .. imma mhux bis-sahha ta EFA ta .. haga bhal-din trid tigi minn zewg nahhat .. ma jista qatt jaghmilha partit wiehed. Ghax ma taghmetuwiex din? Il-provokazjoni dejjem sarret mil PN fl-opposizjoni bi pjani cari .. din kienet l-istrategija ta EFA & co min dejjem fl-oppozizjoni. Din il-provokazzjoni spiccat malli l-PN tela fil-Gvern. Umbad spiccaw l-martri ..
R Saliba
Oct 15th 2011, 18:33
George Azzopardi kif inhi din? Spiccat meta telaw in nazzjonalisti? Vera ta. Meta sparaw fuq il pulizija min kazin tal labour f tieg fiz Zejtun ghax kien hemm Guido u Eddie xhieda, min kien hemm fil gvern dak iz zmien? HA ntik hint. 1989 gara dal kaz. Kulhadd jinsa kif jaqbillu
Paul Micallef
Oct 15th 2011, 11:47
But not against you.You brought it in this country.
George Azzopardi
Oct 15th 2011, 09:25
Xi kultant Lou Bondi jiprova jigbor giehu billi jgib xi persunagg bhal-EFA. Ma nafx kif ma saqsiehx jew qallux f'wiccu li hu personali (Lou Bondi) kien kontra li EFA kellu jilhaq president u dan ghal-ragunijiet ovji?
Pero aparti dan .. l-ewwel bicca jidher kemm EFA (bhal PN) maqtuh mir-realta tal-hajja.
"Replying to questions by Lou Bondi', the former PN leader said many people today could not imagine the division that existed in the country at the time, but the people now realised the importance of having unity and serenity where everyone did his part according to his ideals in a civil, democratic and acceptable way."
Tad-dahk din , qiesu konnha qed nghixu f''xi Korea del North .. jew Iraq
. u llum kollox ok ta!! L-Boards kollha maqsumin demokratikament bl-ahjar nies ta Malta (familjari u hbieb tal-hbieb) .. everybody can do his part .. min EFA .. tal-qalba imma.
Charlene Bonello
Oct 15th 2011, 11:16
To G. Azzopardi:
Where you even there when those things happened in the 80s? If not, than I should say you don't have any right to judge. Only people whom saw the division in the country can only really understand what EFA was meaning.
kevin farrugia
Oct 15th 2011, 12:51
maqtugh mir realta sabih!!!
u daru dahlet il marmalja u sawtulu l membri tal familja u kissrulu kull m hemm, mhux f darek jew f dari!!!
allahares ma kienx hu stess li harigna minn dan il perjodu iswed li kellu jghaddi minnu pajjizna. ejjew nirragunaw f gieh is sewwa
George Azzopardi
Oct 15th 2011, 12:55
@Charlene Bonello .. I was there in the 60's, 70's and 80's till now ansd so yes can campare things. Things were the way they were back then, starting from taking over british military forces beating us Maltese in the squares. Going back when the Church did what it did in the 60's. When people from labour party could not even marry in church, buried in a deserted area besides many other mishaps. So going back, yes things were diffrent. All the world was different. But we were no way how EFA or someone like you tries to describe it.
Yes, I come back from the era when minimum wages started, bonuses started, pensions started, children allowance started. Yes I come up from the era when women were given the same minimum wages as men did, when it became mandatory for children to stay at school until 16. When most things started from the scratch or from what the British colony left us (EneMalta, Sea Malta, TeleMalta, BOV, Mid-Med bank and many many more). When money in most men's pocket was few to zero.
Yes, I was there when middle class was created, when most Maltese started to fall in this new band of workers, not just poor and rich people. So please don't tell me about that era. I know that era and it's not as EFA and PN propoganda tries to picture it at all.
I lived in the 60's where you could see people stopping from work of old age, begging outside the dockyard's door and City Gate. This all stopped during the 70's, Mr. Bonello. I bet even EFA remembers this but does not even dare to mention it.
EFA like Mr.Mintoff started off well during his first term and did many good things as most Governments but both started downhill in their second term. So before EFA starts telling us about the 80's, he'd better look back at his second and rest of the terms.
Joseph Mifsud
Oct 14th 2011, 21:43
We never had political hatred in Malta. We had and still have class hatred. If you study Malta's social history since the arrival of the British rule you see how Malta's elit class was afraid of that the lower classes be employed by the British services. Their political party the PN and before it il Partito anti-riformista were against the teaching of English and social improvement.
EFA said that Mintoff was against education beyond a certain level, can EFA explain why only 20% of the post graduates who wished to study in foreign universites this year were approved for scholarship ? the reason is that Malta's businesses don't want to pay professional wages.
As the money for Steps scholarships come from the EU how come that the PM and the minister didn't even mentioned the words European Union in their addresses yesterday. Are the Maltese students Europeans or something else ?
Henry Mifsud
Oct 14th 2011, 18:30
Shame on Lou Bondi' for trying to put former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami in such an awkward position yesterday. EFA, being the seasoned politician that he is, never fell for Bondi's cheap tactic and in my humble opinion tackled most of the questions in an impartial manner, as an Emeritus President is expected to do. This even though the programme was structured to push forward Bondi's PN agenda. Whilst I cannot but condemn such blatant behaviour on our national TV station, I call on the Broadcasting Authority to do its duty especially since it is quite evident that the PBS is being run by PN lackeys who are in full collusion with Lou & WEE Co.
Brian Gatt
Oct 14th 2011, 17:00
Eddie wanted unity and serenity, he also wanted to be the Prime minster of everyone (il-Priministru tal-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin kollha) everyone equal.....the onely problem was that there were some more equal then the others....
Melita Galea
Oct 15th 2011, 10:59
Brian Gatt We Maltese should be very proud of Dr Fenech Adami ' Il-Prim ministru tal- Maltin u L'ghawdxin kollha!!He is a great Example of how should all polititians be ...I think you are not old enough to remember?Mind you regarding ,last time you answered me!!!Don't try to stain me with such dirt !!! I am very proud about my Honesty.
Carmel camilleri
Oct 14th 2011, 16:14
Thank Eddie you for all you did for Malta. For bringing freedom which gives your opponents the right to criticise you and your party. For freeing Malta from oppression and poverty and made it a free and prosperous country; the envy of many other bigger countries. Thank you again and may you live a longer life.
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 14:50
I wonder if EFA is reading these comments??!??!
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......
jimi Xerri
Oct 14th 2011, 16:05
I think you are living in Mars, else you were to young or unborn during the 70's and 80's my friend.
Going through some history books or newspapers of the time will surely give you a better picture of what was about in Malta at the time.
It was only thanks to Eddie Fenech Adami and his team that matters did not degenerate any further.
I cannot say that matters today are at their best, but considering, we are not in an all that bad situation either.
Grazzi EDDIE!
George Azzopardi
Oct 14th 2011, 13:25
Quoting EFA about JPO and divorce ...
"As leader, he would not have acted as if nothing had happened, Dr Fenech Adami said."
Dawn il-par idejn soddi ta Fr.Gonzi??
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Oct 14th 2011, 13:02
I wonder why Lou Bondi chose to bring on EFA in one of his twice-weekly programmes? Is it maybe to boost the nationlists morale, of who have left the parry in droves -a sort of trip down memory lane?
michael catania
Oct 14th 2011, 12:55
another comedy by the unbeleiver, and whats EFA doing being interveiwed by an unbeleiver.I thought these conservatives were supposed to be CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC. I would have thought that unbeleivers had no place in such a political party .But then I thought back they do have among them convicted liars. Anyone remember the "Nanna Kola" case before 2008 election .I'm sure bondi + knows what I'm writing about. I agree with Charles Sammut comments .EFA is not getting old in age alone if he thinks that we have "unity and serenity"
Carmel Grima
Oct 14th 2011, 12:52
Lil-Eccellenza Tieghu Dr. E.Fenech Adami ,bir-rispett kollu nistaqsih kif nista' nakwista kopja ta' l-Inkjesta Muscat Azzoppardi, dik dwar kif kien sar il-frame -up ta' missieri Karm Grima ta' dak il-15 ta' Ottubru 1979, issa li qrajt mistoqsija 14066 ta' Dr.A.Gatt, seduta 225 ta'8/6/98. Din kienet inzammet sigrieta fl-istrong room tal-parlament imma Dr A.Sant kien gibidha mit-tlitt postijiet differenti u fl-istess hin u wara qal li hu tilifha,coe' mislaid. Issa ahna uliedu qieghdin nistennew li issir xi forma ta' kumpens biex nindafu mill-hsara li waqa fuqna.
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 12:05
"unity and serenity"....is EFA living on Mars?? How come Bondi never asked EFA about the corruption,arrogance and mismanagement which is rife in gonziPN?
How come Bondi never asked EFA about his opinion regarding austin,tonio and EFA's protege lawrence??
"unity and serenity"??...does'nt EFA read the people's comments and does'nt he see the tension and unhappiness that abounds on the island in the sun??
...and the beat goes on..and the beat goes on.....
Joseph Scerri
Oct 14th 2011, 13:14
How come Mr. Bondi never asked him if he still knows who killed Karen Grech?
Franco Attard Trevisan
Oct 14th 2011, 11:33
First Quote : 'but the people now realised the importance of having unity and serenity where everyone did his part according to his ideals in a civil, democratic and acceptable way'
Second Quote : 'he would never, as party leader, have accepted a situation where somebody elected on the party ticket acted independently of the prime minister, the party executive and MPs and filed a motion on such a controversial subject.'
..... Am I the only one seeing a major contradiction here
Brian Gatt
Oct 14th 2011, 14:25
No Franco all those that have eyes can see but appearantly there are a few with a selective vision !!!
Ms G Portelli
Oct 14th 2011, 11:23
'No longer the political hatred of the past.'
Well actions speak louder than words and everyone is entitled to his illusions. Dr. Fenech Adami 's contribution would have been greater had he really worked hard for a true national reconciliation not simply make use of the appropriate rhetoric without the backing of the intended action. My guess is that true reconciliation would have upset our political culture of divide, division reaps better political benefits together with that other great Maltese pestilence Dr Fenech Adami never bothered to curb, political patronage.
Perhaps Dr. Fenech Adami should ask himself why university students in 2011 should still find themselves intimidated by those who assume it upon themselves to look after the interest of the government of the day. Lets say there doesn't seem to be a change in perception let alone a change in habit!
A. MICALLEF
Oct 14th 2011, 11:13
Dr. Fenech Adami - l-istejjer ta arrognaza tal-Mepa fejn ftit nies u familja saru MILJUNARJI
ghas-skabtu tal-poplu Malti u ghal-irvina ta l-ambjent Malti huwa vjolenza wkoll. Il-kuntratt
tal-BWSC huwa vjolenza wkoll. Il-bejgh ta l-assi ta Malta (IL-FAMILY SILVER) bi ftit flus
hija vjolenza wkoll. Il-PL kellu storja ta vjolenza IMMA il-PN GHANDHU WKOLL STORJA
TA VJOLENZA DIFFERENTI !
Steve M. Engerer
Oct 14th 2011, 10:36
Grazzi Eddie!!
Franco Abela
Oct 14th 2011, 10:00
He could also have asked him whether women go to work to have an aircondition at home!
Michael Hudson
Oct 14th 2011, 13:23
Actually, now we need to become muslims. This way we can have more than one spouse. One will work to buy the ac and the other will work to pay the electricity bill for it.
Why hasn't Lou Bond 007 asked him regarding a statement he made in the 90's, where he mentioned that once back in office he has information about the murderers of Karen (R.I.P.) and Raymond (R.I.P.)
V. Cauchi
Oct 14th 2011, 09:49
"It would have been okay had that MP been an independent candidate, but somebody elected on the party ticket should respect the whip and be loyal.."
With all due respect to Dr Fenech Adami, I think his interpretation of "party ticket" is rather stretched. Far from myself agreeing with the divorce motion or subsequent law, I respect an MP's right to table any motion or take any stand in the House notwithstanding any convention (a customary practice not written or enshrined in our Constitution) or interpretation of the concept of contesting on a party ticket.
As I see it, when interpreting party ticket, all things excluded from the party manifesto, or not specifically mentioned in a particular, clear-cut circumstance (e.g. a reference to civil partnerships would not automatically exclude divorce for the simple fact that a solution is surmised to be provided by such partnerships) would fall in the domain of an individual MP, whatever his background, party or even previous opinion. An MP should be free to act according to his will at the particular point in time of voting on an issue.
Individual representation could not be constitutionally stultified, though it morally could, as at election time and relegated to former declarations, but each individual MP is free to express himself as at the time when a vote is taken. This is a sacrosanct right and principle, and that is the reason debates are held, to clarify matters, erase doubts and aid MPs not only to express themselves to the House for the sake of posterity but also to help convince others as to reaching a true and fair decision.
The principle which needs to be enshrined in the Constition (i.e. needing a two-thirds majority to be altered) is that each individual MP represents his own personal opinion and is free to express his free will by voting at any time in the House notwithstanding any political grouping he belongs to, otherwise any such interference or imposition would tantamount to a breach of privilege of the House.
This would also exclude so called "parliamentary group" meetings imposing voting methods which are anathema to individual representation as warranted by the Westminster system.
Etienne Borg
Oct 14th 2011, 09:39
Li kien kien u lis sar sar, Ahna issa qed nejxu taht dan il gvern u ministri aroganti u bla kuxjenza.
Alex Falzon
Oct 14th 2011, 09:29
With all due respect - a party member has to abide by the party rules and policies and be loyal to its leader. You can take different context as examples.... such as at work an employee abides by his employers policies, a football player has to obey to his coach etc...
j brincat
Oct 14th 2011, 09:16
Now who was it that said "Fejn huma l-Laburisti"?
Eased my foot!
(jb)
Victor Laiviera
Oct 14th 2011, 09:11
As usual, Bondi treats PN bigwigs with kid gloves - a far cry from how he treats LP personalities. No hard questions and he never challenges anything they say. For example he did not pick up Fenech Adami on the gross canard that Mintoff "seemed to have been scared of having the people educated beyond a certain level".
The fact is that is was always Labour Governments who sought to make education - from primary to tertiary level - available to everybody and not just the privileged few. True, there was a time when they took too utilitarian an attitude, but that was jus a blip in the general trend.
The PN, on the other hand, was against educating the children of the working class as "it would make them lose their souls".
Louis Galea
Oct 14th 2011, 09:10
Truly a great states man of great values who managed to set the road towards freedom to our beloved Nation.
No matter how much his opponents tried to belittle him and cause harm even to his family, Eddie stood fast on his feet. When his family at his home was attacked, during such circumstances, it would have easyily sparked a civil war amongst us but he calmed everyone and assured us with his famous words: Is-sewwa jirbagh zgur!
Thank you Eddie you will always remain in our hearts for what you achieved for our Country.
P Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 09:05
It takes two to tango. If political reconciliation came about after the 1987 elections it was because the Opposition at the time had achieved its objective of gaining power. It was not in the then government's interest to create trouble but if you are faced with a challenge you have to stand up to it. There will not be a repeat of the The Tal-Barrani incident because we have had a responsible Opposition for the last 20 years. Tal-Barrani was planned by the PN to create trouble. Right or wrong it should be remembered that the PN did not have a police permit to hold the meeting at Zejtun because the police knew that if the permit was granted, incidents would occur as in fact happened.
Mark Galea
Oct 14th 2011, 11:39
No Mr Micallef, it's because our freedom was suppressed. Today's Oppostion has its own radio and television stations that gives it a voice. The Nationalist Opposition of the early 80's had no voice except for Mass Meetings, and that is why the Labour Government of the time refused to give the permit. The police of the time and the Government, together with some known Labour thugs, worked hand in hand to intimidate and shut up the Nationalist Opposition. Yesterday's interview with Dr Fenech Adami was a reminder of those times.....and it made me shudder to think of what we went through!
Andrew Scicluna
Oct 14th 2011, 08:59
Only a great and courageous leader could remain motivated and determined after violent attacks on his close family.
Andrew Scicluna,
Belgium
David Spiteri
Oct 14th 2011, 10:45
Yes sure, PN tactics - trying to get Eddie Fenech Adami in the picture to hide all the problems that the government is passing through! Welldone Bondi your tactics and guidance (under the artist Peppi Azzopardi) will not work this time!
David Spiteri
Malta
Jonathan Grech
Oct 14th 2011, 08:42
spot the difference .................if it was a PL member on that chair the debate would have been on his wrong doings but EFA is an angel now.He was shown the TAL BARRANI incidents the pain that sufferd the MLP is never shown ...................PBS IS OWNED BY PN
Caroline J. Muscat
Oct 14th 2011, 11:59
the only pain MLP suffered is from the Church not the PN ... there were no incidents similar to tal-barrani provoked by the PN, no one invaded dom mintoff's home, no one was stabbed for being close to dom mintoff, no one was attacked by tear gas just for turning up at a MLP event .... if you want to compare stuff, at least compare like with like!
Victor Laiviera
Oct 14th 2011, 08:31
It seems that Dr Fenech Adami does not read certain blogs. If he did, he would realise that political hatred has multiplied, not eased.
A Cuschieri
Oct 14th 2011, 10:33
L-iktar jekk jaqra l-kummenti tieghek ...
Paul Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 10:41
Jew tieghek sur Cuschieri!
A Cuschieri
Oct 14th 2011, 10:56
Skuzani Paul MIcallef, insejt ninkludik ukoll.
John Scerri
Oct 14th 2011, 08:27
There are but two outstanding statesmen who will never be forgotten in the history of politics and leadership in Malta .
In my humble opinion Dr.Eddie Fenech Adami and Mr. Dom Mintoff were instrumental for the progress of the Maltese nation .
Both leaders were needed in their time.
Both had their individual mehods of how to go about delivering progress to the people.
Both were not perfect.... after all who is?
Like one of them used to say ...If you do not want to make mistakes ....Just sit back and... Do Nothing.
Unfortunately one has the tendency to see the grey to black side of a politician other than the bright side.
It is like a manager, supervisor, leader, coach going round to see what is being done wrong.
How many of us go around in order to see what is being done RIGHT ?
Mr Ben Cassar
Oct 14th 2011, 10:14
Well said Mr Scerri, Malta will never see 2 great politicians like these ima afraid....
Nicholas Cassar
Oct 14th 2011, 08:23
ghaliex ma semmiex xi grajja ta Haz Zebbug ukoll? jew dik mhux parti mill-istorja? uejja come on u skuzani nighd li il PBS programmi bhal dawn nipretendi li jkunu BISS jew net tv jew one tv ax kienet wisq ixxaqleb ghal partit wihed. PBS suppost huwa stazzjon tal Maltin kemm hekk homor kemm hekk blu u kull kulur ihor! shame
Patrick Pace
Oct 14th 2011, 08:23
U lanqas jergghu jigu zminijiet bhal meta fis-snin 50 u 60 johorgu nazzjonalisti fit-toroq isafru sfafar jinqdew bil-kurcifiss u jaghmluhom fit-toroq ma' l-art, idoqqu l-qniepen u jitimbrawhom li ghandhom id-demb, dawn l-affarijiet kollha intesew? Qatt fil-gazetti nazzjonalisti ta' dak iz-zmien ma hargu jghidu kontra dawn l-affarijiet bhala partit suppost demokratiku, donnu l-affarijiet hawn Malta fis-snin 80 biss graw.
Mr Mario Zammit
Oct 14th 2011, 09:43
Mela nistghu nsemmu wkoll dak li gara fis-snin 40 u fis-Sette Gugno. U ghala le dak li gara fi zmien Napuljun u fil-Medju Evu, mhux ukoll parti mill-istorja u fl-Inkwizizzjoni u fi zmien l-Gharab kemm iddeportaw nies min Malta....
Julien Cachia
Oct 14th 2011, 11:01
id differenza hi li ghad hemm certu influenza fl oppozzijoni illum li kien hemm fil MLP fin 1980's.. dik id differenza.. ax bhal ma jghid Joseph.. Jilqa il kulhadd ax ihobb il kulhadd..
Joe Scerri
Oct 14th 2011, 08:22
Just reading a few comments below and those that appear in other articles on the TImes and elsewhere on a daily basis show that political hatred has multiplied not eased.
A Cuschieri
Oct 14th 2011, 10:36
Very true ... but you'd expected when you have a party in Government for so long. The problem is that in Malta political hatred is led by blue or red - there's no thinking on it.
To me, I only know that the Government does something good when I see a timesofmalta articles without comments. Bil-malti, ma jkunux sabu x'jikritikaw allura ma jghidu xejn mhux jghidu li hu tajjeb. Dak hu l-livel ta maturita li ghandna f'dan il-pajjiz sfortunatament.
Paul Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 10:43
Sur Cuschieri l livell ta maturita hu li sfurtunatament servili wisq u ma nipprotestawx bhal barra meta jigri xi haga li tkissru bhal arriva etc. Sfurtunatament imbaghad jezistu nies bhalek li tippruvaw turu li kollox miexi fuq ir rubini. Mhux qed nghid li kollox hazin, imma sar hafna hazin u ghandu jinbidel dak il hazin!
A Cuschieri
Oct 14th 2011, 11:02
Paul Micallef,
Naqbel mieghek sa certu punt. Hafna drabi pero, billi tipprotesta u tkisser (bhal ma gara barra) tkun qed taghmel aktar hsara milli gid.
Bl-ebda mod ma nrid infisser li f'Malta kollox miexi fuq ir-rubini. L-Arriva fl-opinjoni tieghi setghet saret HAFNA ahjar milli saret u ma kienx ikun hawn il-konfuzjoni kollha li kien (u ghad hawn). Ma naqbilx ma kif il-Ministru rrisponda certu mistoqsijiet (tal-irqad etc.).
Il-hazin ma tistax issejjahlu tajjeb ... pero nispera li taqbel mieghi li hawn certu nies li anke t-tajjeb isejhulu hazin. Semplicement tara l-artiklu ta dik l-istudenta li 'ghajret' lil Ministru. Kulhadd jikkummenta fuqha u jikkumplimentaha, mbad l-event propja fejn gew introdotti courses godda u l-laboratorji godda fl-Universita hadd ma qal xejn fuqhom.
Mark Galea
Oct 14th 2011, 08:16
Hope that next time Lou interviews Dom Mintoff ... it would be interesting on what he will say ...
Charles Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 08:11
Clever and well chosen words from an elder Statesman,
and when political rheotic became second to common sense.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 14th 2011, 08:06
Trust me to think that a private member's bill is a democratic right.
M Vella***
Oct 14th 2011, 07:49
A true statesman, people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,FREE.Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk - and to act,Thank you Eddie for the new Malta you gave us.
Paul Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 10:47
Missek ghidt ghamel uhud (il ftit tal qalba) jaghmlu li jridu u lil kumplament kissirhom. Imma bhas soltu, nippruvaw inbiddlu l verita hux!
M Vella***
Oct 14th 2011, 12:42
@Paul Micallef,History is there for every body to see and read and no body can change it no even in a 100 years time Paul,maybe that is why labour has been in opposition for 25 years which is not politically healthy at all I admit.
Mario Grima
Oct 14th 2011, 07:30
'Political hatred has eased'
What, where and when?
Was Fenech Adami referring to Lou Bondi, Daphne Caruana Galizia........
Political hatred started when Michael Gonzi was Archbishop of Malta and since then it has never ended.
FRANS H SAID
Oct 14th 2011, 07:23
Re JPO - So if I understand him right, EFA wants a dictatorial PM surrounded with zombies. I had the impression that we were supposed to be a democracy not a totalitarian regime. First of all the govt of the day, for untold years, has only represented +/- 50% of the people. The cabinet represents only some +/- 20% of the people. Decisions are normally taken by a handful that either have never been elected by the general public or at most would not represent +/- 5% of the people.
As it is or as EFA wants it, at the end of the day there would not be any difference between him, Gonzi, Mintoff, Gaddafi, Sadam Hussein, et al.
EFA should be aware that this is not democracry. In a democratic society, free speech is one of the main pillars of society. Scruples and religion are not good news for democracy. Every body must have a right to practice his chosen religion so long as he does not impose it or interefere in other beliefs.
Thus I, and as it turned out, the absoluite majority do not like and do not want party monopolies and dogmas.
I repeat, the way EFA described his ideas are verging on a very dangerous maxim of imposition. I am not defending JPO but defending the right to express oneself openly without the danger of being vilified.
It would be interesting if the PN was to state clearly if it wants its members to be zombies, puppets on a string, obeying Big Brother blindfoldedly as the PM knows more than anybody else.
Public be ware of these extreme conditions.
Martin Camilleri
Oct 14th 2011, 07:18
taf x missu saqsieh lou bondi
1. Meta qabel 1987 kien qal li meta jkun fil gvern jghid minn qatel lil Karen Grech. Illum wara dawn is-snin kollha ghadu ma qalx.
2. X jghid meta instab li gideb bil provi fuq Alfred Sant fuq il-kwistjoni ta ibnu li ma dahalx l -universita.
3. Meta instab hati fuq diskrizzjoni ta emm camilleri u r-rizenja farsa
dawn u hafna aktar mhux kollha mibeghda u firda gabu.
l vella
Oct 14th 2011, 07:17
'he did not think that Malta would ever suffer a repeat of the Tal-Barrani incidents of 1986.'
Lets hope we dont have a repeat of the 50's and 60's either.
albert galea
Oct 14th 2011, 07:09
HE STILL WANTS TO MAKE US LAUGH!!!!
Mr M Spiteri
Oct 14th 2011, 06:59
If political hatred has been eased in this country it was eased by Dr Alfred Sant and not EFA or GonziPN
Lawrence Camilleri
Oct 14th 2011, 09:01
It looks like Mr Spiteri was born after 1987!
joseph mifsud
Oct 14th 2011, 06:48
jaqaw l-ellezzjoni wara il bieb qeda.
Mario Zammit
Oct 14th 2011, 10:09
Ahjar tiehu pacenzja ghax fadallek x'tistenna!
Mark Scicluna
Oct 14th 2011, 06:37
True, the only hatred left is within some PN apologists. Go on Drinu..... B.I.O.L. Blame It On Labour !!!
Francis Attard
Oct 14th 2011, 05:45
How would Fenech Adami have acted with regards to JPO's actions in filing a private motion to introduce divorce?????
Mr Ernest Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 07:50
kien isejjah elezzjoni - ga kien iddikjaraha qabel
R. Gauci
Oct 14th 2011, 00:36
'Fenech Adami - political hatred has eased'
Wrong statement, he should have asked the guy in front of him on how much he hates the LP and its supporters.
A Bezzina
Oct 14th 2011, 00:02
One amazing statesman who will never be forgotten ...
Mr Hans Borg
Oct 13th 2011, 23:30
Lest we forget that it was also Dom Mintoff who opened the University doors to everyone.
carmel callus
Oct 14th 2011, 07:00
Hans Borg, you're wrong! It was George Borg Olivier who opened the doors of the University to all, and Mintoff closed those doors to thousands of students. It was then Fenech Adami who reopened once more those doors after the 1987 elections.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 07:46
But then again, probably you are not part of the cheated generation who had almost no way to further their post-Secondary education in the late 70s and 80s.
Joe Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 07:47
Mr Hans Borg, Dom Mintoff opened the University doors to everyone? What statistic are you basing this on? In 1971 the year Mintoff got elected the University population was around the 1500 figure. Under Mintoff the University population dwindled to the 800 figure. Now if you mean that Mintoff opened the university to everyone of his LIKING, then you are correct. Do you know what is the current student population at the University?
Mr Ernest Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 07:50
sure?
Mr Stanley Fenech
Oct 14th 2011, 07:51
I'm sorry Mr. Borg, but I have to rebut your comment as under the Labour Government of those days, University was not for everyone, and for the wrong reasons.
Antoine Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 08:09
Hans Borg, you have got to be joking. Mintoff everything he could to destroy tertiary education and university intake was limited extremely limited.
They even had a special committee to see that as few PN supporters as possible were admitted to university.
Hans, comments like your are what keep political hatred alive and no, we will not let you rewrite history.
l vella
Oct 14th 2011, 08:32
'In the 1970s, under Dom Mintoff's government, the university became more accessible to students with a working-class or middle-class background since financial help started being given. In fact, the university's population increased by around 200% in this period. Up to the 1960s, the total university population was that of 300 students; in the 1970s it approached the 1,000 mark.'
no comment
M Mamo
Oct 14th 2011, 08:46
One TV never mentioned the 'numeros clausus' the dear Mintoff introduced ... oh well for those "tal-qalba" it did not affect them ... ridiculous!
Mark Anthony Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 08:47
It is obvious that you are not part of the cheated generation who had almost no opportunity to pursue post-secondary studies in the late 70s and 80s, because University degrees were considered as 'karti tal-incova'.
Julian Borg
Oct 14th 2011, 09:24
... funny how i was denied the right to go to University because I did not have a parrinu and the Medical School was shutdown. Maybe you were living in a different country in the 70's? I guess you also think that it was Labour that gave workers dignity - except int he case of doctors, bank workers and Cable and Wireless employees - but then you were never told what was going on in the country.
Anyone objective would understand that the only reason we enjoy the high standrad of our quality of life is thanks to the prudent management of this country since 1987. And please do not forget how it nearly all came off the rails in 96/98 - THAT is where you can thank Mintoff - for it was his move that brought about eventual EU membership!
Ghidu grazzi .....
Martin Saliba
Oct 13th 2011, 23:24
Nothing about Queros ?
Daniel Dimech
Oct 14th 2011, 06:55
like....
Joe Mallia
Oct 14th 2011, 07:19
Wrong. It was open accordong to your political affiliation.
Victor Laiviera
Oct 14th 2011, 08:49
Like why was he given a presidential pardon against the strong opposition of the Police authorities?
Same goes for his ex-bodyguard, Joseph fenech (aka Zeppi l-Hafi).