Christian Peregin
Franco Debono could abstain in Gatt confidence motion
After months of public complaints over the bus reform fiasco, Austin Gatt is now facing internal criticism, with Nationalist MP Franco Debono saying the Tran-sport Minister should “shoulder political responsibility”.
Dr Debono yesterday threatened to abstain in a forthcoming parliamentary vote on a Labour motion calling for Dr Gatt’s resignation if the minister refuses to “do the honourable thing”.
Dr Debono said accountability was an essential element of democracy that was “seriously lacking in the country” and that he had long been saying it needed to be strengthened. “If the minister responsible for public transport reform is not going to shoulder political responsibility and do the honourable thing, I will be abstaining in the vote on the motion in Parliament,” he said.
Dr Gatt should do this, he added, in the best interests of restoring democracy and as a representative of the people within the Nationalist Party.
In reaction, Dr Gatt said everybody was free to act according to his own conscience.
After he was confronted by a feisty University student about the bus service, Dr Gatt said he was “baffled” about why he was being blamed for late buses or Arriva’s failure to respond to customer queries.
Dr Debono’s comments come a day after Dr Gatt’s ministry announced that more than three million passengers used route buses last month, 22 per cent more than in the same month last year.
This is not the first time Dr Debono has criticised the government or used parliamentary votes to issue stern warnings to his party.
A defence lawyer by profession, Dr Debono frequently lobbies for improvements in the justice system, such as the right for suspects to have access to lawyers before interrogation. In December 2009, he failed to turn up in Parliament for a vote on opposition amendments to the government’s proposals to set up select committees and later said this was due to his unheeded complaints about the dignity of Parliament, problems in the south of Malta and fundamental problems in the justice sector.
Dr Debono, who was elected on the fifth district instead of heavyweight Louis Galea, is expected to be challenged at the next election by Manwel Delia, who happens to be Dr Gatt’s right-hand man and a main player in the public transport reform.
When contacted, Mr Delia refused to comment on whether this was district politics at play.
Dr Debono has refuted such suggestions, pointing out that he spent 10 years contesting against heavyweights like Dr Galea, Helen D’Amato and Ninu Zammit and was not about to start playing games now.
Responding to questions by The Times, the PN acknowledged that the public transport system had to address the current shortcomings but it ignored the clash between Dr Debono and Dr Gatt.
“The PN expects the government to continue striving towards addressing the current situation in the best interests of the commuters.”
The parliamentary debate on Labour’s motion has not yet been scheduled.
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48 Comments
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Henry Mifsud
Oct 15th 2011, 14:04
Dear Dr. Debono (or Franco as I affectionately call you whenever we happen to meet), a word of advice from an old and seasoned friend:
Beware the ides of March!
Paul Giordimaina
Oct 15th 2011, 08:27
The PL governd 5 years with a minority now you are talking about democracy.
Henry Mifsud
Oct 15th 2011, 14:56
Paul, lest we all forget, that at the time you are referring to, 30 full years ago, proportional representation was calculated by the number of seats obtained and not by the number of votes. In fact in 1981 it was the first time that Malta experienced such a freak result. Only thanks to the democratic process albeit catapulted by none other than Dom Mintoff, assisted by well-meaning individuals like the late Emeritus President Prof. Gwido Demarco, that the necessary Constitutional changes were implemented giving way to a new process which allowed the PN to regain power in 1987. Is the system perfect now? Of course not. Just by having a look at the result of the last election, one can deduce that it is far from perfect. So perhaps, rather than try to come up with cynical comments, one would do no harm in addressing this issue and try to find a better democratic way by which the voice of even to smallest group of people in the electorate, if not that of each individual, shall be heard. Only then I feel that we would truly be living in a democracy based on social justice, rights and privileges.
Mario Grima
Oct 15th 2011, 08:07
Dr. Franco Debono please stop acting like a drama queen. Just vote against Gatt's confidence motion if you feel that he should have shouldered political responsibility for the Arriva fiasco. You don's have to tell the whole World that you might be abstaining, a move which is only fit for for cowards such as you. Your antics reminds me of how you acted in the BWSC issue.
You will be remembered as that politician who says one thing and does another. In Maltese such people are called 'Pinnur'.
E. Azzopardi
Oct 14th 2011, 19:18
Why is this MP alone in this one? There should be many more backing him. I applaud his courage and determination but he has to keep his word until the very end. Yes, the transport planning was not done properly and let us admit that this is a fact. Many think the minister should have resigned but he does not want to take the responsibility. And it is not ARRIVA'S fault. They had too many restrictions starting from the job guarantee of previous drivers. Then TM wanted to re-invent the wheel with the new routes. With all this ARRIVA started on the wrong foot. And then the minister claims it is not his fault. When are we going to be accountable in this country?
Paul Giordimaina
Oct 15th 2011, 08:33
Just to see your party get power Saint Azzopardi
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 14th 2011, 17:00
@ Andrew Camilleri.(14 Oct 2011 at 12.49)
I am a professional man myself and I consider you incompetent to give me advice how one should behave in a professional manner. A medical doctor is bound to give urgent treatment in emergency situations but a lawyer is NOT BOUND to accept a client. Your comment is based on that obvious fallacy.
As I said before, a professional man and a gentleman should avoid situations that involve him in a “conflict of interests”. Finding himself unwittingly embroiled in such a situation he should honourably get out of it as soon as ethically possible. I am not saying that he is then at liberty to divulge professional confidential information that he had acquired before he realized that a client had embroiled him in a “conflict of interest” situation. I am saying that he should extricate himself from such a situation as soon as possible. Otherwise, he would create the impression that he is content with and that he condones the “conflict of interests” situation.
Your hypothetical question is based on ignorance about basic facts regarding professional secrecy in the medical profession, as well as your failure to appreciate that I am not a member of parliament with allegiances to a political party and to the electorate. Therefore there is no parallel between what I would do and what a lawyer MP, elected on the ticket of a political party, is expected to do. Suffice it to say that a medical doctor (unlike a lawyer) is not always allowed to claim professional secrecy and there are occasions when the law actually forces a doctor to divulge confidential medical professional secrets.
So, please don’t diverge into irrelevant issues and issues that you do not understand. Also, please, do not ask Mr.saliba stupid questions – because he may choose to ignore you.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Oct 14th 2011, 17:22
My comment is not based on an obvious fallacy. Dr Debono has already explained to you that once he was approached by a client, whatever that client divulged to him was and remains confidential. Do you honestly expect lawyer MPs to stop working in case such a situation arises? I don't think so. Once again, I explain that you need to keep apart their professional life from their poilitical life- its as simple as that.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 14th 2011, 20:09
@ Andrew Camilleri.
Your comment IS based on the fallacy that a lawyer is compelled to accept a client. Apart from that your comment (today at 17.22 hrs) proves that you have understood nothing of my comment (today at 17.00 hrs) or you pretend that you do not understand it. I have no time to waste on you. Just keep on reading my comment until you understand it.
franco debono
Oct 15th 2011, 10:37
now after dismissing your comments about duty to disclose,
can you please indicate where is the conflict of interest please?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 15th 2011, 21:12
@ Franco Debono.
Your first sentence is incomplete and does not make sense. You could not have dismissed "my comments about any duty to disclose" because I never said that a lawyer had such a duty. On the contrary I said that, unlike medical practitioners, lawyers cannot be obliged to divulge professional secrets confided in them. You do not seem to have read my comment, yesterday at 17.00 hrs addressed to Andrew Camilleri.
My point is that no one should allow himself to be entrapped in a "conflict of interest" situation. If, unfortunately, he thus enmeshed unwillingly, he should extricate himself as soon as ethically possible and not complacently accept to persist in that "conflict" situation as if he approved it and as if he were complicit in it.
In this case the "conflict of interest" arises from the incompatibility between the loyalty you owe to the party on whose ticket you were elected and your contradictory support for a client who clamorously reneges his, and your, political party when the police are investigating him for a crime and who thereafter becomes a notorious turncoat overnight and a vociferous opponent of the political party you represent in parliament.
franco debono
Oct 16th 2011, 17:29
@saliba
first of all that is one sentence.
secondly lawyers do not support clients. lawyers defend clients
thirdly it made no difference to me, defending case purely on legal grounds wheter client is PN, PL or wheter he defected from one to the other. merits of case had nothing to do with politics.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 17th 2011, 00:26
@ Franco Debono.(16 Oct 2011 at 16:29)
Do not blame me for your errors in syntax. "One" sentence should not be dichotomized and spread over two distinct paragraphs separated by a double space between the two sections.
Lawyers who defend clients support them, and how!
You are absolutely correct in defending clients independently of political affiliation. You are not behaving loyally to your party when you persist in the defence of someone who saddled you with a "conflict of interests" situation - provided of course that you were not actually complicit in fostering that "conflict of interests".
Michael Hudson
Oct 17th 2011, 09:16
Dear Dr. Francis Saliba, I was very surprised to read your comment, especially this part "I am a professional man myself and I consider you incompetent to give me advice how one should behave in a professional manner. A medical doctor is bound to give urgent treatment in emergency situations".
You did change your tune. Remember how you attacked my comment when I was showing my disappointment for a paediatrician which deliberately was not answering our phone calls because we consulted with another doctor? Mela issa a medical doctor is BOUND to give emergency treatment. I would have loved to have added a title for you but I refrain to use your tactics. Have a wonderful day.
Dr. Debono, a word of advise. Igmore everyone and do what you think is right.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 21st 2011, 13:26
@ Michael Hudson.
I did not change my tune.
Let me spoon-feed you. A medical doctor is obliged to give emergency TREATMENT. Answering every in-coming telephone call is NOT TREATMENT of any sort - it is a social chore. There is no professional medical obligation to do that.
John Zammit
Oct 14th 2011, 15:06
What the Onor. Franco Debono is saying is futile as the government will surely be saved by the Onor. Speaker.If he truly wants to change the government course he should vote against Come on Franco Try It
Philip Hili
Oct 14th 2011, 14:57
@ Franco Debono
Dr. Debono, b'kelma wahda nista' niddeskrivi l-atteggajment tieghek lejna l-eletturi u lejn il-Partit li sfortunatament inti tifforma parti minnu- Q A Z I Z T N A!!!! jew D A R D A R T N A!!!!
Lawrence Anastasi
Oct 14th 2011, 14:27
Dr Gatt said he was “baffled” about why he was being blamed for late buses or Arriva’s failure to respond to customer queries. Obviously this man is in denial or so arrogant that he thinks he is above all the Maltese.
Austin Gatt doing the honourable thing and resign will not happen....the key word is honourable. Obviously this man has none!!
Austin Gatt was so full of himself taking credit for the new bus system being puit into place , now he is trying to distance himself from it...nice try Austin!! You will be remembered in history for this disaster, a most fitting legacy .
Joseph Calleja
Oct 14th 2011, 16:07
I agree with you a 100%. But it takes a man to do the honorable thing. I still have not heard or seen Austin Gatt apologize publicly to Ms Garret Abela for the mess he created and is responsible for. As a matter of fact he has not, and is not about to apologize to anybody. Dr Gatt is living in denial and believing he did nothing wrong and maybe believing he is better than the rest of us . Even if he did not, which most of us think he did, he is still the Transportation Minister in charge. Dr Gatt should accept the responsibility for the fiasco like he accepted the responsibility that he was the man that brought such a magnificent bus system into our country. It takes a big man to admit he made a mistake. Honestly I don't see that coming from Minister Austin Gatt, his ego alone won't let him do that. Too bad, because he has a lot of other good accomplishments he can be proud of. If he could only step off that high pedestal of his?
K. Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 13:00
I would love to see Franco mastering such a reform?!?
I was expecting that Franco in-line with the Party statute should support Austin Gatt and not creating unnecessary pressure.
I was expecting more loyalty and more professional ethic behaviour.
Last time I trusted you, nowadays I am not sure if I will vote for you.
franco debono
Oct 14th 2011, 17:02
Arrogance, in any of its various forms, is not just one of the greatest enemies of any political party, but also of democracy itself
K. Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 19:10
I would love to see you Franco tackling such reforms....
Being young does not always help, political maturity and responsability is required on such statements.
George Vella
Oct 15th 2011, 02:17
Very well explained. Thanks
Charles Zammit
Oct 14th 2011, 12:29
@ Joseph Fava . YOU WISH !! What do you take a straight forward talking politician ( A rare breed indeed ) for ?If anything this Island would be more enhanced by people speaking their minds and not people indoctrinated and blind in their political wishes . Sorry but you still have some more time to wait , for maybe your wish to be granted . This young politician deserves all the respect due to him , if for nothing else for hios open honesty , which is so so Rare in this species of beings .
Paul Giordimaina
Oct 15th 2011, 08:29
How bright you are Mr Debona you seem to know everything.
R. Caruana
Oct 14th 2011, 12:16
With all due respect Dr.Debono, whatever he does is irrelevant as long as he is alone doing so making this nothing but a taunt at the Government & a cheap shot on the electorate. But again history shows he won't, so...
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 11:56
..and if Franco feels that austin is not doing his duty by shouldering responsibility , Franco should vote in favour of the motion to get rid of the arrogant gatt!!
But we must bear in mind, that this is politics and politicians are very well known to talk with a forked tongue and emit tonnes of manure when they open their mouths!!!
...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on....
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 12:39
That's "git" not "gatt"
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Oct 14th 2011, 11:45
@Franco Debono
Jekk ma taqbilx just ivvota le dejjem jekk trid taghmel hoss fil-partit tieghek, kellu bzonn hemm iktar bhalek li jitkellmu dak li jahsbu mhux qedin hemm biex isahnu is-siggijiet u kollox ghadej mar rih. U jibzu biza min certa nies!!
Jekk inti ma tivutax , ftakar li jivvota speaker u gatt jibqa hemm.
U haga ohra ma naqbilx ma min qal li dak li qed jaghmel Franco ghax qed jibza min Delia, peress li both ha jkunu kandidti fuq stess distrett
..... Gatt + Delia= Arriva , Arriva = Dizastru...
Ghandi kurzita kbira x ha jaghmel JPO???
Joseph Fava
Oct 14th 2011, 11:03
The hounds of GonziPN are already tearing you apart Franco Debono. Is it possible that you don't realize that you candidacy is already dead and buried ? Even if you abjure yourself in public and in sackcloth proceed to Gonzi's Canossa with ashes on your head to cry for forgiveness, you wouldn't have a chance of getting elected in any PN list.
The only way out to save yourself and the Nationalist Party is to bring down Gonzi's autocratic government right now. All those who cherish democracy and want the PN to have some sort of future must find the courage to kick Gonzi out of the Party's leadership. It's the right time for all the JPO's, all the Mugliett's and all the Debono's to cross the Rubicon and save thier party from the clutches of a power-hungry reactionary clique.
Philip Bonello
Oct 14th 2011, 13:40
Well said, Mr. Fava.
Gonzi is like an albatross tied round the PN's neck. The party will loose many votes because there are many who are Nationalists but against Gonzi and his ilk. Arrogance is not tolerable.
Anthony Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 11:03
I suggest to Franco Debono to vote in favour of the opposition's motion then not just abstain because that is the only way this ridculous arrogance can be stopped.Otherwise he is just wasting his time and actually prolonging the suffering the majority of the Maltese have been enduring for quite some time.
Stand up and be counted !
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 10:59
"Dr Debono’s comments come a day after Dr Gatt’s ministry announced that more than three million passengers used route buses last month, 22 per cent more than in the same month last year."
Lies, damned lies and statistics.
And how do we know that last years figures are reliable? Somehow I very much doubt it. If anything the number of private cars on the roads has increased dramatically probably because many people are finding Arriva's (dis)service inconvenient or non-existent.
Jeffrey Mallia
Oct 14th 2011, 10:34
Cheap propaganda and public attention...........If you're agianst the motion, vote against it.........fullstop
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 11:52
WELL SAID Jefferey!!!!
Philip Hili
Oct 14th 2011, 15:03
Prosit Jeffrey.
Imma dan l-onorevoli issa jrid jibda jaghmel ftit hoss halli jnessi l-kummidji li ghamel fil-bidu tal-legislatura. Hemm bzonn li nibqghu infakkru dawk ix-xeni ta' ghajb fejn il-partit gie ikkalpestat u mwaqqa "cheap" minn nies ta' din ix-xorta. Tinsewhx meta tkunu qeghdin fil-kamra tal-vot!!!!!!
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Oct 14th 2011, 10:26
Could Franco Debono’s stance be the fact that Manuel Delia being an adviser to Minister Austin Gatt, would be contesting in the forthcoming general elections in his own district and thus finds him as a threat to his chances of being elected?
Is this the method of Franco Debono’s strategy perhaps, by forcing Manuel Delia to renounce his candidacy (in Franco’s district) in order not to hurt his Minister by abstaining in parliament?
“Jew nilghab jew inhassar”
JC.
franco debono
Oct 14th 2011, 10:49
Mr Cauchi senior,
when i was a university student at 24 i contested my first election with PN. i come from Ghaxaq, a labour stronghold, and at the time there were Louis Galea, architect of modern PN, Ninu Zammit and Helen Damato. i contested every election with PN since then. in the last election ghaxaq was removed from district putting me at huge a disadvantage.
i never complained. i just worked harder.
so i think readers can assess your claims.
besides i hope you are attentive to what Eddie Fenech Adami said yesterday about the dangers of arrogance
Philip Hili
Oct 14th 2011, 15:07
Ma nafx ta!, nistaqsi....dan Dr Franco Debono mhux li diga laghab xi loghba minn din il-kwalita' fi zmien Louis Galea?
Philip Hili
Oct 14th 2011, 15:11
Irid ikollok daqxejn wiccek sfieq biex ISSA tghid :-
"at the time there were Louis Galea, architect of modern PN, Ninu Zammit and Helen Damato."
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 14th 2011, 09:51
If anybody should resign it would be a hypothetical lawyer and an NP member of parliament who embroils himself in an evident "conflict of interest" by accepting and keeping as a client someone who could bind him by client confidentiality not to disclose to their party leader, the crucial information that the client was under police investigation and also to conceal any foreknowledge that lawyer member of parliament might acquire about his client's imminent and hostile clamorous defection.
That description does not fit Austin Gatt.
franco debono
Oct 14th 2011, 10:41
Please note that your comments are unfounded, besides not having anything to do with constitutional doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility, and strenghtening of democracy to which the story refers.
but in any case :
When the client you are referring to spoke to me he was still with the Nationalist Party. It was a normal case like hundreds i have been defending for years. Wheter i accepted brief or not, that eventuality you are contemplating could NEVER arise. Even if, after speaking to client, i would have declined brief, which of course i had no reason to do, i would still be bound by professional secrecy.
In no eventuality would the situation have arisen that i should have informed anyone. wheter i accepted brief or not.
Phil Humphries
Oct 14th 2011, 10:42
"That description does not fit Austin Gatt."
Maybe not, but I'm sure the readers can think of many descriptions that do fit him :))
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Oct 14th 2011, 12:49
Mr Saliba is one of those tribe (like the infamous blogger) who cannot distinguish between one's political duties and allegiancies and one's professional duties. Dr Debono as a professional lawyer was bound to accepot his client's brief and keep theinformation confidential - that is the law. So I ask Mr. saliba: would you report to the Prime Minister if an MP came to see you professionally if the patient tells you that he is in some sort of scandal involving illness? Also, do you honestly believe that some member of the Govt was not informed of the investigations against Cyrus? How do you explain the delay in the police pressing charges - as in the case of Harry Vassallo?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 14th 2011, 13:14
I did not expect anyone to disclose anything. What is to be expected is that situations giving rise to a conflict of interests should be avoided.
Philip Hili
Oct 14th 2011, 15:16
@Francis Saliba M.D
"Cheap propaganda and public attention." this what Mr. Jeffrey Mallia wrote today at 10.34.!!!!!
Phil Humphries
Oct 14th 2011, 09:34
If the Minister is 'baffled' and cannot understand why he must shoulder responsibility for the public transport debacle, then he should not have a ministerial position, or a ministerial car.
If Austin Gatt had to stand cheek-by-jowel with the additional 22% of comuters who are are cramming onto the buses, or if he missed appointments and important meetings due to the appalling service he inflicted on the nation, then maybe, just maybe he would understand what all the fuss is about.
But even if he understood the peoples anger, would he do the honourable thing ? .... Yeah, right !
Charles Sammut
Oct 14th 2011, 11:52
@ Phil Humphries...it takes an honourable person to do an honourable thing! austin is most certainly, arrogant,bombastic,full of himself,...but honourable???!...well, I have my opinion of the guy as I am sure thousands of Maltese have.......but honourable????!!..
The quicker he goes away,the better the island would be.
..and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......