Matthew Xuereb
Debono keeps his party guessing
Bus reform cost €55m
Austin Gatt (left) and Franco Debono (second from right) touring road works last year.
The Nationalist Party executive will meet again tomorrow evening in an attempt to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation as backbencher Franco Debono refuses to rule out abstaining in Friday’s vote ofno confidence in the Transport Minister.
Public transport reform is the only item on the meeting’s agenda and will continue on last week’s encounter which saw a detailed presentation by Austin Gatt, whose political future could be in the balance if Dr Debono abstains on the opposition motion.
If Dr Debono does abstain, the Speaker would have to use his casting vote given the government’s slender one-seat majority.
Although during last Monday’s executive meeting Dr Debono gave his colleagues the impression that he was “softening up” because of the way he spoke following Dr Gatt’s extensive presentation on the reform, he refused to answer questions when approached by The Times on Tuesday.
Contacted yesterday, Dr Debono kept his cards to his chest, but indicated he may still abstain.
“While it is true that the minister admitted political responsibility for the public transport mess, two days after I had declared I was going to abstain in the parliamentary no confidence vote, we are now witnessing a reform of the service, patching the reform by means of an overhaul, possibly indicating a completely wrong attitude to the reform.
“One must not forget the taxpayer forked out some €55 million for this reform, which ended up causing a public outcry from commuters,” he added.
Asked what he was expecting, Dr Debono said: “One would expect to see the established and accepted political practices in Western parliamentary democracies, including those of all other EU countries, in line with the constitutional doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility.”
When asked what his reaction would be if Dr Gatt tendered his resignation and it was refused by the Prime Minister, Dr Debono said: “That would complicate the scenario for the government.”
He said if this happened, Dr Gatt would have shouldered his responsibility in line with individual ministerial responsibility. With the Prime Minister’s decision to turn it down, it would have developed into “collective political responsibility, which means it would be the responsibility of the whole government rather than just one minister.
“I think party loyalty also means a minister should shoulder political responsibility not to further embarrass the whole government. This is about a reform, a major reform, but also about the way our democracy functions.”
It is unclear whether any attempt had been made, within the party structures, to convince him to vote with the government.
However, he has publicly denied there was any form of pressure for him to toe the party line except for ‘psychological pressure’ from fellow MPs who are clearly not on his side.
Sources close to the party spoke about the possibility of amendments to Labour’s resignation motion, which would appease Dr Debono, while officially and publicly admitting political responsibility for what happened.
During last Monday’s Nationalist Party Executive meeting, Dr Gatt on a number of occasions said he was shouldering political responsibility for the deficiencies in the new system.
He also gave a detailed analysis of Arriva’s shortcomings, presenting a ‘before and after’ picture of what Arriva promised and what it delivered.
Dr Debono may not even be present for tomorrow’s meeting due to personal commitments since a family member is currently recovering from surgery.
He said he had informed the party of this and invited the party to hold the meeting last week, but would do his utmost to attend.
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John Pace
Oct 31st 2011, 22:04
Dr Debono is good at hitting out at others when he thinks he can get some personal mileage out of it.
Yet, his conscious does not give him any remorse at the number of criminals he so far managed to set free thanks to his taking advantage of a decree wherein it was stated that a statement issued to the police cannot be accepted as evidence in the local courts if the accused is not accompanied by a lawyer.
Does this make him a good lawyer and a bad politician? or vice versa?
Philip Hili
Nov 1st 2011, 13:30
@ John Pace
Bad in both!!!!!! Not trusted.
Jeffrey Borg
Oct 31st 2011, 17:55
"Dr Debono may not even be present for tomorrow’s meeting due to personal commitments since a family member is currently recovering from surgery.”
If Franco is referring to his father’s operation ,I just can tell the party executive that thanks God, the father was already out of hospital, yesterday he was seen walking around at Ghaxaq.
Was in Valletta this morning and saw the peacock walking in Republic Street.
So Franco, now you have to face the party executive.
From what I gather , he will chicken out and vote in favour. When he does that he will have to tell us why he voted in favour, if not we will conclude that Austin is doing a great job.
Joe Fenech
Oct 31st 2011, 17:34
Franco, be a man and continue to represent TRUE DEMOCRACY. Austin needs to go !
lilly vella
Oct 31st 2011, 14:45
Dear Dr Franco Debono, It is true that Dr Austin Gatt had refrained you from contesting the general elections when he was still party secretary and it seems that you still blame him for retarding your political career. But now you cannot blame him for destroying your political career because it is all your doing with your well-established lack of credibility! You have been saying that you want to abstain, now be a man and do it. Or is this just another manoeuver of yours to obtain something else from GonziPN.
J. Borg
Oct 31st 2011, 08:58
Whether or not Dr Austin Gatt resigns will not solve the Arriva mess. With regret, I have to admit that something went terribly wrong with how the new bus transportation system has been designed and implemented. We are now nearly in November, and my daughter still reports daily problems. This morning (31st Oct) she froze on a bus top waiting for more than 45 minutes to get a bus to take her to an appointment she had. She finished up phoning me to take her myself as she was going to miss her appointment. The end result is frustration and an urge to get her own car as soon as possible. So unlike what perhaps the intent of Government was, the Arriva bus system is not helping in citizens leaving their car at home and making use of this public service. On the other hand, Arriva is being a catalyst for more environmental noise and pollution as many are eager to get their own car. Pity, but true. Dear Government, please wake up to this reality and give us citizens a bus service similar to the one we had, able to take you from place A to place B in a maximum of 30 minutes. It is indeed nice to have air conditioned and moder buses but what is the use of they fail to fulfill their main intent of efficiently taking you from one place to another ?!!
mary mifsud
Oct 31st 2011, 08:37
@ Philip Hili:
Debono embaressed party maybe: Gatt embarressed country with BWSC and Arriva FIASCOES
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 12:04
@ mary mifsud
No proof for what you have said especially BWSC.
I can proof the embarrassment a mature politician like Dr. Franco Debono whereas you cannot do the same!!
Brian Gatt
Oct 31st 2011, 14:33
@ Philip Hili,
No embarassment? you must be kidding ux? Smart City was a success ux were are the over 5000 jobs promised during the last electoral campaign? no proof for the BWSC scandal? are you living in our dimension? foreign ministers resign for much less !! and to top it all the much publisized state of the art National Transport service which turned out into a National Flop.
So you are saying that this guy should walk away scot free - which most probably he will - and not be held accountable for his actions. Very democratic !!
Philip Hili
Nov 1st 2011, 00:46
@ Brian Gatt
Sur Gatt inutli toqghod tparla fil-vojt. Ahna fatti konkreti rridu mhux tlablib.
mary mifsud
Oct 31st 2011, 08:25
After the BWSC headvy fuel oil power sation extension no confidence vote in Austin Gatt last year,PM Gonzi removed enemalta from Gatt's portfolio. Franco Debono had voted with the government in that motion. What should PM do now? Take transport from his portfoli?
Thats why Gatt should politly bow out.
Giovann Demartino
Oct 31st 2011, 17:56
Nahsbek tifhem hafna INT, sinjura fil-heavy fuel oil!
mary mifsud
Oct 31st 2011, 08:15
@demartino: you mention justice?
Austin Gatt was minister of Justice when Noel Arrigo became chief justice remember?
Michaela Portelli
Oct 31st 2011, 07:40
I believe if something went so wrong like the introduction of the arriva bus, the one responible for it has to resign! It's a pitty it needs a vote of confidence. Mr. A. GATT just should resign! Only like this can a nationalist consider vote for his party again at the next election.
And there are more ministers who should reconsider if ,what they are doing/ did , was for the best for the country. I just think about tender for school uniforms which were given out mid august and the mess it left us parents with at the beginning of the new scholastic year...
Carmel Cilia
Oct 31st 2011, 07:20
Has the public the right to know what has been the amount of money passed on to arriva to meet these changes? Here we are speaking about taxpayers monies. This morning buses have been redirected to their former places around the Tritons fountain. It was just in time :this week it is going to be a rainy one and at least passengers would find a shelter in a waiting bus.
Ma nafx il-ministru fit 2 ta Lulju qal waqt ir riceviment li sewa 80,000 ewro li il- buzullotti kien ghadda zmienhom. Fil-fatt kienu ghadhom se jibdew ministru.
oliver mallia
Oct 30th 2011, 22:57
@Henry MIfsud Well done. You hit the nail on the head exectly. I am one of does persons in matter. Oliver Mallia ST Paul's Bay
Marvin Muscat
Oct 30th 2011, 21:23
Franco Debono a true picture of Democracy, Austin Gatt a true picture of Dictatorship
Henry Mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 20:06
Well let's call a spade a spade. Franco is in the lime light. Is he enjoying it? I sincerely hope so. Whether intentionally or not (I tend to believe that he genuinely believes in what he has been saying all along), he should because he has much more than halve the electorate behind him as I shall explain.
1. All those remotely siding with labour are squarely behind him for the obvious reasons;
2. All those who are suffering from gross arrogance, irrespective of their political belief are behind him;
3. All those who have been made house-bound and those that are arriving late for work, are behind him;
4. All those who are suffering from the high Pollution levels, especially in the South of Malta, are behind him;
5. All those who really want justice to be done at the law courts are behind him;
6. All those who are suffering seeing their beloved Malta being ruined by nonsense MEPA decisions (such as the latest Ghaxaq garden to be turned into 30 maisonettes) are behind him;
7. All those with a level-head are behind him.
So why should Franco be afraid to speak his mind and act in a manner he truly believes in?
It is not Franco who is destabilizing the government but it is Gonzi and those close to him that have become so immune to what and how the people feel, that they keep on bulldozing as if tomorrow will never come.
As for Franco’s political career, I think that he is intelligent enough to weigh his options. But if anyone who voted for him in the past does not do so again, it would be that individual’s loss and not Franco’s because as experience has shown us, people are governed by those that they truly deserve.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 30th 2011, 22:07
"So why should Franco be afraid to speak his mind and act in a manner he truly believes in?" (Henry Mifsud)
Because all those who are inciting him to create a crisis situation for his party, and possibly bring about an early election, will not vote for him in any future election and neither will he get again the vote of NP adherents who had elected him to parliament but who are outraged by what they consider treachery of the mandate they had given to him.
Julie Russell
Oct 30th 2011, 22:17
Very well said, i quite agree.
Mr Adrian Vella
Oct 30th 2011, 23:42
well said !!!
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 01:26
@ Henry Mifsud.
I am very sorry to say that you are immature as Dr Debono is!! Without going into the matter whether his right in his arguments or not, one thing is for sure. He is ambitious and he is after a ministerial seat!! That is for sure. He is holding us, the Nationalist electorate at ransom, a thing which is unacceptable. Most of "All Those" whom you mentioned in your comment are not going to vote for him, either because they side with Labour or because true Nationalist who are being kept at ransom by him, DEFINETLY are not going to vote for him NOT EVEN THE LAST PREFERENCE!!
Finally, you are supporting Dr. Debobo for his immaturity and at the same time you are not considering the mess he brought the PN in. Where on earth a Prime Minister of a Nation be subjected to call at a deputiy's residence and beg him to attend parliament to cast his vote, a thing which Dr. Debono constrained Dr. Gonzi to do? This is one of the many instances which show that Dr Debono is not loyal to his party and when I say his "party" I mean loyal to US because we the electorate elected him in parliament.. It is usless to say otherwise because facts are facts.
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 01:27
@ Francis Saliba M.D
Very well said!!
Henry Mifsud
Oct 31st 2011, 06:59
So is that what democracy is all about Dr. Saliba and Ms. Russel? No wonder we are in the pity state we're in.
Level-headed people will ONLY vote for people like Dr. Debono, who managed to show us what mettle he is made of. Rest assured that none other than his own party in government with their arrogant ways are inciting him to take the action. He made it amply clear more than once that he is fed up and no one, except those heavily blinkered, blames him. To add insult to injury, those whom you are referring to as NP adherents, are constantly being subjected to all forms of abuse by your PN party in government. Rest assured that they shall not forget and they would be two-square behind Franco in time of truth. Franco managed to garner the support of many on both sides of the political divide; definitely not for the reasons you are trying to instill and make people believe but because of the reasons I highlighted above and many more. But then you conveniently did not comment on one single reason I gave. Why? Because deep down even you know that it is all true.
George Azzopardi
Oct 31st 2011, 12:46
Thanks for your comments, Francis Saliba and Mr.Hili ..
Should Dr.Franco Debono be looking at PN Bloggers here, I'm sure he'd say .. what the heck, I will do it my way. It certainly looks that I will not be getting any votes anyway whatever course he takes. And this of course, if he is accepted as a PN candidate in the first place.
I wonder why you're so afraid we'd go for elections a bit early .. everything is running so smooth and everyone is so happy. You should be sure that you'd be winning anyway!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 31st 2011, 14:09
"So is that what democracy is all about Dr. Saliba and Ms. Russel?" (Henry Mifsud)
In the present context "domocracy" is about LP and NP voters casting their vote freely during election time. The intelligent ones will scrutinize Dr Debono's conduct and vote accordingly. My opinion is that voters on both sides of the political spectrum have been given ample reasons by Dr Debono himself why they should not vote for him.
I do not comment on any of the seven "reasons" given by you because in my opinion voters should vote with the common good in mind not because of personal chips on their shoulder in the hope that Debono would be able to induce either Muscat or Gonzi to accomodate them better.
What I know "deep down" is that your "reasons" can never justify Dr Debono's disloyalty to his leader, to his party and to those who had voted for him because he was an NP candidate.
Brian Gatt
Oct 31st 2011, 14:35
Well done couldnt have said it better myself !!
Brian Gatt
Oct 31st 2011, 14:45
@ Philip Hili,
Without going into the matter whether hi is right in his arguments or not, one thing is for sure. - that is your problem you are not analyzing whether Dr Debono is right or not in his claims. You know why because you know he is right - all the people know he is right including the Prime Minster himself, what everyone is trying to do is cover up the screw ups of an old timer who by his actions is flushing down the toilet millions of euros from the people's money!!!
Well Done Dr Debono stand up and be counted stick to your principles and believe me at the end you will be rewarded by your costituents who know that you are trying to obtain a better deal for them.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 31st 2011, 15:16
" I wonder why you're so afraid we'd go for elections a bit early ... " (George Azzopardi).
Personally, I am neither "afraid" nor am I eager for an early election. On the other hand it is perfectly obvious that the LP would do anything to hasten the day when it could drag itself out of the seemingly never-ending rut of a party perennially assigned to the opposition benches. I fail to see what Dr Debono hopes to gain by joining forces with the LP in its quest.
Henry Mifsud
Oct 31st 2011, 16:08
Thank you Mr. Hili for illuminating us of the pity state the government is in. But then what do one expect from a government leading by just a one seat majority after obtaining a mere 1500 more votes in an election where a very high percentage turned up to vote? When Alfred Sant was in the same position as Gonzi has been for quite some time now, he did not think it twice to call for the electorate's mandate. But this cannot be claimed for Gonzi who has been clinging to power even though all signals have been hinting that not all is OK in his stables. I am supporting Dr. Debono because unlike what you state, he is very mature and is definitely not one who simply follows the herd. Of course you expect him to do otherwise under the pretence of party loyalty. But is this what democracy is all about? We know exactly how the nationalist deal with such situations and Franco is no exception. He knows that by being truthful and honest, he is going to face the consequences, irrespective of whether he abstains, votes in favour or against. Lest we forget how the PN dealt with Mario Felice, Josie Muscat and its own dear leader Gorg Borg Olivier. Lest we forget indeed! The PN might have won the battle with these gentlemen but rest assured that they have won the war and it is them who shall continue to be hailed as true gentlemen and not the rest who have been manipulating the electorate and playing musical chairs between them to sit on the highest echolons of this country. People are not stupid and at the end the truth shall prevail.
What is immature is the way you expressed yourself, Philip Hili, as it only shows that all you, like the PN in government, is interested in is to remain in power at all costs. That is immaturity at its best!
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 17:14
@George Azzopardi
"I wonder why you're so afraid we'd go for elections a bit early ." You are very much mistaken Dear Mr Azzopardi. As far as I am concerned, if the PN decides to go for an early election could get rid of at least four or five disloyal candidates who hijacked the Party and who are holding the Nationalist electorate at ransom.
Philip Hili
Nov 1st 2011, 00:52
@ Brian Gatt
Min jaf jekk kontx xi wiehed milli qlajtlu b'dak li ghandu u b'dak li ma ghandux!!!
Ara veru OQBRA MBAJDA. Kif tista' tafdakom fil-gvern. Ara hemmx xi ftit emails ohra!!!!!!
Jew qeghdin tippruvaw tnessu lill-poplu minn dik il-pastazata to Dr. Emails???
Hemm tkelmu!! Ara min qieghed jaspira biex ikun imexxi lil Malta - Ma!!! X'wahda din!!!!
Philip Hili
Nov 1st 2011, 01:12
@ Henry Mifsud
"as it only shows that all you, like the PN in government, is interested in is to remain in power at all costs."
Oh!! What? is this true??? - again " the PN in government, is interested in is to remain in power at all costs." So you do not want to remain in government? Mela fik hajt tal-kenn!!! Harbitlek il-maskra Nerik!!!! Qieghed imdawwar tajjeb mela Franco jekk wiehed minn ta' madwaru bhalek ma tridx toqghod fil-gvern!!! prosit ghalina, x'lifa fil-komma dik!!!! Isa, ivvutawlu ta!!!
Sinjuri votanti, dan hadd ma qalu dan id-diskors hlief wiehed minn ta' madwar franco debno!!!
Araw x'qal dan il-pampalun ta' madwar Franco Debono:- " I am supporting Dr. Debono because unlike what you state, he is very mature and is definitely not one who simply follows the herd." He is supporting Dr. Debono and at the same time he does not want to remain in government!!! In x'inti minn dawk tan- N.S.E.W.? Hallina Man. Ir-ross minn halqna niekluh ta!! Mela hsibt li qieghed tikkomunika ma xi erba qlafat jew!!
Nerik, "il-giddieb irid ikun gharef u fakkari"!!!!!!!!!!!
Joseph Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 20:05
55 million... 20 million are all commissions and corruption! Where is the EU to help Malta not to end up like an other Greece!? Corruption on this level was the cause of what happened in Greece!
Unfortunately however when coming to govern, Labour is just jelous of the PN that they are not doing the corruption themselves, not to fight the corruption!
We need the third party in this country to survive! Or else, titanic!
Joe B Edwards
Oct 30th 2011, 22:33
"55 million... 20 million are all commissions and corruption"
Prove it.
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 01:35
@Joseph Camilleri
"We need the third party in this country " so that the nation will be held at ransom by this party!!!!!!!
Hallina man. Mela ma tafx x'jigri fejn hemm dak li qieghed tghid int??? Amministrazzjoni caqlembuta. Hemm inkunu qisna titanic!!!!
Are you living in space? Don't you know that the EU scrutinised the funds she gave to Malta and no corruption was pin pointed?? Or the third party will do the job for the EU and because the third party will have interests the third party finds corruption? Ma twilidniex il-bierah siehbi ta!!
M Farrugia
Oct 30th 2011, 19:46
Debono bhala avukat ahjar jikkoncentra u jikkritika id-decizjonijiet li qed jinghataw fil-qrati Maltin milli fuq it-trasport. Imma dan mhux se jaghmlu zgur ghax filwaqt li qed jahseb li bl-attitudni tieghu se jirbah il-voti sejjer zball, filwaqt li jekk jikkritika certa sentenzi u dak li qed jigri fil-qrati Maltin ghandu x'jitlef aktar.
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 01:37
@M Farrugia
VERY WELL SAID!!!
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 19:15
@ Giov Demartino
Le Giov ! dazgur le, ghax il -huta min rasa tintinten, jigifieri jwarrab il Prim Ministru jrid biex jitranga xi haga l-ewwel hawn Malta......... Nistennew xi kumment vojt issa bhala risposta min nahha tieghek,bhal baqalna sentejn ohra nistennew . Ma jimpurtax nistennew,ahjar anzi, xejn xejn nisperaw li tirrangaw ftit it- tbazwir taghkhom stess !
Giovann Demartino
Oct 30th 2011, 19:59
Thabbilx rasek Mark! Erbat ijiem ohra jkollna lil Joseph, sieheb Sabrina, u kollox jitranga. Jorhos iz-zejt u allura torhos il-hajja kollha. Jaghtina zidiet kbar, jaghti lura l-flus li thallsu fuq il-karozzi u l-Arriva tibda' tahdem fuq ir-rubini. Jispiccaw il-waiting lists fil-qorti u fl-isptar u jispicca l-hacking! Kemm intom fidili, jahasra. Imma ghal Franco Debono kollox jista' jissolva jekk jaghmluh ministru!
M. Bezzina
Oct 30th 2011, 20:48
Sadanittant Giovann daw l affarijiet li semmejt int stess bhall
'' Jispiccaw il-waiting lists fil-qorti u fl-isptar u jispicca l-hacking''
qed tiehu gost bijhom!!Ax trid tkun vera iblah!!! Sptar li jigi jiswa l miljuni u trid tistenna biex tkun operat !!Jew trid tmur thallas il belli liri provat ghand il konsulenti u qabel ma jerdawlek xi 466Euro jew 500euro a dritt ma jdahlukx fil lista hekk sew!!!!
Jien nikkritika lit 2 li huma ta ara tahseb li nzomm ma xi hadd partikulari ghax meta bazwar il PL hadta kontrih ukoll.
Ara int le mintix kapaci tkun kritku ghax il PN kollox tajjeb u jekk ikollok xi wihed bhall F/Debono jew JPO tehoda kontijhom u tajjarhom mill partit kif darba ktibt!!Kemm int Demokratiku qed nghid!!
Giovann Demartino
Oct 31st 2011, 07:09
Sfida semplici lil M Bezzina. Tahrabx, imma. Ghidilna INT kieku kont int responsabbli, kif taghmel biex taqta' l-waiting list fl-isp[tar. Issa kun ragel u spjegalna kif. Joseph lejliet l-elezzjoni se jghidilna. INT, imma, tista' ttina idea. Nistenna. Jien u l-qarrejja l-ohra.
George Azzopardi
Oct 31st 2011, 13:32
@Giovann Demartino .. ghalfejn qed isaqsi lil 'mark borg 'dil-mistoqsija .. dan ma hax 500 euro fil-gimgha zieda ta!!
Hallina sur Demartino hi!!! Gej bil-mistoqsijiet! Lilna qed issaqsi l-mistoqsijiet. Saqsijhom lil min ha l-mijiet fil gimgha extra gbin!!
Daz-zgur l-ewwel hallha l-waiting list titlha bl-eluf .. issa qed tipretendi li ntukhom soluzjoni kemm tfaqqa subajk. Jekk trid tkun honest issa ghidilna min gaba l-problema! U mhux ovja, l-inefficjenza jew management hazin li hala dal-gvern!!
Jien insaqsi lilek issa.. int gieli kellek tieghu lil xi hadd qarib tieghek l-emergenza? Xi xhur illu kellna niehdu lil ommi .. thalna l-emergenza fis 2pm. Sa l-ghada 1am din ghada gewwa Area 1 tistenna fuq siggu!! Hadt ghadu ma nvista! Anqas stretcher ta', fuq siggu! Kellu jmur hija jghidilhom biex ituwa sretcher biex tghaddi l-lejl ghax kieku kienu jhalluwa fuq siggu. mara anzjana din ta 78 sena! Saqsiethom ghal-bela kafe anqas biss gabuwliha!!
Tahseb li xi haga bhal din trid tkun xi gharef ta Salamun biex issolviha!!!
Sempliciment trid ikollok daqxejn management ahjar u efficjenza ahjar!!! Hallina jiggiffieri ut qed taghmetti hawn li-l-gvern taghkom qatta qalbu!!
Giovann Demartino
Oct 31st 2011, 15:57
@ George Azzoppardi...do you know who rushes in when angels fear to tread? Go in front of a mirror! Il-mistoqsija naghmilha lil min ghamel is-suggeriment. Min irid inaqqas il-waiting list nisfidah jghidilna HU kif. Min ha l-500 ewro injorant, imma intom li qed taghmlu s-suggerimenti, intom xempju ta' gherf. Ghidulna kif tnaqqsu l-waiting list. CHICKENS!
Meta recentament kelli qarib tieghi l-emergenza jew ghax rawni helu jew ghax jien tal-qalba...imma kienet VERAMENT emergenza......x'hin wssalna ahna l-isptar sibt t-tobba jistennewna u ma stennejniex hames minuti. Imma jien gustuz u tal-qalba.
M. Bezzina
Oct 31st 2011, 22:37
Sur Giovann jien staqsejtek mistoqsija u int ma wegibtx nerga nistaqsik
daw l affarijiet li semmejt int stess bhall'''' Jispiccaw il-waiting lists fil-qorti u fl-isptar u jispicca l-hacking''qed tiehu gost bijhom???
Semplici iwa jew le???irrid risposta min ghandek!!!
Itik is soluzzjoni min halla l waiting list takkumula matul iz zminijiet li flok ha hsieb biex l isptar ikollhu it tobbu dedikati ghall gvern it tobba qed ikunu iddedikati ghall privat!!!
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 19:09
Do not know why all the fuss if Franco wants to abstain,it is supposed to be a democratic sysyem no ? We even had the Prime Minister just a few weeks ago abstaining in the vote for divorce following the referendum. So why does Dr Gonzi want to interfere how Franco votes ? What is good for the goose .......
C. Muscat
Oct 30th 2011, 18:41
Nixtieq inkun naf liema rotta hi tajba? Min qed jghid favur l-arriva ghandu jkollu d-dicenza jghidilna liema juza. Jien kont nuza is-71 minn Birkkirkara ghal Belt. Kont niehu 15 minuta mid-dar sa Putirjlek.l. Issa ghandi 10minuti mixi -xemx jew xita- 20 minuta nistenna u 15 minuta biex nasal.
Naturalment hallast ta gimgha u uzajthom 3 t ijiem ghax dizastru u jaqbilli immur bil-karozza tieghi.
Issa min mar ahjar ghandu bhali jghid liema rotta jaqbilek biex inkunu nafu ghax jien mhux biss nehhewli l-venda imma anke ir-rotta.
Naqbel li kulhadd minghajr l-ebda politka ghandu jmur il-belt nahr il-gimgha. Pero jekk jirrizenjaw ghandhom jirrizenjaw kemm agostino u kemm franco (li jridha ta PM)
M.Dolores Vassallo
Oct 30th 2011, 17:37
Dr.Debono jekk jogbok biddel fehmtek ghax jekk Agostino jirrezenja ma jkompliex itellef voti lil GonziPN.
Robert Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 17:30
Dan huwa koll ghageb tal-labour biex jiddevja mill-problemi vera u is-sitwazzjoni li hemm barra minn malta. Tpeclieq tal-labour OUR PROBLEM.
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 18:59
Anke din it dbazwira tal kwistjoni tal Arriva se tipruvaw minghalikhom twahhlu fis sitwazzjoni ta barra ? !!!! it Tpeclieq huwa ta nies bhalek, li jippruvaw jghattu ix xemx b l-gharbiel ! Nafu l is- sitwazzjoni barra mhi xejn tajba, imma nafu wkoll li li istat li gibtu l-affarijiet intom hawn Malta, mhu jghin xejn is sitwazzjoni ta hawn Malta ! U barra min hekk il problimi min hu fil gvern suppost isolvijhom ghax ghalhek qieghed hemm,jigifieri l argument tieghek huwa ghal ahhar vojt u irrelevanti !
Noel Abela
Oct 30th 2011, 19:00
By any chance do you make use of the Arriva service or like the minister you have a Jauguar paid by us tax payers, to take you to places. And who paid for all this mess. TPECLIEQ MY FOOT
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 01:43
@Robert Galea
Mhux biex jiddevja mill-problemi vera u is-sitwazzjoni li hemm barra minn Maltra, IZDA LI HAWN HAWNHEKK, MELA INSEJTA L-QASSATA TA' L-EMAILS??????
carmel muscat
Oct 30th 2011, 17:20
kullhadt andu innoqqasijiet tijju biss austin al partit tal pn hadem fuq li hadem u dan ma jista jichdu hadt jien nies li as ma jilhqux l eneb ax ikun ilfuq wisq jajdu li uwa qares veru insejhillom opportunisti u xejn aktar u dawk is sib minnon fiz zewg partiti u toddom fuq il hames tiswabba
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 17:36
jien ma jimpurtaniex x'ghamel Austin Gatt ( jew xi hadd iehor) ghal PN (jew ghal PL/MLP). Jien jimpurtani x'ghamel ghal Malta. Hlif tgerfiex m'ghamilx ghal Malta. Kull fejn ndahal hu dejjem b'xi storja.
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 12:20
@ G Schembri
Daz zgur li dejjem b'xi storja! Stejjer li l-ebda membru paramentari ma kellu l-hila jidhol ghalihom u jsolvihom!! Ha naghamilha cara, jien mhux xi wiehed li nissimpatizza ma' Austin Gatt. Pero' ma tistax ma taqbilx ma l-affarijiet tajba li ghamel. L-anqas fi zmien il-Labout ma kien hemm deputat li kellu l-guts isolvi l-problema tat-Tarzna. Dak iz-zmien, ghat-tajjir, insulti u forza fizika kulhadd kien jinqala'. Imma sa hemm konna naslu. U l-pjaga tibqa' miftuha u jien inti u KULHADD jippompja. Nahseb kollha f'bieb il-belt qeghdin tat-tarzan jittalbu!! Mhux ghax nixtiqilhom hekk ta! Imma nahseb li anke huma llum jirrealizzaw li b'dan li hadu u s-salarju li qeghdin idahhlu kollha SINJURI ZAGHAR. U mela tigi tghid hlief tgerfix m'ghandniex. Veru qieghed/qeghdha tghix fil-qamar.
Jo Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 17:07
Franco Debono's stand on this issue should be applauded by all those who believe that Cabinet Ministers should be accountable for their actions, individually and collectively. The idea that someone in high office is untouchable came crashing down on many occasions around the world (from the French Revolution to the recent upheavals in North Africa). But in Malta it is still very much an accepted reality. All the moreso if your name happens to be Austin Gatt.
When Franco Debono says he expects Gatt to behave according to 'established and accepted political practices in Western parliamentary democracies' , he is alluding to one thing: Resignation. Ministers all over the world resign for all kinds of reasons. Not only when they are personally responsible for improper actions, corruption or other grave sins. In many cases, they resign (or are forced to resign) becuase they failed to do enough to avoid disasters or hardships.
Just last year, Scottish Minister for Transport resigned because of the chaos that ensued on Scottish roads following a snow storm. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/11/scottish-transport-minister-stewart-stevenson-resigns-snow . Clearly the Minister did not cause the blizzard himself, and it wasn't his fault if the snow-ploughs didn't cope with the unprecedented volume of ice on the roads. But the Minister still did the honourable thing and stepped down.
It takes courage to do what Franco Debono is doing, especially in the Maltese scenario. People elected Debono as their representative in Parliament TO DEFEND THEIR INTERESTS, to make sure that the money they pay in taxes is spent wisely and not squandered on senseless projects and failed reforms. His loyalty as an MP should be first and foremost to them. Any other considerations, including party allegiance and personal career motives, should come a distant second.
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 10:26
@ Jo Borg
Although I believe and stress that Cabinet Ministers should be accountable for their actions, I am not going to applaud Franco Debono for his immaturity. Applauding Franco Debono not only on this subject but also in other childish behavioiur means that you are not fit to roam within the community but your place is in a room at MCH - Ward 8 - Maximum Security!
"People elected Debono as their representative in Parliament TO DEFEND THEIR INTERESTS," Oh!! very well said. It is a good excuse- defending the interests of the few and fu.***....all the rest! Why? because it is not true that by his behaviour he wants to defend the interest of those who elected him. Those who elected him are held at ransom as much as most other people are! "The interest of those who elected him" is only an excuse in order to achieve his goal. Politics did not begin when Dr Debono first contested the general elections!!!!!
Alfred Cassar
Oct 30th 2011, 16:12
People need to take care before casting their vote in the elections, any election. We need to select loyal people not opportunistic politicians.
Austin Gatt is a politician with guts, he faces challenges and does not run away from difficult situations. Sometimes he uses a too-arrogant way to do it and he should try to address this but otherwise we need professional politicians like him in any government.
People like F Debono, JPO, Mugliette want to be in high positions, and if not they will do obstacles to others. Shame on them, Hopefully people will remember their recent acts in Parliament before voting them in once again.
A Dimech
Oct 30th 2011, 16:25
what about Jean Pierre Farrugia, and also waht about John Dalli - if he ever had to decide to contect again?!
are these included in your list?!
carmel muscat
Oct 30th 2011, 17:16
i totally agree with you
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 17:39
Austin Gatt does not run away from difficult situations he creates them. He does have guts - guts to take a 500euro weekly raise, a chauffer driven Jaquar and everything he does he flops.
pat muscat
Oct 30th 2011, 19:36
That.s the problem: he's got guts,( everybody has guts) but no professionalism!
Robert Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 16:10
Min jrid jaqra aktar fuq ir-Riforma jfittex fuq l-internet
Public transport Reform in Malta Bus and Taxi
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 19:17
M'ghandix hin x' nahli Robert biex noqod naqra ir riformi tal Buses,bizzejjed nahli hin qieghed kuljum gahx nuzahhom bil fors !
Robert Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 16:09
Jien nirkibha l-arriva mhux biss imma ghamilt diga is-savercard ta 3 xhur. U altru mill ma nirkibiex l-arriva.
Ivan Mizzi
Oct 30th 2011, 17:18
Donnok int ma tridx tirkeb mill-Fgura biex tmur ghax xoghol..
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 17:41
Forsi int min fejn joqghod min ghamel ir-rotot tal-Arriva.
Charles Massa
Oct 30th 2011, 16:04
Bus reform cost euro 55 million!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallas poplu Malti mit taxxi tieghek ghal servizz inefficjenti. Fuq din il ministru Gatt ghandu jirrizanja jew ma jirrizanjax il prim minsitru ta par idejn sodi ghandu ikeccih. Lil kieku il ministru Gatt kien mal privat u ghamel din il froga ilhom ma ureqh il bieb ta barra. Imma taht par idejn sodi kollox jghaddi ghax ma ghandux leadership
A Dimech
Oct 30th 2011, 14:59
Dr Debono will not abstain - he will vote with the government - just wait and see.
and next time he does this he will have much less credibility!
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Oct 30th 2011, 14:14
"Dr Debono kept his cards to his chest, but indicated he may still abstain" - No team work at all between the PN members. Aktar ma' jghaddi z-zmien, aktar qeghda tidher il-qasma.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
mary mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 14:08
@ Giovan Demartino : kick him out who? The person responsible for reform and for embarassing the government? Austin Gatt you mean I guess?
Giovann Demartino
Oct 30th 2011, 15:59
No! I mean Franco Debono...or else promote him to a minister........no more problems with Arriva, then!
Josephine Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 13:29
For argument’s sake , let’s just say Minister Gatt is made to resign , because this ambitious showman Franco Debono abstains . Can anyone in his right senses tap Franco Debono on the back for kicking out one of his colleagues in the PN cabinet team?
In the past we had Minister John Dalli who made a big mistake when he brought to Malta a fictitious fraudulent business with the name of AMS. Was he sacked because of this mistake? No,on the contrary he was given more responsibilities by the respected Fenech Adami.So should Gonzi do to Austin,who never cowards away from challenges.
Pity that this veil dancer Franco is supposedly on Austin's side trying to make an auto-goal.
If Franco succeeds tripping Austin he should face a confidence vote in his party general conference .
Gudja Zurrieq Marsaxlokk and Hal-Ghaxaq deserve a loyal candidate not an egocentric macchiavellian to represent them.
joseph saliba
Oct 30th 2011, 14:11
I don't believe Dr Franco Debono is an egocentric macchiavellian politician. He is doing what he thinks is right for those who he represents even if you do not agree with him.
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 17:51
Gudja Marsaxlokk and Hal-Ghaxaq have a loyal candidate in Franco Debono, he is standing up for their rights since their transport service is worse than it was before. Zurrieq doesn't need him because it seems whoever made the routes knows Zurrieq very well and made a very good route, at the expense of Luqa residents. So most probably Zurrieq PN staunch supporters will not vote for Franco Debono - Only the fanatics will not vote for him.
As for Austin Gatt, the same class of voters who will not vote for Franco Debono will vote for him. Austin Gatt had done one blunder after another - What about handing a piece of land worth thousands to Go (by mistake he said) What about Smart City ( still a ghost town) and now we have Arriva sometimes I wonder on which side he is. Anyone who is not an arrogant whatever that young lady called him would have resigned after his first blunder.
Ken Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 18:39
A slight correction - John Dalli was BACKSTABBED....
joseph saliba
Oct 30th 2011, 13:28
What did not Dr Gatt do? He did not make his jag available to joe brincat nor anyone else.
What did Dr Gatt do? He rid us of many an arrogant bus driver. Plus that he is still shouldering (to the point of risking resignation) a task where many a hercules before him failed.
George Azzopardi
Oct 30th 2011, 14:35
"a task where many a hercules before him failed"
Including Mr.Speaker or Dr.Frendo.
Keith Chircop
Oct 30th 2011, 13:16
Let's demonize a man who wants to bring about positive change, regardless of the bone to pick he might have. Just repeat what the PN-leaning journalists say, as you always do, sheeple.
m. borg
Oct 30th 2011, 13:14
Franco Debono WILL vote with government, just wait and see.
J. Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 14:05
He has too ...or else he won’t even be a candidate.
Victor Calleja
Oct 30th 2011, 17:23
Imma ghaliex fil PN ma hemmx demokrazijja. Ara il partit liehor kemm waqa malajr meta Mintoff ivvota kontra.
Jekk Franco Debono vera jrid jigbed il linja tal poplu ghandu jivvota kontra u mhux jastjeni.
J Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 17:54
@ v calleja: meta Mintoff ivvota kontra l-gvern laburista fl-1996 u waqa' l-gvern, dak kien vot marbut mal-budget u thallatx il-hass mal-kabocci. Hu pacenzja, jekk trid elezzjoni generali, jekk joghogbok stenna sa 2013.
mary mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 13:12
@ leone ganado:
so your argument is that the electorate should punish the PN for Gatt's failures, who in any case will not be contesting next election? Who is egoist Debono or Gatt?
Luciano Pace Parascandalo
Oct 30th 2011, 13:04
the party should now keep him guessing if he will be accepted as a candidate for the next elections....quite honestly he like a couple of others should be considered as surplus
Giovann Demartino
Oct 30th 2011, 12:44
Kick him out. The sooner the better. Come what may!
Victor Calleja
Oct 30th 2011, 17:24
Kemm int demokratiku. Mhux ta bxejn nazzjonalist.
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 17:56
Yes do the PL a favour kick him out, voters who voted for Franco and not for other candidates who were already PNs did so instead of abstaining or voting for another party. Kick him out and PN will remain in government for the next 20 years you hope. Franco gave the PN another 5 years in government. Without him they will have a harder time staying in government.
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 12:32
@ Victor Calleja
Sur Calleja tista' tghidilna xi tfisser demokrazija skond id-dizzjunarju tieghek?
Inti trid titkellem fuq id-demokrazija! Insjet li kull kandidat li jkun irid jikkontesta mal-PL irid jiddeposita somma flus, fi zmien kienet xi (Lm2000) issa ma nafx kemm biex jigi accettat halli dawk il-flus ikunu mazzra ma ghonqu u jkollu jimxi skont "id-demokrazija"!!! tal-partit? Jekk ma tafx, indaga u wara tkellem fuq id-demokrazija tal-partit please!!!
mary mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 12:19
After the BWSC headvy fuel oil power sation extension no confidence vote in Austin Gatt last year,PM Gonzi removed enemalta from Gatt's portfolio. Franco Debono had voted with the government in that motion. What should PM do now? Take transport from his portfoli?
Thats why Gatt should politly bow out.
M Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 12:09
What a show !! Why is Franco Debono all out to embarrass the Government ? This is not the first time he did it.
This change was not a simple operation , but a major one. Give it some time, things will get better .
George Azzopardi
Oct 30th 2011, 14:33
parr idejn soddi
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 12:36
@ George Azzopardi
IZJED MILLI TAHSEB INT GEORGE!!!
Ms.D. Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 12:03
One thing this county is not in short supply of;
narcissic, attention-seeking, double- dealing opportunistic politicians with as much consistancy as a weather vane in a twister
George Azzopardi
Oct 30th 2011, 11:49
Back in the 80's MLP had 2 guys who tried to reform the party. As is the norm MLP (unlike PN) took the drastic measure of dismissing these members. Eventually but after a long time, as all know, both these guys proved that they were right and are back within the party. One of which is deputy leader. MLP realised late that the stubborness to listen back then had caused much more harm then good and had they realised then the story would have been different.
PN are known to handle things differently then PL when they have such mishaps and this by manuevering from underneath to politely get rid of these people. This is normally done by making them look bad to the public in some way or other. However, doing it one way or another, getting rid of people who are trying to reform the party is wrong. The story is repeating itself, this time in the other party, PN. There are eye openers who are being ignored. They are finding people here who are trying to shut their mouth but they can't because they know that they believe that they are doing good to the party!
The question is how strong are these people? I wonder!
m. borg
Oct 30th 2011, 13:16
Does any gonziPNer remember Dr Mario Felice, whose only sin was delivering a message from Dom Mintoff to Gadaffi, way back in the 70s?
George Azzopardi
Oct 30th 2011, 14:20
case in point .. I remember Dr.Felice!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 30th 2011, 18:15
M Borg You have it all wrong. Mario Felice was the gofer between the US administration and Mintoff not between Gaddafi and Mintoff.
joseph gaffarena
Oct 30th 2011, 11:48
In my humble opinion I, see this gentleman as a show man,If you happen to see him in a press conference
his aim is to be seen.
I do not want puppits in parlament, but surely not a show man like Franco Debono.
I, am one that do not digest minister Austin Gatt, but we do not want to forget what he had done in IT, and Im more than sure that the fault for this fiasco goes to MT,an authority driven by unprofessional management.
After all they have to be royal to their party, and not see only their personal agenda.
I, do not share that he will increase votes in the coming election. What he is aiming for is a minister post, no doubt about that.
But it is childish to vote against a minister about arriva.
We have to be honest with ourselves and see the bright side of arriva,and with some thinking we will make arriva a state of the art transport that we all want.
I, feel sorry that this issue is being as always have that political taste.We only see the bad, and not the good that came out of it.
Some one like Franco Debono, is not that happy with that goose that laid the golden eggs for him,
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Oct 30th 2011, 11:46
kieku mqar hawn 10 membri parlamentari bhal Dr Debono Malta tkun hafna ahjar. Qed jghid il verita, u jien nemmen li gid il partit qed jaghmel ghax kullhadd mxebba sal ponta ta mniehru bit transport pubbliku.
Giovann Demartino
Oct 30th 2011, 16:42
U jekk jitwarrab Austin Gatt jitranga t-trasport publiku?
stephen koludrovic
Oct 30th 2011, 11:46
A pick or a shovel in their hands, would have completed the picture of the men in their fancy new high visibility jackets.
Anthony Paris
Oct 30th 2011, 11:46
Stamina is not enough. It is results that count. So far Smart City, Smart Meters, Smart Arms and Smart Transport have not produced any results inspite of millions of taxpayer funds being poured into the projects. if anything they have aggravated an already bad situation. These projects clearly needed to be implemented but not by a Smart Ass.
charles tabone
Oct 30th 2011, 11:35
Dr Debono is using brinkmanship. Whatever the outcome Dr Debono's political future is very bleak. Now he has to either stick to his guns or eat all his words. No matter which decision he takes his political end is near. He only has to remember Dom's description of A MAN's physical qualities when he lambasted DRYDOCKS WORKERS in late 70's.
stephen koludrovic
Oct 30th 2011, 12:24
Didn't that Orlando guy also use brinkmanship for his divorce issue?
Its one of the problems of having a one seat majority in an inflated parliament of 69 MPS.
Jo Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 11:33
Franco Debono's stand on this issue should be applauded by all those who believe that Cabinet Ministers should be accountable for their actions, individually and collectively. The idea that someone in high office is untouchable came crashing down on many occasions around the world (from the French Revolution to the recent upheavals in North Africa). But in Malta it is still very much an accepted reality. All the moreso if your name happens to be Austin Gatt.
When Franco Debono says he expects Gatt to behave according to 'established and accepted political practices in Western parliamentary democracies' , he is alluding to one thing: Resignation. Ministers all over the world resign for all kinds of reasons. Not only when they are personally responsible for improper actions, corruption or other grave sins. In many cases, they resign (or are forced to resign) becuase they failed to do enough to avoid disasters or hardships.
Just last year, Scottish Minister for Transport resigned because of the chaos that ensued on Scottish roads following a snow storm. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/11/scottish-transport-minister-stewart-stevenson-resigns-snow . Clearly the Minister did not cause the blizzard himself, and it wasn't his fault if the snow-ploughs didn't cope with the unprecedented volume of ice on the roads. But the Minister still did the honourable thing and stepped down.
It takes courage to do what Franco Debono is doing, especially in the Maltese scenario. People elected Debono as their representative in Parliament TO DEFEND THEIR INTERESTS, to make sure that the money they pay in taxes is spent wisely and not squandered on senseless projects and failed reforms. His loyalty as an MP should be first and foremost to them. Any other considerations, including party allegiance and personal career motives, should come a distant second.
Ken Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 18:35
Finally some sense
joseph gaffarena
Oct 30th 2011, 11:29
In my humble opinion I, see this gentleman as a show man,If you happen to see him in a press conference
his aim is to be seen.
I do not want puppits in parlament, but surely not a show man like Franco Debono.
I, am one that do not digest minister Austin Gatt, but we do not want to forget what he had done in IT, and Im more than sure that the fault for this fiasco goes to MT,an authority driven by unprofessional management.
After all they have to be royal to their party, and not see only their personal agenda.
I, do not share that he will increase votes in the coming election. What he is aiming for is a minister post, no doubt about that.
But it is childish to vote against a minister about arriva.
We have to be honest with ourselves and see the bright side of arriva,and with some thinking we will make arriva a state of the art transport that we all want.
I, feel sorry that this issue is being as always have that political taste.We only see the bad, and not the good that came out of it.
Some one like Franco Debono, is not that happy with that goose that laid the golden eggs for him,
J.C. Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 11:23
Just a comment on the title of this article. It says "Debono keeps his party guessing" - In my opinion he is keeping all and sundry guessing. But we should remember that "laughs best, he who laughs last".
Whatever the result is, if we lose Austin we will lose the best PN minister we ever had. He had the stamina to move ahead whatever the 'adversaries of progress' say.
m. borg
Oct 30th 2011, 13:19
Even Gadaffi and Sadam "......had the stamina to move ahead .........."
.
See where it got them on the dung heap of history.
Tony Agius
Oct 30th 2011, 13:42
I AGREE 100% , and that is why the hypocrites attack him so much , not because they love Malta and the Maltese people , but because they can not accept to look around and see all that He accomplished in the right direction . Some are full of jealousy and hatred for Austin ( the Minister ) just because he realy delivered , not always with the best result , but good enough to pass the pole . No we must not cut off a tree that give fruit , but trim if necessary .
George Azzopardi
Oct 30th 2011, 14:32
@Tony Agius
totally disagree with you .. He had done some good stuff when he was IT Minister but now a days, I hear many PN supporters agreeing that Mr.Gatt's time is up and he's now doing more harm then good both to his party and Malta in general. Why even he stated that he will not continue! He, however, wanted to end with triumph when he introduced Arriva, thinking that this would be his biggest success but in fact ended with the biggest farse we know today!!
A Dimech
Oct 30th 2011, 11:23
This is al fuss for nothing as I believe Dr Debono will not abstain. He will come out in the last minute with a comment " I believe that the minister is taking enough steps now to make Arriva work...." or soemthing like that and he will vote with the government.
The pressure will be on him to vote with the government.... I am sure.
so stop debating this - as it is not going to happen.
The only issue is that if Debono bends down now, he would loose all credibility. We will not believe him when the next argument comes!!
G. Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 11:21
Is-sur Debono minghalih qieghed jilabgha tal-pampalun, imma min jidhaq l-ahhar jidhaq l-ahjar, jghidu ! Jekk minghalih se jwaqqa l-gvern, x'se jaghmel wara ? Jerga johrog ghal-elezzjoni mal PN ? Certi nies ma nafx kif jahdem mohhom. Grazzi tal-hsara li qieghed taghmel Sur Debono. Ibqa sejjer kif inti halli noholqu l-incertezza fis-solidita' tal-gvern u forsi wkoll ingerxu l-investiment barrani. Grazzi.
Henry Mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 11:16
Well let's call a spade a spade. Franco is in the lime light. Is he enjoying it? I sincerely hope so. Whether intentionally or not (I tend to believe that he genuinely believes in what he has been saying all along), he should because he has much more than halve the electorate behind him as I shall explain.
1. All those remotely siding with labour are squarely behind him for the obvious reasons;
2. All those who are suffering from gross arrogance, irrespective of their political belief are behind him;
3. All those who have been made house-bound and those that are arriving late for work, are behind him;
4. All those who are suffering from the high Pollution levels, especially in the South of Malta, are behind him;
5. All those who really want justice to be done at the law courts are behind him;
6. All those who are suffering seeing their beloved Malta being ruined by nonsense MEPA decisions (such as the latest Ghaxaq garden to be turned into 30 maisonettes) are behind him;
7. All those with a level-head are behind him.
So why should Franco be afraid to speak his mind and act in a manner he truly believes in?
It is not Franco who is destabilizing the government but it is Gonzi and those close to him that have become so immune to what and how the people feel, that they keep on bulldozing as if tomorrow will never come.
As for Franco’s political career, I think that he is intelligent enough to way his options. But if anyone who voted for him in the past does not do so again, it would be that individual’s loss and not Franco’s because as experience has shown us, people are governed by those that they truly deserve.
Ken Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 18:31
well said.
francis Buhagiar
Oct 30th 2011, 11:12
we should be greatful to Dr. Debono as he is the only real politition in Malta who is risking his political career to safe guard the intetests of the Maltese people.
John Caruana
Oct 30th 2011, 10:53
We need responsible politicians like Dr Debono
j brincat
Oct 30th 2011, 10:52
@Robert Galea
Quote: "Il-konsumatur qieghed jiehu servizz ahjar. (Minn jghid il-kontra huwa giddieb)"
Have you been living in outer space since July and so may be feeling a bit disoriented?
And please, mind your language!
(jb)
Robert Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 16:12
Fl-oppozzijoni sakemm titghallem ma tiddiskriminax u tirrispettana lilna in-nazzjonalisti ghalhekk waqajt fil-1998 u ghadhekk l-istess.
Ken Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 10:40
At J. Schembri
KINDLY NOTE THAT IT WAS THE ELECTORATE THAT DECIDED TO ELECT HON FRANCO DEBONO INSTEAD OF HELEN DAMATO AND LOUIS GALEA
And also for your information HON Franco Debono till his very first election to date always increased his first count votes, and it is a huge achievement considering his hometown Ghaxaq was no more under the 5th district.
And rests assure that I am convinced that he will increase his first one votes once again, time will tell…
Philip Hili
Oct 31st 2011, 12:58
@ Ken Spiteri
Ken, ma twilidniex il-bierah ta!! Tinsulentax l-intelligenza tal-qarreja b'kitbietek. Hallina xbin!!!
Mary Ann Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 10:33
@Frans H Said: Dream on. Franco Debono will get a real taste of democracy when the coming election comes up, whenever that happens. He will learn how much he is in sync with the same people who elected him in the first place. In the meantime, Tuesday will see Lawrence at Castille and you and Joseph waiting for the next 'hope' of toppling the present government, not by your arguments but by people within the governing party.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Oct 30th 2011, 10:18
If the government is to punished for the bus fiasco then it is up to the electorate to rightly do so at the next general election. A government assistant and MP is expected to show loyalty to his party which elected him or alternatively resign if for whatever reason he is feeling uncomfortable within the party . We do not want weak leaders and governments. I trust that the PM will call him to his office (not humiliate himself by going to FD's home) and make it clear to him that if he does not obey a three line whip he will be suspended from the party. FD is no DOM and while his political career is probably already compromised he must surely realize the dire consequences his abstaining could have on his career as who would trust a disloyal professional.
FRANS H SAID
Oct 30th 2011, 10:40
So according to you we are linimng in a dictatorship. What is the difference between Hitler, Mussolini,Gaddafi, Sadam Hussein, Franco, Mubarrak, Idi Amin? They all imposed their ideas. The party is never bigger than the people. If you and those like you feel so confident, call an election now. With all the triming before the next election the people are now fed up of arrogance. Die hard nationalists are promising to vote labour. Millions upon millions when fenech cannot even find a 100 million to balance. Start counting 400 million of the Piano fiasco, 4 million of the Tritons fountain, 55 for a bus service that doen provide a service, and the list goes on.
Are you sure that you are proud to support intransigence? If the PN realy honours the people it shoud re-install the previous terminus otherwise all Malta (except a few blinded) will condemn the PN for oblivion.
But is seems that is what certain so called nationalists want so that they coul get rid of Gonzi and put humpty dumpty in the lead. I dare ask the question - Is there a so called secret society working behind the scenes?
Ken Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 10:46
Dear profs - sorry but I cannot agree - god forbid if we end up with a remote control MP's - one cannot wait 5 years - and why in this little island of ours always the electorate has to decide on others faults, no one has to assume hi responsibility be accountable and do the right thing.
We need to thank god if we have MP's like Hon Debono.
A Dimech
Oct 30th 2011, 11:19
@Albert Gandao -
I never liked your way of thinking and today it reached the Apex. one question then:-
"If the government is to punished for the bus fiasco then it is up to the electorate to rightly do so at the next general election. A government assistant and MP is expected to show loyalty to his party which elected him or alternatively resign if for whatever reason he is feeling uncomfortable within the party . "
Why do we have a voting system in parliament? the whole political and democratic process depends on voting in parliament ?!!! I am not sure what you are going on about!!
and where were you when Mintoff voted Sant's government down?!! it was a parliamentary vote...
Hallina Ganado!
Tony Agius
Oct 30th 2011, 10:14
Franco ghandu ghadma ibsa xijgerrem, li ghazila Huwa stess , vera li snienu sodi u kapaci jgerima , izda jider carr li waqt li Franco jista jkompli jgerrem l' ghadam li jghazel Huwa stess , hadiehor ser jiekol il - laham li Franco mhux qieghed jibza ghalih.
Emma Grima
Oct 30th 2011, 10:14
Wouldn't like to be in the Speaker's shoes if Franco abstains!!! He's got his own history with regards to Transport. If he votes in favour he'll be accused of voting in favour of his party, if he votes against he'll be accused of forgetting his past omelettes!!!! Hahaha. Anothe osap to look forward to this week.
FRANS H SAID
Oct 30th 2011, 10:09
Let us hope that Debono is no chicken. The latest changes are no changes at all. It is still the limited slots at the Main terminus as el Supromo does not want to add anything. He still wants to make sure that the hole is visible. Could this be because like this there will be an obscene sight?
PN has lost all sense of decency.
At the same time, the two princes of SPB still have their way as the old routes 49 & 58 have not been reinstalled. This means that not even Dr Michael Gonzi has been heard. Thus the PM does not even trust his own brother.
The longer this rigmarole will go on, the bogger the loss of the PN. Wake up Gonzi, some-one in the party is undermining you, stabbing you in the back "et tu Brutus". Get rid of el supremo. If you will be faced with an early election, then all Malta will know that el supremo is not a genuine Nationist but an opportiunist.
Wake up and get rid of him one way or the other.
JOE ZAHRA
Oct 30th 2011, 10:08
Why did Mr Gatt refused the resignationrequest of Mr Delia, Does Mr Gatt beleave that there is NO PROBLEM with the routes. Ask the people that need the buses every day to get work. ask the people of Valletta who,s shops are empty, due to people unable to get to Valletta
Alfred Vassallo
Oct 30th 2011, 11:11
Quote
''Why did Mr Gatt refused the resignation request of Mr Delia'', simple otherwise he too would have to do it!!!!
You see, one can ask anything from a pn BUT never resignation...Ma tarax....ara Alla biss ikun jaf x'ghamel biex jitla hemm u imbad x'hadd jejdlu biex jirezenja!!!!!!!! u ma tarax.....Umbad....????
Victor Vella
Oct 30th 2011, 09:56
There is not only Debono that this party in shambles is keeping its supporters guessing. This is only an illusion to keep the people offtrack from disillusioned people running the Muppet show in the PN. There were the dentist JPO, Mugliett, J.P farrugia et al who always threatened and lashed out against the government that they form part of. Then when they come to decide what to do they all went like dogs with their tail behind their legs. This time is not going to be an exception. Bla Bla Bla u paroli si fatti no. There is nothing to keep on guessing. This man like his accollates is trying to run the Muppet show of his beleaguered party.
Robert Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 09:50
Ma hawnx dan id-dizastru li qieghed jghid il-labour. Tal-Labour Qedin jiktbu jivvintaw. Jekk hemm bzonntoqghod fl-oppozzizjoni ghal ommrok LABOUR.
Ir-Riforma.
il-Gvern kien johrog madwar 10 miljuni fis-sena u issa ser johrog nofs il-flus. Aktar minn hekk jekk l-arriva taghmel il-profit thallas it-taxxa.Fost l-oghola wahda ghal business u kumpanija fl-ewropa dik ta 35%.
qabel kien jahdemb'500 tal-linja issa ser jahdem, 200 wara li jzid dawk tal-gimgha id-diehla.
Mentri qabel kell bzonn jbiddel 500 tal-linja u kien qieghed jbiiddilhom meta jbiddel l-ahhar wahda mill-qodma nett dawk li kien biddel jerga jibda jbiddilhom.
Ghaliex binqas tal-linja
qabel tal-linja kienu jghamlu 30 minuta u aktar il-belt wieqaf issa ma jghamlux aktar 30 minuta u aktar wieqaf minhabba li ix-xifts huma inqas. Aktar minn hekk tal-linjakienet tad-driver qabell u allura meta dan jzarma tal-linja izzarma issa le tal-linja gejja u sejra u ma tieqaf qatt.
Il-kwalita ta tal-linja tjiebet indubjament. U minn jghid il-kontra qieghed jigdeb.
Kien hemm bzonn tibdil f'certu rotot ghax kien hemm housing estates godda u ohrajn li kibru u allura la kont qieghed taqdi lin-nies sew u kont qieghed titlef il-flus ukoll. Kien hemm bzonn jimbidlu ir-rotot ghax kif kienu qabel ma kienux qedin jghamlu profit.
Apparti minn hekk il-fares iffishom il-gvern ghax is-suq huwa monopolju u alluar kieku halla kollox f'idejn il-privat dan kien jghollihom kemm jrid hu u meta jrid apparti minn hekk iffisshom ghal 10 snin li mhux cajta.
il-fares huma fissi ghal kullimkien u allura ahjar ghal konsumatur.
IL-gvern qieghed jitfa fi flus rikkorrenti inqas minn qabel u qieghed jitfahhom go sistema efficenti u qieghed jitfahhom fejn hemm verament bzonn jigifieri go nghit routes go rotot li ma jghamlux profit u fil-fares.
Ghaliex 4 postijiet u mhux aktar tal-linja jmorru kollha il-belt biex ma jinholoqz traffik il-belt. IL-problem hija li Malta kibret madwar il-belt Valletta u allura is-servizzi u ix-xogholijiet huma koncentrati dawk in-nahat. Ara kieku l-ibliet u is-servizzi huma inferxin kullimkien l-istess madwar Malta kieku ma ghandniex problema. Ara Ghawdex inbena aktar evenly distributed u allura hemm inqas problema ta traffik apparti ragunijiet ohra li hemm popolazzjoni izghar.
Ir-Rizultat tar-Riforma huw ali kullhad mar ahjar.
Ix-xufiera li kien hemm qabel hadu is-somma u jistghu jsibu xoghol iehor.
Il-konsumatur qieghed jiehu servizz ahjar. (Minn jghid il-kontra huwa giddieb)
Il-gvern qieghed jiffranka minn-nefqa rikkorrenti tieghu.
Il-privat qieghed jonqoslu l-isspejjez u jista jopera tajjeb
U inholloq aktar xoghol mill kien hemm qabel.
Amuch needed reform.
JEKK HERMM BZONN IL-LABOUR JOQGHOD FL-OPPOZZJONI GHAL OMMRU.
R. Cilia
Oct 30th 2011, 10:05
Imbad veru nigu bhal Libja taht Gaddafi Sur Galea!
Francois Pace
Oct 30th 2011, 10:11
Sur Galea,
Nahseb mintiex tghix Malta , filkass mhur fittex tabib ta!!!
FRANS H SAID
Oct 30th 2011, 10:13
I have pity on people like you that for sheer bias in favour of your party you are ignoring the hardship being suffered by nearly all the Maltese.
In history it will be recorded that the Piano project was the classical Trojan Horse. Time will show the underhand moves to obtain a good part of the 400 million being wasted on a city with a hole!
Franklyn Brincat
Oct 30th 2011, 10:29
Thanks for the info, though I'm sure that most of us are interested in the service and nothing else, and that up till now is not up 2 standard.
James Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 13:40
@Robert Galea
"Il-konsumatur qieghed jiehu servizz ahjar. (Minn jghid il-kontra huwa giddieb)" Skuzani ta imma nahseb li qed tghid jghodd hafna ghalik. Min vera qed juza s-servizz biss jista' jghid li kemm huwa ahjar (jew ahjar nghidu aghar). Fost dawk li qed jghidu li s-servizz mar ahjar hemm apologisti ghall-gvern, nies li qeghdin jghixu f'delusjoni totali u ohrajn li kif jifthu halqhom imnehirhom jikber aktar minn ta' Pinokkjo. Taht liema kategorija taqa' Mr Galea? Forsi t-tlieta li huma.
Robert Galea
Oct 30th 2011, 15:59
Labour is paying for his past. Maqtuh mir-realta minn ilu dawn is-snin kollha fl-oppozzizjoni. Il-Labour jivvota labour no matter what . u mhux in-nazzjonalisti. Tinsiex li jien nirkibha l-arriva kulljum u nahseb wiehed mill-ftit mill qieghed nara li diga ghamilt is-aver card.
Minn jrid jkun jaf fuq ir-Riforma jfiteex Public Transport Reform in Malta bus and Taxi. Hawn minn ma jikber qatt. Tell Franco Debono that we will not abstain in the next election. U ma ahniex ser nahsbuha.
Charles Micallef
Oct 30th 2011, 09:48
Please let us stop dreaming that Sir Arrogant Extreme will be ever pushed out!
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Oct 30th 2011, 09:45
Dr. Franco Debono will not abstain. There is much more than the public service involved in this scenario. The public service has publicily been admitted that it was a flop and measures have been taken to remedy the situation. This should be a case closed for Dr. Debono, but as I said there is a lot more than one can predict.
This is all a poticial issue between Nationalist candidates in the 5th district and the more that Dr . Debono makes a fuss about the involvement of Mr Delia the more that he stands to gain from his consistuents.
He however, is not realising that in doing so he is creating and spliting his district in pro or against and the labour stands to gain.
The blogs is a clear indication that the labour are not just after the resignation of Austin Gatt but also the resignation of the PN. S O U R G R A P E S. Dr. L Gonzi is dealing with this issues and not Dr. Alfred
Sant. The PN will remain in office till the last day to deliver the ongoing progress registered and acknowledged by all European Neighbours and big Guns like the U.S. At present there are various local projects being implimented such as the Valletta Marsa Menqa Project, the Mellieha/Cirkawa project, The dock area in Cospicua, The Luqa road, The Valletta Entrance, the Public Bus service itself and much more. All these will be in shape by the time of the elections.
To compliment my argument I do not want to miss on other public service such as Health etc.
JUDGE ME FROM WHAT I DO AND NOT FROM WHAT I PROMISE.
The electorate will have the last laugh and Dr. Franco Debono will realise that trying to distabilse the PN to please the labourites will not get him elected. This is my personal opinion and only time will tell.
E. Vassallo
Oct 30th 2011, 10:25
Spot on. Every one is realising that Franco Debono is an attention seeker. The more people I speak to, the more I realise what a barmy fellow this Franco Debono is.
Paul Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 09:29
Ma tindunax Franco li hawn min qed jghoxa jinqeda bik u jtik in-nar biex isawwat lill-Partit Nazzjonalista u jiddevja l-attenzjoni minn fuq il-frejjeg li qghedin jaghmlu u jghidu.
Austin Gatt huwa ministru li fill-pajjiz dahhal riformi kbar,gab investimenti u hellisna minn miljuni ta' ewro li konna nhallsu lil azjendi falluti.
Franco tkomplix timita lil tal-PL li jaraw fejn ikun hemm xi skuntentiizzi u jibdew jilghabuha tal-pampaluni.
V. CALLEJA
Oct 30th 2011, 09:19
Hope that Franco will not be "PUPPET ON A STRING' and keep his word.........
V. Cauchi
Oct 30th 2011, 09:15
One, no one "toes" any line unless one has strong toe nails to TOW with.
Two, the Speaker may cast his vote in the case of a Resolution. What about the Budget Debate in a few weeks time when the vote is taken on individual ministries, with a proposed reduction of the traditional lira/ euro according to a Westminster convention? In case of an abstention, would that entail the Speaker casting his vote or outright dismissal/ resignation? Problem is we have a written constitution which at times we tend to spice with Westminster conventions, but only at times. Are we really bound by these conventions or do we just use them whenever they suit us?
Three, a possible solution. Why not get Public Transport out of the political fray by putting it in the hands of a "super minister" who responds directly to the Prime Minister who in turn responds to the House? Given the amount of novel university courses on management, systems and whatnot, there must be an academic independent person, somehow, somewhere, who could, together with an equally academic independent commission, solve problems. Naturally, a lawyer would always be needed to solve contract amendment or resolution issues.
j brincat
Oct 30th 2011, 09:12
I bet myself one Euro cent that at the end of the day he will vote against the Opposition's motion (deja vu).
Who knows how much huffing and puffing has gone by behind the scene?
(jb)
Joe Diacono
Oct 30th 2011, 09:11
What a farce shows that elections are just round the corner. What better way to grab atention and play on our sentements. Sorry Dr: Debono but the writing on the walll is too obvious.
Joseph E Briffa
Oct 30th 2011, 09:10
Judging by what Dr Debono is reported to have said regarding a possible scenario; namely Dr Gatt's resignation and subsequent refusal of the resignation by the PM, one would be forgiven for concluding that Dr Debono's main concern is not the transport reform but rather a personal crusade against Dr Gatt and his right hand man who will be contesting the elections in the same district of Dr Debono. One would also have thought that Dr Debono would have realised that only irresponsible people resign half way through a task, thereby passing the buck to somebody else. One could also conclude that Dr Debono might be very much interested in completing the task himself and show everybody how adept he is in transport matters.We'll wait and see.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 30th 2011, 08:57
Franco will not abstain. Issa drajnieh, paroli si fatti no.
Alfred Bugeja
Oct 30th 2011, 08:55
The bulk of the €55 million that the reform cost went for the purchase of the 506 bus vehicle licenses from the bus owners. On average, these cost €90,000 per bus. So you do the math.
If Dr. Debono wants a return to the old system where the owners of the buses had the freedom to decide for themselves what kind and level of service they wanted to provide, let him say it. Of course, it would be perfectly understandable since most bus owners come from his constituency.
V Mercieca
Oct 30th 2011, 08:55
We have seen it in the past.
I will say “Prosit” to Franco Debono after the vote or rather his intended abstention.
I bet my bottom dollar that he will cast his vote with the rest of his colleagues not to embarrass his government.
Joe Fenech
Oct 30th 2011, 08:26
Well done to people like Franco who are introducing democracy to the country! AUSTIN : OUT !!!
stephen koludrovic
Oct 30th 2011, 08:24
One never knows, maybe Dr. Gatt could be on his way to be boarded out on an early retirerment scheme ?
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 08:51
LOL ! ha ha would not be surprised a couple of months before the next election such scheme would come into force !
joseph mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 08:23
prosit francoibqa zomm sod jekk ghandek il hsieb li tastjeni mil vot astjeni.ftakar li sur gatt qed jinbotta li sur delia biex johrog fuq il 5 distrett fejn tohrog int.franco kompli zomm sod.nies bhalek nridu fil parlament ma jibzawx.
Elizabeth Lama
Oct 30th 2011, 08:11
How many people lost their jobs or had to leave their job how are they going to change that?
Mario Grima
Oct 30th 2011, 08:10
Will he vote with the opposition, will he vote against the motion, will he abstain. Heard that before from the same Dr. Debono. The man has caused enough ripples and all for political mileage, which is exactly what he was aiming for. He will vote with the government as happened the last time when we witnessed such drama in the energy issue. In Maltese such people are called 'Pinnuri'
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 08:42
Such people are called people's representatives, you want to turn him in a puppazz. People like him might save the PN, since in the last election PN supporters who would otherwise have voted MLP voted for him, thus voting MPs who were not acting in the interest of their costituents out of parliament and leaving PN in power. If PN does not take heed of people like Franco Debono, these same voters might decide to vote PN out come next election.
Joe Spiteri Gauci
Oct 30th 2011, 08:05
Prosit Franco ..... ibqa sejjer hekk, jien kburi bik kemm bhala nazzjonalist u wisq akta bhala ragel Ghaxqi, nies bhalek haqqhom kull ammirazzjoni. Keep it up .... la f'dan il-pajjiz il-kelma accountability tezisti biss fuq il-karta u hadd m'ghandu l-gazz igorr ir-responsabilitajiet tieghu ta bniedem reseponsabbli
Patricia Mifsud
Oct 30th 2011, 08:04
These bullying tactics by back-benchers have to be curbed. Today it's one thing, if the PM gives in to him, others with personal grudges or delusions of grandeur may follow suit.. The country cannot be held hostage by these people. Let him try to bring the government down and then we'll see if he gets re-elected.
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 08:33
What a true democrat you are! The country cannot be held hostage by the likes of Franco Debono, but it can be kept hostage by the likes of Austin Gatt, who very arrogantly expects the whole island to arrive late for work or leave home three hours before work starts, or walk for half an hour to get a bus, while he gets in his chauffeur driven Jacquar and arrives at his destination in time and very comfortably. It is not the country who is being held hostage, but the regime of the FEW PN members who have hijacked not only the PN but the country. The sooner we get rid of this Regime the better both for the PN and for the whole country.
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 08:55
Wow, your writings are a true lesson and model of democracy! Yes, yes, why not threaten him at gunpoint perhaps?
Anthony Mifsud Bonnici Giordani
Oct 30th 2011, 08:01
Il-PN dejjem inghaqad kontra l-interssi tal-haddiem. U hekk jerga jigri. Debono jghaddilu. Issa taraw. “softening up” qal. Meta se nitghallmu?
Victor Vella
Oct 30th 2011, 07:52
With a possible resignation or throwing out of Dr Gatt , Dr Franco Debono would insist that he takes Dr Gatt's place in the cabinet..LOL what a frikking big head you are Dr Debono, u inti tahseb li il Prim ministru ser jaqbez minn got tagen ghal gon nar?by the way Dr Gatt's advisor xorta ser johrog fuq id distrett tieghek.
J. Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 07:52
Dr Franco Debono likes the limelight and his parliamentary seat.
I suppose that if he has one of his family members in hospital all he has to do is visit him or her at a convinient time slot .People can now visit hospitals at various time slots during the day. Is he still defending his clients in court?
Another plonker with a tight schedule! By any chance did he attend the same school together with Joseph?
I suspect that Franco Debono’s only targets are the candidates of his party in his constituency , one of them is Dr Gatt’s right hand man Manuel Delia.
He already eliminated Dr Loius Galea and Helen D’Amato and gloated about it on this paper :
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080316/local/behold-a-new-honourable-member-is-in-town.200517
Good to note that Dr Herman Schiavone was eliminated in 2003 with an malicious anonymous letter which proved to be untrue.
The PN executive should crack the whip at this attention seeker who would do anything not to lose his seat in parliament . His only remote chance of getting elected is with the PN, so Dr Gonzi should call his bluff and give him the only choice either to toe the party line or a party membership suspension(if it exists) until the executive “decides”.Dr Eddie Fenech Adami went on a stretcher against doctor’s orders to vote in parliament, and this village lawyer wants to abstain and embarrass his Prime Minister by abstaining to vote.
Observers should keep a lookout for dirty tricks in the fifth district.
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 08:31
At least this village Doctor is not afraid to show his complete name and surname ! Mr J. SCHEMBRI.
Joseph Farrugia
Oct 30th 2011, 09:40
Don't worry Mr Farrugia, we voters from the 5th district already know, that come next election, Dr Debono will not have our vote like last time. Attention seeker is all that he is.
C. Muscat
Oct 30th 2011, 07:47
Hon. Franco Debono is RIGHT in this Issue...is wrong because he is not the Prime Minister and he is not the leader of the PN.
The issue at this moment should be a united nation to correct the bus system. First we need to accept that it is a disaster; second we need to accept that arrive tried to take us for a ride by thinking maltese citizens are like sardines in preserve cans.
Arriva decided to bring bendy buses and calculated that we can fill so many buses and do not cater for times with low occupancy.
Do not forget that the fares were raised and the routes were decreased and the waiting time on the stages became horrible.
Let us unite to turn the disaster of arriva buses into the service we were promised when we increased the old buses from 500 to 550 licences.
G Schembri
Oct 30th 2011, 08:37
Yes let us unite Next Friday at 6 pm in Valletta.
jesmond zammit
Oct 30th 2011, 07:35
ma narax ghala ,jekk gatt jigi sfiducjat , gonzi ghandu jibqa jmexxi l pajjiz .
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 08:23
Gonzi mhux qed imexxi il pajjiz !! imma erba min tal klikka qedin !!!
Carmel Xuereb
Oct 30th 2011, 07:30
Stick to your guns Dr. Debono biecaus although Dr. Austin Gatt shoulder the responsability of the whole farsical mess he didn't do the right thing as oher Western Ministers would have done long time ago and RESIGN. He seems to be afraid of climbing down from his high chair so he needs someone to push him down and that means you have to do it. You've got brains and guts in you I know because I follow you everwhere even when you are doing you Advocate job in court, yu are great. So keep in shape and do not scramble. Good luck Dr. Debono and I wish that your relative will get a quick recovery.
Ian Bugeja
Oct 30th 2011, 07:26
I ask 1 simple question.... Will sacking the Minister suddenly make the Bus system efficient and our roads better?
mark borg
Oct 30th 2011, 08:28
1 Simple answer : Of course not . However your argument is irrelevant,as the minister needs to be sacked for causing a big burden on the society,he was trusted and voted by the people, however failed big time and is causing hardship on many people,so yes he needs to get out . One question ,what would happen to your job if you manange to ruin the company you work for ? Let alone someone creates a nation wide disaster like tkis fiasco !
Jo Meli
Oct 30th 2011, 07:03
Hon. Franco Debono is RIGHT in this Issue and the Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationalist Party is not doing what is expected of him to do, that of SACKING the Minister RESPONSIBLE of this GRAND FARSICAL MESS, the one and only, Dr Agostino Pio Gatt.
TRUE is the fact that Dr. Agostino Pio Gatt has limited talent, as declared by Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationalist Party Dr Lawrence Gonzi, BUT, one has to admit that Dr Agostino Pio Gatt is the BEST of these lesser inferiors in Dr Gonzi's Cabinet.
Had I been in Dr Agostino Pio Gatt's situation I would resign as a matter of PRINCIPLE as WESTERN DEMOCRACY demands !
joseph saliba
Oct 30th 2011, 14:16
Agostino Pio Gatt. How I like that name. Sounds great.
Charles Micallef
Oct 30th 2011, 06:50
WHAT A LOAD OF plonkas