Updated: Magistrate fines Toni Abela for contempt of court after outburst
Galea Curmi forwarded e-mail to Lou Bondi'
Updated - Adds comment by Edgar Galea Curmi -
Magistrate Francesco Depasquale this morning fined lawyer Toni Abela €250 after Dr Abela shouted at him during proceedings in a libel case.
The Magistrate also warned Dr Abela that the court would not tolerate such behaviour. In the records of proceedings, the Magistrate noted that Dr Abela had shouted at the court and insulted it. He warned that unless Dr Abela paid the fine by the next sitting, in early, February, he would take all the necessary steps against him.
The outburst took place when the court was hearing a libel case instituted by Edgar Galea Curmi, the prime minister's chief of staff, against the managing editor of MediaToday, Saviour Balzan.
Mr Galea Curmi complained about an article by Mr Balzan entitled Throwback to Mintoffian times in which it was alleged that Mr Galea Curmi had leaked a story about Harry Vassallo and outstanding VAT payments. It was claimed that Mr Galea Curmi had gone to Mr Balzan's house to give him details of the story.
Giving evidence today, Mr Galea Curmi denied the claims and said he never even had this information about Dr Vassallo. One would have been stupid to believe that the story would have done any good to the Nationalist electoral campaign, and one would be even more stupid to leak this story to MaltaToday, which was so anti-government.
He said he found out about the case during a press conference when MediaLink journalist Ray Abdilla asked Harry Vassallo about the outstanding VAT payments.
Mr Galea Curmi said he had written to Mr Miruzzi at the court registry to find out what this case was all about since the police were to institute proceedings.
Mr Galea Curmi said the article in MaltaToday was written in a way which linked it to the Cyrus Engerer case and implied that he could have done something against Cyrus's father.
In cross examination by Dr Abela, Mr Galea Curmi said he did go to Saviour Balzan's house, in February 2008. At the time, Mr Balzan was going through a difficult time. Mr Balzan had asked to speak to him but could not leave the house.
He could not remember who opened the door and what he (Galea Curmi) was carrying, but it was not a file.
The conversation primarily was about problems in the health service, particularly the oncology ward, and how they could be sorted out.
Mr Galea Curmi said that in another article, Mr Balzan also alleged that during his visit, he had leaked information about alleged mental problems suffered by a certain Joe Said.
The two stories, about Harry Vassallo and Joe Said, came out three-and-a-half years after they allegedly happened, Mr Galea Curmi said, in an attempt to back up arguments that he had allegedly acted against Cyrus Engerer.
Mr Galea Curmi said that during his visit, he remembered that Mr Balzan brought up the subject about Mr Said, and he had told him that the prime minister did not like this type of information to the be used in the electoral campaign.
Mr Galea Curmi, replying to questions, confirmed that Mr Said had filed a complaint against him before the Data Protection Commissioner about the forward of an e-mail, but lost his case. The case involved an e-mail praising the government, which Mr Said had sent to the prime minister and which he (Galea Curmi) forwarded to a third person.
Replying to a question by Dr Abela, Mr Galea Curmi said he had forwarded the e-mail to Lou Bondi'. He explained that Mr Said had first praised Dr Gonzi in the e-mail, then criticised him on a television programme.
Asked if this e-mail was forwarded before or after the meeting with Saviour Balzan, Mr Galea Curmi said he did not know.
At this point Magistrate Depasquale asked Dr Abela what this had to do with the case before the court. He said questioning had gone off at a tangent. He asked him not to resort to theatrics (xenati) because of the presence of the press.
Dr Abela shouted at the Magistrate to let him do his job and said he was being constantly interrupted by lawyer Joe Attard Maempel.
The Magistrate said he expected far better behaviour from a lawyer and politician of certain experience, and he immediately fined him €250 for contempt of court.
Dr Abela noted in the court proceedings that while he was conducting cross-examination, he was continuously interrupted.
The magistrate in putting off the case, warned Dr Abela that unless he paid the fine by the next sitting, he would take all the necessary steps against him.
EDGAR GALEA CURMI REACTS
In a eaction to comments submitted by readers, Mr Galea Curmi this evening said:
"For the information of your readers, on the 3 February 2008, I sent the following extract from an email Mr. Joe Said had sent to the Prime Minister after he met him on the 23/12/2008, a meeting to which he referred as "tat-tmejjil" in a TV programme on the 14 January 2008:
"I must so heartily thank you for your time and patience afforded to me last Friday morning. You are an exceptional man, the Lawrence I had met years ago at your dear uncle's residence during some of his socials at his residence in St Paul's Bay. I cannot remember of many politicians who remained so humble, especially when reaching the status of Prime Minister." (Email from Jo Said to PM, dated 23/12/07)
"In the TV programme referred to above, Mr. Joe Said had said the following on PM Gonzi: "Fejn qabel dik is-'smile' ta' Gonzi kienet 'smile' f'dik is-siegha u nofs [concerning the same meeting referred to in the extract above] 'that smile became a smirk' jigifieri, skond kif deskritta minnu stess tfisser 'qed jitmellah bik"
"The Data Protection Commissioner had dismissed the complaint that Mr.Joe Said had filed against the Prime Minister on the basis that disclosing the above extract was "justified to defend the Prime Minister's legitimate interests", Mr Galea Curmi said.
(The Data Protection Commissioner's report was published at the end of July 2008).
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Philip Hili
Dec 7th 2011, 13:25
Ricetta ta' kif ikunu mhaddma il-qrati tal-Gustizzja taht il-PL!!!!!!!!
Oqghodu attenti ghax wara jista' jkun tard wisq!!!!!!!!!!!
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 6th 2011, 11:11
I always thought that if correspondence was for the the receiver's eyes only, it had to be stated to be so. Doesn't the same apply to verbal exchanges?
Aren't the rules of disclosure governed by presence (or absence) of a header saying "Without Prejudice" or "Private and Confidential".
If someone makes an allegation against me in a public forum, can he thumb his nose at me in an email in the knowledge that the email cannot be used to prove his allegation is malicious?
Just interested to know, rather than be judgemental.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 6th 2011, 08:33
This is just one more proof that under this regime the separation between party and Government has ceased to exist. For them any action is legitimate if it helps the party, no matter how unethical it is.
Galea Curmi abused of his position when he emailed supposedly confidential information which passed between the PM and a Maltese citizen to a "journalist" who is a friend of the PN, punto a basta.
In any country which values accountability and good governance, he would have been oblige to resign the minute it became known.
Not in Banana Republics, of course.
NOTE: I put the word "journalist" in inverted commas out of respect to all true journalists.
Joe Brincat-LL.D
Dec 6th 2011, 06:52
I think I remember a prominent Nationalist MP, who went even higher than being an MP, who was found guilty of contempt of court.
Apart from that, shrill and convulsive arguments in court are not conducive to a proper administration of justice. So is also the undue interference of the bench especially during cross-examination.
A similar interesting case Kyprianou v Cyprus, decided in 2005 by the full Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, went in favour of the lawyer. Mr Kyprianou was interrupted by the Judge and there was an outburst from the lawyer. The Judge condemned him to a fine of approximately Euro 130. The matter escalated.
What perturbs me in this report is the reference to the Data Protection Act. It is highly misused in our country. There are other laws which cover confidentiality. The Data Protection Act refers to the processing, and I repeat the processing, of data. Is revealing the identity card number of a person against the Act ? Many would say yes. But then you can find it printed in the Electoral Register.
What is at issue here is confidentiality. A bank has confidentiality. A Notary Public has no confidentiality about contracts or public deeds, but may have confidentiality about private writings. A hospital has confidentiality about my health, but it may also process data from my file and from other files. The Public Registry gathers information about our births, marriages, and even divorces now. You may go and get copies of my birth and marriage certificates, if you know the dates. If I use the electoral register to process a database of all those born in 1992, with their addresses, and some other details, then I am processing personal data.
In the case of public officers, our Criminal Code states Art 133 - "133. Any public officer or servant who communicates or publishes any document or fact, entrusted or known to him by reason of his office, and which is to be kept secret, or who in any manner facilitates the knowledge thereof, shall, where the act does not constitute a more serious offence, be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine (multa)."
As you may see, the most important aspect is "which is to be kept secret".
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 6th 2011, 10:58
Dr Brincat, as I remember from having to secure my own rights in UK, the DPA does not protect data that is needed for submission to a court in the event of legal action that is going to be taken or defended. My first request was denied but when I insisted, I was given the information I had demanded.
If Malta's DPA is similar, then it would appear logical that data can be devolved to protect oneself.
I don't know if this is directly relevant to your thoughts immediately above.
Paul Giordimaina
Jan 24th, 17:19
Brincat thats arogance at its best because when you were in power you think that you are above the law,Do you remember the Blue sisters case?When the case was lost the then Prime Minister told the judge I made you a judge and I dismiss you but you never mention these things because you was one of the team.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2011, 20:48
@Jurgen Farrugia
"The new labour government presided by Joseph Muscat"
And you say nothing about emails from Castille being forwarded to a third party? Is this comfortable to you? To many it is NOT! And this is the crux of all the issue.
(jb)
Paul Giordimaina
Dec 7th 2011, 04:31
What irony writing on the paper which burnt down under Labour.You must have a very thick skin.You should close your big mouth and stay quiet.
Tony Agius
Dec 5th 2011, 20:46
Grazzi Toni , kompli sejjer hekk , mhux ta b'xejn li regghu gabruk lura maghhom fil Partit , grazzi habib kompli paxxina .
Carmel Xuereb
Dec 6th 2011, 06:43
Tigi l-elezzjoni dalwaqt u verament tkun qed titpaxxa sur Agius ser ikollok tidra fl-oppozizzjoni tinkwetax u thallatx il-hassa mal-b***. Tinsiex li huwa sigriet maghruf li f'kull istituzzjoni hi liema hi dejjem hemm dik l-enigma kontra min hu LABURIST u xi kulltant tkun ovja wisq biex thalliha ghaddejja. il-gurnata t-tajba siehebi.
Jurgen Farrugia
Dec 5th 2011, 20:38
The new labour government presided by Joseph Muscat.
A Bezzina
Dec 5th 2011, 20:13
This is a clear example of 'New Labour' ... and with that, I rest my case.
H. Psaila
Dec 5th 2011, 22:21
Is that what you call a new Labour with the same old faces and with the same arrogance. Nothing has changed in your party except the emblem.
Robert Pace Bonello
Dec 5th 2011, 20:05
What is wrong with these people?
Saviour Aquilina
Dec 5th 2011, 18:24
This is a show how IF THE PL BE IN POWER will act. They were and will be Arogance. I will NOT going to TRUST THEM.
A. Xuereb
Dec 5th 2011, 18:45
Galea Curmi forwarded e-mail to Lou Bondi'...u l dan tafdah?
Saviour Aquilina
Dec 5th 2011, 19:12
You forget already emails between Ms Aguis and J. Muscat???? Dak jista???
Mr D Borg
Dec 5th 2011, 20:57
@ Xuereb & Aquilina
It-tnejn qed turu kemm hi skaduta il-politika hawn Malta.....Qed issemmu il-hazin tal-partit l-iehor imma talpartit taghkhom tajjeb!
Mhux ta b'xejn li l-politikanti jghaddu romblu fuq il-poplu.
Mario J Spiteri
Dec 5th 2011, 18:07
Dr. Abela has no right to ask because he is in PL? That's an insult for us citizens.
pat muscat
Dec 5th 2011, 17:01
Mela, tiftah qalbek ma Kastilja fuq xi problema privata u jxandruk ma kullumkien; dik serjeta u civilta!
A Bezzina
Dec 5th 2011, 20:10
For example?!?!?! Do you have any case to refer us to?
Tony Borg
Dec 5th 2011, 20:22
Even MEPA files end up there too..........It was proven many times but none was done about it either.......
pat muscat
Dec 5th 2011, 22:33
The e-mail sent to Lou Bondi is a case in point and that.s, I presume , is the tip of the iceberg.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2011, 16:23
@Mr twanny borg
"x'tippretendi li persuna ifahhar lill-gvern u wara minuta imaqdru u l-gvern jostor xi jkun qal dan il-persuna? x'ghandha x'taqsam id-demokrazija? il-kawza hija fuq affarijiet ohra u toni haseb li qieghed f'xi kazin imdawwar ma' xi skoss imbicilli. toni provi irid ijig jew jiskuza ruhu"
With all due respect you are missing woods for the trees!
(jb).
j brincat
Dec 5th 2011, 16:20
@Antoine Vella
"if someone sends me an email, I have every right to forward it to whomever I want"
Yes Antoine ie in your personal capacity BUT not if you are the Head of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister. That's a completely different matter.
I hope you see the difference!
(jb)
Edward Gatt
Dec 5th 2011, 15:58
"Mr Galea Curmi, replying to questions, confirmed that Mr Said had filed a complaint against him before the Data Protection Commissioner about the forward of an e-mail, but lost his case. The case involved an e-mail praising the government, which Mr Said had sent to the prime minister and which he (Galea Curmi) forwarded to a third person."
To al those making comments about Galea Curmi ppasing on the email to Lou Bondi, please note that this case has been broguth to the Data Protection Commisioner and the case has been lost by Mr Said.
As far as I know, the appointment of the Data PRotection Commissioner is made by the prime minister after consultation of the leader of the opposition so he must enjoy the opposition trust. So why all these comments when someone who enjoys the opposiotion's confidence has decided that the re is no case about this.
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 22:47
The fuss is not about the email, the fuss is bacause the PL apologists here are keen to hide the fact tha they have become a party of opportunists, Joe Said, Engerer, the ex Sliema mayor and countless others.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2011, 15:39
So, if Galea Curmi (in his high position) resigning for passing an email to a third party?
This is the one million euro question!
I know the answer. But it should not be so!
(jb)
C Muscat
Dec 5th 2011, 15:25
I suggest to change the name of our dear island from malta to shambles!!LOL
Antoine Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 15:11
if someone sends me an email, I have every right to forward it to whomever I want.
Galea Curmi forwarded an email from, not about Joe Said so the comparison Toni Abela was trying to draw was unacceptable and the magistrate was very correct in not allowing him to waste the Court's time with his antics.
A. Xuereb
Dec 5th 2011, 15:54
if someone sends me an email, I have every right to forward it to whomever I want....YOU do not occupy the post of 'chief of staff' at the PM's office'.
David Farrugia
Dec 5th 2011, 15:59
If that is how you think, I doubt you ever worked in an office. Try forwarding confidential business emails to whomever you want! You won't last a day at work.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 5th 2011, 16:07
The email was sent to the Prime Minister, not to Galea Curm
So it was either sent without the PM's knowldge (in which case Galea Ciurmi is seriously at fault) or with the PM's permission - in which case the PM is at fault for sending private emails to a "journalist" (I use inverted commas out of respect to all real journalists).
Adrian Borg Cardona
Dec 5th 2011, 16:21
And why would Mr Galea Curmi bother to send this email to Lou Bondi? Since you know so much about these matter, perhaps you could explain what interest Mr Galea Curmi had to pass on a private email to the PM to to TV showman on PBS.
Anthony Busuttil
Dec 5th 2011, 16:45
this is not about cabbage and onions but serious business.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 5th 2011, 17:53
@ David Farrugia:
Is that why they plant "moles" in various departments?
@ Victor Laiviera:
It sometimes happens that people try flattery [ jincensaw ] before lobbying but revert to insults when their requests are not acceded to. I think it is perfectly legitimate to expose a two-faced exponent. Don't you?
mario micallef
Dec 5th 2011, 15:10
In all this political hubub,the only point that really struck me is the part of this article saying that there were problems in the Oncology Ward. Well I have news for you people...those problems still exist and anyone unfortunate enough to have to visit Boffa Hospital will know what I am talking about - gross incompetence,no hygien or infection control protocols. I saw someone taking blood from a patient with his finger up his nose some time ago!! And yes, little Melita in the Med will never change as long it is led by people willing to look the other way in order to line their pockets at someone else's expence.
Mark Cocker
Dec 6th 2011, 05:54
This is what worries me my friend.. some bloggers only seem to worry about an outburst in court during professional sittings by a lawyer that happens to be a PL hardworker, and not write about the real problems the everyday tax-payer is facing!!
No one is criticising the goverment for the fact that we already payed for a cancer branch in Mater Dei.. never built.. apart from the fact that Mater Dei cost boubled!!
Yes, you are right about Boffa Hospital.. it is humiliating.. dull.. and shameful for our goverment to let our dear relatives in such an atmosphere, even with dying plants in the garden and no maintenance.. just waiting for their death!!
Mr Joseph Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 15:06
'Galea Curmi admits forwarding e-mail to Lou Bondi'
This should have been the title!
Mr Joseph Scicluna
Dec 5th 2011, 15:06
Qiskhom tfal, kulhadd iwaddab il-gebel minn god djar tal-hgieg.
Mr C Galea
Dec 5th 2011, 15:02
I am not going to get involved here in politics regarding any party or any person or any magistrate or the court , however the background to the pressing issue/s seems to indicate the freedom of speech and the freedom of information or THE LACK of these basic human rights ? When are these democratic rights going to be TRULY INCORPORATED AS A PART OF OUR SOCIETY AND THE MEDIA AT LARGE IN MALTA ?????????????? Go for it Tony if you are right, make a change.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2011, 14:50
"Galea Curmi admits forwarding e-mail to Lou Bondi"
And how can a person who occupies the high position of the 'chief of staff' at the PM's office can possibly forward an email to a 'third person' whoever he is!
This is not acceptable in a modern democracy and in western countries where such thing happens there would be an immediate resignation. But have no high hopes at all that this would come about. After all we live in Malta aka the land of Mickey!.
(jb)
j brincat
Dec 5th 2011, 14:42
There is no prejudice at all (political or otherwise) in a funny place, once called Melita, which lies in the middle of the Mediterranean!
(jb)
Mr Alfred Grima
Dec 5th 2011, 14:30
I believe that the most suitable title for this news would have been “The Prime Minister's head of secretariat made an admission in court today that he had forwarded a confidential email”
joseph saliba
Dec 5th 2011, 14:19
Look who's being arrogant. Worthy of a P.L. (Progressive Liberal) member behaviour.
Richard Borg
Dec 5th 2011, 14:18
"Replying to a question by Dr Abela, Mr Galea Curmi said he had forwarded the e-mail to Lou Bondi'. He explained that Mr Said had first praised Dr Gonzi in the e-mail, then criticised him on a television programme."
I would like Mr Galea Curmi ta start forwarding all emails to myself as well. I pay taxes like Lou Bondi, I do not think he should have preferential treatment over other tax payers.
Maybe it has something to do with him having an "unbiased" show on PBS?
Anthony Farrugia
Dec 5th 2011, 14:15
Why not 48 hours in the cooler ?
Joseph Calleja
Dec 5th 2011, 15:07
Why not some Community Service? Very appropriate.
Marcus Iwanik
Dec 5th 2011, 14:13
PL...same people ..same ideas....
Ramon Mangion
Dec 5th 2011, 14:59
Mr Iwanik , Dr Abela was acting in his professional capacity of a lawyer. Please take back your ignorance of linking politics to a professional job. Reword your comment to
same bloggers... same stupidity
pat muscat
Dec 5th 2011, 14:10
Mela l-avukat tad-difiza jista xi hadd jaghmillu sarima ma halqu waqt li qed jiddefendi lil klient tieghu? Only in Malta!
Joseph E Briffa
Dec 5th 2011, 17:26
My dear pat muscat.......the magistrate is in charge in a court room, don't you know? Both defence and prosecutor have to abide by the magistrate's decisions; if they feel like they can always appeal to a higher court not shout at the magistrate.
Angus Black
Dec 5th 2011, 14:03
Is this an example of typical behaviour by a possible future deputy prime minister?
U halluna, tridux?
M Muscat
Dec 5th 2011, 15:30
Ghandek zball Angus, Toni Abela l-anqas jista jorog ghal elezzjoni ahseb u ara kemm ikun Vici Prim Ministru.
A. Xuereb
Dec 5th 2011, 15:39
Galea Curmi admits forwarding e-mail to Lou Bondi'
Adrian Borg Cardona
Dec 5th 2011, 16:24
"Angus Black", where you in court this morning? How exactly do you know how dr. Abela behaved? In another section of the press the matter was reported differently. You are as usual jumping to political conclusions.
Angus Black
Dec 5th 2011, 16:46
@ M Muscat
"... Toni Abela l-anqas jista johrog ghal elezzjoni.."
How so?
Victor Laiviera
Dec 5th 2011, 21:07
@Angus Black
As far as I know, the LP Statute bars the Deputy Leader for Party Affairs from contesting the parliamentary elections.
david paul
Dec 5th 2011, 21:40
@angus black because his post with the PL does not allow him to contest elections.
H. Psaila
Dec 5th 2011, 22:40
@ Adrian Borg Cardona - Perhaps you were hearing Super One and what do you expect from a Labour TV station?
Tony Mangion
Dec 5th 2011, 13:58
Dear Tony. You know quite well that we have had enough of disputed decisions by the courts. If you consider that you were on the right path, please do not give in, even if you have to go before the European Courts. You know best.
Mr Alfred Grima
Dec 5th 2011, 14:14
You are totally right Mr Mangion. No one is above the law, and in my opinion this is unacceptable.
Ms Maria Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 14:43
That doesn't mean being disrespectful
J Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 13:57
And when he will be in Goverment what he is going to do???
Paul Micallef
Dec 5th 2011, 14:26
Just the Same as your DEAR AUSTIN:
Deo Catania
Dec 5th 2011, 15:28
Vella, before even starting to discuss if what Dr Abela did is right or wrong first you must distinguish that he was acting in his personal capacity as a lawyer and not as a PL deputy leader. So it's either you are so hopeless not to understand such a difference or else you're trying to spin facts as is customary with gonzipn apologists.
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 13:53
That is where the throwback to Mintoffian times happened, just a smell of victory (imaginary one at that ) and they start shouting at everybody who does his job.The magistrate was simply correcting Toni Abela.Where are those who state that the PL has changed?
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 15:03
How mean minded you are. What does Mintoff has to do in this matter? Mintoff made you Maltese and put Malta on the map. You (the PN) never changed because you always remain those incompetent, arrogant and being prostitute for the foreigners. Now you see who is smelling a kaxkira- in a few day`s time.
Jason Scerri
Dec 5th 2011, 15:58
in case you don't know anything about the history of the maltese islands, Mintoff tried to integrate us with Britain, which could have meant, us losing our identity!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnbNgiLaWR4
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 16:00
Dear Name and surname sake, It was the much able Dr George Borg Olivier who made us Maltese and not Mintoff who wanted to integrate us with the British, The phrase Mintoffian was taken from the article, if you cared to read ,and if the PN as you say is arrogant, incompetent and a prostitute for the foreigner what does that make a party who has been in opposition for all these years and the only chance it got to Govern riding piggy back on a tough measure of VAT it failed after a miserable 20 months.What do you say of a party that was not able to choose a real leader but opted to choose a newby ? Hallina man , and after 25 odd years in power I do expect that the PN would lose the election but only when the opposing party is for real and not a shambles of an organisation.
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 17:46
You see. All of you are experts of Maltese history. This is the history taught by the Borgorivelierans. Mintoff wanted integration with the English because Malta was economically deficient of any resources. We had any factories and our workers were constrained to work either for the English, the government, or the MDD. The factories were build by the Labour Party while points of strategic importance such as the airport, our harbour, the police, means of communications were controlled by the English after the Independence farce that Borg Olivier brought to Malta. That is why Mintoff wanted integration with the British because he did not want the Maltese to suffer. Real independence was brought when we took hold of our language and now your PN dwarf Toni Fenek is saying that there is no need to speak Maltese on Air Malta flights, when we took the airport and Mintoff built the National airline that your regime destroyed, we had our national ship liners that your government destroyed with its par idejn sodi, we had Xandir Malta which now you turned that to a `mandra shiha Nazjonalista` , we had our docks that you destroyed, we had our banks the Mid Med and Bank of Valletta that your regime sold to the foreigners, we had TeleMalta which your ignorance forgot to tell you was sold to foreigners as well. Who came up calling the Maltese cwiec to cover the pack of lies and incompetence to engage English people at the helm of Air Malta. When you enter the corridors of Air Malta you seem to enter the British territory of colonialism after the farce when Malta became independent. The PN regime sold Malta to Europe where now we are even holding our monies to a collapse after your regime discarded the Maltese lira which was more sound than the defunct euro. After all this what party was prostitute to foreigners. Your PN regime. Shame on you all. You have sold Malta`s gold with peanuts to make us the most nation living under subsistence level where the level of poverty is climbing to its higherst point in the world`s history.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 5th 2011, 18:47
@ Victor Vella Today, 17:46
Your knowledge of history seems rather wanting, sir. In fact you seem to know absolutely nothing of how the economic structure of modern Malta was started.
Don't you even know that Mr Mintoff wanted "integration" some ten years before independence. That's when Archbishop Gonzi tried to muzzle Mintoff on the pretext that integration would bring divorce into Malta and steer the Maltese population away from the Roman Catholic church. Of course those weren't the real (or at least not exhaustive) reasons behind the church's opposition, but that's different controversy.
For the sake of accuracy also, it was George Borg Olivier who started the industrialisation of Malta by building a good number of factory units and giving incentives to industrialist to start up manufacturing businesses.
George Borg Olivier also started the Malta's tourism industry by means of heavy grants to wannabe hoteliers some of whom were MLP candidates in subsequent elections.
All this was done on a budget of next to nothing..., a grant from Britain of £2.5m and a soft loan of the same size as the grant. (I might stand to be corrected on the actual sums granted and borrowed.) The annual government budget (remember Giovanni Felice) consisted of a couple of hundred thousand sterling pounds in those days (not a couple of BILLIONS).
I suspect you have temporarily lost your calm because you made a total hash of writing BorgOlivierians. Calm down please and keep your feet on the ground. Maybe you are too young to remember any of this but don't be in such a rush to "nihil obstat" or "imprimatur".
Those who worked for the British installations in Malta worked for the M.O.D. not the MDD; it stands for Ministry of Defence. They earned better wages than did the likes of me who worked for the private sector.
You are right in saying that the ports were in the hands of the British government but have you considered that they trained Maltese people who eventually took over when MLP was elected in 1971? They also paid all those employees (some of them rather well, I must add). They trained air traffic controllers, harbour pilots, engineers for the dockyard and any other trade you care to mention or conjure up.
There would have been nothing wrong with a full integration with Britain and we would today be where the British society is now, right along-side of them.
There are plenty of things you don't seem to have ever learned or that you have forgotten, but I must not write too much, or nobody will bother to read it and I will just be wasting my time.
It is bad enough researching my stuff faithfully only for the moderators or editors of this useful website to bin what I send them. Plus... you are entitled to an opinion but not to peddle untruths disguised as history.
Oh! My apologies for forgetting the banks. Do you know who nationalised and renamed the TRULY MALTESE banks that existed in Malta in 1971? They were taken from Maltese investors like you and me.
You think independence came because we asserted that we had a Maltese language and downgraded the English one? Have you forgotten that we were made to learn Arabic instead of English?
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 22:43
@Joseph Vassallo, My name sake has also conveniietly forgotten that Sea Malta came into existance because his dear Mintoff had stopped other more efficient lines from operating to Malta, when competition was allowed Sea Malta even under the able hands of Marlene Mizzi was losing money, our Money The union threw the spanner into the wheels and ruined any chance of surrvival of the line.Air Malta, was the actual airline profitable or was it the airport and cargo handling that was keeping the airline afloat? again lack of competition kept the money rolling in but before the Avro muck up what was the real situation there?is it true that we were subsidising the fuel for AirMalta through our taxes so that the airline could keep flying and the ones on the inside could keep getting the high wages?You say that the british controlled everything even after independance, lol do you know what happened in Egypt when Nasser threw the russians out lock stock and barrel? They had to hire American ATC personell, Mintoff found trained people when he was elected, people who were trained by the same British who were running the airport and the ports, he found Redifusion with people trained bythe British, he found a strong banking sector built and run by the Maltese , this he took away too, I believe he still owns shares in it too,yes Maltacom was sold to tecom why not> why keep it and be unable to make it profitable? do you believe in competition?you are too dammed stuborn to realise that this is the modern world, a world were the goverment does not compete in buisness but runs the country and allows the people to invest rather then meddling and creating monopolies.You mention the dry docks hmmmmmmmm how many millions did it suck from our small economy? and why? to keep the red army on stand by? maybe this is why you are so dammed angry or maybe with all these companies sold you won't be able to go and suck up to JM maybe he would give you a manegerial position if Labour is elected to power.By the way calm down or you might harm yourself and have to be treated in the hospital you so love to hate.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Dec 6th 2011, 11:52
Victor Vella Yesterday, 22:43
I think you need to clarify whether you intended to flame me or your namesake, sir. As written, the accusations are against me although you start by concurring with my posts.
Marija Falzon
Dec 5th 2011, 13:53
Galea Curmi should resign
Joseph Camilleri
Dec 5th 2011, 14:25
no words of condemnation for Dr Abela?
Marija Falzon
Dec 5th 2011, 15:11
Toni Abela did wrong and was fined. What about Galea Curmi? You can no longer trust this man.