Live: Major Brazilian company relocating to Malta - PM
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition leader Joseph Muscat are this morning discussing the political upheaval in the country in a Times to Debate conference.
The debate, being reported live here, is part of a series organised by The Times, The Sunday Times and timesofmalta.com and hosted by Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian’s. It is being chaired by The Sunday Times deputy editor Herman Grech.
Live coverage: Leaders' debate
The event has now ended, here is a transcript of the live coverage.-
People are gathering at the Cettina Decesare Hall of the Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian's for a live debate between Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
08:35 am
The event, which is part of the Times to Debate series, is also being streamed live on this website. -
Dr Gonzi and Dr Muscat are having breakfast with some of the directors of Allied Newspapers.
08:41 am -
Debate is about to start.
08:46 am -
Herman is introducing the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader.
08:46 am -
He asks whether the political crisis is now over and whether an early election should be held. A short video is now being shown.
08:47 am -
The video is about the events which led to the current situation.
08:47 am -
Herman asks the Prime Minister whether the political crisis is over.
08:50 am -
The Prime Minister says he sees challenges and not crises. Such was the Libya situation, for example. He says he addressed the problem using all party structures and is continuing to address it. An early election, he says, is not in the country's interest. The most important thing is the creation of jobs.
08:51 am -
Dr Gonzi says we should continue doing our duty whatever the situation. Internal conflicts take place within all parties but are more evident within the party in government.
08:52 am -
He says that Malta is among the most successful countries in the EU. Jobs are retained and new ones are created.
08:54 am -
Herman asks about the majority in Parliament. Dr Gonzi continues to speak about the government's successes in the economy, education. Herman asks if he believes such success can continue in the current situation. Dr Gonzi says he does.
08:55 am -
Dr Gonzi refers to the forthcoming secret vote within the PN. He hopes the result will be the answer the country needs. Says his priority remains the creation of jobs.
08:56 am -
Herman asks Dr Muscat whether he will continue to say there is a crisis if Franco Debono comes to some form of agreement with the government. Dr Muscat says that whatever the PM says, the country lacks stability. A solution, he says, has to be found in Parliament and not within a political party.
08:57 am -
Dr Muscat says proof of this lack of stability is the fact that since the vote on the no confidence motion in the government was taken, no other vote has been taken in Parliament. There will be stability when Parliamentary work continues in a regular manner and votes are taken.
08:58 am -
Dr Muscat says that when Dr Gonzi referred to former Prime Minister Alfred Sant saying there were policies within his party he did not agree with, Dr Gonzi did not say that Dr Sant, contrary to Dr Debono, did not abstain but voted with his party.
08:59 am -
Dr Muscat says the government does not want to go to the test. But without stability there cannot be sustainable economic growth.
08:59 am -
Dr Muscat speaks about the economic figures and says that the government is failing in its debt targets.
09:00 am -
He says that a fourth of the country's debt was made in the past seven years, under the premiership of Lawrence Gonzi.
09:02 am -
Dr Gonzi accuses Dr Muscat of analysing the figures in a very superficial manner. As businessmen borrow money to invest, the government also has to borrow to create investment. The country's debt is being invested in infrastructure such as drainage treatment plants.
09:02 am -
The EU placed at Malta's disposal millions of euros to invest. But the country also has to fork out part of the costs.
09:04 am
Malta has the fifth lowest unemployment rate in Europe. -
Dr Gonzi says that Malta is playing in the Premier League and it is in the fifth place out of 27.
09:04 am -
Dr Gonzi accuses the opposition of still being anchored to the times before Malta joined the EU. The EU gave Malta a thousand billion euros but if it did not spend this within a period of time it will lose the money.
09:07 am
Between 2004 and 2006 Malta spent all its money and also benefitted from other funds other countries did not utilise. -
Herman asks Dr Muscat if he is disappointed at having reached the peak without an election being called.
09:08 am
Dr Muscat says he has been hearing that the PL has peaked for the past three-and-a-half years. -
He says that if the PM looks at the debt issue just as a means of job creation, he has a problem with the fiscal pact which has just been agreed upon because this saw debt as a problem.
09:10 am
Debt has to be paid and this needs economic growth. But economic growth is only possible if there is a stable government. -
Dr Muscat speaks about his party's policies in energy, saying the PL wants to opt for gas as soon as possible. The government, on the other hand, opted for heavy fuel oil.
09:11 am -
The cost of energy, bureaucracy and service charge are killing industry, Dr Muscat says.
09:11 am -
Dr Muscat refers to the assistance which had been given to industry and says that the fundamental problems of the country's competitiveness should be addressed.
09:12 am -
He says the Prime Minister did not want to know Labour's policy objectives. It wanted to know its electoral problem. He asks about Sargas, what action had the government taken about the project.
09:14 am -
Dr Gonzi says Sargas is only one of many proposals. Another proposal, for example, is for the building of a large photovoltaic farm.
09:14 am -
He reiterates that while the EU gave Malta the best certificate, the Opposition leader did the opposite. What the country needs in the field of energy is to not remain dependent on one source of fuel.
09:15 am -
Malta, the PM says, will be in a position to buy fuel at the best possible rates through the interconnector with Sicily and the power station extension will cover Malta's needs for the next 10 to 15 years.
09:17 am -
On Sargas, he says the government will study the proposal but it will study it well. The Opposition leader was promising that he will reduce water and electricity rates. This is not possible. Dr Muscat interjects that together everything is possible.
09:18 am -
Dr Gonzi says that as long as the country has a deficit, it will have debt as it has to make up the difference through borrowing.
09:19 am -
Malta does not have the financial credibility problem of other countries and for the 150 million euros it needed to borrow, it had offers for 247 million.
09:20 am -
Dr Gonzi speaks about the country's success in aviation. He says that a major Brazilian company which learnt about Malta during the Libyan crisis will soon be relocating to Malta. Herman asks in which sector. The Prime Minister says he will say at a later stage.
09:22 am -
Dr Gonzi says he agrees with the obligations of the fiscal pact to keep deficit at a low level.
09:24 am -
Herman asks Dr Muscat what he would have done had he been in Dr Gonzi's position.
09:26 am
Dr Muscat says that the problem is that Dr Gonzi is showing instability as normality. This is not the case. He says that while everyone has a problem, he does not believe the Prime Minister is tackling his problem in the right way. -
Dr Muscat says that the PM's only solution is to gain time. Although this may be beneficial for him, it is not beneficial for the country.
09:26 am -
In 2006, Dr Gonzi presided Cabinet meeting which decided that any new extension to Delimara had to operate on gas, this is now being extended to operate on the most polluting fuel in the world.
09:27 am -
Dr Muscat criticises the government's projections. He also refers to Trellerborg and says the company's CEO had noted that the cost of energy in Malta is double that of other countries.
09:29 am -
Dr Muscat says there is in Malta a struggling middle class and people who are falling below the poverty line. There are the working poor who cannot keep up with the cost of living in spite of having a job or a pension.
09:30 am -
Herman refers to the PM's offer to the Nationalist Party to resign and asks Dr Muscat what he would do in a similar situation. Dr Muscat says he will face reality and take the steps which need to be taken in Parliament and not within his party.
09:31 am -
Questions from the floor now being taken.
09:32 am -
Ryan Callus asks Dr Muscat about his education, economic and health policies. Says not much about these had been heard in the past years. Asks if this will put the Labour Party at a disadvantage.
09:34 am -
Dr Muscat says a substantial number of proposals were made by Labour in the past four years. These were completely ignored by the government. The PL's policy guidelines on education are to reduce as much as possible the number of students who stop their education on reaching the age of 16.
09:37 am
On economy and finance, the PL believes in the two issues being tackled separately.
Dr Muscat refers to Rent Laws and says that because of the agreement reached between the two sides and the PL's collaboration, at a risk to for itself, the people knew that the current Rent Laws are there to stay. -
Dr Muscat refers to the fiscal consolidation laws and says the Opposition is giving its word about this matter.
09:38 am -
Arnold Cassola says the uncertainty in the country is felt among the people. He asks both speakers if they are willing to change the electoral system so as to have all votes proportionally represented and to accept coalitions between different parties.
09:40 am
Joseph Zrinzo says he is angry that the PM looked down at Labourites. He asks both speakers how can a balanced budget be reached, seeing this had never been the case. -
Dr Gonzi says Malta is a democratic country and elections are respected. The constitution had been amended to bring proportionality closer to reality. Malta's system had an indirect threshold which is high, compared to other countries. The parties had tried to change this but there was no agreement so far. There can be situations of internal conflict within a party which necessitate internal debates. These are part of the democratic rules. It is true there is a difficulty, an issue at the moment which entails the party in government to work for a solution. This is what it has done, what it will continue to do. The PN bows to democratic rules and if the electorate chooses to elect a third party it will bow its head to that.
09:46 am -
Dr Gonzi says that everyone has a role to play. He had proposed a man who had contested the Labour leadership election for President. This was one of the most historically difficult steps ever taken. It is true that some people are resorting to insults and this can be seen daily in l-Orizzont. There are people who resorted to insults even within the PN and whenever he got to know about such instances he tried to stop them. Dr Gonzi praiss Dr Muscat for the way he criticised and says he tries to do the same but there are are certain people, including columnists, who go over the limit.
09:47 am -
Dr Gonzi says that when he took over as Prime Minister, the country's deficit was six, seven per cent because the country had just taken on the shipyard's debts. What is Labour's position about this? Malta set targets because it wanted to become part of the Euro, it reached these aims and the target had been to balance this by 2010, 2011, had the situation not changed.
09:48 am -
Dr Muscat says that Spain, Portugal and Greece, among others, had passed the same Eurozone tests as Malta showing these had been nothing but 'crash diets'.
09:51 am
The fiscal pact will change fundamentally the way the country is administered. The only way to meet targets will be to go for many more public private partnerships in many sectors, starting from health and going on to environment. PPPs will become crucial and bureaucracies created over time will have to be fought. -
On coalitions, Dr Muscat says these had never worked in Malta but the people are supreme. The Constitution and its changes should not remain a prerogative of the two parties but should be the result of debate involving civil society.
09:53 am -
Has the time come to change the concept of the Broadcasting Authority, for example, for this not to remain in the hold of a political party, Dr Muscat asks.
09:55 am
On personal attacks, he says that he and the Prime Minister had always shown reciprocal respect while criticising each other. There are people who have crossed the line and society has to give a sign that it does not want to go in this direction. -
Dr Gonzi says it is true that bureaucracy is a problem but what does removing bureaucracy mean? Is Mepa bureaucracy?
09:58 am
Dr Muscat tells Dr Gonzi he ignored Mepa in the case of the power station.
Dr Gonzi says he had not asked about the power station but about the private sector, what does the removal of bureaucracy in this instance mean, that certain projects can ignore environmental considerations?
Dr Muscat says that what he means is being clear with investors. Transparency has to remain but the Prime Minister is confusing transparency with bureaucracy. Such was the case of the White Rocks. -
There are also the small businessmen who ended up in prison because they had been victims of bureaucracy.
10:00 am
Bureaucracy has destroyed economic growth. The permanent residents' scheme, he says, had been working, it needed to be replaced but certainly not in the way the new scheme had been introduced. -
Dr Gonzi asks Dr Muscat what will his policy be? He says he had his own answers to all the questions he asked Dr Muscat, his policy is clear and transparent to all but what about Dr Muscat’s. It is not fair to use the election as an excuse.
10:07 am
Dr Muscat says the issue is that the Prime Minister undervalues the strength of the private sector in Malta. He does not appreciate the fact that there is money in Malta but there is not enough courage for one to invest.
Dr Muscat asks about the government policy on pensions. The so-called reform had not led anywhere and another reform is now needed.
Labour agrees with incentives for the introduction of a third pillar pension. We are looking at having such incentives. The Prime Minister has been saying this for eight years but no action has been taken. -
Tony Zahra says the private sector feels like a spectator in a situation it has nothing to do with. The private sector wants a clear picture to be able to invest with its minds at rest.
10:15 am
The country’s leaders have to project their vision for the next 10 to 15 years. The private sector can create the wealth but it is not convinced that the wealth it is creating is being spent wisely. -
Paul Abela says businessmen have the responsibility to invest and expand the economy. A politician has the duty to ensure stability. We expect an election to be held as scheduled in 2013 and no MP has the right to blackmail a democratically elected government.
10:15 am -
Reinee Laivera says there are 100,000 inactive women in Malta. Half of them say they do not work because they have family responsibility. Only some 6,000 are registered as unemployed. No entity is looking at the 50,000 women who would like to work but say they cannot. The government is coming up with piecemeal initiatives which are bearing results but these are too few.
10:16 am -
Herman quotes Franco Debono telling timesofmalta.com that the crisis in the country was created by the establishment of the oligarchy. "I had made it clear that I would support the prime minister, as I had always done, but not one who was held hostage by a clique. This statement was made before the reshuffle, I stress, before the reshuffle, or whatever it was," Dr Debono said. Herman tells Dr Gonzi, it is clear that Dr Debono wants resignations. Will there be any, he asks.
10:17 am -
Dr Gonzi refers to his opening the contest for PN leadership and says that Dr Debono appreciated that this was a positive step and he hoped it will pave the way for more collaborative work in future.
10:18 am -
Herman asks if he had personally contacted Dr Debono. Dr Gonzi says he personally did not, but Dr Debono was contacted through others. He says it is always important to listen to criticism as this will only be beneficial. He says it is not the first time that he acknowledged that criticism made by Dr Debono and others and others had been justified. Asked if he is willing to contemplate the resignations Dr Debono needs, Dr Gonzi says he is always open to discuss. What has to be considered first and foremost is what is in the country's best interest.
10:20 am -
Dr Gonzi speaks about the records achieved in tourism saying these could be achieved through an investment of some 35 million euros.
10:23 am -
Dr Gonzi says that a major achievement in the past seven years is that Malta had the highest increase in the EU in the number of women entering the job market. Malta has also reached the European average of women in employment among women aged 35 and younger.
10:24 am -
Dr Muscat quotes Dr Fenech Adami saying that only stable governments can bring economic prosperity. He says that declarations made during this debate had confirmed that stability is lacking and solutions have to be found in Parliament. The Prime Minister, he says, is only playing for time.
10:26 am -
Dr Muscat acknowledges that tourism has grown but says it has grown at about 50 per cent what it has grown in other countries, such as Greece.
10:28 am -
On Air Malta he says, it is easy to make this profitable. This challenge is to make such growth compatible with the needs of local tourism. The government had introduced VAT on tourism behind the operators' back. They had also not benefitted from any schemes the government said it had introduced.
10:30 am -
Dr Gonzi says it is not true that VAT had been introduced behind their back and tourism operators had benefitted substantially from the schemes the government had introduced. One has to keep in mind that the unemployment situation in Malta isamong the best in the EU but the Opposition only presented doomsday scenarios.
10:32 am -
Dr Gonzi refers to Labour MEP Edward Scicluna saying that what he is saying now that he is in politics is a lot different to what he used to say before he entered the political scene. Dr Muscat accuses him of rhetoric and he answers with figures, Dr Gonzi says.
10:34 am -
Dr Muscat says that Dr Gonzi reduced stipends for university students in October 2005. He also reduced the smart card grant. His commitment to retain stipends, Dr Muscat says, is clear. MEP Edward Scicluna questioned the wisdom of stipends in a personal document. This government has a problem of instability which is being felt over the country and from which families and businesses will suffer.
10:37 am -
Dr Muscat refers to funds being wasted on unnecessary projects such as the bridge the nowhere to the detriment of other projects for which there is a greater need.
10:39 am -
Dr Gonzi says that in 10 years Malta has to be a centre of excellence in a number of sectors, offering value added.
10:42 am
He says that 10 years ago only 43 per cent of students continued with their studies after secondary education. This percentage has been increased to 75 per cent.
It isnot true that his government had reduced stipends but it had shifted them to reflect the country's needs. -
Victor Carachi says that while figures give a certain picture, the real situation seems otherwise. How many decent jobs are being created? Certain government agencies are the creators of precarious work, he says.
10:45 am -
A young woman asks how will the country meet the challenges ahead considering the waves looming ahead.
10:47 am -
Deborah Schembri says that a person who works for a month, loses social services for six. Statistics, she says, do not reflect quality, which seems to be suffering. She refers to the election within the Nationalist Party and said that in a similar race, where she was the sole competitor, she would win the 100 metre sprint.
10:50 am -
Dr Muscat says he judges people not by their political allegiance but from the direction they wished to take. The university rector, for example, has a difficulty with stipends when the Prime Minister says his policy is that these should be retained.
10:53 am -
Dr Gonzi said that even in this legislature, money bills are not always voted against by the Opposition. He says he agrees there are major issues in Malta in certain sectors which have to be controlled. He acknowledges there is abuse in certain areas but says that the Opposition always believed all that is bad about Malta but nothing that is positive. Deborah Schembri is seen shaking her head on the big screen.
10:57 am -
On the election for party leader, Dr Gonzi says the vote will be a secret one and he believes this is the correct decision.
10:58 am -
Herman asks Dr Muscat about his statement that a Labour government will be a safe government. Who does the PL represent. Dr Muscat answers that the PL has become a movement. It has gone through the realisation that wealth has to be created before it can be distributed. And wealth is created by the private sector. The movement unites businesses and the self-employed with the workers. He says he enjoyed the debate and notes that there is a lot to unite the people and many areas on which there can be consensus. Dr Muscat says it is not enough to say where one has to to get but how. Without a stable government there cannot be stable economic growth.
11:04 am -
Herman asks the Prime Minister about the forthcoming local elections. Dr Gonzi says these had always been important but they were never a measure of what the situation on a national level can be.
11:10 am
He asks in whose interest would an early election be - that of the country or of the Labour Party, which is currently 10 points ahead of the PN? It will be irresponsible of him to act in such a manner. The Opposition leader's bubble burst when he presented a motion of no confidence in the government which he lost. The Prime Minister acknowledges there are issues in the country but says that results have been achieved in the past years showing that the economic policy is bearing results. He points out that he came to the debate not knowing what Labour's policy is, and will be leaving it none the wiser. -
Debate has been concluded. Herman thanks the speakers and the Intercontinental Hotel.
11:10 am
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Joe Fenech
Feb 8th, 22:40
Yes, because the Brazilians are phasing out cheap labour. Ahdem ja Gahan !
mario piscopo
Feb 8th, 21:25
....the difference between these two leaders: JM speaks calmly about what his actions would be once he is in government and keeping aside partisan politics.....while on the other hand we have the PM who is a nervous wreck trying to avoid and alter the questions being asked to him whilst attacking the opposition as if he was doing the "Sunday" talk in one if his clubs. No wonder they fear an early election!
S. Zammit
Feb 9th, 10:07
Can you please tell us what JM's actions would be as I haven't heard a single one. Thanks.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 9th, 12:43
Sur Zammit, mela tafx taqra? Erga aqra ir-rapport fuq u aqrah minghajr nuccjali blu din id-darba.
david vella
Feb 8th, 20:45
Telenovela gdieda f'malta ( vampires diares },
rueben pitre
Feb 8th, 20:24
While Dr. Gonzi was saying that there is no political crisis in our country, Dr. Franco Debono at the same time on the same newspaper was insisting that in Malta we have a political crisis! Dr. Gonzi ha jibqa jghidilna li m'hawnx krisi fil-pajjiz?
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Feb 8th, 19:58
@ Paul Cassar
You see Paul that is your problem. You equate Blue with the gravy train and coming to think about it you could actually be very right considering the fact that your party and your leader have now embraced the colour blue and done away with the red. Wonder why?
William Massa
Feb 8th, 18:43
I read all the anti labour comments down under. Let me draw their attention to the fact that Dr. Joseph Muscat has already showed that he is a great young Leader with a clear vision of what he wants and what is best for our country. He managed to attract to the party people who were never passionate with the Labour Movement and they are feeling very comfortable. I remind the commentators that The PL had a sound MAJORITY of over 35,000 votes in the election for the European MPS. Not a bad result for a leader after only a couple of years from his election as Leader. It was a good test taken on a National basis, dont you agree??? His line of Thinking is very clear and never tries to avoid answering any question. Dont expect him to show all his cards before the time comes. Lately in Parliament he showed clearly his democratic credentials by unanimously agreeing to changes in our Constitution. He did not take any advantage of the instability in Parliament . I remind all your commentators of the behaviour of the PN in Opposition in 1998 when they grabbed the chance to go back to power and voted against the introduction of a Tourism Authority. HALLUNA HBIEB Where you not in Malta those days??? God Bless Dr. Joseph Muscat.
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 8th, 17:57
The PM should explain to the nation whether the Eurozone's crisis had already started when we joined. is it possible that all the crises came all of a sudden? Where have the billions of euro he said the EU had given us gone? Maybe in Erasmus? And how many euro have we paid back for the Eurozone crisis? Bureaucracy makes corruption easier. Corruption, then, together with oligracy, bring about crises and poverty. Are we still in time to change all this?
ronald ciscaldi
Feb 8th, 17:40
iggudikawni fuq li naghmel mhux fuq li nghid
MELA MHUX HA NIGGUDIKAWH AX LITTERALMENT MGHAMEL XEJN TA QUDDIEM IN NIES
m. borg (slm)
Feb 8th, 17:34
"On the election for party leader, Dr Gonzi says the vote will be a secret one and he believes this is the correct decision."
10:58 am
Is what Gonzi believes bible truth?
.
What he believes is "irrelevanti" in this case it is what the PEOPLE believe that is important and relevant.
Victor Mallia
Feb 8th, 17:13
teatru bla saqaf kien lakbar genjalata li hareg biha il priministru ta pajjizna
Mela min kaxxa ta malta bla qiegh ghamel teatru bla saqaf
Well Done DR GONZI daqt tnehhi il hitan tal gnub ukoll biex tkun nehhejt 4 gnubijiet tal kaxxa taghna .
patrick cutajar
Feb 8th, 17:08
Dr Gonzi is simply trying to do his best to avoid saying the truth .
GONZI = KMB
no more no less
kevin farrugia
Feb 8th, 19:05
gonzi = kmb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IC CAJTA TAS SEKLU
priscilla ciangura
Feb 8th, 16:53
how funny we have a prime minister living in wonderland . Everything glooms and everything on the right track . Madonf qiesa il krizi all of a sudden sparixxit min din l art
Dinja tal holm sur priministru . Its better you start feeling what maltese are feeling !!
charles flask
Feb 8th, 16:51
Dr Gonzi jahseb li ghadu marsaxlokk . Kien qiesu go xi kazin tal banda u hlief nies icapcpulu ma ghandux .
Come on Dr Gonzi grow up !!
Carmel Cilia
Feb 8th, 16:45
Il prim ministru dejjem harab milli iwiegeblil Franco Debon o u lil bqija tal maltin xi jrid jghid biha din ta l-olligarkija. Qatt ma qallu li mhux veru u qatt ma staqsih jghidlu min huma dawn in-nies. Dejjem tawweg l'hemm u l'hawn izda qatt ma indirizza din l-akkuza. Il_poplu mhux cuc daqs kemm jaghmluh u kulhadd jaf ghal min qieghed jirreferi Franco. Nies li qatt ma kontestaw elezjoni gejjin u sejrin minn barra u min hawn u minn hemm kull meta tittiehed decizjoni. Insaqsi wahda jien lil-prim.- Int tehodhom id-decizjonijijiet flimkien mar rapprezentanti tal poplu -IlBack benchers jew haddiehor li dawruk dawra u ma tawkx cans tiehu nifs.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 8th, 16:22
"Herman asks the Prime Minister about the forthcoming local elections. Dr Gonzi says these had always been important but they were never a measure of what the situation on a national level can be.
He asks in whose interest would an early election be - that of the country or of the Labour Party, which is currently 10 points ahead of the PN? It will be irresponsible of him to act in such a manner."
Gonzi's final statement says it all, it belies his declaration that elections are not in the interest of the country. It is the 10% that are worrying him, the trashing he would get and his immediate dismissal from party leader, bye bye cushy jobs.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 8th, 16:16
"Dr Gonzi accuses Dr Muscat of analysing the figures in a very superficial manner. As businessmen borrow money to invest.............."
What sort of investment are the Tejatru bla saqaf and the New Parliament, both projects were refused EU help because of their uneconomical and unproductive nature.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 8th, 16:14
"Dr Gonzi accuses the opposition of still being anchored to the times before Malta joined the EU. The EU gave Malta a thousand billion euros but if it did not spend this within a period of time it will lose the money.
Between 2004 and 2006 Malta spent all its money and also benefitted from other funds other countries did not utilise."
A thousand billion euros and still the national debt kept increasing.
.
We are talking of €1.000.000.000.000.000 is Dr Gonzi going off his rocker? With that figure Malta should have its streets paved with gold.
Anthony Caruana
Feb 8th, 16:50
I think nowadays a billion is 1000 million and a trillion is a 1000 times a billion, i.e. a thousand billion is 1,000,000,000,000. The old billion was one million times a million. The american billion is a thousand million. Nonethe the less I agree with you a hundred percent. Where has the money been spent? How could this money have been spent in three years? I am sure the prime minister has either been mis quoted or made a slip of the tongue. Some slip??
R. Gauci
Feb 8th, 16:03
Jekk Gonzi jrid ikun kredibbli ghandu jintrabat li jgib aktar min 95% tal-voti fil-PN jekk jikkontesta wahdu, ovvjament hemmekk ikollu challenge u zgur mhux se jasal jaghmel dan.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 8th, 16:25
Best comparison of Dr Gonzi's solo leadership race was given by Deborah Schembri, of her winning the 100meter sprint if she raced alone.
Lovely Deborah, couldn't have been explained better, you put a lot of apologists to shame.
mario gellel
Feb 8th, 16:00
Slight growth in poverty-risk, deprived householdsChildren form greater part of society of 84,000 that has no access to normal living conditions or material necessities. (Euro Barometer)
L-AKBAR CETIFIKAT LI JONORA LIL GONZIPN ??? IL-FAQAR U L-GHAKS.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 15:54
@S.Zammit
Sur Zammit tajjeb li tipprova tfehmom li bil fatti biss timxi u mhux weghdiet fierha ..imma tal PL ma jridux jamettu li Malta miexja "hafna" ahjar mill bqija ta L-Ewropa. Issa Jitla JM u jibda jgajjat hofra hofra...il weghdiet ma jsirux u naraw kemm il PL bloggers jibqghu ifahhru lil gvern taghhom!!!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 8th, 15:33
Many companies relocate to Malta- mostly for tax purposes. So lets not get too impressed. Also, I seem to remember a press conference some two years ago called by one Dr. Lawrence Gonzi where he called all of Malta's athletets to announce to them a fantastic project consisting of a sports village and for which we Maltese would not pay a cent. Is this Brazilian company a similar pipe dream?
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 16:21
Dear Mr.camilleri if they relocate for tax purposes or any other reason , they are always contrinuting to our economy , so let them come !
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Feb 8th, 15:18
Regarding if the political crisis is over the PM replied that he sees challenges and not crises.
First of all the PM did not denied or contradict that the Government's Parliamentary majority crisis is over. As for challenges here are two for the PM. First, motion a 'confidence vote' for Monday 12th. February 2012 Parliamentary setting to end the present Parliamentary majority criss that is affect the country economically. If GonziPN will not motion a 'confidence vote' it means without any doubts that the government is well aware that he will loose such a vote. If GonziPN will not win the 'confidence vote' an early election is called. If GonziPN will win the 'confidence vote' the instability will end and GonziPN can go on governing the country. Will GonziPN accept such challenges?
Dr. Gonzi refers to the forthcoming secret vote within the PN. He hopes the result will be the answer the country needs.
It is clear that the PM is dreaming of ending the country's instability on his HOPES of the contest of the leadership of the PN. If Dr. Gonzi will be confirmed again leader of the PN? Will Dr. Franco Debono MP retreat all the serious accusations that he made against GonziPN? Will Dr. Debono drops all his reforms that he has been fighting for? If in the negative it will be clear that the confirmation of Dr. Gonzi's leadership of the PN did not solved the country's instability. And this is common sence as to solve such instability GonziPN has to win a 'confidence vote' or an agreement is reached with Dr. Debono. If no agreement is reached with Dr. Debono and GonziPN will not motion a 'confidence vote' in Parliament? Will GonziPN go for an early General Election? If in the negative may Almighty God spare our country and its people!!!!!!
pat muscat
Feb 8th, 15:16
Waqt li Dr Gonzi kien qed jiftahar kif hu, hu biss igib l-istabilita, Franco Debono fajjarlu torpedo iehor u gab il-ftahir fix-xejn: il-PR exercise iehor gie 'silurato' kif ihobbu jghidu it-taljani!
Kemm il-darba ohra, Dr Gonzi jista jaqa ghaz-zufjett ta Dr Franco Debono, qabel ma jsir umli u jghid bejnu u bejn ruhu ghamilt li stajt imma issa daqshekk, hemm limitu ta kemm nista niehu go fiha minghajr ma 'I call it a day'!
Gti Agius
Feb 8th, 14:57
Brazilian company????
Smart City.... Air Malta....Tarzna....Enemalta...goMob....issa bil brazillian company... xi karnivalata ux sur GonziPN -> Brazillian Carnival jinaqad mal PN... keep it up with the BS!
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Feb 8th, 14:45
@ Paul Cassar -
When I mention the recent past I am very truthful. As regards my blue glasses well for your info mine are black and this for the simple reason that I do not ride any gravy train and this as opposed to certain prospective LP candidates who do in fact ride on very well oiled gravy train courtesy of the Nationalist administration.
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Feb 8th, 14:01
@ Kevin Marks & M. Grima
Back in 1996 Alfred Sant was also a fresh face. He road on the discontent of the VAT law and following his victory many were those who celebrated by breaking their cash registers only to be lumped with a new law which nobody could understand, was not promised and led to an economic disaster which only lasted a mere twenty two months. Back then people wanted change and change they got - for the worse.
Today we have a PL promising heaven on earth, lower water and electricity bills, boosting the economy and yet we have not been told how this is going to come about. Does Joseph Muscat intend putting a stop to the various infrastructural projects, does he intend removing stipends, putting in force a wage freeze, increasing taxes or VAT, taxing the banks? Much has been said but nothing concrete put forward.
I, for one, am more than willing to change and try something new but only if that something is better.
Paul Cassar
Feb 8th, 14:09
George................at least, when you mention the recent past, be truthful,. for the rest keep on your blue glasses, they help you not to miss the gravy train.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 15:45
Yes i agree but there is no alternative to GONZI PN unfortunately so better the devil you know !
Francis Coquelin
Feb 8th, 16:03
Paul Cassar: I challenge you to write a sentence that does not include "blue" and "gravy".
Paul Cassar
Feb 8th, 18:24
Francis.....................I cannot separate blue and gravy.................they are sooooooooooooooo related.
michael scicluna
Feb 8th, 13:57
Brasilian company relocating to malta!!! ANOTHER SMART CITY!!!!! im still waiting for my interview.....only one vacancy left after 4,999 have already been empolyed there!!
Paul Cassar
Feb 8th, 13:52
WHITE ROCKS.................SMART CITY..........................BRAZILIAN COMPANY.................???????...........???????
TAKING PEOPLE CONtinually for a ride.
kemm ser indumu boloh??????????
Paul Cassar
Feb 8th, 13:42
WHITE ROCKS.................SMART CITY..........................BRAZILIAN COMPANY.................???????...........???????
TAKING PEOPLE CONtinually for a ride.
kemm ser indumu biloh??????????
Joseph Portelli
Feb 8th, 13:32
Segwejt id-dibattitu kollu. Jidher car li Lawrence Gonzi jitkellem bil-fatti f'idejh. Joseph Muscat jghid hafna u fl-istess hin ma jghid xejn. Bhalma qal Platerian fuq l-orizzont ta' ftit jiem ilu - joseph muscat mhu qed joffri xejn lill-poplu - jahbi kollox biex minghalih ixandar kollox qabel l-elezzjoni ghax jaf li m'ghandux sustanza x'joffri. b'lawrence gonzi pajjizna huwa minn ta' quddiem nett fl-unjoni ewropea. Haddiehor, il-bierah filghaxija attakka lill-unjoni ewropea u l-ewro u ghadu jghid li ma qablilniex (kliem Alfred Sant li Joseph Muscat miexi fuq il-passi tieghu)
Paul Bartolo
Feb 8th, 13:27
Issemmiet l-issue tal-istipendji.
Fl-ahhar Budget, il-Gvern habbar ZIEDA (mhux tnaqqis jew dejn) fl-istipendji tal-istudenti Ghawdxin.
Garanzija bill-FATTI iktar minn din ma nahsibx li jista jkollok.
Kevin Marks
Feb 8th, 13:16
Mhux xi smart city ohra tghid jigu jiehdu kemm alla halaq art u ma jsir xejn wara!!
Btw well done Times on line it was a good idea and very profesional too
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 15:47
Serrah rasek li jekk is Smart City mas sehx kif jixtiequ tal lejper xorta l-art terga taqa ghandil gvern , u dejjem ahjar mil mizbla li kien hemm qabel habib!!
francis agius
Feb 8th, 13:07
'Priorita' x-xoghol', qalilna il-prim. Dan meta għalqu t-tarzna minkejja li,Industrialist amerikan offrilhom li jeħodha hu, u jħaddem 6000 ruħ, 'Priorita' x-xoghol', meta osfru mal-5000 impjieg minn 'Smart City'? 'Priorita' x-xoghol', meta tohorġu bi skemi ta' rtirar kmieni?
Peter Zahra
Feb 8th, 15:01
Minkejja l gheluq tat tarzna, xorta wahda il percentag tal qghad f Malta huwa relativament baxx hafna meta komperat ma kumplement ta pajjizi f Europa. In nies li hargu mit tarzna hadu l flus bhala kumpens u hafna minnhom sabu impjieg produttiv mhux ma xi korp tal izra u rabbi....
X' ridtu jibqa jghamel l Gvern, li jkompli jipumpja il liri mit taxxi tieghi u tieghek sabiex din tibqa miftuha ?? Hafna mill problemi tat tarzna kienu kawzati minn min inqeda bil haddiema taghha ghal avanz politiku tieghu fejn sahansitra kien jehdded li johrog in nies tat tarzna fit toroq !! Saqsi lil min kien jahdem it tarzna u jghidlek kemm kienu johorgu (trid u ma tridx) ghal meetings tal labour u ghad dimostrazzjonijiet waqt il hinijiet tax xoghol biex imbghat jidhlu overtime (dejjem ghal dawk li jkunu min tal qalba).....!!
John Zammit
Feb 8th, 12:53
So in the interest of the nation the elections will not be held now That what the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.To-day he Looks afraid as he claims that the PL is 10points ahead. The interest of the Nation or of the party the Prime Minister is Looking at.since when a strong Prime Minister wants to learn from the policies of the opposition
Angus Black
Feb 8th, 13:43
Mr Zammit, the last person the Prime Minister should consult with and obtain advice from, is Joseph Muscat.
Joseph Muscat has been (and probably still is) skeptical regarding the EU, having advised Iceland not to join. They took his advice and now find themselves in deep trouble.
As a journalist with the Labour media, he produced a programme specifically against joining the EU leading to a referendum the results of which thwarted his efforts and his party thankfully lost.
He mounted a campaign against joining the euro-zone, and lost again.
Three years after he became leader of the Mintoff/Muscat Labour Party, he stated that 'in hindsight' joining the EU was beneficial.
Now he wants to become Prime Minister without revealing what his policies are, what his vision is, until after being elected.
With these traits, who will blame the Prime Minister for not listening to an inexperienced 'leader' of a Party without policies, and worse, without principles and with a rotten track record?
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Feb 8th, 12:18
The chasm separating the two leaders is becoming evident every day that passes. Dr. Gonzi has a track record to boast about and has had the courage the admit and rectify some mistakes made while Dr. Muscat has not yet come up with any viable proposal except for his fifty one hot air balloons.
If people are going to vote for a change they need to know what concrete proposals the PL is putting forward. To-date we have had none and I think we will have none.
Kevin Marks
Feb 8th, 13:14
And still there s a margin of 8 to 13% between the parties and the prime is loosing his popularity too what a pity!
M Grima
Feb 8th, 13:23
I agree that the differenece in the leadership style of the two leaders is getting more evident. On one hand we have Dr. Gonzi who has lost the plot and has even lost control over his cabinet and backbenchers. This notwithstanding his war cry of 'par idejn sodi'. He and his 'limited' cabinet have messed anything they touched during the past 4 years and to cap it all he gave himself and his bunch of croniesa weekly €500 payrise when the rest of us immortals were presented with a paultyry €1.16 weekly rise to cover the cost of living. What a joker?
On the other hand we have the fresh Dr. Muscat full of energy and ever so consistent. He has been able to unite the PL into a movement which is credible and which is not tainted with corruption. His track record can be judged by his performance in the EU when he was the PL representative. Otherwise, he was never a prime minister with all the power of incumbancy and its advantages like Dr. Gonzi had. As to his concrete proposals, you have to wait a little bit when your PM comes to his senses and calls an election.
If people are voting for a change they at least know that this country will rid itself of corruption, arrogance, clique of evil, blue eyed boys who have gobbled all there is to gobble and mediocre PN politicians if they vote for the PL.
J.C. Borg
Feb 8th, 14:46
From what I read here Dr Muscat offered childish replies to Dr Gonzi's questions. The PM of the future????
J Busuttil
Feb 8th, 15:53
@ M.Grima
Do you live on a remote island on your own. It seems that you do not speak to the people out there especially the business man / women who are terrorised of a Labour Government.
vella m
Feb 8th, 12:02
People on the minimum wage or with a low pension are suffering, IS ZAQ IL MIMLIJA TIGI TITNEJJEK MIL VOJTA.Well to those who can afford GAS heaters no problem
BUT those can not afford it >>> B RRRRRRRRRR IT' COLD.
Victor Vella
Feb 8th, 12:00
One has to be imbecile to believe Gonzi. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The usual proof of Gonzi is arrogance, lies, U turns, corruption, hubris, incompetence, and what not. The eating will be confirmed in the coming elections that Gonzi shivers to think of it let alone goes for it. There is the feeling that the ingredients all bought by Gonzi and made by his par idejn sodi are baked to give a dingy smell and challenging to overthrow the oligarchy of evil people.
Peter Zahra
Feb 8th, 15:16
The proof of the pudding is in the eating !!! - Trid ikollok wiccek mcappas b.....
Could you please tell us what Alfred Sant did when the electorate gave him the chance to prove all his heaven on earth electoral promises bit tmexxija moderna u trasparenti ?? If not mistaken, the labour party is today running on the same lines as in 96, promising reduction of electricty bills etc ..as Alfred Sant had done with the Vat. The problem is that today the labour party is still composed of the same old faces going back since the 1980's !!!!!!!
John Rizzo
Feb 8th, 11:51
The GonziPN Machinery of pure rhetoric is once On again! The PM in his full swing partisan rhetoric as if it was speaking on a Sunday in a PN Club!
Dear PM, you are credible No More! Since 2005, the only one to review the stipend system was yourself, not the PL, not alone Muscat!
It was nobody else than the PN to reduce stipends and grant Eur 500 extra to themselves!
R. Gauci
Feb 8th, 10:58
Nispera li din il-kumpanija mhux bhal hafna li kellna qabel l-ahhar elezzjoni. Jigu hawn b'hafna pompi u cerimonji mbaghad jaghlqu inkiss inkiss wara ftit xhur.
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 8th, 10:50
Deborah Schembri Avukat?????? Deborah Schembri Avukat?????
A. MICALLEF
Feb 8th, 10:40
Very SMART ! VERY WHITE ROCKS ! VERY GHOGM li suppost kellha iggib lejn Malta hafna flus u
hafna xoghol, insomma VERY, VERY PAROLI u propoganda, u dejjem ihallas it-taxpayer Malti.
Din il-propoganda kollha ghalxejn ghaliex il-poplu deciz illi ser jehles mill-Klikka GONZIPN.
S. Zammit
Feb 8th, 11:58
Dawk il progetti li semmejt kollha mil privat. Smart City ghada qed tinbena. U xghandu xjaqsam it taxpayer ma dawn il progetti? Nahseb li tisma il VERY PAROLI tas "SUPER NONE" biss int. U min qallek li il poplu deciz li ser jehles minn Gonzi. Inti u tal MUSCATPL forsi, ghax iddejjaqtu f'l-oppozizzjoni. Imma min hu intelligenti jara madwaru u jaf x'ghandu jghazel. Specjalment mnn din lintervista ghax JM ma qal assolutament xejn.
John L Galea
Feb 8th, 13:50
@S. Zammit: Smart City ha ddum biex tinbena mela ghax ilhom ghaddejin! Kieku il-Gappun fl-istess zmien jilhqu jibnu pajjiz. BTW Gonzi stess qal li l-PL qieghe 10 punti percentwali minn quddiem, mela hemm maggoranza kbira ta' nies li ddejqu minn Gonzi.
A. MICALLEF
Feb 8th, 14:13
S.ZAMMIT- Tajjeb tkun taf li l-art ta Smart City kienet propjeta tal-Poplu Malti u nghatat bis-soldi.
Sewwa li tkuntaf li l-famuza COGHM, il-famuza Brand Malta u hafnaaktar frejjec tal-PN kollha
imhallsa mit-taxpayer Malti. Forsi qieghed tahseb li dawn iffinanzjhom il-kuntratturi tal-famuza
JS LIST li tghamel parti mill-KLIKKAGONZIPN. Imma kullhadd jghaf li tal-JS tfffinanzja lil KLIKKAGONZIPN biss. Dawk li jridu li tispicca il-KLIKKAGONZIPN huma in-nazzjonlisti stess li ma jiffurmhawx parti minn
din il-klikka. Jos. Muscat ma jidholx fiha din il-kwistjoni. Jekk int inteligenti ghamel ftit kont u
ghasal ghal-figura ta kemm seta zid jew naqqas voti fuq l-1500 vot flahhar elezjoni li rebah
l-elezzjoni bihom. Zgur li ser tkun VERY, VERY DISSAPOINTED u tlesti ghal-funeral tal-PN.
S. Zammit
Feb 8th, 15:42
@John Galea. Il 10 punti huma sa issa. L-ahhar elezjoni konna listess u xorta rebah il PN
@A.Micallef. nerga nghidlek li jekk tibqa tisma u tara is SUPER NONE mintix ser timxu il quddiem. Ghax Alla jbierek kollox hazin hawn fil pajjiz u li JM ser ikun is salvatur ta Malta. Imma JM ma qal xejn, u sr jibqa ma jghid xejn ta sugu. Il problemi li hawn mad dinja kollha anke ahna kelna nghaddu minnha imma
GonziPN fit tmun, irnexxielna nghelbu il mewg, u ta dan inthom KOLLHA mahruqin ghax Malta ma gherqitx bhal pajjizi ohrajn u allura ma stajtux tippuntaw subghajkhom lejn il PN. Issa oqghod hemm u tpaxxa bil progress li gab il PN.
John L Galea
Feb 8th, 10:38
The EU gave Malta a thousand billion euros - where all this money went? Ok apart from some few projects, did our roads get better? with all these billion euros we should be living on a heavenly island not in its current state!! My mind wonders!!
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 11:06
Some few projects??? Did the roads get better?? Are u living in malta??
Frans Aguis
Feb 8th, 11:12
I'm sure that's a mistake, meant to say thousand million euros since we joined probably.Thousand billion is a Trillion which would help solve the current crisis if we return:)
John L Galea
Feb 8th, 11:43
@Curmi: Yes I am living in Malta. The roads are still a disaster. I think you don't live in Malta. No alternative energy measures or investment. And I agree that the word billions is mistyped or it is a lie.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 12:24
No alternative energy measures..what about the GOVT grant for solar panels or solar water heaters...investiment?? ghalfejn bi hsibkom tifthu xi fabbrika tal kappar??hallina ahmar biss tara habib...j'alla jitla JM ha naraw kemm tibqghu tikkritikaw ghax kollox tajjeb taraw..iktar nissawtu iktar tiehdu gost!!!
vincent busuttil
Feb 8th, 13:28
@Edward Curmi: Jekk dawn in-nies qeghdin jaraw ahmar int xejn anqas minnhom ghax hlief blu ma tarax.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 15:50
@ John L Galea. Smart City miexja bil mod inhabba il krizi fid dinja kolla u mux wieqfa...u kif ga spjejjajt jekk din mas sehx kif jixtiequ tas Super None l-art zviluppata terga taqa ghand il Gvern u dejjem aghar mill mizbla li kien hemm qabel!!
Tony Busuttil
Feb 8th, 10:03
Dr Debono (see other TOM story) just made a statement which is very clear that the goverment has no majority. I am sure Herman has an Ipad and can ask the PM about this statment By Dr debono
Noel Mifsud
Feb 8th, 09:55
Ask Gonzi if we still have Ghost (SMart) City please, and to see the business kindly go to valetta or sliema and see all the salespersons waiting outside for customers, lets say expect the food outlets. Please Dr Gonzi come live in Malta not in the clouds, thanks.
Alfred E. Zahra
Feb 8th, 14:56
Sliema is now the prime shopping area in Malta where the sales persons do not have to wait outside for customers. From your post it is very obvious that you do not live in Sliema.
Frans Aguis
Feb 8th, 09:52
"He had proposed a man who had contested the Labour leadership election for President.This was one of the most historically difficult steps ever taken"
Yeah right after he handed you 2 elections on a silver platter.
Matthew Micallef
Feb 8th, 09:48
Dr. Gonzi has the cheek and nerve to state that it was because of him that our President was elected? As far as anyone is concerned President George Abela was the greatest thing to happen to our country, and he well deserved his seat as president. He is a fine representative of our country and in my opinion it is a shame that this man cannot represent our country until his dying day, coz I fail to see anyone filling his shoes once his term is done!!!
Pierre Mangion
Feb 8th, 10:09
@ Matthew
I agree fully that Dr Abela. what i'd like to add is that the post of president should carry more weight on the overall governance of the country.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 10:12
It is thanks toDr.Gonzi who had the brilliant idea to propose Dr.George Abela and not propose someone within the PN. It is true Dr.George Abela has proved himself by using his influence for the better of the country.
Karl Abela
Feb 8th, 10:12
Mathew,
Your hatred towards the prime minister are not helping you see things as they really are. Be informed before you speak.
It was Gonzi who chose George Abela to be President and noone else.
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 8th, 10:34
Matthew your stupidity shines! Like it or not YES it was Dr. Gonzi who proposed Dr.Abela.
AS Spiteri
Feb 8th, 13:46
Ghandkhom zball mhux Dr Gonzi ghamel lil Dr Abela president imma il magna ta Gonzipn ghamlitu president ghal skop li l istupidi biss ma jarawhx u dan kullhadd jaf ghaliex ghax b'din il mossa il magna pruvat tbied lil Dr Abela mil PL ghax jafu xi jfisser imma gharralhom ghax helsu min wiehed bil pulit u hargu tnejn ohra minnu , ibnu u il mara tat tifel tieghu . issa ghajduli min hu l istupidu, jiena zgur illi huma stupidi u jleqqu ukoll bhal ma qalu certu bravi min jahseb li gonzipn ghamel lil Dr Abela president ghax haqrituy qalbu
tony abela
Feb 8th, 09:41
Dear Prime Minister,
You should tell the public that contrary to all the people going for work and school who had to leave home an hour before their usual time, you were passing at Tal-Barrani to Sta Lucia at 8am to get to this press conference, where traffic jam is the order of the day, but with a difference. You were escorted by two traffic policemen to make your way as if there were no cars and you most likely still deny the hardships people are suffering as a result of your transport reform and the stupid way your government plans the major road works.
this is a daily event that you close your eyes and ears for the hardships public is going through as long as you wake up at your leisure and get to your destination in time, thanks to the public tax for providing you with such luxury.
Kindly stop insulting us normal citizens
I hope that Mr Grech see this blog and ask you what you have to say.
Karl Abela
Feb 8th, 10:10
Tony you should be ashamed of speaking with this attitiude towards a prime minister who has guaranteed that you can wake up in the morning because you have a job you have to go to.
Millions of people around Europe are staying at home because they have no job to go to.
Stop being arrogant about petty things.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 10:13
If the road has potholes we grumble ..if there are roadworks to build better roads ..which i am sure you will use we grumble....vera qatt m'ahna kuntenti
W Cassar
Feb 8th, 10:20
What Tony Abela is talking about is quality of life and he is right. Transport planning in Malta is a joke and someone should have resigned LONG AGO!
@ Karl Abela
What about the jobs jobs jobs? We are the lowest paid in Europe of course we will have jobs lol Wake Up!
George Azzopardi
Feb 8th, 11:23
@Karl Abela .. you make me sick .. how patetic
tony abela
Feb 8th, 12:46
Dear Karl Abela
Why should be ashamed? For your information I have worked hard probably well before you was born to help building Malta over the past 50 years. I worked hard, contributed to my country with my capabilities and taxes so that people like you SHOULD NOT be obliged towards anybody for having a job. A job is a right not a favour. We live in 2012.
My point is the insensitivity of our PM for hardships the average citizen is experiencing due to inefficient administration.
If you feel grateful towards the Public Transport reform and the mismanagement in TM regarding the traffic management and road repairs planning, I can assure you that there are many others who disagree with your opinion, and i must say that you are surely on the minority side.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 8th, 15:55
Karl Abela: you have fallen victim to the GonziPN spin machine. They are always comparing us to countries that are worse of, and the result is statements like yours - grateful to have a job. We should instead compare ourselves to countries that have a better standard of living and complain that we have not yet achieved that level. Your kind of attitude just breeds mediocrity because you do not aim at a higher level but are happy to wallow in the mud just because someone else is worse off than you.
S. Zammit
Feb 8th, 16:15
@ Mr. Abela, Thanks for your contribution towards Malta, honestly.
on the other hand ,I do hope that Dear Dr.Muscat gets a motorino if and when he is PM.
W Cassar
Feb 8th, 09:32
Can I ask Gonzi when we are going to have SMART drains ?
Kevin Marks
Feb 8th, 09:23
Jaqaw se noqghodu nisimghu il Gonzi jiftahar biss illum?? Dur dawra r restaurants Dr Gonzi ha ttara jekk hawnx incertezza fil pajjiz jew is self employed iz zaghzr mhux importanti ghalik
Andre Cilia
Feb 8th, 09:45
Dur dawra r-restaurants ta' Bugibba... ara tarahomx mimlijin... f'gurnata li mhix festa, weekend, imma gurnata xoghol komuni... mur ara qabel titkellem
Karl Abela
Feb 8th, 10:05
I can bet you that there are many EU heads of state who wish to be in Gonzi's position. Gonzi is one of the few PM's who can boast about his country, and Kevin you should be proud of this irrespective of what political orientation you have.
Those days are gone li ghax int ahmar kollox huwa hazin. Li huwa tajjeb huwa tajjeb. FULLSTOP.
Or maybe you are living in Greece. In Malta whenever I go out to eat in a restaurant without a pre booking I always end up without a table.
Edward Curmi
Feb 8th, 10:15
Ghaziz Sur marks sa fejn naf jien fil weekend kulhadd fully booked jkun...ippruvajt nibbukja ghal nhar il hadd restaurant go tax xbiex u qaltli ilhom fully booked mil hadd li ghadda!!!
John L Galea
Feb 8th, 11:48
@ Andre Cilia: Jekk ddur Bugibba fix-xitwa qisha cimiterju. Kemm ilhom hemm il-PN fil-gvern din il-lokalita giet minsija ghal kollox.
Din tar-restaurant hu argument falz. Tridu taraw dawk li jmorru r-restaurants xi kwalita ta' hajja qed jghixu. Mhux kull ma jleqq hu deheb :)
Henry Spiteri
Feb 8th, 20:26
@ John L Galea
Bugibba huwa post tas-sajf u ma tistenniex li jkun hemm hafna nies fil-hwienet, specjalment f'dan il-maltemp li qieghed jaghmel. Wara kollox ghadna kemm ic-celebrajna l-festi tal-Milied ftit gimghat ilu tista' tghid.