PM claims Muscat promising development permits

A. Mizzi

Jun 18th 2012, 09:13

PM claims Muscat promising development permits
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L'ispizjar jew l' AVUKAT mili jkollu jaghtik????

Mr Victor Borg

Jun 18th 2012, 09:01

Building hotels and wedding halls and wineries in valleys in the name of agrotourism is a grotesque misrepresentation of what agrotourism is about. These are counterproductive ideas - the kind of things that will ruin our valleys (in the same way that hotels have ruined parts of our coast) - and I shudder when I see that the person spouting these dangerous ideas is a prime-minisiter-hopeful. So do we turn to our valleys now, Joe Muscat, and destroy them - will that bring us tourists or destroy the little greenery we have left, and actually undermine green tourism in the first place? Green tourism is not about lodging in valleys, or building wedding halls in valleys and calling them 'green weddings' (as they are doing in Marsalforn valley in Gozo). Unfortunately these hare-brained ideas to destroy the little countryside we have left makes me extremely wary of a Labour government...

B Grech

Jun 18th 2012, 08:49

So what Gonzi is saying is that if Labour wins the next election nothing will change.

Paul Gauci

Jun 18th 2012, 05:25

What cheek!! Isn't this the same government which allowed the rape of tigne', the building of apartments along the bastions of vittoriosa, the extension of the delimara power plant which will run on the dirtiest fuel on the market and last but not least that disgusting 'oil rig' being built at the entrance of our nation's capital???

I'm sorry dr. Gonzi but I have more faith in Joseph muscat than in you!!

Lina Caruana

Jun 18th 2012, 05:01

Speaking of cliques it seems the electorate is just choosing between the quality of political brokerage in both parties. This will not dissolve parties but can only deepen a ring of corruption if it exists.

M Darmanin

Jun 18th 2012, 00:42

"Tax on medical prescription" - I would have suggested a fee introduction on free medicine so people will consider it twice before ordering medicine and then trashed away or left on the shelf.

Dione Spiteri

Jun 17th 2012, 21:11

What is so new ? – Although it has been some time since labour was in power it has always been the order of the day to promise before any election than find an excuse not to keep up with promises – remember the VAT parody? Muscat is no exception

K CASSAR

Jun 17th 2012, 21:10

....."government policy to stop subsidising areas which did not yield returns to the country, such as the dockyard and Sea Malta, meant funds could be channelled for areas where such funds were better used, such as......" a €500 pay rise for Dr. Gonzi and his pals!!

Alexander Brincat

Jun 17th 2012, 20:57

No seriously?? Who granted flash-flood permits just days before the 2008 General Election? Who promised a reduced rate of income tax? Who took 500 euros a week pay rise without permission or disclosure? Answer: Lawrence Gonzi and friends (yes, just the friends).

John Zammit

Jun 17th 2012, 20:33

We could call him a prime U turn.He says something only to fined out that he change his mind or rather say forced to do so by Dr Muscat Sush project as The power station with HFO now quietly sending one of his Ministers to Get Gas from Qatar, Increased his Salary By €600 then back to €500 then remove it because of a revolt in his Parliamentary group which one hope ended up with the resignation of a Minister. His claim of national Interest is noting more than His eagerness for power. The Oligarchy is at the top and only those of the inner circle (clique ) got His protection.

henry caruana

Jun 17th 2012, 20:27

Let the permessi aside please, tpacpic fil vojt.
Meta Muscat ikun l-kaptan, naraw x' faham juza
Sensible MALTESE want to know what we are doing to eridicating the loans of millions
to pay Renzo / project
Are we to sell the Palace to cover up?
How VALLETTA project create jobs ??? Fabricate tables / chairs for export ? or couple pictures
and ribbon for you to cut

Barney Camilleri

Jun 17th 2012, 20:10

Hello!
Mr. Prime Minister today we had another group of people lost at sea that we brought in and we will have to find a place for them to stay and feed.
This is what is concerning us. 'Today', let us worry about today Dr. Gonzi.

Daniel Sammut

Jun 17th 2012, 19:51

"Was Labour's environment policy influenced by these meetings?" Ghaziz Prim, ma nafx min fejn smajthom int, pero jiena ghadni ma smajt l-ebda policy minghand Muscat..... Hlief li qal jigri x,jigri ha jaqta il kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma.... Mur emnu....

Luke Bonello

Jun 17th 2012, 19:44

This article clearly shows the difference between both political leaders. Whilst the Prime Minister is criticizing Labour, in the sentence after he says what PN has done and will do. IS THAT SO HARD TO DO MR.MUSCAT?????????

Peppi Borg

Jun 17th 2012, 19:33

The clique remains so sacred for the pm. He defends those who are close to his circle and dumps the others. He even continues to refuse to condemns bloggers who attack personally even people within his party. While giving the cabinet a huge increase and favours blue eyed boys, he plays the miser with people who are really in need.

Peppi Borg

Jun 17th 2012, 19:30

Scaremongering, scaremongering and more scaremongering.... always remain the last weapon for gonzipn when losing credibility.And how can Gonzi be credible in front of the people when he made a colossal desicion to increase his salary and that of his cabinet for 600 euros per week revised later for 500 euros? How can we believe him when he stated that Marsaxlokk powerstation cannot be run on other fuel other than heavy fuel oil and later sent one of his ministers to discuss other possibilities? How can we trust him when he told us that he had only a splinter in the party which later led to a forced resignation of one of his main ministers? How can we trust a pm whose only aim is to prolong his time in power and addio the future of our country in such troubled times?

Charles Massa

Jun 17th 2012, 19:20

Dr Gonzi hlief isemmi l passat ma jaghmilx. Forsi ahjar isemmi il passat tas sittinijiet meta laburisti kellhom l interdett tal Arcisqpf Gonzi. Ahjar jejdilna jekk jerga jirbah l elezzjoni se jaghmel. u jekk il wediet li jaghmelf fil programm elettorali hux se jzommon bhal ma kienet il wedgha ta tnaqqis fl income tax u 5000 impieg fi Smart City. Rigward il mozzjonijiet kien deputat Nazzjonalista li Mifsud Bonnici kellu jirrizanja. Ghalix Dr gONZI ma iddefendix lil CMB bhal ma iddifenda lil Austin Gatt. Rigward il progetti kapitali, ahjar irranga toroq minflok ghamel tijatru bla saqaf u parlament gdid li zgur mhux se jiggeneraw impiegi. Fuq l ambjent ahjar Dr Gonzi j isaqsi lil kuxxjenza tieghu u jiftakar qabel l elezzjoni il permessi li kienu se johorgu fil Mistra ta deputat tieghu JPO. Hallini nghixu Dr Gonzi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cesco di luigi

Jun 17th 2012, 19:18

JM is trying to please the contractors. he better be careful... a lot of people...even PL supporters DO NOT WANT building in green areas and on the sea-shore!! Make yourself clear Joseph, there is no room for hidden messages.

Victor Vella

Jun 17th 2012, 18:26

Dr Gonzi criticised Labour over personal attacks, saying the latest one was the motion calling for Richard Cachia Caruana's resignation. The motion will be debated tomorrow.- Yes, Gonzi that is the duty of the opposition to interview people that it seems that they have surpassed all levels of ethical behavior in their duties. Obviously, the government as usual is not going to find fault with the person in question, while the opposition is going to vote against. The real truth- as usual a big question?

John Zammit

Jun 17th 2012, 18:16

Only hope that the coming Months will not see a repetition of what happened in the last general Election when thousands of permits were issued by MEPA in the last six weeks

Carl Callus

Jun 17th 2012, 18:16

While on the one hand Dr. Gonzi has promised to safeguard student stipends and has indeed kept his word, Muscat is meeting the rich and powerful. Frightening prospect indeed

colin wilcox

Jun 17th 2012, 18:09

I have been coming to malta since 1972 and most of the building
as been done by the PN there is not that much land left to build on
if they keep buildng no one will want to visit and explore the ireland

Victor Calleja

Jun 17th 2012, 18:08

Tieghek ittihx lil haddiehor prim

m. borg (slm)

Jun 17th 2012, 17:49

A marked difference between gonzi and Joseph.

While Joseph talks mostly aboiut the future and how to improve the people's lot on the other hand gonzi talks about the past, attacks Joseph needlessly and hardly defends his last four years as PM.

A glareing difference between a man who knows what he wants (Joseph) and one who is completely confused and in the process of political dementia (gonzi)

Paul Caruana

Jun 17th 2012, 17:40

Muscat's repeated, though unsuccessful efforts to destabilise the government does not ony betray his opportunism to achieve his obsession to be Malta's youngest PM at any cost. What is worse is that he is utterly unprincipled going so far as trying to destroy one of the most decent politicians around. Regarding the accusations against Richard Cachia Caruana they are false not because the latter says so as Muscat said in the Sunday Times interview, but because Labour did not bring one shred of evidence that he was guilty as accused. Again Muscat has shown his lack of substance. RCC may not be the most likeable person, but he has proved to be absolutely efficient, extremely intelligent, a good negotiator and he has contributed in no small way to the fact that Malta is punching much above its weight in the EU.

Rene Levasseur

Jun 17th 2012, 17:33

Wow ! Judging by the majority of comments posted, it seems that the PM is not liked at all !

Joe Tabone

Jun 17th 2012, 17:32

Dear Joseph today - Ques - How do you view construction in general - JM - "It has to be sustainable."

Good one, sustainable to the contractors - PL's green policies!

George Grech

Jun 17th 2012, 17:10

In fact reading the interview in The Sunday Times, one could feel that Muscat was ambiguous and anything but categorical in his answers regarding his environmental policies. He knows that people have been speaking to the PM and so he would not deny the accusation that he has been hunting with the hounds and running with the rabbits. Muscat's evident proverbial immaturity makes him believe that he can be all things to all.

Mr Alexander Azzopardi

Jun 17th 2012, 17:10

Stenn flahhar elezzjoni min kien hareg xeba permesi biex jerbah il voti umbat meta tlajtu fil gvern waqaftu 85%+. Tal permesi kontu hrigtu qabel!!

ALBERT FENECH

Jun 17th 2012, 17:01

Take a hike Gonzi. Surely, have you not figured over these many months that this country is sick and tired of your so-called leadership and continual theatrics? As George VI said to Neville Chamberlain - a weak and hopelessly and helpless leader - "for God's same man - go!" Does Muscat have to make these secret "trysts" to win a General Election when he is so many miles ahead? So, butt out Gonzi and don't expose yourself to further ridicule.

Joseph Borg

Jun 17th 2012, 16:56

Dr.Gonzi, I cannot unerstand why you're so against a tax on medical prescriptions. If you'll implement such a tax, you'll notice that the demand on free medicine will decline. Any you know why? That's because people still get a free medicine even though they don't take it. "It's free so I want it!", said the old lady. I heard it myself while waiting to be served in a pharmacy. Think about it!!!!

Another thing. Students getting stipends should pay them back when they start working (locally or abroad). I am completely in favor of such a measure. Why not?! Stipends are there to help students while studying. Once they get their first full time job, they should start paying them back as tax arrears without interest.

M Grima

Jun 17th 2012, 16:13

"Was Labour's environment policy influenced by these meetings? Labour, he said, had a bad record in the environment, with historic sites having been spoilt"

Are you serious Dr. Gonzi? Who ruined not once but twice, the Valletta Gate? Who wanted to give a permit to JPO to have a disco in Mistra? Who opted to have a power station running on heavy fuel oil when this could have run on gas? Who ruined most of our countryside? Who ruined our rural villages with ghastly concrete jungles?

U hallina Dr. Gonzi, ghalfejn ma tmurx issaqqi xi hassa!!

M Grima

Jun 17th 2012, 16:08

If there is anyone who had promised building permits to individuals just before the last election it was GonziPN. Not only that, but these same promises had actually materialised.

Dr. Gonzi this is just one of your gimmicks to alienate the electorate from the dirty politics your party is renowned for. As the party in government the PN takes full advantage of power of incumbency by not actually promising things but by giving then like the many buildings permits, some of them illegal, before the last election.

m. borg (slm)

Jun 17th 2012, 16:04

"Another current Labour front-bencher, Leo Brincat in his only Budget as Finance Minister introduced a tax on medical prescriptions"

Yes and it only cost me Lm0.50 , today to get a prescription I have to pay a minimum of €8.00 for a doctor's visit.

As regards MEPA, does gonzi hope he would still pull the strings on the politically placed personnel even from opposition.
Well gonzi doesn't have a good track record were MEPA is involved especially since he took it under his wings from George Pulicino who made a shamles of it. Talk is easy gonz but actions speak louder.

Carmel Zammit

Jun 17th 2012, 15:40

As to the promises regarding development permits Dr. Gonzi would perhaps better consult the other Dr. Gonzi who promised everything before the last general election in 2008. I am sure he would be supplied with all the information regarding promises.

“Dr Gonzi said government policy to stop subsidising areas which did not yield returns to the country, such as the dockyard and Sea Malta”.
What Dr. Gonzi failed to mention is that both of these entities were brought to their knees under the administration of his most able Dr. Austin Gatt. Dr. Gonzi conveniently forgot all about the Freemont contract.

“Labour, he said, had a bad record in the environment, with historic sites having been spoilt and a disco having even been built within Fort St Angelo”. Again Dr. Gonzi forgot all about the famous BWSC polluter installed at Marsaxlokk, next to an inhabited area sending the Marsaxlokk community's health status to the dogs. What a cheek!! Does the BWSC power station, the only one of its kind in Europe, by any stretch of imagination qualify as pollution free? Whom is Dr. Gonzi kidding? As for the disco inside St. Angelo the hon Prime Minister might perhaps care to try to sleep one Friday night in the area comprising Zebbug, Attard, Rabat and Siggiewi and see for himself the kind of sound pollution he allowed for years with high volume music running into the early hours of the night (sometimes even till after 03:00).

Dr. Gonzi also conveniently forgot the shameful escalation of poverty in Malta. This Prime Minister presides over an unprecedented shameful escalation of poverty. Something which all governments since after the war tried to eradicate with the exception of the current administration. Dr. Gonzi holds the record as the only Prime Minister since the after the war under whose administration poverty was allowed to roar its head violently. Shameful indeed.

As for stipends Dr. Gonzi would do well to remember that it was a Labour government that introduced stipends to students. Again he does not mention how under his Premiership IT students following diploma courses are seeing their stipends slashed this very summer.

Whom is Dr. Gonzi kidding.

Tonio Micallef

Jun 17th 2012, 15:31

Mela nesa Lawrence Gonzi kif harguhom il-permess bl-addocc qabe l-elezzjoni tal-2008? Nesa li fl-ahhar gimgha tal-elezzjoni GonziPN tajru bord shih tad-DCC u hatru iehor minn floku biex johrog il-permessi kollha li ried li johorgu l-PN? Issa ha jitkaza u jghid li Joseph Muscat qed iwieghed il-permessi tal-bini? M'ghandux ghalfej iwieghed permessi tal-bini Joseph Muscat ghax dawn regghu hargin galore u sal-elezzjoni, kull min ghandu bzonn xi haga ha jtuhielu ta' GonziPN. Hekk talabhom Gonzi innifsu ftit gimghat ilu. Kull min ghandu problema jmur ghandu u jsolviehielu!!

Mr Emanuel Farrugia

Jun 17th 2012, 15:29

"Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today he had been informed that Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat was holding meetings with individuals and promising them development permits - even though, he said, there might be problems with Mepa".

Tidher li qeghda toqrob l-elezzjoni generali, ghax issa xbajna nisimghu bil-kelma 'promising', biex imbaghad, kif tghaddi l-elezzjoni generali, lanqas biss jafuk aktar. Halluna nghixu u tkomplux tkunu ipokriti. Il-verita twegga.

Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council

Mr Clayton Mangion

Jun 17th 2012, 15:25

who are you trying to fool dr.gonzi ! Remeber the ramla l hamra and JPO Mistra village . Oh surely you must forgot !

Dr Gonzi said government policy to stop subsidising areas which did not yield returns to the country, such as the dockyard and Sea Malta, meant funds could be channelled for areas where such funds were better used, such as education and students' stipends. = CAUSE YOUR WANTED TO REMOVE RESPONSABILTY FROM YOUR SHOULDERS AND WANTED PEOPLE TO EARN PEANUTS !

Dr Gonzi criticised Labour over personal attacks, saying the latest one was the motion calling for Richard Cachia Caruana's resignation. The motion will be debated tomorrow.= SAME AS FENECH ADAMI DID IN MLP TIMES

The Nationalist government, he said, would stand by students' stipends, viewing them as investment for the country's future. A Nationalist government would also continue to invest strongly in education as a whole, as well as health, the environment jobs and the roads.= THE ONLY INVESTMENT I SEEN ON THE ROADS ARE NEW LAYERS OF TARMAC ! AND MAYBE SOME FLOWERS

Dr Gonzi also defended the investment being made in Valletta, including the extensive restoration of the bastions and the City Gate/new parliament project. The government wanted to see a vibrant city as well as a city worthy of being Europe's cultural capital in 2018. Malta should be proud of the work being done by Renzo Piano in association with Maltese architects. Criticism by Joseph Muscat, he said, was being made for reasons of partisan politics. For labour, quality was not important. It was back to mediocrity.= ALL FROMT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO SEE A THEATER WITH NO ROOF ! OH SORRY FORGOT THAT RENZO PIANO IS THE BROTHER OF RAY CHARLES!

Joseph E Briffa

Jun 17th 2012, 15:08

Every voter must consider which party is the best - or rather the better - for the country. It is a forgone conclusion however that most voters will be guided by their feelings for the two big parties. Diehards will remain what they are by definition. But people who analyse and are not easily taken in by promises in the election run-up will compare the performance of the two main parties. It's not a question of the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. In our case, except for voters under forty, the electorate is familiar with the performance of both parties so they do know both devils. Most of first time voters will no doubt be influenced by their parents. These youngsters have known good times particularly freedom of expression and association; they are also aware that Malta has made big strides, the ecenomy is relatively doing well. They have never experienced the hard times of the 70s and 80s, but they must be warned that the good things, democracy in particular, is not to be taken for granted. They must be told that despite the changes in the banners and in names, and the changes in the attire, such as blue ties and shirts, blue backgrounds, the reference to a Labour government as the 'new' government, the Labour party or movement or whatever they want to call themselves is still full of ex-ministers in the Mintoff cabinet. Perhaps the idea of choosing JM as leader of the party, instead of the current President of Malta, was not sheer coincidence. JM is young, he is a new face, and looks quite a chummy fellow - one remembers the ' call me Joseph' cry - and he looks quite innocuous. However, the real dinosours lurk in the background, and it's not very reasonable for one to assume that JM would be able to have any control over ex-ministers who are almost double his age and who would not be particularly happy to be sidetracked once again by Labour, as happened when Alfred Sant was at the helm. No party is perfect, they both have their good and bad points. So it's a question of one asking oneself which party is more innocous, which party one can live with. The performance of both parties particularly in the sphere of democracy and in the economic and social fields leaves little doubt as to which party should be entrusted with leading the country in the coming quinquennium.

Andre Ellul

Jun 17th 2012, 14:58

It is becoming clear. Muscat is ready to sacrifice the common good, this time in the form of the environment, in order to gain power. Not progressive at all.

Edmond Micallef

Jun 17th 2012, 14:34

The PM should come out with hard facts and actual evidence to prove what he is saying about Muscat. Otherwise it is all a matter of perception or, worst still, GonziPN's deceit.

Regarding the past, how come the PM keeps on thinking that by reminding the people about some parts of the past that suits him, this will overshadow the massive problems and hardships that most Maltese and Gozitans are living today?

lilly vella

Jun 17th 2012, 14:19

unti sur pm x qed twieghed lin nies personali?? ghidilna ftit ,int stees ghidt , ghidulna xi tridu u ahna ntukhom kull ma tridu.

Carmen Abela

Jun 17th 2012, 14:14

Whoever thinks of trusting JM and the PL I encourage them to think again. They have always played their same dirty game over and over again. Their only purpose is simply to gain votes and power and to try and gain revenge on the PN after the 1998 unexpected election.
Experience has thought us that any promises made by PL are never achieved.

Paula Azzopardi

Jun 17th 2012, 14:06

For our country to continue to improve we need to invest in our youngsters and safeguard the environment for them. We must help students to grow and give them the necessary tools including stipend. Trusting LP we will mean gambling our children s future!

Antonia Cachia

Jun 17th 2012, 14:05

PLs electoral programme is based on its promises to individuals which most of the time is not for the best of the country. JM we do not want promises which cannot be kept or which may put the country ten years backwards. We need someone like Dr. Gonzi who managed to keep our country sailing through with these international disasters.

Alex Cordina

Jun 17th 2012, 14:01

I agree with Dr. Gonzi, I don't understand this attitude towards the City Gate project and other projects in Valletta. This is not a waste of money as Muscat continously implies. This project is creating numerous jobs, which are crucial in this economic crises, and if the project is succesfully implemented, this can seriously be a tourist attraction and one of Europe's cultural capital.

Jimmy Cutajar

Jun 17th 2012, 14:00

"Motions such as this, he said, reminded the people how Labour in the past sought to destroy people." Naqbel ma dan il-punt ta' Dr. Gonzi. Filfatt jien meta nara il-membri tal-PL u l-kandidati taghhom nibza ghax niftakar fil-passat u minn dak li ghaddejna minnu. Minhabba f'hekk, peress li n-nies ma nbidlux, ma tantx hemm tama ta' bidla fil-mentalita u l-politka taghhom.

Pierre Busuttil

Jun 17th 2012, 13:58

It's good that Dr. Gonzi criticizes Labour, since the MLP and Muscat are not being politcally and ethically correct with these motions and personal attacks. They are also not practical, since they are not using their abilities to criticise the government tn in a way which helps the people vote in their favor. It seems that they don't find anything worth critising about, hence they have to be so low and use personal attacks.

Anthony Saliba

Jun 17th 2012, 13:50

My apologies, but we cannot ignore Labour’s environmental track record when they were in government. Reading Muscat’s interview with the Sunday Times this morning gave me the shivers and invoked all kind of bad memories.

Failing to give a clear answer on policies towards development if he (Muscat) were to be in government makes me think we’re in for another environmental mess.

Sorry, but from what I read and see I won’t even trust Labour with my own garden, let alone with the nation’s environment and planning policies.

Charlene Fenech

Jun 17th 2012, 13:47

Dear Dr. Gonzi,

You are absolutely right, us youth cannot trust JM with our future. PL has proven this between 1996 - 1998 when the stipend was a loan and not the way it has always been under PN government.
When listening to JM's proposals for us youth one may only laugh as they are either achieved or truly unbelievable as we all got used to the PLs ridiculous ways of trying to gain the youth votes.

A Dimech

Jun 17th 2012, 13:38

Dr Gonzi has only one card left to play => "Dejjem Ibezza bil Ba Baw!"

dik l'unika strategija li daqqa

Paul Cassar

Jun 17th 2012, 13:30

AND WHO IS..................... PRESENTLY............................. GIVING THEM ?????????????????

James Tyrrell

Jun 17th 2012, 13:13

It's obvious that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is living in his own little fantasy land! Remember Lawrence, not so long ago one of your own Ministers tried to build a disco on a Natura 2000 site, and your attempts at trying to justify 20 years of debt in order to build your little monument at the entrance to Valletta is a sad joke.

Noel Mifsud

Jun 17th 2012, 12:55

Min fejn smajta din gahx ila tinstema biex ghedta issa, jew forsi veru int mhux Malta tghix. Pero for you information today at this newspaper cahada Muscat. Ara int ma tichadx li ghandna gvern zopp, u qieghed jimxi bil punctures

Emanuel Curmi

Jun 17th 2012, 12:33

Dear Mr. Prime Minister. 2 can play the game, it's politics after all. If voting could change anything...it would be illegal. These comments from the PM, may be absolutely true but coming from a party, which has been run on the same lines for 25 years, sound very hypocritical, to say the least. Basically what the PM is telling the electorate is to stay in the pan rather than jump into the fire. Nice prospect indeed.