State funeral: Malta showed political maturity - Gonzi
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that yesterday's state funeral for Dom Mintoff showed how the country had matured and how it was able to lift itself above partisan politics.
In comments to Radio 101, Dr Gonzi, who is currently in the UK on a private visit, Dr Gonzi said that Mr Mintoff remained a controversial figure, but in such a time of mourning at the loss of such a powerful personality who meant so many different things for the people, the country had shown respect and dignity.
Dr Gonzi said he was grateful for the appreciation expressed by the Mintoff family and the leader of the opposition, among others, to the government for the organisation of the funeral. He wished to thank all those involved.
The proof of one's maturity was when one needed to make a choice between being controversial and showing dignity in times such as this and the government had rightly chosen the latter.
EDUCATION: ONE OF GOVERNMENT'S PILLARS
Replying to other questions, Dr Gonzi placed emphasis on education and the fact that the PN government was every year spending €6,000 for each child in Malta and Gozo. This was in contrast to the Labour Party, which had wanted to change stipends to loans, which had abandoned investment in schools, closed Mcast, scaled back the University, wanted to introduce the repeater class and introduced the 20 points system, Dr Gonzi said.
The PN in government was the best chance for children to succeed.
Labour used education as a political tool to create a socialist generation, Dr Gonzi said. The PN viewed education as opening the doors for children to live their dreams.
Dr Gonzi thanked teachers and all involved in education.
He said the government gave great importance to all schools, including Church and independent schools. That was why the government managed to channel funds also to help parents who sent their children to private schools. Parents were being given tax advantages and funds had been provided for private schools to purchase computers, white boards and other equipment.
Massive investment was also underway at the University and Mcast. Mcast was a dark blot in Labour's history. People who are still in Labour's ranks today had closed Mcast and did not reverse their mistake during the Sant government.
Under this government 20,000 had graduated from the University and Mcast. Nearly all were working, further reinforcing the fact that 20,000 jobs had been created.
Had Malta followed Joseph Muscat's advice, the country would not have the funds to continue to invest in education, along with health and job-creation, which were the PN government's priorities, Dr Gonzi said.
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Joseph Borg
Aug 27th 2012, 05:15
I pity you Lawrence!
While you play the usual patronizing card and congratulate the Maltese for their maturity, your Pawlu Borg Olivier repeats a documentary on NET television time after time during the time of mourning for Mintoff. The aim of this programme was not to give the late leader credit where it is due, but to fuel provocation and build up on whole years of character assassination.
You do not even had the guts to mention one small thing carried out during the Mintoff era which was beneficial to the country or the people. Instead you pursue your negative outdated agenda only one day after the funeral. A true case of a Prime Minister who is always in debt with integrity and the truth!
True colours come out in the type of circumstances. Mintoff's death has, once again, exposed the hypocrisy of the holy-PN and the 'sanctity' of its weak leadership.
Cecil Herbert Jones
Aug 26th 2012, 21:32
Yes the country showed political maturity and showed dignity in times such as this. Which is a far cry from what Mintoff had done to his opponents, namely my father Henry Jones who was Boffa's friend indeed.
But lest we fall for it, let not the PN brag about giving Mintoff a State funeral. The PN did not show any signs of maturity by not accusing Mintoff in a court for all the atrocities he had done. On the contrary they gave him a State funeral instead, that opened a whole big can of controversies.
Mintoff's daughter pleaded to everyone to follow her father's ideals, which is what he would have wished. But yet she allowed him to be presente cadavere in a church? How's that for not following his ideals?
Paul Smith
Aug 26th 2012, 21:23
The PM should have been there, no matter what your political background, Mintoff was a game changer
Albert Caligari Conti
Aug 26th 2012, 20:13
Claire no lessons need to be learned,my I reminde you that we are not Italy,Spain,Ireland or even Greece.The working class have been dealth with in a very good manner.
Salvinu Buttigieg
Aug 26th 2012, 19:42
Judging by the many hundreds of the legend Mintoff supporters, i can forsee and believe in the next election the labour party will be the winners.
Ronnie Callus
Aug 27th 2012, 00:12
@ Salvinu Buttigieg:
No doubt !!!
vincent Lia
Aug 26th 2012, 19:06
@ Eddy Privitera So according to you the EU countries like Greece, Cyprus etc went bankrupt because of the grants they got from EU. These countries are in dire financial state because they have not good leadership and Joseph Muscat wanted us to follow countries that their government did not know what they were doing. Malta is doing like the best countries in the EU. Thanks to Dr Gonzi for not bothering about JM suggestions. Whatever he suggested was wrong and that is why the LP made him shut his mouth.
Eddy Privitera
Aug 26th 2012, 21:57
Vincen Lia: have you forgotten how many times Dr. fenech Adami used to mention Ireland, and how Malta could succeed like Ireland ?? You have not mentioned anything about the challenge Lawrence Gonzi is not ready to accept, to order a " cost-benefit analysis" about Malta's membership of the EU !
Are you keeping count of the hundreds of millions we are paying and guaranteeing to bailout foreign governments and banks in the eurozone ?????
Kleaven Maniscalco
Aug 26th 2012, 18:47
Well did not live much under a labour govenment as I was born in 1984. But what I can say with certainty is that this government has invested alot in my education. In a few years I was given 17,000 euro worth and an opportunity to study in one of the best universities in the world. I was not the only one to benefit from such educational programs. Hundreds of students every year, are given thousands of euros in scholarships to continue their studies. I think this is very positive.
W. Grech
Aug 27th 2012, 10:30
I'm sure that your brilliant education didn't give you the time to have a read of some history books...oh well, let's just let the people decide :)
George Azzopardi
Aug 26th 2012, 18:35
If GonziPN does not disassosiate itself with the main and well known hatred blogg when the person in charge is well know to be close to many leading GonziPN roles, than it is part of this person's system of trying to provoke violence within us Maltese citizens. On the contrary, Joseph Muscat's leadership is showing the maturity to completely ignore these provocations and show wht true leadrship is all about.
B. Cachia
Aug 26th 2012, 18:31
Unfortunately, Malta's illiteracy rate remains the highest in the EU, and the University participation rate remains the lowest, which probably explains why we remain one of the poorer countries in Europe.
And the 20,000 jobs claim is not going to become true just by repeating it ad nauseam. People today are not that naive. They know that that figure does not refer to new jobs added, but includes old jobs replaced, and happens to include part-time jobs as well, so in effect it means nothing. Dr Gonzi is not going to win any votes merely by insulting people's intelligence.
Claire Busuttil
Aug 26th 2012, 18:12
yeah dr gonzi, when a person in politics turns up to be so warm hearted like dom mintoff, gets all the respect he deserves. you should think about this, and maybe learn something on how you deal with the workers class in Malta.
Aaron Vella
Aug 26th 2012, 18:48
What a shameful comment. Unlike Mintoff, Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi gave you the right to write these comments without the fear of any government or marmalja reprisals. There is nothing Gonzi needs to learn from Mintoff. It's pretty ironic lejburisti and mintuffjani (issa li qed tohorgu fil-berah dan l-ahhar) call the democratically elected PN Government a dictator, and then idolize the only man who governed Malta against the public's will. Ma titghallmu qatt.
Albert Caligari Conti
Aug 27th 2012, 00:03
Claire nothing needs to be learned,the workers class have already been looked after and yes in a very good manner also.May I remind you that we are not Spain, Portugal, Ireland,Italy or even Greece.And with who's talent may I ask!
Mr J Xerri
Aug 26th 2012, 18:06
Just to remind readers that the development of the development of the system of local education din not begin in the seventies and eighties!!
R. Gauci
Aug 26th 2012, 19:32
Granted, but prior to that it was exclusive to a certain class of people, surely not for the workers' families.
Victor Vella
Aug 26th 2012, 18:04
Mintoff unites the Maltese nation.
Michel Bencini
Aug 26th 2012, 20:20
One thing Mintoff did achieve in death, unite the Maltese in their forgiveness and sincere condolences because he definitely divided his own poitical party, not only once in the 40s but for a second time in the 80's when he was very much alive and well. If Gonzi is wrong about everything, he is right about one thing: the Maltese showed political maturity when burying Mintoff. They did not get at each other's throat, beat each other up or stabbed each other or burnt each other's property.
John Azzopoardi
Aug 26th 2012, 17:27
Is Gonizi for Real. When Borg Oliver died and was given a state funeral it was long ago and people showed respect and maturit in those days and that was when politics were really a hot issue. So pleas E Gonz, stop trumpeting your horn.
Josef Borg
Aug 26th 2012, 17:02
Jien laburist imma ma nistax ma napperzzax li l-gvern prezenti hareg ta ragel meta gharaf il-bzonn li jikkonoxxi r-rispett li dal-bniedem kellu matul hajtu, Ghal darba GRAZZI priministru hrigt ta ragel mieghi.
Dennis Zammit
Aug 26th 2012, 17:55
Very honest remark. You are also a Gentleman.
LOUIS JOSEPH BORG
Aug 26th 2012, 18:13
mr borg i am a nationalist and i shall expect respect towards every politician from any party.
after all its not an easy job and one must not forget that they have no privacy and live a life always watched so it is not that easy!
M. Grech
Aug 26th 2012, 18:36
It was not possible for the government to avoid giving Dom Mintoff a state funeral etc etc. Immagine the government's reputation and the public's perception if there was no state funeral! Dom Mintoff himself set a precedent when he gave Dr. Gorg Borg Olivier a state funeral. I do not belong to any party but I say things as I see them at the time. In my humble opinion, the maturity really came from all those people who took to the streets to pay their respect without pronouncing one single insult or a partisan comment or waved a party flag. The crouds could'nt have behaved better. Well done to the people!!
Sandra Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 16:48
Stop criticizing the Government. DOM MINTOFF was given a STATE FUNERAL because of him being an ex Prime Minister - and Dr Gonzi did the right approach.
R Axisa
Aug 26th 2012, 18:38
Even Dom Mintoff took the right approach when Gorg Borg Olivier died in 1980 and was given a state funeral. Dr Gonzi is trumpeting something as if this was done for the first time.
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Aug 26th 2012, 21:06
Naqbel mieghek Sandra. Sar hafna paroli minn hafna nies, imma meta taqrob l-elezzjoni generali, hemm tara nuqqas kbir ta' maturita min-naha tas-socjeta maltija. Kull minn ghandu halqu kulhadd jghid li jrid u li jaqbillu.
Emauel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
victor caruana
Aug 26th 2012, 15:55
What funds are you talking about....we/you are living on a mountain of debt!!!!!!!!!!!
victor caruana
Aug 26th 2012, 15:54
€6000 per child per year....that means you are highly uneconomical (actual costs) and inefficient (low standards of education realised).
Mr Joe Micallef
Aug 26th 2012, 18:06
Caruna, you epitomise the PL's utilitarian and ideological view of education, which also shows why the PL and education are antonyms.
cesco di luigi
Aug 26th 2012, 15:53
that's what is always said when a politican dies..why can't politicos show their respect for one another even when alive? it would go a great way in relieving political tension
Joseph Micallef
Aug 26th 2012, 15:28
Whilst appreciating what Dr. Gonzi did: a state funeral along with what he said, I feel sorry seeing some 'people' of they can be called 'people' not showing the slightest decency and dignity for such a person. Such people definitely know nothing about political maturity but are experts in producing and injecting venom, hatred and insults. I personally think that we should consider how we can apply the criminal code into practice and show such people that democracy is not libertinaċċ.
Joseph Grech Attard
Aug 26th 2012, 15:17
How true about political maturity. Or is it diminished teachings of hate and spite as injected into the young generation during the 80's, 90's and 00's by the PN? Mintoff was the first to hold a state funeral for the late PN leader Dr. Gorg Borg Olivier, but he had to leave the funeral cortege because of the constant insults from the PN supporters, who had turned the funeral into a political PN manifestation! The present PL 'elves', 'marmalja' and 'lejburisti' opted to pay homage as should! Well done to and God help all those who attended to the funeral.
Peter Azzopardi
Aug 26th 2012, 15:07
" .......... said today that yesterday's state funeral for Dom Mintoff showed how the country had matured and how it was able to lift itself above partisan politics."
Ipokriti mela ma semghax xkien qed jintqal fuq MINTOFF fuq "NET TV", fil kaz isma ir recording DR Gonzi. Nahseb kollha sejrien tixghalulu xema., u halluna.
Ahna ma nisthux nghidu li ahna LABURISTI MINTOFJANI ara intom kif issemmilkom id dnub il mejjet tirvillaw ..........
Nistaqsi li kieku kien ghadu haj l ISQOF MIKIEL GONZ kien jinghata lis stess trattament mil knisja??????I
Chris Agius
Aug 26th 2012, 14:57
If I remember correctly, Dom Mintoff as prime minister, had granted a state funeral to Dr. George Borg Olivier.
T.F. Busuttil
Aug 26th 2012, 17:01
he did and was insulted all the way. I remember I was near wembley store and people insulted him and Moyra.
Silvio Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 14:49
With this reasoning, Malta was already mature when the then Government held a state funeral for Dr. Gorg Borg Olivier in 1980. Dr. Gonzi is saying nothing new and there is nothing shrewd about offering a departed states-person a state funeral.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Aug 26th 2012, 14:47
Political maturity. Daphne Caruana Galizia
Ronald Cauchi
Aug 26th 2012, 14:20
Which is more than the Nationalists did during Borg oliviers funeral when they booed Mintoff out of the funeral
Philip Grech
Aug 26th 2012, 13:35
"He said the government gave great importance to all schools, including Church and independent schools. That was why the government managed to channel funds also to help parents who sent their children to private schools. Parents were being given tax advantages and funds had been provided for private schools to purchase computers, white boards and other equipment"
Any idiot knows that parents who have to send their children to church schools still have to pay. Instead of FEE they call it DONATION.
John Zammit
Aug 26th 2012, 13:18
Dr gonzi should be Honest enough to say why the Labour Government had to Close Mcast. Why keep on mugging on something that had to be done NOT to save money but to enlarge the University in a short time. He also opened up the trade schools for hundreds of young people that were not academically motivated
VV Bartolo
Aug 26th 2012, 13:16
zgur li mhux Malta kollha Prim!! 2 min hutna ma waqfux jizirghu mibgheda din il-gimgha. u bhal ma taf tajjeb int, barra l-hsara kbira li qed jaghmlu lil istess partit taghhom, qed jergaw iqajmu dik il-"vjolenza" li Malta kien irnexxielha tehles minnha!
Barney Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 13:16
Sir,
It was argued yesterday that hundreds attended the funeral service and someone said thousands did.
Well, in my case I stand by my writing that this man was an honorable gentleman. If Dr. Gonzi believe we have reached political maturity, to me it is all wishful thinking.
I consider it more a show of double face people, who a short time back they disaggregated Mr. Mintoff family resting place, called him a traitor and wanted to crucify him.
What happen? mostly all laborites MP took the front seats this time round?
T.F. Busuttil
Aug 26th 2012, 17:06
This was not the funeral Dom wanted. Dom was a man of the squares. It could have been more appropriate if the funeral was held in a square. The cathedral was reserved, for people who hated Dom for most of his life. The archbishop was mild and lost a golden opportunity, which later was picked up from the Pope. There where very few priest and no monsignors. not even 20% of the Parish priests of Malta and Gozo attended 2 rows on each side of the alter. Shame on you all still holding a grudge in your heart for the man who elevated the poor .
Barney Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 18:42
T.F. Busuttil
True.
Gerry Cowie
Aug 26th 2012, 13:06
Yes, Malta has indeed matured since those terrible days!
Eddy Privitera
Aug 26th 2012, 22:03
Gerry Cowie: How many social services, pension etc.. have you benefitted from the Welfare State set up by Dom Mintoff in " those terrible days", as you call them ?????????????
Joseph Sammut
Aug 26th 2012, 13:03
Lip service as usual: our political leaders would be mature when all of them, both colours, would practice this everyday and not just for funerals only.
Mr Joe Cardona
Aug 26th 2012, 13:02
Ghal dawk li ghandhom aktar minn 45 sena u jinsabu bla xoghol, x'ghamel il-Gvern ghalihom. Xejn.
Jirregistraw kienu u jirregistraw ghadhom minkejja il-kwalifici u l-esperjenza kbira ta' xoghol.
Hadt mill-privat ma iccaqlaq biex jimpjeghom u aktar u aktar il-Gvern ma iddenja x'jaghmel xihaga ghal dawn il-povri ta' persuni li ghandhom ulied x'jaghtu jieklu u jtihom edukazzjoni xieraq.
Jista' il-Gvern jghid x'se jaghmel ghalihom ghax s'issa paroli biss smajna u FATTI XEJN.
Dennis Zammit
Aug 26th 2012, 17:57
Bis-Sahha ta' dan il-Gvern, Ahna impjegajna ragel bla xoghol ta' 50+ u gibni xi beneficji.
Dan qeg jaghmel il-Gvern jekk dawk li qed issimi int iridu jadhmu . . . imma ifhem sew; JEKK iridu jahdmu.
Guzi Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 12:53
Malta showed political maturity - Gonzi
That's not what happened during Gorg Borg Olivier's state funeral, when the Nationalist mob wanted to lynch Mintoff.
vella m
Aug 26th 2012, 12:48
What a big difference from the 80's and 70's when the PN couldn't even organise it Independence activities,We forgive but let us not forget.
T.F. Busuttil
Aug 26th 2012, 17:07
in the 60's Labour was not allowed to manifest First May in Valletta and had to go to Hamrun.
Pat Hobson
Aug 26th 2012, 17:17
Oh really. Then who organized political manifests, mass meetings, demonstrations, etc between 1981 and 1987? About 500 political activities from the PN were held during those years! Yes there were years when Independence couldn't be celebrated as it was supposed to be!
Joseph Attard
Aug 26th 2012, 12:46
Kont qed naqbel mieghek PM. Imma imbaghad qrajt x'kitbu Daphne Cruana Galizia u Wayne Hewitt u ndunajt li ghad baqa' nies li ma tantx huma maturi f'dal pajjiz
Anthony A. Mifsud
Aug 26th 2012, 12:35
Bla bla Wenz your still talking of 20,000 jobs, surely I want one of them! I must say you tried but all I found was closed doors.
I had to fend for my self and stive ,at the end it off.
But 20k jobs is far fatched
Ninu
Victor Laiviera
Aug 26th 2012, 12:35
"but in such a time of mourning at the loss of such a powerful personality who meant so many different things for the people, the country had shown respect and dignity."
Really? How about the scurrilous writing of certain columnists/bloggers who write what they write with the explicit and/or tacit approval of the PN?
M Grima
Aug 26th 2012, 12:32
Typical of Dr. Gonzi. First he butters up Mr. Mintoff and stating how the people had matured and how they were able to lift themselves above partisan politics, and then he follows it up by a senseless tirade on Labour's way of doing education.
Dr. Gonzi prides himself of building one school every year when Mintoff built 50 schools in three years. But, apart from the development of schools, the real drama is encompassed in the EU's education statistics on Malta especially two glaring negative percentages on the number of high school leavers which make it to university and those who lack the basic skills when they leave secondary schools. Maybe Dr. Gonzi should have told us of the mess created by Dolores Christina resulting in the EU withholding funds for educational programmes.
The usual negative rhetoric against the PL will not work this time round Dr. Gonzi!!
JJ Agius
Aug 26th 2012, 12:30
Please Dr Gonzi all I would like to see is next election trouble free.The past is history.You & all PM.'s before you, tried your best to do everything right. But no one is perfect & you & all those before you had their good & bad.I think that all bad was done as one thought was doing it right.You can notice it more than any one as you are Still PM.
So I beg you to try & convince those who allthou not writing under the P.N but writes in favour of your party to stop those Blogs full of hatred especially on those dead.The labour party stopped their hardliner long time ago ,& I beleive you want to do the same.Both leaders should strive to see 2013 election trouble free.
Blogs became the rule of the Jungle!
Giljanu
Noel Cutajar
Aug 26th 2012, 12:26
Immagina li kieku ghid li le li m'ghandux isir funeral statali...
Joseph Brincat
Aug 26th 2012, 12:25
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that yesterday's state funeral for Dom Mintoff showed how the country had matured and how it was able to lift itself above partisan politics.
OF COURSE THE COUNTRY IS MATURED ; BUT NOT BECAUSE YOU !!!!
FOR WHICH THE PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN YOU IN THE REFERENDUM OF THE DIVORCE !!!
stephen koludrovic
Aug 26th 2012, 12:23
the price tag of 6000 euros per student is easy to achieve.
it is the quality of the education, that the student gets, that should be looked at.
M Grima
Aug 26th 2012, 12:22
Typical of Dr. Gonzi. First he butters up Mr. Mintoff and stating how the people had matured and how they were able to lift themselves above partisan politics, and then fe follows it up by a senseless tirade on
Noel Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 12:19
Let us not forget that during the state funeral of George Borg Olivier, Dom Mintoff, who as Prime Minister, was taking part, had to be protected as part of the croud tried to hassle him. Yes I agree with the PM, those present at yesterday's funeral behaved so correctly unlike those who wrote lines of hatred against Mintoff and his supports, just ti quote one for the record read 'Mintoff may be dead but his stupid supporters are still alive'. To be credible the PM should condem such writtings and comments otherwise all he says will be taken with a pinch of salt..
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 26th 2012, 12:11
Mr Mintoff's funeral was a time to remember his many good qualities, and put the others temporarily aside. Indeed, we have moved on from the eighties, and his state funeral proved it. We must remain ever vigilant, however. Vestiges of his times do remain, as witnessed by some of the characters who so prominently followed his coffin. Those are not only Dr. Joseph Muscat's problem....
Frans Aguis
Aug 26th 2012, 12:11
Before going into how justified the statement of how all of the 20,000 graduates found jobs how about this argument.
20,000 graduate and 20,000 find jobs does not mean 20,000 jobs created.
For that to be true in the past 4 years no one:
1) Retired and replaced by a graduate
2) Moved away and replaced by a graduate
3) Fired and replaced by a graduate
Apart from the fact that the 20,000 jobs claim relies heavily on the assumption that ANYONE made redundant has found a job.Let Gonzi explain:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120528/local/pm-explains-20-000-jobs-claim.421747
Frans Aguis
Aug 26th 2012, 12:05
Gonzi could not yet bring himself to utter one direct positive statement about the whole of Mintoff's governments... Even EFA his direct political rival said he did more good than bad. Gonzi just danced around saying he was controversial,how he meant different things to different people bla bla bla being a politician as always.
Ofcourse he does this because he knows his whole political campaign will be about Mintoff.
POLITICAL MATURITY?I think it was shown by almost everyone except Gonzi and a certain blogger.
R Axisa
Aug 26th 2012, 11:57
Dr Gorg Borg Olivier died in 1980 and was also given a state funeral. Wasn't that political maturity too???
j brincat
Aug 26th 2012, 11:55
@Scott Thistle
" .......... said today that yesterday's state funeral for Dom Mintoff showed how the country had matured and how it was able to lift itself above partisan politics."
Indeed a very shrewd statement"
Remember that Mintoff gave GBO a state funeral. Wasn't the country and its people mature then?
(jb)
m. borg (slm)
Aug 26th 2012, 11:52
How about mentioning the EU educational funds lost by the Honourable Dolores Cristina who through nepotism left such funds in the hands of her relatives to administer, incompetently.
How about the EU barometer figures regarding Malta's low percentage of students continuing their education beyond secondary education.
How about the high percentage of students leaving school without even the basic skills of the 3Rs.
The only mile stone in education is the building of new schools not for education's sake but for other reasons.
Ronnie Callus
Aug 26th 2012, 12:22
Well said Mr.Borg, the buildings does not make schools or parliaments, But human beings truly dedicated for their work. Also one has to put good drivers to drive a car, airoplanes etc; and not 'xi Cucc' Malti as already said by Tonio Fenech.
Mr Joe Micallef
Aug 26th 2012, 14:11
Biex tmaqdar lill gvernijiet nazzjonalisti dwar l edukazzjoni u specjalment dwar il fondi tal EU trid tkun ma tafx tisthi min dak li halqek jew inkella tkun laburist jew inkella tkun m borg (slm).
Tony Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 14:16
And the more than €68 million EU membership fee and some €72-73 million it is costing us every to implement its regulations?
Scott Thistle
Aug 26th 2012, 11:49
" .......... said today that yesterday's state funeral for Dom Mintoff showed how the country had matured and how it was able to lift itself above partisan politics."
Indeed a very shrewd statement.
cesco di luigi
Aug 26th 2012, 15:56
YES and who was the Labour man who stood up to violence and during his short time bullies and thugs were out of bounds?....Alfred Sant...a great achievement..that in all the Mintoff years despite all the great things he did, unfortunately was unattainable....
j brincat
Aug 26th 2012, 11:47
Who gave free education?
Who gave a free hospital service?
Who built the technical/trade schools which closed down under the PN isn't this a dark spot too?
Was Smart City part of this 'massive' investment' Where is this?
What Joseph Muscat's advice is he referring to? What funds - the record public debt?
"Parents were being given tax advantages" - What about the mother of all promises made on the eve of the election that the tax bands would be revised so that ALL would see a reduction in income tax - w.e.f. 1st January 2009 - this reduction was supposed to create a multiplier effect in the economy! This multiplier effect was only felt by GonziPN when he gave himself the astronomical €600 a WEEK and all this behind the people's back!
Instead we had to embrace ourself with a tsunami in the form of an exorbitant increase in the utility bills which shocked a whole nation irrespective of their political creed!
(jb)
David Buttigieg
Aug 26th 2012, 12:30
"Who gave free education?"
Free healthcare was introduced in Malta in 1847, yes EIGHTEEN forty seven, by the British.
Compulsory education was introduced in 1946, again by the British, Malta did not have self government at the time!
Franco Abela
Aug 26th 2012, 12:43
and who is ruining all this?
Michael Gatt
Aug 26th 2012, 14:25
How rightly said proset hafna
M Mangion
Aug 26th 2012, 14:32
j brincat
li kien ghall-partit tieghek dawn il-kummenti li tikteb tant mill-qalb fuq TOM huma zejda u hela, ghax il-kompjuter huwa lussu u allura kienu "jiddeciedu ghalik" li m'ghandekx bzonnu u ma tistax tixtrih.
Imma safrattant meta l-PN ghamilhom accessibbli ghall-kulhadd, tidher li ma bqajtx temmen fit-twemmin taghkom u qieghed tuzahom.
John Benner
Aug 26th 2012, 17:53
Mr Buttgieg do you realise you are the only person in these comments who has not rewrote history , Dom Mintoff fought hard against the British , but yet he always choose their institutions , yes as you have obviously read your countries history education and healthcare were introduced by the British , and those institutions that were Mintoff he copied from them , dont get me wrong Britain with regard to the naval bases did not give Malta a fair deal , but has Crossman said it was not all Britains decision has they were Nato bases .Independence would have come to Malta no matter who was in power , Mintoff may have only brought that day nearer , Mintoff had a canny knack of believing his own rhetoric worst thing was so did many in the Labour party . If history judges you by the friends you keep then Mintoff judgement will be questioned we all know what has happened to the people he was happy to receive money and awards from . Mintoff had a rare quality that you dont find in our politicians today he had conviction and he believed what he did was in the interest of Malta , he was a politician of his time , I believe if another Mintoff evolved today he would not get the time of day we have all moved on , Malta has moved on it stands alongside other European countries as an equal , yes even its colonial power , a relationship that has never been stronger due to strong historical and cultural ties between its people ,I believe not because of the likes of Mintoff but inspite of him .Only history will have the final say .
Jonathan Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 11:42
Why is the statement that 20,000 jobs were created being argued by PL?
ALBERT FENECH
Aug 26th 2012, 13:27
I will tell you why my friend. SGA-ATES (now STMicroelectronics) was brought to Malta as a result of Dom Mintoff's personal inter-action with leading Italian politicians and businessmen, including PASQUALE PISTORIO. Despite all the negative publicity made by the PN - then led by Dr Eddie Fenech Adami - Pistorio decided to invest in Malta because he felt there was a relativity between Sicily (his place of birth) and Malta and he was a great admirer of Dom Mintoff. Since 1981, STMicroelectronics in Malta has employed over 30,000 people at various times and has also deployed a further estimated 15,000 persons in various sub-contracting capacities i,e, Air Malta, Lufthansa, Pantalesco, haulage companies, general and plant facilities maintenance, cleaning sub-contractors. customs officials, Malta International Airport etc. In these 30 years, ST has been Malta's main earner of American dollars, has been Malta's largest export earner and a leading contributor to GDP.
That is why the GonziPN fiction that 20,000 jobs have been created is totally under dispute and is in fact nothing more than a gross fantasy.
ALBERT FENECH
T.F. Busuttil
Aug 26th 2012, 14:06
because not true .
Even EU commissioner said that new jobs were approx 9000
walter camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 14:41
simple - because only about 5000 jobs were CREATED - the remainder were replacements.
Walter Camilleri
S Farrugia
Aug 26th 2012, 15:02
Here's why:
If an employer employs a person on contract basis for 3 months, and after 3 months he re-employs the same person for another 3 months, according to the govt that's employing 2 people.
Eddy Privitera
Aug 26th 2012, 15:28
Jonathan: Because t has been proved over and over again, that Dr. Gonzi's "20,000 new jobs" is just a figment of his very fertile imagination ! He will keep repeating because he stil believes in that saying, that if a lie continues to be repeated, it will finally be believed !
vincent Lia
Aug 26th 2012, 11:42
Well said Dr Gonzi. 'Had Malta followed Joseph Muscat's advice, the country would not have the funds to continue to invest in education...' Not only that we would have ended up like Cyprus.
Eddy Privitera
Aug 26th 2012, 15:30
Vincent LIa: But Cyprus is another EU member state, just like Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal etc.. those countries too received funds from the EU, but look what membership and the euro has done to them !
Marco Desira
Aug 26th 2012, 11:40
.... to name another sign of politcal maturity ..... the choice of Dr. George Abela for President of Malta.
B Testa
Aug 26th 2012, 12:13
But clinging to power even though you are being blackmailed, by one, two or even three parliamentarians shows otherwise.
stephen debono
Aug 26th 2012, 12:18
......and the choice of blue eyed boys only in every govt job!!!
stephen koludrovic
Aug 26th 2012, 13:07
Yup! Similar as sending John Dalli off to Brussels. That's another sign of political maturity.
Charles Sammut
Aug 26th 2012, 13:18
..but of course.had not Geoge Abela not been President..he would have been leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister..
m. borg (slm)
Aug 26th 2012, 13:29
Sorry mate that was a ruse that backfired.
gonzi measure by his own yard stick on that one, believing JM would object because Dr Abela was ran against him in the PL leadership bid.
Ask John Dalli what I mean if you don't understand what I just wrote.
Marita Magro
Aug 26th 2012, 14:07
that was the best choice ever .... never a president has done so much for our country trough charity like him .... he well deserves his place .....
Alfred Grech
Aug 26th 2012, 14:35
That was an excellent choice - next is to change the Constitution and allow him to serve an extra term. George Abela is a blessing to this country.
cesco di luigi
Aug 26th 2012, 15:57
Beg to fiffer..he is a divisive figure
Marco Desira
Aug 26th 2012, 20:01
@m. borg (slm)
I do not believe it back fired ..... I am sure we can write a bible's length of for and against arguments....
to the rest .... have a break
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