No cheers or jeers as Gonzi meets Gozitan University students
There was no chanting this morning as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi visited the University to meet Gozitan students during a Gozo Week event.
In contrast to yesterday's noisy Mcast debate, there was no chanting, booing or shouting as Dr Gonzi returned to the campus.
"We are older and mature, and we have a vote", an economics student said in a tongue-in-cheek comment with reference to the younger Mcast students.
The number of Gozitan university students has more than doubled in the past five years reaching 1,030 this year.
Dr Gonzi said that the PN has always increased its investment in the university and it has been giving financial support to Gozitan students.
He said that apart from their normal stipend, Gozitan students also received an extra €1200 a year to help them meet extra expenses such as travel and accommodation.
Dr Gonzi promised that this will continue to be PN policy in the next five years.
Dr Gonzi also sat down with students for a coffee and heard their proposals of how the government should continue to develop the university.
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Angelo Vassallo
Feb 22nd, 15:39
@ Mario Ellul
By the same token you used for Mr Kevin Bonnici, can you please than pin point who WAS an Mcast student? That would be very interesting. !!!!!!!!!!
david vella
Feb 22nd, 09:57
Comparing a political debate with an official visit is very unfair. In fact, if one were to compare like with like, last week, the Hon Prime Minister visited MCAST (one day after the political debate at University) and spent a long time discussing different matters with MCAST students, at the Canteen, over a cup of tea:
http://tinyurl.com/a5j7cpd
http://tinyurl.com/awqx5oq
Reuben D. Spiteri
Feb 21st, 22:50
Hmm... maybe they're more mature or maybe the principal promised hell to whoever makes a scene during the visit.
Peter Galea
Feb 21st, 16:44
Jiena rajt mara anzjana b'xaghra safra bi snin nieqsin fost ohrajn anzjani mal klan lej.
Mark Spiteri
Feb 21st, 15:47
well done Gozo
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 21st, 15:16
Dr Gonzi must have though he was in the ''Valley of the Kings'' with all those inscrutable sphynxes around him.
Angela Galea
Feb 21st, 14:56
... '"We are older and mature, and we have a vote", ... And he/she could add: 'We are not a 'rent-a-mob' group, we are real University students.
Joseph Borg
Feb 21st, 14:42
Gonzi was viting Gozo Week at the University of Malta and not Gozitan students. All the students in the photo are actually Maltese! There are some Junior College ones as well.
Patricia Buttigieg
Feb 21st, 14:27
As usual US GOZITANS should be thankful for the 400 euros we are receiving per month!! with all the respect to all that is our right!
We have no choice but to travel to malta to continue our studies or work! Ok fair enough those who travel abroad have expenses & i do agree that the government must help them! But us gozitans are literally forced to move to malta due to the lack of work/school!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 21st, 18:10
Yes and Gonzi makes it sound like its a gift from the Pn and not being paid out of taxes, and that he has only been doing hus duty. He always expects people to kneel in front of him and say thank you. Politicians who their work are just doing their duty - that is what they are elected for not to feel they have become gods. That is why he ordered the building of the new parliament , like a pharoah.
B. Farrugia
Feb 21st, 14:05
What does one want ?
a sombre crowd afraid to express their opinions
or a group of people who express themselves truthfully without inhibition.
on the other hand,
Calling the prime minister " shame on you" for awarding the whole cabinet a 500 euro a week rise
behind everyone`s back and after admonishing all Maltese tpeople that sagrifices will have to be taken,
may be a bit over the top for some.
George Cutajar
Feb 21st, 14:05
Following Labour's PR disaster at MCAST yesterday morning the PM's meeting with Gozitan UNI students is really a breath of fresh air. These students put their heart in their studies and yes they do have certain disadvantages when they have to cross over to Malta to pursue their studies. This could be one of the reasons for their maturity and politeness.
R. Balzan
Feb 21st, 16:21
@ George Cutajar - if, as you say, yesterday's meeting at MCAST was a PR disaster, it certainly was for the PN and not the PL. The spontaneous deafening shouts of SHAME ON YOU must still be ringing in the PM's ears (and in yours).
Reuben D. Spiteri
Feb 21st, 22:51
@R Balzan
Spontaneous, huh? Riiiiight!
J. Caruana
Feb 21st, 13:31
I think that this economics student is going to attract a lot of attention...
By the way, some MCAST students are in she same age group as these Gozitan Uni students - including me.
But it's good to see the prime minister discuss things so openly (over a cup of coffee) with students; political leaders should do it more often.
Stannis Baratheon
Feb 21st, 13:05
Because MCAST and University students actually have a life and know how to have fun. Gozitan students don't exactly have many places to go and enjoy themselves so they do not know anything but to keep quiet all the time.
Justin Spiteri
Feb 21st, 17:10
Because European students actually have a life and know how to have fun. Maltese students don't exactly have many places to go and enjoy themselves, and do not know anything but to keep quite all the time.
Offensive isn't it?.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 21st, 13:02
eeeeeeeeeeeeee xi dwejjaq u monotonija.
R. Azzopardi
Feb 21st, 12:45
Now I understand why most Gozitans are more successful than their Maltese counterparts. Their heads are fixed to the correct part of their body (i.e. their shoulders). A proper civilised lot. Congrats to all.
R. Azzopardi
Feb 21st, 12:44
@J Brincat,
Since you seem so adamant at being so anti-PN, do you consider yesterday's behaviour at MCAST to be acceptable?
michael catania
Feb 21st, 14:00
Mr. Azzopardi, It seems to me that whenever the boot is on the other foot, the conservative elements sceam foul. Well I do not have a short memory and I still remember the abuse hurled at Alfred Sant when on a university in a conference with your wimp of a leader. At the time Alfred Sant was a very sick man and nothing was said or done about it. Unlike your leader who can't handle any sort of verb
Paul Cassar
Feb 21st, 14:01
you never asked this question before....... ie when alfred sant visited univ...................just rethorical we all know why.
michael catania
Feb 21st, 14:04
contd. from my previous comment. Unlike your leader who can't handle a mild verbal protest or questions and runs to his party to mouth off his opposition to the protest. What a coward
Darren Attard Bonnici
Feb 21st, 14:04
back in 2008 you didn't say it was either ...
R. Azzopardi
Feb 21st, 15:34
I condemned that sort of behaviour in 2008 and will condemn it now. Jungle-like behaviour should stay where it belongs.... in the jungle.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 21st, 18:12
Azzopardi, these are students and it is expected that they express themselves in the way all students all over the world do. Have you never seen students demonstrations abroad? Ours are like sheep compared to them.
James Grech
Feb 21st, 12:38
Why is it a sign of immaturity if one claps & shows approvement to a proposed idea? From what was seen, in both the University and MCAST debates, the questions asked by the students were very pertinent and showed their concerns on different topics. What the picture is showing, is the PM in a sort of private mtg with students. One would definitely not expect students to clap and chant in this case.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 21st, 13:42
Much worse than "claps" was in evidence at MCAST to anyone who doesn't wear blinkers. Dr Lawrence Gonzi civil dignified deportment at Msida and Gozo and the courteous civilised behaviour of the Gozitan University students should make the whole LP propaganda apparatus feel ashamed of itself and of those it employs.
James Grech
Feb 21st, 16:30
I don't want to compare the debate at MCAST with the one at University 5 yrs ago, whereby Dr.Sant was literally verbally & personally attacked by individuals who were neither staff nor students. Saying that these students were not civilized is a far cry. Why u seem to refer only to part of the students present is mind-boggling. There were students that sympathized with both leaders.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Feb 21st, 12:34
Gozitan students are mature and wilier than Maltese students. Kif jghidu ma jhammgux l-ghajn li iridu jixorbu minnha. Having had strong connections with Gozo it is only now that I have a fair idea of the political loyalties of my neighbors. When they thought I was as most Maltese residents in favour of the PN they sang its tune. Now that they know my true color they sing a different tune.
Patricia Buttigieg
Feb 21st, 14:29
We have no choice. If we are lucky enough to find a job in gozo we wouldn't even dare to THINK li "inhammgu l-ghajn li irridu niborbu minnha" ! or else we would get ourselves a transfer back to malta!
A. Sultana
Feb 21st, 14:50
Do you mean to say that we are a double faced lot?
j brincat
Feb 21st, 12:27
"Dr Gonzi also sat down with students for a coffee and heard their proposals of how the government should continue to develop the university"
THEIR only problem is that GonziPN promises a lot buyt delivers very little - vide 2008 electoral promises!
Are you living in an earthly paradise as he promised you?
jb
Brian Camilleri
Feb 21st, 14:08
I challenge you to have a look around you and substantiate your comment by what the PN delivered to what the PL delivered in the last 25 yrs. Then I will listen to what yo have to say.
j brincat
Feb 21st, 12:17
"We are older and mature, and we have a vote", an economics student said in a tongue-in-cheek comment with reference to the younger Mcast students"
He's much more mature than the politicians who recently stated that they distinguish one face from the other from its colour!!
jb
D. Ellul
Feb 21st, 14:41
you're so a blinker
j brincat
Feb 21st, 12:14
@John Azzopoardi
"Now, this is the proper way to act. MCAST students show how backward they still are and represent an era of the 60's 70's and 80"
Sour grapes!!!
jb
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 21st, 13:07
Brincat.
That's what is called "freedom of expression" my friend, we are talking about adolescent people.
Brian Camilleri
Feb 21st, 14:14
If yesterday's behaviour at MCAST depicts tomorrows generation, may God help us! A bunch of spoiled ungrateful brats if you ask me!
Paul Borg
Feb 21st, 12:06
Everyone seems to forget what the University students have done 5yrs ago to Dr. Alfred Sant. Just a reminder, very similar to yesterday`s MCAST show. Now I did not vote for Dr Sant since I did not like his politics, but still it was a disgrace, but like yesterday!
J. Borg
Feb 21st, 12:03
It's because Gozitans know what the good manners are! :))
D Axisa
Feb 21st, 12:02
All those writing against students of MCAST, University and Higher secondary. What did they do wrong, they just enjoyed themselves. Were were all these bloggers writing against the students 5 years ago, when the UNI students booed and don't know what they did to Alfred Sant. Wasn't it wrong then as well?
Oliver Grech
Feb 21st, 11:59
"We are older and mature, and we have a vote", an economics student said in a tongue-in-cheek comment with reference to the younger Mcast students.
Well said to whoever this person is.
John Azzopoardi
Feb 21st, 11:49
Now, this is the proper way to act. MCAST students show how backward they still are and represent an era of the 60's 70's and 80. And we all thought we moved forward. These MCAST students showed how immature they are and although they everything for free, they still want more. Very ungrateful bunch that neither the PL or the PN would like to see as their supporters.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 21st, 12:19
I would not be fast in condemning youngsters in general.
The young are the product of the adults.
They witness what goes on in the 'adult world'.
Our own Parliament, anyone?
Our own Courts, anyone? Magistrates, Judges ... a Chief Justice?
The young imitate what they witness. Nothing less, nothing more.
Kevin Bonnici
Feb 21st, 12:22
John, do you really think that those who were chanting "shame on you" are real MCAST students???
Mario Ellul
Feb 21st, 12:41
Mr Kevin Bonnici, are you being serious? There is various footage available. Can you please than pin point who is not an Mcast student? Would be interesting.
Please choose the reason of your report below: