My last anti-Labour salvo
My conclusion is totally and absolutely anti-Labour, without any reservations whatsoever. I have really and sincerely tried to grasp Labour over the many weeks of a very tiring campaign. I am exhausted after my TV appearances and interviews, let alone our candidates. The PL people have very little new to offer. I fear unemployment and a stagnant economy under Labour. Why? Because they just don’t have the people to manage the country or, at least very few of them, let alone the knowhow.
Who are these people after all? I will give it to Joseph Muscat that he has run a very slick campaign, but will he deliver after all? Is it worth the risk changing from a successful Government with a proven track record to the unknown? Do you really think this guy can run the country efficiently and effectively?
Obviously it is the electorate that decides. We have an electorate which is normally very much blind folded: Labour always, Nationalist always. Fair enough. And then we have the suddenly enlightened, such as Kenneth Zammit Tabona, enamoured by Dr Joseph (don’t you dare call him Joe), whose column is placed above mine in this newspaper on a regular basis and who does not seem to stop pontificating about Labour nonsense; and Raymond Pitre’ and a number of others on PL boards, many unknown. Are these people going to run the country?
The truth is that all issues have basically dried out. The Big Debate organised by The Times drew the two main leaders to agree on, shall I say, 80 per cent of the issues. So what’s the problem?
You have a government with a tremendous track record and results to show. And then you have a party with many empty and unsustainable promises. I mean the greatest promise was the energy one. But where has Konrad Mizzi disappeared?
The political parties have totally exhausted their policies and we are now looking at mud-slinging. In this respect I was horrified to hear Emmanuel (since we all know him as Manuel) Mallia declaring that he wants to send Paul Borg Olivier to jail. Totally unbecoming of him, I would have thought. Is this refinement and new Labour standards?
I have been taking part in a number of debates on the media – and particularly on One Television. And I have been criticised by my family and many of my friends. “Why do you go there?” they ask. My reply: “Why not? Someone has to go.”
And here I have to say a thing or two about the Broadcasting Authority. There are two dinosaurs who have been occupying the Labour seats for well over a decade and have also filed a libel suit against one of their colleagues. That’s for taking criticism gracefully!
But I am very disappointed with a chairman for whom I have always had respect but who, I believe, is not recognising a good cause from a wrong one, and this in view of the authority’s attempt to stifle PBS. The other stations, meanwhile, have largely been given a free hand.
Mr Chairman, please get the right perspective. Otherwise the BA will go to the dogs. We cannot have a passive chairman. I was a member of the Broadcasting Authority decades ago and I, together with my colleagues from both sides of the boardroom table, as well as our chairman, had the guts to take reasoned decisions in the interest of public broadcasting. I, for one, refused to take directions from any political animal. So, what’s gone wrong?!
Finally, I have a rallying call today. You must vote Nationalist; and please no abstaining, because if you do so you will be seriously harming yourself, your children and your grandchildren. Abstaining is a vote for Labour. Just look at the PN’s track record.
It is a party which was born in 1880 (no mean feat and the first political party on the island) and it has worked successfully for the benefit of this beautiful country of ours ever since.
This is the party that has delivered. As our Spanish colleague from the EPP declared: “Why change a winning team?”
I say to the young and first-time voters: You are intelligent and you enjoy tremendous benefits from the Nationalist Party. Do not throw out your aspirations for the smoky proposals that Labour is offering.
I also say this to those who are undecided: Do not throw your aspirations, your well-being and your good quality of life into the Labour bin. This is probably the last opportunity I have. Young men and women, grip the situation and vote for your clear future – not for the murky past. Vote Nationalist.
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Ronald Cauchi
Mar 7th, 08:36
Frankly who cares what Austin Sammut thinks apart from himself and his kith and kin.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Mar 7th, 06:46
Only Nationalists can govern? Back to the diviner right to rule. How ridiculous.
Joseph Buhagiar
Mar 6th, 20:06
You want me to vote NP.
I want to see an end to corruption, .... I want to see accountability & a Prime M. who would asks any one that lies to resigne, .......... and if the NP want me to voting for them again, which I did in the past, it cannot be Simon who said on TV;- look at the choice of the LP next to me, the LP are also choosing candidates with a nationalist face. My God. What arrogance.
Joseph Buhagiar
Mar 6th, 19:53
Austin, you are right. An electorate who is blind folded.
And you are most definitely one of them.
So I would not even argue with you.
But I can assure you that a real floating voter can easily see the "the tremendous" track record to protect the rich - 350,000 donation and that's the tip of the iceberg.
We have to vote for freedom again.
And all of us voting floater have no choice.
Victor Vella
Mar 6th, 18:13
Vote Nationalist. it is your only guarantee of a better future.Change direction and we are all well and trully done for.
R. Azzopardi
Mar 7th, 07:42
"Done for" for the lack of use of a better term! well said Mr. Vella!
Claudia Muscat
Mar 6th, 17:29
Ajma xdesperation!
Claudia Muscat
Mar 6th, 17:23
Din xarroganza hi u dan min hu li kitiba?appunto ac ghanda mihh u in nies saru ntellugenti alhekk ha nivvutsw labour.anke ex pns xebaw aznaf hafna kienu mal pn u daru bil kbir ac vera xebaw blarroganza ta nies bhalek. Issewwa irid jerbah din idarba u darba al dejjwm al kuntlarju li ghidt int lpassat ha nhalluh warajna ax tallumna issa u daqshekk.ha tibqaw sejrin bijha ghaddew 50 sena
Claudia Muscat
Mar 6th, 17:20
Din xarroganza hi u dan min hu li kitiba?appunto ac ghanda mihh u in nies saru ntellugenti alhekk ha nivvutsw labour.anke ex pns xebaw aznaf hafna kienu mal pn u daru bil kbir ac vera xebaw blarroganza ta nies bhalek. Issewwa irid jerbah din idarba u darba al dejjwm al kuntlarju li ghidt int lpassat ha nhalluh warajna ax tallumna issa u daqshekk.ha tibqaw sejrin bijha ghaddew 50 sena
anton portelli
Mar 6th, 17:09
A TOTALLY BLANK SALVO!! On what side are you ,THE OLIGARCHY OR THE THEOCRACY?!
W. Cassar
Mar 6th, 17:00
You either have a crystal ball ... or you don't know what you are saying. Everyone is entitled to their opinion..mine is I want to see accountability again.
I dont want a repeat of the last 5 years! ...as for jobs no worries ... the PN's formula is easy to copy..believe me!
Noel Cini
Mar 6th, 16:03
"they just don’t have the people to manage the country"
GonziPN showed us that you only need a handful. The rest weren't up to standard, as the same PM put it with the US Ambassador.
A.M. Galea
Mar 6th, 15:43
X'tistenna min persuna li hu preġudikat kontra dak kollu li jipprezenta il-PL . Dawn it-tip ta' nies jaħsbu li huma xi allat u huma biss kapaċi jmexxu lill-dan il-pajjiz . Araw ftit il-mod arroganti ta' kif jaħseb dan il-bniedem u taraw jekk hux preġudikat kontra dak kollu li jirraprezenta il-partit Laburista .
Gorg Borg
Mar 6th, 15:10
Successfull - I dont know.... if you call Smart city and white rocks and the corruption successful, well i dont know.
Risk of change - the world is changing, life is changing, you are changing. With your argument we could have stayed labour in the past.
Jobs- If you call local wardens as jobs then I ccall them tax, because to create that job you and I are paying for that. For me thats not a job
Charles DeMicoli
Mar 6th, 14:31
What planet have you been living on these past 5 years, Austin?
Joseph Bajada
Mar 6th, 14:17
Austin Sammut - is that all the salvo you had?
Joe Morana
Mar 6th, 14:13
Just who in hell do you think you are to use this medium to urge voters to vote for one party and not the other, or better yet, ...... the other?
Noel Cini
Mar 6th, 15:56
Wiehed li jpappijha tajjeb taht gvern ta' GonziPN... X'tahseb?
Jon Vercellono
Mar 6th, 16:01
Great advertisement for Freedom of Speech there Mr. Morana,
Roberta Sciberras
Mar 6th, 14:12
Between unfounded attacks, self-aggrandisement and unabashed propaganda this piece goes to even lower depths than I thought Austin Sammut capable of.
How pathetic!
Norman E Grech
Mar 6th, 13:05
This is exactly the kind of arrogance we will be voting against next Saturday!
Who gives you the authority to come up with a statment like that? That: 'The PL just don't have the people to manage the country or, at least very few of them'!
This is the mentality that must be changed! Pn people think they are omnipotent! They only have brains!
U halliena Austin trid!
M Cutajar
Mar 6th, 13:00
I heard this before 25 years ago when i was 15, from my aunt who is a strong LP supporter when PN had just been elected in government. She told me the same thing "PN have no experience and they not know how to manage the country". Same words above from an old man. Try to scaremonger people by saying that there are no capable people with LP is sick, and certainly stupid, snobbish & arrogant.
Lynn Zahra
Mar 6th, 12:57
@Austin Sammut
just imagine how utterly biased you would manage to be should you be appointed
Chairman of the Employment Commission which handles political discrimination complaints. But then again, you would serve and protect you Party well, and that's the main thing isn't it?
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 6th, 11:59
Why is KZt sprouting Labour nonsense? His criticism of the open space is so true that Gonzi has kept away from it - no showing up for a photo session here because he knows it was one big mistake that was made due to his pig-headedness and arrogance. KZT has many ideas which it seems LP agrees with and the NP ignores because they have other favoured blue eyed boys to run the show.
joe micallef
Mar 6th, 11:20
Attn M. Cassar
Thanks for reminding me of Deserta
I agree it was awful but that was tens of years ago man!
Cheer up and wake up to 2013
Aust is harping the PN still living the 1880 class culture which is even more yahh!!
Still I vote for change this 9/3
j brincat
Mar 6th, 11:03
Is this the same person who interpreted the result of the last council election when the PN took a severe bashing as a "draw"?
Remember?
And didn't Gonzi after this beating promised once again that he would be listening to the people?
But what all he did was to remain welded to the seat of power when he knew he had lost the majority in the House!
jb
JOHN WHITE
Mar 6th, 14:28
You should ask jason micallef for an interpretation of the election results! Maybe he will encourage the labour supporters to go out and celebrate
J Micallef
Mar 6th, 16:31
@ John White
Don't worry, we'll know the results this year by interpreting Jason's actions in the counting hall.
If Jason Micallef disappears to leave the others (read: Michael Falzon, the bravest face of MLP) to face the music, the the Labour Lost. If Jason Micallef remains around in the counting hall, the Labour won.
Easy!!
Paul Mizzi
Mar 6th, 10:27
Your dispair shows. More importantly you sound arrogant. I can only recall failed projects during the last five years under PN. Also because you have a good quality of life, do not assume that others have too.
G.A. Scicluna
Mar 6th, 10:00
last salvo??? why are you so depserate?
Victor Laiviera
Mar 6th, 09:02
"My conclusion is totally and absolutely anti-Labour, without any reservations whatsoever."
Of course. We never had the slightest shadow of a doubt it would be.
Mario Micallef
Mar 6th, 09:26
Don't worry we never had any doubt whom you support Mr Laiviera...or maybe you are an independent observer as usually presented...
Victor Laiviera
Mar 6th, 09:40
I never presented myself as anything but a Labour supporter, Mr Micallef.
joe micallef
Mar 6th, 08:13
Aust-have a break man and dig your teeth in a kit-kat
Pathetic to say the least
If with your dismal plea you expect any level headed voter to stop and make a rethink than Aust you have failed miserably!
9/3 I vote for change
M Cassar
Mar 6th, 10:45
Do you know why you could say 'dig your teeth in a kit-kat'? Because he is not forced to fork out money for a disgusting Deserta. Oh wait, those who sold imported chocolate on the black market MUST be yearning for the good old days! hmmmm.....
KATRINA BORG BUHAGIAR
Mar 6th, 07:08
An administration that lost its credibility through its lack of accountability. An administration that was extremely arrogant with ministers who thought they were invincible. That is going to be the downfall of your Partit Nazzjonalista Mr Sammut.
EMMANUEL ZAMMIT
Mar 6th, 00:48
you lost control my friend
saviour marquette
Mar 6th, 00:24
...They just don’t have the people to manage the country or, at least very few of them
- Austin Sammut. Yip thats what Gonzi told the American ambassador about his own cabinet.
Paul Gauci
Mar 5th, 23:47
Seems some people are desperate!
Next Saturday I will proudly vote for Joseph Muscat as he can bring the change that this country needs!
Joe Grech
Mar 5th, 22:46
Only somebody who, as the saying goes, 'has geddumu fix-xghir taht il-PN' (is personally profiting under PN) can come out with such biased propaganda against the PL.
Hopefully Austin Sammut will see his comments bite the dust should the PL be elected.
Our youths know that under PN there is no just playing field. It's not your own capabilities which count but your social connections!
J Micallef
Mar 6th, 09:21
No level playing field Mr. Grech?
Shall I give you the names of various (staunch!) labour supporters who have flourished and prospered under the PN administration? Have a look at the contractors winning jobs and tenders in the so-called south of Malta, go to Hal Far and see the new factories and who got financial aid from Malta Enterprise...what planet are you living on?
Eddy Privitera
Mar 5th, 22:30
In a few months time, you, Austin Sammut, will be regretting the words you have written today. You will be applauding Dr. Muscat and apologizing for the doubts you have tried to instil in the minds of readers about Dr. Joseph Muscat !
Stevo C
Mar 6th, 10:10
Are you 100% sure? You know he is promising all for everyone .. soon the castles will fall from the sky once JM will be PM! And obviously you will say that's it the PN fault!
Emanuel Paris
Mar 7th, 15:25
Let us hope that all the promises made by the PL will come into fruition in the time frame promised too!!! Eh dak is-siggu!!!!!!!!
Eddy Privitera
Mar 5th, 22:27
You have asked the question whether Dr. Muscat will deliver. But then you answered that question yourself when you are in no position to know ! You are nothing but another GonziPN apologist trying to give the impression of an independent opinionist !
Claudia Muscat
Mar 6th, 17:26
100% agree...their last cry showing desperation
Thomas Anderson
Mar 5th, 22:26
Oh boy you have to miss that gravy train you have to get off on Sunday.
B. Cachia
Mar 5th, 20:35
The basic fact is that the government has not been especially successful. The only thing it got right was to stop adding to the debt that previous PN administrations had created. As for employment and growth, this was mostly due to factors beyond the government's remit, and in any case our performance was no better than the EU average. Over the medium term, growth has actually been very low.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Mar 5th, 20:12
Salve. Amusing last gasp plea of desperation.You outdid yourself today going beyond sophist arguments at which PN lawyers and philosophers excel and ventured to what in Science and logic we call backchaining . You started with an obvious scaremongering deduction and then worked your way backwards to justify it. Do you think you will convince by this tactic pairs of smart voters as LG recommended?
EMMANUEL ZAMMIT
Mar 6th, 00:47
bravo
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