Monday, 27th July 2009
Is this supposed to be the silly season?
July is usually a month when the country goes into political hibernation, where nothing really happens apart from the odd big fish being spotted near Comino and the armadas of jelly fish invading our beaches. This year is an exception to the rule, what with the Bahrija affair hot on the headlines as well as the much coveted MEPA reform, July has been an interesting month, politically speaking.
Pour a sherry for Dr Scerri!
Victor Scerri - now there's a man in need of a stiff sherry. In undoubtedly the most difficult week in his political career, Scerri resigned as PN President, opting to continue his battle, he said, 'as a private citizen'. All well and good but Dr Scerri's resignation was an exception to that unwritten rule of Maltese politics, where you do not go unless you are actually forced to jump the plank. How many similar sagas have we seen throughout the years, where no one took political responsibility and everything was swept underneath the carpet?
This is a stark contrast to what happens in most European countries where it goes without saying, that politicians are always answerable for their actions. In Malta it seems, that one is keener to hold on to one's seat of power than do the honourable thing and clear off when one has blundered.
Hefty holidays
On one of the Sunday newspapers, leading hotelier Michael Zammit Tabona stated that if something drastic isn't done pretty quick, the tourism industry could end up shedding a lot of jobs. A major albatross around the industry's neck is without a shadow of doubt the hefty VAT rate on restaurants.
Taking a leaf out of French President Sarkozy's book, who moved to develop activity and employment in the French catering industry by slashing down VAT from 19.6% to 5.5%, the MHRA is asking the Government to bring a downward revision from the current 18% rate on restaurants.
On the breadline
During an informal gathering I attended last week, an MEP candidate for last June's election described how he was shocked at the ever increasing number of families he encountered during his campaign, which were undoubtedly on the breadline.
With the gargantuan electricity rates complicating life even more, families where one or both parents worked for a minimum wage are finding it close to impossible to make ends meet. This ever increasing phenomenon should not be ignored until the problem is too large and complex to tackle.
One may argue that unlike other European countries we have no beggars on the streets. God forbid should we ever get to that state. That doesn't mean we shouldn't help those who are being hit hard, very hard and are getting closer to the edge.
A move to be commended
Edward Scicluna's appeal to the European Commission to stop its excessive deficit procedure against Malta was a prime example of how our representatives in Europe should act to safeguard Malta's interests. In a time of economic difficulty it goes without saying that we should all unite for the good of our island. Presenting a common front in Europe on issues where there is a general consensus is essential. His move is certainly one to be commended.
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Il giddieb ghomru qasir u biex tiskongra trid tkun pur.
*Source: Lands Parliamentary Secretariat
hgrech@timesofmalta.com
Leased clubs.
Cospicua (PL)
Floriana (PL)
Floriana (Brigata) (PL)
Gudja (PL)
Ghaxaq (PL)
Kirkop (PL)
Marsa (PL)
Msida (PL)
Paola (PN)
Sta Lucia (PL)
Siggiewi (PL)
Ta' Xbiex 1 (PL)
Ta' Xbiex 2 (PL)
Vittoriosa (Brigata) (PL).
Clubs with temporary emphyteusis:
Paola (PL)
Ta' Xbiex (PN)
Sta Lucia (PN)
Clubs with perpetual emphyteusis
Rabat (PL)
Encroachment
Senglea store - (PL)
Requisitioned
St Venera (PL)
Birzebbugia (PL)
If "Living in a dark basement " should not be taken personally, why did you take " living in a damp kantina" literally?
"I wasn't getting Yankee iether ... " What exactly do you mean by this comment? Is this some kind of obscure expression coined especially for the occasion?
The plain fact is that when I write my comments, you become so agitated that you forget to proof read your text and bother with at least using Spellcheck!
Requisition of private property by government was a legal ordinance condoned by and availed of by different administrations not excluding the PN.To steal is to break the law. The ordinance, although amended, was still in-force until a few years ago even though, since 1950, different PN governments had all the instruments to abrogate it. They chose to carry on the tradition of their ‘Anti Reform Party of 1880.
Stealing of public land is against the law and it is sacrilegious when a Prime Minister secretly negotiates with squatters, on the eve of a general election, to secure votes.
Playing the game of ‘Catch me if you can’ won’t give you any credibility Sur De Martino. Now tell me - what is the intrinsic difference between government property let to PL Siggiewi and government property let to PN’s activists such as Simon Busuttil’s law firm?
Who owns the Zebra?!!!
I gave you my reply before you clarified your question.
Who owns the temporary emphyteusis of the PN clubs at Ta Xbiex and Sta.Lucia?
By the way I have a quite choice where to live with all modern amnesties including heated pools, of course. The country and sea views I enjoy you only can dream about! Anyway that is unimportant.
Martinelli please do ask what "KARFA" is!! Remember it is nothing personal as ever. I assure you it is a Maltese word. It is rarely used unless .....
KARFA or QAMHA, 'then' or 'than'?
People who refuse to see the light are the ones who live in a basement. Lucky for me I live in a better abode complete with a finished basement. Those living in basements live much better than those living in a damp kantina.
Goes to show you how little you know about finished basements in this country. Basements offer extra room and are replete with very popular home theatres with large screen televisions and the latest in electronics. You may want to update yourself regarding basements vs kantinas or caves.
@ Giov de Martino
Sports Clubs,Band Clubs as well as Political Clubs dole out a public purpose and they are part and parcel of our democratic ambience.The PL club members at Siggiewi have a right to make use of government property, as much as the PN Club members at Ta Xbiex and thousands of families who’s place of abode belongs to the government, as long as they pay for the use.
If Karol Aquilina and his PN colleagues in the Council really have difficulties to find a place to locate other civic requirements that outweigh the use of a political club and they feel so strongly about it ,they should encourage their own to give up the PN premises to serve that purpose. Rather than accusing others of selfishness they ought to act philanthropically,that’s what altruism is all about.Their resolution is the brain child of selfishness and has the stench of vindictiveness. It is also part of the theatrics to spin-doctor the current Mepa atrocities to derail the people’s outlook accordingly.
As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb?
Simon Busuttil’ law firm is to take over a public building at the heart of Valletta and pay just €4.31 a day in rent.
The Department of Contracts recommended that the offices at 75 and 76 Straight Street Valletta are rented to law firm Ganado & Sammut.
Partners in the company are PN MEP Simon Busuttil, Austin Sammut, also a newspaper columnist and Peter Fenech.
According to a study on office rent in Valletta, what law firm Ganado & Sammut is expected to pay is considered as “relatively cheap”.
An office in St Lucia Street – which is just round the corner from Straight Street – costs more than €7,000 a year or €19.17 a day. A four room office in Republic Streets, costs €18,000 a year or €49.31 a day, while a further office is rented for €3,600 or €9.86 a day.
What’s sauce for Simon is not sauce for PL Siggiewi. Are you still there Sur De Martino & Friend?
Hope you do comprehend my message!
Jahasra, we 'misinterpreted Alfred Sant when he made that obvious (makku) statement."
What was there to misinterpret? That was when he was trying to convince the public that Malta will never have an impact on the EU because we are 'makku'. The interesting part is that later it transpired that in private the MLP acknowledged that membership in the EU was preferable! In other words it was not only trying to dupe the general public but worse, its own supporters! It was also that time when he said that joining the EU would net Malta just Lm1.6 million. Some economist!
Same time as Joseph Muscat was 'advising' Iceland against joining EU!
Regarding the pre-election debate, don't be so sure that the students' parents don't share their children's opinions. You have no proof and you don't know how many of them didn't show up to vote on June 6. One thing is certain, most students are not children and will be voting at the next election.
As always, Charles, you are building a magnificent castle on a foundation of sand - very much like your former glorious governments which built roads on soil and clay!
Your cookie crumbles.
Post June 6 = Nationalist government with 60% of the people opposing.
Remember the University debate Sant - Gonzi pre 2008 election?
Those are the young educated leaders of the future. Men and women who have a good sense of judgment and who in their majority are able to distinguish one party's policies over another's. (Sic) Shame that 60% of their parents don’t share their patriotic instincts.
Remember Astrid Vella and her FAA, Ramblers Association, other ambientalists and NGOs protesting against Gonzipn massacre of our heritage, men and women who have a good sense of judgment and who in their majority are able to distinguish one party's policies over another's? Shame that they are referred to as ‘mob rulers’,’hamalli’ and ‘prophets of doom and gloom’
Makku? We may consider ourselves as big fish in a small pond but in an ocean we will still be small fry, makku . I don’t expect you to admit that after ‘your bosses’ misinterpreted Alfred Sant when he made that obvious statement.
How did the Ta Xbiex’s PN Club find its way in this discussion? Did I mention Ta Xbiex on this blog? Give us the gen and I’ll get back to you.
This means that the price of a normal gas cylinder more than doubled in four months. A gas cylinder cost €4 until March 2009, which means that this year the price of bottled gas went up by €5.
The price hike will be effective on Monday 3 August “following Government’s decision to remove the last tranche of subsidies on these products (LPG gas and Propane).”
This follows other steep increases in utilities throughout this with record increases in the price of water and electricity as well as increases in fuel. This has pushed inflation to record levels with Malta registering the highest cost of living in the Euro zone.
@ GiovDeMartino
“But it seems as if there is something fundamentally wrong with them....even the way they speak is enough to send shivers down our spines.” A sweeping statement of this sort only goes to prove a fundamental blunder in a person’s sense of accepting diverse opinions; it is also chauvinistic and racist. It reminded me of Charles Mangion’s gaffe about PN supporters’ DNA, but at least that was a one-off. I have no doubt in my mind that such disparaging comments would not see the light of day in The Times if they were directed to the illegal immigrants at Hal Far or any other ethnic or social group.
This is the 40% of what’s left from yesterday’s PN 52%, small wonder they try to pull wool over people’s eyes.
As they continue to spin a smear campaign on Joseph Muscat and his family, the former MEPA Director General Godwin Cassar killed off any other speculation on the issue by confirming that the way the permit issued, conformed to standard practice at MEPA.
Two former PN Ministers – Michael Falzon and Jesmond Mugliett – who were practising architects at the time, confirmed it was normal practice to have straightforward applications approved when the application for development was inside scheme and according to MEPA policies. Both PN exponents had permits issued with the same normal procedure as Joseph Muscat’s.
Pre-June 6 = Nationalist government
June 6 = Nationalist government
Post June 6 = Nationalist government
Remember the University debate Sant - Gonzi pre 2008 election?
Those are the young educated leaders of the future I referred to. Men and women who have a good sense of judgment and who in their majority are able to distinguish one party's policies over another's.
Those youngsters are giants not makku. It is your party who used 'makku' when describing the Maltese nation and its workers in general. They were proved wrong.
I was not referring to Charles Mangion, but thanks for reminding me.
@ F Chircop
One does not have to rely on NET TV for a review of Malta's history of 1971-1987. There are many of us who have first hand experiences even before 1971. Photographs, filmed documentaries and newspaper reports are sufficient and irrevocable evidence of what we talk about and no one like yourself is going to alter history no matter how hard you try.
Yes. it was hell on earth when citizens were denied basic rights and were afraid of taking legal action for fear of a beating.
The younger generation which you may belong to, were lucky to have not yet been born, therefore never experienced the nasty reign of a Socialist government. It is our duty to educate them so that they may be able to make their choice for the future. Labour has to do much more to persuade the modern generation that it is truly worthy of governing, but opportunities came and went and the LP remains the same.
No the younger generations are not stupid and we have full trust in them and will never call them 'makku'.
History is documented and those that want to have an objective view of history can easily refer to Malta's history books and past newspapers. I wouldn't refer to Net TV documentaries or an avid PN supporter's memoirs to learn about our political history. Unfortunately, during the past years the PN were successful in depicting the time Labour was in government as hell on earth but the younger generation are not stupid, and can see for themselves what past Labour governments achieved for Malta. They also acknowledge what the PN achieved for Malta, but now it's time to move on. It's useless to continue discussing the past or waste time arguing whether the reds were better than the blues. Let's not dwell on the past, but learn from it for a brighter future.
Charles Mangion’s resignation had absolutely nothing to do with disagreement with any member of the cabinet. He had inadvertently bypassed a beaurocratic requirement after acceding to a request for parole to enable a prisoner to be with his family for Christmas, a few days before the prisoner’s time was due. The cabinet was in agreement however Dr. Mangion failed to obtain the cabinets signed concurrence prior to the release. As a real gentleman he gave his resignation and was applauded by all members of parliament. There’s Dr. Sant for you, no messing about, and zero tolerance.
Charles Mangion is a very loved and respected politician in spite of his occasional booboo, it’s in his DNA. lol
My heart bleeds for the poor statues!
The accent however is on ‘some days’ but now we’ve been the statue for donkey’s years, the pigeons became too fat and the stench of their excretion is suffocating us. They initiated their flight as white doves and transformed themselves to vultures. And some vultures! Poor statue!
I may be far away but I don't live in a cave. Will you emerge from yours?
The 'truth' you refer to pertains to the ministers of the 70s and 80s. The 96-98 ones had hardly enough time to screw up although if my memory serves me right, there was one in particular who resigned because of a serious disagreement with his leader. Unfortunately he was right but his leader stayed even after he lost an election greatly attributable to a failed policy which had caused the Minister's resignation!
As always you try to throw at the NP that which sadly applies to the LP. The 'klikka' must be huge and getting bigger because the evidence points at people spending more, buying cars, taking overseas vacations and buying homes. Let's watch and see how many weeks the new 100million government bond takes to be sold?! Would you guess over six? - hours that is.
Nothing will justify Dr. Gonzi's actions in your mind because mother nature is such that we cannot see what a Socialist administration would have accomplished in the last 22 years and make a comparison.
Maybe by now we would have more modern water tankers?
You seem proud that the rich are getting richer. LOL. Indeed. 'tal-klikka' ( which are a handful) are getting all the cake and you seem to approve. But of course you are too far away to touch all with your own hands.
The past you mentioned will never justify the present behaviour of GonziPN. Only 'most biased minds' behave the way you do.
First of all, I was one of the first to praise Prof Scicluna for speaking out with regard to the EU's reaction to Malta's deficit - check it out. At this stage, Prof Scicluna has only spoken and what results his exhortation will reap is unknown. But for argument's sake, do you think that the PM himself or his Finance Minister had not already reacted in similar fashion and contacted EU officials?
It is inevitable that one mentions the 70s and 80s because the 'new' LP is receding into the frame of mind it had in those years. I have not hibernated in the last few decades and continue to follow closely whatever happens in Malta. Never have I claimed that the NP governments since 1987 were perfect or that they could not have done things a little better but one has to be a bit unreasonable to come up with the conclusion that the NP governments have not been several hundred percent better for the country. Just look at the influx of foreign investments, factories which picked up the employment of those whose factories closed. There is more but the word restriction gets in the way.
Why do you always have to mention the 70s and 80s? I guess Giov deMartino is preparing another history script and is ready to hit the 'submit' button. I can mention countless cases where a PN MP/minister should have resigned but didn't. Resignations are not common in Malta, unfortunately, from both sides of the House.
Scicluna's initiative silenced the critics who before the EP election claimed that Labour MEP's would be hell-bent on putting spokes in the wheel of the PN administration.
Files have been 'lost' before and evidence removed from a secure police evidence room and both in connection with serious criminal acts including murder. Yes, I know, I should not excuse the missing 'Bahrija' file and that two wrongs do not make one right but it is a far different matter when it is a file containing an application for reconstructing a decrepit farmhouse! Who knows? A meticulous search may yet turn up the file.
@ JosephButtigiegAttard
Your statement about a 'PN Minister would have to resign every month, year round' is ample evidence of your inane arguments. You fire your salvos but miss every time. Gone are the days of Lorry Sant and the expropriation of private properties and public spaces just to favour party supporters. Those were the infamous deeds of the 70s and 80s.
The rich are getting richer? There must be an awful number of rich people who continue to buy cars bringing the total vehicles up to 300,000!
PN follows Prof Scicluna's example? How preposterous! The NP have been governing for 22 years and all the improvements are enough testimony of their work - physical work - not just words like Scicluna's.
I agree that the present economic situation in Malta we are witnessing once again the rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer. For the latter,the edge is much closer than anyone wants to admit.
Finally, I agree with you that Profs Sciculna should be congratulated for his outstanding example of new progressive politics. National interests should always be any Mp's priority.
However, I do wonder how many GonziPN's Pms are ready to follow profs. Scicluna's
example and put national interests before their party's or their personal interests!