Comment
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Eurovision voting (1)
I must first and foremost begin by congratulating Gianluca Bezzina who made Malta proud by ending up among the top 10 of the Eurovision song contest. Well done. God is with you. If not first place, he deserved to rank in the top three. Last year, I...
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The security industry
With more than 18 years’ experience in security, of which more than five years in the private sector, I totally agree with the Government that precarious work in security needs to be tackled. The Government must not only manage to eliminate...
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University must address governance issue
The news that the University Council is ‘paralysed’ because the Government had still not appointed the 13 members that represent it may seem dramatic. University courses and students’ lives on campus are unlikely to have been affected much by this...
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Rogues and pariahs of this world
A number of states in the international system are diplomatically isolated because of their political system or political leaders. Such states often defy international law and diplomatic convention. Analysts usually refer to such entities as...
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A matter of human dignity
Hatred, violence, suppression and denial of basic human rights are poisonous substances that can destroy the peace and tranquillity of an entire society. Moreover, they attack human values, so much so that people become so very cruel and...
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Comparisons are shameful
The Reuters report underlining that Malta “is unlikely to follow Cyprus into crisis” should be welcomed by all Maltese citizens. It does justice to our healthy economy and to the robust bank regulatory framework. Moreover, it should be considered to...
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Why a new Constitution
The commentary on the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (judiciarymalta.gov.mt under Code of Ethics) quotes the “forbidden zones upon which authority may not trespass” for there to be “the enjoyment of individual liberty”. This is the essence...
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'I walk proud and with my head held high up'
On Tuesday afternoon the French far right historian, Dominique Venner, committed suicide on the altar of the Notre Dame cathedral in in the centre of Paris. The 78-year-old man walked up to the altar, placed a sealed envelope and then shot himself...
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The first prime minister who hates politics
Nothing bores people more than politics. That’s what Joseph Muscat realised and that is why he won by an amazing landslide. Lawrence Gonzi and his clique were not just passé, they were obsessed with politics. They spoke and lectured us ad nauseam...
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The more things change, the more...
It is somewhat amusing how every time an institution comes out with a favourable report on Malta, the two main political parties immediately attempt, each in its own way, to take the credit for it. In their frenetic urge to score political goals,...
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Danger to vulnerable road users
Times of Malta reported the case of a cyclist who was severely injured in a road accident (Motorist Fined €200 After Hitting Cyclist, Breaking His Legs, May 13). The driver, who eventually admitted responsibility for the accident, was awarded a...
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The Syrian blowback
The law of unintended consequences is taking its toll on every major actor in Syria. It was Bashar al-Assad who reaped the whirlwind given the way he brutally reacted to largely peaceful demonstrators two years ago. But the rebels and their...
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Let’s focus on the cause
I have followed closely the ‘hullabaloo’-turned-‘controversy’ of Darleen Zerafa being offered a bursary following a unanimous decision by the Malta Community Chest Fund board (and offer that she immediately declined as evidenced, among other, in the...
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EU arms embargo on Syria
Two years after the conflict in Syria, which claimed about 70,000 lives so far, the European Union still has an arms embargo in place against that country. However, the arms embargo is due to expire on June 1. Therefore, a debate is taking place as...
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Gonzi: the statesman and the man
A statesman is defined as a person who is usually a politician and who has had a long and respected career at a national or international level. That description, I think, fits Lawrence Gonzi perfectly. Over the past few days, we have had the...
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Songs likely to please Eurovision audiences
The Malta Song for Europe was one of the poorest festivals I had ever seen. Only the winning song stuck in the memory, being different to the usual Maltese concept. So Malta’s eighth place this year was a nice surprise to me. However, winning the...
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Obama the passenger
Barack Obama is beginning to look a lot less like a Head of State and more like someone closer to being just another passenger on the bus – and one not even on the top deck at that. In the circumstances I would like to put two questions. Who is...
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Bicycle solution
Almost daily, I read in this newspaper complaints about the bus service and parking spaces. I would like to offer a Dutch solution: the bicycle. Teachers especially would set a good example by cycling to school, contributing to a healthier...
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Citadel’s second gate
Restoration works on the Victoria Citadel are in full swing and appear to be quite close to completion. This task is evidently being diligently accomplished by the right people with supervision entrusted to qualified personnel. It is reliably...
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Tax payment
Are motoring schools and driving instructors exempt from paying VAT? Some schools charge €40 for one to apply for a learner’s permit when the actual fee at Transport Malta is €23. Some schools do not give VAT receipts upon payment, claiming that...
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