Tuesday, 30th June 2009
Are we really Europeans?
Five years and two MEP elections after EU membership, one often wonders whether Malta has adopted those qualities and standards which make up the social fabric of the European Union .
Without any shadow of doubt, the Maltese people have expressed a consistent, undeniable wish towards EU adhesion. The biggest question however, is why were the Maltese so anxious to join the EU ? And now five years down the line do the Maltese really feel that membership was that European dream they reckoned it to be ?
The Maltese people hoped to obtain the same rights of fellow Europeans, the same quality and standard of living. Malta's entrance in the EU unfolded more than just our economy and politics. It changed people's way of life and their mentality.
In reality though, after 5 years of membership, the quality of life in Malta is a far cry from what it was expected to be. The problem now is that people are confused where the line should been drawn. Questions are arising regarding social liberties. Anyone who was in favor of the European Union, is inclined to be, more or else, quite liberal, or at least possess some liberal values. Having said that, Malta is by far, not liberal.
When voting for the EU people voted for a free economy, and less government control over social issues. They voted for an unprejudiced society of equals, where regardless of colour, sex, religion, age and occupation, peoplecould be united. Nevertheless, many are those who are still crying out for more rights, be they for gays, cohabiting couples, social minorities - the people of tiny, conservative, staunchly catholic Malta are yearning to be on the same level with their European bretheren even when it comes to these issues.
This aspect of Maltese society is definitely not what you would refer to as being European. Our conservative government has failed to create a clear separation of State and Church, thus impeding certain legislations and decisions that are essential. We are a Roman Catholic country, but secularization is a must for a European country, especially in Malta were the number of different nationalities is growing rapidly.
It did not feel European at all, when a couple of months back the theater production "Stitching" was censored because they claimed it had inappropriate content. Meanwhile, the Church Censor claimed last week, that he would have rated it 18R and not ban it. This would not have happened in any other European state. On the contrarywe had foreign writers pointing out how no one should have the right to curtail freedom of speech. After all George Orwell did say: "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
Back in 2004, the Maltese had much more than jobs and the economy on their minds. They were also concernedabout civil liberties and eagerly awaited the process of mondernisation and westernisation. The question of EU membership is history and it is about time that we focus on the need to have our country having a European standard of living.
How many times have we heared about the need for day care centres? It is true that we have seen a steady increase in day care centres around the island. But how many centres cater for families where both parents work shifts or start work early in the morning?
Can the government help in encouraging pharmacies or at least shops that sell the basic daily necessities to remain open around the clock? How can one manage to go shopping whilst working long hours?
It all boils down to one issue. The crux of it all is to dream. To dream that we can make Malta the best in Europe! However, it is imperative to be the change we want to see around us. The change we believe in. Well known author Robert Fritz once said "If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." Gone are the days of grumbling and procrastinating. It is time to stand up and be counted. It is time for this generation to put forward our ideas and visions for the future in order to pave the way for a European quality of life for all of us.
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And then-
Victor Scerri has announced his resignation from president of the Nationalist Party.
He said he was taking the decision out of his own free will without being pushed or encouraged to do so.
And JPO?
In doing so, MEPA’s Development Control Commission (DCC) responsible for outside development zones (ODZ) has overturned a previous decision taken in December 2008 to refuse the development. Then, the board had turned down the development with seven votes against and none in favour. On Tuesday, the same board approved the project with five votes in favour and one against.
By your own argument, what should Joseph do when he made an application to MEPA in 1998 (while the MLP were governing, sort of) and had it approved by the DCC in 24 hours? How hard did he or his boss push?
I suppose the 'power of incumbency' was alive and well in Dr. Sant's time!
It only took Dr. Scerri 9 years to get a permit through!
So now Victor Scerri is building a magnificent villa!? No longer a three bedroom farmhouse replacing what was already there!
What about the other two projects in the very same proximity, whose architects are a Labour MP and an AD member respectively, and also approved by MEPA? Are they OK by you?
I think you should heed your own elves' advice - Min jiskongra jrid ikun pur.
Please make sure you ignore me starting now. Your silence will be much appreciated. It appears that you are proud of being a Mintuffjana, but Mr. DeMartino and myself are damned if we are declare ourselves unashamedly Nationalists. "Min mhux maghna kontra taghna" still echoes in your mind?
You have an axe to grind but you chose two unlikely whetstones to grind your dull edges on. You are fast with allegations but slow on proofs because your two sources of verification of events as you described them, are both dead.
It took you 22 years to wake up and assuming that an injustice had indeed taken place, you had no one but yourself to blame for not going to a public defender like the Ombudsman who, without charge would have raised your complaint with the right Minister. But alas! I forget that the Ombudsman was an NP government's idea and the prospects of having to discuss your matter with a Nationalist government appointee may not have been so attractive a proposition to you.
You had a brief window of opportunity (1996-1998) when your friends were in office but even then you chose not to act. Pity!
Nationalist Party President Victor Scerri insisted that he has no reason to step down as he had nothing to do with the MEPA decision to grant him a permit for a villa in a sensitive ecological area in Bahrija. A report by the MEPA auditor, which to date has not been published, confirms that at least one of four permits issued for this development were illegally issued.
Scerri’s insistence that he will not be held accountable for others’ mistakes comes just a day after Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, also the minister responsible for MEPA insisted that it is Scerri who has to decide whether or not to resign. Dr Gonzi said that he trusted Scerri “to take the morally correct decision”.
Scerri has decided he is not responsible for the scandalous Bahrija permit, through which he will be getting a villa on land where no such development is permitted.
You see what I mean Sylvana,total silence? They remind me of big time Stars like Sofia Loren,Brigitte Bardot,Kim Novak and others who can't face the present and the future. In a strange kind of way I sympathize with them,they have become a diminishing quantity from 51% to 40% and still shrinking. I pray for them too maybe they get over it and start feeling well.
MEPA has continued to study the possibilities of revoking the permit, following the report by the internal auditor, who had lambasted the planning authority for ignoring its own rules.
Nonetheless, it is not known whether the files went missing before or after 1 June, when Kullhadd first revealed that Scerri had managed to obtain permits for the scandalous development.
Gonzi remains uncommitted on whether Victor Scerri should hand in his resignation expressing his confidence in the PN’s president judgment to take the morally correct decision.
Gonzi had a different reaction when JPO was involved in the Mistragate scand, back then; he had defended the disgraced MP involvement. To date, JPO has not yet resigned. Even worse, a year later, MEPA, now under the political responsibility of Dr Gonzi himself, gave the same MP a permit to hold a party in the same protected area.
Malta taht Gonzipn b’appogg ta 40%.
A number of documents connected to the controversial Bahrija permit went missing from MEPA’s offices
Victor Scerri, President of Gonzipn was awarded several development permits to build a villa in the Bahrija countryside.
The proposed development will cause irreparable damage to the area, which is situated next to a Bronze Age archaeological village. The works were then stopped and an inquiry by the internal auditor ensued. The auditor's report has been completed and is now in the hands of MEPA chairman Austin Walker. Yet, the MEPA auditor already admitted that at least one of the permits issued to Scerri, was irregular.
A number of files, including PA 6321/02 related with the outline permit together with the blue prints of the original structure "went missing" from the MEPA offices.
About time too.
Mr J Martinelli, contrary to what you write, it was the PN Government who gave false guarantees! Is it so difficult for you to down such disgraceful actions by the Party you adore?!!
More facts supported with actual official figures.
Malta is 75% more expensive than other countries in the Euro Area, when compared with the hourly labour costs.
Malta is relatively the most expensive country in the Euro Area. On non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, sea and food, tobacco, furniture (139% over the euro area average), household appliance (200% over the euro area average) Malta is the most expensive country.
On oils and fat, fruit and vegetables, other food products Malta is second, after Slovakia, as the most expensive country in the Euro Area.
When it came to food, Malta kept pace with the euro zone until July 07, and then it increased up to 10% over the Euro Area average. Electricity is 51% above the Euro Area average.
Price cost is at 78.4% of the euro zone, which is just above Slovakia. However the hourly labour cost is at 44%, meaning an average of 8,000 euro yearly, which makes Maltese workers as the second lowest paid worker in the EU. Thus, the Maltese person is paying 75% more than the average person in_the EU.
Had Labour supporters been intelligent enough (and there were some, all right) the referendum would have shown that 80% or more favoured joining the EU.
Now, five years later, nothing has changed within the LP (the new MLP) since it continues to carbon copy Dr. Sant's policies, oratories, gestures and style and what is worse, Joseph decided to bring back some characters who were the motivators behind Malta's darkest political period. Unfortunately, it is not the Nationalists who do not want to let go of your scandalous past, it is the Labour Party itself! Go figure.
For the married woman who gets bashed, abused, sodomised and made a slave by her blasphemous and paedophile husband who also sleeps with his son and his three daughters, the church can only afford her solidarity and its blessings if she wishes to separate. If the battered woman falls in love with a decent man and starts a new life with him the church will deprive them from receiving the Holy Sacraments and would not baptise their offspring. Is this fair? Yes it is because if one doesn’t like the despotic attitude of the Roman Catholic Church one is free to leave the church and chose the life they want to live.
What is disgracefully unjust is to have a government imposing on its citizens a cut and paste copy of the Canon Law even though the Canon Law discriminates between men and women as well as between priests and married couples.
But that’s OK because Mr. Giovanni De Martino doesn’t want divorce and to empower his dictate he throws in the abortion as if they aren’t separate issues.
Marriage is one of the Church’s seven Sacrament and when taken it’s for life. Priesthood is also a lifelong Sacrament which binds the clergy to live a life in celibacy. However, the Church, in its infinite equity, had no problem to find a solution to take care of its own in that a prospective priest may get married before starting his novitiate and then enjoy the best of two worlds (metaphorically speaking) by receiving the ‘Ordni Sagri’. His fellow priest who didn’t tie the knot before getting ordained but fell in love afterwards the church also takes care of him by allowing him to take off his dog collar and give him the Sacrament of marriage and bless him and his wife amen.
An answer to your Question "Are we really Europeans?"
Church makes case against divorce.
Malta does not need divorce, a report conducted by the church insists.
The report, “For Worse Not for Better”, is a reaction to the Martin Scicluna report which advocated the introduction of divorce.
No we are not really Europeans,we are still a priest ridden Island with an island mentality.
naqbel mieghu perfettament. Kullma jonqosna hu gvern Laburista!!!!!
I want to thank you profusely for pointing out what’s wrong with me during the last few days and hope that my gratitude would not make you feel uncomfortable.
We are so alike in some ways, aren’t we?
I’d also like to thank the ever so sweet Nikita and the blog moderator for giving me so much space, wasted space in hind sight but that’s not their fault.
Amen.
This very morning I sought legal advice about estimated billings. Nobody, not even the despotic WSC may force settlement and suspend the service if the estimated bills are not settled. An invoice as well as a bill has to be on actual otherwise it cannot be legally considered as a demand for payment. I will not pay before they send me the actual charges, if they suspend the utilities they will hear about it in Brussels. Gvern tal misthija!
“Some 150 human rights cases against the MLP”?There you go again, half truth.....how many were proved?
None of the Labour Prime Ministers were ever found guilty by our courts of infringing human rights, your precious EFA was. Even if f the 150 figure is correct and the Labour Government was declared guilty on all counts, the figure is much too small to be compared with the number of cases which the PN lost in the ‘Tribunal għall-Investigazzjoni ta’ l-Inġustizzji’,which runs into thousands and many are still left unimplemented .
Biex tiskongra trid tkun pur.
L-Ombudsman
F’ittra li bagħat lill-Ispeaker tal-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti, fejn talbu jikkomunika lill-Parlament l-opinjoni tiegħu dwar l-implimentazzjoni ta’ deċiżjonijiet tat-Tribunal għall-Investigazzjoni ta’ l-Inġustizzji, l-Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino saħaq li l-amministrazzjoni pubblika hija fid-dover li timplimenta r-rakkomandazzjonijiet li saru mit-Tribunal biex l-inġustizzji li kienu provati jiġu rimedjati.
L-ittra lill-Ispeaker, li ġġib id-data tas-16 ta’ Lulju, 2008, kienet ippubblikata l-bieraħ mill-Uffiċċju ta’ l-Ombudsman. Fiha ntqal li dan l-Uffiċċju kemm-il darba ntalab li jinvestiga għaliex deċiżjonijiet tat-Tribunal għall-Investigazzjoni ta’ l-Inġustizzji ma jiġux implimentati mill-awtoritajiet li lilhom ġew indirizzati.
The bones in here clatter like snakes rattle - disgusting and obnoxious
.
It is a fact that the energy tariffs have gone up, as they did when oil was 15 dollars a barrel bet 96-98. But how manu uniots do YOU consume? Nothin secret in that.
M. Frendo was sued for libel bec. hares bl-ikrah. He won the case. it is UP TO YOU to tell us why he was taken to court. R. Muscat could not return to Malta bec. he was threatened by the regime. He did return when the regime was defeated in 1987.
@ Charles J Buttigieg
I truly admire Jose' Herrera's honest and genuine assessment of Judge Bonello's credentials. I also laud the 1996 Labour Administration's sense of fairness when it recommended the same Dr Bonello for the post. I agree with you that this is what we should be talking about on here (and elsewhere), not the negatives of remote years. Those who insist on bringing up the sad past (and quote half-truths) show their true colours and are the ones who propagate divisiveness – they are the skeleton in Malta’s cupboard, and have a lot to be ashamed of.
I concur with what you said about the W&E meter charge. Moreover, many are those who have discovered that the provisional bills are inflated by WSC. I know of cases where estimated bills were pumped up to the tune of over EUR1000 for a period of four months - this overcharge is in fact double the actual for that period. Of course, this has to be corrected on actual readings. I am authorised by the account holders to exhibit the relevant bills to buona fede enquirers. God only knows how much funds WSC is siphoning in advance from its meek customers.
@ Giov De Martino.
‘The_prisoner_of_Zenda’
Your spin-doctoring amateurish output leaves so much to be desired and it is so short lived in its effectiveness, typical is your excerpt from Jose Herrera’s article. Herrera’s point was that the PL is politically mature enough to reward a person for their outstanding abilities even if they are its political adversaries. The nomination of Judge G. Bonello highlights the meritocratic credentials of the PL. Viz.-
“The learned judge enjoys universal esteem, to the point that, ironically, he had been nominated for the post by the then Labour Administration. I say ironically because it is no secret that the said judge grew to fame by defending a number of cases against the Labour government in the 1980s. To my mind this indicates, contrary to general perception, that political maturity, albeit not always, is present in Malta.”
Your half-truths come in several forms, and are deceptive statements, that includes some element of truth. Your statements might be partly true, they may also be totally true but only part of the whole truth, or you would use some deceptive element, such as double meaning to deceive, evade, blame or misrepresent the truth.
@GiovDeMartino
Giovanni-Bonello_also_defended_ the_ PN_Government_on cases brought up by citizens on violations of human rights; my Constitutional redress was one of them. My defence lawyers were KMB the ex Prime Minister and Dr. George Abela our present President of the Republic.
Re utilities charges, I told you once I told you three times that how much I consume doesn’t come into the equation, I am paying more for less and the meter charge has got absolutely nothing to do with consumption.
Re R.Muscat, an ex Director of Information,under his own initiative, called him to threaten that if he returns to Malta he will be arrested at the Airport, when Mintoff learnt about the threat he made the former director retract his threat and threw him out of Castile. Check it out with Mr. Muscat, if he denies it I will shut up. The other fellow was not taken to court because he made a funny face at the President. You can’t take a person to court for a facial expression because there’s no law against it. I already suggested presenting us with the official indictment but instead you preferred to play your favourite game of evasiveness.
@GiovDeMartino
I already reacted more than once re Muscat and Frendo and you shall not succeed to derail the people’s attention from today’s issues.
With regards to the meter charges, the amount of consumption has nothing to do with it. The whole point is for what we used to be charged € 27.17 we are now charged €195, a blasphemous increase of 717.70 %. If we do not consume a single unit of water or electricity the charge will be the same.
The detail of our actual consumption is not in the public interest to know and it’s impertinent to ask for it even though I have nothing to hide. In plain language, that is none of your business. I did however give you a like with like comparison to allow you debate the issue but as per normal you evaded the crux of the issue.
The quantum of the two different levels of consumption would have been required if I didn’t tell you that they were more or less the same (in fact we consumed less where we are charged more) and that we are being charged €200 more for the last billing, the meter annual-charge-excluded.
Ghadna nippretendu li ninqdew sew bla ma nhallsu ghall inqas kemm is-servizz jiswa! Jinsew li s-sussidji minn bwiet ta dawk li jhallsu t-taxxa jigu.
L-'estimates' huma kalkoli li bihom il-kont jigi aggustat meta jintbaghat. Ghaldaqstant wiehed ma jhallsx izjed jew anqas bejn 'reading' u iehor.
B'dan kollu, il-WSC m'ghandiex thalli sitt xhur bejn reading u iehor.
Firstly, nobody forced you to join this debate, secondly if you feel comfortable with the utilities rates and the way Water Services Corporation is treating us, I’m happy for you but please allow us to say ‘ouch’ when we are feeling the pain. Finally, instead of bla bla, point out to me exactly where the bias in my statements are. It is a citizen’s right to complain about bad service more so when the service is horrendous. Just try to call customer care on 8007 2222 and see for yourself if you ever manage to get them and if you manage a miracle what you’ll get. We are not complaining about trivialities, utilities costs and their attendant servicing are bread and butter issues.
But maybe you were not addressing me, if so clarify yourself.
Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, said euro areas annual inflation dropped to -0.1 percent in June from 0 percent in May.
In Malta, the NSO said annual inflation was 2.8%, down from 3.4% in May , the highest in the euro area.
No problem with that as long as we will still get our regular supply of chocolate and double soft toilet paper from abroad-mhux hekk Giovan?
The W&E meter reader came round to our place on 10 July 09, the reading before was on 22 Jan 09 up to 09 July 09. Our last actual bill for July 2008-Jan 2009 was sent to us on 13 May 2009.Now they sent us the bill for Jan-June 2009.
Why are these people making our lives more difficult by sending us bills that even qualified accountants have difficulties to decipher? And why should we pay estimated bills when legally bills must be actual? Why can’t Water Services Corporation apply a simple system in that after the meters are read they send us the bill for that reading and save Grez and Wenz all the mental torture and the hustle of queuing up to get an explanation which nine times out of ten turns out to be too complex to understand.
The majority of the people do not support Gonzipn, 60% support the opposition and the opposition are failing us in this regard, they must not allow the Government to tolerate the Water Services Corporation’s despotic attitude towards us consumers. Naturally that is if we really think that we are Europeans.
Room 101 is a place introduced in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. It is a torture chamber in the Ministry of Love in which the Party attempts to subject a prisoner to his or her own worst nightmare, fear or phobia.
We are talking about period 23 Jan-30 June 2009. (157 days)
Analyse this.
During the period 20 Feb –01 Aug 2007 (162 days) the surcharge was an average of 49.67%. Our consumption, compared to same period in 2007,was 80 units less for Electricity and 6 units less for water yet our bill for the period under review is precisely 200 Euro more. In short, we are paying more for less.
These are the facts that you always insist on, now you can make your point.
Thirty years ago, a group of thugs acting on their own initiative, that presumably supported Mintoff, burnt down Strickland House and you reminded us today. Today, Gonzi on behalf of the State, presumably supported by 40% of the population, is burning all of us and you are trying to make us focus on Mintoff of 30 years ago!
Room 101 of Gonzipn labelled Alfred Sant as their biggest asset, latest results have shown that people who think like you are today’s PL best investment. You want proof? Ask 60% of the Maltese.
The problem is that the Reds are also getting burnt.
I have just received my utilities bill for 23 Jan- 30 June 2009 for which, on top of the astronomical charge for consumption, I’m also being debited 85 Euro for electricity service charge. When I checked with Enemalta they told me that this is part of an annual charge of 195 Euro which before the last increase used to be 27.17 Euro per annum.
Enemalta couldn’t tell me what the phenomenal increase had to do with the cost of fuel perhaps some Gonzipn apologist here who also have the answers may justify the sinful increase.
Ghal-Maltin, Malta ila tinbena tnejn u ghoxrin sena.
Sadattant kemm il-kohol u kemm il-homor qed igawdu fejn qatt qabel!!
Haga tal-ghageb kemm jitghu jsiru affarijiet b'LM1,600,000 mill Unjoni Ewropea!
Iddisprati jaraw lill Neruni jahraq Ruma.
Blue pixies giving from what they have. Need we say more?
The reasons why some five years ago I had resigned from the NP fold were numerous. I do accept that mistakes are committed by everyone human. But to persist in one's mistakes (to say the least) is the worst attitude.
One of the PN leaders’ approaches was to accept the hard-core’s weird mentality to reward the party lackeys at the expense of those who harboured different political views. Your case bears testimony to this. I admire your righteousness and dedication to uphold the truth. There is a multitude of similar cases, which have not seen the light of day for fear of reprisals and intimidation. This injustice is repeated more frequently nowadays. The tentacles of the party machine reach out to every nook in the country, and supported by elves who dedicate their lives to the world of print and communication to appease the ones who have hijacked the party.
I honestly wish that you, and many others like you, would soon find retribution. However, please ignore the blue pixies as they would only give you from what they have. What can one expect from those whose obsession is to prod the party that feeds them?
@ GiovDeMartino
I had already reacted to the two historical events but if you like to debate the issues further you will need to look somewhere else because I’m not interested. You may go ahead and keep looking for skeletons, that’s a very good way to cultivate your hate and bitterness, I got a life to live and my enjoyment comes from somewhere else.
You called me a coward, maybe I am maybe I’m not but if I am at least I’m a happy coward not an antiquated,bitter,spiteful,irritable and sadly miserable bully.
Now if you want to debate current issues constructively I’ll be there otherwise you’ll have to look for some old pedant the likes of whom you are very familiar with.
The scope of the EEC and now the EU is to unite nations,eliminate differences and share resources.
Malta from the start failed to use the EU (even the Local Councils) to unit the Maltese.On the contrary it was used along with the Local Councils to further divide the Maltese. All this was against the advise of the Arch Bishop Emeritus - an expert in moral advice.
Giovanna Demartino your approach is out of place and out of scope. Till Maltese realise that the EU is not PN or LP we will never be European. I still await to see a team of capable Maltese MEP's who put their country first irrespective of the party they support. I still await to see the a non partisan approach to Local Councils and MEP elections. The End
In spite of the Financial mess we’re in, the Government announced the Piano Project which shall cost 80 million euro, the Menqa rehabilitation project another 130 million euro, and the upgrading of the power station which is estimated to cost 200 million Euro when we have the Cirkewwa project which started 15 years ago, still unfinished due to lack of funds. Where are we going to get the 410 million Euro to finance the three projects plus the unknown figure to finish the Cirkewwa project when, at the same time, we have to cut back on our budgetary expenditure to heal our balance of payment chronic ailment?
In the 1930s FDR launched his famous ‘New Deal’ which successfully pulled out the USA from its devastating depression, Gonzi just can’t borrow the FDR magic formulae because our coffers are dry and the Government does not generate enough revenue to sustain its recurrent expenditure let alone capital expenditure.
These are the sad facts of Malta today; this is the stuff that we have to focus our attention on not the times of Nerik Mizzi, Ettore Bona, EFA, Mintoff and KMB. We must think European.
The European Commission confirmed that Malta’s high deficit is not the result of measures taken by the government to address the economic crisis. In 2008, Malta registered an economic growth while still being among the countries with the highest deficit record.
“Why then does the LP always say that the government is not spending enough to mitigate the effects of the recession? Why does it insist that the government lower income tax and reduce VAT to tourist oriented entities? Why does it preach that W&E rates are too high and should be set at below cost? “
We are caught in a ‘catch-22’, a double bind, a no win situation. This was extensively explained by Prof.Edward Scicluna during the MEP Election campaign.
Joseph Muscat had urged the EU Commission to give us some breathing space until the recession is behind us, they didn’t and now I can see us going into a digression after the recession.
Sir, it appears that you are unable to reason in an objective manner!! You even attributed to me quotes which, in fact, had not been written by me. Those words came from your friend Mr DeMartino!!!! Confusion reigns supreme in your comments.
Finally, Mr Martinelli, the outstanding matter here is: OWN UP THAT THE GOVERNMENT YOU TRY TO GLORIFY AND PORTRAY AS BEING SPOTLESS DOES HAVE SKELETONS IN ITS CUPBOARD!!! Your persistent contributions so as to try and keep these skeletons locked in MAKES YOU PARTY TO SUCH ILL-DOINGS!!!
You show me where I rubbed salt? I merely questioned, and still do, the rendition of your report regarding your job loss at Mid-Med. I had no intention of getting into Mid-Med's merits regarding their decision and much less any interest in writing Dr. Tonio Borg. I already told you that I am not interested in digging any deeper than what details you provided, being that the other side cannot (and presumably HSBC's case) will not disclose any events which happened 22 years ago and for fear of opening a case which presumably is closed if for nothing else, because of the expiration of the statute of limitations.
However, the more you write the more questions you raise: You could not afford a lawyer? No lawyer from the Labour side took up your case pro bono? And:
"....BUT can anyone condemn a whole administration because someone claimed that he was unfairly sacked?" I cannot believe these words coming from you! Is this not what you have been doing all along, condemning the NP and NP government in toto?
If my questions prove bothersome to you, I am sorry, but they still warrant an answer.
Sylvana I sympathised with you because I was there before you. I was mentally tortured from 1987 up to 1996. Mine was an undisputable state action and the court condemned the state and apologised to me for the hardship I had to endure. The whole lot in parliament were aware of what I was going through and while the opposition where protesting militantly the government side were smirking and insisting that they can’t make a comment because my constitutional was sub judice. The Leader of that pack was then made President of the Republic and expected my total allegiance. I may burn in hell but until they admit their past mistakes instead of just reminding us of Mintoff’s I will not forgive them nor forget.
Signor De Martino just called me a chicken, chicken is the person who in the safety of the company of their acolytes curses the present Gonzipn administration and then publiclicly lauding the same administration. I have a lot of friends who support the PN and some of them live in Mosta.
Sylvana look me up on Face book or and I will tell you a lot more.
Mr Martinelli, my case was mentioned to expose your non-factual glorification of the PN Govt. As already suggested, I urge you to confirm what I wrote with the Hon. Dr Tonio Borg - Thank God he is still around and it should not prove to be a problem for you to contact him! This also applies to Mr DeMartino. Sir, the courts were not "suspended at the whim of the government" BUT as already stated, I could not afford the expense.
Finally, it might interest readers to know that when HSBC took over Mid-Med Bank, these went as far as to offer me a sum of money if I agreed to drop my case which was at the time being heard by the Employment Commission! Obviously, MY PRINCIPLES WERE NOT UP FOR SALE!!!!
Why then does the LP always says that the government is not spending enough to mitigate the effects off the recession? Why does it insist that the government lower income tax and reduce VAT to tourist oriented entities? Why does it preach that W&E rates are too high and should be set at below cost?
@ vvella
Nobody is downplaying any politically motivated discriminatory practices by either party administration, but rather the accounting of the circumstances which Ms. Zarb Darmanin found herself fired. No one solicited information about her dismissal until she brought the subject up herself and accused Mid-Med which no longer exists and Joe Stellini who is dead therefore neither can counter Ms. Zarb Darmanin's story.
One thing however one has to agree, that such stories have become so rare and when they do happen, the injured parties seek redress and obtain settlements through the courts as evidenced by two similar cases recently. To my knowledge, Ms Zarb Darmanin had the same opportunity and by no means did I trivialize her trauma at losing her job.
All levels of courts were available and none was suspended at the whim of the government.
The scope of the 'European Economic Community' was to iron out differences in opinion and practices between European states. (EX IronandCoalAgreement) . It has now evolved into a union. So far all appears to be relatively smooth(debatable) .There are most certainly benefits in having joined this Union but I feel Malta was and is not prepared. Do you feel that you were prepared ? Do you feel European ? Just for the record lest you forget : The president you are refering to (MFrendoCase) passed away a long time ago.You feel that he committed an injustice,he may have, have you forgiven him as a European . Will you forgive the Europeans for accepting abortion and divorce?Do you realise that a number of present MP's were not even of voting age during the period which you describe as a regime. Have the injustices pertaining to the period which you make reference to been resolved? I think not. If you do have the administrative power, which you appear to come accross as having, try and assist the person you have just apologised to.If her case is genuine, whether we are European or Not, you would have done a positive deed.
which obviously everyone knew the president would not accept and there and then the PM
informed the President that since he did not accept his resignation he will continue in office.
These are some concrete facts and happened much closer than the ones you both have the hobby of quoting and these are without any spinning and weaving,part of the supposidly glorious past of the pn apart of the hundreds of injustsies found by a judge on political grounds.
The European Commission confirmed that Malta’s high deficit is not the result of measures taken by the government to address the economic crisis. In 2008, Malta registered an economic growth while still being among the countries with the highest deficit record.
This could be one of many other reasons why some of the 40% that still vote PN want us to focus on the rear view mirror to ignore the huge dangers we are at at this time.
Signorina Nikita hu l-parir tieghi u mhux ta' haddiehor. Kun laburista kemm trid, imma isma minni, tippruvax tiddefendi l-passat tal-lejber ghax ma setax ikun moqziez izjed milli kien. Ghalhekk dawk ixjeh minnek tawk parir tinjorani ghax jafu li izjed ma titkellem izjed taghtini cans insemmi l-oxxenitajiet li kienu jsiru. Marrid xejn tal-parir.
Reality is, that for the next 4 years we will continue to have an NP government and what happens in the meantime MEP & LC elections will not change anything.
The NP has always produced a program, a vision and HOW these can be achieved. The LP waits for the NP to come up with a proposal, then immediately claims that it can do it better, bigger, faster and cheaper - erm... like the roads built on clay and soil. This is not to mention that many a time, it took an adversary position to the NP's ideas, only to make a U-turn and accept them (reluctantly & in hindsight) later. Integration? EU 'Partnership'? Euro?
In any case, anyone reading your scribbles, always has to take them with a sack full of salt.
I will answer your question re Richard Muscat , but first I will let you know that part of my front garden was requisitioned for commercial purposes (internet, telephony , television ) .This was for the profit making purposes of a private company which enjoyed tax free status for 10years. If I dare object in terms of the legislation which was passed in 2000 I will be subject to imprisonment, hefty fines and a lot more. Richard Muscat dared at the time to oppose legislation but I am a law abiding person suffering the greed of nasty people . Kindly answer now.
Unfortunately, the two elves have refused to face reality and they seem set in living in the past - the remote past at that. I would not completely ignore them, though. I would, at least, pray for them.
Will you sue me if I asked you what vintage you're working on these days? Stay away from the hot sun.
Nitkellmu wara elezzjoni generali meta l-poplu jiddeciedi f'liema par idejn jafda ir-riedni tal-poter.
Sa dan it-tant ifrah bil-55% biex ittaffi ftit mid-disappunt ta l-ahhar 22 sena (ghajr 22 xahar).
"Both your former employer and Mr. Stellini cannot state their case, therefore we can only hear your side of the story, can we?" Contrarily, Sir, I have already suggested that you seek further details regarding my case from a Minister from your side. Hence, you are able to hear his side of the story!
"If you were unjustly treated, and I don't really care by whom, you had legal remedies which you appear not to have used, meta l-froga kienet ghada friska! Don't blame me for it." Again, a baseless statement, Mr Martinelli. Do you ever believe that a Government-appointed body may go against its master?!! As for a Constitutional Case, well, despite that "Malta is a great place to live", I cannot afford it!!
Sylvana, do you really expect people like Martinelli and De Martino to sympathise with you? Forget it dear because you’ll get hurt with their irritable attitude. Take my advice and ignore them u ahraqhom. Every now and then remind them of the pitiful situation their Gonzipn is in today in spite of their righteous past. On the other hand, in spite of what they see as our horrendous past, today, we enjoy the support of 55% of the population. Of course they prefer to dwell in the past; to date their majority has dwindled to a miserable 40% minority. These are the facts that the two gentlemen try to ignore. Because those facts hurt Sylvana, tkomplix tpaxxihom.
Since when asking a few simple questions grounds for one to seek legal advice? Since when do you have the right to make accusations against your former employer (now defunct) and the former NP Treasurer, the late Mr. Stellini, while suppressing my right to ask questions? If your answers to my questions are negative, then say so and for my lack of interest in digging deeper, then I have to accept them as such. After all, it was you who brought up the subject of your dismissal.
Both your former employer and Mr. Stellini cannot state their case, therefore we can only hear your side of the story, can we?
I never implied anything by asking. It is your reaction which raises doubts about an incomplete picture and unfortunately one cannot piece together the rest.
If you were unjustly treated, and I don't really care by whom, you had legal remedies which you appear not to have used, meta l-froga kienet ghada friska! Don't blame me for it.
May I assure you, Sir, that unlike some, I have never been a fanatic about politics. I have my opinion and I respect other people’s opinion, a right which each and every Maltese citizen is entitled to. BUT to suffer an injustice because of one’s political belief is cruel indeed! Having someone rubbing salt into the wound by portraying the Perpetrator as being a defender of human rights is even worse!!!
Their political gospel is founded on manipulation of events, twisting of facts and misinformation. They claim 'recorded facts' only when it pleases them. I asked these gentlemen who play 'knowing all' about their views of the persecution that Lord Strickland and his family had to endure and suffer because of the "Terrinu manipulated story". As expected these gentlemen played 'deaf and dumb'.
Of course these gentlemen play deaf and dumb to your sufferings and that of others because of your political beliefs. Hundreds and hundreds suffered inumerable injusticies and psycological violence under various PN Adminstrations, as you did.! Hundreds are still waiting for juctice even after they won their cases at our local courts!
Of course, they play deaf and dumb to the present 'unaccpetable situations' and 'wrong doings' of GonziPN. Truth terrifies them!!!
Sir, human rights only seem to have been ‘re-established’. Actions speak louder than words.
Mr Martinelli, if you so much as dare insinuate that I was “disruptive at work”; that you “suspect there must be another side to the story which” I am not telling you; or that I was “kept in employment during the Socialist years simply because I was a Mintoffjana and not entirely based on Performance”, I will have to seek legal advice.
Finally, Mr Martinelli, the late Joe Stellini (your Party’s ex-Treasurer) was “dumb enough to give me the reason”. You appear to be quite acquainted with your Party. Well, maybe, you may decide to ask one of your Ministers, namely the Hon. Dr. Tonio Borg to enlighten you on the case.
THEN I WOULD EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM YOU, SIR!!
Nikita, if you so wish to show these gentlemen the true picture of this Government, you are welcome to contact me and I may show you some very interesting documentation!!!
Who employed you after Mid-Med fired you because you were a Mintoffjana? What year was that?
Did you sue for wrongful dismissal? You don't come across as the type to take anything lying down. You were within your rights to fight for your job especially since it seems like this incident happened after 1987 when human rights were reestablished after a sixteen year absence.
Dismissing an employee due to her political beliefs does not sound right unless, of course, you were disruptive at work. It makes even less sense after you stated that you had provided years of sterling service with Barclays Bank and Mid-Med. I suspect there must be another side to the story which you are not telling us.
Your political beliefs must have been known for years before your dismissal, so, conversely, were you kept in employment during the Socialist years simply because you were a Mintoffjana and not entirely based on your performance?
Who, within a business such as a bank would be dumb enough to give you the reason for your dismissal as being your political beliefs?
Try harder Sylvana.
SIR, I STATE FACTS!! I CHALLENGE YOU TO DENY THESE FACTS!!! COME ON, SIR!!!
During the 1971 electoral campaign GBO, by way of his power of incumbency, employed more grave diggers than we had human remains at the Addollorata Cemetery. Mintoff had enough guts to tell the 800 workers that when Labour gets elected they will all get the sack. Mintoff won and the 800 workers, who bartered their vote for a job,got the sack . What do you see wrong in that?
During the 1987 election KMB employed 8000 workers which according to you and the PN were illegally hired, what did your precious PN do to put right an illegal situation? They created their own style of a Labour Corp which they called the Auxiliary Workers Scheme and took them all in.
@Giov de Martino
You’re Question “Isn't it also true that Richard Muscat could not return to his country MALTA because he had critisized the govt of the day?”
My Answer, No this is not true absolutely.
Your second question. “And is it not also true that a certain M. Frendo had been taken to court and sued for libel because he had looked threateningly ()!!!!!!!!) at the President?”
My answer. Give us a rough indication of the date of the alleged libel case, the full text of the indictment and then you may ask the question. Making funny faces or giving a threatening look are not grounds for a libel case. Tesagerahom wisq l-affarijiet Giovan biex ikunu kredibbli.
Isn't it also true that you, living in Malta have no idea what conditions are overseas? The locals complain about high taxes, high energy costs, rising cost of living, a few lost jobs, the government, the church, the beaches, the roads, - the everything!
Compare to pay cuts, high(er) income taxes, heating and cooling costs, doubling costs of energy, higher food prices across the board, higher gasoline prices, property taxes, annual license fees, driving license fees, thousands of lost jobs and plant closings, roads which have not been maintained for years and crumbling infrastructure.
No matter which party governs, people complain anyway and usually are those who do not bother to vote and the church is only mentioned when some scandal surfaces.
It is about time that people appreciate what they have and refrain from looking at the greener mirage on the other side of the fence.
Malta is a great place to live, believe me, and had I not grown deep roots here making it near impossible to start fresh (again) at my age, I would eagerly swap places with you.
"This is very often confirmed by what foreigners and Maltese living abroad have to say." Why should this be? We should hear what the LOCALS have to say because these are the ones who are feeling the pinch!
As for your arguments regarding Richard Muscat and the leader of the opp., are you also prepared, Sir, to mention termination of employments perpetrated post the 1987 elections, because of political belief?!!!!
It’s very that that the film Raid on Entebbe was censored. But isn’t it also true that during that same period Sofia Loren could not visit Italy, her native country because if she did she would have got arrested because she married Carlo Ponti,a divorcee? Isn’t it also true that during a PN Government on two different occasions they stopped my then favourite magazine’ The Picture Goer’ because it carried portrait of Kim Novak wearing Bikini. I can go on ad infinitum but what’s the point.
Your big mistake is that you are comparing standards of 40 years ago with todays.
Referendums are not won or lost by the number of abstentions but simply by the number of votes FOR versus votes AGAINST. It is useless to give reasons for the abstentions because the answer is always speculative.
The EU referendum is a perfect example when one side tried to interpret the abstentions as part of the No vote and only after some four years was the result reluctantly accepted.
Had the argument any validity I am certain that the Constitutional Court would have been approached for a ruling.
The reference to the referendum is alien to the topic of this blog which is titled: Are we really Europeans?
The answer, to me, is quite obvious and based on a Maltese age old adage which goes something like this: Dejjem hares lejn min hu ahjar minnek'. When it comes to stability, personal wealth, democracy and economic expansion, we had no alternative but to look Northwards. Our culture, may indeed be a hodgepodge of half a dozen or so influences but it is the one from immediately North of us which we seem to have long embraced.
We have always been Europeans at heart, now, in fact and by right.
There is no better place than Malta? The Philippines and Malta are the last two Countries without the divorce laws.
Registered Voters 297,881
Cast Votes (90.9%) 270,650
Valid Votes (98.5%) 266,722
Invalid Votes (1.5%) 3,928
Votes in Favour 143,094 ( 53.6% of those who chose to vote, voted Yes)
Votes Against 123,628 ( 46.4% of those who chose to vote, voted No )
NO ONE CAN DENY THE ABOVE FACTS! However these FACTS can be read and translate in different ways! A conservative mind translates it one way, a progressive mind translates it in another way, and biased minds translate it through their deafness and blindness of facts.
It is a FACT that the EU Referendum was won if one totally ignores the Facts that a good number of voters didn't care to vote and another good number didn't care if Malta becomes an EU Member or not and chose to invalidate their vote.
Facts tell us that:
48.04% of those eligible to vote, voted YES
41.50% of those eligible to vote, voted NO
10.46% of those eligible to vote, just didn't bother to vote or invalidated their vote.
I dare to say that the 10.46% were the winners ,,, they decided all! God Bless them all!
" I strongly believe that this newspaper is duty-bound to furnish readers with literature coming from both PL and PN. It is only this way that it may call itself as an indepent newspaper!"
I fully agree with you.
If only the Moderators are equally fair to comments made by NP. PL, AN. AD and others.
Often, in this paper, on other blogs, all it takes for my comments to mysteriously fail to appear or immediately disappear, is to mention two made-to-fail-banks and the protagonists behind the decisions taken at the time and the disposal of the banks' assets.
This is not revealing something not previously heard of and as a matter of fact there are still thousands who are patiently waiting for a partial settlement on the millions they collectively lost.
Europe might better be described as a series of overlapping cultures. Whether it is a question of West as opposed to East; Christianity as opposed to Islam; many have claimed to identify cultural fault lines across the continent. There are many cultural innovations and movements, often at odds with each other, such as Christian proselytism or Humanism. Thus the question of "common culture" or "common values" is far more complex than we like it to be.
As regards other comments, I strongly believe that this newspaper is duty-bound to furnish readers with literature coming from both PL and PN. It is only this way that it may call itself as an indepent newspaper!
Nikita has a song to sing and her heart, like mine, beats on the left; if you value democracy you would love and should encourage freedom of expression even if the song doesn’t sound so melodious to your ears. Treat this as you would a juke box, play your favourite song, enjoy it and listen also to other selections. You will find that diverse opinion is not so bad after all.
No - Very incorrect . Just above a 50% of the voters felt that the Maltese and Malta were prepared for Europe. If it was without a shadow of doubt at least 67% would have voted in favour.
Check out the electoral commission's web for verification purposes - but beware it too may be incorrect - bear in mind that they sadly erased 1000 votes and possibly more without any valid reason.
It's the same principle that I have that Nationalist propaganda blogs shouldn't be in existence on what is supposedly an 'independent newspaper' website
Good question Nikita. By the way are you the same Niki Alamango who, before the last election, formed part of a circle of letter writers who submitted their comments to this paper and others, condemning the government for every thing it had done the previous five years?
Going back to the question, one has to be naive to ever think that joining the EU would solve every problem we had and that manna in the form of euros would descend from heaven. The NP never preached such fantasy while the (M)LP tried to convince the majority to stay away because joining the EU would spell disaster.
Changing course after joining the EU is not an overnight exercise and five years is but getting used to doing things the European way, a far improvement over the haphazard way we did things not so long ago.
The environment was put on the front burner to the extent that today we question every piece of equipment which can possibly emit hazardous substances.
We have some ways to go yet, in many areas, but arrive we will.
i just send you a facebbok request
contd...
It's true that the so called "conservatives" i.e. the PN got us into the EU. To my mind, a "progressive" party should have been in favour of full membership but it is a waste of time to keep discussing this ad nauseam. Today there is no discussion on EU membership. What we should be discussing is how to get the best of EU membership and how to be more "European". Being more "european" does not mean being against basic civil liberties such as divorce and it does not mean hiding away from the fact that we need to enact laws on party financing. That said, I would be cautious with the "progressivi" label because we know that certain progressive parties in Europe are also in favour of gay marriage and abortion. We should strive for progressive ideas but with a moderate approach.
Religious discrimination is ripe - everyone is expected to be Roman Catholic - so a man dressed as Jesus in Carnival is given a suspended sentence. Working mothers (or mothers to be) are still too cautious in advancing in their career having little social backup (rather they are frowned upon for being "bad" mothers and/or wives). Gays are still struggling for basic rights and issues like divorce and condoms are still being debated!
The above is not so, especially if it fuels the "progressivi" agenda. The intelligent blogger knows it. This is an instrumental use of our recent past political history for a future political agenda, nothing more. The widely accepted truth is that most people voted according to their party allegiance and according to party indoctrination. Or should we doubt that Eddie Fenech Adami, "missier Malta Ewropea", subscribed to the agenda provided above?
Those that today subscribe to it back then where applauding Alfred Sant as their great leader. I remember Sant as being fervently opposed to Malta's adhesion to the EU to the point of leading him to the deluded idea of "Partnership Rebaħ". So the truth is that someone back then or right now was or is incoherent.
Was it the "conservatives" that got us into the EU or the "progressivi" that wanted us out? Probably the latter, for the PN sought the EU as Maltese and Europeans. Oh, "Europeans" is not synonymous to "progressivi".