Saviour Balzan on Sunday • 17 November 2002

Toothless dinosaurs

It is sad to see so many elderly Labourites oppose membership, SAVIOUR BALZAN dreams of the day it will all change

Saturday is the day traditionally reserved for deciding what goes in and where on the pages of this newspaper. But yesterday, I found myself chairing an IVA meeting in Valletta. It took me back to the days I militated in Alternattiva Demokratika.

The location chosen, the square in front of Law Courts always guarantees a steady flow of pedestrians and curious tourists and of course the usual posse of Labourites aged over sixty.

They have apparently declared the open air space their territory. They are a garrulous noisy sort, harmless and toothless dinosaurs.

It did not take much for them to start booing and for two short-lived scuffles to erupt.

The yes and no lobby could be identified from the political colour of those present.

The Labourites and the union officials were convinced that becoming European will mean chaos, disaster and in the words of GWU Secretary General Tony Zarb, a shock to this country. He believes that we will not be in a position to handle such a thing.

As the speakers proceeded to raise their voices to the audience about why Europe is such a darn good idea, the chorus of pensioners booed and screamed all sorts of not very witty remarks.

The more favourite comment being the Demarco Lm 100 million gaffe. Even I love that one.

Yet, what saddened me was the tunnel vision of those Labourites especially those over sixty, who continue to believe that Europe is a threat. In Europe the elderly people who reject Europe are stuffy upper class Tories or demented fascists.

I am not quite sure whether theirs is a genuine feeling or yet another ‘follow the eurosceptic and do not ask questions,’ habit.

The real consolation was that the majority of those performing hysterics were elderly people, the younger people were nowhere to be seen. Probably more interested in parading their looks and their dress sense up and down Republic Street.

Having said this, I know that there are many other Labourites who see Europe as the future. I would love to see this change for Labour.

I would love to see the party change tack on this and win the much needed support it cherishes to succeed as an alternative government.

Dalli and the magnet

Mr John Dalli, the ‘darling’ of the Labour media and tax evaders has said in his usual no nonsense style, on the TV discussion programme of former Labour minister Joe Grima on NET that being in Europe will be the magnet for investment.

He has emphasised that if Malta failed to get into the next enlargement, investment would fly over Malta and into the other new countries.

It is something that should be hammered home when we talk of Europe.

Fear comes in all forms, and yet, fear when unleashed will have an impact on all those who are uncertain of the future. It can work both ways.

All I can say is, that there is more certainty in a Europe of 25 nations than in being part of the lonely club of Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Two prices, two standards

This week, in a libel case against this newspaper, former parliamentary secretary and Labour parliamentarian Louis Buhagiar stated in court under oath that he had billed Maltese patients according to locally accepted standards and foreign patients according to international standards! Now, that was refreshing and juicy news.

No wonder Profs Buhagiar is opposing the European Union, he wants the best of both worlds.

Profs Buhagiar could not help alleging that he felt libelled by a plethora of articles which he continues to allege impinges on his integrity and reputation.

Magistrate Dennis Montebello presides over the case. He is a magistrate who has not been in the best of my books. But then, in court when I have seen him in action he has always appeared fair.

And yet, I said to myself, that if we are to fight this one out I’d rather face the music in a courtroom where everyone knows where everyone stands.

3 years old

19 November, 1999 saw the first issue of MaltaToday. It has been three years and we have come a long way.