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Magistrate Dennis Montebello I know. No, do not get me wrong. Years ago in 1991 I revealed how he had built without planning permits at Mgarr ix-Xini. I recounted how the Gozitan Police had taken action against illegal huts at Mgarr ix-Xini but not against Montebello. Montebello was one of the magistrates assigned to Gozo. I also described how Magistrate Carol Peralta was involved indirectly in a glass-blowing factory without a relevant factory licence in Gharb. Now, Carol and Dennis are more than good friends.
I also wrote that Carol was a freemason. Then some Gharb residents filed judicial procedures against Gozo glass and the case appeared, in front of Dennis Montebello.
Well, such is life.
Then the story I wrote about the magistrates was condemned by Anton Refalo, a Gozitan Labour MP, and the body of magistrates.
Years later I refused to pay a Lm5 fine for having blocked His Excellency Richard Cachia Caruana’s who of course insisted on driving into Ta’ Cenc Hotel, in Gozo. Magistrate Peralta converted the fine to one day in prison.
On Wednesday Magistrate Montebello decided that MaltaToday had libelled Louis Buhagiar, a former Labour MP, and meted out the largest fine ever in the history of the Maltese press laws – Lm4,000.
I think that we investigated this report after damning evidence. Now I will not go into the Louis Buhagiar case anymore. I will appeal and so will Kurt Sansone. And though this is fast becoming a fashionable statement, I am serious about this: the attempt to break MaltaToday will not happen.
Not a cent will leave the coffers at MaltaToday and I will gladly spend a year at Kordin, recollecting my thoughts, recharging my batteries for the big bang. MaltaToday will go on and I will kick the dust at Kordin, writing and learning carpentry and noting how Spanish sparrows court and copulate. I also promise to pick up a few stories.
I will not go over the case decided upon by Dennis Montebello. I have other cases in front of this magistrate.
I have to have faith in the system.
When the press laws were reviewed and redesigned by Tonio Borg, none of the media chose to speak up. The Press Club was busy organising prize giving ceremonies with some of its committee members as the recipients of the prizes.
Little do we know that the present press laws are retrograde and gag the free press.
MaltaToday does not carry press releases, or announce the flowerbeds that suddenly sprout to greet President Ciampi, or copy verbatim a report about Brussels from the Internet.
Neither do we publish coffee table magazines bulging with adverts with smiling blondes and effete politicians seeking re-election or copy lines of advertorials from irate advertising executives.
MaltaToday investigates, questions, queries and slams the establishment.
In the coming weeks, MaltaToday readers will be asked a simple question: do you want investigative journalism? Or do you want fluffy advertorials and glossy magazines and a notice board on Sunday?
I glimpsed at PBS on Friday evening and caught David Casa shaking badly with the microphone in his hand, yelling and telling Anna Mallia that the European Constitution had been discussed at executive level in the PN.
Pull the other one David.
When I attended press conferences with David Casa in the bad old times of ‘IVA-let-us-get-a-job-in-Brussels’, he had this ability of saying things that came from nowhere.
If the PN executive discussed the European Constitution it must have been the shortest discussion in the grand history of the Nationalist Party. Or perhaps it was one of those reports that are never presented to the executive.
Urine tests will be obligatory on all women leaving the island, rest assured. Years back during the AIDS scare, Bavaria, led by the CSU – Germany’s answer to the Nationalists in Malta – were close to imposing a blood test for those who were in the high HIV risk segment.
If Tonio Borg wants to unleash his Talibanesque political streak he should impose a urine test for all fertile Maltese females at the MIA and the ports. Not to forget the Marina and Portomaso yachting centre.
If the urine test indicates that they are pregnant before they leave, then they should be obliged on their return to have a second urine test.
And if it is proven that the pregnancy is no more, then the ‘peccatrice’ should be sent to Kordin for her heinous crimes and made to listen to Claudette Pace’s song ‘Desire’.
Lawrence Gonzi has kept a low profile in this Borg campaign, but he cannot any longer. He must intervene and restrain Tonio Borg just in the same way Tonio choked the free press with his archaic press laws.
When Simon and the other four parliamentarians in Brussels voted against the grain in Europe, they proved that to make ends meet everyone needs to work overtime. Okay, before you rush to make use of Europe’s repressive press laws, let me explain.
Anyone who values life will know that it is important that we find that fine balance between work and play. The majority of Europeans know that, the Maltese employed with government know that very well, but the politicians representing them are scared to say what is right.
If we are arguing that to make ends meet we need to work overtime, then truly we are facing a crisis.
The worst indictment has to be posted with the unions. Most unions abroad and in the EU favour a threshold on overtime but here the unions are saying the complete opposite.
This is the mediocrity that Julian Manduca always talked about.
Giovanna Debono, we have heard, is in panic mode. The electoral commission has taken Ghajnsielem away from her. She has know realised that she has a problem that needs solving.
Awake Gozo, for there is a crisis. She could easily solve the problem if she campaigned to have all those who have secondary homes have a special discount on the Gozo channel but not an ID card on their Gozo address. I am sure I would get a brownie point from the six hats English speaking Maltese millionaire Edward Debono.
When it comes to Gozo, Giovanna has always been concerned. But when it comes to her votes she frets and worries like all of us would do when we realise that we have to pay more taxes.
The Nationalist Party, with its brand of very prepared and uniquely attentive political officers, did not see this coming.
What has to be said is that the commission members appointed by the Nationalist Party should have seen these population increases in the electoral districts coming. Strangely all those who uphold their Constitutional obligations are in the wrong according to the PN, including Joe Sammut the Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino the Broadcasting Authority Chairman, Joseph Galea the Auditor General, and now Tony Degabriele the Chief Electoral Commissioner.
It says more about how the Nationalist party thinks of itself as God’s chosen party than the capability of these chairmen, does it not?
Needless to say, the Nationalist Party will not stop ramming down our throats that the nation faces a national crisis with the new proposed electoral districts. To tell you truth, no one could give a flying burp if Giovanna loses votes or not in the next election. But promise me you the next days will see this crisis overtaking every other topic in the country.
I think we should tell them to shut up and get on with the job of trying to run this country.
saviourbalzan@newsworksltd.com
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