I read James Debono’s interview (May 4) with my good friend Dr Toni Abela.
Dr Abela knows that although we have been close friends for decades, I will never allow him to get away scot-free with anything he says about eurosceptics and EU membership. Dr Abela’s reference to Malta’s EU membership as being “sealed as a grave. It’s an irrevocable decision,” is one of those instances.
If Malta’s membership is “sealed as a grave”, then it should not be that long before it is reopened! Graves are never sealed for ever, dear Tony! There is also that well-know saying: “Never Say Never”, remember? I am sure that my good friend has many contacts in the United Kingdom and also follows the British press and the opinion polls published therein. So I suppose he has read the result of an opinion poll carried out on January 23/24 2008, in which respondents were given three choices:
1) Would you prefer the UK to remain in the EU and take part in more economic and political integration?
2) Would you prefer the UK to get out of the EU completely?
3) Would you prefer the UK to have a relationship with the EU with less ties to the EU and based on commerce and cooperation while refusing to take part in a political and economic union?
The result of this poll showed that: 21% want the UK to remain in the EU and take part in more economic and political integration; 24% want the UK to get out of the EU; 50% want an agreement with the EU based on commerce and cooperation.
This shows that 74% of British citizens are against the present UK-EU ties. Would Dr Abela consider 74% of the British people as “not knowing what they are talking about”? Incidentally it has just been announced on April 22 that an EU-sceptic Member of the House of Commons, ex-Conservative member Dr Bob Spink, has joined UKIP which wants the UK to get out of the EU and negotiate an EFTA-like agreement with the EU.
It is really a pity that in Malta, due mostly to political expediency, the Maltese people are being denied the true picture of how EU membership is affecting our daily lives and our country. I will mention just one instance which is very relevant in the present spiralling cost of fuel – due to the tax levied on petrol and diesel as laid down by EU rules on top of the actual rise in the price of fuel.
All the Maltese people hear about are stories which almost depict the EU as wonderland. I have always known Dr Abela as a fearless “fighter” for what he truly believes in. I am afraid that he has now fallen into the same mould as most politicians, party officials and those who aspire to a political career or appointment. They do not dare publicly express what they truly believe, but what is politically expedient. Privately, of course, they speak differently.
This is what makes eurosceptics so different. They can afford to speak their own mind and reveal all about Malta’s EU membership. No Tony, we eurosceptics know what we are talking about because we enjoy the freedom of being able to say it. Besides, Dr Abela must know that the vast majority of Labourites at heart are still eurosceptics although they have accepted EU membership as a fact of life now. Any attempt to depict Labour as more “European” than President Barroso could alienate MLP’s core supporters and prove counter-productive.
Eddy Privitera
Mosta
What hunters really want
First of all I wish to thank MaltaToday for publishing my letter “It’s not the EU – it’s us” on 23 March even without making any changes in it. Other newspapers make any changes they like. I also wish to thank publicly this angel who listens and writes for me because I am too old to write.
Recently a dominant headline on the front page of a newspaper said, “Hunters want early ruling”. That is a big lie! It is not a ruling they want because they never promised to accept it if it says no spring hunting. I will not even read the article because it may make me sick, like when vandalism or bullying or overcharging takes place.
The caption on the front page is sick enough. We all know what the hunters want they want everything. They even want Malta to re-open negotiations with the EU to allow them to kill birds even in Spring. They want to use politicians who are stupid enough to give them secret promises. They told us that they will give us their message on election day, and they told us that if some hunters decide to break the law they will not tell them to stop. They tell us that there are only a few hotheads amongst them but these few hotheads are never caught. They appear to be more protected than the protected birds they kill.
This is a hundred times worse than bull-fighting because at least the bull has a chance to hit back. We already know what they want so there was no need for that headline on the front page of a newspaper unless they are helping them. On election day we did not understand the message they promised. Probably it was the Maltese people who gave the hunters a message. How can any sensible Maltese person accept that such a small minority of hunters occupies such a large area of our small countryside even in spring!
Even the word “hunter” is a big lie. A hunter is a person who needs to hunt for food for a living, and to eat or go hungry. Many years ago the MLP made sure that nobody goes hungry for food. Now we are very hungry to enjoy the little countryside that we have, so that it is not built up with concrete and shooting-hides, or closed-off with RTOs and illegal barriers.
If the so-called hunters are only a small percentage (5%) why should they occupy the largest part of the countryside? Now we have 69 members of parliament and we do not need to wait for the EU to tell us what to do. The hunters can have a very early ruling because all it takes is for a very open vote in our parliament. The very open vote has to be that every MP will vote so openly that we will know how each one of them votes on this issue. We will know openly if the majority of the MPs are working for the majority of the Maltese people or for the minority.
Giuseppi Borg
St Vincent de Paule
Curia’s lame defence
I should like to think that Mr Charles Buttigieg, the local Curia’s PRO, must have felt uncomfortable issuing our Bishops’ statement in defence of their stance regarding the Armier squatters (Malta Today, 18 May 2008).
“It is its (the Church’s) mission to provide for the spiritual needs also of persons who may have had had or may be accused of having problems with the law”, he says. Hardly a novel explanation. The Curia has chosen to leave Dr Gonzi holding the (illegitimate) baby. It does not consider the Armier issue any of its business. And yet most of us do feel, and strongly, that this is a double case of social injustice: committed first by the squatters and then by the Prime Minister who gave them his blessing.
We all know about, and approve of, the religious services provided to prisoners; but then these are paying a heavy price for their brush with the law. The squatters, on the other hand, are enjoying the fruits of their theft and denying the real owners the enjoyment of same. Moreover, why does the Bishops’ statement end with “problems with the law” (by which we all understand state law)? What about moral laws, which are the real remit of the Church?
When we were little children, priests hammered into our heads that if we steal we have to give back the stolen goods and that only then do we give proof of our repentance? Or is all this old hat in the 21st century? Could it be that this does not apply to public property? Mr Buttigieg could refer these simple questions to his superiors and let us know their answers. One accepts that the Curia’s mission includes ministering to those with problems with the law; it is also its mission, we hold, to explain to us why this particular problem with the law does not amount to theft.
The PRO proceeds with “Liturgical pastoral ministry in any given setting in itself goes beyond the approval or disapproval of the behaviour of the congregation or part of the congregation”. Nothing new here either; one presumes, however, that liturgical pastoral ministry, besides saying Mass, includes also the explanation to malefactors of the wrongness of their deed, and the repetition of this explanation for as long as there are no signs of repentance. This ministry also entails the administration of the sacraments. Now, divorcees, cohabiting couples, and gays who are at peace with themselves about their state (one may wish to read ‘unrepentant’) are not absolved or given Holy Communion; so, are unrepentant thieves a privileged category?
Why doesn’t the Curia wash its hands clean of this affair and stop the service? It would give a clear signal of its stance on this intolerable squatting problem. Is it worried that the zealous Armier faithful might not want to make the 5-minute sacrifice-drive to Mellieha in their 4x4 motors? Such a move could also clarify a thing or two to our spiritual leaders.
Sad to say, the Curia’s statement furnishes us with only one half of what its mission is; it left out the other half, the one we were waiting for. Not exactly an Episcopal explanation; rather a diplomatic, almost a political one.
Professor Victor Axiak (Chairperson of the Curia’s Environmental Commission), on the other hand, spoke plainly. And all Maltese who are being deprived of the right to enjoy swathes of our finest beaches taken over illegally, and immorally, by squatters are infinitely grateful for his diplomatic, but clear messages as well as for all that his Commission is doing to drive home certain “basic truths to all those concerned”. The italics are mine, but the interpretation of these words is surely not only mine.
Joseph Agius
St Paul’s Bay
An open letter to the PM concerning Armier
Dear Hon. Prime Minister, I felt compelled to express my condemnation and to vehemently protest at your expressed intention (accordingly to a local newspaper article published in MaltaToday on 20 April) to legalize that which is intrinsically and inherently illegal, i.e. to grant legal status to the illegal ramshackle compartments which are an eyesore and an environmental hazard at the once beautiful bay of “Armier”.
My protestations are based on the following reasons:
1) As you are aware, this shantytown was built on what used to be a picturesque bay; was constructed on public land without any legal permits issued by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), and is outside the areas marked for development. This land, as the name implies, does not belong just to you or your government, but pertains to all the people of Malta for their enjoyment and to be enjoyed by visitors to our Islands.
2) The fact that your government and former governments failed to halt the illegal structures which gradually took over this beautiful area of Malta does not justify the action to make these ramshackle compartments legal.
3) Your promise to render legitimacy to these illegal constructions just before the general elections, is, in my humble opinion, a clear case of electoral corruption. Considering the fact that your party has been elected by a hairline majority of just 1,500 votes, and the petition obtained by squatters/criminals who have snatched this land from the general public numbered about 3,000, renders your recently elected government to be considered as being undemocratically elected.
4) Moreover, this illegality of obtaining votes to the detriment of democratic principles goes contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Malta, EU Laws and Regulations, the defunct Constitution of European Union (rejected by certain countries of the EU), and the recently enacted EU politicians’ treaty.
5) The great majority of the law abiding citizens of Malta (and EU citizens), have toiled hard to purchase their habitats. It is most unfair that such a small minority of criminals who snatched and spoiled pristine public land for their own selfish personal use, are regaled with ownership of public land to the general public’s detriment.
6) Your intention to legalize the subject illegal constructions encourages further illegalities. It is obvious, that once you take this illicit action, other criminals, will be encouraged to emulate the example of the present squatters, and usurp public land for their selfish needs, and expect the same treatment. Moreover, by condoning this illegal act, would not this make you accessory to the crime of public property theft? Our country is fast becoming an anarchic state whereby the law is ignored, and criminality booms.
In the face of such an anomalous climate, which is rendering our island worse than a banana republic, it grieves me to see my country of birth going to the dogs. I feel so devastated by your intended and the prevailing illegal activities that I am compelled to report this matter to most of the environmentally conscious Members of the European Parliament unless you make a public statement to rectify these anomalies. If you persist in your illegal action, I will be taking legal action in our local law courts (albeit in which I have no faith), and submit my complaint in the form of a petition to the European Union.
Raymond Sammut
Mellieha
Pastoral services for squatters
May I introduce myself as one who does not approve of the illegal squatters wherever they may settle, be it on public or private land.
Whatever is illegal should be illegal to anyone. I do not agree however that pastoral services should be denied to these persons. My question is, with the same reasoning, should we deprive pastoral services to Illegal Immigrants?
In my opinion I do not think we should.
Louis J Galea
Naxxar
MLP’s long and winding road
The long and winding road for the Malta Labour Party towards Castille in 2013 will begin on June 5 2008, when the election for the new leader is held.
At a glance, the title might be seemed to be far-fetched or controversial, because the Malta Labour Party in the March 8 General Elections was only 1,580 votes away from power. I must say straight away, this figure does not really show the actual position between the two big parties. Because both the Nationalist Party and the Malta Labour Party should delve deeper to get at least a glimpse where they stood with those eligible voters who chose to stay away from the polling booths. They numbered in the thousands, and just guessing what kept them away will be no solution.
The problem must be tackled directly with the concerned individual to try and understand why they have chosen not to cast their vote. I will not rush and say, they were all potential Nationalist voters, and so the MLP could sit pretty.
The new MLP leader, whoever he or she might be, must give priority to what really happened on March 8, guided by the analysis, hopefully, soon to be finished by the independent commission chosen by the National Executive into the reasons while the MLP suffered the third consecutive defeat in the general elections.
The situation in 2013 would not be rosier, even with a new leader. GonziPN would do everything to cling to power, and the last general elections amply showed us that by incumbency and all, by the ever-ending factions we kept reading that dominated the Pieta’ Headquarters, the PN still managed to spin itself to retain power.
So the new leader and the team around him, which I hope will include the other valid candidates for the vacant top position at the Mile End Headquarters, must find a way to beat the GonziPN at its own game.
Obviously, a party in Opposition has no power of incumbency, but with a clear, credible and moderate but progressive strategy, could manage to recover what has been lost in the March 8 general elections and turn defeat into victory. The common denominator of all this is: positive attitude.
The way forward is for the Opposition to support the Government in any initiative that is in Malta’s best interest. More than a negative reaction to what the Government could be doing, it would pay to show that things could be improved upon and offer better solutions how certain challenges could be overcome. The MLP’s attitude on how Malta could through its co-operation get better deals with the European Union is paramount. Likewise, it is also important that along with the Government, an effort is done to ease any burdens resulting from the obligations our country will have to face as part of the EU membership.
The MLP did have valid proposals in its General Election manifesto and so a way should be found to try and win the Government support to be implemented.
One clear case is the regeneration of the Grand Harbour. This could be done jointly. A step in this direction would be to weigh what both the MLP and PN have been proposing and reach a comprehensive plan to the quickest and efficient development of such regeneration.
Yes, a difference of 1,580 votes did determine which party remained in government and in opposition. But such a difference should spur both sides to realise that more or less, we literally have a national government. And so an arrogant attitude on the part of the winner and negative characteristics on the part of the loser will lead us nowhere, then a status quo of a small nation divided into two different tribes; the blues and the reds.
It is time to grow up. It is our duty to show the younger generation that there is a way, we could live and develop further our islands together. Yes, ‘Flimkien kollox possibbli’. And so let us really give ‘bidu gdid’ to the way of doing politics.
Both Government and Oppositon should try to create a more positive way on how the voters look at their strategies. No more spinning please. No more ‘Mistra spin valleys’. Everybody should be accountable, carry his duties with full responsibility, and all should be done for certain controversial reforms to be performed in the best interest of the nation, rather than the party.
Okay, perhaps I am day-dreaming of making out of Malta and Gozo a heaven on earth, but with more maturity, credibility and sense of pride, Government and Opposition could certainly make our islands more pleasant to all: by fairer distribution of wealth, encouraging new investments, private initiatives and while showing solidarity to those who might be lagging behind. Let us make sure of having the right ways to control abuses in social services, evasion of taxes, and most of all, zero tolerance to corruption.
We should strive that tomorrow’s Government will be governing a better Malta and Gozo than they are today. Despite the long and winding road to power, the Malta Labour Party could still move forward by being positive rather than militant.
Saviour Cachia,
Marsaskala
Matthew Vella’s Sweeping Statements
In MaltaToday of May 25, junior journalist Matthew Vella chooses to attack my style after interpreting very badly a report on the MLP defeat. I can assure Mr Vella that the persons who drew up that report have known me for several years and I know exactly what they think about my style - which is very different from Mr Vella’s emotional, sporadic opinion. He may wish to ask them directly, if he likes.
Actually I also have my opinion about Mr Vella’s style, but I never like to discourage a budding journalist who may one day start to write well.
Whenever Mr Vella wishes, he may meet me and we can discuss style. I am leaving my telephone numbers with the editor.
Dr Anthony Licari
Swieqi
Serata Dantesca
With reference to letters in the press, written by Mr Alfred Palma, I would like to point out that the distribution to the audience, during the Serata Dantesca, of a Maltese translation of the last Canto of Dante’s ‘Paradiso’ was not an initiative of the University of Malta. We do not know who distributed the text or whether it was indeed the text of Mr Palma’s translation.
Patricia Camilleri
Director
Communications & Alumni Relations Office
University of Malta
The Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando show
Where politics are concerned there is no doubt that the man in the street is talking about one subject. Whether one is a Labourite or a Nationalist, the case of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is on everyone’s lips. Even certain PN activists are of firm conviction that cry baby Jeffrey should resign. With regard to the past election the Nationalist Party won with just over 1,500 votes, and the party secretary general Joe Saliba admitted that the case of Pullicino Orlando nearly contributed to a PN defeat at the polls. Nobody will be surprised when I say that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has been pressured to resign by various VIP’s who play a political role in the field of politics. The man will not resign though. The man is adamant to stay “there”. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando will not bow his head in shame and cower like a dog which has just tattered his master’s bedroom slippers. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando will not give up his seat in parliament, after being a cry baby for a while, Jeffrey has new metamorphosed into Russell Crowe playing gladiator. I am convinced that Jeffrey will “fight” this battle to the end, whichever way that may turn out. Jeffrey keeps repeating that before the election he made a clean breast of things and cleared up everything with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and hid absolutely nothing from the latter. Of course nobody can comment on what was said between the prime minister and himself, or whether Jeffrey lied when he said that the prime minister was told everything, because the only person who can vouch for what Jeffrey said is Dr Gonzi himself. What if Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Even so, will that not make the Prime Minister an accomplice refusing to reveal the “crime” performed by cry baby Jeffrey? At this moment in time, there is sufficient knowledge to state that the prime minister is in a fix. Should JPO be found “guilty” and asked to resign, will he state that the prime minister knew from A to Z about the case and kept mum, thus incriminating himself? If then again the prime minister will state that JPO did not tell “all” to him, will this make JPO so mad as to take it out on the prime minister and the cabinet members who are now leaving Jeffrey to fight his battles alone?
Only time will tell. What actually will happen makes MLP supporters front-row spectators to a Machiavellian drama which is taking place. The outcome? Who knows?
Valerie Borg
Valletta
Dr Gonzi: are we fools?
I wonder whether Dr Lawrence Gonzi takes us Maltese to be fools or if he thinks we are on another planet hearing something totally different? If you do not follow the inconsistency of our Prime Minister in his speeches you conclude that he is a preacher; but then you realise that Dr Gonzi changes contexts according to the audience before him. During the PN general conference he speaks in a way, in front of the journalists in another, during a meeting on the Granaries in another and so forth and so forward. Dr Gonzi: are we fools?
During the election campaign we used to think he is a superman because he had all the solutions for the country’s problems. Now that the election is over the story has changed but the problem was not created by his government but from abroad. It happened whilst he was deputy prime minister when he used to state that the national debt was a joke; but after the election we were sinking like the Titanic.
During his speech in the general conference on Sunday it was reported that he is asking the Opposition to change politics. He wants to adopt a new way of doing things. But is he the same person that chose Louis Galea as Speaker? Is he the same person that put his personality to over Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s back? Is he the same person presenting the pairing agreement as a take-it-or-leave-it issue? Is he the same person that claimed he is going to choose his teams indifferent of their political beliefs? I think we were on another planet and these are all fairy tales.
Dr Gonzi your party is trying to make a show of the MLP happenings (which in part I do not blame you for) but are you sure you want us to believe that all is well on your side? Dr Gonzi we are not fools, and one plus one is easy to make: do not forget that more than 50 per cent of the country did not want this government and with all those pre-election efforts, your victory did not result in a 50% plus majority. Most of the people are disgusted at the way you parties do politics and the man in the street is fed up with the arrogance that government treats with. Dr Gonzi… we are not fools.
A few days ago the PN was stating that MLP is heading for a leader that is still young and not experienced, but now it is bouncing the news that Simon Busuttil MEP is being pushed for secretary-general. Is he not young? Is he not inexperienced for that role? Of course, not because he is on the PN side – if it was on the other side, Dr Gonzi would state that had the matter been up to him he would call it a new way of doing politics. Dr Gonzi please stop treating us as fools.
Ramon Muscat
Via email
Reaction to unprovoked attacks
It is painful for anybody, let alone Dr Alfred Sant, to be attacked publicly by a leader contender and former colleagues and keep silent. It is enough to be attacked by opponents but by Brutuses is too much! Dr Sant decided to resign from the leadership but not to stop there (sic) and thus abandon the MLP.
He promised to help where and when necessary and kept silent and was admired. But he will surely not accept to be trampled over.
Who tries to overpower a bee busy collecting nectar from a flower can only expect to be stung. Who plays with fire gets burned.
Francis Farrugia
Ta’ Xbiex
Falconry centre
Having just read your article dated 3rd June 2007, a year later has shown just what a success this centre is. I was pleased to see many olive trees were in pots waiting to be included in the planting scheme. I visited the Centre last week with a group of friends and enjoyed the demonstration along with a group of delightful school girls from St. Dorothy’s and quite a few tourists. To spend a morning sitting on green grass seeing the Maltese falcon, Harrier hawks etc. has to be better than driving past a new block of empty apartments for sale. Regards Margaret Cremona.
marcre@onvol.net
Editorial note: The point of the story a year ago was that the falconry centre was built illegally. It was later legalised by MEPA.
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