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Arrigo critical of Air Malta’s leadership
Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo says previous government’s expenditure should not have been spent on ‘frivolous’ project.
9 April 2013, 12:00am
Miriam Dalli
Miriam Dalli
2 min read
PN MP Robert Arrigo.
Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo has voiced strong opposition to the position held by Peter Davies, chief executive officer at Air Malta.
In his preamble, the MP made it clear that his speech had been prepared four months ago but he never had the chance to deliver it.
Arrigo told the House that he did not agree with certain government expenditure carried out by the PN administration, money which he said should have gone towards financing the health sector rather then spent on "the frivolous" project, ostensibly referring to the building of a new parliament.
But the MP's speech was also highly critical of the role occupied by Peter Davies at Air Malta, insisting that if it hadn't been for the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta's national airline would have failed.
"Air Malta is not proactive in creating jobs and if it hadn't been for the initiatives undertaken by the Malta Tourism Authority, the national airline would have never found its footing," he said.
"With its arrogance and wrong work practices, Air Malta would have never survived without MTA."
Without referring to him by name, Arrigo also criticised the working policy of Air Malta's CEO Peter Davies.
With a salary package of €350,000 and an additional €150,000 performance bonus, Davies works on a four-day basis with the remaining three days spent abroad.
"We don't want people working on a four day week or who don't answer their emails during the rest of the week," Arrigo said, adding that during his working days "he wants to shoot films as well".
Himself a tourism operator, Arrigo said the national airline could be a success if it was led by capable and dedicated people, "without finding any ministerial interference" when it comes to awarding contracts.
Arrigo said the airline underwent four years of continuous records, which must not be taken for granted.
"This is a highly volatile market and I urge government to work hard and retain the MTA's strong position. Government should take care of MTA and push Air Malta to start taking care of the market."
He also urged the government to retain the balance between low-cost carriers and the national airline.
Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...
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Can mr arrigo ask mr davies how in one year layed off 500airmalta workers through VRS/ERS schemes and during the same year employed 500 new workers in various sections like checkin,groundhandling,cargo,cabincrew,engineering.
Now that is a very mysterious exlanation!!
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I am the guy who will never ever let any politician into my home whether Red or Blue. This, Mr Arrigo and others can confirm. However, I think that Mr Arrigo seems to be the only politician from the blue side who has his head in the right place and always talks sense, for which I laud him.
Rita Pizzuto •
Well done Mr Arrigo. But this is too little an certainly much too late. I cannot understand why when the PN was in power it took so many wrong decisions re Air Malta, yet nobody from the then government side dared lift a finger to criticise the workings. i now also suggest to the minister in the new government responsible for Air Malta to investigate the situation, particularly in certain important delicate sectors, and also to study what contribution the foreign so-called consultants are giving. For them it is more a paid-up holiday of a few days in Malta. Their contribution is close to nil. Ask the workers who really want to work and they will let you know what these foreigner consultants' contribution really is. There also needs to be a one for all, all for one attitude among the workers for Air Malta to survive
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Mhux siehbek gabu lil Davis!!!!
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nista nkun naf xi qieghed jistenna l onorevoli karmenu vella biex jitfa lil dan davies il barra u mieghu john vella u george sammut.dawn bil kummiedji taghom ghat tejatru tajbin u mhux biex imexxu linja ta l ajru nazzjonali!!!!
Joseph MELI •
We have part-time ,long distance leadership Of Air Malta who are still operating with losses despite all the spin -just less losses.
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Top paying posts whose remuneration is considered exorbitant are being revised and amended. So should Mr Peter Davies's pay package and those of his foreign aides should also be looked into and revised.
A thorough examination of the contracts entered into with these gentlemen should also be scrutinized. If at all possible these people should be replaced by individuals the like of Mr Louis Grech, today Deputy PM. During his tenure as chairman of Air Malta the airline always registered a profit.
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Jiena PL min tas-Sliema.Pero grazzi Robert talli dejjem tkellimt anki favur tas-Sliema. ragel ta din l-esperjenza ma tantx ser jitnejku bih l-anqas l-inglisi tal Air Malta. Ara vera misthija kif Tonio Fenech ta dan il-pakett lil bniedem li l-anqas jaf malta ezatti fejnha. b'dak il-prezz seta jimpjega team full-time team ta sitt Maltin ta stoffa vera, li jhobbu lil pajjizhom u mhux mohhom fil-boutique hotel.
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Veru ftit tard Onor imma kif jghidu ..ahjar tard inkella qatt.Min hawn nghid li naqbel ma dak kollu li qal s sur Arrigo u jentieg li illum qabek ghada dawn il barranin li qeghdin jiekluwa sewwa min fuq darna jigu mibdula mil Maltin.Dawn ma ghandhom xejn specjali.
Kuragg
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Another 'in-house' certificate of competence to Tonio Fenech.
Do you think that Tonio will put this certificate on the wall or post it in his CV. I am sure that he does not need to.
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Part 2 : Mr Arrigo if you really mean what you say ask Joseph Muscat to include you in any body set up to save the Airline and to help in the tourism sector. Even if this is not approved by a future PN leader, especially Simon who is only seeking to divide and rule again.
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Let us remind Mr ARRIGO that it was he who compared gonzi to Sir Alex Fergusson "taht-it-Tinda". Why didn't he make his 4 month old speech then instead of glorifying gonzi to high heaven like the North Koreans do their leaders. For all the years you spent in p-olitics Mr Arrigo you are still wet behind the ears.
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Proset Mr Arrigo,well done and said.
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Dear Mr. Davies personaly I feel that you should resign as Air Malta's CEO the earliest possible since you are not worthed half the wage you are getting vanish from our contry your are stealing our money and wasting our precious time. shame on you
