Lino Spiteri questions PM's 'double standards' in PBO's VAT oversight

Leading Times opinion writer insists that a “criminal charge is a criminal charge,” when referring to the way Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi brushed away Paul Borg Olivier's admitted VAT return "oversight".

MaltaToday’s revealing story about PN secretary general Paul Borg Olivier who is to face criminal charges for not submitting a VAT return was described as "an attempt to alienate the people's attention," by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Writing in today’s ‘The Times’, former Labour minister Lino Spiteri stressed that “t will be surprising if sibilant voices within the Nationalist Party will not whisper in Dr Gonzi’s ear that there cannot be two weights, two measures, particularly given what took place regarding Mr Dalli and Dr Said, and never mind what’s going on the local councils’ scene.”

He added: “it will not be seen to be enough for the PM to say he did not intervene with the VAT commissioner to stop proceedings against Dr Borg Olivier. It is unthinkable that he would do that.”

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Alfred Galea
Spit and Sejmut, have you heard the one about the Minister of Finance and his "self-employed" maid?? You know, Tonio, Arsenal supporter and philanthropist to old maids.
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Manny, its not worth it.... Jridu jaqilaw iz zibel mil mizbla down South , imma its not worth it gahx ma jafhux fejn joqoghodu
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Stephen Proudfoot
Joe South huwa bla bajt........
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Joe Tanti
Whilst USA had Bob Hope,England have Mr.Bean, we in Malta have no hope in hasbeans like PBO and Gonzi. And so the saga of the PBO/Gonzi tandem goes on ,every day its a new episode of if it wasnt for the damage that being caused to Malta reputation I would call it a comedy of the likes of Laurel and Hardy ,Franco and Ciccio or Bud Abbot and Lou Costello.These two :Wenzinu u Pawlinu have made Malta the laughing stock of Europe.Could be better if they abandoned the political stage for the silverscreen,as stand up comedians they are second to none.I am sure that the comical duo of WENZINU AND PAWLINU will be the rage of Broadway and London West End. Eventually W&P may find time to return to Malta to perform on the Fosos,the birthplace of their illustrious carrier or even better at the Roofless Theatre at Valletta.
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Alfred Galea
Regale us again with their genius. Spit, change your name to Bozo...... Porta, there's enough leeches sucking off the PN Government, they're a cancer themselves.
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Clayton Saliba
Mr Bezzina - it's not just the PN its the whole country PL and others who should know better. I am glad to note you seem dissapointed by the PN, perhaps you'd have expected it from PL ? @ GYK, yes it is quite sad to have to agree , it is Pathetic , sometimes I really wonder why in Malta we have such a large share of people who seem to just live with it and it doesn't bother them - some other nations have their ouwn share too but in Malta the share if off balance.
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Lawrence Covin
What is worrying me is that I notice a polarisation between the state and the Judiciary, akin to what is happening in Italy. This Government is clearly on the ropes, spending more time to put out brush-fires than to really give Malta its due. There is also a the question of why there are so many eruptions, clearly not attributable to the Opposition. It seems clear to me that the attitude to anything contrary to plans or official positions is aggressive, and when this takes on the Courts it implies a raw brandishing of power. Not that the Courts are impeccable, but the demarcations of the Estates is essential in a Democracy. Irritation at Court decisions or the attempt to minimise gravity hints at reducing the legal system to banality or inconsequence. That is very strange, coming from a lawyer.
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Paul Sammut
@ Mr Joe Portelli. Well said. Leeches won't do. The malady is incurable and spreading. Pathetic.
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Jeffrey Vella
Gonzi lost control of his party.The impression you get is that the PN has become an ill-disciplined party. Episodes such as this one are becoming all too common within the PN fold.
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Clayton Saliba
To cure criminal charges with socialism is like trying to cure cancer with leeches
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this reminds me , I must change my name.......