Tuesday, 8th July 2008
Don't lose their skills
Much has been said about the future of the shipyards. However, in this debate little attention has been given to preserving the many skills which the Malta Shipyards' workers possess.
I say this with my limited experience of the type of people the dockyards train and the demand for them. Two of my uncles used to work at the dockyard. They still use the skills and trades they learnt there.
Uncle Albert, my mum's elder brother, had to leave quite early in the 1950s after the initial rundowns by the British Royal Navy. He had to emigrate to Canada, then got married and settled down in the UK where he earned his living using the skills he had learnt all his working life.
Uncle Emmanuel, one of my dad's brothers, remained a dockyard employee until the 1970s when he took up a job as a technical maintenance manager with a local firm which exports overseas. Now, God bless him, well into his retirement, he still acts as a consultant for his former employers whenever they want to invest in new machinery.
These are the sort of skilled trades people which the dockyard, through its school, produced. This cadre was eventually utilized in the 1970s to set up the trade schools which, in turn, gave developing Malta the technical personnel so necessary to keep the machinery of our factories running.
When I was deputy chairman of the ETC and the HR development manager of the MDC I got first hand experience of the great need of Malta's industry to have skilled technical trades people who are the link between the shop-floor operators and the engineers to keep production flowing steadily. This is why, under the leadership of my friend and mentor, Tonio Portuguese, the ETC set up the Night Institute for Further Technical Education with the help of ORT Israel.
Later on in my professional life, I came once more face to face with the dockyard employees when they went through the 2003 downsizing.
As we all known, many were seconded, through the IPSL, to various government departments. In the education division they were re-deployed as caretakers in schools and the many skills which they had were not utilized at all. This was a sad loss and the result of crass shortsightedness.
During my time as an assistant head I was posted at the Sir Temi Zammit Boys' Secondary School, housed in the former naval hospital at Mtarfa. There is an old lift there which has been out of order for years and which some experts declared to be beyond repair. Thus, the education division has decided to eventually issue a tender to replace it. However, my ex-dockyard caretakers always insisted that if the division pooled all the dockyard employees of different trades seconded to it they were more than capable of taking on such challenging repair jobs. They assured me that they could make the lift at my former school work again.
The same applies to the hundreds of ex-dockyard employees spread throughout the other government departments and attached to local councils who now work as drivers, messengers and caretakers of sorts. The skills base which these people have has been practically lost forever.
The same can happen again if we are not careful how the forthcoming privatisation and downsizing are managed. The issue should not be only one of job security for the workers involved. This is a priority and it is their and their families' right to be given the peace of mind which they so rightly deserve and which was promised to them. However, then there is the national priority which relates to ensuring that the skills of these people which will not only contribute to our future as a maritime nation but also to other sectors of our economy are not lost forever.
It is the duty of the political class managing this privatisation to ensure that this does not happen and that the skills of the shipyards' employees are not lost forever.
RSS
Comments
You presumptiously call "irresponsible and/or a stupid person who should know better " H.E. the President of Malta Dr Edward Fenech Adami,who peacefully terminated the long reign of terror by the MLP. Your opinion is a self-provided and damning reflection on your standard of civilised behaviour, your blind prejudice and your total lack of knowledge of court procedures.
Today even the average layman knows that, unfortunately, it is a legitimate forensic tactic to prolong court procedures as long as possible by the defence. Some accused persons try to postpone the evil day of judgement as long as possible. Others face facts and admit guilt. That is their fundamenal right and neither you nor I have no right to question it!
Regarding the late President of the Republic Sir Anthony Mamo the only relevance to this blog is that he proved that the opportunity for any humble Maltese person to reach the highest position existed before Mintoff's days. He proved this by his career in the Law Courts, at the University and as first President of the Republic. The only sign of any disrespect for him, known to me, is his cavalier treatment by Mintoff the Prime Minister.
I already wrote some where, that a certain Quisling , a well known Norwegian was not happy about people not greeting him on his way.
The next day every one that crossed his way greeted him with the words “Good morning Mr. Quisling” “Good Morning Mister Quisling.” He learned his lesson. And that was that.
Now if a certain fellow is touchy and wants to get such a feeling he should just say so, and many would comply.
Even calling some one persistently with his title of Honourable could be considered as a lack of respect.
The answer was and still is the irresponsible speech made by Dr.Eddie Fenech Adami then Prime Minister. Being a lawyer and Prime Minister he ought to know better.
How is it that the other ex Judge has gone through all the legal niceties without any difficulties? Do you have an explanation? You have some experience in criminal proceedings once you were constantly in contact with prosecution officers.
Why was EFA so stupid or inexperienced to utter words that could benefit the culprit? Was he so absent minded that we are witnessing the consequences? In fact The Times of Malta referred to this bizarre situation and even disclosed that parties are being organized and the authorities are duly invited by the ex Chief Justice.
I do not know whether invitations are being accepted. In the affirmative then something is really wrong in the state of Denmark.
Dr.F. Saliba it was Dr. E.Fenech Adami himself (not Mintoff or the MLP) that elevated the person under reference to the highest office of the Law Courts.
I am just saying facts.
Martinelli of Canada: ciao!
Many years before you did so, I attended the Hamrun Lyceum on a free scholarship earned by a public examination and when my family's affiliation was with Boffa's MLP and Strickland's Constitutionals. There must have been other reasons for your fellow students' interruption of their education probably their parents' priorities in an admittedly harsh world-wide recession which afflicted my family just as much as it did theirs. Initiating and improving social services was undertaken by whatever political party happened to be in power and according to the funds available at the time. Attributing them solely to Mintoff is a ridiculous legend.
The book "Mintoff u De Gray" from which you quote selectively, is an eclectic culled from the Government Gazzette and what contemporary newspapers dared to print. My knowledge of events in the Police Force in the 60s and 70s is the result of my first hand professional experience as the Police Medical Officer and my close contact with police officers of all ranks from Commissioners of Police down to plain constables of all political affiliations. So, don't you dare to quote to me or to contradict me before you check and double-check your information!
Your referred to my statement that "the MLP made it possible for all and sundry to reach the highest levels of society" as being a rediculous claim.
Please note that in 1970, under a Nationalist Government, I happened to be 14 years of age, which also happened to be the maximum of age of compulsory education at the time, Sad but true, in that year I lost half my class mates due to the fact that their parents could not afford to keep them at school even though some were more gifted then myself. This took place at the Lyceum in Hamrun Dr. Saliba.
Thanks to the introduction of Children's allowances, and the extension of compulsory education up to 16 years under an MLP Government, it became possible for children of all social classes even the most humble to be able to make it to the top.
Regarding rampant politcal patronage and discrimination, I suggest that you read the book Mintoff u De Gray. It is stated that Labour supporters were banned from forming part of the Police Corps. So much for democracy under a PN Government.
This notwithstanding, I wish you well Dr. Saliba.
The "suffering" that you augur for me and which I have to endure is the frustration of making head or tail of your rambling comments and countering the cautiously worded, baseless insinuation by you and your ilk that some violent deeds were "probably" instigated by the PN - all within the limit of 200 words.
It is not too difficult to understand that it is absolutely irrelevant who had previously appointed a Chief Justice who some time later had to face charges of corruption. What is highly relevant is that the Hon. Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami took immediate steps to address the alarming situation as soon as it surfaced and that he did it so promptly that the defence raised the issue of possible infringement of the right to the "presumption of innocence" until proved guilty.
It is regrettable that government cannot rely on the support of the MLP in impeachment procedures in parliament that require a 60% support of the vote.
Still not get it? What a pity?
At the time I was at Form 2 level, I had Miss Agatha Barbara as the Minister of Education and I can recall very distinctly her unforgettable addresses at the Lyceum auditorium.
Let's leave it at that.
Let's not go into qualifications!
Let's not go into improper use of language - and I don't mean the King's English or even slang...
If you want to form a correct judgement on Mintoff's respect for Sir Anthony Mamo appointed by him as Malta's Head of State please remember that Sir Anthony Mamo was debarred by Mintoff from entering the Palace courtyard with his official car and he was forced to alight in the street and walk to his office. You may also like to note that contrary to all protocol Mintoff expected that the Head of State call on him and not vice-versa.
For more details please see Sir Anthony Mamo's obituary in The Telegraph of the 7 May 2008.
I have already made it absolutely clear that I knew the names and surnames of the policemen who in the "Other Ranks" mess plotted to commit arson against my office inside the Police GHQ and that I assured the acting Commisioner of Police himself that I was ready to testify against them before any enquiring magistrate. They were labourites, all right and the attempt was politically motivated.
As regards the bomb exploded on my doorstep I mentioned the culprit, an MLP Minister now dead, in my sworn evidence before the court appointed expert and was advised by the CID police present to hold myself available for questioning by the CID Inspector who never contacted me.
No Commissioner of Police is ever justified, for whatever reason, to allow a suspect to be beaten to death while in police custody and to obtain false affidavits stating that he had escaped.
Police Commisioner Effie Bencini made the "grave mistake" you mentioned ijn the early days when he still enjoyed Mintoff's support to the hilt. That "arrest" was a godsend to the MLP propaganda machine.
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Mintoff showed his real "respect" for Head of State Sir Anthony Mamo when he did not allow him to drive with his official car into the Palace courtyard and forced him to leave his car outside in the street and made him walk to his office. Mintoff showed similar respect for Sir Anthony Mamo when he insisted that the Head of State call on him and not vice versa. More details are available in Sir Anthony Mamo's obituary in The Telegraph of the 7 May 2008.
You mention acts of violence "probably" by the PN to protect your hide because you know that you have no vestige of proof. You throw dirt into the revolving blades of a fan with the malicious intention of hitting someone, anyone. The "attempt" on Mintoff's life was carried out by a staunch labourite who was trying to gain access to his "saviour's" office seeking redress for what he believed to be unfair treatment by a Minister in Mintoff's cabinet. For his pains he was shot and later confined to a hospital for mental diseases - just as they did in Stalin's USSR.
You mentioned violence and nomination to high offices. You surely did not expect to go scot free.
Attributing all the evils to one party shows animosity and animosity does not let us see clearly. Hence my counter references to violence instigated probably by the P.N.and nominations to high offices.
Mind you I use the word probably and not the sacrosanct truth as I am not the Almighty who knows every thing. That is left to the P.N. and its sympathisers.
Some one wrote a book “No Mister Minister” enumerating all sorts of judgments that in his opinion as a subaltern considered wrong. I am inclined to write a few pages naming them “No Doctor”
Poor me who wants to give lessons to a venerable doctor!
Truth has many facets
Previously Police Commissioner Bencini had committed a grave mistake by exhibiting all those files found hidden under the bed of a known Nationalist personality at Mdina and Judge Caruana Curran quickly dismissed the case. You remember?
Who appointed a Chief Justice who has been accused (not yet found guilty!!!) of corruption? Not Mr. Mintoff!
What about the examinations?
You mentioned a condemnable personal occurrence. You were the P.H.Q. Medical officer and you did your duties efficiently. You are listing that incident as being the work of laborites. Are you so sure? Could it not be something related to your functions?
If you are so sure that it was labour party sympathizers then you surely know who they were, otherwise you are just wasting the space of this paper.
Once an important article appeared in a P.N. newspaper emphasizing a story about housing. A few days later there was an attempt on Mr.Mintoff’s life.
It finally resulted the person involved had a grudge against the MLP government concerning housing. Was it the result of brainwashing or just a coincidence?
Please understand that I mentioned Sir Anthony Mamo in order to rebut the ridiculous claim made by Ray Fava that it was "... the MLP made it possible for all and sundry to reach the highest level of society". Sir A. Mamo had reached the highest post in the Judiciary even before Mintoff became Prime Minister. His subsequent elevation to the merited status of President of the Republic only confirms his meritoriousness to fill any high post of society. He had already proved his merit even before Malta became a Republic.
Now, do you get it or must I try again using words of not more than two syllables??
It is impossible to follow your rambling contribution and rebut it in 200 words. I never aspired to "correct everyone's impression" certainly not yours. And it is not my job to discover who "shattered" Albert Mizzi's residence. However I do know who exploded a bomb on my doorstep and who attempted to burn the door of my office inside the Police GHQ. I passed the information promptly to the police who never did anything because the culprits were well-known MLP thugs.
To illustrate how some crucial high civil service posts were filled during Mintoff's time I quote the appointment of Police Commissioners whose credentials for the post should depend on their ability to maintain law and order and to bring criminals to justice. Mr Alfred Bencini, in his memoirs, describes how he was expected to turn a blind eye to the MLP mob disturbances in Valletta. In all, there were five CofP appointees, in quick succession, before a durable one was found to satisfy his Minister's expectations. Ominously, this career was brought to an ignominious end only after the MLP lost the1987 general election.
Some remarks by contributors mostly by Dr.A.Borg Cardona, (whose knowledge of English is so profound that he even excels in slang) that occur every now and then, might lead to such a judgment.
I would even suggest in that case that each contribution be given a mark from 1 to 10 by an independent moderator, and a prize awarded to the best!!!
Sir Anthony Mamo was chosen by Mintoff because he was a symbol of justice ... stark contrast to the present President who was found by the courts to have lied on election day and fined!
If I am not mistaken, it was also Dom Mintoff that recommended Prof.A. Mamo to replace the then English Governor General. Dom Mintoff also had chosen a Dr. Mizzi ex- Attorney general as his adviser and even a certain rich entrepreneur by the name of Albert Mizzi as adviser on
Economic developments. (By the way why and who shattered his residence?)
Are those well known personalities also to be included in the list of the good Dr.F.Saliba?
I do have some examples on how the P.N. promoted undeserving individuals. But that is another story that involves examinations as a means of gaining promotion. Good Dr. Saliba is of age to remember those happenings such as people copying on each other though sitting in different examination centers kilometers away from each other.
On the other hand other Prime Ministers' made some outstanding choices in society: criminal bodyguards who were even involved on his own personal assistant attempted murder.
As for Martinelli, he cannot be reached living so far away from Malta.
I think that Alfred's contribution on this subject is very relevant and makes a lot of sense.
Only yesterday I was in one of our public entities to find a Professional Diving Superintendent working as a frustrated handyman.He has international diving experience and was trained in France , in the 70's he earned $3,000 a month.Isn't this brain drain?
The contradiction lies only in your imagination. Professor Sir Anthony Mamo's meteoric rise in the judiciary from humble beginnings antedated Mintoff's reign. His appointment to the Presidency was a natural sequel to his success as Chief Justice in pre-Mintoff days and a conscpicuous exception that proves the rule.
If you want examples of absence of credentials for high posts please consult the rapid succession of Commissioners of Police who soon fell into disfavour and were summarily replaced until the appointment of his last choice. Unfortunately this person was transferred from the Police Headquarters to Corradino Civil Prison via the Criminal Court of Justice.
The President of the Republic is above politics no matter what his or her previous occupation was. So, bringing in Sir Anthony into Mr. Debono's argument is irrelevant.
Dr. Saliba was referring to Cabinet Ministers and Heads of Departments. I cannot list names here who would definitely fit Dr. Saliba's description because my comment would promptly be firewalled.
Mr. Mintoff also appointed Agatha Barbara and Dr. Anton Buttigieg who both graced the office of President of the Republic. So, does that mean that their qualifications had anything to do with their appointments? I seriously doubt it.
I repeat, the office of the President of the Republic is above politics and has nothing to do with Parliamentary and Civil Service appointments.
Extract from IM Beck in today’s Times
"Tootling past the Msida Labour Party club, I spotted a sign that made me wonder if there aren't wheels within wheels within other wheels turning silently within the machine.
The sign, which was in Maltese, said "Merħba lil Mexxej Laburista", which translates to "Welcome to a Labour Leader". If they had meant "Welcome to the Labour Leader" they would have written "Merħba lill-Mexxej Laburista".
I know it's an esoteric point, but does the absence of the definite article mean that - subconsciously, as it were - there are those who doubt whether Joseph Muscat is Labour's leader? Is he, in their heart of hearts, seen as but one of a number of "leaders"? Is he not "the leader" (il-lejder) but merely a leader, one among an un-numbered group?
Hey, listen, don't blame me, it's summer, so I thought I'd give the lil'elves something to get at me about which isn't run-of-the-mill."
Here under I quote cut and paste what a certain Dr. F.Saliba has written:
"...please consider Sir Anthony Mamo who achieved the highest possible level in the Judiciary and then moved on to become the first President of the Republic."
Two lines further down the respected doctor wrote: "What was iontroduced during the Mintoff
experience was the filling of high posditions in society by those who had no credentials."
I could not believe what I was reading. No there is no mistake. Readers can vouch for it.
After writing the few lines elogising the late President Anthony Mamo, did the respected Doctor Saliba have second thoughts and wrote that Mintoff filled highest positions by those who had no credentials.
Come on Doctor. Correct yourself. It was Prime Minister D.Mintoff who elevated Professor A. Mamo to the Highest position in society that of President of the Republic not some one else,
William Wycherley
To Charles C. Buttigieg.
I have read through some of your postings and note that you write
“..trust that you and the bloggers will make this an inspirational and intelligent medium away from mediocracy (sic) and personal attacks on people like us”
Like us? I am the son of an ordinary sailor who married a barmaid. I left school at 15 to became an apprentice in the RAF. My childhood was in the thirties during the great depression when I saw such poverty in both in England and Malta that made me a lifelong socialist.
Further you write:
There’s a regular blogger on Bocca’s portal next door by the name of Peter Prictoe who poses as a UK Socialist yet never finds anything positive in MLP. I am convinced that he is a political fake. He comes on buddy-buddy with Bocca and all Nationalists bloggers and full of spite when it turns a shade of Green, Pink or Red.
I would appreciate substantiation of your allegations
Yes I would like to see a socialist government in Malta and that means MLP but I see no likelihood of it coming about whilst such as your good self rant hysterically.
Peter Prictoe
Won't disappoint you provided you make yourself comprehensible. I regret however that I cannot share your disdain for Churchill's and Shakespeare's English because I, in the company of millions of others, do not suffer from any "sour grapes" syndrome.
"Attaining the highest level of society" existed much before Mintoff took over the MLP. If in doubt please consider Sir Anthony Mamo who achieved the highest possible level in the Judiciary and then moved on to become the first President of the Republic. What was introduced during the Mintoffian experience was the filling of high positions in society by those who had no credentials, apart from being "yes men" affiliated to the MLP, and also the creation of a new "aristocracy" whose membership only required participation in the mob violence of wrecking the Archbishop's Curia, the printing presses of the Times and the residence of H.E. the incumbent President of the Republic, the Hon. Dr Eddie Fenech Adami.
Looking forward to reading your article in tomorrow's edition of the Times of Malta. It is always a healthy exercise on my part in trying to rebut your arguments. Many times I succeed, and at other times you happen to be right. Such is democracy.
Warm regards.
Ray
Nice to see Bocca and Martinelli on this blog, I will look forward now to see the Salibas, Prictoe and the rest of the Bocca’s protégées. I shall however keep my promise and revert only when the subject matter deals with issues, current affairs and, why not, our political history.
A sincere Hello goes also to Andrew Borg Cardona. In 1992 we met for the first time as antogonists in a court case which soon acquired politcal repercussions. Four years later we had acquired sincere respect for each other. Although he never seems to see any good in the MLP, he is a good human being and his pen is to be treated with respect.
Dear Andrew, please remember that the MLP made it possible for all and sundry to reach the highest levels of society.
I would certainly not block you or boycott you, since your tone and attitude are so conducive to demonstrating what it is that I dislike so intensely about the way the MLP's apologists over the years have striven, without much success it must be said, to obscure their real outlook on life.
I intend to be active on Alfred’s blog and whenever you intend to visit you will find me ready to debate an argument but I shall ignore you when you resort to insults disguised as a sick sense of humour lauded only by people renowned for their hatred to the Labour Party more so to Labourites.. Unfortunately you are not unique in this ugly approach, indeed irrationality promotes fundamentalists who tend to be very judgemental and their judgement is never based on facts. And I feel sorry for them because they need help.
If my piece about spelling and grammar bothered you, then maybe you should spell check and re-read your epistles before you hit the 'Submit' button. I too, occasionally miss that one important step and have to correct myself. I was criticizing those whose job it is to set an example by the correct use of the English language, i.e. paper editors and columnists.
You accuse others of being too pro NP and anti MLP. So, when have you last looked at a mirror?
If ABC fire-walled you, well it's his blog but I will gladly engage you wherever you are permitted to scribble your piece. When you are right, I will agree (see the first response to this blog) but when you twist or spin, you are not going to fool me and I will respond accordingly.
By the way, you'd better put that bottle of beer in your fridge!
Cheers
There’s a regular blogger on Bocca’s portal next door by the name of Peter Prictoe who poses as a UK Socialist yet never finds anything positive in MLP. I am convinced that he is a political fake. He comes on buddy-buddy with Bocca and all Nationalists bloggers and full of spite when it turns a shade of Green, Pink or Red.
I cannot give a piece of my mind to this fellow as Bocca in his infinite wisdom, sense of fair play and freedom of expression has set a firewall on my contributions. More to the point he boycotted my submissions.
I invite all the wise, mighty intelligent, righteous big Elves the type of Prictoe and Martinelli to join me here to debate some serious issues without the need to refer to Churchill and Willy Shakespeare to impress with English grammar which only the antiquated admire.
A more important note. I hear that Jason Micallef is leading the polls. Labour is in dire need for a new insurance policy with an added clause to replace damaged property ‘New for Old’. If it doesn’t we’re in trouble and in serious political straits.
Alfred, a new winning generation needs a new, winning general secretary.
Good luck.
In the meantime, I fully concur with Charles Buttigieg's note and wish you well in the upcoming election for General Secretary of the Malta Labour Party. The Party needs sound, intelligent and experienced men such as your goodself.
I must also grab this opportunity to wish you well and a succes in the upcoming contest .
Mr. Grixti gave an excellent example using one of his uncles - the one that stayed, got a job with a local firm, did well, so much so that he 'still consults well into his retirement years'. It is this kind of skill which, in hindsight, flourished while Alfred's uncle was privately employed. It is with such an example in mind that one would hope that the majority of those 'down sized' will find suitable employment. One also has to keep in mind that technology advances so rapidly these days that existing specialists may need further training just to keep up. Here is where the government, undoubtedly, can lend a hand.
Privatization should not induce fear. Yes, a shipyard worker's mind is in turmoil not knowing what is going to happen in the next few months, so to use the workers' fears as a political football is indeed unwarranted.
This is why, I think, that Mr. Grixti's contribution is positive and one augurs that the Opposition intends to be on the same page as the government.