Monday, 15th June 2009
Anarchy under the PN
One of the most irritating things under the present Nationalist Government is the way some people seem to go around rules and regulations with impunity. An E-mail I received recently from that champion of the environment, Astrid Vella, left me speechless.
I was aware of the controversy about the rape of Bahrija Valley but it is only now that I realize how scandalous the abuse is. This development violates no less than sixteen Structure Plan policies and regulations relevant to rural areas. Excuse me, but what is MEPA there for? Is enforcement totally non-existent in this country? Or, to be more precise, is the government strong with the weak and weak with the strong?
An affront to citizens
Unfortunately, this anarchy has now crept into all aspects of life in Malta.
Take the building industry, why is it that the regulations about the time of starting work and finishing it are so blatantly disregarded by many? Are citizens not entitled to their rest? Is it acceptable that a person facing a long day of work is woken up very early in the morning because some unscrupulous developer could not care less about rules and regulations?
Is it acceptable that trucks are sometimes parked in a manner such that they block access to private garages for hours on end? The arrogant way in which some developers behave has to be experienced to be believed!
What is most irritating is the blatant way some people openly flout the law. To see workers arrive, sometimes even very early on a Sunday morning, and calmly start disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood at a time when this is not permitted by law is really enervating.
Rude public transport drivers
Whatever happened to the Public Transport Reform? My blood boils when I read a letter such as that which appeared in The Sunday Times of 14 June, entitled " Overcharged and humiliated by bus driver".
How long are we going to tolerate uneducated, rude and aggressive bus drivers? Are we aware of the damage caused to our tourist industry because of the bad behaviour of some of these bus drivers?
We need draconian measures to stamp out such abuses. Show no mercy. Any bus driver found guilty of humiliating passengers should be instantly kicked out. Public Transport will function better without him. Certain people still seem to be above the law and do as they please.
I do hope that the writer of the letter in question, who seems to be a foreigner judging by the name and surname, will receive satisfaction for the insult endured at the hands of a person whose position entails setting an example, albeit a good one and not a bad one as in this shameful case!
A shambles
I don't like being negative but the truth is that it's a shambles out in the streets and squares of Malta and Gozo under this PN Government.
Have you noticed the increase in the number of vehicles belching out carcinogenic fumes? Was the enforcement drive before the 2008 General Election just a vote-catching gimmick, after all? Have you noticed the increase in noise pollution everywhere despite the fact that we have been in the EU since 2004? And this Government always pays lip-service to the issue of animal welfare but the present situation still leaves much to be desired.
Is this what you voted for in 2008? How long can we keep on going down the drain under the Lawrence Gonzi administration, this sorry apology for a Maltese government?
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Comments
I voted PN in 1998 and 2004 and rest assured that I was not voting labour because of the past. The 1996-1998 legislature of the labour party has never shown one ounce of violence and for me that is enough to shut you up.
I am not pointing my finger to anyone. My point is that it is hard for me to believe that labour thugs would try to harm PL officials/sympathizers.
I will not exclude frame-ups but there is no evidence that excludes foul play from Nationalist supporters.
It is hard for me to believe that there was NEVER any sort of violent retaliation from PN supporters.
The list is factual but as you can see I am careful not to point fingers. The list is enough to arouse suspicion and it is clear that foul play was directed from both sides. Both parties have clearly shown that they are now much more mature and that is enough for me to close that chapter once and for all.
You seem to bring out this subject very frequently as a form of political ammunition. Irrelevent history will never alienate us from the true nature of the present government. what do you expect me to say? 'poor nationalist, they really suffered 30 years ago, ignore their present wrongdoings and remember that labour is still a party of violent thugs?'
The sparring is undoubtedly entertaining but essentially of little value and relevance to the subject.....the crux of the matter is that certain aspects of Malta's management are in dire straits and constructive solutions are fast needed...yes if PN wants to retain its seat and for PL to devise if they want our popular vote (I presume that is the basis of most peoples' vote...ha ha). Look forward to constructive suggestions/lists/recommendation on how to correct the "anarchy" resident in our society.
Here are mine:
Noisy Contractors:
Reports logged to police/local wardens with support from public awareness programmes like Xarabank to expose/set the example of what bad press can do for all parties responsible....those causing the violation and those doing nothing to prevent it...Italy has Stricia La Noticia!
Rude Bus Drivers: In the private sector an employee has a three life system...ie get 3 written warnings and your out. Apply same here; rigorously.
Pollution: Eco-incentives...ie real ones where a hybrid (Prius) is considerably cheaper than a toxic-noise-box, currently its not, so few are making the switch.
PS: I agree with he who said call a spade a spade...its broke and it needs fixing..and I vote PN
Rest assured the LP will win the 7th encounter. Not by 35000. That is too optimistic for a politics ridden country like Malta. But the party will win. What counts is a majority being 1 vote, 1000 votes or 8000. Since you have a p.h.D in history summoningology, can you please tell us what happened when when a prim minister 10 yrs in office had a new, fresh political leader as his adversary? If you answer that question correctly you'll get a star and the answer on what will happen in 2013.
If you put dates to those bombs listed by you, another picture may emerge.
Naturally, as far as the LP and its apologists are concerned, all those were Nationalist bombs. Unbelievable.
If some of those bombs were placed during Labour government's time, the police would have worked around the clock and nailed the culprit(s).
So much so, that when Raymond Caruana was murdered in cold political blood, the police worked so hard, that they let the prime suspect have a good scrubbing and a grooming session before being 'interviewed' so that all traces of gunpowder were washed away and then proceeded to frame an innocent farmer for the crime!
We all know how this corrupt act ended and how the innocent person was vindicated but not before an attempt on his life was made at St. Luke's Hospital when a police officer was supposed to be guarding him day and night!
It's easier to forgive than to forget.
Bomb for Karen Grech
Bomb placed outside residence of Dr Lawrence Pullicino, Commissioner of Police.
Bomb for Joe Zammit, Director of Trade.
Bomb for Major Grech, the Electoral Commissioner.
Bomb for Albert Mizzi, Chairman of various corporations including Air Malta.
Bomb at Mosta house of Joe Camilleri, Private Secretary to Mintoff.
Bombs at Qrendi, Mqabba and Sliema Police Stations. Four policemen and girl injured in latter incident.
where was all the violence in the 1996-1998 period?
If labour is violent as you imply we should have seen violence.
I was protesting against the change in the stipends and there was no violence directed at us!!! So how can you convince me that if I vote for labour we will go back to the the times you continuously mention.
what happened in 1996? Did the general voting population forget about your so called 'dark ages'?
where was all the violence in the 1996-1998 period?
Why did the sending of 'letter bombs' to PL officials/sympathizers stop after 1981?
This is an old chapter in maltese history I beg you to close it and move on. Do not apologize the current administration by summoning the past!!
Be realistic and admit that the PN has a part to play in this sorry state of affairs we currently living in.
May I respectfully remind you:
-Enemalta in crisis
-Airmalta in crisis
-Drydocks dismantled
-MEPA unreformed
-Public Transport unreformed
-Declining Tourism
-Telecommunications companies threatening job cuts
-Malta in the top league of the european inflation chart
-Grave problems in health sector
-corruption in the VAT department
-Political Nepotism
-Conflict of interests in government officiated posts.
I don't know how old you are and I don't really care but obviously you are either too young or too old and amnesia is creeping in fast.
If anarchy can be defined as DZM portrayed it, then we are not doing all that badly. Mr DeMartino rightly recollects the days of anarchy, corruption, violence, bullying and supported by the same people who today complain of noise pollution! Rich - very rich.
The other type of pollution was inexistent in the 70s and 80s simply because nothing much was happening around Malta except a marching Dejma here and a gang of government workers idling there. When Mintoff surprised some government workers, he was politely told what to do with himself or else.
I do however agree that the days of rude bus drivers should be few and numbered because there is no sector so single-handedly detrimental to the tourist industry as they are. Here again DZM expressed 'need draconian measures to stamp out such abuses'. Well said, but is it not the LP and its press who label the reponsible Minister as 'arrogant' and a 'cowboy'?
Yes the streets and squares in Malta should all be renamed "Tal-Barrani"
Your arguments could be helpful for someone with a general aptitude for maltese history. Unfortunately in this context it only serves to alienate us from the present situation. This is the WORST EVER PN administration. Gone are the 'glory days' of the early nineties. The government totally lost track. It really seems out of control. Resurrecting the past wont make us view things differently. It did not work way back in 1996 so tell me how on earth are you expecting it to work now?
especially when we were promised to be lstened to and you come out defending the indefencible.No wonder gonzipn has started on a downhill journey and the brakes are not functioning.Try for once to call todays a spade a spade this is 2009 and not 1971.Some
credibility will do wonders something Gonzipn has lost and wont regain.
Now, don't please get me wrong - I have no cause to defend the Government and the Party behind it.
But ... who introduced anarchy in the mentality of the Maltese if not the Mintoff/KMB governments? I am not saying that the PN is not at fault. But bad habits die hard. Need I go on?