Mrs Vella throws another wobbly
Published:
December 10, 2009 at 7:43pm
As you know, Astrid Vella refused to appear on Xarabank on Friday because Victor Scerri was there.
Tonight, she’s invited to go on Brian Hansford’s talk-show Realta on One TV.
She found out that Robert Musumeci, Victor Scerri’s architect, was going to be a guest on the show, too.
She threw a tantrum and refused to go on the show if Musumeci is there as well.
So Brian Hansford and One TV obliged her – Labour needs Mrs Vella as a political tool – and Musumeci’s invitation was withdrawn at the 11th hour. Now Mrs Vella has the floor to herself, and her squeaking can go unchallenged. She’s lovin’ it.
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F**king unbelievable!
Brian Hansford must be one hell of a tough journalist. I thought that the Christmas circus is in Floriana.
THIRD time she had the opportunity to face Victor Scerri and/or his architect, and backed out. Bloody coward! Just ignore her. She represents nobody anyway.
[Daphne – Eh hija, she represents the Teeny Beach militants.]
Brian Hansford is stupid, sanctimonious, and extremely irritating.
What IS going on?
Please do not place the name Brian Hansford in the same sentence as journalist. That was a mighty balanced programme last night – couldn’t take more than 15 mins of it. I know, I know – I did well to last 15 minutes. Tenk you tenk you!
nice spelling @ Maltastar:
The success of Lufthansa Thechnik is testimony of the technical and managerial skills of Maltese and Gozitan workers- Joseph Muscat
… continued
Maybe the next article will be called “The dummy’s guide to the ABC”
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/ms09cont.asp
I’m sure there are many people like me around – I’m all for people campaigning to stop damage to the environment.
But since Astrid and the Rambler guy got so involved, I never thought I could feel so antagonistic towards folk who are meant to be defending something I believe in. The thing that bugs me so much is when people pretend to be politically unbiased when their actions prove otherwise. I’m ready to accept Julia Farrugia taking a certain attitude but when you see people posing as innocent campaigners – then anyone with a bit of sense should be able to see through them.
By the way, Astrid has a law suit against Musumeci and so refused to appear on a programme with him. She was willing to accept Victor Scerri however.
He would not come on the programme without his architect with him and, as the invitation was issued in the morning, said he ‘had another engagement anyway’.
[Daphne – People are free to appear on television shows with people against whom they have ongoing law suits. That’s just a coward’s excuse, like editors who use the fictitious ‘sub judice’ – unbelievably, the brave and brilliant columnist Saviour Balzan of Malta Today condemned all those of us writing about Noel Arrigo even now – ‘when he plans to appeal’. Unbelievable. I’m looking for the reasons he might have a vested interest in protecting the man.]
Daphne, maybe he’s supplying him with free penis rings.
Fact: Astrid is a coward not to go on Xarabank.
Fact: Victor Scerri coward not to go on Super 1. It works both ways dear!
By the way, I would have loved to ask Hansford why he didn’t decide to have Scerri and Musumeci on the programme and leave out Astrid. There were two other people speaking against so that would have made the programme more balanced.
[Daphne – Because the Labour Party is laying out the red carpet for Astrid to become one of its candidates on the Sliema district, obviously. I imagine that by 2013 it wants its HQ to be thick with whining-voiced ex Sacred Heart girls of 50+. Alfred Sant’s ex wife has been alone in this capacity for too long.]
Interesting remark, Daphne. The Labour Party is indeed pulling out all the stops to attract as much ‘pepe’ as possible (don’t forget KZT either). This time the carrot seems to be ‘power’, as opposed to lucre (as in the Marisa case) since Astrid is in no great need of the latter. I must say, I would hate to see her succumb (especially after she once said, long ago, that Lorry Sant had harassed her father to death) but that’s neither here not there.
The emerging bigger picture is Joseph Muscat is – or seems to be – pressing the right buttons and attracting factions – he’s even managed to cuddle up to the hunters whilst soft-soaping the environmentalists – whilst Lawrence Gonzi is papering over the cracks and firefighting as his sloppy and indisciplined team (Joe Borg, John Dalli, Tonio Fenech, JPO…) cause one problem after another.
I have a feeling that it’s time to get Fenech Adami out of retirement and RCC back from Brussels and get them to start knocking a few heads together. Lawrence Gonzi certainly does not inspire confidence. It’s John Major all over again – he pulled off a miraculous victory-snatched-from-the-jaws-of-defeat only to see the Conservative Party almost annihilated at the following election and becoming unelectable for what, about 20 years now?
Yesterday Realta` was a whole farce. We could only listen to one side of the coin plus the presenter was not questioning anything they said. Instead he took the role of a green activist and agreed with what the guests were saying….kien qisu guest fil-programme tieghu stess.
Astrid Vella said that she refused to discuss the Bahrija issue with Robert Musumeci because she has a court case with him. Since when does being in court with someone prevent you from discussing issues with him or her? If that were the case, half the people in public life in this country would be reduced to hermits. Oddly, Brian Hansford not only accepted this warped reasoning unquestioningly, but used it to justify withdrawing the invitation to Musumeci. I wonder what Brian would have done if he had an entire political party and its machine boycotting his programme?
Secondly, I found Astrid Vella’s and Lino Bugeja’s claim that they are not ‘political’ extremely irritating. Come on guys, get real. In this day and age, politics is not just the province of politicians. Social actors, including NGOs, have a contribution to make as well. It is one of the healthiest features of the democratic way of life. But to claim that organising a protest on Victor Scerri’s site is not political is absurd. Let me just pose a tiny question. Why did the Ramblers and FAA not protest on the site of Labour MP Anton Refalo’s house in Gozo which has a MEPA stop notice on it?
The arbiter of everything in a European democracy is the rule of law. It is the only thing that is supreme, above Lawrence Gonzi’s word and I hope Astrid Vella’s. To put pressure on an institution is one thing. To appoint yourself as an alternative to that institution is quite another. We did not fight to get rid of Lorry Sant to end up with another one, this time wearing a green tweed jacket.
But, what almost made me spill the herb tea over my pyjamas last night was the claim (I am not sure whether it was made by Lino Bugeja or Astrid Vella) that this is the first time that ‘civil society’ was standing up against injustice. Excuse me? What were those thousands of courageous men and women doing when they resisted Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici’s regimes for two decades? For their principles, those humble and anonymous men and women faced bullets, violence, discrimination, and what not. They did not meet on Sunday afternoon to paint watercolours over a cup of tea.
ah you are showing your real colours finally Mr. Monkey wearing a suit ? Your place is on NET not PBS. Please remember that we are still paying ridiculous license for PBS every year.
Gianni, grey matter is not your stongest suit is it? PBS makes money off my programme.
Well reasoned Lou , but don’t forget that Astrid was one of “those humble and anonymous men and women who faced bullets, violence, discrimination, and what not.” She was victimised because she striked in Imnarja ’82. Probably you were not here Lou.
The problem which Gonzi is facing is that the same people who were fed up with the situation we were in in the 80s are the same people who are fed up with the situation we are in today.
John, with all due respect, you missed my point. What really irritated me was the Ramblers or FAA’s claim that are the first Maltese citizens to stand up against injustice. It is a lie and horrendous insult to all those who suffered much more to achieve higher goals than persecuting Victor Scerri.
Yes, it is nothing less than persecution. Examine the FACTS: (a) Scerri did not break any law or MEPA rules (b) he has asked the Commissioner of Police to investigate him for any wrong-doing (c) Joe Falzon, the MEPA Auditor declared that there is no evidence that Scerri did anything wrong (d) Austin Walker, the MEPA chairman, said that the revoking of the last of Scerri’s permits was to redress mistakes committed by MEPA and not Scerri (e) Robert Musumeci, who is Scerri’s architect, declared that he is even contesting the withdrawal of this last permit at law. Despite all this, the Ramblers’ Association, continues to publicly prosecute Victor Scerri, who is now a private citizen, as if he were a war criminal. I got into public life to fight injustice and this sentiment still fires me up. I have everything to lose and nothing to gain from defending Victor Scerri. Even the PN has left him to his own devises.
Astrid vella was not victimised for striking in 1982. She went on strike, went back to work and handed in her resignation. And please do not try to read this comment as some sort of Pro-Mintoff stance. As pragmatic as ever she went on strike with an umbrella open against the rain. Hardly the stuff that principles are made of.
Lou Bondi’s comment struck a sore note. A few years ago, Mr. Bondi invited me on his chat show which was, at the time, discussing the purchase of Dar Malta in Brussels. I had written a couple of press articles against this “project”. Mr Bondi thought it wise to have me appear on his programme with seasoned politicians John Dalli and Alfred Sant. I politely declined saying a) I wanted to stay clear of “politicising” my argument and b) I did not think it fair contest as I surely did not have the information that the two other participants were privy to.
Mr. Bondi was so taken aback by my refusal that he “threatened” that if I did not appear he would say so on his programme (which I am told he did) implying, of course, that I chickened out. To me that was like water off a duck’s back. In conclusion, I definitely do not agree that everything need be political. God forbid that one cannot express an opinion without it being politicised.
This is a sad day for Malta indeed. Lou Bondi has just declared that anything that happens on this rock must be motivated politically. Organising a protest on Victor Scerri’s site is downright political according to Lou Bondi. But wait a minute… The MEP elections took place on the 6th of June and PN lost by an astounding 33,000 votes. And the protest took place on the 18h of June, almost two weeks after the election. Hmmm if Lou Bondi is right why organise a protest after the elections and not before? Maybe Lou can illuminate us all with his infinite wisdom :)
[Daphne – I think the problem lies with your definition of political as party-political, or partisan. All campaigning is a political act.]
erhmm actually I was expecting an answer with some testosterone.
Tony, you had expressed your views against Dar Malta in a number of articles written in The Times. For weeks on end you pontificated to the nation from the comfort of your laptop and you made the issue your causus belli. Then when I asked you to stand up and be counted on TV you chickened out. Maltese spinelessness at its most flaccid. That after all these years you are still irritated by the fact that your decision to decline the invitation was going to be made public proves the point. It is clear then that I did not threaten you with anything except to say that you are comfortable to speak in an echo chamber but nowhere else. Needless to say, with you or without you, the programme took place and it defined the issue once and for all.
[Daphne – Hey Lou, maybe Tony is simply more comfortable writing than speaking on television. Lots of people are like that. I’m one of them. You’re very much at home on television so you won’t be able to understand this. Also, there are many people who wouldn’t even have been able to do what Tony did – write a newspaper article – because they can’t even handle that kind of exposure. One of my dearest friends wonders constantly out loud how I handle the ‘aggressive and personal’ comments I get on this blog, for instance. “I would be in floods of tears all the time,” she tells me. But I am completely oblivious. People just have different levels of tolerance for exposure, that’s all. Some are comfortable with one medium or another, some are comfortable with all media, and some with none at all.]
Daphne, you have a point. But this guy has been banging on about this silly incidence for half a decade and quite frankly he is very tiresome.
If there is somebody in this country who tries to pontificate to the nation on a very regular basis, it is you. I, unlike you, do not need “to stand up and be counted” and, as Daphne pointed out, I am free to chose my preferred medium to express my opinion. I will not be pressured by you or anybody else. Not only do you constantly interrupt people you “invite” on your programme you now think you have the right to call ‘spineless’ somebody who will not accept to be part of it. Typically arrogant.
Agreed Daphne, may I add that sometimes writers spend a lot of time finding correct words and phrases.
What if a writer mutters or has a facial disfigurement, Lou? Would you still call him a spineless Maltese chicken speaking in an echo chamber?
Well said, Lou. These are Johnny come-latelies when it comes to taking a stand. And its soooo cool to take that stand and make free with other people’s property, whilst claiming that what’s sauce for the goose in their case is not sauce for Lino and Astrid’s gander. I reiterate that Astrid’s family started the high-rise in Ghar il-Lembi Street, and she lives there, I am told. She also wanted to build a pool in a load-bearing arched terrace. Unbelievable. This is a sorry mess made up of people who should know better, in all respects, be it Victor, Astrid, Lino and the ones who ramble on and on.
Ahem…. Mario I think Lou is the Johnny-come-lately not Astrid. Lou was in Canada when the going was tough here in Malta, Astrid was being bullied like many other Imnarja strikers. The comments on this blog are compelling people like me to defend Astrid.
Mario, so it was OK for you to dig a quarry in front of St. John’s and not OK for Astrid to dig a two metre deep pool some metres away from those arches.
We are witnessing quarry-cutting a few centimeters away from three-storey-high dividing walls! Hallina.
It is obvious to me that these programmes on TV have a hidden agenda. Look at how they invite people. Look at how the presenters treat experts, how they interrupt, how they put the interviewee in good or bad light with camera work. In these programmes whether you are a cesspit plumber or a legal expert you will be addressed with your first name. Cordiality is non-existent on these programmes.
They rake in thousands of euros from these talk shows while they donate some €20 worth of presents to their guest speakers. If like Tony Zammit Cutajar you reject the ego-trip opportunity the presenter was going take from your presence on his programme, you will be faced with subtle threats…… and no food hamper.
Wow. It seems that the “great” Mr.Bondi agrees that his programme is perhaps not the only place to express an opinion. We, who prefer the sanity and calm of what he calls echo chambers and not expose ourselves to ridiculous slanging matches on second rate televion programmes, are saved! (By the way it is incident and not incidence)
Mario Debono, you split me up with laughter because every time you speak you put your foot in it. Before you said and now repeat ‘load bearing arches’ when all they carry is an empty balcony.
Now you say that Astrid’s family ‘started the high-rise in Ghar il-Lembi street”so that it Astrid looks bad. You just come out looking like sleaze again because by now everyone knows that the man who did so was a great-uncle three generations away when Astrid was three! Kemm int buffu! The Independent had shown that it was not the first house to go down and be built into flats that street. And if you had any idea at all of what you’re talking about you would know that her flats are the lowest in the street! Basta high rise!
The way you are so ready to invent untrue stories about people just shows how little credibility you have. Do you not realise that you are damaging your beloved party with these attacks on people because they are so untrue that they make others side with the people you attack.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091211/local/ramblers-again-call-on-mepa-to-stop-bahrija-works
Astrid Vella (3 hours, 22 minutes ago)
In the last two days it was FAA and Ramblers who insisted with the producers of Realta that Victor Scerri should be invited onto Realta for a civilized debate. If it were not for the interference and pressure of a leading PN political figure on the Wednesday, Dr. Scerri would have been invited on the same day as us. This can be confirmed with the producers.
Unfortunately, Dr. Scerri was informed the day after, ie, on the morning of the programme and chose not to come, as he has every right to do. He had his reasons and we shall not be launching a media slanging match as to why he decided that way, as was meted out to us.
While Asrid Vella says that “If it were not for the interference and pressure of a leading PN political figure on the Wednesday, Dr. Scerri would have been invited on the same day as us” (on ONE TV’s Realta). Maltastar’s leading article about Xarabank (discussing the same case) says that Xarabank’s intention was “to exonerate” Dr. Scerri. In the same leading article, Maltastar adds: “Most extraordinarily of all this week Victor Scerri was there to clear his name with Asrid Vella. Trouble is she outsmarted him and didn’t turn up.”
Are ONE TV and Maltastar both still part of the Labour Party media? Yes. But they’re not that coherent, are they? Or am I missing something?
PS: This is a personal observation. Yes, I am Xarabank’s manager, but it’s Saturday and I’m usually off on Saturdays, free to put some of my own thoughts in writing.
Do NGOs enjoy any tax or other privileges? What if an NGO misrepresents the reason for its very existence, saying it is apolitical when it is quite obvious that Astrid Vella is officially engaged to the Labour Party? Is FAA still entitled to any such privileges?
One day she says she did not attend Xarabank for fear of the programme turning into a political affair, then her excuse was because of a pending court case against Musumeci, however she had the time, the will and the thick skinned face to do a ‘political’ programme on One TV.
The utter shame is that unless we somehow stop these people in their tracks, it will be the rebirth of 1971 – God forbid. On the other hand, God does not have a vote but each voter who cares for his country, has. It would be wise to use it with extreme caution.
Daphne, Why do you allow people to hide behind nom de plume to say whatever they like on your blog? If they wish to engage in personal attacks etc etc, they should at least have the decency (and xxlls if they are male) to make their identity known. Come on. Change the rules of engagement.
[Daphne – It’s very difficult with the internet, as timesofmalta.com discovered, which is why they have a strict policy for letters to the editor but a free-for-all on line. I have had to adopt a policy that I can best describe as using my better judgment on a comment by comment basis. Very often, people use a nickname while showing me – through their email address and other ways – who they really are. They are comfortable with my knowing who they are, not so comfortable revealing this to everyone. They might have a valid reason for this. If I were to reject their comments out of hand, we would miss some pretty good ones. Other people just come in here anonymously to offload spite – mainly against me but often against others. I delete very many comments for a variety of reasons. But with the internet, you just have to allow nicknames. It’s the way it works. But it’s also the reason I moderate the comments myself.]
Hi Tony. Good to see you commenting on the best blog around. Still working out?
Hi Harry,
Nice to hear from you. The work outs are becoming shorter and less frequent!
@ Lou Bondi: If Astrid and FAA are such keen supporters of Labour as you claim, why are they attacking Labour about Australia Hall in Pembroke? If she really was going out for Labour, she would have done so by now, no? Four elections have passed (National, 2 Local Council, EU MEP) since they started, what would be stopping her, kienet titla sparata fuq tas-Sliema.
You bring out the house of Agata Barbara in Gozo which was built over 20 years ago, when FAA was only set up recently. What, now you’re going to hold them responsible for every obscenity they built in Malta over the last 50 years? Why you didn’t organise a protest march there yourself, or were you too comfortable abroad while the rest of us were being beaten up? Someone I know who used to work with her with Government confirmed to me that Astrid Vella was beaten up and transferred to a building site – you can’t say the same thing can you? It seems that maybe she was more true blue than you!
See what others say about your programmes, how they are all fixed:
Paul Borg – 10 December 2009 15:12
A year ago I got invited to the audience of Xarabank and in fact we were called up to their office beforehand to ask us what we were going to say, suppost so we don’t all repeat each other. Stupidly, I told them my question which was not favourable to Governement. Sure enough, during the show, the microphone never came near me. Every time I asked for it, they told me “You’re next, you’ll be next” and next I never was until it ended. That showed me for sure that the programme is anything but the voice of the people but His Master’s Voice.
And by the way, Mario Debono, I went to see Astrid’s terrazin coz I was curious and its close to where I live and the arches, they are not load-bearing, only an empty balcony above. And before you invent that the place is historic or something else, don’t forget that RCC he got a permit to put in a pool in Mdina when others got a MEPA fine for putting out a plant pot!
Mary, jahasra, ghamel ftit mohhok hemm. Go and re-read what I wrote. This time a bit more slowly. Maybe this time you’ll understand it. What does Agatha Barbara have to do with it? I spoke about Anton Refalo’s house which has two MEPA enforcement notices attached to it.
And Mary, while you are at it, get your facts right. The place where Astrid applied to put her pool is in an ODZ. I invite her to sue me and I will prove it in court. Incidentally, she said that she did not apply to build a pool but a “vasca” or a jacuzzi. Errrr…dan x’jacuzzi hu? It has both a pump room and a reservoir. Lanqas il-jacuzzi fil-Playboy Mansion mhu kbir daqshekk.
Ma nafx biex qieghed titkuza Mr. Bondi. Anke jien xi sebgha snin ilu kont applikajt niex intella it-tielet sular. Il-permess gie rifjutat ghax il-propjeta kienet qiegheda f’conserved zone. Qatt ma appellajt u qatt ma ergajt aplikajt. Ghamilt xi haga hazina b’daqshekk ?
Astrid Vella applikat bhali, ghaxar snin ilu, u il-permess ma harigx. Big deal.
During Realta, didn’t Hansford say that the day before Astrid Vella was busy consulting her lawyer about whether she should accept to meet Musumeci on the programme? In fact she had the correspondence on her lap. That was why Scerri wasn’t invited the day before as Hansford was waiting for her answer.
No mention of interference by PN officials.
Plus, didn’t she say she didn’t accept Xarabank’s invitation as she didn’t want to take part in anything political = no mention of the law suit against Musumeci?
Lil Astrid Vella nixtieq nistaqsiha dan li gej.
a. Jekk ma jmorrux programmi li jiddiskutu il-politika kif kienu sejrin ma’ Victor Scerri jiddiskutu fuq ONE u ma riedux jigu Xarabank jiddiskutu l-istess suggett bl-istess persuni? U kif xorta marru minghajr Scerru u iddiskutew bl-izjed mod politiku il-kaz tal-Bahrija? U jekk ma jridux ikunu politici ghala gimgha qabel fuq TX is-sur Lino Bugeja qanqal il-kaz politiku ta Dr. Scerri hu stess?
b. Astrid Vella u Lino Bugeja kienu komdi jmorru ma’ Brian Hansford jitkellmu fuq Realta dwar it-team ta Xarabank u jaghtu verzjonijiet skoretti tal-fatti. Ghaliex jekk kienu se jitkellmu dwar Xarabank ma nsistewx li jkun hemm membru tat-team ta’ Xarabank ha jwiegeb.
c. Mela ha jkunu jafu in-nies li jaqraw din il-blog: filghodu ahna cempilna lil Brian Hansford u tlabna li nkunu fil-programm, ghax ma ghandniex minn x’ hix nisthu jew nibzghu. Ghidnilu li jekk nissemmew kif nahsbu li kien se jigri ahna irridu nkunu hemm. Brian Hansford assigurana li ahna ma ahniex se nissemmew. U ISSEMEJNA. Izda Brian Hansford ma qalx li ahna ridna nkunu u li hu irrifjutana. U Astrid Vella u Lino Bugeja ma ddejqu xejn jitkellmu dwarna meta ahna ridna imma ma konniex prezenti. U ma tkazawx, kif tkazaw b’ Xarabank, li dan mhux gurnalizmu serju. Imma dak programm fuq One TV u allura ejja nqimuh dejjem ma mmorrux nurtaw lil xi hadd, modonfi.
Peppi, ktibt nhar is-Sibt li ghadda. Allura ma’ghandekx x’taqsam ma’ Xarabank bhal Norman ghax ma’ kontx xoghol?
xinteress partikolari ghandkom Peppi u lou x taqbsu ghall Scerri ? u tmorru f realta int min int biex tmur tidiskuti f realta ? mela dak il programm tieghek ?
int li toqod tajat li int socjalist jew kont xi darba socjalist hahah . int kont biss dejjem mohhok kif ser teqred il PL irnexilek ghall hafna zmien la dan il poplu tak id dritta. Jien publikament nghidlek dan li jien min jireklama mghakom ma nixtrix b sold min ghandu. ghax listazzjon tal poplu malti gie hijacked minnek
Here you go, read on…
Astrid Vella (23 minutes ago)
Those who are doing their best to portray us as secret agents of the PL are simply admitting publicly that there is no criticism as effective as that which comes from within. It is not possible to dismiss our highlighting environmental abuse as being driven by a political agenda to gain votes at the next election as by now the people know that we are not going to run for any elections. Similarly we are not doing it for any ulterior gain as all we get from this work is loss of time, money and peace of mind.
It is just so sad for this country that there still are people of the stone-age mentality who have not matured to accept that one can voice an opinion without aligning oneself with any political party.
@Lou & Peppi: U IFTHU WIDNEJKOM SEW
“It is just so sad for this country that there still are people of the stone-age mentality who have not matured to accept that one can voice an opinion without aligning oneself with any political party.”
I visited the FAA exhibition at the Casino Maltese today. It was alright, though pretty amateurish looking. Some of the work on display was nice. Definitely sums up the genteel underbelly they’re all desperate to hide, under the grind of wellies on wet grass and the roar of megaphones across unspoiled Maltese hinterland.
Cassandra Montegna
Did you say ‘roar’ of megaphones?
“hysterical squeak”?
Attn Astrid Vella/Lino Bugeja:
Astrid Vella’s excuse that she does not want to be on the same programme as Robert Musumeci as she has a pending libel case is just that – an excuse. In today’s Malta Today, Lino Bugeja states that they have no problem discussing with Victor Scerri so long as the latter “is not accompanied in any such programme by his architect Robert Musumeci”.
This shows they are not willing to meet an expert knowledgeable in planning regulations and MEPA matters, but would rather just scream into a microphone/megaphone, and try to impress us in that way. Victor Scerri has repeatedly admitted he is no expert in the field, and relies on his architect for technical advice. Why are they afraid to meet Musumeci? Not just any architect but “his architect Robert Musumeci”?
Kif tittraduci l-kelma “qanzha”? Ghax haw veru tixraq.
Hot off the press, well The Times blog. Astrid Vella has just declared that she will not accept to come on Bondiplus. So first she chickens out of facing Victor Scerri on Xarabank with the lame excuse that it was going to be political. Then she chickens out of facing Robert Musumeci on the same issue on the One TV programme Realta with the lamer excuse that she’s in court with him. Now she is chickening out of any Bondiplus programme on any topic. Give Astrid Vella a megaphone and a crowd and she’s in heaven. Give her a microphone and ask her a question and she runs like hell.
Lou, probably she doesn’t like the way you run the show. Your only interest is a good audience for your programme. Your reaction towards Astrid is a violent one, calling people who don’t want to appear on your show ‘chickens’ shows only how much you depend on these people.
The next time you ‘invite’ someone to your programme the person will have the subtle threat of being called ‘chicken’ if the invitation is refused.
I clearly recall Peppi fuming when the archbishop refused to appear on Xarabank. Public persons are the lifeblood of your programmes.
Berthie: the truth is that when it comes to planning law, Musumeci is a brilliant mind. I was present in MEPA’s boardroom on a couple of times and witnessed him deliberating – he is simply outstanding. However he should decide whether he continues to excel in this field or pursue a political career. One cannot do both.
Finally the truth is coming out. For far too long, these people have been hailed as the only true defenders of the environment. Truth is that while it is probably true that they do appreciate the natural and cultural heritage, they are more in love with themselves. Like the audit officer, they are substituting themselves for the legal authorities and so weakening the system. This they know full well but still persist in doing it since it gets them their proverbial 15 minutes of fame.
Astrid, Lino, the audit officer – all of the same ilk: they play to their audience. Want proof? what about the footage of last Saturday’s meeting at the Phoenicia. Says a lot!