You’d have to be Labour to suggest something so daft
Dr Joseph Grech Attard, who headed St Luke’s Hospital during the doctors’ strike of the 1970s, has a brilliant idea which he has committed to the comments-board on timesofmalta.com: demand that the EU postpone negotiations on the 2013-2020 budget until Malta has held its general election.
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Joseph Grech Attard
Today, 18:46
Isn’t it better if our dear PM asks the EU to postpone the ‘crucial’dealing for the 2013-2020 budget after the general elections? After all Greece shall be asking for more time for the bail out, so why not tiny Malta who has been doing so well and is the best of the 27? The previous deals, with the ‘money is no problem’ slogan, led us to 6 billion euros in debts. Not fair that, a few months before the general elections, a deal is sought by a party who, most probably, shall not be in government. We shall have a repetition of the 1964 Independence deals and the subsequent 1971 deals! Can we afford that?
54 Comments Comment
Ehe ha jistennew lilna… u hallina!
Ghaliex m’ghandhomx jistennew din id-daqxejn ta’ Gzira?
Mhux daqs l-ohrajn ghandna ‘say’? X’titlef billi titlob?
Jekk iz-zewg partiti jinghaqdu flimkien, nistghu nitolbu hafna aktar!
Jekk il-partiti jigbdu biss il-habel tal-partit taghhom, bhal ma qed jaghmel issa GonziPN, immorru hafna ghall-aghar!
The government should conclude the negotiations according to schedule. Then let the Labour Party promise to “renegotiate” the deal as part of their electoral program – Good Lord, has anyone seen that as yet? – typical of Labour.
We are at present seeing Greece doing the same for its bailout … and many others wish to follow. Only Merkel, so far, is saying no!
I am not an expert in the EU budget and bailouts, but aren’t they different things?
I suppose that a budget is about EU funds, whereas a bailout is about loans organised through banks and special facilities.
Kev, are you still busy with those plates? We need your help here.
Sure they are different things! Who said they weren’t? Why call Kev for help? Let him finish cleaning the dishes because they must be quite filthy!
Nobody ever taught anybody that after such a short life-span of the EU and the Eurozone, one would come to this state of affairs, WHATEVER THE REASONS! So why not the revision of EU funds IN OUR FAVOUR, especially since we have been so good and nearly first in class? It’s principles that are important here, and not details and meanings. The evil are having their share, why not the good?
In today’s circumstances especailly, yes, I’d rather be a daft and Lejber elf, than a crafty, evil. anti-Lejber fox!
If you thought that was daft…
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Today, 20:15
Dear JOE………………if YOU make it [ and in view of the constitutionalised corruption prevailing YOU will have MY SUPPORT ] make sure that all institutions in which THE STATE is involved, will be dissolved. NO FORM, HINT OR SHAPE OF ANY RCCs MUST BE PERMITTED. It is stomach revolting how an individual could have amassed such manipulative influence to the extent that for 21 years + it looks like he was running MALTA behind the scenes.
RCC MUST NOW BE PLACED BEFORE THE POEOPLE`s TRIBUNAL AND ALL OFFICIAL ABOUT HIM HAS TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
THE PEOPLE CANNOT BE STUPID NOT TO REALISE THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST MALTA BY THE PN AS THESE FACTS KEEP COMING TO LIGHT. SHOCKING-DISGUSTING-REVOLTING……………….NO DOUBT DICTATORIAL & REPRESSIVE…………………ah,ha……………WE ARE A DEMOCRACY !!
What, he did not write on behalf of WE THE PEOPLE? Tsk Tsk.
Dr Joseph Grech Attard reeks of old Labour (and by old, I mean new too). Very, very scary and worrying that these guys might actually make it to government.
As for Emmy Bezzina, well, what can I say? Similar to Obelix of Asterix fame, I’ve always suspected that as a child he must have been dropped head first into a large vat of Barking Mad.
The cretins are rising from the dead.
Dr Grech Attard is living in Tunisia now.
Excuse me Mr. A. Montebello, but you, too, reek of anti-Labour, including the support of Mussolini and the “Terinu ” case of old PN!
At present, we all are suffering from bad planning and “money no problem” politics with 6 billion worth of debts! And being the best of the worst is no consolation! Sometime, somehow, we have to pay back. So I, too, am “Very, very scary and worrying that these guys might actually make it to government” once again!
Yes, Mr Harry – but some of them are still alive too!
Why get personal?
MR. P. Shaw – I am NOT living in Tunisia, and I cannot think what this has to do with the subject. I come and go to wherever I please, Tunisia mostly. Are you playing the part of a paparazzi or what?
Il-hmura li normalment tixghel fuq wicc dan l-iskadut issa inbidlet fi hdura u lanzit.
Probabilment qed jittama li it-tribunal tal-poplu jippresedieh hu.
Emmy Bezzina, if you’re going to be an asshole, at least do it in style.
He can start by unlocking those CAPS.
Imma dawn veru bis-serjeta jkunu qed jghidu?
Iva bis-serjeta! Ghaliex? Taf b’xi soluzzjoni ohra fis-sitwazzjoni mwergha li qeghdin fiha!
Labour know so much about the EU, its policies and how it works, that it does not occur to them and Grech Attard in particular, that holding negotiations would mean holding back the financing programme for the whole of 27 member states – and 28 by then as Croatia woudl be in next year- simply a non-starter. Malta is NOT dealing a bailout here.
Bazwar naqra l’hawn u bazwar naqra l’hemm…mhux xorta.
Hekk hu mhux xortra t-tbazwir sur/sinjura Nina. Mhux tbaqzwir li gabna f’hix gabna – 6 biljun euro dejn li xi darba rridu nhallsu? U skuzi ta, ghaliex tktbu tahut pseudo name. Tibzghu turu minn intom?
U dan ghandu l-MA/MAG/JUR EU LAW U LLD wara ismu. Pity that he never polled more than a handful of votes.
HON. u MP jonqsu u ma jkollniex ghalfejn nibnuh il-bridge bejn Malta w Ghawdex.
Where did Dr Grech Attard get the notion that, just like Greece, Malta needs a bail out? Malta is actually contributing funds for the Greek bail out.
That time has not come about yet but it could very well become a reality if the LP under its present management ever gets elected. This time the one going round Europe with a begging bowl in his hand would be a Muscat not a Mintoff.
Dr. Francis Saliba I did not get that notion, but if Greece & Co can do it for bailouts, why not us for funds? The best in the EU (even though in a class of capitalistic asses) need compensation for their efforts and toil. How is the EU going to reward those who have toiled and suffered (and still are) like us?
And, by the way, asking for your rights is not begging! Bowing our heads to what others say have brought us to the situation we are in today,whatever other reasons there might be!
The EU budget plan does not revolve around how much money Malta plans to filch off EU taxpayers, that’s why.
Mr/Ms La Redoute (again one of the many who fear to reply with their real identity) I know that. It’s up to us to make it known to the EU that good dogs need to be rewarded! Remaining a silent dog who never barks could lead to putting it down for not making an effort. I think it is time we change our servile and colonial mentality, whether it is British, Italian, Arab or EU!
@ Dr Grech Attard (I hope that is the correct spelling and not the newly intrdocuced ASttard).
Trying to induce four neighbouring countries to assume the defence of the island after the UK refused Mintoff’s asking price for the UK forces to stay on the island, and begging Gaddafi to supply funds for paying the salaries of Malta government employees weren’t Mintoff “asking for out rights”. It was soliciting.
You should be aware that Malta already IS obtaining funds from the E.U. but the management of Malta’s NP government finances has been such as not to render it necessary to beg for handouts from anybody whilst contributing to the bailouts of other much bigger countries.
Speaking about spelling first – what do you mean by “intrdocuced.” I did not find it in any dictionary!
Mintoff did not ‘beg’ Gaddafi. He ‘traded’ with Gaddafi, as he traded with Italy! His policies was well known by both.
Of course I am aware that Malta is obtaining funds from the EU. But these are not enough, because, if they were, government would have not made 6 billion euro in debts to run the country’s bare necessities. To contribute for bailouts we had to borrow that money since our coffers are in the negative. And have a look at the interest we have to pay on the bailout money lent and the interest we shall be getting back (if ever) from the bailed out countries!
By the way it’s Cyprus turn now, unless Russia lends it once again the money for bailout!
Who next?
Thank you Mrs. Daphne Caruana Galizia. But I cannot understand what ” who headed St Luke’s Hospital during the doctors’ strike of the 1970s” has to do with my comment on the EU! And, for correctness and fairness sake, I did NOT head St. Luke’s Hospital in the doctors’ strike of the 70’s. I was then heading the Emergency Dept. where I, together with Mr. Carmel Apap-Bologna, FRCS, also treated the son of the then Leader of the Opposition and head of the PN Dr. Edward Fenech-Adami, after an accident he had had in Valletta. I headed St. Lukes’ Hosptal in 1982, after quite a number of Maltese doctors and specialists had returned, but never got a permanent post as Medical Suptd. When this was offered to me prior to the 1987 elections by the then PM Dr. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, I refused. I left Govt service soon after the elections of 1987 to start a new life in Private Practice. Later on, I was offered the job again as Medical Suptd by a PN Minister of Health, but I had done so well with Private Practice that I also refused. I still bow my head and show my respect to this ex-Minister of Health who showed his appreciation for my abilities, despite our quite open different of opinion regarding politics!
The dismal “performance” at St Luke Hospital during the lock out of MAM doctors is precisely one important warning to what could lie in store for Malta if ever the Labour Party is entrusted again with the reins of power.
Of course Nationalists had to seek treatment at S.L.H., (such as it was) during the doctors lock out, Mintoff saw to it that no other private or Church hospitals were licensed to supply alternative medical services.
You can also quote me as one doctor who had to utilise the S.L.H. facilities, willy nilly, but patients and relatives of mine did not receive basic treatment and some died, UNNECESSARILY as a direct result of that monopoly situation and because they dared to seek GP treatment as a MAM doctor..
Dr. Saliba the incident I am talking about happened when private and Church hospitals were still open!
Patients dying UNNECESSARILY still happen in our state of the art, Mater Dei, and even prior to the MAM strike in SLH and other hospitals, as proven by certain public inquiries. It happens also in other parts of the civilsed world, as you surely know. It also happens to private general practitioners. Medical lawsuits abroad, especially in the USA, are common day affairs. So, please, do not, indirectly, throw mud at those persons who thought it better to help, support and change things from inside. You thought otherwise, but it does not mean that what you and others did was morally or ethically better than the others’. Pity that some of you, who disallowed also the social contact with the non-striking doctors, still bear a grudge, despite being Christian Democrats!
Correction: ” … who disallowed also the social contact with the STRIKING doctors … “
Excuse the mistake. … Correction ” … who disallowed also the social contact with the STRIKING doctors … “
At the time of the MAM doctors’ lock out, Church and private hospitals were obstructed from the word “go” but it took some months before the MLP managed to close them for good. No thanks are due to the labour government and those who supported it.
Hospital patients will continue to die but because of misadventure. The cases I mention were deliberately refused simple correct treatment because the signature of the remitting doctor was a MAM member. They would receive correct treatment if they were remitted to hospital by strike breakers.
Dr. Salibba – This is misinformation and a half-truth. The striking doctors used to refer patients to hospital without a proper referral note to the detriment of the patient him/herself. It was before the strike, and even as far before as the 1960’s, that general practitioners were strongly advised by the Health Dept. to refer patients on proper, freely provided Referral Tickets. Notices to the GP’s were sent many a time and not the first time that patients were referred back to their GP for a Ticket of Referral. This still holds nowadays. Striking doctors were doing that on the order of the MAM. As you should know, referring patients without proper referral information could lead to misinformation and could do harm to the patient but most striking, politically-motivated doctors did not care. Their anit-Lejber sentiment was more important than their patients.
Patients were NEVER refused treatment but, in non-urgent cases, they were asked to provide a proper Ticket of Referral, even from the “Berga” where services were free of charge. The son of the then leader of the Opposition and hundreds of others did not produce a Referral Ticket and they was not refused treatment. And do be even more correct, certain striking unethical doctors, even referred patients by scribbling ineligibly and on bits of paper one finds in toilets. That is the truth of the matter Dr Saliba. Just produce one evidence of a patient who under oath can say that he/she was refused treatment because he/she had a Ticket of Referral from a striking doctor.
PS: Excuse me Mrs. Daphne Caruana Galizia, I cannot see what all this has to to do with your producing my note abouts the EU, but since certain people like to tangent from an argument, one has to defend oneself from such misinformers.
“Not fair that, a few months before the general elections, a deal is sought by a party who, most probably, shall not be in government” (Dr Joseph Grech Attard)
That is precisely what your Malta Labour Party did when on the eve of its lost general election it granted the citizens of Malta access to the European Courts of justice to air grievances against the government, a right that would become operative only after the MLP lost the election.
So? Was that good or evil? if it was evil one should not try and copy evil things! Two wrongs never make a right.
@ Joseph Grech Attard.
It was evil, hypocritical, discriminatory and intentionally so, in the case of access to the European Courts of Justice. The timing was deliberately selected to disallow a multitude of possible appeals that could have been raised against abuses that had actually been committed by an MLP government against the Maltese citizen. At the same time the MLP timed the introduction of that facility, discriminately, so as to protect labourites from any possible future abuses that could have been made against them.
There is no comparison with the present instance of protecting the interests of the nation as a whole during internationa discussions that won’t be postponed in order to satisfy your pro-Labour bias.
I did not say it was the same. You did. So if what is being asked now is not wrong, then neither the other was wrong. Or it does not matter for you to use two weights and two measures only when it suits you?
Is it wrong to have a pro-Labour bias but not wrong to have an anti-Labour bias like yourself?
What was proven to be 100% ” … evil, hypocritical, discriminatory and intentionally so .. ” by the Law Courts were the lies on Dr. Alfred Sant by your former NP leader, ex-PM and ex-President. Never has a Maltese PM and/or President managed to rise to that calibre!!
Dr Emmy Bezzina (plus all degrees) pompously speaks in the name of “We the people” when the political party he set up received no support at all from the electorate.
Isn’t it a pity that he does not realise what a fool he is making of himself?
As for Dr Joseph Grech Attard betrays incredible big-headedness. He expects the EU’s budget examination, which affects 27 states, to be put on hold to accomodate the Labour Party which he supports.
Dr. Saliba, NO! I expect that those states, like us, which have worked by the rules, should be compensated. And since GonziPN is not able to work for that better leave it in more expert hands. “Money is no problem” failed miserably and should be shelved!
Why should anyone be compensated for following the rules? And why should that compensation take the form of penalising everybody else?
Lest there be some confusion, I am not a doctor. My brother is.
Since Malta joined the EU funds have been coming to Malta and this is not due to anything that the Labour Party has done but thanks to the Nationalist Party in government and its representatives in the EU.
Your attitude betrays the Mintoff mentality that the rest of the world owes us a living. It does not.
OOOPS. Excuse the title. Mr. Saliba. I could have sworn it was the same pen that was writing, but i was wrong. I do not know if it were you but I remember attending a conference under a Labour Government which included a Mr. Evarist Saliba. If it were you “How are you.” If not, “how are you just the same!”
Now, after my apologies and the introductions:
EU funds have been coming sure, but not enough!! Funds were coming even before we joined the EU. But, thanks to the ‘money no problem’ and the “800 miljun Lira, hbieb tieghi!” mentality and politics the PN used to win votes to be able to join the EU, we ended up with 6 billion euro in debt, so far! Correct me if I am wrong, but is it true that we,a poor nation, need to borrow money to aid the bailout of others (since our coffers are in the negative), with the difference that the interest that we pay to borrow that money is higher than the interest the country being helped will be returning to us, if we ever see them back? So, the best thing would be to ‘spend, spend, spend,’ as we have been urged to do, and proceed to ask for bailouts!
I do not wish to say here what I think of your mentality. I am not used to such writings to explain my opinions. I leave character assassination and getting personal to the party you represent (i.e. GonziPN and PN) and your god-self.
Dik il-problema!!! Dawn nitkellmu bis-serjeta, nkwiet se jerga ikollna f’dan il-pajjiz…..
Imbecilli. And what makes him so sure Labour will be in government next election. I have my doubts and hope for Malta’s sake that I am right.
Who is “Imbecilli” Mr PG? Why a pseudo name? Why afraid to come out in public?
@ Joseph Grech Attard.
Do you think that “imbecilli” is applicable to someone who mis-spells his own double-barrel surname some sixteen times in eleven minutes?
@ Francis Saliba MD:
Who told you I mis-spelled it. I could have changed it, doctor, even just for this blog! Or others are allowed to use pseudo names but I am not allowed a small change?
Do you have a personal grudge against me, colleague? if yes, why? If no, ok.
And, by the way, I did not ask you! Kemm thobb tindahal!!
@ Joseph Grech Attard (alias ASttard)
Stop bluffing. The readers of this blog are no fools. ASttard is not a nom de plume. It is what happens when the typist is so agitated that his clumsily trembling left index finger hits two adjacent keys at once. Try answering when you are calmer.
@Dr. Saliba
No matter how much you can get personal and call me, indirectly, ‘imbecilli’ or ‘agitated’ or with ‘with trembling fingers’ (which, unfortunatlely, i really have) or not being ‘calmer.’ I shall NOT reply in such a degrading, personal manner. But I just ask you to view your own spelling mistakes above (June 26 at 3.15pm). I shall not call you names for it. God forbid. I just accept a human spelling-mistake error.
Now i have no doubts that you bear grudges. But i turn my other cheek. I, like you, have also started counting my last years on earth. It’s not worthed to end life in such an unhappy and vicious manner! I tend to follow the greatest commandment, even though i never boasted or still boast of being a Christian Democrat, but a whole-heatedly Socialist Democrat.
@ Joseph Grech Attard (sive ASttard)
There is no great harm in typographical errors – they happen all the time, me included. But when I make them I do not insult the intelligence of readers by pretending that I was assuming ASttard intentionally as a nome de plume..
I am neither unhappy nor vicious – I amuse myself by bursting ego-bubbles of unrepentant Labourites of the old school who did so much harm to a fledgling independent Malta.
When somebody calls you and “imbecilli” because of a typographical error, yes, you reply with the same tone!
If you amuse yourself by bursting ……etc, there are others, like me, who amuse themselves by bursting the super-ego filthy bubbles of evil and cunning PN and GonziPN supporters, by showing how arrogant, intolerant to human weaknesses, crafty and fascist they are, who brought our country to its knees by means of corruption, lies and half-truths.