GUEST POST – The new chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development: a retired teacher and union man who dyes his hair
John Bencini: the social partners feel they can’t work with him and yet he has been imposed on them all the same, by the prime minister. His dress sense alone is worrying.
Joseph Muscat has done it again, except that this time he has really done it. He has appointed John Bencini to run the Malta Council for Social & Economic Development.
The MCESD is the most important national organ linking the economy to government, the public to the private sector, employers to workers. Ever since it was created by the Nationalist government, it has performed a key task admirably well and was instrumental in the formulation of policies and advice on decisions which kept the economy on an even keel even in the worst of times.
It painstakingly created a consensus around the truism that unless Maltese entrepreneurs are competitive there is no other agenda item on the national table. It was this consensus that helped us pull through the biggest world recession of the century almost unscathed.
Without that consensus there really is no reliable economic and financial future for us.
And John Bencini is made responsible for it? A retired school teacher? A union man? A union man who refused to leave his post even when he retired? Please.
The man probably thinks that the GDP is a new hair rinse brand he could try.
Honestly, God help us. But first, God really needs to help those who now have to cope with him.
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Did he order a blackboard and chalk for the first meeting ?
No, but he might suggest a repeater class.
Meanwhile, at Auberge du Chavs, Michelle, Sun and Star go to visit Joseph “at werk”, amid a sea of bags and paraphernalia, including a cycling helmet.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130403/local/-Hello-daddy-.464011
U dahlet mil-bieb principali, biex zgur kull min jara’ jinduna kemm hija importanti u ta’ gewwa.
The practical way to enter Castille is from the side door in St Paul’s Street.
1) Security personnel and reception on your right would know that one is around.
2) On the left hand side corridor there are two lifts which could take you up to roof level.
3) A soldier or messenger would have helped the two sweet girls and mummy with their bags.
Conclusion: the Muscats wanted to put on a show.
Was that really worth wasting valuable ink and space for printing and/or a corner of cyber-space?
Only in Malta – crass idiots and we are lumped with them for five years that is unless they bankrupt the country before then. Heaven help us all.
Believe me, it’s really become an auberge du chavs, especially with Keith Kasko’s ‘friends’ around.
What has become of the most feminist government in history that was promised to us by Joseph?
I thought that the ladies were going to brighten up the country.
Instead we are being inflicted with a bunch of weirdly dressed pensioners.
And in the meantime we have the most feminist parliament in history as one-seventh of the MPs are women.
Yet our PM is on the record of feeling unsatisfied with the female MPs elected on the first round of elections. He had spoken too early and rashly as usual. Or maybe was it because his favourite female MP had not made it through the first round and so she was not available for his cabinet lineup which most probably was promised to her.
The feminist bit is where they bring in their wife or their bit on the side on the taxpayers’ payroll.
No, a white board.
What hair?
The remaining wisps, carried over, that smell greasy even from a respectable distance.
Can one dye one’s nose hairs? Should be interesting.
Only by snorting talcum powder.
Isn’t that what most PL kazini are there for.
I have been informed by reliable sources that he does not need to resort to a snort to hallucinate. He does that by default.
Damned nuisance. Always getting in the way. I wish Natius would introduce a nasal depilation service.
There is a Maltese saying to do with ”min jinghi l-aktar, jerda l-aktar”.
So long as the PN remains in disarray , JosephMuscat.com will get away even with murder (figuratively of course) right now.
A retired teacher who is still active and looking forward to further develop his career?
Then he surely qualifies to be sent immediately on the sabbatical which was promised by Joseph Muscat in his Roadmap proposal number 43.
Is it true Joseph tries things once, doesn’t like it, gets bored and loses interest?
What, that can’t be true of everything.
Even sex?
No, he has two children.
Ah yes, but they’re twins.
Business scouts and risk managers prefer dinners, the real decisions instinctive.
It’s where the money guys get either the right or very wrong signals. Experience, informed opinion and personality, in that order, but also the other way round.
Does he even keep his drink?
You forgot to mention that he was a Jesuit priest back in the 60s.
Jeez, and to think I was ordered to be converted in order to marry my beautiful Catholic wife-to-be back then.
Now he’s a rabid red and I’m a helpless widower. Funny world.
Ghoqda ser igiba l-ekonomija. Bencini tad-dahk.
X’decizjoni progessiva Joseph.
Harry, you mean ice.
The people have spoken, they voted for shit and now we must all eat it.
I think Bencini jumped the queue in the line-up for “awards”.
There will be others who will definitely grumble because they were not given priority.
This is the same person who, when asked to stand by his corruption allegations, chickened out.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/musumeci-appointed-parliamentary-secretary-s-consultant-and-adviser.464074
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-04-04/news/decelis-not-giving-up-work-at-mater-dei-consultancy-part-of-parliamentary-duty-1323204608/
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/musumeci-appointed-parliamentary-secretary-s-consultant-and-adviser.464074
Oh look, how sweet:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/musumeci-appointed-parliamentary-secretary-s-consultant-and-adviser.464074
John Bencini = a recipe for self destruction.
Musumeci appointed parliamentary advisor on MEPA.
And there we go.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/musumeci-appointed-parliamentary-secretary-s-consultant-and-adviser.464074
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-04-04/news/anti-pn-anti-islam-right-wing-party-launched-1322680326/
You get a hon. mention .
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/musumeci-appointed-parliamentary-secretary-s-consultant-and-adviser.464074
Great news – for Musumeci of course. If you want to ensure that your application for minor irregularities covered by the concessions announced last August and Febuary by MEPA, is accepted you know who to engage as your architect.
Malta Taghna Lkoll?
I have heard that Michael Frendo has been “offered” some position abroad – I do not know exactly what this is; however, reviewing the latest moves by Labour, I think that the PN – I mean ALL the PN, including MPs should chorus “NON SERVIAM”. Let Labour send its own boys to do the job. I they do not know how, just hard luck.
There are more pigs in Gozo then in Malta, and that is official .
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/pigs.464081
Ghawdex Taghhom Ukoll.
A man who is still moaning about his case, his injustice, his weġgħa…. But then again he is another one to collect his dues.
And there goes another prize for another switcher. Mr Musumeci is a consultant to the parliamentary secretary for planning. I have a gut feeling that eventually he’ll end up heading the authority or something similar to it because remember the prime minister has said he’ll be dividing Planning from Environment.
Goodbye MCESD.
I would have thought an intelligent person would know the limits of his competence. This is a difficult and responsible position requiring qualities that not many have.
Do you honestly believe that Bencini has been appointed because of his intelligence? Is not the opposite more likely to be the case?
There you go, this one’s in too:)
http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=Robert+Musumeci+ma%26%23295%3Btur+konsulent+personali+tas%2DSegretarju+Parlamentari+Michael+Farrugia&t=a&aid=99846026&cid=19
Re PL’s response to Simon Busuttil’s comments:
“Dr Busuttil’s comments clearly show that if he is elected as leader of the PN, the party will continue to adopt its negative politics of the past which distinguishes between us and them,” the statement read.
Us and them? They say that the days of political parties are over. Suppost diga Malta Taghna Lkoll.
Oh, look, Musumeci is the new Consultant of the Parliamentary Secretary in charge of MEPA’s breakdown.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/musumeci-appointed-parliamentary-secretary-s-consultant-and-adviser.464074
So the Movement which considered the advisors of the previous government as “tberbiq u hela” is now appointing its lackeys as consultants, assistants, commissioners and what have you at the expense of the Maltese public.
But in any case, I am eager to hear from Astrid Vella, the one of Flimkien Ghal-Ambjet Ahjar, about this appointment.
I looked for her comments beneath the article on timesofmalta.com, and then looked again and again, but nada – not a single comment from her under this news.
I thought my, oh my, since when is Astrid Vella no longer interested in news relating to MEPA at this strategic level? For heavens sake, this is the advisor – within the ministry of Joseph Muscat – who will be advising on the splitting up of the Authority.
Then, I remembered about this piece in The Malta Independent of 23 June 2009, and there, I found Ms. Vella’s opinion about Mr. Musumeci.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-06-23/news/court-bahrija-controversy-robert-musumeci-sues-astrid-vella-226724/
She had posted these comments on timesofmalta.com on 18 June 2009:
“Nice one Perit Musumeci, excellent piece of self-promotion! You are basically advertising, as you do every Sunday in Malta Today, that you are capable of obtaining even the most difficult permits, i.e. the ones that violate Mepa regulations, just as this one contravenes no less than 18 regulations! You are encouraging political clients to come to you with their abusive cases in the most blatant of manners. “What a wonderful things for a member of our country’s ruling political party to be openly promoting abuse. The tolerance of such behaviour by both political parties amounts to tacit acceptance. This is a totally unacceptable situation – how can our leaders be preaching ethics and obedience to the law when they are endorsing abuse in this way?”
I was struck mainly by her last question, which I am morally convinced she is entirely entitled to ask in a democratic country, namely:
“How can our leaders be preaching ethics and obedience to the law when they are endorsing abuse in this way?”
Maybe she can ask that question again today?
To be fair to Mr. Musumeci, he sued Astrid Vella for defamation and libel for her comments above, as reported by The Malta Independent.
And then I found this one. Hilarious.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090717/local/astrid-vella-questioned-over-alleged-libel.265487
The new Advisor of the Minister in charge of MEPA had asked the Police to proceed against the coordinator of an eNGO which then threatened to file a complaint with the Geneva office of the Aarhus convention for harassment in breach of international convention.
The organisation even said in a statement that “This legal action is not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society and reflects poorly on the architect-politician who demanded a police investigation.”
What do the eNGOs who were involved in the investigations relating to this ‘architect-politician’ – namely the Ramblers Association, FAA and Nature Trust – have to say now about the appointment of this architect-politician to a position which determines the future of planning and environment law in Malta?
What does Mr. Alex Vella, President of the Ramblers Association have to say now about the appointment of this architect-politician to a position that the determines the future of the authority of which Mr. Vella has been appointed – by fellow environmentalists – to be a board member?
And what does Mr. Alex Vella have to say about this appointment, considering that Mr. Musumeci had, in previous years, filed some of his applications as reported by The Malta Independent?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090623/local/musumeci-sues-astrid-vella-for-libel.262152
But if this was hilarious, the next one is downright a farce. According to The Times, the lawyers who appeared for Mr. Musumeci against Astrid Vella were Jose Herrera (Parliamentary Secretary, or as his parliamentary colleague Joe Debono Grech used to call it, Ministru tas-Second Division), and Veronique Dalli.
Veronique Dalli is now a new board member of the MEPA.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090623/local/musumeci-sues-astrid-vella-for-libel.262152
The whole controversy had started here:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090618/local/ngos-point-guns-at-architect-behind-bahrija-project.261483
Gvern tal-Moviment. Contradictions and conflicts of interest galore. Truly l-Aqwa fl-Ewropa.
It is so very true what Gino Cauchi had said that they have people ready to take up places. This is no new beginning at all.
Silvio Parnis said that too and he’s still waiting.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201063765664913&set=a.1075668860558.2014244.1491310405&type=1
Seriously? Now they’re attempting to turn the opening of Parliament into a farcical mass-meeting type event.
Let in the clowns or rather let the rest of the clowns.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130404/local/illiteracy-strategy-to-be-launched-soon.464202
Illiteracy strategy to be launched soon – tablets plan to be unveiled
Illiteracy strategy! Instead of a literacy strategy (which by the way already exists).
Daphne, they sure provide you with ample fodder.
Illiteracy strategy? Simple. Just keep having Maltese babies. We’ll have 100% illiteracy sooner or later.
Six of the eight members of the MCESD object to this appointment. This is not considered news worthy to TVM – or have I missed it?
I suggest whoever is responsible for requesting an EU bailout start drafting the document now.
Once again I reiterate my most heartfelt thanks to all the switchers voting Labour a month ago, just because they wanted to try something different. Now you have it all over the place, incompetent people running the country and a PM who is trying hard to shut down all opposition out of his way!
No, do not turn to the PN to defend us all. Let’s see who has the guts to criticize this government openly using the same media which destroyed the PN and created all this political nonsense.
What the f**k does John Bencini knows about economic development?
Bencini doesn’t know anything about economic development. That’s why he’s been appointed.
With a sinking heart I have to admit that Joseph Muscat is one cunning bastard. He is out to conquer the weaklings.
The N.P is fast drowning, so what does he do? Scoop up the spineless ones.
What has the PN to offer? No cash, no leadership, no direction and worse still no plans.
For God’s sake – Francis Zammit Dimech? Ray Bugeja? Mario De Marco, who is playing coy until the last minute just because he thinks he thinks that turning up after the party begins will attract more attention (like daddy used to do)?
It is so sad, so very sad to see the party that I fought so hard for that I believed in with such passion, the party that gave Malta hope and a future, the party that had such vision – reduced to such shambles.
At about 4.00 this afternoon MaltaToday came out with a story that Reno Bugeja is being considered for PBS Head of News.
MaltaToday are not usually wrong with such news and they are the first to have the information.
Later, The Malta Independent said that the minister responsible has denied this news. But MaltaToday has still not updated with the correction.
So what is to become of Jason Micallef. The absolute quiet is quite scary.
As an outsider who has no party allegiance, I can tell it how I see it and not give a monkey’s if I offend or irritate.
My view of Muscat is that he is basking in the glow of a 9-seat majority.
He knows it will take five ‘Frankie-types’ to topple him, so he’s safe as.
His raison d’etre appears to be taking the piss out of Nationalists.
With no one to answer to except himself, and the voters in five years of course, I can see it getting a whole lot messier before it gets any better.
The chap has a serious inferiority complex.
Of course most of the population has one too, so he doesn’t stand out as a freak.
What I want is a definitive answer to this question: what is the national interest?
Depends from which angle one looks at it – blue or red.
No it doesn’t. The national interest is the same for everyone. Please don’t tell me you believe that relativist nonsense about everyone having a right to express an opinion. No one has a right to their own version of the facts.