State-funded school runs
Published:
May 7, 2013 at 10:06pm
Is it right, correct, ethical, or even sensible for members of the cabinet of government to use their state-funded official chauffeur-driven limo to take their children to school?
At least one of them is seen doing this practically every day at St Martin’s College in Swatar, and the chauffeur has even been seen flaunting traffic-control regulations there in the drop-off rush.
He is Stefan Buontempo, the Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport.
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The traffic regulations are definitely flouted by the driver on most schoolday afternoons, at collection time; traffic flow is a bit easier near school in the mornings, so generally, no regulations are broken at that time..
What right has Stefan Buontempo to use his state-funded car and driver this way? Is this a new aristocracy funded by the people?
Actually this has been going on for quite a while. When I was in secondary school a friend of mine whose father was a magistrate was picked up from school every afternoon.
Just grin and bear it.
Issa Malta taghhom kollha.
U l-gvern fejn hu?
Shhhhhh…..
In good time, Buontempo will have repaired his Reliant Robin at Mr Goodenough’s in Stepney, Deafney. Don’t push. Don’t shove. All in good time.
Research, Innovation, Youth & Sport: Yes We Can Because We Ran…. in Good Time!
Have you seen Stefan Buontempo of late? Hardly the embodiment of youth or sport, or innovation. As for research…you never know.
Can you imagine a Konsulent tal-Housing running the Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport ministry?
I don’t have to imagine it. It’s happening right now.
What is a “Housing Consultant” ? What does he do ? Anything to do with the Housing Authority ?
The real scandal is relegating research and innovation to this dork. Labour’s typical second rate reasoning at its best.
Bill, good question.
Don’t know what a housing consultant should do, but I’m sure that Marie Louise Coleiro Preca could find him something to do, like checking the soap holders, the plumbing, looking out for cracked bathroom sinks and leakages in gas pipe leakages and flushings in Housing Authority apartments.
I will add another question.
Should judges and magistrates have their official car and driver pick up their children from school or private lessons?
I have seen this on a number of occasions.
[Daphne – Why so shocked? One magistrate allows his wife to use his car and driver as a delivery service for her toyshop. She’s now an MEP, which means she might be getting some kind of an education in these matters.]
If it’s not specifically written in the Code of Ethics, they can do it.That’s how they reason. They don’t know what decency is. On this the PM is leading by example by leasing his private second hand car to the Government.
And if it is written in the Code of Ethics they just get a waiver or say that they are considering rewwriting the Code, because after all these are just ethics not rules. Ask Frank Portelli, whosold his dignity to tell us that in the Westminster Model the PM changes these ethics, and conveniently or purposely avoided telling us that the ethical standards of the British Government are always set one notch higher not a whole flight of steps lower.
To be frank, I expected Dr Portelli to tell us that once the new Code of Ethics has not been published, the ‘old’ Code of Ethics remains ‘in vigore’. That’s what is expected in a Western democracy.
But then I’m expecting too much from someone who wants to sell his failed business to a ministry which is in a cold war with the Office of the Prime Minister.
Gotta love the put down (“private SECOND HAND” car)!
“If it’s not specifically written in the Code of Ethics, they can do it.That’s how they reason. They don’t know what decency is”
and that’s the very reasoning that led to the expenses scandal in the UK
And Dr. Zammit Lewis uses his driver to drop off his wife Elena the notary, first at the office in Birkirkara, followed by a drop off in Valletta. So she won’t have to hassle with parking.
I think sending kids to school in a chauffeur driven car sends the wrong message both to the child as well as to whoever sees this sort of “grand entrance” at the school gate. If I were the parent faced with such a choice I would drop the idea straight away.
No need to worry about that. Most parents at these particular school gates are the kind to look down on what others may think of as a “grand entrance” (though I do, of course, know what you mean to say).
I attended St. Martin’s College not too long ago and believe me we all thought it was ridiculous that a chauffeur came to pick up the Scerri Herrera kids.
People do generally associate us with snobbery and whatnot but anyone who left or arrived at school with any sort of pomp or pageantry was secretly laughed at.
So any ideas of grandeur that these children might have quickly vanishes. They’re probably begging to be picked up by a family member or to use private transport just like everyone else.
When he was a cabinet minister, Jesmond Mugliett used to take his daughter to Chiswick House School in his official car. He wouldn’t walk her to the gate himself. He had his chauffeur do it, and the chauffeur also carried her bag.
This is nothing new .
Unfortunately PN ministers used to do exactly the same thing. Tonio Fenech’s driver used to drop off his Fenech junior at football nursery, wait for him and take him home again.
I hated it then and I hate it now ! But unfortunately, when asked to comment about this at the time, Lawrence Gonzi had defended this practice by stating that minsters paid tax on this allowance just like any other employee who was entitled to a car allowance.
Thank you, g. You said it all.
Lawrence Gonzi may have been a reasonably good prime minister with good policies, but in the end he was let down by his Malteseness.
If they really pay tax on the car, then they do have a right to use it as they please, effectively it is no longer an offcial car, but a car paid by the employer, read the state, for their own peronal use.
Anyone from the level of director and above, has a right for a car on which one pays 35% tax per year, based on its depreciation value or soething similar.
The question would be, is Hamburger Joe paying any tax on his 7000 euro per year income?
You beat me to it as I frequently used to see Fenech’s official vehicle drop off his kid whilst out on my evening walk. At the recent Malta v Italy match, one (PL govt) official vehicle turned up packed with wife, kids & hangers-on.
I can only assume the new lot are more blatant than the old lot.
I second that.
Let’s look at it in another way.
The minister’s time is more expensive than the driver’s in man-hour costs. By having the driver dropping off the minster’s son to football training, gives the minister more time to dedicate to his ministerial work. Ministers do no get paid over-time, to me this is a small perk, which is well deserved.
I stand to be corrected.
As Leader of the Opposition, Muscat had his driver wait outside the ballet school in Old College Street, Sliema, for one of the twins. One presumes that the same car will be doing the same job now that he is prime minister, but with flag attached.
Funny, I used to be called ‘elitist’ by socialists when our children went to St Martin’s . . . times change eh? As long as we’re all ‘Mittelklass’ now that’s all right then.
Haven’t you heard? St. Martin’s taghna lkoll.
Majjalata fl-ewwell xaghrejn. Immagina x’gej kif jidraw il-poter.
Tonio Fenech used to use the Ministerial car to drop off his daughters at St Dorothy’s in Zebbug.
Redneck, we voted for a change. Did we?
Just love the “well the PN used to do it too”. And there I was, thinking Labour wanted “change”.
Two wrongs never make one right- although Malta Taghna llkoll.
Even Dr.Cassar used to do it so nothing new.
It still does not make it right, does it?
Yes this has been happening for donkey’s years.
It happened thirty years ago when my elder children were at Sacred Heart and Stella Maris and is still happening now where my youngest is at St Martin’s.
It is things like this that people complaning about the expenses incurred in the search and rescue mission presently under way should complain about. This not only is a waste of money but also abuse.
I sincerely hope that Simon Busuttil and all those involved in restructuring the Nationalist Party pick on all these points – especially what ‘g’ above said.
If they manage to instil a new culture, there may be hope for Malta.
Otherwise, our country is screwed. And from Malta taghna lkoll the new slogan will transmute to ‘id-dejn taghna lkoll.”
Daphne, have a look at this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22209818
The reason why Malta is at the bottom of sleep deprivation is because of the good stipends students receive, they do not have to go to work like in other countries, secondly because Malta is small and students commute shorter distances.
As far as I know Ministers are entitled to two cars – the official one and another for private use. It is obviously basically wrong that the official one is used for anything other than official business. If I am correct and that they have one for personal use, then this is simply a perk of the job, an allowance they are entitled to and yes I would have no issue with this car being used for such personal errands. Though certainly using
the official one to take one’s kids to school or do the home shopping simply is insulting to the office they represent and ultimately to the nation.
This brings me to the whole issue of Ministers continuing in their private practice. I can understand the dilemma that one faces giving up what is possibly a lucrative practice and contact with the very constituents that have voted one in. With medical doctors who are family GPs this presents an even greater problem were patients have known their doctor for years. Following the rules to a ‘T’ could result in losing everything one has worked for after the 5 year stint in Government. However, one cannot have rules which are followed by some and flaunted by others. And then not by those same people who took so much political mileage about the Eur500 a week increase which was intended to bring Ministers up to present day values. Yes being a part of the Executive means being of service to the country but it shouldn’t be a charitable act. These people have their own financial realities too and not being properly paid only paves the way for possible indiscretions to take place. Not only, but as we have often said here, you cannot possibly run an Executive position on a part-time basis. The Prime Minister is abusing of his position to grant waivers. This only reflects his state of mind that he is above all and answerable to no-one, not even the electorate.
The more I think about it, the more I think that parliamentarians should be just that, parliamentarians. The Executive need not be constituted by people elected to Parliament and the Prime Minister should be able to appoint any person qualified to the job whether an MP or not. This would make the distinction between our Legislator and the Executive better defined and the checks and balances stronger. It would also remove that god-like status that Ministers have and remove that distinction between those parliamentarians appointed to the Executive and those designated for the back-bench. God only knows we can do without another Frankie Tabone scenario were one stamps his feet due to his own delusions of his worthiness. This way the Prime Minister would have a wider reach as to who he can appoint as a Minister, (do we even need them? I’m sure the perm secs can run the Ministries even better) with such limited resources we shouldn’t be restricted just to the lot elected to Parliament. Of course whoever is appointed to the job, must do so on a full-time basis, paid properly for it and removed by parliament if he doesn’t perform. It is crazy to even think that this country is being governed on a part-time basis. It is crazier still that this lot haven’t even started to govern.
And whilst we’re at it, we definitely do not need a parliament the size it is. I haven’t doen the maths but I bet that in terms of representation in proportion to our population, we must be one of the highest. Godfrey, Franco and la bella compagnia can continue with their practices and go to parliament to represent the people that elected them. Indeed whilst we’re at it, I think it is about time that national elections are just that, national. Enough of these districts which sometimes serve only to give warped results. There are the local councils to take care of local issues. Removing the districts could help to diminish the culture of patronage that still exists. Voting should be on a nationwide basis as they are with the MEP elections. With a smaller parliament, the quota should obviously be raised and yes like this Alternativa can stop whinging about how the system only protects the bigger two parties. If they get the national quota they should be represented too.
And finally back to the use of the Parliament building. I cannot understand why they are claiming that it is too small. The number of parliamentarians hasn’t changed. If it is because of the size of the Cabinet – well this is Parliament and not the Executive. It is no place for offices for Ministers. They are attending Parliament in their capacity as legislators not Ministers. Most of them have their daily offices within walking distance anyway, so what is the point of having a second office in this building too? I would rather that the additional resources were used for our parliamentarians to be able to have more back-up and be better prepared for the real issues that they need to discuss. Parliament is were the people of this country gets to be represented. That it does so in the heart of our capital city in a building designed by Renzo Piano is a reflection of the importance that this institution must be given as a symbol of our democracy. It is not a building for the parliamentarians but effectively the people, but since we all can’t go and sit in a plenary, the parliamentarians do it for us.
Ok enough said for today. Have a good day.
Best certificate for a PN government given by Joseph….
“But Mr Muscat told the BBC that the country’s finances were in healthy shape.
He said Malta was enjoying moderate growth and debt was under control.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22405349
Hope he doesn’t f*ck it all up!
You may wonder why the BBC refer to him as Mr Muscat?
That’s because in the UK, anyone with a PhD calling themselves a Doctor would be mocked.
Don’t know where to post this but here’s something that slapped me in the face tucked away in The Times back page.
“Prior to the interview requested by Dr (George) Vella, the receptionist at the Foreign Affairs Ministry demanded the reporter hands over his mobile phone before entering the minister’s office. The foreign minister said that this was a new policy”.
Progressive and modern, my fanny!
The hypocrisy of all this is that those people who criticised the Nationalists for making such practice , and rightly so, are now abusing in the same way.
In my view it is abusive.
35K+ nies waqaw ghan-nejk, is this the social justice you wanted? The end of oligarchic behaviors and the Malta Taghna lkoll? Imbasta qaghdtu tghidu, imbasta social
equality.
Fejni l-bidla? Ghal kull haga li jaghmlu tghidu “PN did it” mela issa l-PN saru mudell ghal tal-Labour? Ja qatta hniezer u bullshitters, kieku xi darba tikkupjaw l-affarjiet tajbin tal-PN.
Qoghodu issa 35K+ boloh, kurnuti f’pajjizkom.
Norman Lowell, eat your heart out:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130508/local/muslim.468857
In other news:
Even more ‘hokkli dahru u nhokklok tieghek’ meritocracy.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130508/local/muslim.468857
Buontempo’s GM21 number plate has been assigned to his new car – a spanking(no wisecracks, Ciccio)-new Volvo S60 2.0. Not quite a VIP car; more of an ‘ara kemm ghandi’ type of vehicle (not at all to my taste), only it’s off our taxes.
Is the Times of Malta feeling the pinch? They started a subscription fee for people reading it abroad.
Kemm sar tgergir fuq il-hames mitt euro illum nghajd li kienu farka tikopera li qed jihdu ministri u l-prim ministru sabuha kaxxa f’iddhom issadaqt imissna ahna imma biex inhallsu ghall kapricci taghhom
U le miskin. Aghtuh cans. Be positive.
Yes Stefan Buontempo’s GM21 has been doing the drop-off and pick-up at St Martin’s College. And yesterday there was another guy in the car with them and the worst thing is that his driver breaks the road regulations near the HSBC bank going towards Mater Dei Hospital.
He drives on the wrong side of the road causing oncoming traffic to halt. He overtook me yesterday while I was waiting with my indicators on to cross to the other side.
And yes Mr Mugliett used to do exactly that at Chiswick House School, and when I argued with the warden that the minister’s car was allowed to drop off at the gate and I wasn’t, and I wrote a letter on The Times complaining I got a phone call from a fuming Mrs Mugliett.
Years back I had occasion to find out the following in the course of my work.
The wife of the head of mission of one of the wealthiest countries on earth required to be driven to a certain place. She was too ill to drive herself.
She was forbidden from using the official car unless her husband was also present.
So he and his chauffeur called for her during their lunch break and ferried her to and from.
I was flabbergasted.
Daphne, senior police officers have been doing the same for years. Can you imagine children riding in police car to school every day because daddy is a senior officer?
An Ufficcju tal-President Peugeot 107 dropped off a student at Naxxar Higher this morning. Number plate GOV 182
The era of the minister’s chauffeur is back. We’ll soon be asking them for jobs or a favour.
Bountempo used to grumble on Facebook because he was consuming a lot of fuel in taking his children to school. Now he has found a solution: OPM (other people’s money).