These are the reasons why Norman Vella says it was political (and vindictive)
So Norman Vella will be back at the Department of Immigration on Monday. And the early evening show will be hosted by…who? Moira Delia, making the move from Super One TV? That very charismatic and eloquent individual, Saviour Balzan? Nuxellina, mayor of Qormi? Or are they going to pull some joker out of the pack?
In any case, here’s some background information that will help you understand what Vella meant when he said it was “political” and left the “vengeance” unspoken.
Vella was born into a hyper-Labour family. Yes, really. His father, Karmenu Vella (no, not that one) was a section secretary at the General Workers Union, but resigned after a serious difference of opinion with his superiors there.
With the help of one George Abela, he set up another union for port workers. When Abela stood for the Labour Party leadership, Vella Snr was part of his campaign team.
Norman himself worked for some time at the General Workers Union newspapers, L-Orizzont and It-Torca (for a while, concurrently with Kurt Farrugia). And in 1996, the campaign year in which Labour won the general election, he worked for Super One TV – with Joseph Muscat.
28 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
Karmenu Vella worked at Bank of Valletta. I do not know if he still does but is a very decent fellow.
The Muscats must be allergic to the Abelas and to anyone who supports/supported them.
They befriend them only when they need to make use of them.
I wonder how Labourites wo make a show of people who’ve ‘switched’ from PN to Labour and how they’re being treated well now can try to respond to this.
Malta tagħna lkoll indeed. Not even relatives of pro-Abela Labourites are safe from Joseph’s wrath.
So how do you explain the “pastazata ” performed by Robert Abela on the podium during the last election campaign?
Joseph using the ingrate Robert as a tool to woo pro-Abela Labourites.
Tista tkun Laburist u ma taqbilx maghna imma ma tistax tahdem maghna.
Paving the way for John Bundy?
Hopefully it won’t be Moira Delia, got kind of sick and tired hearing about cats and dogs and vice-versa.
Hopefully it won’t be Saviour Balzan, I simply cannot bear echo effects.
As to Nuxellina I have to say she’s nice to look at but the buck stops there.
Whatever the outcome, if any of the foregoing is chosen then it all boils down to, you guessed it…a joke.
And if it’s John Bundy, then it’s a joke personified.
My thought.
U x’sar minnu John Bundy?
Nothing wrong with having worked at l-Orizzont is there.
Martin Bugelli was sub-editor at L-Orizzont at one time but seemingly he doesn’t like it being mentioned.
Dear Sir/Madam
Without entering into the subject matter of the discussion, and while fully concurring that there is nothing wrong with having worked at L-Orizzont, or anywhere else for that matter, there is factual incorrectness in your comment.
Since facts are not subject to opinion, unless there is another Martin Bugelli of whose existence I am not aware and to whom you might be referring, I never worked at L-Orizzont in any capacity, ever.
If I had, I would have no problem with it being mentioned. Rather the contrary, as I would have used it to further enhance my C.V.
Martin Bugelli
It may have been another Martin Bugelli, in which case you should correct person who originally congratulated a certain Martin Bugelli for becoming the new Director of Information.
This is the original message as it appeared on the Times blog on Thursday, December 4, 2008.
Either this person is wrong or you need to enhance your CV.
Dr. John Zammit
The Times Dec 4th 2008, 17:07
Congratulations Martin, as myself was a former Sub-Editor of l-Orizzont and founder member of the Malta Press Club I wish you success in your career and better cooperation between us journalists.
I wish to confirm what my friend Martin Bugelli said. He was never employed with L-Orizzont or Union Press. It was I who was Sub-Editor of L-Orizzont and Journalist with Union Press. When I congratulated Martin when he became Director of Information there was a mistake because I did not put “(myself)” probabbly because went over the number of charactors allowed in the Times comments section.
Love to know where you get your information from! Besides, what’s it to do with Norman Vella?
Having known Martin Bugelli all my life I can vouch for the fact that he has never ever worked for L-Orizzont. Even if he did – what’s your point?
Dear Sir/Madam
That sheds light on the source of the factual inaccuracy. On my appointment at DOI, Dr John Zammit, HIMSELF a former editor of L-Orizzont and founder member of the Press Club, posted that comment to congratulate me. Since I know both him and myself, I had understood what he meant straight away, notwithstanding the room for improvement in the grammatical structure of the sentence.
I have replied once again just for the correctness of the record, and hope that it is now clear. The relevance of myself having been mentioned in this context is perhaps not so clear and I will not be commenting further on this matter.
Regards
Martin Bugelli
Still on the subject of transfers but elsewhere – mass transfers notified today within the police corps – mostly from SAG (or is it ex-SAG?).
Interesting. I thought myself isolated, alien, watching this place turn on itself.
It’s becoming physiological.
It’s a pity that Norman Vella’s removal from our screens had to be politicised.
I think he should have never been a presenter at all – his questions aren’t particularly intelligent, and his remarks are usually rather uninspiring.
That, however, could be said for most presenters or “journalists” on our screens, anyway.
And thankfully for Mr Vella, he has a desk job to return to on Monday.
Norman Vella has a thinking brain – of sorts – but he spent too much time with his mentor Peppi Azzopardi, and he picked up his horrible informal, matey, buddy-talk manners, which destroy all attempt at intelligent questions.
I suppose the audience just laps it up, this being Malta and all.
Why were you people so shocked at the PL’s vindictive attitude?
Isn’t exactly that what Jason (dak tal V-18) declared before elections on TV when he angrily addressed the TV presenter and told him – “And don’t expect that when we return to power you will be allowed to present another TV programme”.
This is just the beginning. Peppi will follow if he does not emulate Bondi’s footsteps.
But that’s it really, your average bloke isn’t welcome.
Whether Vella’s the 50 percentile, or if at least that’s his projection, shouldn’t make him at all unacceptable.
Says a lot about Labour’s curious predicament with public opinion. It’s Bundy’s skint, shallow condescendence from now on.
Dovetails perfectly with Joseph’s vision. Complements, obscures, the obtuse mental limits.
Just a small clarification: Moira Delia has in the past two years been presenting her programmes on Net TV and not on One TV.
[Daphne – She’s on One with Ilsien in-Nisa. But that’s not the point. The real point is that she has always been good old-fashioned Labour, meaning not a switcher. She’s just exceptionally good at hiding the hdura behind that falsely sunny exterior. I had the most repulsively aggressive email from her in the 2008 election campaign. Beyond awful. Really showed her true colours and shoddy background. That was when Labour and its supporters thought they had the thing in the bag, so could begin rounding on people and being rude to them.]
Typical, animal lovers are usually human haters
Mr Vella’s questions and observations always seem to be those of Joe Public, not particularly intelligent, but neither very stupid.
And maybe that is why he has been removed. They might be too close to what the average viewer would ask and think, hence a threat to Labour.
Norman is admired for his straightforward style. I won’t bother watching it if he’s not hosting.
I left Union Press in April 2003 and that is why I said “as myself” not for Martin Bugelli. Thed sentence I admit is not clear of what I intended to say. I hope that it is clear now.
I left Union Press in April 2003 and that is why I said “as myself” not for Martin Bugelli. The sentence I admit is not clear of what I intended to say. I hope that it is clear now.