The CEO of Malta Freeport Corporation tweets some encouragement this morning

6 Comments Comment

1. ciccio says:

   September 8, 2013 at 10:29 am

   Speaking of the Freeport and Marsaxlokk…

   Earlier this week, this website carried a couple of posts about the news that the Labour government got the MEPA to extend the use of heavy fuel oil at the Delimara powerstation extension until 2014. This was of course in full contradiction of their electoral promises.

   No one here asked what Dr. Franco Debono, the former MP from Hal-Ghaxaq – and current part-time Law Commissioner, part-time Coordinator of the Constitutional Convention and part-time criminal lawyer – has to say about this development.

   In 2012, when he was trying to bring down the Gonzi government, besides his problems with Arriva, justice, the police and you name it, he also had problems with the use of heavy fuel oil at Delimara.

   In fact, on 30 August 2012 – while everyone was on holiday enjoying the Summer – he had tabled a motion in Parliament (number 322) which addressed two important points:

   1. Enemalta should not use heavy fuel oil at the Delimara power plant extension and that diesel or gas should be used instead.
   2. The government should see that in the developments taking place in the area, EU Directives are adhered to.

   Full text of the motion reproduced here:

   http://www.francodebono.com/2012/12/18/bbugia-and-marsaxlokk-motion-lets-talk/

   The presentation of the motion was reported here:

   http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120831/local/Debono-motion-as-PN-set-to-deal-with-ban.435036

   http://www.maltastar.com/dart/20120830-debono-tables-motion-to-stop-hfo-at-delimara

   It would be good to know what Dr. Debono thinks now about the health of the residents of the Fifth electoral district – the one where he ousted Louis Galea and Helen D’Amato from Parliament, where he is respected everywhere he goes, and where he suffered a lot.

   At the time, even JPO was quite interested in the topic, so much so that he had requested a meeting with Dr. Debono to discuss the motion.

   http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Pullicino-Orlando-will-discuss-Delimara-motion-with-Franco-Debono-20120831

   One wonders whether JPO is still interested in the subject, considering that he still is the Chairman of the MCST and this subject should be of interest to him in scientific and technology terms.

   Reply
   • Victor says:

     September 8, 2013 at 4:36 pm

     Franco Debono was asked these questions by some journalists, however, his answer was that as he no longer represents his constituents in parliament it is not his job to answer these questions.

     Did anybody ever mention ulterior motives?

     Reply
   • Catsrbest says:

     September 8, 2013 at 6:51 pm

     Don’t you think you are wasting your time? And why does everyone keep treating Debono as a stable person when it is amply clear that he is not (as also the case with Pullicino Orlando who chairs the MCST). I believe that the less they are mentioned the better.

     Reply
     • ciccio says:

       September 8, 2013 at 10:59 pm

       I beg to differ on the point that the less they are mentioned the better.

       They both still hold public office.

   • Ta'sapienza says:

     September 8, 2013 at 7:11 pm

     Was a vote taken? If so, how did the Labour MPs vote?

     Reply
   • H.P. Baxxter says:

     September 8, 2013 at 8:28 pm

     Ciccio, you have a wrong understanding of what MCST is or does. It isn’t entirely your fault. Gonzi’s administration was extremely fond of hyping up some government agencies. MCST was among its favourites.

     MCST isn’t a scientific advisory body to the government, or the governing council for the National Laboratory, for the latter does not exist. It is simply an overstaffed agency for the administration of FP7 funds.

     All of which makes JPO’s self-aggrandising statements on the need to foster (scientific? business?) research utterly ridiculous. Don’t expect MCST to pronounce itself on sulphur dioxide emissions, or renewable energy, because it is not its job to do so.

     Reply