A good comment that spells it out
Among the disorganised thoughts, frightening ignorance and appalling writing on the timesofmalta comments board, I found this comment by the Gozo-based writer Victor Paul Borg – who, incidentally, lived for years in China and is married to a woman from that country.
He posted it beneath the news report that 6000+ people became naturalised citizens of Malta between 2004 and last year. What the report failed to point out is that the Citizenship Act gives very strict parameters for these situations, and there is very little beyond parentage/marriage that can be done. It also did not explain that many of those 6000+ are not even in Malta and are citizens of another country too, holding dual citizenship. They are mainly the children and grandchildren of Maltese emigrants to Australia, North America and Britain.
Victor Paul Borg
And what bearing does this news have on the scheme to sell citizenship? Does it make it more palatable, or is it merely an attempt by the government to intimate that we shouldn’t have a problem with rich people buying Maltese citizenship? This is called obfuscation, a pathetic attempt by the government to muddle the issue.
Yet the issue is as clear as the Mediterranean sun at midday: we, the people, are not against people who come to live in Malta or people who have Maltese ancestors who then get Maltese citizenship – that is legitimate and fair.
What we are opposed to is the SALE of our citizenship; we are opposed to the use of our passport as a passport of convenience by rich foreigners who have no association with Malta. If those rich people come live here and work here and become members of our community, then we would have no issue with them becoming Maltese passport-bearers.
But we are strongly opposed to the use of Maltese passport as a passport of convenience. And that is why the law that the PL is going to pass through parliament today is treacherous, and it lacks legitimacy: such a law can only be legitimate if a popular mandate is given in an election (that includes such law in the electoral programme) or referendum.
The majority of Maltese people are opposed to this law; we are opposed to making the Maltese passport a passport of convenience. Making our passport a passport of convenience is treacherous and unforgivable, and by ploughing ahead with this law the PL is going to totally alienate an important and vociferous sector of our society.
And here’s another one he posted, in reply to somebody else:
Victor Paul Borg
We are not talking about a “wealth, self-sufficient, successful businessman” who wants to pay for the “honour to be Maltese.” We are talking about people with money who will purchase the Maltese passport as a passport of convenience – that is the problem: the problem is that the Maltese passport will be sold as a passport of convenience. I would have no issue with wealthy people who would come to live in Malta and become Maltese – but I will never accept anyone who uses the Maltese passport as a passport of convenience, and I will consider any political party that passes such law as a treacherous party.
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http://www.victorborg.com/biography-victor-paul-borg.html
Missirijietna hallsu b’demmhom ghac-cittadinanza Maltija u dan id-demm Joseph Muscat tah il-prezz ta’ 650,000
You sound like something out of ”Gensna.”
Kif hallsu b’demmhom missirijietek, ghac-cittadinanza, Sur Grech?
Il-passaport Malti gie introdott wara l-indipendenza fl-1964, u hadd ma xerred demmu ruhi. Qabel ma kellna l-passaport Malti, il-Maltin kellhom passaport Brittaniku. Li kien hafna u hafna ahjar, fl-opinjoni tieghi.
Il-PM Muscat pulcinell, imma ma nivvintawx argumenti non sequitur.
http://markanthonysammut.blogspot.com/2013/11/l-ahhar-appell-lid-deputati.html
Anyone who has any doubts about how damaging this new scheme is need only look at the reputation of Malta as a ship registrar. ‘Flag of convenience’ is not a flattering term.
As we all know the Bill to amend the Citizenship Act was approved in parliament tonight. It now all rests in the hands of the President of the Republic. It is he who signs it off and makes it law of the land.
Today, Lydia Abela, Labour’s executive secretary and daughter in law of His Excellency The President of the Republic of Malta, was appointed secretary of the Cooperatives Board for two years.
Was this move by the Government of Malta, a gentle reminder for the President of the Republic to toe the line?
Wouldn’t it be sweet if the President of the Republic were to stand up and be counted and refuse to sign the Bill.
As the number one citizen of the Republic of Malta he would be acting on behalf of the majority of the people (as per Maltatoday survey). In so doing he would be protecting the dignity of our country and nationality.
In so doing he would remind the people of the importance of having a President of the Republic to safeguard the interests of the country and citizens of Malta. The Government would then be obliged, as it should have done in the first place, to call for a referendum. In this way democracy will prevail.
Unfortunately no such thing will happen. The President of the Republic will sign the bill and in so doing will betray Malta and just confirm that he is a weak man looking out for the interests of his family members.
Incidentally, is the President’s son Robert still earning the €1.2 million from Government as he did under the previous PN administration?
Malta remembers its Independence on 21 September, its Republic on 13 December and Freedom Day on 31 March.
12 November is from now on the Day of Betrayal.
There, Joseph Muscat has etched his name in history.
Do you agree with selling Malta’s citizenship?
5 quick questions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8BFJVY9
Please complete and circulate.
Remember the days when weren’t allowed dual citizenship? People were forced to decide which of their nationalities to forfeit. And now we’re swapping it for cash.
@ Rex
Yes I remember. My mother had to choose.
The President has to give the assent to the bill without delay. But he is under no obligation to sign off the draft legal notice. And he should not do so unless a consensus is reached and the more nefarious elements of this programme removed. Let’s hope that the president rises to the occasion.
Does the 6000 figure include a Romanian married to our esteemed Minister of the Police or whatever his latest title is?
And does said number also include a certain Chinese lady, married but not living with our Energy Minister?
Oh, so as not to leave out our exalted Chairman of the Sports Council. Is his better half included in that figure?
The price of EUR 650,000.00 is an insult to the whole Maltese population.
[Daphne – Any price would be an insult. It’s wrong on principle.]