Ah, so Norman Hamilton still ISN’T high commissioner after all
The Labour and government media constantly tout Norman Hamilton as the Maltese high commissioner in London. They had a telephone interview with him earlier this week to ask him about the effects of the St Jude storm – you know, because we’re still living in the long-distance telephone-reporter age and we really need a ‘kollegament’ with Norman Hamilton to tell us that it was windy in London.
But that we discovered through the protocol shenanigans at Malta Day in London some weeks ago that Hamilton wasn’t the high commissioner – Joe Zammit Tabona was, still.
And now this DOI photograph of Muscat giving his speech in London communicates the fact that Zammit Tabona is STILL the high commissioner. That’s why he is there in front and Norman Hamilton is way back lost somewhere in the mass of low-level employees of law and investment practitioners.
Hamilton will not become high commissioner unless or until he receives permission from the British foreign office to present his credentials to the Court of St James.
We know for a fact that this has not yet happened because:
1. wherever the presence of the high commissioner is expected, it is Joe Zammit Tabona who appears; and
2. you can bet your last cent that the photograph of Norman Hamilton and Josette ‘Xandir Malta’ Grech, in their carriage with feathered flunkey, he in full morning dress, will be all over the media – and we haven’t seen it yet, have we.
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Didn’t anyone notice that Norman Hamilton was last seen acting the part of the porter, opening the PM’s car door on arriving at the venue where the IIP presentation was being held.
“A photograph of Norman and Josette in their carriage with feathered flunkey…will be all over the media”?
I am expecting a live transmission of the event on TVM, TVM2 and Super One. And maybe Muscat even bought live air time on Al Jazeera, Fox Channel, CNN and Sky News.
And I am expecting Charles Abela Mizzi to do the commentary, with the help of Richard Matrenza.
http://www.foreign.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=405
Is there any kind of logic behind that?
Also, shouldn’t the High Commissioner be seated in the front row?
It may be that our present ambassador is simply better connected, and has always been.
Perhaps George Vella was in Inverness in August renegotiating a position for Norman in the Outer Hebrides. This being the “unspecified reason” he failed to turn up at the extraordinary council held at the same time.
In fact, I thought as much seeing that photo. Wonder why it’s taking so long to have Norman approved….NOT
Hamilton must be a total embarrassment to the out going high commissioner. If he had any sense of his new job, he would lay low till credential day. He displays a state of near premature ejaculation.
Hamilton thrashes Obama in word count
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama
http://www.foreign.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=405
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131101/local/residents-disappointed-at-car-parks-approval.492892
On another matter, it would be interesting to find out why FAA chose to remain silent on this project. The residents of St. Julian’s should ask Astrid Vella.