Malta Employers Association says that citizenship sale “can tarnish Malta’s reputation as a trustworthy country”
The Malta Employers Association released a statement yesterday expressing is concern that the sale of citizenship can damage Malta’s reputation internationally.
I must say that given the world press coverage – the story is considered so shockingly weird that it has even made local newspapers in New Mexico, Nebraska, San Jose (California), Tampa and British Columbia – that looks like the way things are going.
“Malta has managed to create a sound financial services sector that enjoys an international reputation of competence, transparency and professional integrity, which currently is the source of employment to thousands of high skilled individuals, and is one of the growth elements in our Gross Domestic Product,” the Malta Employers Association said.
“The citizenship programme as approved lacks transparency and raises many questions about its implementation, as it may have introduced factors that may damage this vital area of economic activity. Any positive benefits for public finances from this scheme could be drastically outweighed by the negative fallout in our reputable and sensitive financial services sector, and also cast a shadow on Malta’s attractiveness for foreign direct investment in other areas. This will work against the national interest.”
Next time, don’t give those people the time of day. You can’t expect miracles from monkeys or contemporary, 21st century European thinking from individuals who were on trucks with Dom Mintoff when he was prime minister.
Read the full statement here: 408
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In the meantime government is tackling serious issues impacting this great nation by choosing extremely competent people is key positions http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-11-14/news/silvio-parnis-to-head-council-for-the-south-3189145601/
I hate to say this , but Labour has shown that they can only successfully ride a truck and bang iron bars on the side.
Noise and Damage, this is their strong point.
Eventually, anyone bearing a Maltese passport will be automatically suspect.
Our children’s freedom of movement in Europe will be compromised. They will find it harder to get a job and if anything happens (a terrorist attack in their area, for instance) they will be among the first to fall under suspicion. In nine short months this government has turned us into pariahs.
A good piece:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/Dear-Joseph-I-am-not-a-N-ationalist-20131114
What an unholy mess. The scenario is frightening.
Financial services possibly already in distress, investors rethinking, undesirables, the US revoking our visa waiver, the whole of Europe looking at us because we’re selling a part of THEIR Europe.
What next? This can spiral into a bottomless pit.
We get bad press because of hunting and tourists opt for other destinations, because they disagree with us. Let’s hope this won’t snowball, because by now they probably hate us.
The trouble is that with passports going to unknowns, legitimate businesses in the process of thinking about investing in Malta will start their un-think process and move on to possibly second choice but more reputable destinations. Places where they know who’s who, and who’s really from where.
There is only one way to go with this; down. We have so much more to lose than gain. And this for a paltry €30 million. Yes, paltry.
In the world of global corporations, governments, crime, high finance, international business, government contracts, European funds and so much more, €30 million in nothing. Nothing at all.
So to get the €30 million we risk €300 million and, more importantly, our reputation – very sound judgement indeed.
I cringe.
It is not “can tarnish”. It is definitely will tarnish Malta’s reputation.
How many MEA members are switchers? How many fell over themselves to publicize and endorse the lowering of water and electricity tariffs. How many turned their backs on the Nationalist Party because it was out of fashion?
I am sorry, MEA. Really. It is too late now. You should have seen it coming. Now we can only watch and wait. This is just after 7 long months. Just wait till the end of these five years.
MEA culpa.
“Malta has managed to create a sound financial services sector that enjoys an international reputation of competence, transparency and professional integrity, which currently is the source of employment to thousands of high skilled individuals, and is one of the growth elements in our Gross Domestic Product,” the Malta Employers Association said.
And all this thanks to GonziPN. And their members backed Labour.
MEA issued a feeble statement compared to the strong reaction and blogs from the European citizens. It has been a day of shame for the PL and for the Maltese There hasn’t been one country who has reported a favourable post for this scheme ever excerpt you read seems to be in shock and portrays Malta a bankrupt and failing country. What a truly sad story.
“[Chris Cardona and Edward Zammit Lewis] attributed parts of the criticism levelled by the international media to the Opposition campaign against the programme saying the Opposition was tarnishing Malta’s reputation abroad.”
Classic Mintoffian strategy. And so it begins, again.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131115/local/citizenship-programme.494819#.UoYP1LK9KSM