Have you noticed? The PM has dropped all talk of investment and is now speaking only in terms of hard cash and a global figure of one billion euros
The government is already receiving applications and apparently they are from people “of calibre”.
Strange, isn’t it?
Nobody has pointed out, yet, the fundamental flaw in this reasoning.
We are part of the European Union. Among its hundreds of millions of citizens there are countless “people of calibre”, whether you define calibre in terms of talent or bank balance. They don’t need to buy a passport to come and live here – they can do so already.
And the people who will be buying our passports don’t even want to live here and are not obliged to reside here. So exactly what difference does it make whether they are of calibre or not? If the government were really doing this to attract people of calibre, and not just pocket the cash, it would have made residence and real investment in Malta a proper requirement.
What’s most irritating is the assumption the prime minister makes that most people are too stupid to understand that there are heavy costs to those one billion euros, in terms of collateral damage. We’ve been made to look cheap, tacky and desperate, not a team-player, we’ve upset our supposed team-mates, and we’ve project a negative reputation for ourselves internationally.
All of that means a heavy price to pay.
Imma heqq, wertit, ta.
It’s the exact same mentality of those who build blocks of hideous tacky flats all over the place and don’t give a damn what they ruin as long as they pocket the money and make their own personal lives better.
Kemm ghadna lura, jahasra.
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Reply to Kukkurin Click here to cancel reply
Someone should start renting advertising space on Louis Grech’s forehead. At least he’d serve a purpose other than being used as a prop during press conferences. It might not raise a billion euros, but every little helps.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-01-16/news/citizenship-scheme-to-go-ahead-pm-3702489088/
Muscat said earlier that his government was voted in to take decisions and will do so to better the country’s wealth. How very ironic that this “investment” scheme was never mentioned until after the elections.
He would have certainly not been voted in had he explained how everything was “kostid”.
This was always intended to be nothing but a cash-raiser.
Government was advised from the outset that any residency requirement would kill the scheme point blank.
There never was any talent, calibre or investment coming our way. Only cash and huge stacks of it at that. One starts to understand Labour’s change of heart over Europe. This suddenly became a cash cow.
What this peasant considers people ‘of calibre’ are people who are not morons like him. There are billions of them.
What the country needs is not people of calibre who rent a small flat here and never set foot on the island.
The country needs wealthy entrepreneurs who are ready to commit themselves and their millions to creating productive employment in these islands of ours.
The guy is too thick to understand this.
I want a prime minister “of calibre”, but am lumped with Muscat.
It is a pity that Lou Bondi has been castrated by Malta Taghna Lkoll, as he would tear Muscat and his consistent lying to shreds. Do we have any serious journalist who will ask the questions that people are asking and who will expect a straight answer from the PM?
Just Daphne.
Sorry Giraffa, sfortunatament hafna nies jinxtraw bix-xejn. Kulhadd ghalaq halqu issa, jew skuzani, ghalqulu halqu.
Allura bilfors m’ hawnx min jikkiritika lill-gvern u nhallu kollox jaghddi. Kemm inhbew nies f’ daqqa wahda. Indunajt kemm hawn nies minghajr sinsla.
Daphne, keep it up almenu int bqajt temmen fl-ideali tieghek u ma tibzax tghid l-opinjoni tieghek.
And it’s not “one billion”. It’s a “thousand million.”
Miskin Louis Grech. How can he keep a straight face?
‘don’t give a damn as long as they pocket the money’.
Malta’s reputation ruined, once again.
‘A country of self-serving scoundrels.’ An email I just received from a close private investment banker.
So sad, however, so predictable.
Daphne, again, you fingered this outcome so many years ago, when Muscat was elected leader.
Now it looks like things are about to plumb to the depths.
Yahoos rule.
Today he missed the arm and injected his brain with Synthol.
The previous adminstration brought highly qualified employees in various sectors and gave them a 15% tax rate benefit.
It did not need to sell any passports and the scheme was quite successful in itself.
The PM believes that money can buy people. He may not be far off from the truth, particularly to accommodate many people who just look at the government as the means of providing them with social financial benefits, free housing, hand-outs etc.
That has been and IS STILL Labour…and that is why Labour supporters are in favour of this shameful scheme.
The pity is that those of us who are proud to work for our own living, who value our dignity and identity, cannot do anything in the face of what is happening, except to brace ourselves and hold our breath.
We are cheap, tacky and desperate. If this scheme doesn’t go through, the Government will not have enough revenue to deliver on what is needed, let alone promised.
[Daphne – The scheme HAS gone through. Parliament voted on it, remember. And the prime minister said yesterday that the government is already receiving applications.]
Money has become the only word imprinted in most Maltese people’s mind it seems because all they can see is money coming to Malta.
Together with some property money-making agents who have publicly spoken about the profits the property market will handle. Is there no patriotism, or sense of belonging, or roots or identity these people are proud of?
Is it only the flash cars, hols and superior feeling they think about? I sincerely feel myself and my country being made cheap because NO citizenship should be sold ever.