Identity Malta’s chief is now writing propaganda pieces for Times of Malta, pushing the sale of citizenship by ‘cunning’ means
Failed Labour candidate Joe Vella Bonnici, who has been appointed head of the specially set up Identity Malta (which is taking care of identity cards and several aspects of the sale of citizenship) has had a propaganda piece published in Times of Malta.
The problem is that uninformed readers will not understand that it is indeed a propaganda piece pushing the sale of citizenship and justifying that in terms of the revenue it will generate to “eradicate poverty”, because the newspaper has not seen fit to tell them that the writer is chief of Identity Malta and has a vested interest in pushing the scheme which he is working on already.
This is wrong.
That is not an opinion piece. That is a piece of crass, unacceptable propaganda that has no place in a newspaper unless the writer’s vested interests are writ large.
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140211/opinion/Eradicating-poverty.506299#.UvqrMLCPIdU
The Times of Malta – failing its readers as usual. Nothing new here.
It hasn’t failed me; I am one of the many who don’t read it any more.
Same here …
And here.
You lot just reminded me that I haven’t been buying it since March last. What’s the use?
Know this guy. Would not have dawned on him that he’s way off base here. His ‘thinking’ would not be able to process that. Probably something to do with greed.
Reminds me of the double standard with the current crop of TVM ‘current affairs presenters’. Saviour Balzan runs an excuse for a newspaper and writes opinion pieces; Herman Grech and Mark Micallef work for the Times of Malta and offer their views on anything and everything; Andrew ‘espert f’kollox’ Azzopardi writes a blog.
Yet when Lou Bondi wrote a blog all hell broke loose and he eventually had to stop it. Once again, two weights and two measures.
I absolutely adore the stage set-up photo.
Very effective, indeed, in depicting the abject poverty of the some 20,000 Maltese live in.
The only positive thing about it is that, at least, it shows an effort towards cleanliness and housekeeping of sorts – however primitive.
But, Mr Identity Malta Manager – and Mr Times photographer – whom do you think you’re kidding?
[Daphne – People do actually live like that, but lack of money is just one of the reasons, and often not even one of the reasons, but a symptom of a much deeper problem that money alone will not change.]
And people like that tend to get their priorities wrong. Take the ‘Griglioso” in the photo, for example, unless it was a donation.
‘Propaganda’ hardly begins to describe the article. It’s a genuine piece of trash.
Having worked with people who genuinely deal with poverty abroad, I know that increasing the funds of the state and/or social housing will solve nothing.
People need to be given the opportunity to become self-sufficient, and earn a living.
What this government proposes with its sale of citizenship funds is further propping up of those leaning on the dependency culture, instead of developing the economy further so that they can get jobs and look after themselves.
You are right, Daphne, when you say that when the PL is in government the social partners, businessmen, newspapers and others are afraid to speak up and so they suck up to the government instead to stop it eating them and in the hope that it will eat others instead.
Identity Malta was set up without an electoral mandate and without consultation. It was sneaked into being early last September when, they hoped, no one would notice until it was too late.
Well, they got that bit right. It WAS too late.
The shocking concentration of all personal data within a single agency that is open to abuse, outside public scrutiny, and subject to the whims of the home affairs minister and his sidekick has been overtaken by the far bigger scandal it’s supposed to serve.
The photo could be the interior view of one of the many boathouses.
It could belong to a recently separated husband whose girlfriend came over for a visit and tidied up the depressing place.
This is not a home in Malta surely. If it had been I am sure that instead of proposing to fund his son’s sister-in-law travel and comfort, the President would have helped these poor souls.
Superficiality in articles and write-ups has become a honed art. Please quit the crap and look behind the facade. Situations do not exist in limbo so get digging. But then the intention of such articles is never selfless is it? Watch ‘poor’ people, find out why they are ‘poor’ and then write about the ‘real poor’ and how everyone can chip in but do not promote those who think that society owes them a free ride Mr. Vella Bonnici.
And btw all the sarcasm and exasperation was intended and it reflects the sentiments of all those who have paid taxes and national insurance contributions for decades.
I suspect it is not the main residence but the ‘villeggatura’ or summer house.
His piece in Times of Malta reminds me so much of a prostitute justifying selling their body on the premise that they have to feed themselves and their children. Heqq, needs must.
Typical of the Labour mindset, Vella Bonnici’s argument is not bothered one bit with the case for keeping one’s dignity. When there’s shed loads of money to be made, who gives a toss about that small detail.