Why is the government issuing statements about Keith Schembri’s private business?
L to R: the prime minister, his chief of staff and his head of communications
Keith Schembri has sued In-Nazzjon for a story it is running today about his cousin Ryan Schembri (cue maximum coverage). But it wasn’t his lawyer who released this information to the press, nor he.
It was the government in a formal press statement, using the channels that should be strictly reserved for government business. But Schembri’s business is not government business, unless there is something we should be told.
The government told us, through its statement, that the allegations made against the prime minister’s chief of staff are “false”, “made up” and “slanderous”.
“Mr Schembri never had and does not have any commercial ties with his cousin. Allegations that he was in contact with him and knows his whereabouts are also false,” the government said. But how would the government know that for a fact? It is not in a position to do so, and it is not Keith Schembri’s keeper. There are way too many boundaries being crossed here on a daily basis.
The government has already told us, last Saturday, that Konrad Mizzi’s marriage is “as strong as ever”. Now it has seen fit to tell us that Keith Schembri has never done business with his cousin and that he has not been in touch with him since he fled.
What next? A government statement about Owen Bonnici’s maintenance payments to his wife? About Manuel Mallia’s diet plan?
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Putting pressure on the magistrate to find in Schembri’s favour.
With the general stench coming from this government, the head of government comms using the state comms for his own missives is worryingly not surprising.
I think we need to re-hear Louis Grech’s parliamentary (and completely improper) retort about the distinction between party and government since perhaps an emphasis on “you” in you know the distinction is not being reported…
Always bear in mind that when Labour speaks, whenever and wherever it speaks, it addresses the taghhom ilkoll mob. The rest of us just happen to be eavesdropping and intelligently making nonsense of nonsense and have a good laugh at it.
This way there is still a shield acting as a direct reply to the electorate.
The shield has been empowered to cater for timed release and delayed reaction.
The decision for court action is to bear pressure on any witnesses that will need to be called up.
They’ve done it before.
The rest is about delay.
What a shame.
The DOI has become an extension of the Marsa-Super-Hate-Factory. +
More brainwashing for the gullible.
Goes to show that they never have, and they never will, make the distinction between party business and government business. Once in power they were always the type to mix and match as they please between the two.
The louder the No means a a very loud Yes .
The age of the oracle is long gone.
Can they really think that we have come to the point where we discredit individuals because we see through their abuse but are in awe of authority in the form of the government Department of Information?
If that is so, let it be known that abusing the DOI simply discredits it.
Power and position, especially if abusively given or obtained do not inspire trust.
Not awe, Karla, but fear.
Fear is what these people deal in and the knowledge that most will buckle at a lucrative offer at what the pulse says the going rate is.
Trust, is long gone.
Now is the time that those once trusted will be tested.
To think that none buckle, is naïve.
Is this action by government prejudicing the rights of the party being sued? Can in-Nazzjon and its editorial team claim a violation by the government of their fundamental rights to a fair hearing and to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty?
And the same goes for the statement issued about Konrat Mizzi’s married life in response to news published on this website.
We must believe only what comes out of Castille officially.
The sewage is the only truth that oozes out of Castilja nowadays.
These people have lost the plot completely just barely two years into their term.
These people never had a plot beyond spending five years grabbing all they can at the expense of Malta. Just like Mintoff and friends.
At least it is an improvement over the 22 months’ administration of Alfred Sant.
We called the government and its ministers liars on a repeated basis, but strangely, the DOI never issued a press release to rebut our accusations.
Is it ethical for a Prime Minister to appoint a businessman as his chief of staff?
[Daphne – The Police Minister has done the same thing. They’re in cahoots.]
Why was Keith Schembri lying low before this outburst? Was he thinking that by lying low, we forget about his business and most probably, shady deals?
Is Keith Schembri, the business front for the millions that Joseph Muscat/Keith Schembri will be making during the next ten years, while Joseph Muscat remains as the political ‘clean’ front?
Remember how Lorry Sant ‘partners’ screwed Lorry Sant’s widow, when Lorry Sant died?
Less then two years later , and the Joseph Muscat government is starting to emanate a faint whiff of rot and putrefaction.
We made it we took over this country, now time for sharing. This is what this picture says to me. “Taghna l-lkoll” he used to say. To all those that believed him your share 58c.
In military style and strategy, attack can be one of two options. It could be an element of surprise in an effort to overcome the enemy. Or else it could be a counteroffensive of those that are being defeated, in a desperate effort to reverse the flow of the the tides of fortune.
There is neither a trace nor a hint of surprise in these Labour counter attacks. Tout deja vu.
The other alternative is to conclude that therefore they are on the offensive with all weapons, water pistols included, to quell the might of the attack. They are on the defence and the losing side. Bad losers.
They are gradually locking themselves up in the fort which they built with their own hands, and are destroying the bridges.
What they can’t afford is synchronicity.
They will do everything to, as you say, quell it – or break down the impact into smaller blocks.
Hi Daphne,
keep up the good work.
Is there anyway I can contact you re Taste? Been trying to find your contact details everywhere.
Thanks loads
[Daphne – My contact details are on the first page of the magazine itself, but you can ring me on 9949 3545 or email [email protected]]
Until recently there were two realities in Malta, that presented by One TV and another as presented by Net.
Today we have three. One as presented by DOI, One TV, PBS, Maltatoday and the Times. Another as presented by Net. The third is the ‘real reality’ as exposed in Daphne’s blog.
Well done Daphne and keep up the good work.
The DOI has just issued a press release saying Manuel Mallia is not fat, he’s just big boned.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-11-11/local-news/Foreign-Affairs-Minister-George-Vella-irked-by-parliamentary-questions-asking-for-endless-lists-6736125484
The right to know is a waste of time and resources.
Can’t remember Austin Gatt anywhere close, and was he arrogant.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141111/local/chinese-embassy-site-decision-put-off-again.543627
How very Chinese. The embassy compound will be Chinese territory, whatever shall be built, sweatshops included, isn’t for us to know.
They got the visas, an energy source and acres sitting on the coast, just don’t mess with the People’s Republic ok?
They will also get direct flights in and out, and maybe even the airline.
But it still seems that the Chinese are holding on to their cash…
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/46083/polidanos_downscaled_balzan_project_set_for_approval#.VGMVoDTF9mM
Why has Din L-Art Helwa been left to fight all these environmental battles alone?
You really have made me laugh, Daphne, although these things should make us cry. This government is a big flop, ‘gas down ghal gol-hajt’.