Comments on: Just look at the prime minister’s shocking reply to The Malta Independent

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 09:18:00 +0000

The most recent such amnesty was last year, under this government.

Ninu Zammit used it.

By: A. Walker

A. Walker — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:35:00 +0000

In reply to mfarrugia. One would assume that the contingency plan for a PM in relation to ISIS is not the same non-plan in relation to an ISIS threat to you and me. Keeping a lid on information and reacting violently when challenged makes me think of a number of hot potatoes which have the potential to cause political damage.

By: Asclepius

Asclepius — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:26:00 +0000

In reply to saggio. Once teflon is scratched, everything starts sticking to the pan.

By: k. pace

k. pace — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:13:00 +0000

Besqa.

By: A.Vella

A.Vella — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:10:00 +0000

Austin Gatt/Richard Cachia Caruana are still credited/blamed for Labour’s multiple defeats at the polls.
They will never be forgiven.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:45:00 +0000

He didn’t forget about it, and he never said he did. That’s Joseph Muscat’s message, which has been endlessly repeated largely because of Gatt’s determination not to speak to the press at all post his retirement.

This is unfortunate, because if he were to release a statement with the facts, it would settle the matter once and for all except among the Facebook ignoramuses.

This investment account was opened by his father in the 1960s. His father was one of Malta’s most prominent lawyers at that time. He died in the early 1970s, when Gatt was still a student. His mother had the usufruct until her death in 2005 and it was only then that he acquired full control/possession of it. I know you don’t need to have usufruct explained to you, but this is for the benefit of others who are reading.

All due tax was paid – not under an amnesty, but duly year on year.

The account was listed in Gatt’s declaration of assets not specifically but under the generalised item of assets of which his mother had the usufruct or which he owned jointly with her.

The main issue here is that it was always declared for tax. Muscat and the Labour Party keep using the ‘not declared’ message to suggest that it wasn’t declared for tax when it was just a matter of not being specifically listed in the ministerial declaration in 2005, the year his mother died.

Following the Labour Party’s election to government, Gatt was investigated by the Commissioner for Revenue and by the police, and was cleared by both. He had been in order all along.

By: lo squalo

lo squalo — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:19:00 +0000

Calling him a journalist is already a compliment in itself. With the above you offended real journalists ;)

By: saggio

saggio — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:12:00 +0000

With Muscat there is no logic when faced with questions by the press. He just states whatever spites the Opposition.

There is no logic because he has no principles and yet the press does not keep pressing him like they used to do to Gonzi.

At the same time he is Teflon coated and so far nothing is sticking.

By: just me

just me — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:06:00 +0000

His answer makes you think that somehow he has become involved in Zammit’s and Falzon’s misdeeds.

For what other reason would he defend them?

And considering they are not even ex Labour ministers but Nationalist, the suspicion becomes even stronger.

By: C.M.C.

C.M.C. — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:02:00 +0000

Yes, let’s just suspend Austin Gatt from the PN lol. Dim wits.