Comments on: Tourism Minister leaves press event early to avoid journalists; hangs up on those who ring him

By: Arnold Layne

Arnold Layne — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:28:00 +0000

It is quite remarkable that Malta’s “checks and balances” are nonexistant. In a mature democracy you instinctively know that there is a safety net somewhere that will deploy to hold back the more outlanduish decisions taken by the executive.

In the US, its the states and the courts; in Germany, the Constitutional Court; in many European countries, it is one of the benefits of consensual coalition government and so on.

In Malta, the Prime Minister has weathered the Panama Papers and other corruption scandals for several months without an end in sight. The government gets away with making deals the contents of which are never published.

Ministers are able to escape scrutiny by simply refusing to take calls from the press, which would be a resigning matter in many European countries.

A multitude of appointments to “positions of trust” are made without any proper assessment or recourse.

Close aides to the Prime Minister who are paid out of the public purse abuse social media to rubbish and attack anyone perceived to be a threat to their hegemony – and it just goes on and on.

And citizens can only wait from one election to another, without any remedy – even if their money is being misused, their institutions are being trampled upon and their basic right to be informed is ignored.

I never thought that we had a mature democracy, but I am still a little shocked by how fragile it actually is.

By: Tabatha_White

Tabatha_White — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 06:55:00 +0000

What comes to mind is how Paul Borg Olivier was chased relentlessly by journalists and the Super One clock chase.

By: RF

RF — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 21:47:00 +0000

He is as flaccid and ineffectual as his colleagues when Keith Schembri is not pulling the strings.

I guess Mrs Zammit Lewis isn’t amused with his being so discourteous to his hosts at their important anniversary celebration.

By: Free thinker

Free thinker — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 21:47:00 +0000

Nothing conveys the meaning best except the Maltese expression “bniedem bla sinsla”.

By: just me

just me — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:37:00 +0000

The minister does not seem to realise that it is his duty to answer journalists’ questions. The same goes for the prime minister, the chief of staff and all other MPs.

By: Joe Borg

Joe Borg — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:12:00 +0000

Our Prime Minister leads by example, and ED ZL is quick to learn:

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0bea500a0d4a3ea658c6c716226154d033f2429aa02fd897b9ec1b4125d6a923.jpg

By: verita

verita — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:09:00 +0000

He did not bother to cut a low-cost cake.

By: J Tabone

J Tabone — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:05:00 +0000

ED ZL is terrified to express his opinion. No guts. He should act totally different, be more cordial and confident. If he feels that he is trying his best to save Air Malta, he should explain how his team at the Ministry are tackling Air Malta’s future. After all no one is infallible.

By: Godfrey Leone Ganado

Godfrey Leone Ganado — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:02:00 +0000

Headless chickens losing blood fast.

By: callixtus

callixtus — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 16:14:00 +0000

How dare the journalists harass Ed ZL. Has no one briefed them about their new code of ethics yet?