54 prisoners walk free on Friday. How many of them are/were Manuel Mallia’s clients?
Published:
June 6, 2013 at 12:22am
We should be told. Will some newsroom ask?
Was it Toto Riina who Giulio Andreotti was photographed embracing at a wedding? The Italian press went wild and Andreotti was formally investigated for dealings with the Mafia.
But our Manuel the National Security Minister (he cuts a fine military figure, doesn’t he) embraced several hundred of them in the prison courtyard and waved his magic wand to set them free.
And we are reeling, wondering to think.
I see that after the flood of criticism and sarcasm the Easter-egg-shaped minister received about his ‘everyone except paedophiles’ condition for the amnesty, he has widened it to include all crimes against children.
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Just finished a multiple Skype call with seven buddies in Canada. They thought I was making up these circumstances.
They truly did not believe me.
I had previously described Malta as a wonderful place in which to live.
PN needs to work very hard to win back lost votes. But LP are being of a great help, with a consistent daily contribution.
This picture would make a great billboard for the next election.
The billboard will need to be captioned, to point out which one is the minister.
The Minister of the Police, Justice, the Interior, Broadcasting and National Security has more than the conflict of interest between being the Minister and a former criminal defence lawyer.
With his amnesty, he is putting in serious conflict his role as Minister of the Interior, and hence in charge of prisons and inmates, with the roles of the Prosecution and the Courts who have toiled to capture, arraign, prosecute and deliver justice with the perpetrators of crimes.
What does Frankie Tabone have to say about this?
Labour wins: release a bunch of convicted criminals.
Great, I can see the headlines a week from now:
” Crime in Malta on the increase. Muscat blames Gonzipn for driving people into crime”
” Gonzi to blame for allowing police force to be complacent”
“PN denies Muscat’s claim”
“Muscat laughs his head off since he can do what he likes and everyone will agree with him.”
Mhux ahjar l-onorevoli Ministru zamm idejh fuq il-wallet?
I seem to remember that there was a programmed aired on tv straight after the election about amnesty for prisoners.
Any parallels?
“The prisons he said, were found in a disastrous state, with workers doing what they wished, security equipment not working and guard dogs ending up as the prisoners’ pets.”
He placed all the prison wardens in one basket, which must really help with their motivation and exercise of their legitimate authority in a prison environment. Keep it up, Onorevoli Ministru.
I want to ask whether those sentenced for life are going to get an amnesty as well.
Did you read the book Excellent Cadavers, by Alexander Stile?
It’s all there – Andreotti’s suspected collusion with Sicilian organized crime syndicates, the murder of Palermo’s police chief, Magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino – only we make it more public, with the minister hugging criminals in front of reporters and newsmen.
Full marks and well done, minister.
I have read Excellent Cadavers – you are spot on, Ray Meilak.
Drug traficking has to do with children too! But Mallia is perhaps not aware of this.
The Nationalist Party report about the electoral loss makes for some sad reading. It largely misses the point and let’s hope that it will be quietly filed away and forgotten, permitting the new leadership to just get on with the job of being a good opposition.
These are the main reasons why the Nationalists lost the election.
1) Many people don’t vote rationally. This was evidenced by Ann Fenech herself this evening when on Net TV she said that she voted against divorce.
How can an intelligent woman who understands the finer points of law be against divorce legislation? Surely she knew that the lack of divorce legislation didn’t stop couples from breaking up. Surely she knew about all the couples living together who couldn’t get married and all the couples living apart who were still legally married.
The only reason to vote against was religion and although there’s nothing wrong with being religious, you’d expect a person like Dr Fenech to use her vote more rationally.
Ann Fenech said that while thinking alone in the voting booth, she just couldn’t get herself to vote ‘yes’ but was later relieved that the ‘yes vote’ won.
I believe that the same thing happened at the general election but so many voted Labour that the relief that the Nationalists won anyway never came.
The Nationalist government was like a wind-up-toy whose clockwork motor had run out of energy. It was still in a good working condition but it was racing against a party whose clockwork motor had just been wound up.
There was NOTHING the Nationalists could do to stop Labour’s momentum.
2) Labour cut so many backroom deals — hoteliers, hunters, market traders, prisoners, billboard people, construction magnates and so on — that the Nationalist Party depended solely on the remaining people of goodwill who stood to gain nothing on a very personal level but who vote according to principles of good economic governance, democracy, free speech, the rule of law and so on.
When you add up the irrational voters and those who stood to gain something on a personal level (and their families, friends and hangers-on), you’ll find that there weren’t many left guarding the fort of good governance.
The reason why Joseph Muscat is being hidden from view is that he simply can’t face the nation and say that the barefaced plundering now going on was all part of the plan. His brow can only take so much furrowing.
He’s making his cabinet deliver on all those shameful promises and face the music while he sits pretty, driving his uselessly-funded Alfa Romeo around and getting fat on ross il-forn.
He pops up occasionally to deliver some moving and curiously detached comment about corruption, meritocracy or something, conveniently ignoring the fact that the economy is already feeling the pinch (many shopkeepers are complaining that business is moribund and the classified pages on Sunday papers which used to be chock-a-block with job advertisements until a few months ago keep getting thinner) barely a hundred days after getting elected.
I genuinely hope that Malta doesn’t strike oil under a Labour government. Oil easily corrupts and the last thing that we need is a bunch of greedy scroungers running amok with a bounty of natural resources.
I think the PN is in for another hammering in 2018.
They say they’ve learned their lessons but they’ve learned jack. You don’t win elections on the strength of national economic performance. You win them by being on the side of the voters.
If the PN, three months after a massive electoral defeat, still fails to see the massive web of corruption, the monumental incompetence and the bland blindness to reason that disgusted its 2003 voters, then Simon Busuttil may as well resign right now and save his career and perhaps his honour.
It was my demographic that voted in the PN in 2003. Then they forgot all about us and set about working for the Other Malta.
Better the devil you know, goes the saying. Not true. The 2003-2013 switchers know full well that Labour is corrupt. But they’d rather have the new devil, on the off chance that he may turn out to be less evil than expected.
‘less evil than expected’? Fat chance, friend.
F’hiex spiccajna.
It is Mallia’s body language that is the most worrying. Rather than reeling back in embarrassment when being approached by the prisoner, he actively embraces him. That is very telling indeed.
Please. That guy is Sandro Schembri Adami. Interdicted fraudster, yes but definitely no hardened criminal.
Shame on you Manwel …. You should know better
Apparently many more will be out by this year end.
Alla jbierek. More prospective business for Mallia’s law firm.
Any reaction from Caritas?
His final decision to try to correct his mistake is just typical lawyer’s language which is still wrong in principle.
Truly unbecoming for any Minister let alone the one he should be managing.
So that is going to be a few votes lost to PL at the next general election. The ‘crimes against children’ prisoners will now discriminated against. they will salve their ‘wegat’ by voting for SimonPN next time round to teach the JosephMuscat.com a lesson.
You forgot to complete the question in the heading: how many… will be…?
Does anyone remember the elaborate ROAD MAP Muscat had devised to hit the ground running? This must be one of the first measures they had in mind to decrease expenditure. Less prisoners less costs, including less wardens.
This is mad! It is amoral, unethical and unjust. What of the victims of these criminals? What “amnesty” do they get?
Where is Franco Debono? Where is he to be found condemning this action? Or is he such a sell out that a menial job as Law Commissioner shuts him up? Or is his cowardice the only bigger thing than his ego and the pony label on his t-shirt?
Where is Muscat speaking out in favour of a just system? Where is he taking decisions in the national interest, in the interest of the tax paying law abiding citizen? Where is meritocracy?
They are cheaters. They tricked the electorate with fancy words and no substance. Worse still is that the nation wanted to be tricked with lack of substance.
I cannot even imagine what it will be like after they are rooted in government.
Seems like it is not a good time at all for the Herreras. If you look at the list of “offences” prepared by the reform commission, you’ll see that Consuelo stands little chance of making it as a Judge:
Censurable offences
The reform commission published a non-exhaustive list of offences committed by the judiciary that may not warrant impeachment but other forms of discipline.
These include:
• Incorrect behaviour.
• Out-of-place comments in the courtroom.
• Breach of the judicial code of ethics.
• Committing traffic contraventions.
• Showing a gross lack of knowledge of the law and procedural methods.
• Getting involved in political partisan activities.
• Having an addiction to alcohol, drugs or gambling.
• Using prostitutes or being blatantly promiscuous.
• Having a conflict of interest.
• Taking an extremely long time to deliver judgment.
• Habitually socialising with lawyers and individuals who appear in cases before them.
• Regularly starting the sittings late.
The policy of appeasement, was used by the British government prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.
In essence it is agreeing to demands in order to obtain peace. It seems that Muscat’s government is adopting that policy with various individuals and organisations, and while at first glance it may seem to bring peace (using this term as an example, meaning that there is a happy outcome between the parties involved), it will fail inevitably, as eventually these demands cannot be met.
They are demands which, if met, will lead to a serious deterioration of public finances, environmental, health, safety & moral issues. At some point the government will have to say No, but if by then one is already over the cliff, it may be a little bit too late.
Din il-mahfra lill-habsin ghanda tlett ghanijiet.
1. Terga tizgura aktar voti ghal-Partit Laburista mill-habsin u nieshom.
2. Issa l-gvern ser jiffranka somma flus ohra mhux hazin, u jkollu biex izid aktar nies mal-gvern.
3. Barra hekk dawn probabbli il-bicca l-kbira taghhom jergghu jwettqu xi reat iehor u jkollhom bzonn l-avukati, u b’hekk jizdied ix-xoghol.
Maltese economy grew by 1.6% in Q1 – best performer in the EU (The Times)
And they wanted change….
Here’s where Franco’s ponies come from http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130606/local/man-has-two-ponies-stolen-and-three-returned.472823
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130606/local/man-has-two-ponies-stolen-and-three-returned.472823
Talk of ponies and amnesties, and bitten tongues. We live such intense courtroom dramas in tiny Malta.
How can our lawyers, commissioners and ministers take the heat?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130606/local/man-has-two-ponies-stolen-and-three-returned.472823
This is too funny! Look who one of the lawyers in this ‘ponies’ case is!
Iz-zejt tiela f’wicc l-ilma:
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-06-06/news/farrugia-paid-around-lm40000-in-commissions-1766457344/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
After the promises before the election for votes now its payback time for the Monti hawkers, Carnival people, Paceville club owners, hunters/trappers, etc. Clever but diabolical.
“For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” (Luke 16, 1-8)
Bearing kids at that age should be made a crime too.
[Daphne – He didn’t bear them, Qeghdin Sew. He fathered them. Unless there is something we haven’t been told, of course, and he really is Suor Manuela Mallia tal-Kcina.]
Apart from many other debatable issues another cost cutting exercise ?
Many years ago – it must have been the mid-to-late 70s, just before I flew off to another world – when two prisoners escaped from the Corradino cages there was widespread public alert and some people actually feared for their lives.
They lived in a B&W world where escaped convicts presented a danger to society because ALL the criminals were locked up (even if this implies that all free men are harmless).
We’re not far off that B&W world, not least here at the Runny Nosebook. We’re running at – what’s the prison population now – 120 per 100K? In the bad old early 80s it used to be around 40 per 100K.
So here are four points to consider:
1. There is no better place than prison to create more criminals. (Rehabilitation my foot! No wonder close to 60% are repeat offenders – it’s the Criminal Uni, you see – you get to meet your peers and plan stuff for after you’ve graduated…).
2. Most prisoners are non-violent offenders, and the majority of offenders are in for drug-related theft (Id-drogi! Maaa x’biza! They can’t stave them off through four prison walls, yet they pretend they can stop them from entering the islands – which is all good for higher profits, mind you, and more theft, of course.)
3. Most offenders come to their senses anyway by the age of 30-40. Most will harbour bitter feelings for the way they were treated by the coercive forces of the state that were meant to ‘rehabilitate’ them.
4. Manolito’s shape has absolutely nothing to do with any of the above.
Have you ever been imprisoned on the rock, Kevvy? Try it, then expound.
The “Kiss of Honour”
Baldassare Di Maggio, a member of the Mafia who became a government witness and was present at a Mafia meeting with Giulio Andreotti where Totò Riina greeted the former Prime Minister with a “kiss of honour”. He interpreted the kiss that Andreotti and Totò Riina exchanged as a sign of respect.
That’s Schembri Adami receiving a bear hug!
i agree with the goverment
I don’t know what the joy is, these are criminals being set free.
It is indeed symbolic that criminals should be set free on a public holiday that eulogizes the ransacking of private homes.
[Daphne – Not just the ransacking of private homes in Valletta, Gabriel, but also theft from shops there and the burning of all the flour mills in Malta but one, and that one only because the mob was kept at bay by the people who worked there. So not just violent then, but also stupid: ostensibly protesting against the price of bread while setting fire to the mills that made bread possible, hence making it even more costly to produce.]
The switchers wanted this. They could share this on their FB profiles. It is just an idea to show what they voted for.
Tal-Labour saru qishom Blackley’s – http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Former-Nationalist-minister-appointed-to-MIMCOL-board-20130607
Malta’s version of the American dream: it’s a long way from waiting tables at Magic Kiosk tal-Labour – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130607/local/Attard-Montalto-declines-opportunity-to-lead-MEPs.472857
I can’t bear to read the news anymore. The only way I can kid myself that the clock has not turned back to the days were thuggery and corruption reigned supreme is by putting blinkers on and pretending that all is well.
Amnesties to prisoners are simply wrong in principle.
That criminals get rewarded for being just that, criminals, just exemplifies how low our sense of values have fallen.
So what do the rest of us good citizens who have behaved get? How disrespectful to the victims of their crimes and the work of those police officers who have the odds stacked against to catch them in the first place.
I think the whole list of prisoners who benefited from this amnesty should be published as well as the reason for their incarceration.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-06-05/news/md-eyes-new-operation-as-rome-mayor-1759641601/
Two quotes:
But he conceded he will have to make a clean break from medicine if he makes it into City Hall: “I know I cannot probably go into the operating room again if I were elected mayor,” said the doctor. “This will be tough.”
In Italy, Marino said with a wry smile — “politics is … for people not capable of doing anything else.”
I imagine the battlecry of the looters was “Malta taghna lkoll!”
In the Sette Giugnio riots only onlookers and people searching for their loved ones got killed, the looters got away with their bounty.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Unpublished-letter-that-shed-new-light-on-Sette-Giugno-20130607
The Miller’s Tale: Cassar Torreggiani’s letter to his grandchildren
A lamentable episode in the aftermath of World War One developed in Malta on the 7th June 1919, resulting in deplorable shooting, arson of flourmills, and pillage of private houses.
The causes of the disturbances were various, the background including the introduction of succession duties without proper representation, the agitation of a National Assembly for Self Government, and the exasperation of the high cost of foodstuff and the low standard of living.
The movement for proper representation was started by the Chamber of Commerce, when Col J. L. Francia M.V.O. was President, and the writer Secretary of what was then, and I believe still is, the premier constituted body in the Island. The President invited to a meeting at the Exchange, then known as the “Borca”, the presidents of all the Constituted bodies of the Island, and the local representatives of the Council of Government. A letter was written to the Secretary of State for the Colonies requesting that a more ample and liberal Constitution be granted to this Island on the plea of “No taxation without representation”.
As no result appeared to be forthcoming, the movement was subsequently taken up by Dr Filippo Sciberras, who aided by his friends set up a National Assembly, which held its first meeting on the 7th June at the Circolo Giovine Malta, Kingsway, corner with St Lucia Street in Valletta. All the Constituted bodies were represented, including the Casino Maltese, of whose members the writer was then elected as representative.
On my way to the Circolo Gwan Malta, I was accosted by some intimate friends, who asked where I was going, and to whom I replied I had prepared a fine speech on “No Taxation Without Representation”, which I was to read at the Assembly.
I was told I had better change my mind, for apparently I was no longer wanted at the National Assembly, and that riots had broken out. They further pointed out (that) my house in Valletta had been attacked, had been literally sacked, and that three bodies of unfortunate victims lay prostrate dead before my door. I was literally stunned, the first thing I thought of were my children, and I turned round (and) succeeded to take them to a place of safety.
I should now at this stage be excused, if for no other motive but that of history, I relate the background of one of the causes of riots, the high cost of foodstuffs in which I had incidentally been involved. As one of the leading millers of Malta, I was ordered to act as Flour Control Officer and to import the wheat requirements of the Island, which by the Grace of God I succeeded to do, and for which I am sure my country is grateful to this day. The difficulties of those times, however, should not be forgotten.
To keep down the price of bread, I imported a shipload of wheat which was loaded and carried by my ship, the S/S Ant Cassar, from Philadelphia to Malta: a cargo of Durum wheat purchased from Messrs. Facey & Co. On arrival of the ship at Gibraltar, it was rumoured that the Mediterranean was infested with German submarines. I cabled to London for a war insurance quotation, and my London agents Mr Hick & Co. of St Helens London, telegraphed 60% premium – I repeat 60% – which would have raised the price of bread by 3 pence per rotolo. I risked the greater part of my family belongings not to raise the price of bread, and did not insure. The convoy from Gibraltar to Malta consisted of 17 steamers, 15 of which were sunk by enemy action; the remainder, one of them the “S/S Ant Cassar” unexpectedly arrived safely to Malta after a long delay, with a low priced wheat cargo, but with no gratitude from any quarter.
My ship S/S Ant Cassar was subsequently torpedoed and sunk by German submarines, off Grimsby just before Armistice Day, on the 6th November 1918, and subsequently freights were almost doubled through the scarcity of ships remaining afloat.
In March 1919, the price of wheat had gone up considerably, and the local milling industry was faced with the dilemma: either to buy at a high price and face the public with a rise in bread up to 9 ½ d. per rotolo, or decline to import the wheat requirements of the Island. Lord Methuen, the Governor of Malta at the time, received me on several occasions in company with the Lieut. Governor Sir (William) Robertson. My pleadings and exhortations to suspend the bread tax until more favourable times were of no avail, as the current Government expenditure had risen over £800,000 and Lord Methuen would on no account give way to suspend the bread tax.
Capt. Ingham, who was Lord Methuen’s adjutant at the time, and whom we have the pleasure to have among us at the time, was helpful in arranging my meetings with Lord Methuen.
No alternative appeared open to me at the time, and I had to decide either to import wheat at the current high price, or leave the Island without breadstuff, the first necessity of life. I decided to face the situation but could not easily get the millers to decide. I asked the Lieut Governor S/S Robertson to guarantee the millers against any loss in money or possible riots, and with this object in view, I had the valuable assistance of Sir Arturo Mercieca who made out the necessary contract, on the Signature of which, a cargo of wheat was afloat secured per S/S Priestfield through which it was made possible to continue the supply of bread without any interruption.
Having been refused the suspension of the bread tax, I again insisted that some sort of other assistance should be forthcoming, and when I mentioned a subsidy I was derided as having asked for something unheard of, for something more than the suspension of the bread tax, for something that did not exist in any country of Europe.
Times however have shown I was right, for a subsidy of bread was introduced, throughout the whole of Europe, and still exists in Malta, after 15 years that Second World War is over: a policy which beyond any doubt has justified my pleadings for the suspension of the bread tax in World War I.
Col J.L. Francia, who originated the movement to obtain proper representation on changes in local taxation, after the imposition of Succession Duty, received no thanks from the mob rule. On the contrary, coerced by other political factions, the mob sacked (his) house and his valuable furniture was carried away to the disgust of responsible opinion. My house in Old Bakery Street was likewise looted, and some fine oil paintings by Maestro Cali, which I miss to this day, were torn and trampled upon.
Strangely enough, after the lapse of one year, several men whom I always held as friends, especially a trader in the import of potatoes, whom I had assisted and financed on several of his enterprises, at last came to my office, and kneeling before me, confessed to the prominent part he had taken in burning my house, asking for pardon, which I willing gave him, telling him however that I forgive, but do not forget.
Messrs. L. Farrugia & Sons, who were conspicuous millers at the time, and who are now the leading brewers in the Island, had their flour mills burned down. St George’s flourmills were also attacked by the mob, but the arson failed, as my employees were a happy crew and defended the mills with crowbars and bayonets. The diplomatic manager Mr W. Chetcuti told the crowd, “you won’t have any bread if you burn down this mill.” They took a bag of flour each as it was thought better than putting their comrades out of employment by burning down the mills. A man who attempted arson had his arm pinned down by a bayonet, and several men were wounded in the defence of the mills, which were miraculously saved by men who are still in the service of the country.
After three days’ rioting Lord Methuen ordered me to leave the Island, and I left Malta by the S/S Iris, bound for Marseilles. Captain Roberts, who was in command, was very courteous to me, and later he became Capt. of my ship the S/S Knight of Malta.
On arrival in London, and on entering my hotel, I was accosted by a fine looking gentleman, who informed me I was wanted at 10 Downing Street. The gentleman took me there and I was ushered in a room where Lord Morley received me in a kind and courteous way.
He wanted to know from me what was happening in Malta, and I related to the best of my ability the causes which in my opinion had led to the disturbances. My mind at that time reverted to the speech I had to deliver at the Circolo Giovine Malta, and I tried to explain in my way that after all there was no harm, if on little Malta a form of Self Government (were) instituted to ensure the imposition of local taxes by local representation. Lord Morley was in a good mood, and I felt he was agreeing with what I said, and encouraged in this way I ventured to suggest the necessity of a House of Review. I was told a House of Review without the power of the purse is of little use.
Is this another pre-electoral pact/promise come to fruition? Whatever next? If I were a switcher I would by now be at the self-flagellation stage, chanting “mea culpa….”. What if things get worse, as they surely will?
That:s a good way to make cost cutting at the prison. There will be 108 freed till the end of the year and that means less overtime for prison wardens and less bellies to feed. And if some of them relapse and commit a crime, then maybe Franco Debono will get his share by defending them.
I am sure that Savoiur Balzan the guru of “independent journalism” will investigate this story.
Why do convicts identify with the Labour Party?
Because Labour always had a soft spot for criminals.
How about publishing a list containing the names of those released from CCF. Who knows, Maltco might wish to create a new UBet type of game.
Please tell us something about the new appointments at Mimcol. Have not seen any new items since Wednesday 5th June.
“Toto Riina who Giulio Andreotti was photographed embracing at a wedding?”
It’s not the point here but the actual ‘legend’ tells of a kiss between the two which was never documented least photographed. Infamous ‘pentiti’ speak of this incident which Andreotti always strongly denied.
Nevertheless, the Minister’s push for this amnesty is unpardonable, if for nothing less on a level of conflict of interest.
It will be interesting, say in six months or so from now, how many of these prison inmates freshly out by the Labour government amnesty, will be reacquainted with their old mates at Corradino.
This is what Labour means by ‘peace of mind’? (Serhan il-mohh) Is this what Labour means by ‘maghna jahdem kulhadd’?
The unemployment figure just went up by another 54?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22828150
Arriva drivers in Sweden in the news.
What a difference to the way the GWU drivers act in face of their difficulties. Some sense of humour in Malta would not go amiss. We have certainly become a nation of sullen people and people with chips on their shoulders. Who said we are a happy nation ?
Hi Daphne,
I think you should see this…
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130611/local/dalli-willing-to-help-new-pn-leadership-new-government.473409
I bloody well hope he’s not serious..
Oh, he is, he is and now the PL government has appointed him as an adviser who also has to take decisions. You know so that our Joey can rest on his bum and let others mess around because after all he does not think he should be responsible.
Did the switchers vote for these convicts to be out before their time? Many have been fooled by Malta Taghna Lkoll.
So when Eddie Fenech Adami and his ministers of justice – all lawyers- gave all those amnesties, were they giving them to have their own clients walk free out of Corradino ? How stupid !
[Daphne – Eddie Fenech Adami was not a defence lawyer. More pertinently, he let go of his legal practice when he became leader of the Opposition in 1976.]
Not a defence lawyer? What was his profession then? As far as I know he was always in private practice until the 70s. He was even at least for some time the advocate for legal aid. He became PN leader in 1977 not 1976.
[Daphne – No, not a defence lawyer, but one of those lawyers who did a bit of everything. It was Guido de Marco, his deputy, who was the trial (defence) lawyer.]
The prisoner embracing the Minister in question is no other than former Labour MP and notary Sandro Schembri Adami. The latter was accused and consequently found guilty of defrauding money from 16 clients of his.
What’s happening, Daphne? We are missing your comments and forceful arguments.
During today’s .net, Edwin Vassallo really hit the right chord when he said that its not the amnesty itself that’s the problem. The real problem is Joseph Muscat and any promises he might have made to the movement’s candidates before the election, promises which were not made public – and probably never will be.
This means that while the PN’s cards were all laid on the table the movement held certain cards close to its chest thus skewing the electorate’s perceptions. So much for transparency.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130611/opinion/The-President-s-example.473372
Looking forward to your return Daphne. You are greatly missed.
From The Times of Malta of 2June
KATRINA BORG BUHAGIAR
Today, 19:00
Daqs id-dbazwira tal BWSC, l-Arriva, li skandlu taz-zejt, il-medicini skaduti…..nibqa sejjer ghax ghajjejt.
Since when women speak like a man? Silly elves.
Where is Daphne?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130613/local/mallia-meets-crime-victims-support-group.473738
Wait… WHAT ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8IX8Pw_q94
Dear Daph, I asked the Minister on TVAM last week, the day after he announced the amnesties, and though visibly uncomfortable with the question he answered without hesitation that to his knowledge he doesn’t recall that any of his ex clients will benefit from the amnesty.
This is one excellent article: http://markanthonysammut.blogspot.com/2013/06/its-not-just-about-cause.html
I voted Labour in the last elections as I felt that the country needed a change after 25 years of administration by the same government.
I am so disappointed and I regret so much my decision.
The ex Dockyard who made part of certain klikek have already found their cosy jobs with their ministry friends. The ex worker directors (those still young in age as the older once have already retired from work) are already visible on TV with their ministers.
“Wara li l-haddiema xebghu jahdmu ghad diretturi haddiema u t-tax payers ihallasu ghalihom waqt li huma komdi fl-ufficini biex taparsi jiddiskutu l-gid tad-dockyard ghadhom ma xebghux jerdghu minn fuq dahar il-pajjiz”
Censu Azzopardi ex worker director, has already appeared on the TV screens with Roderick Galdes more than once. He is the one who used to answer to your articles on l-Orizzont and it-Torca as he is not able to write one single word in English.
So you did not see this coming? You must be quite thick.
[Daphne – There’s no need to be rude. At least he sees it now, less than 100 days after the event, and is not too self-protective to admit it.]
If you’d looked ahead, you might have asked yourself what sort of change you want.
What you have done is vote in the sort of regime the PL said you’d be voting out.
You voted for this, now lump it. The shame is that the rest of us have to put up with the result of your bad decision.
Daphne, smajta l-ahbar ? John Dalli se jghin lill-gvern laburista. Issa aktar nahseb se tikkarga l-hdura li ghandek lejh !
Eddy Privitera, smajta l-ahbar? John Dalli ilu s-snin jghin il-Partit Laburista, indirettament, jekk mhux direttament. X’hemm gdid, hlief il-fatt li Malta kolla giet imzebbla mal-bqija ta’ l-Ewropa bl-iskandlu tas-Snus?.
Eddy, have you heard the news?
Joseph Muscat is thinking of you giving you an iced bun for services rendered to the country. It’ll even be based on meritocracy for once.
The position? Malta’s national comedian!
Congrats, my friend!
Le Eddy baqa’ l-art.. Qas haqq kemm ilu jhambaq, b’idu f’idu baqa’.
Qisek skoprejt l-Amerika, Sur Privitera.
Possibli ma bsartx li wara li John Dalli ghamel minn kollox biex il-Partit Nazzjonalista jitlef l-elezzjoni, l-imperatur ma kienx sejjer jaghtih li haqqu?
S’issa ghandna pajjiz liberu li kulhadd jghid li irid, bhalek Eddy, li kontinwament tghid hmerijiet.
Meta se ilahhquk f’xi board jew commission bhala grazzi tal-laghqizmu tieghek?
Stembah Eddy. John Dalli BA ilu snin jghin lill-Partit Laburista. Il-mistoqsija issa hi kif il-gvern Laburista se “jghin” lil John Dalli BA.
Kemm tahsibna cwiec, sur Privitera!
Mhux ovvja li Dalli kien ser jinghata iced bun minn Muscat?
Int fejn tghix, go Mars jew?
Ma tafx li Dalli cempel lil Muscat l-ewwel meta KECCEWH (hu qal li sfurzawh jirrizenja) u mhux lil min suppost kellu jcempel, il-prim ministru Gonzi?
Mhux ovvja li Dalli ilu minn mindu Gonzi rebah il-leadership tal-PN li Dalli pprova jaghmel minn kollox biex ifixklu? kemm tahsibna cwiec sur Privitera?
Imnalla tikteb fit-tul biss fuq l-Orizzont u fuq il-gazzetti-hmieg l-ohra tal-Labour ghax hemm biss issib CWIEC li jemmnuk.
Hawn ser issib biss nies li jafu JHADDMU mohhhom, xi haga li lilek, lill-PL u lil Muscat, iddejjaqkom hafna.
Eddy ,nitbissem nmeta naqra l-kitba tieghek, imma mieghek trid tibda mill-principju:
Min kellu ragun meta twaqqa’ Sant mill-Gvern , Sant jew Mintoff?
Il-Labour issa huwa favur l-Ewropa.Int favur l-Ewropa jew le?
Fl-2008 il-Labour attakka qatta’ bla habel lil-Ministru tal-affrijiet barranin John Dalli. Kienu Gustifikati jew le?
Biex tkun kredibbli f’li tikteb trid tkun konsistenti.Ma tistax tkun m’Alla u max-xitan!
L-unika konsistenza f’kitbietek hija l-‘inkejja’ lin-Nazzjonalisti.
I suggest you backtrack and give us the links to all the comments you wrote against him in past issue of The Times, pulcinell.
It’s one thing living under a Labour government and quite another living under Labour with no Daphne to put our thoughts into words.
Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I hope it’s doing you a world of good.
In the meantime, we’ll try and manage as best we can.
I fully agree with your statement ‘Futur mill-aghar’.
Hoping to see an update here soon.
We are missing you, Daph. Hopefully you and your family are all well and that you are enjoying a well deserved holiday.
Silvio Zammit is claiming that the Nationalists had a plan to harm John Dalli. The Nationalists didn’t need a plan to harm John Dalli. He is perfectly capabable of harming himself.
On Xarabank yesterday – Minister Mallia was seen ( and heard ) lamenting piteously that he does not remember who exactly is on the boards under his responsibility because (quote) “DAQS KEMM HEMM BOARDS!”
Did anyone see Muscat’s face as Silvio Camilleri expressed his disgust at the government’s move to publish the report for ‘general’ consultation?
He blattered something about not being in agreement with some of the proposals himself.
This prime minister needs to exorcise the ‘reporter’ before he can understand authority, power and their exercise.
He did the same on TVAM when he literally dumped Godfrey Farrugia. Unless, in this one, he did it on purpose it to open the way for Mercieca.
What matters, absolutely with Muscat, is his constant attempts at saving face. Seems he’s become chief government spokesman, make it apologist. He can’t hold the buck yet, not when they keep coming.
Comedy Central’s latest episode.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-06-14/news/government-to-sign-mou-with-china-on-bridge-to-gozo-1825701889/
Obviously any other study commissioned via the proper channels will have to wait for this one. Does he really think we’re this thick?
When are we going to hear from you, Daphne?
Jistgha is-Sur Eddy Priviter jghidilna hux kuntent meta jara lil ex-kunsillieri tad-dockyard li tant pappewa tajjeb minn fuq il-poplu Malti jergghu jidru mal-ministri?
L-istess nies ser jibdew imexxu d-dipartimenti tal-gvern u l-ministeri? Ajma hej!
Lou Bondi – Taghna Ukoll!!
Int tibqa BARRA pero’ DAF!!!
[Daphne – That’s because Joseph Muscat and Keith Schembri are sufficiently skilled assessors of character to know that they’ll be told where to stuff their request for my scalp, Mr 36,000. It’s not because they’re not absolutely dying to have me on board their carnival float (I am, as you should deduce, the ultimate scalp and potentially quite useful in several ways), but because they can envisage the penis-shrivelling response. To put it in a way you might conceivably understand, men who think highly of themselves and their pride never ask out a girl they even think will turn them down. Instead they spread rumours about her and ask out the girls who’ll say yes, even if they’re not the ones they actually do want. Do pop back again for more lessons in life and human nature. They’re free of charge.]
Look who dropped in. A chicken brain who thinks that Joseph is great, and Mintoff is the ultimate hero.
Sur Privitera, Dalli has been helping Muscat for years already.