The government wants to debate its contracts with China without publishing them
The government has laid into the Opposition for asking that the debate in parliament about the Enemalta-China deal be postponed.
But the Opposition has not asked for a postponement.
It has done something else entirely.
It has demanded that the government publish all contracts and documents related to the deal, saying that there will be no debate until that is done. You can’t debate something when you don’t have the information.
It is obvious that the government doesn’t want an actual debate but only the formality of a debate. And it wants to keep those contracts and documents hidden from the public.
A statement released by the Nationalist Party this morning says that in refusing to publish all relevant documents, the government gives the impression that its deal with China “stinks”, and the government’s actions contrast with its pledge to be “the most transparent government in Maltese history”.
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http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/14/china/china-child-trafficking-bust/index.html
Obvious reply: “The NEGATIVE Nationalist Party is delaying a contract so save Enemalta from its massive debt, all acquired by the incompetence when they were in government. All hail Joseph.”
Finally a proper awakening of the Nationalist Party. The road is long and littered with obstacles but it is a road worth traveling.
Probably Joseph Muscat means that there isn’t a publicly quoted market tag when he declares himself for free speech.
The “below the belt where it hurts” part not being for general consumption.
Same would apply for transparency.
“Most transparent” (depending on investment).
Add to this that when China paid Eur 250 million to the Maltese government before the end of last year on a deal which is not yet approved by Parliament, this was clear interference with Malta’s sovereignty.
An act of defiance towards the institution which represents the Maltese public and which has to be free in its decision on whether to accept or not the deal, without undue pressure.
With the money in the bank, which government MP – or from the Opposition for that matter – is going to criticise or vote against the transfer of business lightly?
China is showing where Malta stands in its scheme of things. In my books, this qualifies as a diplomatic incident.
”You can’t debate something when you don’t have the information.”
One would think that a simple premise such as the above would be obvious. It is safe to say that its denial would come from someone who is either stupid or arrogant.
Is Joseph Muscat and his government stupid?
Marching for the right of freedom of speech and denying freedom of information is pathetic. Does Joseph Muscat need reminding that democracy is a way of life and not a photo op.
This is the New, Progressive and Liberal Labour Movement concept of serious, open and transparent debate on national issues for the sake of national security.
The next step will be to invite the Opposition to debate these public issues privately, binding them over to secrecy ‘in the national interest’.
If the Opposition declines, politely or otherwise, to take part in these bilateral private discussions, then Labour can declare them traitors to the national interest and a risk to security.
Three cheers for the greatest, most democratic, transparent, meritocratic and honest prime minister that Malta has ever had.
You may easily add – neurotic.
Muscat & Co. say that they do not publish parts of the contracts because of commercial sensitivity.
If that is so, then Muscat & Co. can enter into million deals and sign off contracts to their hearts’ desire and not be accountable in any way.
Is there a legal way out of this situation? We have so many lawyers, surely they can come up with proper answer to Muscat & Co. reluctance to publish contracts with the excuse of commercial sensitivity. Surely there is a loophole somewhere.
[Daphne – It has nothing to do with legality and everything to do with democracy, respect for the electorate and accountability in parliament.]
Joey marches for freedom of expression and information in Paris but not in his back yard. A real tinpot NIMBY.
Dan il-ftehim bejn il-gvern ta’ Joseph Muscat u dak tac-Cina sar direttament, minghajr ebda sejha ghall-offerta. F’dan il-kaz allura x’valur ghandha l-iskuza li informazzjoni ma tistax tinghata minhabba li tista’ tkun kummercjalment sensittiva?
Ma kien hemm ebda kompetitur f’dan in-negozju, allura m’hu se jigi pregudikat l-interess ta’ ebda entita ohra li setghet ghamlet offerta ahjar.
The stand of the Opposition in parliament cannot be more reasonable and fundamentally correct.
Nothing which Prime Minister Joseph Muscat says can change this fact, and only persons bereft of logic, for whatever reason, will support him.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150114/local/police-had-felt-international-arrest-warrant-could-be-issued-against-john-dalli-committee-told.551855
Prosecutor learned from the media that case. He said that AG Peter Grech advised Police to prosecute. Hadn’t Joseph Muscat said that it was the same AG who advised against?
“Updated: Former Police Commissioner did not act on AG advice to charge John Dalli – investigator”
Je suis JDalliBA
Tout est Pardonne
You’ve written previously about this nutter somewhere. He’s resurrecting cats now.
http://maltarightnow.com/news/2015/01/13/intervista-difen-qattusa-mejta-imma-rxuxtat/
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2012/08/labours-supporters-get-more-progressive-and-liberal-with-every-passing-day/
How can one march for the right of freedom of speech one day and on the next refuse to make public contracts signed on behalf of his people with China?
Maybe he was annoyed that he was not asked to join the front row and in vengeance to the spirit of democracy refuses to print the contracts.
Unbelievable.
I dont live in Malta but by reading this website, newspapers and through family in Malta I still keep pretty much up to date with everybody and everything.
However, can somebody help me out with who this Andrew Azzopardi character is. All of sudden his name seems to be popping up all over the place and his opinions quoted like they matter, as in today’s The Malta Independent story about 16-year-old voters.
I read his Ched Evans column in The Malta Independent and could not believe his exchange with a reader in the comments below. As John commented, imagine if any serious journalist or newspaper contributor in a civilized country replied to a reader in that way.
It just doesn’t happen. Even in Maltese newspapers, the columnists worth reading (Daphne high on the list) do not engage in childish back-and-forth with their readers (no matter how annoying the comments may be).
Anyway, I was just curious as to what I’ve missed about Mr. (Dr?) Azzopardi. Where did he come from and what background does he have to be taken seriously?
Ask a question, and Uncle Baxxter will answer.
Dr Andrew Azzopardi has been a senior lecturer at the University of Malta for years now. He is not yet a Prof. (or “Profs”, according to his Xarabankian spelling) but he’ll get within months judging by the wave of popularity he’s riding.
He claims to be a “researcher”. I shall hold my comment on that. He teaches (and talks a great deal about) “youth and community studies”, a “right on” modern topic which in this country guarantees success, respect and lucre.
He became a household name by inveigling himself into radio programmes and such, and thus, with respectability assured, became a regular fixture on those godawful “programmi ta’ attwalità u diskussjoni”.
Not content with fame, fortune and the adoration of thousands, he became a regular fixture at various AZAD events. The Nationalists, bless their black socks, love a socjologu. It makes them feel all caring and social democrat.
The rest is history, especially after 2013. He is now the academic equivalent of the godawful Joe Azzopardi. He loves himself, mouths off on anything that doesn’t require real knowledge, and is universally loved and respected. His word is policy.
Oh and by the way, he hasn’t a PhD, but an EdD. Think PhD vs DBA.
Thank you for the fantastic reply. Your summing up of his character perfectly matches the perception that was forming in my head, based on his attempt at pretentious English countered by his inability to write anything sensible when criticized.
It really doesn’t do much for The Malta Independent’s reputation that he is a regular contributor.
Can we really take someone seriously when they use the word “bullocks” to get a point across? I bet “Johnny” is having a good chuckle somewhere.
Bollocks.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-01-04/blogs-opinions/Ched-Evans-from-Ta-Qali-to-the-gallows-with-love-6736128185
“Bullocks”.
A vulgar bumpkin, and subliterate.
Gonzi’s statement: a bit of class at last. Just by that statement, Joseph Muscat ought to resign.
They promised us transparency but have gone one step better and given us outright invisibility.
Watch a statesman man at work, Lawrence Gonzi being grilled by Owen Bonnici. Imagine Joseph Muscat in this situation…
They’re only Communists where it pleases them. Have a look at this story concerning the Ellul Bonnicis in today’s Lithuanian press:
http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/ep-ivardijo-kas-surenge-ataka-pries-d-grybauskaite.d?id=66905198
Well we all know how Muscat interprets democracy: respect for the electorate and accountability his way – so one has to try to find other methods to counteract.