The Sunday Times of Malta reported today the 6 April 2008 that doctors at the Mater Dei Hospital were directed to discharge patients from hospital because of a shortage of beds at the hospital. The Minister for Social Policy was reported to be working on the problem.
http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080406/local/bed-shortage-prompts-discharge-drive/
I could not believe what I was reading. Is this the same new hospital which took fifteen years to build, which cost an arm and a leg, and was the flagship achievement of Malta’s Government? How did we come to such a situation? What does “Par Idejn Sodi” have to say about this situation? What will happen in the future with an ageing population and an ever increasing population?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Empire Strikes Back
In a front page article in the Sunday Times edition of the 30 March 2008, the empire strikes back at the accusers of JPO.
http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080330/local/mepa-audit-officer-behind-1994-mistra-development
The Empire will not tolerate any serious challenge to its authority or majority. Therefore it is employing a well known tactic. That is to undermine the accuser. In this case it is the auditor of MEPA itself. The public is also being prepared through the Sunday Times. It is curious to see how The Sunday Times got hold of this information. Was it the conscientious whistleblower who gave the information to the Sunday Times? Of course not it is the usual anonymous truth loving source. How come this source did not inform the Commissioner of Police but instead preferred the Sunday Times? Our ‘Par Idejn Sodi’ PM states that he is refraining from commenting on the JPO debacle pending the conclusion of the Police investigation yet someone with access to MEPA files, which is now under the direct responsibility of our ‘par idejn sodi’ PM has gone to the press.
I will be surprised if this does not end in the usual whitewash. The lying and the betrayal of the trust of the electorate do not matter.
http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080330/local/mepa-audit-officer-behind-1994-mistra-development
The Empire will not tolerate any serious challenge to its authority or majority. Therefore it is employing a well known tactic. That is to undermine the accuser. In this case it is the auditor of MEPA itself. The public is also being prepared through the Sunday Times. It is curious to see how The Sunday Times got hold of this information. Was it the conscientious whistleblower who gave the information to the Sunday Times? Of course not it is the usual anonymous truth loving source. How come this source did not inform the Commissioner of Police but instead preferred the Sunday Times? Our ‘Par Idejn Sodi’ PM states that he is refraining from commenting on the JPO debacle pending the conclusion of the Police investigation yet someone with access to MEPA files, which is now under the direct responsibility of our ‘par idejn sodi’ PM has gone to the press.
I will be surprised if this does not end in the usual whitewash. The lying and the betrayal of the trust of the electorate do not matter.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Where is 'Par Idejn Sodi'?
It is funny how both the PM and the PN are completely silent with regards to the JPO debacle while the problem continues to simmer. Where is the 'par idejn sodi' to nip the problem in the bud before it derails the new Government.
This sorry state of affairs is causing untold damage to the Government. Lucky for the PN that the MLP is still bewildered after the electoral loss.
This sorry state of affairs is causing untold damage to the Government. Lucky for the PN that the MLP is still bewildered after the electoral loss.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
A Tale of Two Premiers
In 1998 Alfred Sant was leading a Government with a one seat majority. That one seat happened to be held by one Dom Mintoff. Mintoff could not stand Alfred Sant and Prime Minister and openly rebelled. Rather than appeasing this backbencher Alfred Sant rightly invoked his prerogative and held his ground in the face of his subordinate backbencher. Mintoff voted against the Government. Rather than be humiliated by appeasing Mintoff, Alfred Sant as Premier did the only honourable thing possible, he resigned and his Government collapsed.
In 2008 we have a similar situation. This time Lawrence Gonzi is the Premier and holds a seat majority in Parliament. This seat is held is by one particular backbencher called Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando or as commonly referred to as JPO. JPO is now a confirmed liar, having lied to his Leader, his electorate and to the whole nation. JPO has been completely discredited. All major voices on the island are calling for JPO to resign. If JPO refuses to resign, does Gonzi have the courage of his convictions to expel this discredited politician from his parliamentary group to avoid that his administration be tainted with this discredited politician?
Rather than ‘par idejn sodi’ we have Gonzi the ditherer. A veritable tale of two premiers.
In 2008 we have a similar situation. This time Lawrence Gonzi is the Premier and holds a seat majority in Parliament. This seat is held is by one particular backbencher called Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando or as commonly referred to as JPO. JPO is now a confirmed liar, having lied to his Leader, his electorate and to the whole nation. JPO has been completely discredited. All major voices on the island are calling for JPO to resign. If JPO refuses to resign, does Gonzi have the courage of his convictions to expel this discredited politician from his parliamentary group to avoid that his administration be tainted with this discredited politician?
Rather than ‘par idejn sodi’ we have Gonzi the ditherer. A veritable tale of two premiers.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Doing the right thing - Giving JPO the sack
Earlier this month, Dr Pullicino Orlando publicly said he had nothing to do with the development, and that the land was rented out to third parties. He had also said he had never even met the person who submitted the application for the Mistra development.
This is what the Independent wrote regarding JPO. http://independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=66569.
Furthermore the MEPA auditor reports that JPO solicited the DCC board to approve an application against standing policies. It is not the solicitation that is bad, (often the wheels of bureaucracy do need a nudge) it is the fact that he was pushing for something against policy and for his own benefit to boot that is unpardonable.
Don't such blatant lies to the PM and the whole nation merit a sacking? What do you need to do to be sacked? Where is the moral fibre of the Prime Minister or are the consequences of such a sacking more important than truth and integrity?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
JPO is a test for Gonzi
It is now confirmed that JPO lied to the PM, his party and to the nation. He made a fool of those who defended him and the electorate. If the PM has any guts he should fire JPO and face the consequences. How can anyone run a Government and the nation on the support of a proven liar?
Monday, March 10, 2008
Wishlist for the new Government
This plea is based on the fact that PN will be in Government with an absolute minority of votes. The absolute majority of voters want change. It is now up to the PN leadership to deliver this change.
First of all we want a change in the cabinet of ministers. We need new blood with people who are less arrogant, divisive and less inept. We do not want politics as usual and those members, old and new, who are tainted with shady 'transactions' should not be given any power.
We want a better preservation of our environment. We do not want more virgin land sacrificed to the 'development'. There is enough space for much more construction on existing developed areas. We do not want an open air nightclub in Mistra.
The people want a better quality of life. More attention should be given to transport and the state of the roads. We need a radical rethought about how we move about. The pressure of traffic and cars on our life is fast becoming unbearable.
We need a more tolerant society which accepts those who are different. We should not continue to deny people the right to divorce and to start afresh. People's consiences should be respected since not everyone wishes to abide by the rules of the Catholic Church. Very often faith is based on fear of losing one's soul rather than on loving your neighbour and working for justice.
There is a need for a better handing of the plight of illegal immigrants. These people deserve to be treated with dignity. Prejudice and intolerance should be fought with energy. I cannot understand how people with this 'fine' Catholic consience can tolerate the treatment we are giving these people.
We need better health services. The new hospital is fine but we need better preventive care and screening so that we minimise hospitalisations.
Well the above are some of the things that I wish the new administration to take care of.
First of all we want a change in the cabinet of ministers. We need new blood with people who are less arrogant, divisive and less inept. We do not want politics as usual and those members, old and new, who are tainted with shady 'transactions' should not be given any power.
We want a better preservation of our environment. We do not want more virgin land sacrificed to the 'development'. There is enough space for much more construction on existing developed areas. We do not want an open air nightclub in Mistra.
The people want a better quality of life. More attention should be given to transport and the state of the roads. We need a radical rethought about how we move about. The pressure of traffic and cars on our life is fast becoming unbearable.
We need a more tolerant society which accepts those who are different. We should not continue to deny people the right to divorce and to start afresh. People's consiences should be respected since not everyone wishes to abide by the rules of the Catholic Church. Very often faith is based on fear of losing one's soul rather than on loving your neighbour and working for justice.
There is a need for a better handing of the plight of illegal immigrants. These people deserve to be treated with dignity. Prejudice and intolerance should be fought with energy. I cannot understand how people with this 'fine' Catholic consience can tolerate the treatment we are giving these people.
We need better health services. The new hospital is fine but we need better preventive care and screening so that we minimise hospitalisations.
Well the above are some of the things that I wish the new administration to take care of.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)