Simon Busuttil qalilna li l-Partit Nazzjonalista hu l-aġent tal-bidla.
L-unika aġenti li qed jissemmew bħalissa m’humiex aġenti tal-bidla iżda aġenti taż-żejt.
Monthly Archives: January 2013
AD’s tablets
Financing politics in Malta in 2013
Dr Lawrence Gonzi, some days ago complained that the Labour Party was spending quite a lot on its electoral campaign.
Last Sunday a local newspaper reported on replies it received from poltical parties on the manner in which they are financing their electoral campaign.
Ralph Cassar Secretary General of Alternattiva Demokratika said that the Greens had a maximum budget of €20,000 for this electoral campaign. It was financed from small donations received from supporters. The largest donation in 2013 was €250.
Then there was deafening silence from the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party. They have not supplied any information on the manner in which their electoral campaign has been financed nor as to how much it is expected to cost.
It is clear to one and all that the PN and the PL are sparing no costs in this electoral campaign. They are spending millions of euros.
The question remains: who is financing the PN and the PL? How will the PN and the PL pay back their sponsors?
Malta as yet does not regulate the financing of political parties. Lawrence Gonzi in his years as Prime Minister has spoken a lot on the subject. But his deeds did not match his words.
A Private Member’s motion was presented in Parliament last year by maverick MP Franco Debono. Yet none supported him.
A Green MP after the March 2013 elections will champion the need to regulate the financing of political parties.
The others are not interested.
First published on di-ve.com on January 25, 2013
Data on patients in hospitals and the General Elections on 9 March 2013
The Information and Data Protection Commissioner replied today 21st January 2013 to a complaint which I submitted on behalf of Alternattiva Demokratika. He has questioned “the purpose of providing ………..lists of patients in hospitals, so early before the polling day when, I would say, the majority of those patients will be returning home before polling day and will not be casting their vote at the hospital.”
He consequently strongly recommended “that the Electoral Commission should require the submission of data, in terms of article 82 of the General Elections Act, not earlier than as from the Monday before polling day.”
The Information and Data Protection Commissioner was replying to a complaint submitted on the 18th December 2012 with reference to the provisions of articles 80, 81, 82, 83 and 84 of the General Elections Act amended during one of the last sittings of Parliament
The recommendation of the Data and Information Protection Commisisoner which cuts down to size the draconian provisions of the law agreed to unanimously in Parliament by the PL and the PN thereby protecting patients from the unwarranted intrusion of political parties.
(full text of correspondence follows)
________________________________________________________________
Our Ref: CDP/158/2012
Mr Carmel Cacopardo
Deputy Chairman
Alternattiva Demokratika
_____________________
Dear Mr Cacopardo,
I refer to your message hereunder and, after investigating your submissions, would like to submit the following:
In terms of sub-article 9(c) of the Data Protection Act (Chapter 440 of the Laws of Malta), hereinafter referred to as “the Act”,
“Personal data may be processed only if :
(c) processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject;”
Therefore, on the basis of the above-mentioned provision, the submission by the persons responsible for the administration of retirement homes to the sub-committee, established in terms of article 81 of the General Elections Act (Chapter 354 of the Laws of Malta), and subsequently to the political parties, lists of residents and employees, as required in terms of sub-articles 82(1)(a) and (b), (2)(b), (3) and (4) of the General Elections Act, is in conformity with the above-mentioned provision of the Act.
The Act defines “sensitive personal data” as “personal data that reveals race or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union, health, or sex life”. There is no doubt that, according to this definition, the data referred to in sub-article 82(2)(a) of the General Elections Act, constitutes “sensitive personal data” since it relates to persons’ health. The processing of “sensitive personal data” is subject to the provisions of article 12 of the Act which states that:
“ (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act no person shall process sensitive personal data:
Provided that such personal data may be processed in those cases provided for under sub-article (2) and under articles 13 to 16 or as may be prescribed by the Minister having regard to an important public interest.”
Given that General and Local Council Elections constitute an “important public interest” the publication of Legal Notice 30 of 2013 on the Processing of Personal Data for the purpose of the General Elections Act and the Local Councils Act Regulations, 2013, provides, on the basis of article 12(1) of the Act, the legal vires for the processing of the “sensitive personal data” envisaged in terms of sub-articles 82(2)(a), (3) and (4) of the General Elections Act.
In the light of the foregoing, there are no legal impediments barring the administrators of retirement homes and hospitals from providing the sub-committee, set up in terms of article 81 of the General Elections Act, and subsequently to the political parties in terms of sub-article 82(3), with the personal data and sensitive personal data, according to article 82 of the General Elections Act.
However, in this particular instance, that is, where there is a time lapse of more than eight weeks from the publishing of the election writ to the polling day, the requirement for the Electoral Commission and the political parties to be provided with lists of persons at retirement homes and hospitals starting from three days following the publication of the writ, is seen as neither relevant nor proportionate. More so, I question the purpose of providing such lists of patients in hospitals, so early before the polling day when, I would say, the majority of those patients will be returning home before polling day and will not be casting their vote at the hospital. Therefore, taking into account the obligations of the sub-committee as set out in sub-article 77(4)(d) of the General Elections Act, I strongly recommend that the Electoral Commission should require the submission of data, in terms of article 82 of the General Elections Act, not earlier than as from the Monday before polling day.
In view of this recommendation I am copying this communication to the Chief Electoral Commissioner for onward transmission to the Electoral Commission and the sub-committee.
Yours sincerely,
Joseph Ebejer
Information and Data Protection Commissioner
Airways House, Second Floor,
High Street, Sliema SLM 1549,
MALTA
Tel: (+356) 2328 7100 Fax: (+356) 2328 7198
Website: www.idpc.gov.mt
c.c. Mr Saviour Gauci, Chief Electoral Commissioner
From: Perit Carmel Cacopardo [mailto:cacopardocarm@euroweb.net.mt]
Sent: 18 December 2012 16:23
To: Info at IDPC
Subject: for the attention of Mr Joseph Ebejer, Information and Data Protection Commissioner
To the Information & Data Protection Commissioner
Dear Sir,
On behalf of Alternattiva Demokratika I draw your attention to the provisions of sections 80, 81, 82, 83 and 84 of the General Elections Act.
In particular I draw your attention to the provisions of article 82 which provides for information relative to residents in retirement homes and patients in hospitals to be supplied to the Electoral Commission as well as political parties on a daily basis as from date when the writ proclaiming the date of the general election is published. In the case of hospitals this information is to include wards where patients are placed.
It is the opinion of Alternattiva Demokratika that providing this data relative to retirement home residents and hospital patients to political parties would infringe the provisions of the Data Protection Act as it involves the unnecessary dissemination of personal sensitive data which is a matter restricted under the provisions of the Act.
In view of the above I request that you investigate the matter at your earliest and that should you consider it appropriate issue such directives such that the privacy of residents at retirement homes and patients at hospitals is protected in terms of the Data Protection Act.
Kindly acknowledge receipt.
Carmel Cacopardo
Deputy Chairman – Alternattiva Demokratika
The Green Election Manifesto
The five words “You know where we stand” encapsulate the Green Election Manifesto for the 9 March elections. The message being that the Greens in Malta do not mince their words. The Green political agenda is unambiguous.
The Green Election Manifesto is a 100 page document dealing with various political issues subdivided into 28 subject headings. It is the result of a long internal debate with input from all AD’s spokespersons and will be presented for approval at tomorrow’s Extraordinary General Meeting.
AD will be fielding its team of candidates who will be present on all thirteen electoral districts in the March 2013 general elections.
Eventual Green MPs will advocate a policy of consensus based on consistency, responsibility and progressive politics.
Greens in Malta have always been and will continue to be the strongest defenders of Malta’s environmental heritage, and will strive towards having public spaces which are accessible to all. In contrast to the the PN and the PL Greens have already proven themselves of not being hostage to big business, hunters, trappers, firework fanatics, Armier squatters, and greedy land developers.
The Green Manifesto also deals with issues of civil rights, a humane social policy and equal rights for all.
Greens are for gender equality and will strive to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation in all areas of policy.
Green MPs will be ready to work with MPs from other political parties on the basis of an agreed joint programme and will work to ensure its implementation when in parliament. As a minor partner Greens will strive to develop politics by consensus, the prerequisite for a stable political environment.
Voting for Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green party on 9 March is a vote for change in the method of governance which has been corrupted by the two-party system which we have been lumped with for the past 50 years.
If you want change: the Greens can deliver. You know where we stand.
published in di-ve.com on January 18, 2013
L-Enemalta tiffinanzja l-kampanja elettorali tal-PN
Il-Ministru Tonio Fenech il-bieraħ ippreżenta ir-rapport tal-KPMG dwar il-proposta tal-Labour fuq l-enerġija waqt konferenza stampa fil-kwartieri ġenerali tal-PN.
Il-KPMG kienu imqabbda mill-Korporazzjoni Enemalta biex jagħmlu dan ir-rapport. Nifhem li l-ispejjes ta’ dan ir-rapport tħallsu mill-Korporazzjoni Enemalta. Jiġifieri mit-taxxi li nħallsu aħna lkoll. Qed ngħid mit-taxxi u mhux mill-kontijiet tad-elettriku minħabba li dak li l-Korporazzjoni Enemalta tiġbor mill-kontijiet mhux biżżejjed biex tħallas l-ispejjes tagħha. Tingħata l-għajnuna permezz ta’ sussidji li jipprovdilha l-Gvern mit-taxxi.
Mela l-konklużjoni loġika ta’ dan kollu hi li l-Korporazzjoni Enemalta ikkummissjonat rapport biex jintuża fil-kampanja elettorali tal-PN. Ir-rapport ma kienx meħtieġ għall-Gvern, iżda kien meħtieġ għall-PN.
Naħseb li dan hu finanzjament illeċtu tal-kampanja elettorali tal-PN bl-użu ta’ fondi pubbliċi.
F’pajjiżi oħra l-istampa indipendenti kienet tqajjem kjass u teżiġi li l-PN iħallas lura lill-Enemalta l-ispejjes li għamlet. Il-korporazzjonijiet pubbliċi m’għandhomx jintużaw b’mod partiġjan!
Imma donnu li f’Malta kollox jgħaddi! Qiesu ma ġara xejn.
Jistaħbew wara l-konsulenti
Il-Ministru Tonio Fenech preżentment qiegħed jindirizza konferenza tal-aħbarijiet għax f’rapport ikkummissjonat mill-Enemalta id-ditta ta’ awdituri KPMG waslet għal konklużjoni li taħt il-Labour mhux veru li l-kontijiet ser jorħsu. Il-KPMG, skond Tonio Fenech, qed jgħidu li l-kontijiet fil-fatt ser jogħlew b’5%.
Mela fuq naħa issa għandna lil Labour Party li bil-ħafna rapporti li għandu (u li żammhom għalih, mhux pubblikati) qalilna li l-kontijiet ser jorħsu. U fuq in-naħa l-oħra lil Tonio Fenech li wara li kkritika dettaljatament il-proposta tal-Labour issa mar pass oltre.
Sadanittant il-konsulenti tħallsu. Il-konsulenti tal-Labour mill-fondi tal-kampanja elettorali – ġew minn fejn ġew – u r-rapport tal-Enemalta mill-kaxxa ta’ Malta!
Sadanittant s’issa ħadd minna għadu ma ingħata iċ-ċans li jara r-rapporti oriġinali. Tal-Labour jidher li ser jibqgħu imsakkrin u tal-Enemalta għad irridu naraw. S’issa l-power point presentation giet ippubblikta.
Il-PN u l-Labour qalulna x’qed jipproponu jew jaħsbu. Għandhom rapporti li qed jgħidu li jissostanzjaw dak li qed jgħidu.Iżda ir-rapporti żammewhom għalihom.
Ma jħossux li aħna nistgħu nifhmu x’qiegħed jingħad.
Din hi l-politika taż-żewġ partiti: jistaħbew wara l-konsulenti, u tħallas int.
You know where we stand
You know where we stand. This statement distinguishes Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green party in Malta, from the other political parties. Greens in Malta are, and have always been, clear as to the political agenda which they champion. In contrast, there are a number of issues on which both the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party are silent or evasive.
One important issue will be missing from AD’s 2013 electoral manifesto for the first time since the 1992 general election. I am referring to proposals for the introduction of divorce legislation. The PN and the PL always shied away from taking a stand on divorce. They were, however, faced with the inevitable when PN maverick MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, (later joined by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo) took a leaf out of AD’s 2008 electoral manifesto and presented a Private Member’s Bill on divorce. The Bill was approved after the need for divorce legislation was endorsed by popular support expressed in a referendum notwithstanding the resistance of a number of fundamentalist MPs.
Much has been written about the matter but it is necessary at this point in time to underline that on this basic issue both the PN and the PL failed to be clear with the electorate. They tried to avoid the issue to pander to fundamentalist sentiment.
AD has always been very clear on the issues it supports or opposes. It will remain so.
Today, AD will present to the public its team of candidates, which, once more, will be contesting all 13 electoral districts in the March 2013 general election. Eventual Green members of Parliament will ensure a responsible approach to the country’s challenges.
Instead of political pique and unnecessary confrontation, Green MPs will advocate a policy of consensus based on consistency, responsibility and progressive politics.
Greens in Malta will continue to be the strongest defenders of what is left of Malta’s environmental heritage and will strive towards having public spaces that are accessible to all.
Greens, in contrast to the others, have already proven themselves of not being hostage to big business, hunters, trappers, firework fanatics, Armier squatters and greedy land developers.
We insist on the need for sustainable policies. With over 70,000 vacant dwellings resulting from a land use policy that is anything but sustainable, Greens in Parliament after the March 2013 election will champion the immediate reversal of the rationalisation exercise that has extended unnecessarily the permissible development boundaries.
Water has been mismanaged over the years such that the water table is severely depleted and treated sewage effluent is discarded, being considered as a waste product rather than as an important resource. In the long term, all boreholes in private use should cease to be operational and steps have to be taken to ensure that it is clear to all that the water table is public property.
In contrast to the above, the PN and the PL have taken an ambivalent attitude towards the environment. They bend backwards making efforts to be pleasant to environmentalists, yet, simultaneously echo the demands of those who have been plundering natural resources.
Greens have always stood up for animal rights.
Greens call for socially just economic and social policies, such as the need to increase the minimum wage as well as socially just pensions, including adequate disability pensions. To counter speculation and to discourage the unsustainable use of property, Greens propose taxing vacant properties, from the third property onwards.
AD will continue to be the progressive party, championing humane social policies and equal rights for all: persons with disability, LGBT persons as well as alternative families.
AD is for gender equality, in favour of the right of access to IVF without discrimination, full equality in marriage and family rights for same-sex couples. AD is against all forms of discrimination, including that based on race.
AD will advocate the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use while insisting on the necessity that society helps drug victims to overcome their addiction rather than criminalise them.
Green MPs will be ready to work with MPs from other political parties on the basis of an agreed joint programme and will work to ensure its implementation when in Parliament.
As a minor partner, Greens will strive to develop politics by consensus, conscious that this is a prerequisite essential to the creation of a stable political environment.
Voting for AD is a vote for change in the method of governance that has been corrupted by the two-party system. If you believe in giving priority to social justice, civil rights, environmental justice, sustainable development, ecological modernisation, and, last but not least, the reform in the institutional set-up for the enhancement of democracy, you know where you stand with the Greens.
Voting for the PN and PL signifies voting for a stagnant two-party system.
AD can deliver change. The other parties cannot: they are compromised.
You know where we stand.
published originally in Times of Malta on January 12, 2013
Direct Order għal Delimara ?
Il-proposta tal-Labour hi waħda valida. Imma hi nieqsa mid-dettalji biex id-diskussjoni dwarha twassal għal konklużjoni pożittiva.
Hemm diversi punti validi.
Li jkollna impjant li jaħdem bil-gass ifisser inqas impatti fuq l-arja u per konsegwenza fl-inħawi fejn jaqbel il-proposta twassal għal kwalita’ tal-arja li tkun aħjar.
Il-PL qed jgħid li f’21 xahar jista’ jwettaq din il-proposta. Hawnhekk fl-opnjoni tiegħi hawn diversi affarijiet li jeħtieġ li jkunu ċċarati.
Iktar m jgħaddi żmien iktar qed jidher li biex iż-żmien ikun qasir mhux ser jinħarġu tenders. Ser ikun hemm “expression of interest”. L-anqas ma hu ċar dwar proċess ta’ permessi u studji dwar l-impatti ambjentali. Gfħax minkejja li diġa saru studji fl-inħawi dwar l-estensjoni tal-impjant ta’ Delimara dawn ikun meħtieg li bħala minimu jkunu aġġornati in vista ta’ proposta li hi teknikament differenti u li għalkemm ser naqqas uħud mill-impatti tista’ tiġġenera impatti differenti.
Il-proċess tat-tendering m’huwiex kapriċċ li nistgħu ngħaddu mingħajru. Huwa proċess b’mekkaniżmi li huma intenzjonati li jnaqqsu l-irregolaritajiet. Illum il-ġurnata huma proċeduri ikkumplikati u jinkludu appell minn eventwali deċiżjoni. Li twarrab dawn il-proċeduri m’huwiex ħaġa għaqlija. Biha tnaqqas iż-żmien, imma biha ukoll tnaqqas il-kontrolli fuq il-proċess innifsu. U għalkemm l-ebda proċess ta’ kontrolli ma hu garanzija assoluta kontra l-abbuż, li twarrab il-proċess tat-tendering hu żball. Tnaqqas iż-żmien vera imma iżżid il-possibilita’ tat-tahwid. Tiftaħ il-bibien beraħ għall-abbuż. Dan ikun il-konsegwenza ta’ Direct Order li jidher li hemm ippjanat għal Delimara.
Hemm imbagħad il-costings tal-proġett. Dawn ftit li xejn nista’ nikkummenta fuqhom sakemm ma narax ir-rapporti u l-istudji li saru. Għalhekk meħtieġa t-trasparenza biex dak li qiegħed jintqal ikun issostanzjat.
L-aħħar punt huwa dwar garanzija għal prezz tal-gass. Qiegħed jintqal li ser tintalab garanzija ta’ 10 snin dwar il-prezz tal-gass. Il-costings jidher li x’aktarx huma ibbażati fuq dan.
Ma naħsibx li din hi kundizzjoni realistka. Għalkemm il-gass hu orħos mill-fuel użat illum, u huwa iktar effiċjenti ukoll, xorta huwa soġġett għal prezz li jvarja. Huwa antiċipat ukoll illi dan il-prezz jista’ jiċċaqlaq il-fuq matul iż-żmien u dan billi d-domanda għalih qed tikber. Issa jekk il-PL għandu xi garanzija f’dan is-sens dan il-fatt huwa importanti ħafna. Mhux biss għall-garanzija innifisha imma ukoll dwar il-kundizzjonijiet li jista’ jkun hemm marbuta magħha.
Din hi l-posizzjoni.
Diskussjoni ibbilanċjat hi meħtieġa. Imma biex issir il-Labour irid jippubblika l-informazzjoni kollha li għandu. Jekk l-informazzjoni tiġi ippubblikata diskussjoni serja tista’ tagħmel il-ġid f’din il-kamoanja elettorali għax isservi biex niddiskutu politika nazzjonali dwar l-enerġija. Jekk le ifisser li l-Labour irid jgħaddi ż-żmien bin-nies.
Futur fis-sod
Il-Partit Nazzjonalista qed jgħidilna li biex ikollna futur fis-sod (fl-edukazzjoni, ix-xogħol u s-saħħa) it-tim ta’ Lawrence u Simon hu indispensabbli.
Ma jgħidilniex iżda li l-present, għal uħud, fis-saħħa qiegħed fuq stretcher fil-kuritur u b’nuqqas ta’ mediċini. Simon, simpatiku bħal dejjem, ma jarax differenza bejn grocer li spiċċawlu l-piżelli u l-ispiżerija tal-Gvern b’lista dejjem tiżdied ta’ mediċini out of stock.
Huwa ovvju li l-investiment li għamel il-Ministru Joseph Cassar meta kien l-uniku membru tal-Kabinett li appoġġa l-kandidatura ta’ Simon għal viċi-Kap tal-PN ġja beda jirrendi. Verament każ ta’ investiment u futur fis-sod.
Imbagħad hemm is-Segretarju Ġenerali baħbuħ, Pawlu Borg Olivier, li jidher li qed jitgħallem kif jibagħat l-emails. Il-bieraħ bi tbissima, bejn Paula u Marthese, ħabbar il-linji gwida tal-Manifest Elettorali tal-PN u nfurmana kemm il-Partit jgħozz id-diversita’. Ħasra li ma kellux ċans jispjega għaliex id-diversita’ li jgħozz il-PN s’issa waslet sal-logo ta’ din il-kampanja elettorali. U jidher li sa hemm tista’ tasal!
L-aħħar punt.
X’futur hemm għalina u għal uliedna jekk jibqa’ jkollna Ministri (u Prim Ministru) li għalihom xejn m’hu xejn? Għax għal Gvern immexxi mill-PN, li Ministru jiddobba lift fuq jet privat ma bniedem tal-business biex jara logħba futbol ma fiha xejn. L-anqas jekk xi żmien wara, viċin jew fil-bogħod irid jieħu deċiżjoni politika dwar kif fl-aħjar interess tal-pajjiż jeħtieġ li tkun regolata l-industrija.
Ma ġara xejn l-anqas jekk is-Segretarju Privat ta’ Ministru jammetti fil-Qorti li hu korrot. B’daqshekk? L-aqwa li lill-Ministru tidhirlu d-Duluri u tfissirlu kemm hi inkwetata.
Qatt ma qalilna jekk kienitx inkwetata minħabba fih!
Blog ta' Carmel Cacopardo 