Wara l-gwerra ċivili fil-PN

Għad m’hemm l-ebda ħjiel tat-tmiem tal-gwerra ċivili fil-PN. Din qed tagħmel ħafna ħsara, mhux biss lill-PN: fl-aħħar minn l-aħħar qed tagħmel il-ħsara lill-pajjiż kollu.

Kull wieħed miż-żewġ darbiet fejn ġie espress vot ta’ sfiduċja fil-Kap tal-PN Adrian Delia iwassal messaġġ politiku ċar li s’issa l-Kap tal-Opposizzjoni għad ma fehem xejn minnu. Meta Delia stqarr li l-vot ta’ sfuduċja espress mill-grupp parlamentari Nazzjonalista u iktar tard mill-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-PN ma kellhom l-ebda sinifikat partikolari, kien qed jesponi l-miżerja ta’ kredenzjali demokratiċi tiegħu kif ukoll kien qed jirrifletti l-immaturità politika tiegħu. Dan fl-aħħar m’għandux biss rifless fuq il-kredibilità ta’ Adrian Delia imma ukoll fuq dik tal-PN innifsu.

Il-gwerra ċivili fil-PN qed tisraq l-attenzjoni li presentement jixraq li tkun fuq materji oħra ta’ importanza kbira.  L-irkupru mill-impatti sostanzjali tal-pandemija  Covid-19 u t-tisħiħ tal-kapaċità ta’ Malta kontra l-korruzzjoni u l-ħasil tal-flus jeħtieġu ferm iktar attenzjoni u enerġija. Mhux biss mill-Gvern, imma anke mill-Opposizzjoni.

Jeħtieġ li niddiskutu fid-dettall pjan ta’ rkupru mill-pandemija Covid-19 li jinfirex fuq l-oqsma kollha effettwati: pjan li għandu jkun wieħed integrat ma’ strateġija li tindirizza t-tibdil fil-klima u dan fil-qafas tal-konklużjonijiet tas-summit ta’ Pariġi.  Alternattiva Demokratika diġà tat il-kontribut tagħha xi ġimgħat ilu permezz tal-pubblikazzjoni tar-rapport: Pjan Aħdar: Ġust u Sostenibbli.

Studju riċenti ta’ Deloitte li kien ikkummissjonat mill-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Lukandi u r-Restoranti (MHRA) jindika li l-industrija tat-turiżmu bdiet ġejja f’sensiha. Qed tirrealizza li l-irkupru mhux biss seħħ bil-mod, iżda bil-mod ħafna: iktar kajman milli qatt antiċipaw.   L-Air Malta irrevediet il-pjan kummerċjali tagħha u issa qed tantiċipa li teħtieġ madwar seba’ snin biex tkun f’posizzjoni li terġa’ tibda iġġorr l-istess numru ta’ passiġġiera li kienet iġġor qabel ma faqqgħet il-pandemija.  Dan kollu jwassal għal osservazzjoni waħda – evitata minn bosta – dwar kemm l-aspettattivi tal-industrija tat-turiżmu dwar l-irkupru tal-industrija mhumiex realistiċi.

Ikun ferm aħjar kieku napprofittaw ruħna mis-sitwazzjoni u nippjanaw aħjar biex l-industrija tat-turiżmu tissaħħaħ billi ma tibqax tiffoka fuq in-numri imma fuq il-kwalità tat-turist. Pjan ta’ din ix-xorta, bla dubju, jkun jista’ jindirizza l-impatti ambjentali negattivi sostanzjali tal-industrija b’mod effettiv. Il-Ministru tat-Turiżmu  Julia Portelli-Farrugia ma tantx tidher li taqbel ma dan, għax il-ħin kollu tredden bin-numri.

Il-Moneyval hu Kumitat tal-Kunsill ta’ l-Ewropa  magħmul minn esperti li jevalwaw miżuri kontra l-ħasil tal-flus u l-finanzjament tat-terroriżmu.  Hu grupp ta’ monitoraġġ permanenti bl-inkarigu li jara li l-istati membri tal-Kunsill ta’ l-Ewropa qed jieħdu l-miżuri meħtieġa u maqbula fuq livell internazzjonali.

Fl-aħħar rapport dwar Malta ippubblikat fl-2019 il-Moneyval, tagħmel 40 rakkomandazzjoni spjegati f’ 233 paġna. Rakkomandazzjonijiet dwar x’inhu meħtieġ li jsir.  Ir-riskji għal Malta huma ċari: għandna ekonomija li hi vulnerabbli ħafna primarjament minħabba d-daqs tagħha kif ukoll minħabba l-fatt li hi esposta ħafna għal dak kollu li jiġri barra minn xtutna.   Ir-rapport tal-Moneyval jemfasizza li r-remote gaming, per eżempju hu vulnerabbli ħafna għall-ħasil tal-flus u dan “due to the high number of customers, mainly non-resident, the high volume of transactions, the non-face-to-face nature of the business and the use of prepaid cards.”

Mhux biżżejjed li għandna liġijiet li huma ġeneralment liġijiet tajbin. Hemm ħtieġa qawwija ta’ riżorsi għax mingħajr r-riżorsi ma tista’ timplimenta xejn. Ix-xhieda riċenti tal-Assistant Kummissarju tal-Pulizija  Ian Abdilla fl-inkjesta pubblika dwar l-assassinju ta’  Daphne Caruana Galizia, ftit jiem wara li tneħħa mit-tmexxija tat-taqsima tar-reati ekonomiċi, jindika n-nuqqas ta’ impenn biex il-ħafna dikjarazzjonijiet li jsiru kontra l-ħasil tal-flus ikunu implimentati. Sfortunatament id-dikjarazzjonijiet u l-assigurazzjonijiet repetuti tal-Gvern mhumiex kredibbli.

Mhux aħjar l-Opposizzjoni tuża’ l-ħin tagħha dwar dan? Iktar ma jikkonkludu l-glied intern malajr, aħjar għal kulħadd. Hemm ħafna x’isir wara li  Adrian Delia jiġi f’sensieh u jaċċetta l-inevitabbli.

 

Ippubblikat fuq Illum: il-Ħadd 19 ta’ Lulju 2020

After the PN civil war

The civil war within the PN has no end in sight. This does not only inflict considerable damage on the PN: at the end of the day it damages the whole country.

The two instances of a vote of no confidence in PN leader Adrian Delia are clear political statements which unfortunately the Opposition leader has so far been incapable of deciphering. Labelling the no confidence votes expressed separately by the Opposition Parliamentary Group and the PN Executive Committee as being of no significance further dilutes Adrian Delia’s democratic credentials and reflects his political immaturity. This has a bearing not only on Delia’s credibility but also on that of the PN.

The PN civil war is diverting attention from more pressing issues. The recovery from the devastating impacts of Covid-19 and the strengthening of Malta’s capability in the fight against corruption and money laundering surely require more attention and energy. Not just from government but also from the opposition.

We need to discuss in depth a Covid-19 recovery plan which spans all areas and factors in climate change. Maltese Greens have already made their contribution through the report published some weeks ago entitled: Green Plan: Fair and Sustainable.

A recent Deloitte study commissioned by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) indicates that the tourism industry is coming to its senses and realising that the recovery is slow, maybe even much slower than originally perceived.  Air Malta’s revised business plan is envisaging that it will take around seven years for the national carrier to return to pre-Covid-19 capacity. All this begs the question, so far avoided, as to whether the expectations of the tourism industry of attaining full recovery are realistic.

Would it not be more realistic if we realise that this is the appropriate time to plan for a tourism industry that foregoes quantity and focuses on quality? Such a course of action would address the substantial negative environmental impacts of the tourism industry. Tourism Minister Julia Portelli-Farrugia is not on the same page. She is unfortunately desperately after numbers.

Moneyval is a Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism. It is a permanent monitoring body tasked with assessing compliance of Council of Europe member States with international standards.

In its 2019 report on Malta, Moneyval, in a 233-page report, made 40 recommendations on measures which need to be taken. The risks are clear: our economy is highly vulnerable to money laundering, even as a consequence of its size and international exposure.  The report emphasises that remote gaming, for example, is inherently vulnerable to money laundering “due to the high number of customers, mainly non-resident, the high volume of transactions, the non-face-to-face nature of the business and the use of prepaid cards.”

Having good laws is not sufficient. Resources are desperately needed as otherwise laws cannot be implemented. The recent testimony of Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Abdilla in the ongoing public inquiry on the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a few days after being unceremoniously removed from leading the Economic Crimes Unit, clearly indicates the lack of commitment to implement Malta’s declared objectives in addressing money-laundering. Unfortunately, government’s repeated declarations and assurances are not credible.

Some food for thought for the Parliamentary Opposition: the sooner they conclude their in-fighting the better. There is much to be done after Adrian Delia comes to his senses and accepts the inevitable.

Published in The Malta Independent on Sunday : 19 July 2020

Sound governance protects the environment

 

Demerger will cause institutional fragmentation.

The state’s duties are not enforceable in a Court of Law.

 

 

Protection of the environment is not achieved in proportion to the number of authorities established to deal with the environment, resources and land use planning. In fact, subject to sound governance, the number of established authorities is irrelevant.

The government has, through its election manifesto, created a storm in a teacup, raising expectations that the demerger of MEPA would result in a government locked into a green commitment. The Opposition, on the other hand, has spoken of a doomsday scenario which will be triggered by the proposed demerger.

Both are wrong as the path to a green commitment requires a political will that is not easily detectable in the House of Representatives as presently composed. The Labour government and the Nationalist Opposition have entered into other commitments intended to bolster the building development industry. Labour is currently moving along that path, whilst the Nationalists did it throughout their 26 years in government.

As a nation, we are still reeling from the devastating actions of the PN-led government which caused considerable environmental damage. Former Environment Minister Mario de Marco has recently been on record as stating that maybe too much has been sacrificed in the pursuit of economic growth. This is not simply a revival of the past, it is an exercise in trying to understand past PN issues of environmental governance that contradict all the sweet green talk of Simon Busuttil.

When the 2005 census indicated the existence of over 53,000 vacant or under-utilised residential properties, the PN-led government increased the uptake of land for development through the rationalisation exercise. It addition, it simultaneously increased the permissible height in several areas. In a number of instances, this increased from 2 to five floors. It also facilitated the construction of penthouses. This has led to an increase (as of 2011) in the number of  vacant and under-utilised residential properties to 72,000 units.

The proposed demerger of MEPA will neither address nor reverse this mess which is the PN’s environmental legacy to the nation.

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party – is not in agreement with the MEPA demerger proposed by government due to the resulting institutional fragmentation. As a result, human and financial resources will be spread thin over two authorities, thereby weakening effective environmental governance. As a small country, we actually require defragmentation, as this reinforces effective environmental stewardship.

Earlier this week, I and AD’s General Secretary Ralph Cassar had a meeting with Environment Minister Leo Brincat during which we discussed AD’s views in relation to the Environment Protection Act currently pending on Parliament’s agenda.

AD noted that whilst the proposed Environment Protection administrative structures do not contain any parliamentary representation, this has been retained in the land use planning structures. In fact, in paragraph 63(2)(d) of the Development Planning Act 2015, it is provided that two MPs will sit on the Planning Board.

AD does not consider it necessary for Parliament to be present in the planning decision-taking structures. It serves no purpose to have MPs involving themselves in decisions as to which individual development permit is approved or rejected. Alternattiva Demokratika suggested to Minister Brincat that MPs have no direct role to play in operational matters regarding land use planning. It would be more appropriate if Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Environment and Development Planning is given wider powers to monitor both the Planning Authority as well as the authority dealing with the environment and resources. This would entail the availability of financial and human resources so through its Standing Committee, Parliament would be in a better position to identify, and consequently nip in the bud any irregularities or inconsistencies.

Both the Development Planning Act as well as the Environment Protection Act list the duties and principles which the state should observe to ensure “a comprehensive sustainable land use planning system” and “to protect the environment”.   However, after going into detail to explain such duties, the legislation before Parliament then proceeds to state that these “are not enforceable in a Court of Law”. This is specified in Article 4 of the Development Planning Act and in Article 5 of the Environment Protection Act.

One should state that there are similar provisions in present legislation. It is, however, high time that such provisions are removed so that it will be possible for Maltese citizens to seek redress against the state if it attempts to circumvent its duties and abdicate its responsibilities.

Last April, following a legal challenge by the environmental NGO Client Earth, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court  squashed Her Majesty’s government’s ineffective plans to reduce illegal levels of air pollution in Britain and ordered it to deliver new ones by the end of 2015.

Similarly,  last June Courts in Holland ordered the Dutch Government to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 25 per cent within 5 years in what is being termed as the world’s first climate liability suit.

Maltese citizens deserve no less. It would therefore be appropriate if the above mentioned provisions of the Development Planning Act and the Environment Protection Act are enforceable in a Court of Law.

Another proposal made by Alternattiva Demokratika in the meeting with Minister Brincat concerns the method of selection of the board members of the  two Authorities, as well as their senior executives (CEOs and Directors). AD believes that before government proceeds to appoint such members/executives, it should seek and subsequently follow the advice of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment and Development Planning . Such advice should be given by the Parliamentary Committee after the persons nominated are examined by the Committee during a sitting held in public. This change would increase the possibility of the appointment of a higher percentage of competent people as members of the board/senior executives. It would also reduce the possibility of appointing people whose only qualification is membership in the government party.

The proposed demerger is, in my view a non-issue. Legislating to facilitate the entrenching of good governance should be the real objective. After discussing the matter with Minister Leo Brincat I believe that, even at this late hour, this is still attainable.

Published in The Malta Independent on Sunday – 16 August 2015

Ivvotajt LE ? Stedina biex taħseb ftit ieħor

 

Ir-referendum intilef b’2,220 vot.

124,214 votant ivvutaw favur il-ħarsien tal-għasafar, favur l-ambjent.

Jekk trid tivvota favur l-ambjent m’għandekx għalfejn toqgħod tistenna referendum. Għandek ukoll l-obbligu li tagħmel dan fl-elezzjonijiet l-oħra: dawk ġenerali u dawk lokali. Jekk trid tkun konsistenti anke f’dawk l-elezzjonijiet għandek tikkunsidra li tagħti l-appoġġ bil-vot tiegħek lil dawk il-partiti f’Malta li għandhom politika li tħares l-ambjent. Partit politiku wieħed hemm: Alternattiva Demokratika.

Joseph Muscat u Simon Busuttil qalu li ivvutaw IVA. Jekk inti ivvutajt LE,  għaldaqstant, ma tistax tkun konsistenti  jekk wara d-dikjarazzjonijiet tagħhom tibqa’ tappoġġa lill-partit tagħhom.

L-ambjent niddefenduh dejjem mhux fir-referendum biss.

Inkella il-vot tal-LE il-bieraħ kien biss biex isserraħ il-kuxjenza.

Michael Falzon u Ninu Zammit

       

Għamel tajjeb Simon Busuttil meta issospenda mill-Partit Nazzjonalista kemm lil Michael Falzon kif ukoll lil Ninu Zammit wara li dawn ammettew li għal xi snin kellhom flus depożitati f’Bank Svizzeru.

L-ammissjoni ta’ Michael Falzon u Ninu Zammit tfisser li waqt li kienu qed jokkupaw karigi Ministerjali, jinsistu ma kulħadd biex josserva l-liġi, huma stess kienu qed jiksruha b’mod sfaċċat.

Kif nistgħu nippretendu li n-nies tosserva l-liġi jekk dawn l-exMinistri kien jiksruha b’mod daqshekk sfaċċat? Mhux biss kisru l-liġi, imma fuq kollox ittradew lil min ħatarhom f’kariga ta’ responsabbilta Ministerjali.

 

 

Garanzija biex min seraq, igawdi dak li seraq

Fir-ritratt ta’ hawn fuq li hu meħud minn Il-Bajja No.2 ta’ April 2003 jidher George Pullicino, dakinnhar Segretarju Parlamentari, jippoża mal-kumitat inkarigat mill-boathouses tal-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa wara waħda mil-laqgħat fejn min seraq l-art pubblika fl-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa ingħata l-appoġġ mill-politiċi li huma eletti fil-Parlament.

Id-dibattitu fil-pajjiż dwar il-kmamar tal-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa kif ukoll (ftit inqas) dwar dawk fil-Bajja ta’ San Tumas ilu għaddej. Min hu kontra, min hu favur u min jiġi jaqa’ u jqum.

Il-każ huwa wieħed li jattakka s-soċjeta demokratika fl-egħruq tagħha. Għax il-messaġġ ċar li ilu jidwi hu li quddiem il-liġi m’aħniex kollha xorta. Fl-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa (L-Armier, Little Armier, it-Torri l-Abjad) u fil-Bajja ta’ San Tumas il-prinċipju tas-Saltna tad-Dritt (r-Rule of Law) idub u jisparixxi.

Min seraq l-art, bniha bla permess u anke seraq l-elettriku ser ikun ippremjat.

Alternattiva Demokratika biss tkellmet ċar kontra dan l-abbuż. Ftehemu kemm mal-Partit Laburista kif ukoll mal-Partit Nazzjonalista. Fil-Gvern għal 25 sena l-Partit Nazzjonalista ma rnexxilux jerfa’ subgħajh biex iġib sens ta’ ordni. Ipprova darba l-Perit Michael Falzon meta kien Ministru tal-Ippjanar u l-Kabinett bagħtu jixxejjer! Falzon riċentement kiteb fil-gazzetti li dakinnhar tgħallem li l-voti huma iktar importanti mill-prinċipji!

Waqt li l-Perit Michael Falzon ried iwaqqa’ dak li kien illegali, Ministri oħrajn ftehmu ma min b’mod sfaċċat u fid-dawl tax-xemx sfida l-liġi. Dawn dejjem irraġunaw li bl-appoġġ tal-PN u l-PL ħadd ma jista’ għalihom! Fl-aħħar jidher li ser jirnexxilhom.

Il-PN irnexxilu jipproteġihom għal 25 sena sħaħ. Fil-futur qarib il-Labour fil-Gvern jidher li ser jissiġilla din l-sfida kbira għall-liġi u l-ordni fil-pajjiż.

Messaġġ ċar li l-Labour Party ta’ Malta qed jagħti (bl-appoġġ tal-PN). Il-Labour fil-Gvern jiggarantilek li tgawdi dak li sraqt.

Il-lejla fuq Times Talk niddiskuti dan is-suġġett mal-preżentaturi Mark Micallef u Herman Grech u mistednin mill-partiti politiċi l-oħra.

Il-lista ta’ hawn fuq hi estratt minn Il-Bajja Nru 30 ta’ April 2010 u turi l-lokalitajiet fejn joqgħodu dawk li għandhom il-boathouses f’idejhom.

Kunsilli Lokali u Referendum : jirbaħ is-sens komun

F’Alternattiva Demokratika ilna mill-2009 li ipproponejna li l-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lokali jsiru kull 5 snin flimkien ma dawk tal-Parlament Ewropew. Il-Gvern immexxi mill-PN ma kienx qabel u kien iddeċieda li dawn isiru kull 4 snin. Issa l-Gvern immexxi mill-PL qed jaqbel.

Sa hawn tajjeb.

Li għamel ħażin kien il-ħafna tejatrin li rriduċa dak li seta kien djalogu politiku serju f’eżerċiżżju partiġjan. Il-Gvern fil-pubbliku seta mexxa id-diskussjoni aħjar. Fil-privat min-naħa l-oħra nista’ ngħid li jiena u Arnold iltqajna ma delegazzjoni tal-Gvern immexxija minn Owen Bonnici Ministru, flimkien ma Stefan Buontempo Segretarju Parlamentari u Michael Cohen konsulent. Id-delegazzjoni tal-Gvern fid-diskussjonijiet li kellna imxew ħafna aħjar.

Il-posizzjoni tagħna l-AD fissirniha bil-kalma u anke dakinnhar il-Ministru Owen Bonnici kien diġa wera li l-proposta ta’ AD kienet raġjonevoli ħafna.

Issa nista’ ngħid li l-proposta ta’ AD hi riflessa kompletament fid-deċiżjoni li ħabbar il-Gvern. Jiġifieri AD ipproponiet li l-elezzjonijiet tal-2015 isiru fi żmienhom u li dawk tal-2017 ikun posposti sal-2019 flimkien mal-elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew, meta jsiru l-elezzjonijiet kollha.

Id-diskussjoni bil-kalma dejjem twassal għal soluzzjoni li anke’ jekk mhux kulħadd jaqbel magħha, tal-inqas tkun raġjonevoli u ġusta.

Kien floku ukoll li smajna lill-Ministru Owen Bonnici jiddikjara li jekk il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali tiddeċiedi favur li r-referendum abrogattiv dwar il-kaċċa fir-rebbiegħa jsir, dan isir mal-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lokali skedati għal Marzu 2015.

Xejn speċjali.  Imma rebaħ is-sens komun.

Huwa ta’ pjaċir għalina f’Alternattiva Demokratika li tajna kontribut biex wasalna għal din id-deċiżjoni.

Wara l-vjolenza fil-Buskett: ir-referendum dwar il-kaċċa fir-rebbiegħa

L-inċidenti tal-ġimgħa l-oħra kienu gravi. Kemm il-qtil tat-tajr protett kif ukoll l-attitudni irresponsabbli ta’ dawk il-200 kaċċatur li ddemostraw il-Belt waranofsinnhar u iktar l-azzjoni vjolenti tat-30 ruħ minnhom li baqgħu sejrin sal-Buskett u sawtu lil dawk li kienu qed josservaw l-għasafar fil-Buskett.

L-attutudni tal-FKNK kienet waħda ambivalenti. Min-naħa l-waħda tiddisassoċja ruħha minn dak li ġara. Imbagħad min-naħa l-oħra qalet li “tifhem il-frustrazzjoni tal-kaċċaturi”.  Minkejja dan, imma, n-nies hemm barra ma jifhmux l-affarijiet kif qed jippruvaw ipinġuhom l-FKNK.

 

Fost il-kummenti tan-nies spikkaw dawk dwar ir-referendum abrogattiv li dwaru l-proċess skond il-Liġi miexi kif suppost. In-nies trid iktar informazzjoni dwar ir-referendum u tixtieq li dan isir illum qabel għada.

Wara li nġabru l-firem għar-referendum, dawn ġew ivverifikati mill-Kummissjoni Elettorali li infurmat b’dan lill-Qorti Kostituzzjonali. Ir-Reġistratur tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali nhar it-3 ta’ Lulju 2014 ħabbar li kien hemm 41,494 firem validi biex jissejjaħ referendum abrogattiv dwar l-Avviż Legali 221/2010 liema avviż legali jippermetti li permezz ta’ deroga ssir kaċċa għas-summien u l-gamiem fir-rebbiegħa.

Dan l-avviż tar-Reġistratur tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali jfisser li dakinhar tal-avviż beda jgħodd iż-żmien għall-oġġezjonijiet: hemm fil-fatt tlett xhur ċans u dawn jagħlqu fl-aħħar tal-ġimgħa d-dieħla, nhar il-Ġimgħa 3 t’Ottubru 2014.

Wara li jidħlu l-oġġezzjonijiet, li bla dubju ser jippreżentaw (kif għandhom kull dritt) il-kaċċaturi, tibda l-aħħar fażi tal-mixja legali. L-ewwel dawk li qed jikkoordinaw il-proċeduri tar-referendum iwieġbu l-oġġezzjonijiet, u mbagħad il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali, wara li tisma’ dak li jkollhom xi jgħidu l-avukati tagħti d-deċiżjoni tagħha.

Nistennew deċiżjoni tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali bejn Diċembru u Jannar. Wara, jekk il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali tiddeċiedi li r-referendum abrogattiv għandu jsir (u s’issa ma jidher li hemm l-ebda raġuni għala m’għandiex tgħid li għandu jsir) ikun possibli li tiġi stabilita d-data tar-referendum abrogattiv. Din tkun mhux qabel ma jgħaddu tlett xhur mid-deċiżjoni tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali, imma mhux iktar tard minn sitt xhur mill-istess deċiżjoni.

It-triq hi ftit twila, imma jeħtieġ li nieħdu paċenzja ftit ieħor.

Fl-aħħar m’għandix dubju li ser naslu biex il-kaċċa fir-rebbiegħa f’Malta tispiċċa darba għal dejjem. Il-vjolenza m’hu ser taqta’ qalb ħadd. Pjuttost qed tiftaħ għajnejn iktar nies li sa ftit ilu kienu bierda u li issa iktar minn qatt qabel qed jirrealizzaw il-gravita’ tas-sitwazzjoni.

Wasalna hawn minħabba li ż-żewġ partiti politiċi fil-Parlament tul is-snin baxxaw rashom għal dak li riedu l-kaċċaturi. Huwa bis-saħħa tar-rieda popolari u b’mod partikolari dawk il-41,494 firma li nġabru mill-għaqdiet ambjentali u Alternattiva Demorkatika li fl-aħħar ser ikun possibli biex flimkien inħassru dak li għamlu l-PN u l-PL: biex il-kaċċa fir-rebbiegħa f’Malta tispiċċa darba għal dejjem.

 

Insellem lil John Camilleri

 

Insellem lil John Camilleri li miet il-bieraħ kmieni fil-għodu fl-eta ta’ 67 sena.

Sirt nafu 38 sena ilu. Kont għadni fl-ewwel ġranet tiegħi bħala student fl-Università ta’ Malta. John kien technician fil-laboratorji tad-Dipartiment tal-Fiżika tal-Università.  Kienu ftit ġranet wara l-elezzjoni tal-1976 u d-diskussjoni fuq fomm kulħadd kienet dwar il-ħtieġa li l-Partit Nazzjonalista jorganizza ruħu wara t-tieni telfa elettorali konsekuttiva.

John Camilleri kien fuq quddiem biex jara li dan seħħ. Sena qabel kien sar taqlib kbir amministrattiv fil-PN u John kien inħatar l-ewwel Segretarju Organizzattiv tal-PN bl-inkarigu li l-partit jorganizza ruħu b’mod partikolari fl-ibliet u l-irħula ta’ Malta u Għawdex. Dan kien l-ewwel pass għal tibdila mill-qiegħ li kien tant jeħtieġ il-PN.

F’Ottubru 1976 il-ħidma biex jinbidel George Borg Olivier li kienet ilha li bdiet, irrankat u  fil-fatt tlett xhur wara ġie elett Eddie Fenech Adami bħala Kap tal-PN. John kien fuq quddiem nett biex dan iseħħ.

Imma mhux dan biss.

John  Camilleri kien wieħed minn team li rnexxielu jerġa’ jpoġġi r-ruħ soċjali tal-PN f’postha. B’konvinzjoni.

Ma’ John  Camilleri ħdimt fil-qrib meta għal sentejn jiena kont ir-rappreżentant elett tal-istudenti fil-Kunsill tal-Università fil-bidu tas-snin 80. John kien ir-rappreżentant elett tal-ħaddiema mhux akkademiċi tal-Universita fl-istess Kunsill. Niftakar ċar id-difiża li għamilna meta fil-Kunsill tal-Università  tressqet mozzjoni biex ikunu sospiżi l-ħaddiema (akkademiċi u mhux akkademiċi) li ħadu sehem fil-protesta tal-Imnarja f’Ġunju 1982.

Konna 4 biss mill-membri tal-Kunsill tal-Università li ivvutajna kontra dik is-sospensjoni: jiena, John Camilleri, l-Ispiżjar Maurice Debono (lecturer u rappreżentant elett tal-istaff akkademiku – miet xi snin ilu) u membru ieħor tal-Kunsill li kien nominat mill-Gvern li pero’ xorta ivvota kontra din is-sospensjoni. (Niftakar ċar li kien ġie bil-qegħda ħdejja speċifikament biex jurini kif kien qiegħed jivvota – il-votazzjoni kienet sigrieta.)

John kien bniedem mimli enerġija li użaha biex iwassal messaġġ ċar: nibnu soċjeta’ ġdida b’rispett sħiħ lejn id-dinja tax-xogħol.

John insellimlek.

Is-sabar lill-martu, lill-uliedu, lill-ħutu u lill-familjari tiegħu.

Fl-Armier la tisraqx l-elettriku, imma dwar l-art “jirranġawlek”

 

Tajjeb għamlet il-Korporazzjoni Enemalta li ser tistalla smart meters fejn diġa’ hemm provista tal-elettriku fil-boathouses tal-Armier mibnija b’mod illegali. Il-Korporazzjoni Enemalta qed tagħti messaġġ qawwi lil kulħadd. Kemm li dawk li qed jużaw il-boathouses imma iktar u iktar lill-Gvern.

Il-Korporazzjoni Enemalta qed tgħid li mhux ser tittollera s-serq tal-elettriku. La tisraqx l-elettriku għax “bl-ismart meter ser naqbduk”, qed tgħid il-Korporazzjoni Enemalta.

Imma l-Gvern, kemm dak tal-lum immexxi minn Joseph Muscat (kif ukoll dawk tal-bieraħ immexxija minn Lawrence Gonzi u Eddie Fenech Adami) qed jagħti messaġġ differenti. Messaġġ imsaħħah b’diversi ftehim bejn l-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Boathouses tal-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa  u l-partiti l-kbar (jiġifieri l-Partit Nazzjonalista u l-Partit Laburista). Il-Gvern jgħinek billi jagħlaq għajnejh għas-serq ta’ art pubblika.

Mela : tisraqx l-elettriku, imma jekk trid tisraq l-art fl-Armier il-Gvern lest li jgħinek. Jekk sraqt l-art, qed jgħidlek, nirranġaw.

 

Jekk trid taqra iktar dwar dan is-suġġett f’dan il-blog aqra is-segwenti:

24 ta’ Ġunju 2008 : Il-Boathouses tal-Armier.

21 ta’ Jannar 2012: Parties in cahoots with squatters.

17 t’Awwissu 2012 :  Armier cowboys should not be rewarded.

23 t’Ottubru 2012: Pajjiż tal-cowboys: israq u tkun ippremjat.

24 t’Ottubru 2012: Il-boathouses tal-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa: meta l-Ministru riedhom jaqgħu.

8 ta’ Jannar 2013 : Malta tagħna lkoll.

2 ta’ Frar 2013 : Armier illegalities and amnesties.

29 ta’ Ġunju 2013 : Is-skiet tal-PN dwar l-Armier.