MaltaToday, 4 June 2008 |

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LETTERS | Wednesday, 4 June 2008

Coming to a conclusion

Since the announcement of the stepping down of Dr Alfred Sant we managed to get lots of hidden news but now we have arrived at the end. Now the man in the street, the delegates, the Labourites and all those interested can come to a conclusion. One now can decide to whom he prefers, but apart from choosing the leader one can also conclude on other issues.
One can conclude that this group known as the “Bord Tal-Vigilanza” is the most comic thing there is in the Malta Labour Party. Definitely the party has to get rid of this group cause it managed to do everything apart from being healthy.
Secondly one might say that the campaign was too long (and in my opinion it was a bit) but one positive thing about it was that we managed to see the different ways of doing politics of all the five contestants. I think that whoever followed what was happening step by step, shifted their choice from one candidate to the other but now definitely everyone is convinced on whom they would like to see as a leader.
Another conclusion that can be drawn is that the party needs a good shake-up and a new way of doing politics. One can say that defeat is always bad, but to be honest this defeat was needed because if the new leader manages to choose the right entourage around him, surely this could be the healthiest thing that might have happened. The MLP needs to get rid of those people who in these last few years turned the party in their hands, and needs to input new faces with new ideas. The party needs to be more media friendly. It needs to accept that not everyone thinks the same way as the leader does but it has to allow these people to pin point out their points of view. It needs to be more democratic. It has been also concluded that the party has got valid persons, but needs to know how to make these people part of its family. The party needs more professionalism and needs to be updated from time to time.
We can conclude that if the MLP manages to make all these changes, it would be a party more at ease with itself, and would attract more new voters. Hopefully within five years we will turn back and conclude that if these changes were not effected, we would not be here.  
 
Ramon Muscat
Via email

MLP – racing to defeat

The recently published MLP election analysis report resembles a car racing Formula 1 grand prix loss analysis report: The track was slippery, we could have used better tyres, we could have done with two pit stops instead of three, refuelling took too long... and blaming everything on the conditions, engineers technicians, etc.
In my opinion the root of the problem goes back to 2003 when the MLP committed a major crucial error of electing the same leader after three consecutive major electoral defeats (two elections and a referendum). In 2003 delegates were forced to elect a leader without even a discussion on the referendum/election defeat! In modern democracies party leaders simply disappear from the scenes after the loss of just one election. Blaming a defeat on any one of the two deputy leaders is pure fiction. Michael Falzon can surely be credited with turning the MLP’s tragic-comic electoral machine into one matching and exceeding the PN’s both in organisation and discipline.
I understand that the commission had a very short timeframe to prepare the report. However, how many pro-MLP voters who abstained did the commission bother to interview/ask for their reasons for not voting?
On a positive note, if the MLP with all these shortcomings managed to increase thousands of votes and the PN lost thousands, what would have been the result with a change in leadership? Come 5 June lets all start working to get rid of this minority government.
 
Bertu Pace
Siggiewi

Divided Labour could keep PN out

In your article headed: “Division of Labour? A party's split personality”, you state “PN circles are already revelling in the prospect of an MLP split which would consign them the keys of government for a very long time.”
I stand to be corrected but surely with the recent constitutional changes, if one assumes that PN gets a similar result as they did in the 2008 elections, having under 50% of the votes, and the MLP, now split into two parties, get the same number of seats as in 2008 combined, then I think the PN can only assume power with another party (Labour), which is unlikely. What is more likely is that the split party could form a coalition and keep the PN out.

Albert Petrocochino
Sliema


George Abela will bring success

At last the much-awaited moment, that of electing a new Labour leader, has arrived. This moment is not only important for the Labour party but also for the country in general because it will shape the future of politics in Malta.
Much is at stake in this election. Maybe many delegates who will vote next Thursday do not even realise this. They will not only elect their new leader but they will also decide if Labour will steer towards electibility or that of facing political oblivion. The prime minister recently said that the Labour party has to think not only what’s good for the party but what’s good for the country. Well, dear prime minister, what’s best for the country is a new democratic labour in government as soon as possible.
Who is the best of the five contestants, who can turn a party in shambles into a force to be reckoned with? There is no doubt in my mind that George Abela is the best suited of the lot. George has got what it takes to be a good leader. He has always been consistent and pro-EU. Leadership qualities certainly put him a cut above the rest like personality, credibility, media friendliness and last but not least, charisma. George also has something which all the others lack, he is seen as a safe pair of hands by nationalists and floating voters, this quality is of the utmost importance because it may well be the deciding factor in a general election.
The delegates have to keep one thing in mind when voting nine hundred delegates will vote for Labour’s leader, but in five years’ time all Malta will vote for the new prime minister. Don’t decide with your heart but with your heart and your soul. All the surveys said one thing, that the Maltese people think that with George Abela as leader, Labour stand the best chance of being elected to government in five years time. Keep that in mind and make your decision. Time will tell if you made the right choice.

Eric Saliba
Hamrun


Bring on Bartolo

Evarist Bartolo said he wants a new Constitution recognising and protecting civil society, incorporating NGOs, animal rights, minorities, alternative lifestyles, and gay rights among other things.
Forget MLP leader, he should be made prime minister now!
Too many politicians, including Gonzi, don’t understand that they are less important than the people they represent and the people should not forget that as they vote them in, they can also get them out.
In Malta too many people don’t seem to realise that the power is with the people, but if you just moan and do not voice how you feel, nothing will change. The MPs don’t really care unless their job is under threat.

Adrian Aquilina St John
Swieqi


Government committed to fireworks control

I refer to the letter “No political will to control fireworks” signed by Dominic Chircop which appeared in MaltaToday Midweek on May 28, 2008.
Allow me to update Mr Chircop with the recent developments regarding the amendments to the Explosives Ordinance since he was evidently not aware of them when he put pen to paper.
The first reading of the Bill entitled an Act to Amend the Explosives Ordinance (Cap 33) was approved by the House of Representatives on Monday, 26th May and its text was subsequently published in the Government Gazzette on Friday 30th May.
Apart from a hefty increase in the present minimum imprisonment terms and fines related to the violation of the Explosives Ordinance, the Bill proposes the introduction of a new crime which would lead to imprisonment terms and fines without the need to prove negligence in the case of explosions resulting from the illegal handling of explosives.
The Bill also empowers the law courts to withdraw licences for unlawful premises and confiscate property; and allows the Commissioner of Police to suspend the license of any factory suspected of involvement in illegal practices. It also increases penalties for relapsers and proposes a reduction in penalties for those who collaborate with the Police.
The bill is planned to be enacted before the summer recess.

Darrell Pace
Communications
Co-Ordinator
Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs


Surcharge and public energy

A further increase in energy bills will only make life more difficult for thousands of Maltese families.
Unjust surcharges will increase inequality in Malta, which is already characterised by high inflation rates. Malta’s class inequality is increasingly also being reflected in the use of basic appliances such as water heaters and toilet flushing. Such basics in people’s everyday lives should not be taken for granted by policy makers and lobbyists.
Instead of increasing consumer surcharges in a flat-rate manner, Government should introduce short-term and long-term changes which are more socially just, whilst still generating revenue or cutting costs. Wasteful practices, and not normal consumption rates, should be penalized. The basic energy rate should remain affordable to low and middle income earners. If anything, this requires a decrease in the surcharge rate.
The State should maintain ownership of energy supply and distribution yet diversify the use of different types of energy. This should be done in a manner which realistically caters for Malta’s energy demand whilst being as ecologically sustainable, efficient and sovereign as possible.  
Zminijietna - Voice of the Left believes that energy use is a universal right and should not be limited to the privileged social classes.   

Michael Briguglio
PRO Zminijietna - Voice of the Left




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