There is an interesting story about George Pullicino this Sunday in sister newspaper Illum.
Another story in Illum is about former Head of NET TV Anton Attard. The man is being earmarked for Chief Executive at PBS, further confirming that State TV is slowly becoming an extension of a political party. With political appointees close to one party running the station, there is little hope that state broadcasting will ever improve.
The news story about George Pullicino (the Minister who had MEPA snatched away from him by the Prime Minister only to be further mismanaged) reported him losing his cool and accusing a certain Alfred Baldacchino of being a Gakbin (traitor).
The full story can of course be read in Illum, so anyone who thinks that only MaltaToday carries news stories should really not miss out on buying a copy of our sister paper.
Now, one has to appreciate that Pullicino is a human being, not a protozoan. He has every right to lose his temper and raise his voice every once in a while. I do a little bit of both, so I appreciate that Pullicino may pass through emotional distress on occasion. I am also sure, from the little I have worked with George, that the man has a short fuse and is a man of the world.
Yet to call Alfred Baldacchino – a retired senior official at MEPA – a traitor is, to say the least, disproportionate. Mr Baldacchino is after all a subscribed member to 50% of the populace who have voted for the PN and who live in the calm middle class town of Attard.
Of course, that does not mean much nowadays. To be respected by people like George is not enough to be a Nationalist.
Rather, it appears that to be a Nationalist, according to George, one has to have little or no doubt about this administration and believe that the actions of this Prime Minister are in fact faultless.
Indeed, if you receive a high water and electricity bill; or perhaps an unwarranted tax assessment; or better still – realise that all the direct orders are dished out to same blue-eyed boys; or that your salary cannot even take you to the second week of the month, your riposte should be ‘Grazzi Sur Gvern’ for everything.
Yet it is typical of George who, with all his Padre Sorge and Catholic credentials, is making a name by being intolerant to any form of opposition or criticism. It is so emblematic of the man.
He has, for example, blessed his loyal sidekick Ray Bezzina to action a boycott of MaltaToday and Illum and to block any advertising there. If it was his, and not tax-payers’ money, he would have every right to impose Mintoffian tactics. Unfortunately, Pullicino is not playing with his own private funds but with our taxes.
I am trying to understand Pullicino’s state of mind.
I knew George Pullicino before: he was someone who knew where to go and what to do. I recall the days when I shared an office with George Pullicino and Natalino Fenech (now Head of News at PBS) at the Department of Environment in 1987. George used to literally pelt tippex at Natalino after being taunted – the latter notorious for his natural ability to mock friends and colleagues.
Today, it looks as though George has lost the plot. He spends most of his time catching up with the mess he has created and mismanaged. His legacy is laid bare for all to see: the Maghtab saga, the hunting issues, the recycling plant at Marsascala, the failure to implement a serious recycling programme, the grand farce with the eco-tax, more… and much more.
When some silly historian settles down to write four or five lines about George Pullicino, they will probably scribble the following thoughts:
- A Sliema-based politician who supported the candidature of Lawrence Gonzi for leadership and was later appointed Minister responsible for the environment.
- Seen as a reformer of the party and strong believer in the Christian Democratic ethos.
- Yet he was criticised for his choice of close friends on MEPA posts and for drawing up the infamous Outside Development Zones.
- He also failed to introduce a nationwide recycling programme.
- In the second legislature, the authority was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister which promised a major revamp, which never materialised.
George’s idea of dealing with criticism tallies perfectly with Edgar Galea Curmi and Gordon Pisani’s doctrine.
Perhaps I am being misconstrued here. I cannot comprehend why none of these political animals are not being asked to calm down and appreciate that dealing with the press does not mean getting them to agree with everything one says or does.
Instead of looking at ways of understanding journalists and critics, politicians like George take their critics and adversaries head-on. Instead of accepting the fact that everyone has a different point of view and that a politician has to be able to take the flak, George exists in permanent siege mentality mode and cannot understand where to go next. It is a pity.
When Eddie Fenech Adami was Prime Minister, supported and assisted by Richard Cachia Caruana, there was unprecedented barrage on Fenech Adami and his aides by yours truly. Fenech Adami’s insistence in accepting Zeppi l-Hafi’s version of the Mdina stabbing, of defending the former Police Commissioner and of standing by some of his errant ministers were good enough reasons to lambaste the man as a politician.
Yet in his wisdom, Fenech Adami had the ability to embrace criticism and move on. He did better – he would acknowledge his critics and openly invite them.
I, for one, was invited several times to dinners or lunches, even though I was constantly hitting out at his decisions.
I recall how, on one occasion during a State dinner for Vaclav Havel, he politely dragged President Havel and his beautiful younger consort Dagmar Havlova towards me and introduced me as a staunch critic of this government. He said it with a respectful smile, and I am grateful for that.
Dr Gonzi does not have the cunningness and magnanimity of Fenech Adami. Will he ever? I doubt it, simply because I know he is surrounded by individuals who are more interested in defending their patch and invest in their political careers.
If the politicians want people to understand and listen to them, they have to come to realise that the media is here to stay and that there is such a thing as a free and independent press.
Do not try to control us! Try and understand us and then you may probably (but not surely) get some deference. And that I guess that is more than we can offer.
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