When I heard that GRTU council member and building contractor Sandro Chetcuti had had a bloody encounter with Vince Farrugia, I could only say that I was not too surprised. I have always had serious doubts about Chetcuti, and yet both political parties flirted with him and so many other personalities chose to get chummy with him, Malta-style: people like Joe (Peppi) Azzopardi embraced him on their programmes, rocketing him to Z-list stardom on a TVM programme once derided, then lauded, by Fr Joe Borg, that self-appointed all-knowing oracle.
Sandro was the perfect material for dumbed-down TVM programmes which base their ratings and popularity on promoting gossip. His bright red Ferrari and his speculation business were displayed live for discussion, much to the enjoyment of the gossip-thirsty audiences on basically all TV stations.
In the aftermath of his aggression on Vince Farrugia, I was quite amused at the way everyone rushed to send off electronic statements condemning the violence. Isn’t violence anathema to our society? Why condemn it when this is intrinsically bad and unacceptable in a modern society?
Vince will get better and stronger. Even though people have their differences, it should never get down to this level.
Sandro Chetcuti has long been pining for more attention than he deserves. I’m sure that he was not planning on this, but then, most people avoid getting into these situations in the first place.
When he first joined GRTU, I remember telling Vince that he was out of his mind. Some time later, I was egged on by Vince and Paul Abela (GRTU president) to meet up with Sandro and see for myself what a real nice guy he was.
Well somewhere along the line, Sandro, Vince and Paul soured their sweet relationship. It was evident that the situation had worsened when Vince decided to stand as a candidate for the Nationalist party, a decision which was supported by most of the GRTU council, especially Mario Debono, a fervent diehard Nationalist; but apparently not by Sandro Chetcuti, a latent Labourite who at times would choose to become a lukewarm Nationalist.
So much so, that in the last election for the GRTU council, a block vote was organised (purportedly by people close to Vince), not to vote for Sandro. And yet Sandro still got voted in, much to Vince’s displeasure. The language between the two had become rather intolerable. The antagonism between them had become more than evident.
I am sure many people disagree with Vince’s decision to stand with the PN in the last EU election. But then this is a free world, full of opportunities for those who would love to take them and others who choose to decline them.
And Nationalists have never quite accepted Vince’s ‘Tarsus-like’ conversion from red to blue; it was probably the reason for his poor electoral showing in the last EU parliamentary election.
Yet Sandro’s problems were not only linked in being obsessed with himself and those who disliked him, but rather with his interest in speculation and construction, and being a superstar at the same time.
Many of his colleagues who deal with land and property are intelligent enough to keep a low profile. They have made millions, continued to avoid paying taxes, live like cowboys and hope never to be at the centre of things (let’s face it, I have yet to meet a decent speculator).
Sandro on the other hand did the complete opposite, and made it a point to be as public as one can get. I remember noting his presence in the days of the pre-European accession days at Mintoff’s lair at Tarxien, back then a magnet for all the mediocre people (apart from NET TV and Pierre Portelli of course… they adulated Mintoff because he opposed Alfred Sant).
Sandro has now committed his biggest mistake. Instead of confronting Vince with argumentation, even adopting a line of speech peppered with bad language, hyperbole, or even swear-blogging… he chose the Quentin Tarantino approach, one which usually takes people past Go and directly to jail.
There are mistakes which are forgotten and forgiven. This is not one of them.
The PM’s game with hunters The Prime Minister’s decision to open the hunting season in spring is of course interpreted as a positive step by many hunters who continue to put their faith in people such as Lino Farrugia, and in miracles.
Little do they know that in this particular case, the PM has cleverly kicked the ball out of his court and into the Commission’s feet. The PM knows that he has done the wrong thing, but it is the most politically astute decision.
Opening the season will continue to reaffirm the fact that most Maltese hunters will not only shoot Turtle dove and Quail but also anything else that flies and is protected. That is what will drive the Commission to turn all its guns on Malta. The resultant effect will be fines and penalties.
The opening of the season will definitely bring the Commission down like a ton of bricks on the Maltese government in the near future – to such an extent that the government will be coerced to turn to the hunting community and relay the following message:
“I tried my best and see what you have done to yourselves: now the Commission has decided to close this loophole once and forever.”
Lino Farrugia will be up in arms of course, but that is what Lino knows best: making a scene and uttering the silliest of banalities. The decision to open the season was taken by the chairman of the Ornis committee, Louis Cilia, but everyone should know that Mr Cilia does not decide on his own. He takes his orders from the Office of the Prime Minister, or Mr Edgar Galea Curmi, the PM’s right-hand man. To assist Mr Galea Curmi in his decision, we have MEPA officials – which have led themselves to believe the numbers of bird shot as declared by the hunters. Everyone knows that if hunters are the most renowned liars after estate agents, basing the numbers shot on their carnet de chasse is a laugh.
Yet what is most telling was Mr Cilia’s decision to allow hunters to shoot in spring without issuing a quota on how many Turtle dove or Quail can be caught. In all European Union countries, licences issued are linked to the numbers one can take from the wild.
When the Commission decides to react to Malta’s decision to open the spring season, many hunters should remember that they have only themselves to blame.
Quelling the rebellion It has been quite a week for the Prime Minister.
Whoever gave birth to the parliamentary assistants idea should be awarded a medal – one for a short-term decision that is purposely created to extend the PM’s expiry date.
Over the years, the Prime Minister has given birth to various ideas that have never really materialised. At one point he even appointed John Dalli as advisor. I am told that post was symbolic – Mr Dalli gave one word of advice, and even so I am not sure if that advice would have ever meant anything.
Dr Gonzi appointed inter-ministerial committees. Even here, I am told these committees never really got off the ground.
Perhaps it is too early to say, but the rebellion in the PN now been effectively quelled. Most backbenchers are extremely content at having been given roles as parliamentary assistants, and all of a sudden all the problems regarding the extension of the power station, the tenders processed at Delimara, the Valletta City Gate project and the energy tariffs appear to have evaporated into thin air.
At least one parliamentarian, Jean Pierre Farrugia, had the gall to declare he would not be accepting the post. The others, it seems, are enamoured with the status. So there you go… Dr Gonzi knows how to win back his lost sheep.
And as we all know, all the declarations about impropriety, the party losing its soul and more importantly the good of the country, is all a whole load of hogwash.
I am particularly amused when I hear individuals recount how much better it was under Eddie Fenech Adami – as if secrecy and nepotism and exclusivity have only existed under this administration. It is about time we appreciate that Lawrence Gonzi is as shrewd and ruthless as his predecessor.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
