Good for Garett
It must be exciting to see that a student’s outburst at University leads to such much media attention and concealed ovation (apart from the traditional apologists). That she expressed regret at what she said does dampen the whole episode.
University campuses are traditionally melting pots for angry students. Our University has far too often appeared like a repressed University in North Korea. We need more angry students, who even go beyond expressing singular expletives.
And it was amusing listening to Austin Gatt declare that he could not understand why he was being blamed for Arriva.
Not only is this politician arrogant, he is now firmly in a state of denial. Next to him, stood Gatt’s right hand man - Manuel Delia, one of the most pompous personalities I have yet to meet.
I remember him as an assistant to Gheorg Sapiano in one his more popular TV productions. He learnt well from his former master, for Sapiano is one of those lawyers who made his money thanks to his political connections and is to many the epitome of what in Maltese we would call – ‘ksuhat.’
Delia’s beard suits him well. It reminds me of the Hezbollah. Everyone you talk to relays the message that Delia is arrogant and acts like a mullah.
It was he who designed the routes for Arriva, if there is someone to blame it is he. Arriva personnel and TM staff talk of an intransigent and rude Delia.
It is he who should be held responsible for the mess at Arriva. On the other hand Arriva is not without fault. They cannot continue to argue that they were given the routes and that is it.
Delia is standing as a candidate for the Nationalist party. If I decide to vote for the Nationalist party, then Delia would definitely not be on our list. I will gladly sponsor all those Nationalist candidates who stand against him in his district.
His great achievement are the disastrous routes that he designed and led to the chaos in our pubic transport system suitable perhaps for a third rate country.
In another country Austin Gatt would not only be called names. He would be asked to resign. It was he who piloted the public transport reform, who chose and delegated ‘professionals’ such as Delia with the task, who blew his trumpet when Arriva kicked off, and who created great expectations for this reform.
Nicolà Abela Garrett may not be the darling of those who serve as apologists for the unforgivable mistakes of this administration, but when she spoke up she resonated an emotion many would have loved to express.
The only reason they do not express it, is simply because they are too decent to stand up and be discourteous to a political class that is detached from reality.