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Update 3 | Prime Minister mum on Austin Gatt's statement
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi holds Cabinet meeting right after Transport Minister Austin Gatt makes statement to Police Commissioner.
29 January 2013, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
1 min read
Transport minister Austin Gatt arrived at Castille after going to the Police Commissioner to hand in a statement on oil procurement investigations.
Updated at 3.41pm
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi refused to speak to the press when asked about Transport Minister Austin Gatt and the statement made to Police Commissioner John Rizzo earlier today.
"Despite the electoral campaign, government still has its own work to do and Ministers have to keep up with their ministerial matters and discuss other important issues such as matters related to the EU," he said.
But when asked about Austin Gatt, Gonzi didn't answer and left.
The Cabinet meeting was held right after Transport Minister Austin Gatt gave Police Commissioner a statement in connection to the oil procurement investigations.
The first to leave the meeting at around 1:30pm, Justice Minister Chris Said refused to give comments to the media, except to insist that it was a "normal" Cabinet meeting.
Some 15 minutes later, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Environment Minister Mario de Marco told the press that the meeting was a scheduled one, with an agenda that had been planned last week.
Members of the press currently waiting outside Castille for the Prime Minister were called "rude" by Austin Gatt when they asked for details about the meeting.
"How rude of you [psataz] to ask me about the Cabinet meeting... I never give details over what is discussed during such meetings," Gatt chastised the press.
In a statement issued by the Department of Information, the Office of the Cabinet insisted that the Cabinet meeting was a scheduled one.
"It was a regular one... Cabinet meetings are held regularly and the last one was held on 15 January. News reports stating otherwise are speculative," the Office of the Cabinet said.
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il-korruzzjoni kienet, ghada u tibqa tiddomina mhux malta biss imma fid dinja kollha. haga tal iskantament li fl-istorja politika ta malta s'issa l-ebda politiku ghadu qatt ma ittella il qorti mixli b'korruzzjoni. tassew makakki.
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OF COURSE THE PRIME MINISTER IS MUM. HE MUST BE WETTING HIS PANTS AT THE POTENTIAL EARTHQUAKE THIS WILL PROVOKE IN MALTESE POLITICS IF INVESTIGATIONS ARE REALLY CARRIED OUT AS THEY SHOULD. BUT HIS HIGHNESS AND OVERLORD OF GONZIPN, BACKED BY THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL HIS CABINET, IS MET BY THE COMMISSIONER'S SECRETARY, LED TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND NOT TO AN INTERROGATION UNIT, AS ALL WE COMMONERS WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FOR THE SLIGHTEST INFRINGEMENT OF THE LAW, AND WITHIN AN HOUR HE IS OUT AGAIN ARROGANT AS ALWAYS TO CALL JOURNALISTS "PSATAS". BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER DOCUMENTS ARE IN THE POSSESSION OF MALTATODAY. THIS IS WHAT IS CAUSING SO MUCH DISTRESS IN THE CABINET OF GONZIPN, THAT IS WHY THEY MEET HUSH HUSH. IF THERE IS ONE POSITIVE FACTOR IN ALL THIS MESS IS THE WAY MALTATODAY CONDUCTED ITS INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY. MALTATODAY SHOULD BE PROPOSED FOR GIEH IR-REPUBBLIKA
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I could not understand how in such a delicate investigation one can investigate a person within an hour? Usually what use to happen in the past the person needed for investigations will at least spend from four to longer periods assisting the Police in smaller matters. Can anyone explain? or take such things seriously?
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For sure everyone heard that song "Forever in blue jeans" by Neil Diamond whereby he says 'MONEY TALKS'.
Maureen Attard •
Do anyone believe that he has dirty hands. I don't. He is clever not to be.
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No sense of direction Onor. 'champion' Austin Gatt. The most important thing for Austin Gatt is FRIENDS, FRIENDS,and EUROS EUROS
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
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Silence is golden for Dr Lawrence Gonzi.
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Dan bis-serjeta? Pastas daqsu m'hawnx. Sewwa jghid il-Malti: "Il-qahba ghajjarha qabel tghajjrek"
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Dan bis-serjeta? Pastas daqsu m'hawnx. Sewwa jghid il-Malti: "Il-qahba ghajjarha qabel tghajjrek"
Adrian Busuttil •
Politicians frequently refuse to give comments to the press in Malta, which gives a negative impression to the public. It is high time that these people realise that they are accountable to the people and should keep them informed on what is going on. The people after all are who put them where they are. They need to drop the prima donna act.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
Some days ago the Nationalist Party made a big fuss about a remark passed to one of its journalists by Joseph Muscat who simply passed a quick-witted remark to this journalist.The Nationalist Party termed this as launching into an attack on the journalist and attempting to mock him. Now we have a Minister who calls journalists 'psatas' which of course for the Nationalist Party is acceptable.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
Some days ago the Nationalist Party made a big fuss about a remark passed to one of its journalists by Joseph Muscat who simply passed a quick-witted remark to this journalist.The Nationalist Party termed this as launching into an attack on the journalist and attempting to mock him. Now we have a Minister who calls journalists 'psatas' which of course for the Nationalist Party is acceptable.
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These are serious charges and the PM, the Attorney General and the police should have opened an investigation into the matter already. There is an election ahead and the people want to know what is going on with their politicians. These are government employees and the people have every right to know. If there was any bribery going on it should be brought out in the open with no reservations. The people have a right to know and thanks to Maltatoday hopefully we will.The PM has nothing to hide, transparency remember? On the other hand maybe the cabinet was discussing how they are managing to squander more of the TAX PAYER's money and offer FREEBIE Fares and FREE Tablets to accumulate more votes. Shame and more shame Government.
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Look who is calling others rude......unbelievable.
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Look who is calling others rude......unbelievable.
Lawrence Covin •
Austin connoisseur tal-psataz!
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Yet again, this is a clear case of two weights, two measures.
Former PN Minister John Dalli was asked by Lawrence Gonzi to resign immediately when he was questioned by the police (then we learnt that it was all based on a false/manipulated report).
Even Minister Chris Said, briefly resigned from his Ministerial role pending a Court decision.
And here we see, Dr Lawrence Gonzi supporting Dr Gatt even though the latter has been interrogated by the police. Unbelievable
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GIDEB U GIDEB; BHAS-SOLTU!!! inbaghad iriduna nemmnuhomn! KREDIBILITA zero.
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MALTA'S IMPERIAL HIGHNESS, THE EFFECTIVE RULER OF GONZIPN CLIQUE, WHO OBSTINATELY PROTECTS HIM BY COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY, HAS IN HIS USUAL IMPERIAL STYLE CALLED THE PRESS "PSATAS" FOR EVEN DARING TO QUESTION HIM WHEN HE HAD JUST GONE TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT TO THE POLICE. WE MALTESE ORDINARY MORTALS WOULD BE TAKEN TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS TO BE QUESTIONED, POSSIBLY ARRESTED AND A STATEMENT WOULD BE TAKEN FROM US, BUT THE POLICE SEEM TO HAVE NO POWER OVER HIS HIGHNESS AND THEY COULD ONLY APPARENTLY MUSTER A REQUEST FOR A STATEMENT WHICH WAS DELIVERED. SUCH IS THE STATE OF OUR FAILING DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN JOURNALISTS ARE ARROGANTLY PLACED IN THEIR PLACE BY CALLING THEM RUDE FOR DARING TO QUESTION THE VORTEX OF CORRUPTION ENGULFING ENEMALTA.
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Scheduled meeting....... my foot, Dr Gonzi tell the truth for once...it was an emergency, panic stricken, topsy turvy, bungled, confused Government meeting
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Ma jinbidilx!!!!!
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How rude of anyone asking anything of Dr. Gatt!
As if he ever gives details about anything.
The last time he was asked something similar at least he told us he had done 'pipi' that much he was able to disclose.
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It is interesting to observe how strained Tonio Fenech is when he states that the meeting was "normal" and "scheduled".
It is also interesting to note that Austin Gatt, that enlighted, urbane promoter of liberalism, equates the carrying out of journalistic duties with "pastzati."
I guess he just wants to teach them how to carry out their duties. I am sure that they are always ready to listen to the humble!
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What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!
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Never ask, just obey !
Journalist should be seen and not heard.
