Political appointments dominate Parliamentary sitting
Family and social solidarity minister to appoint Labour deputy leader Toni Abela and Labour candidate Yana Bland Mintoff as consultants.
30 April 2013, 12:00am
Jurgen Balzan
Jurgen Balzan
2 min read
Labour deputy leader Toni Abela and Labour candidate Yana Mintoff Bland have been engaged by family and social solidarity minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca as consultants.
In reply to a Parliamentary Question by Nationalist MP Marthese Portelli, the minister explained that Abela and Mintoff Bland were among a number of persons who would be offered a contract to provide their expertise to the ministry.
The minister said that the consultants were already offering their services to the ministry and the contracts were in the process of being drawn up.
Following a succession of quick questions from the Nationalist MP, Coleiro Preca explained that Abela is offering legal services while Bland Mintoff would be the minister's consultant on poverty.
Coleiro Preca added that Maria Rauch would also be employed as a consultant on EU Funding and Josef Masini Vento, a notary, would be providing his services in connection with housing.
The terms of reference and contract details would be revealed at a later stage, the minister said.
A similar question posed to energy minister Konrad Mizzi remained unanswered, as the minister said that he would be providing the list of advisers and persons of trust during another Parliamentary sitting.
On hearing this, the Nationalist MP Marthese Portelli asked the minister whether he could at least say whether he has any persons of trust or advisers currently employed by his ministry.
Much to the Opposition's dismay, Mizzi's answer did not change and he repeated that details would be provided at a later stage.
This brought former finance minister Tonio Fenech to protest with the Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia, who quickly reminded him that question time was over and the minister had committed himself to provide the information during another sitting.
An already irritated Fenech was than subjected Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's light hearted taunt, who told Fenech "have you forgotten the times when you would not utter a single word when faced by questions on Air Malta?" as he walked out of the Chamber, surrounded by smiling ministers and government MPs.
Jurgen Balzan was a MaltaToday reported from 2011 to 2017.
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It is amazing how blind the PL supporters are. After they criticised the PN government for making political appointments, they now praise their own government for doing the same! In fact Joseph Muscat has quite barefacedly made a mockery of the term 'meritocracy' by placing people in positions of power regardless of their experience, ability or qualifications. The only qualification one needs in his new government is to be LABOUR!
So much for all his preaching against divisive politics. Every single appointment he has made so far, beginning with those of Franco Debono and Anglu Farrugia, and ending with that of Jason Micallef, have been divisive.
If this was intended, then this government simply lies through its teeth. If it was not, then it could not be more incompetent.
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Politika Mahmuga.Issa ghanke fl-iktar nies li jaghtu hajjithom biex jghinu lil proxxmu qed iwahhlu.
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X.ippokrezija hux! L-'conflict of interests, arloggi, konsulenzi minn ministri ghall-Gvern taghhom stess; nofs miljun ewro ghall-bloggers u kittieba ohra li kienu jithallsu (mid-dehra) biex jaghmlu gate keeping ghal hnizrijiet li kienu jitwettqu! U llum, l-istess nies, iridu jilghabuha ta vergni: You can't get it: you have lost our trust fullstop!
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Ghada iebsa biex tinzel it tkaxkira li qalaw minghad il Poplu Malti
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Marie Louise’s remit is as vast as it is challenging. She obviously requires the advice of experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy people as those she has chosen in the process of raising the standard of living and quality of life of a large segment of the Maltese population that has experienced poverty or found itself at a risk-of-poverty by the insensitive decisions taken by the previous Nationalist Government. Tonio Fenech should know that not everyone can enjoy the luxury that he had when as Finance Minister he flew to London on a private jet with two of Malta’s leading businessmen to watch an Arsenal soccer match with the full blessing of ex Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
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So what's the big deal? A taste of their own medicine. Let the PN spend its time in penitence and regret, lest it will never learn.
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A multimillionnaire -- 'Consultant on Poverty'??? Come ON!!!!
Appointing Mintoff’s daughter to this position has to be the ultimate insult to the poor!!!
Is Joseph Muscat doing this on purpose, or is this simply an uncontrolled stampede to dish out positions to all and sundry in the PL ranks?
If JM was behind this appointment (or even knew about it), then his contempt for many of those who traditionally and without question vote Labour (and who claim to be ‘the poor’) knows no limits.
What a slap in the face to his own people!!! Then again, he knows they are too stupid to notice!!!
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It is hard for GonziPN to swallow their own bitter medicine. Now they are experiencing the frustrations of PL when they occupied the Opposition.
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What does the PN want?!? ... When Joseph offers posts to nationalist MPs to sit on committees they say it is a plot to divide the PN. When he installs a former PN MP as commissioner they are upset. ... How can a government function if it doesn't appoint anyone??? And yes ALL political appointments EVERYWHERE are of people whom the government trusts! That is why they are political appointments!!! ... Last but not least: this government is not even in power 2 months and yet the prophets of doom have been calling it a failure from day 2! ... In a civil society there is a so-called 'honeymoon' period of 90 days for a new government. ... Keep up this 'opposition' to everything and you will remain in 'opposition' for the next 15 years! ... This is not what the Maltese people want!!! We want peace and justice! ... History is already repeating itself: the PN is a sour loser, always has been and seems always will be! It is either governing of attacking EVERYTHING!!! ... The people of Malta love Joseph because he gives credit where credit is due (even to Fenech Adami and the PN in the 1980s!). ... Grow up PN!!! Malta needs a stable 'opposition', one that can CONSTRUCTIVELY criticize but also work together with the government for the good of the country and not a childish one that simply says NO to EVERYTHING!!!
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Lil dawn it-tnejn mhux dik li qedha mal-progressivi u li kienet kontra id-divorzju ghazlithom.
Back to the dark ages.
Tista tghidilna fuq x'hiex se jtuha konsulenza dawn it-tnejn?
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The PN members of parliament are getting a deserved taste of their medicine. Whether the current exchanges in parliament are in the national interest well that is another issue.
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Dr Muscat kif tridu jirispondik fuq l Air Malta is-sur Fenech jekk dak b Jet privat isifer ahjar jghidilna naqra fuq Nitrogen oxide tal BWSC Mr Fenech
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Section 14(1) of the Notarial Professions and Notarial Archives Act, Cap. 55 states :
14. (1) A notary shall cease from exercising his functions -
(a) if he accepts a Government employment, or exercises a profession, or assumes any office incompatible with
the office of notary:
There are exceptions to the rule but being a consultant to a minister is not one of them. Is Notary Masini Vento going to renounce to his warrant to practise as a notary to be in line with the law (and as other persons in the civil service have done in the past) or is everyone going to close an eye as so often happens in these isles ?
J. Ellis.
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Tal-PN iridu jifmuha darba ghal dejjem. Meta GonziPN kien jiggverna kienu l-ftit (il-klikka)li gawdew u meximxu kemm felhu. Issa bl-ghajta ta Malta taghna lkoll qed igawdu hafna iktar nies. Issa x'fija hazin din. Minn ivvota PL dan hu li stenna, xejn inqas u xejn izjed. Issa l-PN ghandha d-dmir li tikkritika lil min ma jaghmilx xoghlu sew.
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Tal-PN iridu jifmuha darba ghal dejjem. Meta GonziPN kien jiggverna kienu l-ftit (il-klikka)li gawdew u meximxu kemm felhu. Issa bl-ghajta ta Malta taghna lkoll qed igawdu hafna iktar nies. Issa x'fija hazin din. Minn ivvota PL dan hu li stenna, xejn inqas u xejn izjed. Issa l-PN ghandha d-dmir li tikkritika lil min ma jaghmilx xoghlu sew.
