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Cabinet honoraria | Alfred Sant insists 'government in contempt of Parliament'
Former Labour Prime Minister Alfred Sant has vowed not to back down on his claims that government has, and is, “behaving in contempt of Parliament.”
Referring to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s partial backtracking on parliamentary salaries for Cabinet ministers, Sant said he was even more critical now.
“This is absolutely in contempt of Parliament. Which other government works in this way? This is a stop gap and now we are told we have by the end of next week to decide on the way forward,” Alfred Sant was quoted in The Times.
He claims that MPs have been “ridiculed beyond belief” and no refunds will make up for the damage done.
Sant said the Prime Minister should at the very least have made a sincere apology in Parliament, but instead Lawrence Gonzi gave a staunch defence of why ministers should retain their honorarium.
“This was just a manoeuvre to get his backbenchers off his back,” Sant said.
While stressing that “Parliament is being treated like a kindergarten,” the former Labour leader praised his successor in the way he was tackling the issue, and added that he was expecting a reply this week to the letter of complaint he sent to Speaker Michael Frendo.
“Letting the House Business Committee decide how much to raise MP’s salaries was no solution. Parliament should have a whole new mechanism to establish these issues, such as that used by the House of Commons.”
“There has to be transparency... The problem that has arisen has to have a parliamentary solution if the government does not want to be in contempt of Parliament,” he said.
Alfred Galea •
Sant was surrounded by backstabbing traitors and incompetent fools, some of whom, unfortunately, surround Joe Muscat.
Ten years later and the country is starting to realise how right this guy was. Except for a couple of mistakes, which were nowhere near the mistakes by Gonzi and his cohorts.
Jeff Cassar •
If only you were able to stoop down to Gonzi's level in '98 Alfred Sant, promise Mintoff (our country's father along with Gorg Borg Olivier) something to shut him up, you would of never lost your credibility.
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Dr.Sant is a sincere person, with all his ups and downs like everyone, but he is an honest and bright person.
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As far as I can remember, Dr Sant has always attacked the disease. But to do that he had (still has) to highlight the symptoms first. That is the way how to help focus people's attention on the problem. At the same time, one may freely add that the symptoms are there for all to see without too much difficulty. Some people are only now realizing how right Dr Sant has been in all the opinions he proposed down the line. Honesty and sincerity are Dr Sant's hallmarks. Another outstanding feature of his character and political profile is his loyalty to the party and its leader. Lost as the PN are after the revelations regarding their own internecine squabbling, they are bound to attempt detecting some cleavage within the PL. But such a feature simply does no exist. The PL is more united than ever and Dr Sant manifestly stands four square behind its leader. This reality is another asset in the PL's favour and another form of guarantee that the PL is on its way to one of its greatest electoral victories if not the greatest ever.
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Yes Sant - you are right - Gonzi needs to get the backbenchers off his back. BUT TELL US WHY HE NEEDS TO GET HIS BACKBENCHERS OFF HIS BACK. Tell us about the ministries which are all run by the sons and relatives of previous cabinet members.
You are right about everything you are saying Sant - but what worries me about labour is that still ACCEPT the disease that is causing all this malaise in this country. So labour approves of all the clientelism, corruption and nepotism this country is based on?
Attack the disease and not the symptoms.
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Alfred Sant is showing his real grit once more. Maybe the first ex-leader giving his wholehearted support to his successor. THAT is the way forward for the PL to win the next elections. No doubt it still has a lot to slog before winning the elections that are more than two years away - a minefield strewn with untold dangers and perils in the form of diabolical manoeuvres designed and concocted by RCC and the Kastilja gang, some of which can be effectual while others can be as stupid and stolid as the current debacle which even JPF is trying to gloss over by way of exonerating his leader. So, keep it up, Muscat and Sant, we're all behind you!
