19 June 2013 | 22:23
Latest headlines:
- A 54 year old man hit by a car in Gozo
- Two men injured in a firework factory explosion
- Courtesy visit to Archbishop Paul Cremona by ‘The Priests’
- Energy Minister visits new Auto Liquigas station
- Malta: Second highest of irregular immigrants in a decade
- EU: Construction sector on the rise
- Man arrested after high speed chase
- MEPs critical on OLAF director in Dalli case
- MEPA catches contravenor red handed in Gozo
- Communication technology subscriptions register rise
- Head-on collision at Xghajra
- Justice portfolio moves to OPM
- ONE goes up in the world
- Over 105 tonnes of foodstuffs destroyed in May
- 18 prisoners on hunger strike
The Maltese Parliament should discuss national issues and decide on the course of action. GonziPN seems to inform parliament only on a need-to-know basis and often only when asked to do so by the opposition. The Government’s duty towards Parliament and towards the people is being undermined, with arrogance and in a very partisan way.
Dr. Gonzi has dealt with the recent problems and weakening of his Parliamentary group as if there were no problems. In his role as Prime Minister he has not made any comments about the recent vote in Parliament, other than that he was surprised. In true GonziPN fashion, he wants to deal with this issue on a party level, as if Parliament is merely a sub-division of his party.
After the forced resignation of the Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Gonzi assumed responsibility for that portfolio. This leaves several unanswered questions. Did the Prime Minister have so little to do that he could easily absorb the extra workload? Did Gonzi shy away from appointing somebody else for fear of upsetting Franco Debono or was the decision part of the deal? Alternatively, could it be because, as he told the US ambassador, he does not have competent people who can manage a Ministry?
Parliament also approved the motion to remove Richard Cachia Caruana from the office of Permanent Representative to the EU. RCC, however, shows his and GonziPN’s lack of respect for Parliament by saying that he resigned because it was the correct thing to do and not because parliament had a legal right to remove him. What cheek!!
Notwithstanding the Parliamentary decision, Dr. Gonzi felt the need to have RCC accompany him to the EU summit. Cachia Caruana has said that his farewell dinner is scheduled for the 11th July and so far the Government has not named his replacement.
The prerogative of the appointment of Ministers and Ambassadors belongs to the government. But both Ministers and Ambassadors represent the people of Malta, not the party that appoints them. That is their oath of office and they should abide by it.
Parliamentarians should be kept well informed about government business. The opposition has a duty to keep the government in check but it should not have to resort to investigative work to find out government’s actions. Nor should parliamentarians, from both sides of the House, learn of events through the media, as a fait accompli.
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