Mark Anthony Sammut

Following last week's hit-and-run incident in which a cyclist was injured, at least a positive outcome has been the rise in awareness of the need to make the roads safer for cyclists. Below is Mark Camilleri's blog-post on the subject ( link to the original here ). I disagree with the 'change of Government' part, but I'm reproducing it in full for completeness' sake. My contribution should be published in the Times next week. I am glad that cyclists are joining forces on Facebook and collectively raising awareness on the safety and road hazards of cycling. I am also very glad, that Mark Anthony Sammut, a PN candidate for the general elections, has pledged to make roads safer for cyclists. As far as I know he is the first sportsman who will be pushing the concerns of cyclists in politics and good luck for him. I am very keen on cycling and it was my hobby before taking up motorcycles. I would give Mark Anthony my second preference vote if he conteste

It's now official. I have been approved by the Nationalist Party's Executive Committee as a new candidate for the next general election. I have to admit that it wasn't an easy decision to take. Since the Prime Minister called me to his office a few months ago and asked me to make this bold step, I felt weighed by the responsibility that comes with it. Standing for the general election wasn't something I had in mind to do, at least not in the immediate.  A young engineer, still looking to settle down, already active in a local council and with a Masters dissertation to finish in a few months' time, wasn't really planning to be involved so intensely in what will probably be a very hot and challenging campaign. Blogging and writing were already time-consuming enough. Adding house-visits and campaigning wasn't really on the line. But after due consideration, I felt I had to say "yes". The call of duty prevailed. B ecause that's what genuine p

Can you believe this was a question asked in Parliament during yesterday's session? Where will the holder of the lighting of the common area of a block of flats be placed? This was highlighted by blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia on her site today: L-Onorevoli SILVIO PARNIS staqsa lill-Onorevoli CHRISTOPHER SAID (Ministru tal-Ġustizzja, Konsultazzjoni Pubblika u l-Familja): Jista’ l-Ministru jgħid fejn se ssir il-holder tal-bozza tal-komun ta’ flat ġdid li d-dettalji dwaru qed jintbagħtu separatament? ——————————————————————————– Tweġiba: Ninforma lill-Onorevoli Interpellant li normalment dan ix-xoghol fil-komun tal-blokka hu responsibli ghalih ir-rapprezentat tar-residenti tal-blokka. Minhabba li din il-blokk partikolari sal-lum ma hemmx rapprezentant, il-Sindku ta’ Hal-Tarxien offra li jaghmila ta’ koordinatur u biex jaghti stuzzjonijiet lil kuntrattur li intghazel mil-Kunsill stess. Ghaldaqastant il-post fejn se issir il-holder tal-bozza fil-komun intaghzel mis-sindku ta

According to PN local councillor Mark Anthony Sammut, the PN can only reunite if it inspires such a common vision and aim for the next five years. “It is not enough to speak of loyalty in a vacuum... it is loyalty to principles and a political direction which ultimately counts.” The PN must fight off the temptation of doing like Labour and promise everything to everyone, explaining the reasons and arguments behind hard decisions, even at the cost of being unpopular. Though that might lead to short-term loss, it would gain more on the long-term. “The experience of neighbouring countries is showing us how unsustainability eventually leads to a country’s collapse.” The PN must also “weed out” those elements for whom their own interests come before those of the country and who lack a basic sense of ethics and decency, to avoid a repetition of the tragic-comedy recently witnessed in Parliament, he said.   http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120709/local/How-t

The news that an immigrant died while under the custody of the Armed Forces of Malta is shocking, but what is more shocking is some people's reaction to it. I will not delve into the circumstances of the death itself since that will be established by the the on-going inquiry and court case, though there is little I can imagine which might justify a hand-cuffed man being kicked and beaten to death. But the reaction of an unfortunately large section of the population does merit our attention. First of all, the simple fact that the accused are Maltese like us while the victim is not, does not justify a petition doing the rounds calling for their release. No, justice needs to take this course because a human life is a human life no matter its colour. Secondly, how hard the soldiers have it with illegal immigrants, that the victim was a fugitive, and that the soldiers were during a day of work, does not justify the use of excessive violence in the least. And unfortunately, th