Mark Anthony Sammut

L-intervent tiegħi fil-Kunsill Ġenerali ta' Ġunju li għadda Sinjura President, Ghaziz Kap, Vici Kapi, Segretarju Generali L-ewwelnett huwa ta' pjacir ghalija li qed nindirizza dan l-ewwel Kunsill Generali bl-amministrazzjoni l-gdida kompluta u nawguralhom ilkoll fil-hidma taghhom. Qeghdin hawn illum niddiskutu rapport ta telfa elettorali, biex issa nfasslu t-triq il- quddiem. Ir-rapport tat-telfa, isemmi hafna punti validissimi, u jitkellem fuq diversi oqsma. L-istruttura, l-uzu tal-media, il-komunikazzjoni, il-kuntatt man-nies, l-organizzazzjoni, il-kampanja elettorali. Kollha affarijiet importanti, pero kollha huma affarijiet ta' politika bil-p zghira. Tkun hasra jekk issa f'mument fejn il-partit ghaddej minn dal-process fejn qed jiggedded u jissaffa, ma nuzawx ukoll din l-opportunita' tad-deheb biex nergghu inharsu lejn dak li jaghmel il-Politika, did-darba bil-P kbira. Noqoghdu attenti li ma jigrilniex bhal min iffoka biss fuq il-branding, il-m

Watch former Prime Minister Gonzi making the same point for solidarity about illegal immigration back in 2011 without stirring racist sentiments and without shaming our country across the world, managing to get millions of funds and a number of re-settlements. THAT is the mark of a statesman. Watch the video here: http://www.circusmalta.com/prime-minister-gonzi-on-al-jazeera/#.Ud-9_NIybox

Many commentators who have replied to my previous posts, both in this site and in social media, have tried to play down what happened in these past two days by bringing up the repatriation of 44 Nigerian immigrants back last year. It seems that many are missing the point. No one is advocating an open-door policy where whoever lands here illegally is welcomed with open arms as if they've arrived legally. What we are advocating here is that before being sent back, every individual has the right to claim asylum and have his application processed. If his claims are genuine and his application is accepted, yes let's grant him protection, if not, let's send him back. This is what has been happening in these past years. The Nigeria example is a case where 44 people had their application considered inadmissible and were sent back. In fact, from the 16,617 immigrants who reached our islands since 2002, only 5,000 have stayed here. Some had their application refused and were repat

Just in case you're one of those believing that Van Rompuy's Parliamentary visit was a quick response by the EU thanks to Muscat's 'strong' stand, may I simply remind you that his visit had been scheduled before any immigrants had reached our waters. This was The Times of Malta more than two weeks ago: "European Union President Herman van Rompuy will make an official visit to Malta on July 10, during which he will also address Parliament in a special afternoon sitting. The visit was announced by Government Whip Carmelo Abela at a House Business Committee meeting today." http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130625/local/eu-president-van-rompuy-to-visit-malta.475397

My dear patriotic friends, I'm very surprised to see many of you speaking so passionately about our national interest. Up to a few days ago, the discussions we used to have had led me to lose all hope there was any sense of national interest left in you. But unfortunately, it seems that our definition of what constitutes the 'national interest' is quite diverging. I'm therefore writing to you, who used to recount stories of the days when you worked in undeclared employment. On how you used to hide when advised of spot-checks. I thought it was in the national interest for you to declare your income and contribute to your country. Unfortunately, you didn't quite agree. To you, my smoking friends, who gladly throw away your toxic cellulose-acetate cigarette butts and filters wherever you happen to be smoking. I thought it was in the national interest for you to dispose of them properly, to ensure they do not end up polluting our seas, our soils or our water s

Watch our PM's interview on Al-Jazeera. He actually said: ''If the EU was so quick in saving banks it should be even quicker in saving these people'' Just a quick two points: - The EU has given €130 million in help to strengthen the army and its resources in dealing with asylum seekers. From the 15,000 immigrants that reached our shores, only 5,000 are still living here. The others were either repatriated, or moved on to other countries. Think again before calling that a crisis burden. Telling Swedish Commissioner Malmstrom that she should tell her own country to take them might not be such a good idea: 67,000 reached Scandinavian countries just last year. - Why does he insist on speaking of the EU as if it's a foreign third entity? There is no EU and us. We are part of the EU, we work in EU institutions, we negotiate in EU frameworks. And Europe did actually save these people. If it weren't for the European Court of Human Rights, these people, so

From the LCA newsletter, I have just discovered that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has informed the Local Councils' Association that its membership on the Urban Improvement Fund Board has been terminated. This was done without any consultation with Local Councils whatsoever. The LCA has informed the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Local Government that the LCA will never accept that decisions are made without any formal consultations and it has requested the re-instatement of the LCA membership on the UIF Board. The UIF revenue originates from MEPA development applications and then it is used to implement projects carried out by Local Councils as part of the urban improvement strategy. Various projects have been carried out by local councils thanks to this fund. I hope that this is not the first step in stopping local councils from benefiting from this fund, this being also the first year since 1997 that our allocation has been reduced.