Malta u l-politika

Meta?            Sajf 2002

Fejn?             San Gwann

X'gara?        

Kont indunajt li bieb ta' garaxx kien mifquh u kien ovvju li kien infaqa' b'daqqa ta' karozza jew trakk. L-ewwel hsieb tieghi kien li dan kien attentat ta' serq ghax id-daqqa tant kienet kbira illi l-bieb infaqa u wiehed seta jidhol gewwa. Bhala bniedem li nemmen fil-gustizzja mort malajr l-ghassa tal-pulizija ta' San Gwann biex nirraporta. KIENET MAGHLUQA. Qbadt il-mobile u bdejt incempel id-depot. Li kieku ridt naqbad mal-qamar kont naqbad aktar malajr. Eventwalment qbadt. Ghidtilhom li ridt nirraporta probabilta ta' attentat ta' serq u ghidtilhom x'rajt. Staqsewni jekk jien kontx is-sid. Ghidtilhom li le. Qaluli jekk nafx minn hu s-sid. Jien ma kontx naf. Qaluli li minhabba li l-garaxx ma kienx tieghi ma setghu jaghmlu xejn. Ghidtlu biex jerga jghidieli ghax ma stajtx nemmen lil midnejja. Kont qieghed nirraporta bieb ta' garaxx mifquh b'daqqa qawwija f'post il-boghod minn ghajn in-nies. “Sorry” qaluli. Ma jistghu jaghmlu xejn. Jigifieri biex nirraporta serq il-post irid ikun tieghi? Mela jekk taraw sinjali ta' sgass tghidux lill-pulizija jekk il-post ma jkunx taghkom. Din taghmel sens ghalikom? Ghalija ma taghmilx sens. Araw kemm ahna qeghdin sew f'dan il-pajjiz!

Meta?            Lulju 2003

Fejn?             Hal Luqa

X'gara?        

Xi hadd bravu hafna ddecieda li jaghlaq l-ajruport internazzjonali ta' Malta ghal diversi drabi biex jinharqu l-murtali tal-festa fil-vicin. Dan f'sena meta n-numru tat-turisti kompla jinzel. Il-Gvern suppost qieghed jaghmel minn kollox sabiex igib aktar turisti lejn Malta. Imma kif tridhom jigu t-turisti jekk qed naghlqu l-ajruport taghna ghall-aktar ragunijiet banali?

Meta?            Minn Frar tas-sena 2003 s'issa

Fejn?             Kordin

X'gara?        

Il-Gvern nefaq aktar minn Lm18,000 biex sar monument tal-bronz biex ifakkar l-10 anniversarju mit-twaqqif tal-Works Division. Imma hadd ma jaf fejn dan il-monument irid jitpogga. Intefqu dawk l-eluf ta' liri fuq monument li ilu f'kaxxa f'garaxx s'issa sena w'nofs minghajr hadd ma jaf x'ser isir minnu!!

Meta?            Gunju/Lulju 2003

Fejn?             Il-Furjana

X'gara?        

Il-Furjana spiccat fi kjass shih. Ghalqu t-triq Ta’ Sarria, triq principali li twassal sal-belt, inhargu l-permessi necessarji akkost li jbaghtu l-Furjanizi u dawk li jkollom bzonn jidhlu l-belt, il-kunsill lokali tal-Furjana ipprotesta ghal din is-sitwazzjoni, il-pulizija dawret it-traffiku ghal Triq il-Mall bil-konsegwenza li x-xoghol li kien qieghed isir fuq il-bankini kellu jieqaf, il-permess mill-MEPA baqa' l-anqas hareg imma x-xoghol baqa' ghaddej gmielu, l-Awtorita tat-trasport Pubbliku qalet li harget il-permess bi qbil mal-Pulizija, il-kummissarju qal li l-Pulizija ma taghmilx parti mill-Awtorita u generalment ma jindahlux f’decizjoni tal-Awtorita, l-Awtorita qalet li mhux tort taghha dan il-kjass kollu u li l-pulizija iddecidiet li taghlaq it-triq, l-Awtorita qalet li l-Kummissarju suppost ghamel avviz fil-Gazzetta tal-Gvern imma ma ghamlux, il-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija qal li sar jaf bl-gheluq ta’ Triq Sarria … meta hu stess inqabad fit-traffiku!! Dan kollu ghax kien gej Elton John ikanta!!

Meta?            Gunju 2003

Fejn?             Il-Grecja

X'gara?        

Malta giet imwaqqa ghac-cajt bl-aktar mod goff meta l-Kostituzzjoni Ewropea giet suppost tradotta ghal-lingwa Maltija. Deher mill-ewwel li din il-bicca xoghol saret imbazwra ghall-ahhar. Sirna nafu b'xi ezempji klassici tac-cucati li nkitbu, ezempju:

inhabitants of Europe arriving in successive waves dawruha ghal "il-habitanti waslu f'mewg ta' success"

advisory bodies dawruha ghal "igsma tal-pariri".

treaty dawruha ghal "taratat"

submitted b'xi mod saret "sotometta"

draft spiccat "abboz"

The Times tat-28 ta' Gunju qaltilna li sorsi diplomatici qalu li din it-"traduzzjoni" saret minn avukat Malti! X'misthija! Jista xi hadd jghidilna dan l-avukat/essa min hu/hi biex naghtuh/a qatta silla (kienet Dr. Erika Vassallo?). Tant it-traduzzjoni saret hazin li c-cirkulazzjoni taghha giet imwaqqfa. Iffaccjat b'din is-sitwazzjoni tal-misthija li ddizonorat pajjiz shih, Dr. Fenech Adami qal; "this is not the end of the world" (The Times 21 ta' Gunju 2003). Ma waqghetx id-dinja ghalih. Il-gilda taghhom xriefet sew!!

Meta?            April 2003

Fejn?             Il-Qorti l-Belt

X'gara?        

Tfajla inghatat multa ta' Lm5 mill-magistrat wara li tat bewsa lill-habib taghha hi u hierga mill-awla. Dan il-kaz irraportatu Valerie Borg f'The Malta Independent. Xi gimgha wara, zewg Maltin minn Brussell kitbu fl-istess gazzetta fejn ikkonfermaw li hemm ligi fl-Unjoni Ewropea (Council Directive 65/98) dwar bews f'certi postijiet fejn hemm miktub li ma tistax taghti bewsa lil xi hadd jekk tkun fil-Qorti tal-Gustizzja.

Meta?            Il-Gimgha 20 ta' Lulju 2004

Fejn?             Fil-bajja ta' Spinola San Giljan

X'gara?        

Kienet ilha rriklamata LEJLA MALTIJA u kelli seba mitt sena sabiex immur. Meta mort fit-tmienja ta' filghaxija sibt li din il ‘Lejla Maltija’ fost affarijiet ohra kienet tikkonsisti f'muzika bit-Taljan u bl-Ingliz, ikel bhal hamburgers bic-chips, hot dogs bic-chips u chicken legs, post fejn bdew ibieghu il-costume jewellery u post iehor fejn bdew ibieghu kotba bl-Ingliz. L-anqas haqq l-istennija. Min organizza din il-hnizrija jmissu jmur jinheba!!

Fejn?             Departure lounge tal-ajruport internazzjonali ta’ Malta.

Meta?            Marzu 2005

X’gara?        

Konferma ohra ta’ kemm Malta pajjiz tal-mickey mouse. Nafu li l-awtoritajiet iheggu sabiex jigi sseparat l-iskart, u nhargu skips apposta ghal-karti, hgieg u ghal metal, hemm min jaqleb is-sistema ta’ taht fuq. Fid-departure lounge tal-ajruport ukoll bdew ihaddmu din l-iskema (ovvjament fuq skala izghar) fejn f’diversi postijiet hemm recipjenti ghal skart differenti u anke r-recipjenti innifishom ghandhom kulur differenti apposta. Jidher li dawk li jkunu se jsiefru juzaw sew dan is-servizz. Ikun ghalhekk tad-dahk jew tal-biki meta mbaghad tara li meta jingabar l-iskart mir-recipjenti, minflok jinzamm isseparat … jintefa kollox f’daqqa f’borza wahda!!! Allura ghalfejn tissepara l-iskart biex imbaghad terga thaltu flimkien? U t-turisti jidhku l-ahhar dahka qabel ihallu din l-art!!!      

Fejn?             Il-wied tal-Kalkara

Meta?            Mejju 2005

X’gara?        

Il-wied tal-kalkara beda jigi meqrud minn zvilupp approvat mill-Gvern. F’dan ix-xoghol inqerdu sigar tal-harrub li kellhom 400 sena u aktar u li ghalhekk kienu protetti mill-ligi. Meta s-Sindku tal-Kalkara informa lill-MEPA dwar x’kien qieghed jigri, il-MEPA qalet li ma nqalghu l-ebda sigar protetti. Il-MEPA eventwalment ammettiet li sigar protetti gew maqlugha minghajr permess u bdiet tiehu passi kontra l-izviluppatur ghax qala’ s-sigar. L-izviluppatur irid jikkumpensa ghal dak li ghamel billi jhawwel sigar godda. L-izviluppatur qal li ghandu permess biex jaqla s-sigar u l-perit tieghu qal li kienu hargu l-permessi mill-MEPA biex jinqalghu is-sigar. Wara hafna granet li fih kien diga beda x-xoghol u li l-wied kien diga nqered, il-MEPA qalet li se tifli mill-qrib il-permessi li kienu hargu. F’dan it-tahwid kollu l-aktar li mar minn taht kien il-wied u s-sigar li nqerdu darba ghal dejjem.

Fejn?             Il-Qorti tal-Magistrati

Meta?            Mejju 2005

X’gara?        

Magistrat li kien qieghed jisma kaz ta’ Tunezin mixli b’attentat ta’ qtil, sab li xhieda ta’ erba persuni ma gietx irrekordjata minhabba li l-qorti kellha tape recorder qadim u li t-tape uzat kellu 14 il-sena.

Fejn?             Ground Nazzjonali Ta’ Qali

Meta?            Settembru 2005

X’gara?        

Fl-ahhar hinijiet tal-loghba Malta-Kroazja u anke wara, il-partitarji Kroati infexxew f’orgja ta’ vjolenza u kissru kull ma sabu. Il-fotografi prezenti kemm dawk Kroati u Maltin ovvjament bdew jiehdu ritratti ta’ dak li kien qieghed jigri. Wara li hadu r-ritratti, dawn il-fotografi gew imgieghla mill-pulizija u membri tas-sigurta tal-MFA sabiex jikkancellaw il-memorja tal-cameras digitali taghhom u f’kazi wkoll ittiehdulhom il-memory cards stess minhabba li skond il-pulizija jekk ir-ritratti jigu ppubblikati tigi mtappna r-reputazzjoni ta’ Malta!!!!

Fejn?             Fil-Qorti tal-Gustizzja - Valletta

Meta?            Frar 2006

X’gara?        

L-avukat Anna Mallia qalet li meta kienet fl-awla u staqsiet ghall-lista tal-kazi ta’ dik il-gurnata, l-iskrivan qalilha li m’ghandhomx lista ghax m’ghandomx karti. Meta daret fuq il-magistrat, Dr. Mallia qalet li l-magistrat ikkonferma li ma nghatawx karti biex jahdmu.

Fejn?             Villagg tal-Artigjanat  - Ta’ Qali

Meta?            Mejju 2006

X’gara?        

David Grima tal-Bristow Potteries qal li f’Ta Qali qeghdin jinbieghu hafna affarijiet maghmulin fic-Cina (Made in China). Dan f’villagg tal-artigjanat Malti fejn wiehed imur apposta sabiex jara x’kapaci jahdmu l-haddiema Maltin.

Fejn?             Gianpula - Rabat

Meta?            Gunju 2009

X’gara?        

Moby rocked the crowd on Sunday night, but the traffic and safety arrangements leading to the venue were shambolic, and that is putting it mildly. The venue was in the fields serviced by narrow farmers’ lanes leading in from Zebbug and Rabat. Now anyone with a little bit of common sense would have said that the solution was easy... one way in... one way out. It really is as simple as that, but not in Malta – traffic was two way with cars lining the sides of the roads. It’s hard to estimate the number of people who attended but there were many thousands. Even if people went to the event four to a car, there were still also many thousands of cars that tried to make their way in. The fact of the matter is that some people had paid good money for reserved parking, and wanted to use it if they had paid for it. The reserved parking area was behind the stage meaning that these vehicles had to snake through roads clogged with people, badly parked cars and oncoming traffic down roads which can barely fit a car through them. The situation was ridiculous, starting all the way from the arterial roads. There was hardly any police or warden presence (in fact most of the handful of traffic ‘organisers’ were from the Malta Transport Authority). This led to the usual Maltese habit of drivers pulling onto the outer lane and overtaking the slowly snaking traffic at breakneck speed. Of course this was infuriating for those who waited patiently, but more importantly, it is downright dangerous to oncoming traffic. Many drivers who were minding their own business reported near misses.

Once people got into the country roads closer to the venue, disorganisation changed to chaos, panic and an absolute mockery of what a traffic management plan should be. The handful of ADT representatives which were supposed to direct traffic were clueless, more of a hindrance than anything else. To be fair to them, their numbers were so small that they could not really do anything. The problems were mostly caused by cars parked up next to rubble walls in any old fashion. Were the drivers told to move them? Of course not. After all, what can one ADT guy do against a car load of bullish men who don’t care where they park? Wait a minute... couldn’t the road have been cordoned off? Of course it could, or at least steel barriers could have been put down the road to prevent people from parking. Here’s a novel idea... organise a shuttle bus... Is it really that hard? The chaos had to be seen to be believed. People dodging in and out of traffic, vans and trucks trying to squeeze past. But the best bit comes at the end. Right at the entrance there were hundreds of people queuing up and spilling out onto the road. Cars trying to get to the parking area had to negotiate this... but this is where disorganisation gives way to stupidity. The entrance had to be where it was, but did there really have to be hot dog stands (and a good number of them) on the other side of a narrow road? Picture it, thousands of people jostling to get in, a good other number jostling to get a hotdog on the other side of the road and frustrated drivers who had been in traffic for up to two hours trying to get to the car park. Quite how anyone was not seriously injured is a miracle. If this is what traffic management is supposed to be, God help us when Isle of MTV is held. The ADT really should look at what they did (actually didn’t do), learn from it and put it right. It’s 2009... although you would be hard pressed to believe it sometimes.

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 30.6.2009

Fejn?             Il-Qorti tal-Appell – Valletta                                                           

Meta?            Settembru 2011

X’gara?        

A judge yesterday dismissed an appeal by a 16-year-old boy who claimed he had failed to issue a VAT receipt during a village feast because he was inexperienced, having only been on the job for a few days. The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, had finished his O-levels and started working two to three days before he was caught by a VAT inspector at the Birżebbuġa feast charging a customer without issuing a receipt. He had just sold an €0.80 pizza to a child who then left without being given a fiscal receipt. A VAT inspector noticed the transaction and approached him. He was found guilty by a magistrate and was reprimanded. The boy appealed, pointing out that he had just started working and was not experienced in handling customers with the speed required in these circumstances. Furthermore, the prosecution only brought one witness who was weak. The amount sold was only minimal and he had no intention to harm his employer by not issuing the receipt. Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano threw out the appeal and said that his age was already reflected in the original judgment, the fact that he was inexperienced was no excuse and the fact that only one witness was brought does not mean the evidence was inadequate in anyway.

The Times 21.9.2011