Writing on Sunday afternoon, I thought for a while which events caught my attention during the past week.
Indisputably, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat address to the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly was an important event last week. Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat used the UN platform to alert attendees on two issues mainly. Primarily the spread of extremism and intolerance and secondly the ongoing illegal immigrants issue in the Mediterranean. The Prime Minister delivered other speechesand had meetings with various leaders of other countries during the United Nations summit held in New York. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was accompanied by George Vella, Foreign Affairs Minister who also played an important role. Indeed it was more than a photo session.
Another equally important issue which caught my attention was the shocking footage and pictures of lifeless migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. Overcrowded, unseaworthy boats are leaving the shores from various parts of Africa and fail to arrive to their destination. In search for a better quality of life in Europe migrants are taking huge risks to flee war and poverty. Theongoing human tragedy with lifeless-floating bodies drifting with the swells is horrendous. This calls for the International Community to take urgent, bolder steps and actions to stop thisongoing human tragedy.The International Community should stop sipping coffee.
The spontaneous protest held in Valletta by a group of hunters could not go unnoticed. Following the protest a number of hunters were arraigned in court and are facing charges. The protest followed a government decision to close the hunting season after protected species were killed. During the protest, attended by around 200 hunters, foul language and other vulgarities were reported to have been intoned against the government and the Prime Minister. To make things worse journalists on duty were manhandled by protestors.This bad publicity is not doing any favour to the hunters' community.It is time to think to go back to the drawing board.
Another issue relates to the use of illegal substances. People from different age groups from various walks of life from the unschooled to the highly qualified make use of illegal substances during the weekends. Notwithstanding, the continuous appeals from professionals and practitioners in the field it seems that a good number of teenagers are still interested in experimenting with this habit to entertain themselves. Indeed the absolute majority of the teenagers do not opt for this short-lived entertainment but seek other clean options of recreation although many parents still express their concern about their teenagers. Life is beautiful enjoy all moments.
Another issue which caught my attention relates to a court ruling whichbanned government from dismissing Dr Antoinette Cutajar a diplomat from the Foreign Office. The court banned government from dismissing a diplomat.
The court upheld Dr Cutajar's argument that she was a public officer employed on an indefinite contract and therefore government could not unilaterally dismiss her. In its ruling the court added that it was perplexed how the government expected to engage Dr Cutajar with a company set up for former shipbuilding, dockyard and other workers.The court ruling against government is an eye opener. The Party in Opposition should call for an independent enquiry to find who was responsible for the sanctioning of this ploy against Dr Cutajar and seek to find what motivated this highly irregular action against Dr Cutajar.This would make the party in Opposition relevant to people.
Dr Antoinette Cutajar had in her favour a European Commission directive clearly stating that all workers engaged on a year-on-year contractual basis for more than four years had to be given an indefinite contract. Dr Karol Aquilina demonstrated successfully the purpose of the Directive in favour of his client.
Clearly court has found government, represented by the Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muscat andMinister for Foreign Affairs, Dr George Vella, Principal Permanent Secretary, Mr Mario Cutajar, Foreign Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Ms Fiona-Jayne Formosa and Attorney General Dr Peter Grech respectively failed to prove their highly irregular action against Dr Antoinette Cutajar. Indeed, this shows that government can drop like a ton of bricks on Tom,Dick or Harry.This time it was Antoinette turn. It could be you tomorrow. To save face it would be best for government, as her employer, toapologise to Dr Antoinette Cutajar. On the other hand Government should seek independent and proper guidance from people/organisations best positioned since the ones he resorted to failed him miserably. Government fuelling an injustice stopped.
Last Saturday on my way towards the Mosta Rotunda Church to meet for the last time David Chircop, I noticed that in preparation for the Christmas festive season plastic or ceramic figurines of baby Jesus of all sizes are already prominently displayed in shops' showcases for sale. David, the gentle-giant went to meet Him in person. Fr Charles Tabone assured the congregation that David is in safe hands.
Gejtu Vella
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