SAVING LIVES AND ERADICATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

I look forward to the start of the Italo-Libyan patrols that should save human lives and stem the mass trafficking of irregular migrants from the northern shores of Africa.

The latest tragedy at sea yesterday, with over 300 people missing, is a sad event that should make all aware of the cruelty that human trafficking brings along with it.

I welcome the declaration by Italy that on 15 May the joint sea patrols by Libya and Italy will start. However, in view of the extremely slow, late and normally inadequate response by the EU authorities, we at AD urge the Italian and Libyan governments to start these patrols immediately. These joint patrols should not only help to save hundreds of lives but should also contribute to stopping heartless human traffickers.

I trust that the Libyan and Italian authorities live up to this great responsibility and give their strong commitment to the curbing of abuse by traffickers and to the saving of human lives.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

Hold-ups and robberies

A 33-year-old woman was robbed at knife-point early yesterday morning in Wilġa Street, Paceville.

The police said the Czech woman from St Paul’s Bay was walking with a 24-year-old woman from Qormi when two hooded men ran to the foreigner, put a knife to her throat and ran off with her handbag.

What is happening? These robberies in open streets in normally highly frequented areas like Paceville are becoming more and more frequent.

Prevention is better than cure. We need more bobbies walking the streets to dissuade those ill intentioned from carrying on with their plans.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

Malta – Libya: Is something moving?

It is good to see that a memorandum of understanding on search and rescue in open seas has been signed between Malta and Libya.
I believe that this agreement should not only save lives in the sea separating Libya from Lampedusa, Sicily and Malta, but should also serve to crack down on the organised traffic of irregular migrants.
All joint efforts of the Maltese, Libyan, Italian and EU authorities should be bent on destroying the illegal trafficking web that has been allowed to operate and proliferate comfortably for so many years. Let’s get cracking on this wound that has been allowed to fester for so long.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

BARROT CALLS FOR AID TO MALTA?

The Times reports that EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot has urged the European Commission to increase its aid to Malta in view of the problem of illegal migration.

According to the information note prepared by Mr Barrot’s cabinet, ‘due to its small size and population density’ Malta is having to carry a disproportionate burden which needs to be addressed by the EU on the ‘short, medium and long term’.

In his note, Commissioner Barrot suggests that the EU executive should consider increasing its financial help to the island and to tackle this issue with a stronger political will.

Good to see this political will materializing as quickly as possible. The major issue is effective responsibility sharing on the part of all 27 EU member states. Let’s get moving on this Monsieur Barrot.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

PRIME MINISTER MULLS POSSIBILITY OF BEING WRONG ON VAT ON CAR REGISTRATION ISSUE

According to The Times, yesterday Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi referred to the controversy over VAT charged on vehicle registration tax, and said that the government’s position was clear – if anybody had a right, the government would honour it down to the last cent. Dr Gonzi said the government’s track record showed that it always respected the people’s rights.

I am glad to see that Dr Gonzi is now beginning to change tack. It is no shame for a politician to admit that one was wrong. What is a shame is when a politician continues insisting on an untruth and refuses to budge from his position.

In today’s world people want politicians who are man or woman enough to admit that they were wrong, if this is so. Let us hope that our politicians reach this level of maturity as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we at AD are continuing taking on board people who are interested in a court case against the government on this issue. If interested, write to me on arnoldcassola@gmail.com

Dwejra Seventh Wonder

IS THIS JUSTICE?

Patrick Attard, an engineer working with the Malta Resources Authority has been sacked.

The director of the MRA, Mr Attard claimed, said he had been ordered by the ministry to halt his contract immediately after it was confirmed that the timesofmalta.com comment had originated from his office computer at the MRA.

Without entering the merits of the case, is it possible that in today’s day and age, it is possible to sack workers in a second, wihout giving them a warning or the chance to defend themselves against the accusation?

Are we back to the times of Charles Dickens?

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

AD ON DISTINCTION BETWEEN PLASTIC BAGS AND BIODEGRADABLE BAGS

I disagree with Government in treating biodegradable bags at par with non-biodegradable ones.

Whilst I agree that plastic bags are charged an ecotax, the proceeds of which should be used for the betterment of the environment in Malta, I disagree that the said tax should also be charged on biodegradable bags, since these bags are of no harm to the environment, being produced from harmless and naturally biodegradable vegetable sources.

Not only should biodegradable bags not be taxed, but their re-use as carrier bags for household waste should be strongly encouraged. We are noting a considerable increase in plastics in the waste stream which is originating from supermarket packaging. Instead of taxing biodegradable bags government should address this packaging problem through the eco-contribution mechanism, thereby reducing a substantial amount of non-biodegradable plastics which according to government’s plans will now end in the Delimara incinerator.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

AD invites individuals to challenge government’s illegal levying of VAT on motor vehicles registration

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party (AD), issued its reaction to the declaration made by the Commissioner for taxation Mr Laszlo Kovács on the levying of VAT on the registration of motor vehicles acquired in Malta.

We welcome Commissioner Kovács declaration that VAT should not be levied on the registration tax of cars and that those customers who have been charged VAT for acquiring such goods should be compensated by the government.

It is indeed scandalous, that almost 5 years after Malta has acceeded to the European Union, the Maltese government still hasn’t realized that it can’t treat consumers in any way it deems fit. This speaks volumes about the current government’s European vocation.

For all these years, the government has imposed an unjustified tax on the Maltese people, it has abusively made millions of euros by exploiting the Maltese consumers and therefore this money should be returned back to them.

To boot, the government is so far refusing to give away what it has illicitly taken away from the Maltese people. Because of this, we are inviting individuals who are interested in mounting a challenge against the government’s illlegal tax to contact me on arnoldcassola@gmail.com in order to protest this continued infringement and seek redress.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

TO REFUND OR NOT TO REFUND: THAT IS THE QUESTION!

EU Commissioner Kovacs has declared the Maltese government guilty of collecting vat on car registration tax. These cars were sold after 2004 in Malta.
The EU Commissioner has stated that the Maltese government should refund all the vat collected illegally.
The Maltese government has rebutted by stating that it will not refund anything until it is found guilty by the European Court of Justice.
The Maltese government is therefore prepared to delay everything by a couple of years, go through the long process leading to condemnation, spending thousands of taxpayers’ euros in the process to finance a lost court case.
What a sickening mentality.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com