The Malta Independent, 31 January 2011
In the midst of all the dramatic turmoil happening on our doorstep in North Africa, Joseph Muscat, the leader of the PL, has had the nerve to state that “the government of Malta should have already unleashed a massive tourism publicity campaign to draw tourists to Malta in view of instability in North Africa”, said Prof Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson on EU and International Affairs.
Joseph Muscat stated: “Millions of tourists had been planning to go to countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, which are major tourism destinations, and Malta should be aggressively promoting its own attractions instead to attract these tourists.”
Malta should constantly promote its own attractions, he said. Linking turmoil to tourism at a political level by a political leader is cynical, silly, disrespectful and shows a lack of political savoir faire.
Prof Cassola stated: “It is unbelievable and shameful how the leader of a party that aspires to be in government can be so cynical and, in the face of events that are changing the history of the world, can only think of exploiting the suffering and misery of our North African neighbours. Is this the political vision of the so-called progressive in the Labour Party? Shameful!”
Prof Cassola added that AD instead supports the Graffitti event in solidarity with our North African neighbours being held tomorrow and stated: “The EU has had funding agreements with these dictatorial countries that were really benefitting only the oligarchy surrounding Ben Ali and his wife, President Mubarak and other dictators, rather than the common people. We Greens, abroad and in Malta, have consistently denounced this in the past, unlike the Maltese government and the Labour Party opposition, who have always paid lip service to these dictators.”
Michael Briguglio, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson, added: “Any dilly-dallying on this issue risks creating a political vacuum in these countries and the risk of the army taking over becomes greater, with all the serious consequences that this will bring for true democracy in the region and security in the whole Mediterranean. As Greens, we join the diverse voices for democracy, human and civil rights in a global cosmopolitan vision of freedom, justice and pluralism.”
arnoldcassola@gmail.com
Three plane loads of tourists who originally planned to go to Tunisia were brought to Malta last week because of the turmoil in the North African country, Mario de Marco, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism said yesterday.
Dr de Marco was reacting to criticism during a radio phone-in programme in which a caller accused the Malta Tourism Authority of doing nothing to capitalise on the situation in Tunisia, a major destination in the Mediterranean.
Dr de Marco said nobody liked to hear of trouble in neighbouring countries but denied the MTA was doing nothing, pointing out that tourists booked for Tunisia with a major UK tour operator were instead brought to Malta last week on three planes.
Of course, there will be tourists who will go to alternative destinations because of the turmoil.
But should this be the main focus, when hundreds have been killed and thousands are suffering?
Is money the only thing that motivates Maltese politicians?
Unfortunately, it seems that for some this is the only real issue.
Tal-misthija!
The main focus was and still remains the popular uprising and no one should try to change that. Your article has somewhat helped to divert attention from this.
Having said that there is a secondary effect that may come out of the whole issue Many people, not just DeMarco or Muscat, are talking of the monetary effect of the uprising, oil prices, Suez canal, Dubai stock exchange etc.. Should people not talk of this secondary effect? If fuel prices rise we will be hit badly. If tourists come to Malta then good for us.
What i find disgusting is the continued reluctance of the west ( including Malta) to ask any of these dictators to leave. We continue to support and even greet them with fanfare when they come to Malta. Who do you think gave the Egyptian army the military strength and the same bullets used to shoot at their people?
Agree with you that the West has its great faults in supporting these regimes. Have you read the whole AD statement?
Having said that, it is now time to withdraw the support to these dictators on our doorsteps, not only on the part of the EU but also on the part pf PN and PL , who have both remained silent in the past on such dictators and, indeed, even paid lip service to them.
Yes i did and i full agree. i have no problem aligning myself with your statement regarding the regimes. Those are serious issues that need to be tackled. I just think that you diverted the attention from the main issue by using the JM’s quote to a question i believe by a delegate a bit out of context if you ask me.
On the other hand i believe you should have focused more on why we have not seen more political support for the popular uprisings by our MPs with clear statements on our foreign policy ( if we have one). Has our government issued any sort of statement on Egypt?