The history of Air Malta is a long story of clientelism combined with stark incompetence by successive governments, both Labour and Nationalist. Neither Bernard Grech nor Robert Abela have come clean about the Father Christmas policy perpetuated by their parties to the detriment of the finances and honest citizens of this country.
In a joint press statement ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci and Secretary General Ralph Cassar reminded everyone that Labour and Nationalist governments used Air Malta to hand out hundreds of jobs in exchange for votes. Superfluous positions, which were not needed. So much so that in 2011 former director of Air Malta Michael Mallia wrote in the Times of Malta that before the 1987 election 250 extra people were added to the airline, then from 1992 to 1997 the Nationalists bloated the airline with additional jobs leading to 1,750 employees ( https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/air-malta-the-politicians-milch-cow.350581 ).
The story continued, with several restructuring plans that led to no results and with a huge waste of public funds in rescue packages used to buy votes before Malta entered the European Union. From 2013 onwards the Labour Party continued with the Father Christmas policy despite PL’s ‘star candidate’ Konrad Mizzi’s supposed competence. Konrad Mizzi, as minister continued to milk Air Malta for votes, and sold the trope that Air Malta was making a profit.
The ADPD spokespersons concluded that Air Malta was led by people whose main interest was to favour the PN or the PL electorally. This led us to where we are today. Air Malta is victim of the politics of clientelism practised by successive PL and PN administrations.
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L-Air Malta – vittma tal-klijenteliżmu tal-PLPN
L-istorja tal-Air Malta hija storja twila ta’ klijentelizmu flimkien ma’ inkompetenza kontinwa minn gvernijiet suċċessivi, kemm Laburisti kif ukoll Nazzjonalisti. L-ebda diskors, la ta’ Bernard Grech u lanqas ta’ Robert Abela ma infurmaw lin-nies dwar il-politika ta’ Father Christmas ipperpetwata mill-partiti tagħhom għas-skapitu tal-finanzi u taċ-ċittadini onesti tal-pajjiż.
Dawn qaluh fi stqarrija konġunta iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci u s-Segretarju Ġenerali Ralph Cassar fejn fakkru li gvernijiet Laburisti u Nazzjonalisti użaw l-Air Malta biex iqassmu mijiet kbar ta’ postijiet tax-xogħol għall-voti. Postijiet tax-xoghol żejda, li ma kienx hemm bżonnhom. Tant li saħansitra lura fl-2011 eks-direttur tal-Air Malta Michael Mallia kiteb fit-Times of Malta li qabel l-elezzjoni tal-1987 iddaħħlu 250 persuna żejda mal-linja tal-ajru, imbagħad mill-1992 sal-1997 in-Nazzjonalisti tant qassmu pjaċiri li l-linja tal-ajru spiċċat b’1,750 impjegat. ( https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/air-malta-the-politicians-milch-cow.350581 )
L-istorja kompliet, b’diversi pjanijiet ta’ ristrutturar li sfaw fix-xejn u b’ħela kbira ta’ fondi pubbliċi li nħlew fl-Air Malta biex jinxtraw il-voti qabel kważi kull elezzjoni. Il-Partit Labursita mill-2013 ‘il quddiem kompla bil-politika tal-Father Christmas minkejja l-ħafna ftaħir tal-‘kandidat stilla’, Konrad Mizzi li bħala ministru kompla jeħleb lill-Air Malta għall-voti u iddikjara diversi drabi li l-Air Malta kienet qed tagħmel il-qliegħ.
Il-kelliema tal-ADPD ikkonkludew li t-tmexxija tal-Air Malta kienet iddominata minn numru kbir ta’ persuni li l-interess prinċipali tagħhom kien li jiffavorixxu lill-PN jew lill-PL elettoralment. Dan wassal għal fejn qegħdin illum. L-Air Malta hi vittma tal-klijenteliżmu ipprattikat mill-PLPN.
