Muscat should apologise for tourism comments - PN - timesofmalta.

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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110206/local/muscat-sh...

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Muscat should apologise for tourism comments - PN

The Nationalist Party yesterday called on Labour leader Joseph Muscat to apologise for his presumptuous comments when he urged the tourism authorities to exploit the revolutions in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt. His presumptuous declaration is insensitive, uncalled for and definitely unacceptable coming from someone who aspires to be prime minister in two years time, the party said in a statement. Dr Muscat made the comments last Sunday during an event organised at the Labour headquarters, saying he would unleash the biggest media campaign ever to attract tourists who were interested in going to Tunisia to come to Malta instead. The least Dr Muscat can do in the circumstances is to apologise for his insensitive, immature and presumptuous comments, the party said. Dr Muscats comments were immediately criticised by Alternattiva Demokratika who described them as sarcastic and shameful which showed a lack of political savoir faire.

11 Comments

Joe Portelli
Feb 7th 2011, 08:37 Muscat is a so called Politician so its no surprise he is considered insensitive, sarcastic, presumptious and his public behaviour as immature. So what's new ? He can behave like this because he does not have to face the Tunisian or Egyptian authorities who have to be geniouses to handle the complex political factors in their countries , particularly Egypt. In Malta politics are immature and simple compared with countries like Egypt and hence its a mistake to compare our politicians with Egypts. Ours are like infants and Mr Muscat fits the local bill

James Caruana
Feb 6th 2011, 21:31 Should Dr Demarco apologize for asking tour operators to try to take the opportunity to entice tourists that would have gone to Tunisia and Egypt? NO and neither should Der Muscat.

A Attard
Feb 6th 2011, 15:26 The least Dr Muscat can do in the circumstances is to apologise for his insensitive, immature and presumptuous comments, the party said. ....... I'd like to know what's so "immature, presumptuous or insensitive" in recognizing a legitimite business opportunity!

Joseph Calleja
Feb 6th 2011, 17:25 Sometimes, silence is golden. It is a very insensitive statement to make by any politician PL or PN at a time like this. There is a time and a place, you have understand that. I strongly believe that Dr Muscat meant for the statement to be in a very positive way.

M.Debono
Feb 6th 2011, 18:07 What PN means is that JM's tourism policy can only work if his competitors have a national crisis. But don't worry Joseph said he'll shoulder the burden with you.See he's already talking about burdens with 2 yrs to the election, that's confidence for you.

A Attard
Feb 6th 2011, 15:17

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30/03/2013 21:24

Muscat should apologise for tourism comments - PN - timesofmalta.com

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110206/local/muscat-sh...

Oh come on guys!! Your comments are totally hypocritical and politically Egypt is only, losing the business reason, because tourists right Copyright Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on 30-03-2013 - This article motivated. is for personal use and should not for be good distributed now don't feel safe. Things will probably return to normal eventually. Meanwhile what's so "exploitative" about trying to get some of that tourism business? Actually it would help many in the tourist industry both in and out of Malta, not to mention the tourists themselves who must be pretty disappoined. Far from being "exploitation", it's just smart.

Joseph Calleja
Feb 6th 2011, 15:16 I think that was one of them ooooops. Dr Muscat was very hasty to make some political points and to be honest he shot himself in the foot instead, like many other politicians do. Yes I agree that Dr Muscat was very hasty and insensitive with his statement and might consider an apology, not because we or the PN say so, but because it is the right thing to do. Sometimes humility has it's rewards.

J.Scicluna - Rabat
Feb 6th 2011, 14:43 Did GonziPN ask Austin Gatt to apologize for stating that we don't need tourists who cannot afford to pay higher bus fares than the Maltese?! I DON'T THINK SO! Two rules and two measures for the "holier than then Pope" PN!

malcolm seychell
Feb 6th 2011, 13:42 He should not. In these circumstances every country tries to take advantage and opportunity. If we needed any proof now we have it. Day by day the PN are shifting more to the extreme left, obviously keeping an extreme right position on religion and divorce.

Joseph Abela
Feb 6th 2011, 09:55 There are so many issues which the PN in Government should apologise for: not least the issue of the honoraria and rise in salaries to the MPs and Ministers! But no apology has been forthcoming. This holier-than-thou attitude on the part of the PN will be their downfall.

Raymond Sammut
Feb 6th 2011, 11:28 You could very well be right. With the PN being what they are, Dr Muscat may not need any friends between now and two years time from now, let alone he would give them the satisfaction of an "apology". Still, however, it doesn't justify him ignoring calls to make amends; admit that his comments coming from a potential future PM were utterly imprudent; and please provide some clarification. Not much is being asked from Dr Muscat, yet he carries on as if nothing the matter --leaving onlookers somewhat taken aback. Is this guy, Dr Muscat, for real?

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30/03/2013 21:24