Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1196490
19 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 DECEMBER 2019 INTERVIEW PAUL COCKS looks back at the best quotes from the weekly interviews by Raphael Vassallo with various protagonists from the political, social and cultural spheres Colette Farrugia Bennett MGRM 15 September Even in a perfect state, it would be very difficult for people to be truly equal… in the sense that society will always have its own perspectives, and negative attitudes towards one category of people or another George Vital Zammit Economist and University lecturer 27 October Yes, we have created unprece- dented wealth, and unprecedented prosperity… but quite a few things are being neglected, and they will definitely come back to haunt us Malcolm Tortell Psychotherapist 15 December People have less in the way of support structures from families; not because families are unwill- ing, but because everyone is real- ly stretched, both time-wise and money-wise Mark Sultana Birdlife CEO 7 July It is definitely the case that the regulations are being weakened. And if it's not happening delib- erately, it is definitely being done to facilitate people who want to make money Jeanette Borg Malta Youth in Agriculture 22 September The minute we had a parliamen- tary secretary instead of a minis- ter was the beginning of the end. Agriculture lost its priority. Ninu Zammit was the last Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries; follow- ing that, it was downhill all the way Maria Pisani Integra Foundation 3 November There is clearly a lack of commit- ment, and also the absence of any real will to see things through. That is the situation, and it cannot be denied Louis Galea Veteran politician 14 July While I believe that there should be full liberty for people to express themselves before a decision is taken, one cannot have the same liberty after a decision is taken. One cannot have both Michelle Attard Tonna Bicycle Advocacy Group 11 August Most of the drivers I encounter in the street are very encouraging, very accommodating. They always give way: they stop at junctions and roundabouts so I can cross safely... because they understand that I'm a commuter, too Andrea Dibben Voice for Choice 29 September We have always said that this is not about the opinion of the ma- jority. This is about rights; it's about health; it's about experienc- es woman go through in difficult circumstances Prof Joe Cannataci UN Rapporteur on Data Protection 24 November While people were becoming more reliant on the Internet, and international commerce took off using it – there was never a really decent, global discussion about the policy side of things Julia Farrugia Portelli Parliamentary secretary 21 July The human smugglers operating in Africa are transporting their victims to where they can leave for Europe… but they're not the ones employing them under false pre- tences when they get to Europe Edward Scicluna Finance Minister 6 October Awareness about money laun- dering started in the 1990s: when the talk was all about tax havens, etc. Moneyval came to Malta back then as well, as did the FTAF. In fact, the FIAU was established at the same time Fr Aaron Zahra Abbot, Vittoriosa Dominican Priory 13 October A priest today would have to be crazy to ever be alone in an envi- ronment frequented by children: regardless how pure or innocent his intentions. Or to take a group of altar boys out for a day at the beach, on your own Prof Dominic Fenech Historian & Dean, Faculty of Arts 1 December Ever since socialism – as a prac- tised ideology and electable pro- gramme – went out of fashion after the 1980s, the Labour Party, like the Nationalists, came to be- lieve in the centrality of the busi- ness class to economic prosperity Edward Zammit Lewis Equality & European Affairs Minister 28 July As long as we are talking about le- gal migration, then yes, I agree that we have to work harder to ensure that migrants are given the same rights as other citizens living in Malta Claire Bonello Lawyer and environmentalist 16 June The government is not really be- ing 'progressive'. It's going off on all these tangents: space, robots, whatever… and it's not even tak- ing care of our territory, and our people Andre Callis Graffitti activist 23 June I would prefer a lower rate of eco- nomic growth – because there has to be growth: it is the extent I am questioning, not the growth itself – coupled with a higher quality of life Toni Sant Performing arts researcher 1 September I'm not one for nostalgia, myself. I don't believe the past was 'better'; I think we should know about the past, to make a better present for the future Sven Giegold MEP 8 December Malta has designed its tax system in such a way that transnational companies can shift their profits to Malta, using European legislation which can only be changed through consensus. This is just a modern way of stealing money from others Mara Clarke Abortion Support Network 4 August Most people, if you really question them, are usually OK with abor- tion in some circumstances. But then, their issue is not so much with abortion, in itself: it's with judging the woman for her behav- iour