The blushes of embarrassment are more than evident and noticeable for all to see. Just sitting down comfortably in front of the TV box and following a local debate or news, on any of the channels, would be enough to confirm the extent of discomfort by PN representatives.
The TV eye can immortalize particular catchy verbal phrases, gaffes, blunders and even tantrums that depict the extent of discomfort when confronted with direct questions. Who can ever forget the tantrums of Minister Censu Galea, Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela and others when confronted by journalists and cameras of One News?
Promising almost heaven on earth and then failure to deliver or meet the set objectives became not only a trait of this government but also a frustrating experience! After the hype that all the country’s problems are all under control and the country’s administration is clockwork, no wonder that the people’s expectations are high, consequently the disappointment is frustrating and annoying!
Two decades at the helm of the country were not enough to fulfil electoral promises. Procrastination to implement particular promises has become customary. Now that the general election is only a few weeks away, the panic attacks are more than obvious and evident.
It is a race against time! It’s now or never! All the long overdue decisions suddenly are being taken right away without any hesitation. Needless to point out, that all this is being done in the best interest of the country and not of the party in government.

Mater Dei
For the past months all trumpeters from the PN’s rank and file didn’t miss out on one single occasion to make a reference to the Mater Dei Hospital. It is portrayed as a masterpiece of this charismatic government. It is considered to be a ‘showcase’ for this administration. At a point in time during the migration process we could follow the latest episode of what’s going on at Mater Dei on NET as if following a soap opera.
After all these years to complete and after the exorbitant final expenditure, the least our people expected and surely deserve is a state of art hospital This will somehow compensate and sweeten the incompetence shown throughout by those at the helm involved in this saga.
They flutter their grand looking wings like peacocks! But it is said that “a peacock has fair feathers, but foul feet.” Ironically, with regards to its completion date and to its final expenditure, definitely that there is more than foul feet. The last straw was when the Prime Minister promised us that he will intervene to revise the parking charges for all those who make use of this facility on public land. What cheek!

John Dalli
Everyone is on board and now our mind is at rest that the electorate is given the impression that all is well within the PN’s house. No backstabbing any longer and it’s all a world of smiling faces once again. A time to rejoice!
It took them three years, apparently or truly, to rectify and reinstate back into their own flanks, an ex-minister and an aspirant to the premiership. He was also a close aide of the former Prime Minister and a trusted exchequer who was the mastermind behind a number of economical and financial reforms. The Prime Minister felt that the time was ripe to exonerate a backbencher who was tormented by internal attacks on him.
The ten million-dollar question that torments our minds is precisely: “if to vindicate a close insider it took them three whole years, when are the hundreds of Labour Party supporters who were left in the Siberia white desert for so many years, going to be liberated and justice done with them?”

Manwel Dimech bridge
As if the blunders with the Manwel Dimech bridge up to now were not enough! The latest howler was committed a few days ago when the impression was given that precisely for the few forthcoming festive days the works will stop to permit the thousands that frequent the area to arrive at their destination without problems. And business in this nightspot could continue as usual, at least for the coming few days.
No matter how the GRTU insisted that works on this bridge should be temporary suspended, to permit clubbers and other patrons to the Paceville area to attend the various activities related to the festive season. Unfortunately, all appeals fell on deaf ears. The steamroller went on with its schedule and works are in progress as if business is as usual.
The body language of most protagonists forming part of the top brass of the PN on various occasions spells discomfort and embarrassment. Evidently enough! The facial expressions speak louder than words. They know that their popularity has dwindled downwards and reached abysmal depths.
The people are under the weather with these stories, episodes and pantomimes. It is becoming more evident that our electorate’s stand is firmer in its position than the North Star. The urge for a more efficient style of public administration is no longer a plea, but urgent necessity!

Roderick Galdes is Labour’s spokesperson for the environment and national heritage