It was nice that MaltaToday was regaled again with Saviour Balzan’s opinion column. I like his style and from the bottom of my heart thank him for having “no difficulty declaring that this column will be the first and foremost thorn in the establishment’s backside”. Yes, Saviour, keep it up.
I like your bluntness even though I do not always agree with how you analyze certain angles of the local political scenario. I do not mind confessing that I embrace a progressive but moderate Socialist credo. But I give all my backing to any writing not having any partisan tinge, but mainly aimed at the best interest of our islands.
But Saviour, I beg to differ on your opinion that the Malta Labour Party is wrong in extending the date for the election of our new leader to June. If the time taken, as you advised, may unfortunately lead to create the danger that more dirt and muck will surface, let it be so. We Reds need to cleanse ourselves and atone for mistakes that we might have made in the past.
Our party really needs to start afresh, with certain caution. We should be bold enough to acknowledge the good, the bad and perhaps the ugly that the MLP must have done, let us say during the last half-century.
But let us be sincere and state also that the Nationalist Party throughout this period was neither a virgin in white satin. Maybe what has resulted lately in the case of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in the days prior to the March 8 General Elections says a lot how credible and trustworthy the GonziPN has been!
Yet, for the moment my main concern is the Malta Labour Party and its future. I maintain that the weeks up to June 5 are certainly not being wasted. It is a good exercise that prior to the election of our new leader, the party’s paid up members and those who cast their vote for the MLP should have a public account from the team selected for this commitment of what was really lacking in the electoral campaign. What were the factors that pushed to turn what looked like a good landslide victory for the MLP into a miserable defeat, which certainly saddened both die-hards and moderate supporters?
Here, Saviour, maybe you grin (though the sad loss of a your dear wife does not permit you to do this and I show all my solidarity with you). Maybe you sort of remind the readers of your esteemed paper that MT surveys were reflecting correctly the electorate’s feelings. It was a pity some persons in the MLP hierarchy chose to rubbish such surveys and did not take any notice of them.
Without any blushes I must admit I consider the MT surveys very impartial and significant and no one should ignore them. I do not see any hidden agenda behind MaltaToday and its sister papers.
Allow me to conclude by urging you Saviour to keep it up. On the other hand, I hope that the weeks ahead to the election of the new MLP leadership will this time prove you wrong. In my opinion, yes, it is a delicate period for our party, and I only hope that whoever is called upon to give his verdict uses his mind rather than heart. Maybe, who knows? As a paid up member, I will be given such an opportunity!
Saviour Cachia
Via email
As soon as I entered the polling room, the first one as one enters the polling station at Ta’ Xbiex, a young lady who I presume was part of the polling supervisors accosted me and asked me point blank whether I needed help to register my vote.
I looked at her with surprise and asked her “Why are you asking?” In fact I needed no help whatsoever.
I am still curious to know why that young lady acted in that way. Was she acting the same with others, or was she anticipating something? Curious? I can only attribute this to the fact that I am and look truly old, but I felt offended to be considered as illiterate at the first glance.
F. Farrugia
Ta’Xbiex
While sending my deepest sympathies to you, Mr Balzan, while mourning your
beloved wife Ebba, I am glad to be reading your column again. Right now this is my source of understanding better how really our country is functioning and what I as a citizen can give to make it better. Thank you.
Donald Said,
Victoria
The alleged Mistra scandal is being investigated by the police; it was discussed on television by Lou Bondi and his guests, and it is being discussed with regular monotony in the local press.
What about the alleged false tax declaration submitted by labour MPs? Are the police investigating this alleged scandal? Will Lou Bondi discuss it on TV? Has anyone written about it in the local press? I would like to know. And what about the case of Dr Harry Vassallo?
Before the general election I made a list of alleged irregularities which were supposed to be under investigation but no clarification was forthcoming from any quarter!
Giov. DeMartino
Mosta
The farce of the Mistra super-scandal and its crystal-clear corruption is dragging Malta and its Prime Minister to new lows. The Prime Minister has to decide whether Malta’s future and its law-abiding citizens are more important than Pullicino Orlando. We are waiting to see whether Gonzi is our Prime Minister, or Pullicino Orlando’s Prime Minister. He can’t be both!
Pauline Muscat
Via email
