Edward Torpiano (July 26) refers to my article Politics, The Media And The Citizen (July 8) which was meant to stimulate discussion, among other things, on journalistic ethics and the right of political party members to freely express themselves in public on all matters, including those of a political nature.
The points I was trying to make are mainly these:
¤ Journalists should act in an ethical manner when dealing with high-profile personalities such as the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition.
¤ Political parties should allow their members full freedom in expressing themselves in public on all matters, including those of a political nature.
¤ No single journalist should be given overexposure in the reporting of political and other events to the detriment of others.
¤ Speakers invited to participate in political discussion programmes on television and radio should not be chosen from a limited pool of persons who seem to enjoy a monopoly in presenting the public with their opinions.
Let me now deal with the other points raised by Mr Torpiano.
If the ideas I am expounding are in conflict with those of any Malta Labour Party official, that does not mean I have any argument with this particular official or that I am trying to score points to his/her detriment.
Mr Torpiano mentions the party's general secretary, Jason Micallef. I hold Mr Micallef in high regard and consider him as the latest in a long line of immensely capable general secretaries in the history of the MLP. Mr Micallef's record speaks for itself. He has, to date, steered the MLP to one electoral victory after another and will, hopefully, soon steer it to its greatest general election victory since 1947.
To be fair, one must also mention the tremendous amount of work carried out on a daily basis by the MLP deputy leader for party affairs Michael Falzon and his team.
The MLP is a democratic political party and one is allowed to state one's opinion on matters such as the ones I have mentioned. If one took a stand which goes against the party's ideology or policies approved by the MLP general conference, now that would be another matter altogether.
As to Alfred Sant, he is an exemplary politician and party leader and his behaviour when dealing with journalists has always been impeccable. Giving my humble contribution to the MLP under his outstanding leadership will always be regarded by me as an honour and a privilege.