Of theatrical antics

In this very paper, a few weeks ago, I commented on the negative connotations flung pell-mell that the Nationalist Party's general council was held in "retreat in Gozo", "a hideaway", "in the seclusion of a..." (Detached, Disunited, July 7). Imagine my surprise when I heard that the Malta Labour Party also decided to "retreat" in our sister island and hold its annual general conference "in the seclusion" of the Victoria Sports Complex!

Not only did the MLP lift the idea of the venue from the PN but, more importantly, it presented and approved a policy document for Gozo, which, as the Minister for Gozo has aptly explained, "acknowledges the government's endeavours with the majority of the measures proposed being already, in whole or in part, undertaken".

Unfortunately, that is as far as the MLP's piracy goes. Labour's modus operandi, its open antagonism and theatrical antics have irreparably exiled it from the norm.

During this annual general conference, Justyn Caruana, a Labour Gozitan member of Parliament, hurled abuse at the press hitting out, once again, against journalists. She subsequently told The Times (August 2) that what had happened was "something spontaneous and not aimed at anyone in particular, I never attacked individual journalists".

Excuse me, but I beg to differ. This was not an isolated incident of hers. Neither was it an on-the-spur-of-the moment thingy. It was done in a calculated if not premeditated fashion. A few weeks ago, when approached outside Parliament to comment on the Gozo issue, in a "spontaneous" eruption Dr Caruana insulted the journalist individually and personally labelled her "hopeless", "uneducated" and "rude". Contrary to what Dr Caruana alleged, the footage clearly shows that there had been no physical contact whatsoever and no provocation. Her emotional outburst was totally inexcusable.

I would really like to know who, in truth, is hopelessly uneducated and downright rude!

Was it not also bad-mannered of Dr Caruana to despotically point an accusing finger at guests who did not form part of her (political) family during the MLP conference? Was she not just as disrespectful as her leader when she mimicked him and called them "snakes"? Incidentally, this enlightening speech decorated with such flowering language, was heartily applauded by all the Labour assembly, MLP high ranking officials and MLP leader included. Disgraceful!

Ironically, it has been reported that during the conference the leader said that the MLP is "committed to giving dignity to Gozo" (The Times, July 23). Pray, what on earth does that piece of rhetoric mean exactly? Is the MLP insinuating that Gozo, the island, or the Gozitans, its people, have no dignity?

The MLP's cheek knows no limits. In Parliament the MLP voted against the crucial constitutional changes to the electoral law to reinstate Gozo to its original sovereignty, as in one state, one community.

So who stripped whose dignity?

Furthermore, in its policy paper, the MLP is proposing to set up a Regional Council for Gozo that will be responsible for economic and social development in Gozo. Is demoting the Ministry for Gozo and relegating it to an "executive branch of the Regional Council" enhancing Gozo's or the Gozitan's dignity?

For curiosity's sake, would the people from Ghajnsielem, still forming part of Malta for electoral purposes, be transferred back to Gozo for Regional Council purposes? Who will represent this amputated piece on the Regional Council, the Maltese elected members of Parliament or the Gozitan ones, or neither? What rubbish!

Life can be so much simpler. Just leave Gozo as nature created it, for electoral purposes, for regional purposes and, last but not least, for the people's sake. That is what committing to its dignity is really all about!