No time to score Brownie points

As a permanent resident in Malta, I maintain my interest in current news and activities.

By commenting on the following I may well be inviting some Maltese citizens to tell me that, being a foreigner, I should not interfere. So be it.

As I anticipated in my letters to The Times earlier this year, this has, in line with so many other countries, been a difficult period in light of the global recession.

In my previous letters I stated that this was a time of ensuring more political unity (despite the different party basic historic agendas, which are also witnessed worldwide).

Malta, with its population of about 440,000, should be concentrating more on the common good, survival and securing ongoing benefits. However, this is not in evidence as we continually read of politicians (especially Joseph Muscat) attempting to score Brownie points over sometimes very petty issues.

I would appeal to both parties, especially during this difficult economic period, to focus on the long-term interests of the Maltese and also those of the permanent resident population.

There will be opportunity at a later date when, hopefully, the tide turns, to gain such Brownie points.