Where was the rabble in Valletta?

Austin Sammut (March 9) does not rank as a first class writer, columnist or commentator, whatever he pretends to be. As such I wonder why The Times gives him so much prominence as to carry his contributions facing the leader page - does the position reflect the quality of The Times' editorials?

Dr Sammut's "Return to the rabble?" was just gibberish. It is surprising - as a lawyer, he even contradicts himself. I wonder, what kind of a thesis did he submit for his graduation? All Dr Sammut could say of the protest "rabble" was that they shouted insults at the Prime Minister. I remember the PN's Nazzjon writing much, much worse of Libyan Prime Minister Jalloud.

To stray a little from the subject of this letter, is it any wonder that Malta is today lumped with the rest of the Schengen countries for Switzerland's political use of the Schengen rules, in spite of Malta's protests? Malta should declare it is not bound by Schengen while this situation lasts and our commercial interests are suffering so much. But of course, the PN would not want to challenge the EU, would it?

Dr Sammut objects to the insults hurled at the PM, and also refers to what used to happen in the past when the "rabble" marched - shops closed and there was destruction and beatings, he writes. But that is not what happened in Valletta two Sundays ago. So why refer to the "rabble"? Isn't that a contradiction?

In fact, the heading would have been more appropriate had it been "Return to the boot-licking", in reference to the last paragraphs about Lawrence Gonzi.