In April 1994 I had suggested in this paper the setting up of an informal body similar to the Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Malti (KNM).

At the time, I never had in mind nor did I ever suggest the formal monster the KNM has turned out to be, with its conceited arrogance, imposing its sole will upon an entire nation (including those million or so of us who belong to the diaspora), with its self-righteous tunnel vision.

There is only one way out of this national dilemma. Those who passed the legislation creating this monstrous irritant must repeal all relevant laws and any amendments relating thereto (if any), abolish the KNM and somehow create a fresh atmosphere within which the Akkademja can regenerate into the respectable body it once was.

This entire affair is so serious, affecting as it does the whole nation's identity, that this festering wound needs an immediate and total cure. And let all silent dissidents stop playing the blind and deaf mute!

France and Sweden are two countries which come to mind which tried a similar trick with their language (i.e. with their people) both of which resulted in dismal failure.

Legislating a people's language is tantamount to owning their hearts, their souls and their very psyches. Absolute control! If this is not the vilest of evil what else can one call it? A despicable act to a sovereign nation.

If only Dun Karm, Aquilina, Saydon and Cremona were here to witness this manipulation with its eventual ruination of our ancient beloved sacred tongue!

In the 1970s, when I and several others in Australia were called upon to translate umpteen documents from Maltese into English and vice versa we did not have the luxury of Aquilina's and Erin Serracino Inglott's dictionaries.

We made do and got by. There was no need for special courses in translating (even though I agree with them and appreciate their value). But surely this was the responsibility of the University's Department of Maltese without the need to create a KNM.

I am informed by reliable sources that to understand much of what is being translated into Maltese in Brussels and other European places, you need to read the French or English versions first to make head or tail of what is being said.

Alas, let this be a clarion call to all politicians in Malta to heed this cri de coeur of the silent masses within Malta itself who are absolutely disgusted with the Deciżjonijiet 1. And let there not be a Deciżjonijiet 2!