It is very obvious to readers that Helena Dalli and I inhabit opposing political camps. So why should I highlight comments from timesofmalta.com, which she finds supportive to her? Telling me (October 16) that “I have yet to learn that online comments can be risky territory” betrays a patronising attitude, to say the least.
Should I be flattered that such a formidable opponent has declared my reputation as a Labour critic “legendary”?
Dr Dalli claims that I put my foot in my mouth again. Again? I don’t recollect the other time I did it.
Yes, there is no comparison between John Dalli’s resignation as Malta’s Foreign Minister and Chris Said’s who held a parliamentary secretary post within the Prime Minister’s portfolio. No head of government would keep a country without a Foreign Minister. And there lies the big difference which elicited a different response from the Prime Minister. The difference is obvious for those who want to see it.
Dr Dalli calls Dr Said’s resignation as “pseudo” and “a sham”. On what grounds does she throw this serious accusation against an MP who in his short tenure as parliamentary secretary has earned so much respect from so many, irrespective of their political leanings? It is not for me to defend Dr Said’s corner but I believe that Dr Dalli owes him an apology.
Of course Dr Said was present with the Prime Minister at Għajnsielem. He is an MP that represents the electors from Gozo. Why should he have hidden himself as if he were ashamed to show his face?
Dr Dalli is very familiar with MPs from her party and others in the leadership of the Labour Party who still parade themselves as the champions of all that is right yet their past is linked closely with abuses including human rights abuses, in past Labour administrations.
These are the people who should have had the decency to disappear from the public scene. But Dr Dalli presumably is quite happy to continue to rub shoulders with them.
As to promises made before elections, Dr Dalli is trying to act the virgin. Had she not heard of the promises made to their supporters by Labour MPs and prospective ones? I gave her a factual example which she decided not to comment upon.
Dr Dalli agrees that Labour’s problems are in its past while the PN’s problems are at present. May I suggest that Labour’s past problems still haunt it today because instead of a clean sweep of people who betrayed Malta’s democracy with their abuses in the past, they still militate in her party with the blessing of Joseph Muscat. Labour has made no attempt to rectify the obvious injustices perpetrated by governments who abused their power such as the requisition of properties from individuals to turn them into party clubs. These people are still suffering an injustice from a party that parades itself as a firm believer in social justice.
Dr Dalli mentions that some of her constituents have to take jobs which are not to their liking. No recession is mentioned. No reference to what is going on all around us. Thanks for the certificate that the present government is still creating jobs.
Finally and offensively, Dr Dalli concludes that “it is pointless to get Mr Felice Pace to empathise with people who are not having it as good as he is”. Why write so voluminously against me if it is a pointless exercise? A cheap comment about my “good” life deserves the judgement of the readers.
So I refrain from further comments.