On May 2, over a steaming cup of coffee, I read (with relish) the front page report in the day’s Times of Malta exposing Lawrence Gonzi’s extravagant used of taxpayers’ money for his official car in the period 2008-2013.

I recalled the time when I was serving my country in London as High Commissioner. I remembered how, practically week after week after settling in, I was being presented with various bills for repairs on the official car. That was bad enough considering labour costs in England.

Then, one day, I was presented with a request by the career diplomat responsible for the Chancery accounts for the car’s engine to receive a complete overhaul, peppered with strong suggestions that the engine had to be changed.

This was barely two months after my arrival.

The proposal did not make any economic sense.

The car, a Mercedes, was barely seven years old. The Government had bought it for £17,000. Mercedes cars command a good resale value. I, on behalf of the High Commission, sold it for £10,000 cash.

It was replaced by a new, identical make.

A lot of furious fuss was made in Malta by unfriendly media and our disinformed detractors about this deal, which was only carried out in the best interest of the Maltese coffers.

Those interested in learning what was being reported in print at the time have only to look up the historical details to be able to compare notes.