The leader of the Opposition had been making it very obvious that he and his party were using the unfortunate abduction in Libya of a fellow Maltese citizen, Martin Galea, to try and score a few political points

Foreign Minister George Vella, during the parliamentary debate on the Libyan crisis, explained in detail all that he and his ministry had been doing to help those Maltese who wish to return from Libya.

All Maltese citizens who were, or still are, in Libya were each contacted by the foreign ministry and informed of the situation. They were offered the chance to return to Malta. A minority accepted and have returned but the majority of them preferred to stay on since their work there is how they provide for their family in Malta.

As regards Mr Galea, Dr Vella explained that publicising the abduction would have jeopardised his predicament. If Dr Busuttil was so concerned about Mr Galea and wished to know the details, all he had to do was ask Dr Vella in private. After all, Dr Vella had invited Carm Mifsud Bonnici, the PN’s shadow on foreign affairs, to go and see him at the ministry, anytime he liked, and he would have been given all the information in confidence.

But it seems Dr Busuttil and the PN believed they had another golden opportunity to play politics.

Now that the abduction of Mr Galea has come to a happy ending after the excellent work done by the government and all those involved, particularly Marisa Farrugia, the Maltese Consul to Libya, one again hopes and trusts that Dr Busuttil and his party learn that there are times when politics must be forgotten rather than fuelled.