In a futile attempt to justify the opportunistic attack on Carm Mifsud Bonnici – in a recent Bondì+ programme –Deborah Schembri said that the Prime Minister himself referred solely to his integrity. Obviously she and her party expected him to refer to deficiencies in his performance according to their way of reasoning as if they – now or whenever – are or will ever be impeccable. They were certainly not expecting him to refer to the Libyan evacuation exercise, inter alia, when Malta even earned the title of “Samaritan of the Mediterranean”.

It is amazing how the Labour MPs had to wait for Franco Debono’s observations to present their motion, which they eagerly hoped would culminate in the resignation. It was different when it came to Austin Gatt regarding Arriva shortcomings conveniently ignoring realities like the fact that it took his stamina to bring to fruition the reform in itself in the first place. In all fairness, however, the achievements of this Administration far outweigh its failures as indicated in tangible results even acknowledged by the EU.

If one is to be impartial in judgement one has to admit that in the face of all the difficulties encountered, under the quality leadership of Lawrence Gonzi, Malta is doing well in what matters most for the people; such as the employment rate and landscaped open spaces for families and people from all age groups with different interests and needs. This is a guarantee that speaks for itself, the same as the building of the new Parliament which is being criticised ad nauseam by Labour when the whole project by Renzo Piano is also in the national interest from various aspects including tourism with all its economic ripple effects.

In a few months’ time, the people will have the opportunity to consolidate what has been wisely achieved or risk losing what has been gained, against all odds, with the likely pretext that “the previous Nationalist Administration accounts for any probable failures”.