I find it hard to follow the logic or find a motive for the stance taken by Franco Debono with regard to the motion against Minister Austin Gatt, responsible for public transport. Failing the granting of a free vote, the adopted practice is that party views are to be respected.

It seems to me that Dr Debono’s reason for detaching himself from the party directives was for him a matter of principle. That may be so and everyone has a right to his opinion. However, when this is the case one has to weigh the importance of the subject matter, the consequences involved and all concomitant factors. I have learned from experience that going by the book is not always conducive to getting best results in favour of the person you are representing. There comes a time when giving up a part of your rights produces the best results.

I mean this, of course, when there are no important principles at stake. Sometimes it may be a moot question how important the principle in question is, and when this arises individuals may have different views.

This is indeed the problem when trying to evaluate the logic or find a motive behind a person’s decision. In such a complex situation as reorganising our public transport from its roots, I fail to see how anyone could come to the conclusion that as a matter of principle the man responsible handled the matter in such an outrageous manner that he ought to be axed.

Public transport reorganisation was one of the various hot seats which Minister Gatt occupied and directed with acceptable and successful solutions. In the circumstances I can only respect the opinion of Dr Debono because he has a right to it. However, as an accomplished lawyer, he should have considered that just by abstaining he is only presenting half-baked views, having expressed his determination in the face of explicit or implicit directives from Cabinet.

As he has declared all along that he still holds and respects the views of his party, I would have considered a resignation as the most honourable, logical and credible solution, and the best way to respect the views of the persons who voted him into Parliament.

When all is said and done I have a gut feeling (no metaphor intended) “Hosanna” will be the cry in favour of Transport Minister Gatt.