I refer to Austin Sammut's contribution Labour Leads In A Way... (February 9).

In his wisdom Dr Sammut decided that my contribution to the PL is fuelled by being one of the "disgruntled Nationalists who failed where they wanted succeed". I am not surprised that it does not occur to him that there are individuals who are motivated to do something simply because they believe in what they do - not by personal disgruntlement and grudges.

The readers and Dr Sammut, whom I only know through the media, and who only knows me likewise, might wish to note two things about his surprising knowledge of my inner thoughts and feelings, past and present.

1. I am not, and have never been, a "disgruntled Nationalist". In fact, thank God, I am not "disgruntled" at all - at anything or anyone - certainly not for any personal failures. Nor am I a Nationalist.

But a disgruntled citizen, I am. As are the majority of the Maltese, who are lumped with an incompetent and arrogant party in government and a country that is going to the dogs. My consolation is that, like the majority of the electorate, I have not voted this government into power, and so my disgruntlement is by far less than that of honest citizens who believed the party who promised them the moon and is now delivering a piece of cheese... if at all. I am far less disgruntled than those party aficionados who expected their own party in government to shower them with appointments and promotions, but did not.

I am a Laburista, and like all Laburisti, and all the Nationalists outside the inner circle, I do not feature on the radar of this government. So, no expectations, no disgruntlement. Easy!

2. Like each and every human being, I have had my share of failures in life but none of these have had to do with my public persona or public office - which is what should concern the public.

If Dr Sammut was referring to my "failure" to get elected to the EP, I can only say that my personal disappointment was by far overshadowed by the unprecedented huge win of my party at these elections, a win to which I am proud to have contributed and which left me far from disgruntled.

Those who know me well know that my principles are not negotiable. I discharged my public duties to the best of my abilities, with honesty and integrity - facts which have earned me the respect of those who matter. This is what success is.

What I also know is that I have never experienced the failure of having been asked to vacate any public post I was appointed to! In fact, I wonder if, when Dr Sammut was composing the phrase "disgruntled Nationalists who have failed where they wanted to succeed", he was listening to, and so inspired by, Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror?

This brings me to Dr Sammut's statement that he is not "inspired" by me. That's ok! No problem! I would just like him to know that inspiring him never featured in my ambitions and aspirations... so I will sleep easy at night. But should I, one day, manage to inspire him, I am sure that the unbiased, politically objective Dr Sammut will write in to let everyone know. Something tells me not to hold my breath!