In the second of a two-part feature Anthony Manduca lists some of the comments and controversial statements made to The Sunday Times of Malta in 2018.

"The European Union can introduce laws on plastics and litter, we can end roaming, even reform agriculture, but when its comes to migration prime ministers remain stuck"

- Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola, June 24

"I am like Simon the Cyrene, helping the Archbishop carry his cross"

- Newly-appointed Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi, July 1.

"They say it’s better to die than to go back to Libya. They [migrants] come from detention camps, where they don’t give them food or water, they beat them, they rape the women"

- Claus-Peter Reisch, captain of the migrant rescue vessel Lifeline, July 8.

"Paceville is not a safe place. Parents are continuously taking risks when they allow their children to go to Paceville"

- St Julian’s mayor Guido Dalli speaking in the aftermath of the murder of entertainment mogul Hugo Chetcuti, July 22

"The PN finds itself between a rock and a hard place"

- Former Nationalist Cabinet Minister Louis Galea describing the turmoil engulfing his party after PN leader Adrian Delia asked Simon Busuttil to suspend himself from the parliamentary group after the Egrant inquiry conclusions were published, July 29.

"If the [PN] leadership wants to do its duty by the country, it needs to re-introduce the values of George Borg Olivier, Eddie Fenech Adami, Laurence Gonzi and Simon Busuttil, who all gave the PN an identity with which I and people like me were comfortable"

- Lawyer and rule of law activist Andrew Borg Cardona, July 29.

"If the Prime Minister celebrated the fact that he was not the owner of a secret Panama company, he was at the same time condemning the owners of Tillgate and Hearnville"

- Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia commenting in the aftermath of the publication of the conclusions of the Egrant magisterial inquiry, August 5.

"You don’t find an answer to something as complex as this by Tweeting. This is not how these things are done"

- Former Labour Foreign Minister George Vella reacting to a series of social media exchanges between Maltese and Italian politicians over who should be responsible for migrants rescued at sea, September 2.

"Joseph Muscat is not what he portrayed himself to be"

- Democratic Party MP Godfrey Farrugia speaking about how Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not live up to what he had promised before the 2013 elections, September 23.

"I think President Trump has a very different style and a very different personality. Some people don’t like it, some people do. But I think the overall message of America is still positive and strong because it is not dependent on any one person"

- Outgoing US Ambassador G. Kathleen Hill speaking on the Trump presidency, September 30.

"The voice of reason and uncompromised reporting of facts was silenced. The country’s conscience was murdered. The country’s reality check was erased"

- Democratic Party MP Marlene Farrugia speaking on the first anniversary of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, October 14.

"If you want to create growth by attracting some of the darkest players in the global economy and global underworld, then you need women like Daphne. You need investigative journalists digging into this, holding the powerful to account, bringing the truth to the public"

- Author Naomi Klein paying tribute to slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia at her ‘memorial’ in Valletta, November 11.

"Who will dare say that Joseph Muscat is a part-time Prime Minister? Let us cut this crap"

- Archbishop Charles Scicluna responding to criticism that he has become a ‘part-time’ Archbishop due to his overseas commitments, December 23.

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