The “unity” in the local council in Valletta leaves very little to be desired. Just a few days ago I had the “misfortune” to be the only Labour councillor during the Good Friday procession starting from St Ursula Street going on to Merchant Street and coming to an end in St Paul’s Street in Valletta.

Present were the mayor, the deputy mayor, another councillor from the Nationalist Party and yours truly. The mayor who harped on about the necessity for silence during the stated procession and who should have led by example was the first person who talked non-stop to his colleagues every time we came to a standstill.

Of course, there is no doubt that all of us, including myself, should have refrained from speaking and kept on walking straight as ramrods but since this did not happen, I would have expected them to include me in their conversation.

The obvious reason is that I am excluded from their conversations because I happen to be someone called the “adversary”. Since I never was partial to being ignored and never did proclaim myself to be a saint, I retaliated by giving them the cold shoulder, turning sideways and giving them a full view of my back.

All this during something as sacred as a Good Friday procession. Unity in the local council of Valletta? Ha, makes one want to throw up. The only highlight of the evening, besides the glorious statues exhibited during the procession, was the presence of Dom Mintoff with his eternal companion Peter Borg Hampton. In spite of the trouble Dom Mintoff caused the Labour Party during 1996 and 1998, Dom Mintoff was, is and will always be an icon for the worker’s party.

It was indeed a treat seeing him there and smiling my way. As for the three other Valletta councillors who accompanied the procession, I suggest they take a course in good manners and treat their adversaries with respect. If this is the way they treat the opposition during something as godly as a procession meant to glorify the name of the Lord, I wonder what’s in store for Labour councillors during our council meetings.

One thing’s for sure – if it’s a “war” of words they want, they are going to get it from me.

The new local council has not been performing as yet but the old one ended with a rift between us.

Peace, friendship, unity – just words in a dictionary book. The reality is far far different. Good Friday’s procession was sheer proof of things to come.

Indeed the Nationalists should learn a few manners before contemplating taking an oath to serve their locality well.

Valerie Borg

VALLETTA