As many might have noticed, I have migrated. And I will start off my new venture on a gay note - in many senses. The gay marriage Act. Meanwhile, the political party leaders on Monday launched their European Parliament electoral campaign with messages that do not seem gay at all, but are very interesting and indicative of the respective parties’ moods, or, perhaps, predicament. Not gay at all is the arrest (repeated) of Bird Life members by the ALE, who are supposed to be there to protect them and their feathered friends, but many of these policemen must have the killer instinct themselves. And very gay is yet another success for our water polo, with the national seniors and juniors winning two golds and one silver between them.

But let us start with the leading gay story; i.e. the passing of the gay marriage Act in Parliament last week (and I refuse to use “Civil Union”, since it is marriage, no less). And mind you I am in favour of civil unions, properly conducted and properly addressed. Civil unions between homosexuals and also between heterosexuals. Ever since my law student days we learnt about the unfair regime in terms of areas, such as maintenance, habitation and succession rights between people who have chosen (to put it lightly) to support each other. Could be any sex, and even siblings, for example. We have the institute known as “servigi”, where one is compensated for services rendered, but it’s not the same. An unmarried couple, homosexual or heterosexual, love each other and support each other. So why should they not have the same rights? As for adoption by gay couples, I will not go there and just leave you guessing where I stand on this. It’s not difficult. Mind you, it was a wonderfully gay party in St. George’s Square.

With regard to the  launching of the European parliament election campaigns, the respective PN and PL leaders totally ignored any EU issues and localised their arguments and, indeed, slogans – “Malta Ahjar” (a better Malta) and “Malta: Positive Energy” (whatever that means) respectively. The contest will be a test for all after one year of a Labour government. Have the government and Prime Minister performed and kept their electoral pledges? Has the PN regained its credibility under a new leadership structure? Joseph Muscat claims that the Labour Party is the underdog (backed by a majority of 36,000 votes!). Perhaps he is already preparing for a setback. Simon Busuttil will be happy with a third seat. To recoup 18,000 votes (because that is what it amounts to, to neutralise the 36,000 Labour majority of March 2013) would be unrealistic thinking. But certainly the yellow card that the Leader of the Opposition wants the electorate to serve the Prime Minister with is certainly on the cards.

Has the Government delivered? Are its voters happy; especially the switchers? Many are not. Many of its pledges have been implemented. But we still need to see the results. Let’s just take the reduction in water and electricity tariffs and the related part privatisation of Enemalta. Highly ambitious initiatives. Will they work? I suppose time will tell, though I am very sceptical. Adoptions by gay couples? What will be the result on the fabric of our society? Again time will tell. And what next? And then, of course, we have the false pledges of meritocracy and transparency, which have not even been implemented, let alone worked. And what about the Prime Minister and his Government being held by the throat by minority groups, such as hunters, building contractors and a host of select businessmen? These are all issues that the Maltese people will be considering when casting their vote an 24th May. If they do. And reason would have it that abstentions would largely be directed against the Government. Let us see how the campaign develops. Joseph Muscat is wise, cunning and wily, but after a year in office any person with an iota of intelligence anda reasoned mind can see through him.

I was shocked to read about ALE officers taking bird watch activists into custody just because they were filmed. These activists repeated breaches in the law. First of all members of the ALE got to the site one hour and twenty minutes after the report was filed – that’s efficiency. Then they insulted the bird watchers, before taking them into custody for some hours. How’s that for upholding law and order? Perhaps this is part of the Government’s pact with the hunting community?

And, finally, congratulations are in order to our national water polo teams, under the guidance of national coach Karl Izzo, ably assisted by assistant coach Anthony Farrugia. The junior team landed gold in the EU 8 Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic, while the senior team placed second in the Commonwealth Championships in Aberdeen and first in the EU 8 Nations Tournament in Limerick. Our water polo is sure going places!