The pan and brush have been put away and whatever could have been swept under the carpet has been covered up. The furniture has been moved over it but the curtains hanging on the window are still the same and the scene has been set.

What is removed from people's mind, however, is another thing altogether.  In the way that many find it hard to sit down and watch TV in the evening after supper without having washed the dishes and cleared the kitchen.  It kind of nags you to know that the sink is full of dirty dishes, although they can conveniently be piled into the dish-washer but they still need to be tidied up.

Panama gang's election win does not aid our consciousness in forgetting the furtive walk from Pilatus bank to Ta' Xbiex seafront, or the pages and pages of revealed documents of reports from the FIAU and MFSA.   There is a long library to sift through in our mind.

There is a need therefore, for Dr Muscat to throw a bone to the crowd.  That bone is the new cause, the restoration of legitimacy, the call for unity and stability.  Being the first to raise the sentiment puts the Prime Minister in the advantage, allowing him to shift the responsibility now on the other party to respond with equal spirit. 

This is no more than a ploy and the new version of the previous chant of negativity. 

The public has been given a bone to fight over and the fight has already begun, well and truly.  Verbal arms have been taken up and the fighters are signing up with fervour and loyalty. 

The pathetic and shameful vitriol branded about recently does no one, least of all the Prime Minister, credit, as it casts a shadow on him.  In fact, it is the very spiteful words thrown about and the attitude to go with them that have cast Malta in the worst possible light more than anything else that was said by the accused MEPs.  Childish, churlish, irreverent, violent, irresponsible, weak and self-serving is what it all was. 

Let us begin in unity so, by condemning all together and all round, anything as divisive and harmful as what we experienced and continue to experience and reject it in all shape and form. 

Let us indeed see gestures of unity by respecting that nothing of what was meant to be presented in Parliament, with the many contracts that should have been debated and approved by the Representatives, actually was.  Go back and restore those contracts, without all the blackened paragraphs that were an insult to intelligence and show that there is nothing to hide and convince those that think otherwise, that they can look forward to positive benefits for Malta coming out of them. 

Go on to create a commission for good governance to examine all the favours and jobs given out illicitly just prior to the election and to make recommendations on how to tackle the commitment made in a way that is fair to the whole country and not just a group of it. Put an immediate stop to petty revengeful transfers.  That such a practice even prevails at this time in the course of our country's development is really sad.  What insecurity to take pleasure in such measures!  What is there to learn from such a practice?  That we should fear not voting Labour?  That next time we will think twice before using our democratic right to choose?  We, the Maltese, do not deserve to receive this treatment just because the majority chose a labour government.  When is enough, enough?  Is it not enough to have won with another significant majority of votes?  Where is the confidence so, if there is a need to constantly remind people that this is Labour?  Will we not recognise it if we do not feel threatened or in fear?  Will we perhaps mistake it for another party at the next election if it does not instil anger?  Is that the best prospect for the future and for unity?  Perhaps the word unity has a different meaning.  Something like obedience.  Let us all obey the Grandmaster of Castille and unity will prevail and stability will ensue. No more outbursts in Brussels, no more blogs and revelations.  Only fairy tales. 

Another commission can be set up to define in local terms, what is tax evasion, money laundering and illicit gain and where politically exposed persons fit into this concept.  Where do the established institutions fit in their role?  There is complete chaos right now and all roles have been reversed.  Having an early election was a complete waste of time if nothing is put right.

Are we too going to continue with the Police as just an accessory to crime?  Not only is there no red line, but no line at all.  It is a blur as to where government ends and Police begins.  If you want to bring unity begin by lifting all those files off the floor, pull them out of the drawers and man up and do the job instead of lounging back at a "fenkata".

Failing any of the above, there is nothing worth hearing other than to throw a bone to the crowd with which to play and chew.

Leaders need to pay attention to how they are leaving people out.  It is terribly discouraging to hear only biased speeches, where people feel they do not belong and tension grows.  Rather than feeling united, people feel alienated.

The Prime Minister faces a real challenge and should decide on who and how he will serve in the years ahead.  Prejudice and tribal rivalries should have no place in our culture.

While creating a fully inclusive community can be a challenge, taking steps toward it can be possible.  It is essential too, that anyone who feels offended, speaks out.  We should have the courage to say when we don't agree and when actions and words are making our life difficult.  We are still very far from gender equality but it is only when women begin to be heard that the courage to stand for our principles makes a difference. 

Keeping the status-quo is no longer an option and the first to affirm that should be the leader who has been entrusted with serving the whole nation and not just 55% of it.  The impediment is not having the will to do so.