Those who were not there and maybe even those who were there have no idea how bad and ugly the end of Wednesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives looked to those who were watching.

Thanks to a mobile held by someone on the Opposition side we saw the explosion of anger at the vote which denied the public inquiry as demanded by Mrs Sofia, poor Jean Paul’s mother.

The handful of citizens in what is wrongly called the Strangers’ Gallery collectively blew up. They do not seem to be involved with political parties and their expression of outrage seemed completely genuine. They could not understand why the government resisted the idea of a public inquiry unless, they concluded, the government wanted to shield its friends and contractors.

The new House is shaped like a bell-like well and the MPs sit at desks down below overlooked by the guests or ‘strangers’. While the guests railed and shouted their anger, the MPs on the government side sat quietly, playing with their mobiles or pointlessly rearranging the papers on their desks, avoiding any eye contact with the guests above, thus enraging them more. Their job had been done.

This was riveting stuff and made you play it over and over again. It was the defeat of Robert Abela. He could not run and when he left the House, some ran behind the car shouting abuse.

Obviously, we saw nothing of this on Anglu Farrugia’s sanitised television channel. And many of the news services just gave the outcome of the vote without in any way describing what those who saw the video could see for themselves. (The scene can still be found on many sites).

In a word, the scene was a very ugly one and somehow had eluded the gate-keepers and made it to Joe Public. As should be the duty of the media unless it is hamstrung, as is the case here.

The defeat for Robert Abela was so real that he was forced to call upon a friendly journalist who could be counted upon not to ask awkward questions and not to challenge any playing around with the truth.

This did not work either. The shock was immense and people sympathised with Mrs Sofia. And continue to do so, regardless of the rights and wrongs of the matter.

Other more experienced persons have taken issue with Robert Abela and his explanation why a public inquiry cannot be held (because it would set a precedent and would have to be done every time an accident happens).

The overall impression that the average person gets is that the mother outplayed him at every turn. He found her wherever he turned. She was outside Parliament most days and even found time to meet people at City Gate. For a politician who lives by spin, he lost 10-nil. His inexperience shows. That’s what you get with unelected politicians.

He then compounded his mistakes by hosting a symphonic concert at the former inquisitor’ summer resort at Girgenti, a two-fingered salute to the mother and by extension to all seeking justice after an accidental death.

Robert Abela proved to be insensitive not just to the memory of Jean Paul and his grieving mother but to all in similar circumstances.

The allegations then of long-standing links with criminal developers are a time-bomb ticking away. As is granting land to a political crony who has already grabbed the land.

Maybe he will still buy his way with a cheque or two but there are many now who have given up on him. And many are from his side.

 

Why do we still honour such people?

Fortunately I came across this after last Sunday and so did not disturb the festa atmosphere of the good people of Stuart Street in Gzira.

This street is named for Sir Patrick Stuart who was an avowed puritan and who unwisely interfered with the Carnival celebrations. Great anger was the result and he was removed. Yet a street commemorates him. As other streets in that area of Gzira commemorate other governors.

I am basing these remarks on research carried out by Ruzar Briffa, the poet.

Yet no street commemorates Stuart’s successor, Richard More O’Ferrall, maybe because of the endemic corruption he uncovered. He left Malta after three years, a sad, tired and disappointed man.

 

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