The monthly opinion polls should be published today, thus marking the end of summer and the resumption of political life (not that it ever goes away).

If one looks closely one could already see signs that the leaders already know the results and are already trying to pre-empt whatever bad is in the polls.

At least that is how I interpret Robert Abela hurrying back from Greek waters and plunging into massive activism.

Some things he can get right; other things explode in his hands such as the inane suggestions that people freeze their waste; and some things he seems to find particularly intractable, such as a Cabinet reshuffle, which would be particularly handy at the beginning of the season.

Whispers from the top speak of divisions and cracks developing right through the party with Abela already being relegated to being one of the section leaders rather than the party leader.

The same might be said about the counterpart, the Opposition, who many are now giving up on.

We are now beyond the middle of this legislature and the first hurdles, the European Parliament election and that of the local councils, are round the corner.

The issues have already begun to the delineated.

The government’s record, or, if you like, non-record – the chaos at the height of summer with savage power cuts, the other chaos as roads are pulled up, together with the widespread construction with all it engenders.

Then there is the state of our economy which according to Joseph Muscat has never been better but that’s not counting the massive public debt at over €9,400 million.

And of course the awful consequences of Muscat’s trick to achieve painless growth – open wide the doors and let everybody in.

And still you get people who blame the EU and who still regret Muscat was forced out.

Trimming his sails even the prime minister has been forced to introduce a correction of sorts, though one still has to see if facts follow the statements.

Otherwise most of the ministers do not seem affected and they continue to spend like there’s no tomorrow. One wonders if we still have a minister of finance and if he’s earning his keep.

Then there’s the problem outlined by the bishop of Gozo – of people employed who never turn up to work. Contrary to what some might think, this is not restricted to Gozo.

And lastly the scandalous splurging of money on extraordinary salaries and packages including and especially on Hollywood actors and persons.

There is, there should be a time of reckoning.

 

The priest who saved Dom Mintoff

The death while swimming of Fr Joe Inguanez robbed Malta of an original thinker.

I remember him in his Seminary days, where he was already vociferous making his points. Years later he teamed up Fr John Caruana, a similar type, and people have been saying that any time they got together the windows would have to be shut for fear the neighbours might have thought they were fighting, rather than have a discussion among friends.

Inguanez formed part of that group of priests who used to regularly meet at the Fawwara chapel. With the death of Turu Vella, their mentor, the group has been rather depleted. Times change and the accent today seems on what the present Pope has called priests still in love with granny’s lace, red mozzettas and the like.

The last time I met him, Joe told me how some years previously, he and another priest (I believe Gordon Refalo) were swimming at Delimara and a short distance away there was Dom Mintoff who, like Fr Joe, swam every day.

At some point Mintoff found himself in difficulties and was saved by the two priests. The story was hushed up for just imagine if the country came to know mighty Dom had been saved by two priests.

 

[email protected]