It was the opportunity of a lifetime and one I wouldn’t have missed for the world. My visit to Brussels between 7 and 10 April was a novelty because it was not a holiday in the real sense of the word but a sight of the political arena the Nationalist Party shoved us into.

Together with many distinguished Labour Party officials and followers, we were hosted by none other than MEPs Joseph Muscat and Louis Grech, who were hospitable from the beginning to the end of our visit.

I must admit that Brussels impressed me. Having seen most of Europe, I am not ashamed to say that Brussels felt like home away from home. True, the Belgians are not the most friendly people I’ve ever met, but the hotels are fabulous, the food excellent, the place as clean as a new pin and they have grand monuments, churches and gardens.

The only flaw in that country was the horrendous sight of a monstrous black building called Dar Malta, the one the Nationalist Party paid Lm10 million for. My God, what an ugly sight. If they offered it to me for free, I would refuse it without a qualm.

Inside the European Parliament itself was altogether different. Here the building invited one to step inside, where the security is professional in the extreme.

Louis Grech and Joseph Muscat showed us where the parliamentary debates are held and told how their job requires them to work for three weeks straight with only one week for themselves, though quite often even during that week they were often told to fly to Strasbourg for a conference taking place there.

It was marvellous to note that there were over 200 socialist MEPs, and although their plans for their country differed, the principle was the same. Many a time I dreamt how wonderful it is to be an MEP with a huge paycheque plus the perks that go with it.

I changed my views. Family life is practically zilch, you hardly have enough time to read a book and if you had a hobby, you might just as well forget all about it. Being an MEP means you are nothing else. Although there was not much time to meet John Attard Montaldo, I have no doubt that the three of them get on well and work hard in the interests of Malta and the Maltese.

As I write this, I know that on Brussels doorstep is the ratification of the European Constitutional Treaty and many a genius has been writing in newspapers, insisting on how this should be handled. Though it is indeed a subject that should be handled with care, I have no doubt that the internal discussion taking place in the “glasshouse” will direct Louis Grech, Joseph Muscat and John Attard Montaldo to do the right thing for Malta and the Maltese.

I know that through analysing the situation, various comments from party candidates, Labour Party parliamentarians and delegates, the outcome will be one that will bene-fit the Maltese. Let us heed not what Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici has to say. He is not the “gladiator” in that political arena in Brussels but a spectator who for some reason seems to be hell bent on criticising the position the Labour Party has chosen regarding the EU.

What did he expect the Labour Party to do, once the people opted for the EU two years ago? Is it not the will of the majority that finally turns up trumps or should we have degraded the name of democracy by refusing to listen to the voice of the people?

Indeed, with Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, you just cannot get it right. To be fair, though, he is a distinguished, sensible and clever gentleman, and I wish he had decided to turn to other matters instead of delving deep into Labour Party matters.

If his intentions are to crucify the Labour Party by imposing his ideas on to us, I rather wish he would take a very long walk and forget about the MLP. Lest the people be misled by Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s writings, I beg them to heed the Labour Party and our three MEPs.

We have had three successful victories in less than a year. Let us not miss the boat in three years’ time.

Valerie Borg

MLP Councillor

VALLETTA