You witness it all there, on the imposing, though apparently decaying, façade of our beautiful Presidential Palace: the various marble plaques concisely illustrating Malta’s recent history.

These plaques give unto the Palace Square in its ignominious state. Shabby, dirty and smelly, the palace square could not be a better depiction of our country’s state of affairs, with our politicians not really interested in the well being of our Republic, but merely in their hypocritical flirting with one another to hold on to their innumerable privileges and damn our island state.

It is a shame that the central place for ceremonial celebrations in our country should be potted all over with broken, ugly tiles; a historic reminder of British colonialism being allowed to crumble slowly; with the sight and smell of horses’ gratuitous emissions and a generally depressing impression that leads to the inevitable conclusion that there is no one in enforceable authority to remedy this laissez-faire attitude in those who are meant to instil pride and love for our country: anyone uttering religio et patria? – my watchful foot!

The time has long come for our two major political parties to get off Malta’s political stage and let the amateurs show the professionals how a country could and should be run!

Emmy D. BEZZINA

ALPHA Liberal Democrats VALLETTA