“Why should the government co-operate with the NGOs?” Dr Gonzi asks (TMIS, 25 June).

The simple answer is that it has a responsibility to do so and, judging by the way Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and Din l-Art Helwa are relieving the government of the effort and expense of restoring so many heritage properties, it is the government that needs them, not the other way round. Sadly, further cooperation such as that seen at the sham Sustainability Conference, often turns out to be no more than sickening lip service, which is an insult to committed environmentalists.

This government's co-operation (some might say collusion) has been with the developers, their political allies and the “qadissin” in their murky realms of influence. I think I am right in saying that in a recent interview the Prime Minister gave to a top journalist, not a single word was said about the environment. In another interview in Din l'Art Helwa's journal Vigilo, the previous Prime Minister deplored the vandalism at Mnajdra while saying not a word about the vandalism being wrought all over our islands by the developers.

Rather than continuing to be obsessed about Dr Claire Bonello's placard, the government would do well to take note of the degree of exasperation with their diminishing quality of life, which has driven their so-called “upper and middle class” Nationalist Party supporters to take to the streets in protest, accompanied by farmers who are the last people to raise their heads as a rule. Even newspapers that were traditionally close allies of this government are now openly criticising its performance. This alone should cause deep soul-searching in the close circles at the Palace. The whole point of the June Protest Rally was to bring all the NGOs together – and it did! Surely the last thing any of us want is for our government to adopt the notorious “Divide and Rule” policies of our former colonial masters.

In any case, it need hardly be said that we are a democracy and that anyone can say anything they like on a placard, provided it does not incite violence. Yes, free speech can present problems at times but remember what Voltaire is reputed to have said: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Helen Caruana Galizia

BIRZEBBUGA