If ever there was a great show of how the Nationalist Party works hard at democracy being non-existent during their reign of power, this was displayed on Thursday 20 September when Minister Austin Gatt was supposed to consult with local councils on the Grand Harbour project at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

Present for the “intriguing consultation” were mayors, deputy mayors and councillors of Valletta, Floriana and Cospicua. Now it’s a well-known fact that during a serious discussion with the public, the media are asked to leave when the “audience” is intent on asking questions. That is as normal as could be.

This, though, was no formal discussion by Dr Austin Gatt. This was a consultation and to be precise, in every dictionary that exists, consultation means seeking information or giving advice, in this case from the councillors who were present.

What actually happened though? As soon as Dr Gatt had his say and showed us numerable slides of this project, the media was asked to leave when it came to consulting with those present. This, then, is democracy.

This is what is meant by

“consultation”. This then was a magnificent form of contact between a minister and local council.

Apparently Dr Gatt has no idea of what consultation is all about and as minority leader of the Malta Labour Party council in Valletta, I would be eternally grateful if I am not invited to what he terms as consultation meetings.

Minister or not, I will not pay heed to what he has to say if during such meetings, I am not allowed to speak my mind.

Valerie Borg

Valletta