Before responding to Victor Laiviera (TMID, 26 November) and Joseph A. Xerri (TMID, 27 November) there is something I have to say regarding Leo Brincat's article (TMID, 27 November). The opposition's spokesman for foreign affairs failed to see one major difference between the Malta Labour Party and the Australian counterpart. Labour in Australia have a young and new leader that managed to portray himself as the alternative to an aging Prime Minister who refused to make way for a younger person to take over at the helm.
In Malta the situation is completely different. We have a young, dynamic and new Prime Minister who is being challenged by somebody who is much older; plus Labour's leader lost two consecutive general elections and a national referendum. A Labour leader, who resigned and withdrew his resignation in a matter of days. Alfred Sant is behaving just like Australia's Howard, knowing that his sell by date is up but refuses to accept it. Yes, Mr Brincat, there is an Australian lesson, but not for Dr Gonzi, as you implied, but to Alfred Sant. Mr Brincat, you better start the ball rolling and be pro-active… which horse will you be backing for your party's leadership?
Now it's Mr Xerri's and Mr Laiviera's turn.
Mr Xerri backed down and retreated to a corner. He refused to accept my challenge to prove that in the 1940s the Nationalist Party was against women being given the right to vote. He stated that the British government made various concessions when granting various constitutions to Malta, due to political groups, parties and other associations and individuals. Well then, obviously the British government did not heed the Nationalist Party's cry for Dominium Status (Independence) when they granted the 1947 constitution.
However, Westminster had to succumb to the 1963 Nationalist government's demand for our country's independence. Dear Mr Xerri, I stick to my guns… as stated in my contribution to this newspaper on 2 November: "It was not a Labour government that gave women the right to vote". Hence his two interventions (TMID, 7 and 27 November) are meaningless. If historical merit is to be given then let's be fair stick to facts. Sir Paul Boffa did propose that the 1947 constitution should give women the right to vote. But then, Dr Boffa joined two Nationalist Party led coalitions between 1951 and 1955. We must not forget that he was voted out of the Labour Party and that gave the Nationalist phoenix the opportunity to rise from its ashes.
Mr Laiviera seams to be more stubborn. He took advantage of my typing error in my letter dated 9 November. I meant to write "This means that the Council of Government and (not 'or') the Maltese National Assembly, as some preferred to call it, had no teeth and actually no true national representation." He actually confirmed my statement in his letter dated 6 November where he stated: "And that this Assembly was largely dominated by a “Labour Front” made up of delegates from the Labour Party, the GWU and other progressive elements".
Come now, Mr Laiviera, in my letter of 9 November I only dedicated two paragraphs to the fact that it was not a Labour government that gave women the right to vote. The other seven paragraphs were dedicated to Malta's present situation. How come you had nothing to say about the history that's in the making?
I promise you Mr Laiviera that the Nationalist government will keep its word. Salary increases, the income tax reductions, the increase in children's allowance, the pensioners benefits will all happen within the next 31 days or so. I did tell you that the migration to Mater Dei hospital will be completed by the end of November. I mentioned that HSBC have expanded their operations here… that Lufthansa will be employing more people here… that SmartCity is also here… that the "Pharmacy of your choice" is here… that new schools have been opened here… that employment is at its highest and unemployment is at its lowest.
And you had nothing to say about all this. I did also declare that this Nationalist government is taking us into the eurozone on 1 January. Again you had nothing to say about this, but then I forgive you, you might have lost the built-in battery of your currency converter. I mentioned in some detail Labour's failings, shortcomings, inefficiencies and u-turns, but again you had nothing to say.
Hence I consider the "Women's right to vote" issue closed. Mind you, I will keep on writing to promote what's best for Malta. I will continue to advocate the Nationalist cause, which since 1880 upheld above all else, the family and our beloved nation. The overall majority of the electorate, male and female, will ensure that Malta will remain in the Nationalist Party's safe hands in 2008 and beyond. Long may Malta's prosperity, under Gonzi's guidance, endure.
John Saliba
Cape Town
South Africa