I have several letters published in these columns and elsewhere and my greatest disappointment is that as a rule these letters are simply ... ignored. Why? Let the readers answer that question.

But last week there was a very rare exception. A short letter which appeared in these columns featured prominently in the Labour media! That is, at least, what I have been told.

In that letter I criticised, as I have been doing these last years, the members of the local Nationalist Party committee whose apathy and indifference are certainly lowering the morale of the common supporter. And I also criticised the high party officials for their couldn’t careless attitude vis-à-vis this situation. Following that letter I have become the toast of the town among Labour supporters!

If there is one single person in Malta who, in his wildest of dreams, thinks that that letter was written as a result of my drifting away from the Nationalist Party, then he is grossly mistaken. In fact, that letter was prompted by my intense fear of a Labour victory at the polls.

Unfortunately I am old enough to have experienced 16 long years of socialist reign of terror, in the real sense of the word. Sixteen years when our democracy was stored in very deep-freeze. Sixteen whole years of organised criminality and organised violence. Sixteen whole years when the forces of order protected the criminals and not the victim. Sixteen long years when we all had concrete doubts about the administration of justice. Judges were suspended, transferred, threatened and physically assaulted. These obscenities are well documented and I challenge anyone to deny one single word. The pity is that those who are under 35 years will think that I am joking. I am not!

It is equally hard to believe that for so many long years we had no colour TV sets, no video players/recorders, no electronic equipment of any sort. Our headquarters were partially destroyed, fascist style, in search of cordless telephones! Who would imagine today having a group of criminals, protected by the forces of order, driving round the island and burning all Malta Labour Party clubs? Or destroying the residence of Dr Alfred Sant and assaulting his family? Or destroying and razing to the ground the freedom press? Imagine destroying the Curia exactly in front of the Police General Headquarters. Can you imagine today having a brigadier entering Parliament and insulting the Opposition Leader who, incidentally, had the absolute majority behind him?

The list is endless. There is simply no comparison between the parties. Have a good look around you and you will have to admit that we have never ever had it so good. Never!

And that is why the apathy that has gripped the Mosta local National Party committee is sending icy shivers down my spine. There is so much to lose and absolutely nothing to gain.

The Labour media have my permission to quote this letter freely.

Giov. DeMartino

Mosta