A certain Victor Laviera (Numerical accident, TMID, 18 March) seems ignorant of the actual meaning of the word arrogance.
He will do well to remember that Nationalist government ministers were regularly deemed arrogant by Labour in any decision taken for the good of the country during the last legislature; however with typical MLP mentality he unpleasantly advocates what Lawrence Gonzi’s team has to do because of the wafer thin majority.
That is nothing but sheer arrogance, even if one has to make allowance for the fact that the MLP followers are still reeling from the third consecutive defeat, when they had expected a massive vote for a change. Luckily for Malta, gonzipn hit a “numerical accident”!
Conveniently, Mr Laviera never mentioned Labour’s arrogance when in 1981 his favourite party earned more seats than the PN because of blatant gerrymandering of the districts. The perverse result meant that with only 49 per cent votes against the Nationalists’ absolute majority of 51 per cent (4,123 more votes than the MLP), the Maltese citizens had to bear the brunt of several decisions which made life unbearable.
Who mentioned the vindictive transfers, not a penny increase in wages, the system of bulk buying and other hardships?
Mintoff’s regime with a shocking minority of votes governed for five years. Why shouldn’t the PN with a plus of 1,580 votes be able do the same? Are we to expect puerile attempts to disrupt the government’s intentions of carrying out its political manifesto which does not include any misprints and repetitions?
His reference to Minister Austin Gatt is bizarre. “New Labour” with the current caretaker leader emphasising the need for change should start portraying a different image and thank Minister Gatt for creating thousands of new jobs and for having attracted more than a billion euros in a rather limited period.
Governing the country means that the “us” and “them” culture has to be ignored and eventually totally forgotten. Cooperation from all quarters is certainly needed; it must not be only earned but also offered in the interest of the country.
However this hardly means that, as Mr Laviera implied that the Labourites have certain ace cards up their sleeves and have to create difficulties such as in “pairing” arrangements and appointments of the more sensitive positions. Isn’t this sheer arrogance? After all, who is governing the country?
What’s Labour newly found strength when it is still struggling to rise from the ashes because of the third consecutive defeat, brought about by what Mr Laviera termed as “numerical accident”?
Wouldn’t he be still drinking bottles of bubbly had his MLP earned a “numerical accident” of 0.5 per cent majority?
Mr Laviera conveniently ignored Labour’s general secretary declaration in a pre-election gathering when he most arrogantly told them “that ours will be a Labour government for Labourites”.
On the contrary, the party in government aims at unity and a sense of direction to all Maltese of whichever political colour and to reach out to all that is positive and which aims at the improvement of the Maltese standard of living.
That is what gonzipn will eventually achieve.
Meanwhile the MLP should concentrate on making the right choice of a new leader who would be committed to make the right contribution to the country.
TONY FORMOSA
Pietà