On reading Stephen Calleja’s bit in defence (?) of what he wrote about Ms Vella (“Where’s the halo, Astrid?” TMIS, 19 July), I must admit that I was very surprised to hear that an MCP such as he (still) has a wife – if I were married to him and he wrote of me in that vein I would be long gone to greener pastures, or he would be in the grave having succumbed to my purposely poisonous cooking – I do however realise that divorce in Malta is rather difficult unless you have money and the right connections, so perhaps his wife has no choice. My description of him as “barbaric” obviously needs to be re-accessed – downwards – Hagar the Horrible, on a good day, would not even come close. The rest of the names that he was called appear to fit very well.

Judging by his comments, I assume that he has never met Astrid personally – his loss, not hers. Has it never occurred to him that she is always “politically” (and legally) correct in her statements and doesn’t resort to inaccurate, unsubstantiated, purely bitchy, “under-the-belt” comments like one of his fellow female columnists, or himself, for that matter? If not, then I suggest that he re-reads her various statements issued over the past few years. Her comments regarding Mr Musumeci have since proved to be correct.

I totally support her not making comments about the roofless design of a certain Mr Piano, who was heard to comment that weather was not a problem in the case of international productions because the weather forecasts were so accurate nowadays, and anyway, venues and casts could be changed at short notice according to the weather. So, if he expects serious comments to be made about the designs of such an ignoramus then perhaps he should be praying to the likes of Angelik, whoever he is, himself.

What a pity Malta doesn’t have fewer people of Mr Calleja’s ilk and more people who are interested in the environment and who actually are prepared to do something about it!

Mr Calleja, all I can say in conclusion is that, although I am 100 per cent for freedom of speech, I am exceptionally disappointed that someone of your inferior intellect has been given space in a newspaper of this calibre.

Lesley Kreupl

GHARB