Allow me to refer to comments made recently by former finance minister George Bonello Dupuis who had this to say about Franco Debono MP: “Who does he think he is?” And, as if that were not enough, for good measure, when passing a comment about former MP Josie Muscat, he went on to say: “We kicked him out, even though he was a kingpin in Zabbar…”

By saying that, coming from a politician who, like myself, hailed from a political formation, which always prided itself that no one should be thrown away (hadd m’hu ghar-rimi), these phrases, in addition to being highly offensive and showing a singular lack of diplomacy and tact, seemed to me to be most ironic, if not a contradiction in terms.

Mr Bonello Dupuis need not have emptily boasted of having “kicked people out” since this was the fate which befell him when, after having served as finance minister for nine consecutive years, he was removed from this post by Dr Eddie Fenech Adami who then chose John Dalli as his successor at the helm of the finance ministry. By the same argument, therefore, can one tell him that he was unceremoniously “kicked out” of office by Dr Fenech Adami?

One need not, of course, necessarily agree with the speeches and/or actions of “distgruntled” Nationalist MPs, but one should always esteem them as persons since both the Nationalist Party and the country needs them.

However, keeping this in mind, one should always show courtesy and respect to party leader Dr Lawrence Gonzi, for the simple reason that he deserves it.

Edward Torpiano

FLORIANA