I am a regular reader of your paper and the diversity of articles makes it an interesting read. They are mostly quite objective and it is only rarely that they tend to be unbalanced. Today (27 June), I came across the Comment on page 19, where Stephen Calleja touched on two hot points, namely the half-days in summer of government employees and the Malta Union of Teachers’ (MUT) president John Bencini, who is now chairman of Forum.

I had militated for trade unions for 28 years, both as a council member of the MUT, and as its representative for some years in the CMTU. During this time I had the honour to sit next to Mr Bencini. He acted in the best way he could.

His good constructive ideas were highly appreciated by the council. When he deemed it fit to leave the CMTU I am sure that he did so not for personal reasons but for the good of the union he represents. I still believe that it was a harsh decision and not an easy one. He is seen by some as a rebel with a cause but I am sure that time will prove him right.

As for the half-days mentioned in the article, are teachers to be included? What about the students on hot summer days? Will it be to relieve working parents and somewhere they can dump their offspring?

Yes, words come easier than real facts and solutions. Decisions are to be taken seriously and effectively rather than just for the sake of change.

Victor M. Abela

SLIEMA