Three cheers for the Honourable Minister of Rural Affairs for his most intelligent question in Parliament, directed to the Opposition, about the re-opening of the Magic Kiosk, should the PL win the next general election in 2013.

Yes, the Magic Kiosk was famous and popular with one and all. Maybe that was what displeased the said Minister and his ilk. And, maybe that was why he ordered its dismantling over a weekend.

During those three decades, the government collected two half-yearly rents, VAT, licence fees and numerous levies (which are imposed frequently nowadays), to support all kinds of activities and of course fellow workers. Not to mention Prime Minister’s Gonzi’s now customary Sunday phrase of “safeguarding employment”. Hundreds were employed in those three decades.

Perhaps the PL spokesman was spot-on when he said Minister Pullicino has a fertile (creative) imagination. Or is it that the Honourable Minister had some hidden agenda up his sleeve?

And of course, the Sliema front was crying out for an open space, as in central Valletta. As if there was any need for such a space in the same location where there is a large parking area, a sizeable garden and the widest promenade that stretches for miles along the seafront.

Minister Pullicino seemed to be shying away from his guilt, and forcing the PL to state whether it would allow the owner to re-open for business. One might ask whether the previous owner was offered any form of compensation and a right to re-open another business elsewhere. Were the Valletta shop owners, who were forced to move to make way for the very expensive Piano project, offered an alternative place or compensation? Were not the bus owners offered some form of compensation too? Drydocks workers: were they not offered and given some form of early retirement compensation too? Were not Air Malta employees, or any other government entity employees for that matter, offered and given early retirement compensation too? Why was the owner of the Magic Kiosk discriminated against and never given the chance to downsize his leased space by half? This would have resulted in a much more fruitful outcome for the government, workers and all.

Or is it that this tenant is not considered to have rights like any other Maltese citizen and a case of abusive discrimination? Will this government continue transforming other spaces leased by the Lands Department and occupied by similar catering establishments into public urban areas for people to enjoy? Was Minister George Pullicino irked by the fact that the family that owned the Magic Kiosk were the constituents who were friendly with his fellow backbencher and colleague in Parliament, who incidentally obtains more votes than him on the same district?

These are the questions our sweet and pompous Minister should have asked himself, instead of wasting Parliament’s time and our money.

Josette Spiteri