It is with great regret that I heard the statement issued by Marie Louise Coleiro Preca that she will not be contesting the next general election with the Labour Party. It appears that the reasons behind this sad decision were the unnecessary gossip and threats addressed to her and her family by unscrupulous persons. Notwithstanding the many words that Malta is a modern country, some stupid fellows have not yet learned that in such cases it is the argument that should be attacked and not the person concerned.

I have known Marie Louise personally for many years. She is a woman of sound principles. The doors of her offices are always open to anybody, day and night, even for those people who do not reside in her district. 

I worked with her for many years and under three different party leaders: Dom Mintoff, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Alfred Sant. Nobody should have been surprised that she will stick hard to her principles. After all, the party leader and Opposition Leader, Joseph Muscat, before the referendum had publicly stated and informed in writing all members of the party that he was allowing a free vote to all on the issue of divorce.

At the outset one expects the Labour Party to issue a statement condemning such uncalled for misbehaviour and to disassociate itself from all such insults and threats as addressed to Marie Louise. I hope this would have already been done when this correspondence is published.

In these difficult times for Marie Louise, I would like to encourage her, telling her not to give up. I would also like to tell her: Reconsider well your decision for a second and third time. Not because you need Parliament, or else because if you are not in Parliament you would in anyway be missing something extraordinary, but for Malta’s sake, for whom you have fought out during the last years to see it being rebuilt, so that this small country will be more kind and compassionate towards our poor people, those who suffer, the emarginated, and the working class in general.

As she can well see, her work has not come to an end yet. She still has many years to work for her people and country.

Joe Masini

Victoria

(Joe Masini is a former District Secretary and a former election Manager for the Labour Party in Gozo. He sat on the Executive Council of the Labour Party between1999 to 2003)