Various members made keynote speeches that, however, do not send a crystal-clear message. Sitting on fences today, and playing a never ending waiting game, is not on. The fence can be found to be too weak for a heavy person. I do believe that the majority of the Maltese electorate still want and cherish a Nationalist led government. The people hate the politics of exclusion, and want to be integrated. The success of the administration in the wider issues, of which, the majority approve, must be translated down to the street. If this happens, then this party is set to lead the country again.

These three years have probably seen the worst scenario any prime minister would have wanted or dreamt about. All the worst possibilities have occurred. I do believe that Gonzi has controlled the situation well, took the majority of decisions in the correct manner and avoided any disasters. Taking this into consideration and forgetting the politics of exclusion would see him Prime Minister in 2013.

Had the prime minister handled Bisazza Street himself, we would surely not have lost hundreds of parking spaces to the detriment of the Sliema residents, the workers who go to Sliema to work, and to the shop owners and their clients. Not only were these parking spaces taken away, but the exit from Sliema is no longer there, and traffic is drawn towards the centre. Pollution, however, is at its best and confusion abounds as the Sliema life of cranes and buses must continue too.

There was no traffic impact assessment done, and the vote in favour taken by the Sliema council was not an informed one, as the council surely did not know of the consequences we must now face in Sliema. If they knew about the parking losses, the traffic and all its effects, and still voted ‘yes’, then they made a disservice to Sliema residents. My information is that the council was not fully informed.

The Arriva routes are not perfect for the St Julian’s area, where I hear more car park spaces have to be lost. Neither are they good in Kappara. Hopefully we will get off to a good start, and the much improved service will really serve the people.

I was taken to task when I was mayor of Sliema for creating parking spaces for the Sliema residents. Today I am reassured that my decision at that time was correct. Others seemed to have played the game of cowboys and Indians.

Two weeks ago, I wrote my article about the attendances of MPs in the House of Representatives. One MP who does not slouch in an uncomfortable armchair, as I do, is the Speaker Dr Michael Frendo. He has to endure the long hours of debates, controlling procedures, with the task of giving rulings whenever they arise, and more than this must remain for those extra 30 minutes to hear the adjournment speech by one of the MPs.

Such personalities are not to be forgotten, as his hours of presence in the chamber surpass those of any minister. I wish, therefore to rectify this lapsus.

As to others who seem to justify their absence in any form or excuse, please note that the present rules of the House are equal to all MPs, on both sides of the house, and crying out for sympathy on a feeble excuse makes it worse. I am informed that there are discussions to update this system of attendance to conform with the busy schedule of any MP on government duty, including visits abroad. Hopefully it will reflect the truth, and the reader can be in a better position to make an informed decision on performance.

I conclude my article with an objection to PA 0411/11, where a student hostel is being proposed in a residential street and area in St Julian’s. A petition has been signed and forwarded as an objection. I do hope that Mepa will keep within its motto and not make people’s life a misery, which would be the case should such a proposal, with all its side effects, be accepted. The people would love to continue living in peace.

Robert Arrigo is a parliamentary assistant in the Finance Ministry