I admire all those who might have a sense of humour in any walk of life. And although I have more than my fair share of weaknesses and shortcomings like all the rest, like others, I at least pride myself on having a sharp sense of humour. My friends, colleagues and political adversaries can testify to this

But some of the statements and pronouncements made recently in the political arena show that one needs more than just a sense of humour to take them in one’s stride.

The word character assassination has been thrown around the moment anyone dared criticise or quiz anyone holding a public office.

If you may so choose to censure a Cabinet minister on purely administrative grounds then that is character assassination, according to some.

If on the other hand you might choose to ask what the whole financial package of an eminent ambassador or Permanent Representative may happen to be, then the same tag is applied. As if this larger-than-life personality seemed to be above any criticism. And almost forgetting or glossing over the fact that he is paid entirely out of public funds.

I am using the word ‘entirely’ on purpose, because during the recent Foreign & European Affairs Committee I made it clear that I was not solely interested in finding out whether he was the first among equals only in terms of salary structure, but also as far as his general emoluments, allowances etc are concerned.

Since I was prevented from pursuing such a matter further, even when it happens to be in the public interest, I had no alternative but to table detailed and appropriate parliamentary questions to the Minister concerned which I sincerely hope that he will reply to in full, without any undue delay or any procrastination on his part.

If Joseph Muscat chooses to label a conservative and confessional Nationalist MP a Bishop in tongue-in-cheek manner, he is instantly dismissed as being arrogant, and reluctant to accept different points of view. On the other hand, the MP in question might have been irked since there is already someone on the political scene who is often referred to as the Cardinal, so it could have all boiled down to a mere touch of sheer political envy!

The jibe was even dismissed as irresponsible. All this when the MP in question had earlier just stated that Carm Mifsud Bonnici – who I have always respected personally – should stay on even if the vote of no confidence motion were to be approved.

His – and by his I do not mean Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s – warped line of thinking ran something like this – the Minister even if defeated should neither resign or give up his post because he still enjoys the confidence of the government.

Some two years ago, former WSC Chairman Tancred Tabone had told a Sunday newspaper that Malta will run out of water in over five years.

The other day, the current serving WSC CEO not only boasted that Malta can never run out of water and the worst case scenario would be a worsening in the quality, but he also rubbished Tabone’s idea by simply arguing that after all he had only been a chairman for six months.

Had this irresponsible statement been attributed solely to the politically appointed CEO of the corporation one may have chosen to rest his case.

But then, ironically, the same minister who put water at the centre stage of his recent climate adaptation policy, was quoted as having reaffirmed the CEO’s statement adding that although the quality of our water has gone down, there was no need for anyone to buy bottled water!

One would have expected the minister to at least address the high level of nitrates in various localities that far exceeded acceptable EU thresholds.

If by the year 2000, the quality of water was already bad and numerous localities had substances that far exceeded EU thresholds it sounds somewhat bizarre for the Minister for Resources to make such an admission publicly, that a poor quality level of water had even turned worse already this past decade!

Recently, environmentalist Edward A. Mallia took exception to such remarks when he remarked in a sarcastic manner that the WSC CEO is quite right in saying that Malta can never run out of water as we will always – or at least for the next million years – have the whole Mediterranean to drink from, after use of a small purifier to edge off the salty taste, of course.

The other week I was called all sorts of things.

I was accused of calling government ‘fascist’. Not true. All I said was that there is nothing strange or worth taking exception to about the fact that the PL’s theme of Tagħlim, Taħriġ u Xogħol was part of the programme of European Socialists. I had remarked during a public address at Santa Lucija that this would have only jarred had it been lifted from the manifesto of a far-right political movement, a fascist party or else a right-leaning party with a black flag.

Earlier on, I was accused of dismissing the PM as a ‘biċċa deputat (MP).’

Anyone following the proceedings of the Foreign & European Affairs Committee will have surely realised that although I took exception to the PM going beyond his remit when acting as a witness in front of the committee, I had stated that I fully respected his government role and function. The biċċa deputat expression had been used ironically and wryly only seconds after I had mentioned how an eminence grise had allegedly dismissed a government MP as a biċċa deputat. Sadly what I had meant ironically as a wry dig was intentionally or unintentionally not taken in the right spirits by the PN media who are constantly on the lookout for means of intensifying their demonisation campaigns.

I was also accused in turn of being an extremist, of fomenting an unacceptable alarm on an environmental health issue that continues to have the makings of a Mercaptan 2 saga, and of claiming that we do not need any My Voice gimmicks since Joseph Muscat is Our Voice as Labourites.

All untrue – once again. What I meant by Muscat being ‘our voice’ was that he was always close to the citizens. As can be evidenced from day one of his term as an MEP, as PL leader and always if he will manage to win public support, from day one as PM too.

While the PM told us that the recent parliamentary vote was clear and unequivocal, in the same breath we had an outburst of hysteria from the government benches which one can easily understand.

On one hand, we had a backbench government MP already laying down new conditions under which government could continue its business, while on the other hand we had a prominent member of the Nationalist parliamentary group making it clear that he is eagerly waiting in the wings to take over the party helmsmanship no matter how hard the powers that be might try to push the super delegate Simon Busuttil.

I am sure that we are in for a rough ride of a campaign as hired guns will start (or rather continue) shooting blindly the way Rupert Murdoch’s stooges did, particularly the moment he felt beleaguered and being grilled by parliamentary committees, but on the other hand I am confident that there will never be a dull moment during the forthcoming campaign as the same people who accuse us of lusting for power will bend backwards to cling on to power, even at the expense of sacrificing their own credibility, while limping along in full view and sacrificing the economy in the process. Regardless of the fact that it is already officially in recession.

So long as they keep on hoping in hope that they might bridge the gaps – perceived or real – that polls might be suggesting.

But then so long as Bisazza Street blooms while Sliema continues to cave in to tower cranes and construction dust, everyone should rejoice and feel merry.

After all, if the Minister is happy then why should the rest of us not be too?

At least for a moment we can forget all those other areas, pavements and streets that might still remain in total disrepair.

And by the way, who said that we happen to be in an election mode?

That might not even be the right word. Campaign mode might suit the whole farce better… That is the price we might have to pay for making do with a government confined (politically) to the ITU – Intensive Therapy Unit!

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www.leobrincat.com

Leo Brincat is the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development & Climate Change