At the age of 68, one cannot possibly say openly, not even with friends, that I want a present from Father Christmas. They will probably never talk to me again or suggest I see a doctor. Adults do not believe in Father Christmas; he exists only for children. This is not a solemn formal declaration. Adults do not believe in much unless it has been proved or something they can see with their own eyes. But what if there are many Father Christmases around and they cannot see them because they are not dressed accordingly and are present throughout the year? Just in case this is true, I want to ask for my Christmas present anyway.

What I want is that our Members of Parliament, all 69 of them, stop fighting each other, and stop giving us bad examples. We expect them to disagree and argue, even heatedly. It is very interesting and a lot of fun − and we expect it.  Without that we would not even have a single daily newspaper, which can be objective and report to us the true happenings without distorting them. Can the MPs please agree to disagree and argue in a civilised way so that we follow their example?

We need our politicians because so far we have not found a better way on how to manage our country. We can try having technocrats and business-minded people to do it, but who of them in their right mind would accept the responsibility and get paid peanuts? Our MPs are paid less than some students who have just finished ‘free university’ and found their first guaranteed good job. Our MPs are only ‘temporary’ employees in Parliament (apart from their private profession). They do not even have any guarantee beyond the five-year term, sometimes even less.

So far we need our MPs; but they also need us! If they want us to respect them they have to show us more respect, and stop fighting so cheaply by using us. They all say they are making a sacrifice and they all want the best for our country. Nice words, but they’re only words. If they want to prove it they have to give us a Christmas present, just by giving us a good example to follow. They have to stop their cheap tricks; if they treat us like idiots we can reciprocate and treat them the same way. They have already ruined this Christmas for us because we already know what abysmal levels they will sink to, after Christmas, to get the election result they want.  If they think we are stupid, it shows how wrong and stupid they are. Hopefully they are not. Certainly not all of them. 

Give us the Christmas present we want and need; and you will see how nicely we can reciprocate. We are incarcerated in a country that still shows political hatred and division (even the fact that we have 13 districts, when we need only one, proves it). It is Parliament’s responsibility because we can see that even our MPs live in a Parliament, which is apparently full of hatred and division. What is the point them all promising us the luxuries if we cannot live comfortably with each other? Please give us our Christmas Present. It is not expensive − even with your low salaries you can afford it.

This is not written with hatred or resentment – it is written with hope and respect, just as if a child wrote it.

Most children believe in Father Christmas; most adults do not. Most children believe that their dreams can come true; most adults just give up hope that their dreams can be fulfilled. One of the biggest problems adults have to face is that they think they know everything. I am just a 68-year-old stubborn child who wants his Christmas present NOW, before my computer goes out of fashion.

Reggie DeBono

ATTARD