No one elected by the peoples’ votes to serve on parliamentary seats should be permitted to perform any private work.

 It is amply clear that those contesting the election should have known exactly what they were going in for regarding parliamentary duties and load of work.  If not they should not have contested the elections in the first place.

Anyone insisting on maintaining and operating a private practice is clearly proving and showing that his political ambitions were not solely directed to serve the country and the people who presented him (or her) with his seat and to whom, in return, he should be totally dedicated.

 On the contrary his attitude shows that he is putting his personal gains, power and all the perks way ahead of the dedicated service he is expected to give the country.

 It is about time that the subject of private practice be settled and decided once and for all and those considering their professional service as indispensable to the private sector must not present themselves at the polls and expect to serve two masters.

 This betrays clearly a case of greedily helping oneself to two completely different and incompatible cakes risking disturbing the digestive system and causing serious complications somewhere along the line.

 Parliamentary work is a strict vocation similar to a religious one and cannot be tempered with by exceptions of a personal nature or gain.

 Regarding parliamentary work one should also repeat the necessity that all members must be present when the house is conducting its business.

No truancy whatsoever should be permitted and deserves being seriously penalised.

Edwin Calleja

Balzan