I had never visited the picturesque Zonqor Point until last Sunday. The opportunity helped me to understand better why many people who have the privilege of living in the area would never accept to see a monstrous building destroy the landscape and beautiful seashore.

A dear lady who walked the dusty road with me pointed out that this “University” project could go wrong and since the investors have experience in the hotel industry, they might turn the building into another hotel on the pristine coast.

Marlene Farrugia stole the show with her presence, particularly when she quoted the PN and PL hymns. She tried to keep the political balance, knowing all too well that the scales have been tipped. Muscat must have been bombarded with suggestions on how to get rid of his outspoken MP and when he saw the front pages on Monday morning he probably called Konrad and told him to “do something”.

Konrad Mizzi

Konrad decided PN needed a blow, and a big one. They cannot make headlines by hook, so they try to get them by crook. Mizzi sometimes talks about clean energy but his tactics are as dirty as they come. He demands that others feel shame but he is himself shameless.

He called a press conference at 5pm on Monday (just before Parliament was summoned) and revealed to the media what he was going to state and table in parliament. In a nutshell, the findings of the North Korea-style board of inquiry, where the inquiry judge and a government lawyer are Philip Sciberras and Alex Sciberras, who only happen to be father and son, both staunchly Labour. But they were declared independent. So that’s all right then.

The inquiry found that the contractors responsible for works at Mater Dei Hospital had provided weak concrete intentionally and that their actions were fraudulent.

This incestuous made-in-Labour inquiry presented a report which was tabled by the Minister. It lacks gravitas and is highly selective in what and who it exposes. But it still could not stay away from the conclusions and it recommended action should be taken by Government in this respect.

Mizzi, who was very well behaved this time, particularly because the Prime Minister was present, tabled the inquiry report and the technical (Arup) report as a reply to two of my parliamentary questions. He thought we would not realise that the Arup report is in fact volume 2 of God knows how many volumes.

The report lacks basic information which, as any person of experience will tell you, is essential for the understanding of how results were obtained. Still, we must go by what we have in hand.

Mud slinging

This is by far PL’s favourite hobby and Mizzi and Muscat are the supreme experts of this game. Both men love to throw out names and probabilities and maybes. They hit out at anyone and anything because they know no shame. Given their positions, it is a bullying, dangerous use of power.

The irony of it all is that the inquiry, which they themselves commissioned, has told them what to do and who to blame. Are they taking action? Well, they are thinking about it. Make no mistake. This does not make our Prime Minister and his favourite Minister incompetent. Oh no, this is much worse than that. This is plain dirty.

 Rosette Thake

PN has just appointed Rosette Thake as Secretary-General. I happen to know her quite well. We spent most of our school years together, in the same class at St Dorothy’s.

We were together when Mintoff tried to annihilate church schools and I assure you that Rosette voiced her opinion out loud and her example helped motivate us all to do the same.

We were also together on the volleyball team. For the record: I set the ball, she did the smashing.