It pays to be in Parliament during crucial sittings. Listening to it over the radio or watching it on TV ends up cutting out significant details.

While taking votes for and against the government’s budgetary measures for 2016 during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting, it was very clear that Marlene Farrugia was once again taking the opportunity to expose the fragmentation within the PL group.

Some of what was going on was possible to notice even if you were not there.

Farrugia made it amply clear that she supports cabinet members like Louis Grech and Edward Scicluna but does not support Muscat himself and his cabinet’s decisions on energy, health, transparency and, obviously, the environment.

It was also very telling how Marlene Farrugia chose to vote against Helena Dalli’s Ministry budget, specifically mentioning the events in which the Minister could, and should, have acted differently.

But there was also the part where you just had to be there.

The Prime Minister must have feared another uproar and took no risks. This time he took off his jacket and followed the proceedings closely. He was the one calling the votes, not the whip (as should be the case).

When Helena Dalli reacted to Marlene Farrugia’s vote of no confidence in her, he was quick to stop her from getting out of hand. But he allowed her to pass a very nasty remark at Godfrey Farrugia: “I feel sorry for you, Godfrey.”

Restoring trust in politics

Simon Busuttil’s decision to embark on a document focusing on good governance comes as no surprise to anybody following the local political scene. The leader of the Opposition has made it amply clear that his vision for PN is to present the party as an alternative government.

So far the PN has been a very good Opposition in parliament. Now it is time to really shift the approach and, while retaining the opposing, critical role, the PN must show it has the capability of running this country differently from the current government.

To make this difference, Dr Simon Busuttil had to push good governance to the fore particularly at a time when corruption, sleaze and an attitude of anything goes remain the PL government’s priority.

I find the title of the document, Restoring Trust in Politics, very appropriate. The title is self-explanatory. Although some may have found the content of this document to be very strict, I find that the times we are living in deserve radical measures.

To fight Muscat’s sleazy approach our people need to know that the leader of the Opposition is willing to take the bull by the horns and call a spade a spade. Simon Busuttil is using this document to remind everyone that there are basic principles of transparency and good governance which must be defended at all costs.

In our country we cannot allow Muscat et al to drag down politics and consequently depict all politicians as corrupt with the sole intention to fatten and line their personal pockets and those of their immediate family and close friends.

Yes this is a strict document but, surely, we really need it to restore the trust which Muscat and his team have managed to destroy and flush away in just under two and a half years.

The silent heroes

Over the past five weeks, while keeping up with turbulent times in parliament and the local political scene, I also experienced, at the same time, a reality which many Maltese have to face.

My mother, like many other Maltese patients, had to undergo a medical intervention in one of the specialised hospitals in London. I will not go into the heartache and difficulties which arise with having a close relative away from home and all that goes into the intervention and the process of recovery.

I would like to take this opportunity, however, to show my gratitude and appreciation to the Franciscan Sisters and Fathers based in London. In my view these dedicated people are the unsung heroes who have been doing an incredible job in the heart of the British capital.

I not only thank them for what they did with my family but I applaud them for their tremendous work over the years.