Was it was all part of the filming for a Maltese version on Evita Peron’s or Imelda Marcos’ life? The choreography was perfect. The camera placed at table level for maximum effect. The hand banging on the table right in front of the camera made sure that the “made-in-Dubai” henna tattoo was shoved into our faces continually. To remind us of the recent, very expensive holiday. The clinking rings on the glass surface tried to portray command. Absolute power, strength and wealth. Or a combination of.

It was an urgently-called conference to bully disconcerting voices. Take them head-on. But the acting and the English were both so bad that it failed in this aim. Big time. This, coupled with the real story leading to it, produced nothing but a disgusting show in exceedingly bad taste. On all accounts and levels.

While the headlines screamed “Female prison inmates shocked by Michelle Muscat’s comments as they await payment for their work”, we all saw the Prime Minister’s wife arrogantly losing her temper. Bullying the press with her “My dear” put-downs and pathetic attempts at sarcasm and bravado.

Why? Because the press dared to question why prisoners were being treated in an abusive manner. The story is simple. Inmates at our correctional facilities somehow seem to have been contracted to make curtains for a certain Mary Grace Pisani’s soft furnishings business. Ms Pisani is reportedly a very close friend of our Prime Minister’s wife. They were also ‘commissioned’ to make some 400 costumes for last November’s “special event”, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), when some six thousand exclusive foreigners descended on us to enjoy a no-expense-spared free holiday. Our government officially spent around €12 million of our money for their pleasure. A pleasure which led to nothing when it comes to Malta’s coffers, the economy or well-being.

After months of hardship, these prisoners dared voice their concern that despite repeated pleas for payment, no one seemed to be listening to them. In the papers we read: “A female prisoner who spoke to the Times of Malta said that 14 inmates are owed over €16,000 for work they have carried out since last June.”

“They treat us like slaves, expecting us to sew all these costumes and curtains to very tight deadlines. Whenever we ask Ms Pisani why she has not paid us, she always comes up with excuses.”

“I sometimes get up at 4am to start working on the costumes and curtains and do not stop until 7pm. Then they treat us like this.”

If all of this is true, my dear Mrs Muscat, you should be thanking the press for bringing this matter up. You, as chairperson of this so-called “fake” NGO, should be apologising for going on holiday while all this is happening. Not using it as an excuse to defend your friend and the abuse incurred. You should take your friend and all those responsible to task for leaving the inmates in a worse position. Some humility and understanding. An apology and swift action to remedy the situation was required. Instead they got arrogance and we are all shocked by your comments and behaviour. We on the other hand encourage them. Show solidarity and will work harder so that they are rewarded for the hard work and serious attempt to reform themselves.

But there are equally important concerns that should be mentioned too. Ones that show how horribly Malta under the liberals has been transformed.

The Prime Minister and his wife need to answer the following questions:

Does the NGO that the Prime Minister’s wife chairs exist? If not what is she chairing exactly?

Is the NGO or entity properly registered?

With what entity exactly does our government have a contract?

Who did the entity get the contract with? Was there a proper tender? Who set the conditions of the tender and decided to award the contract?

Who gave the entity access to the prison?

And are the terms and conditions in accordance with Maltese labour law?

Has the government paid for the costumes? If so, to whom, when and how much?

Why has Ms Pisani’s private company not paid the workers it contracted?

Have VAT, tax and employment fees been paid in accordance with the law?

Or is it all just a mere matter of sucking up to Malta’s Prime Minister and/or his wife and doors – any doors – will be opened for you, nowadays?

Where on earth is the Opposition on this abusive and illegal behaviour?

Will it remain fast asleep and show some passive resistance or will it or Dr Marlene Farrugia please ask these very serious questions, on our behalf, in Parliament as soon as possible?

This is not the behaviour of someone who represents the honourable Maltese population. There is nothing worse than sitting in a Maltese hotel lobby seeing foreigners shocked and mockingly laughing at this kind of behaviour by you and your friends. It pains us deeply to see Malta shamed in such a needless way. And we can take no more.

We, who hold dear our traditional Maltese values, identity and culture that the present, arrogant, political oligarchy are daily throwing away, demand answers from those who represent us. Those who serve us and not the other way round.

Red lines are crossed daily and it becomes clearer by the day that things will not stop here. It is just not acceptable so we will not go away until something is done about it.

We have stopped hoping that our grumbling will force ‘someone else’ to do the necessary for us. Ultimately, for the sake of these inmates, for the sake of our children and for the sake of our society we really have to stop praying and complaining. We have to act. We have to overcome our fears of being punished if we speak up. To stop the whispering and shout out loud instead. It is time to stop trusting the conventional parties and establish new parties that represent us directly.

It’s time for real and serious change!