Speaking early at the Msida PL club because he had to take part in the official wreath laying ceremony on Armistice Day, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat dwelt upon the main political stories of the week.

The first subject he tackled was the Satabank crisis, without mentioning the name of the bank. On the one hand he agreed that GRTU was right in raising the plight of their members, small and medium size companies, in complaining that the current crisis was affecting their members but on the other hand he criticised the Opposition for agreeing with GRTU on this issue when they had just issued a statement in which they complained that MFSA was not enforcing strict anti-money-laundering directives strictly enough.

This is an Opposition in which it is every man on his own and this is not good for democracy and not good for the country. The Opposition members cannot even come together in a room and agree on any subject. Except, that is, when they can harm Malta's good name abroad.

In the past week the European Commission issued a directive regarding how Malta tackled money laundering and concluded that Malta can do better. The Opposition raised hell on this subject but then one finds the Commission had words to say also about Denmark, Estonia and Latvia and nobody commented.

Next on his list of events from the past week, Dr Muscat listed the allegation his children were studying abroad. This allegation was raised by an able lawyer who neglected to check facts before he made the allegation. 

Fortunately, Dr Muscat added, his children made light of this allegation and jokingly told him they were running away from home each day and he never noticed.

So he had to deny the story. As many other parents he chose a private school for his children and its fees are not that cheap.

The last subject from this past week's events was the 17 Black allegation. Dr Muscat said this last allegation was the last in a series of allegations regarding this company. It has variously been claimed to have been owned by John Dalli, Konrad Mizzi and even by himself. Now it has been claimed to be owned by a person in the private sector..

This leak must have come from elements in Malta who are investigating the issue. In his regard, he cannot act until the investigation is finished, as should be done in a country where the rule of law rules.

The Opposition, which was vociferous on this subject must lead by example. David Casa, the Opposition MEP, is equally right to say that he is being investigated by OLAF and no conclusion can be made until the end of the investigations.

The Leader of the Opposition must not forget he is being investigated for money laundering from the proceeds of crime. Instead of holding press conferences, he must sort out his own situation.

In his own regard, Dr Muscat added, he had to wait for a whole year for the allegation he or his family were the owners of Egrant for this allegation to be cleared up but fortunately he was believed by the people around him and by the vast majority of Maltese.

In between these subjects, Dr Muscat spoke on other themes.

He first dwelt on the opening of MUZA, the new fine arts museum housed in the renovated Auberge d'Italie which was inaugurated on Saturday but which will open to the general public in two weeks' time. The renovation cost €10 million. In the latest Budget, the government announced that entry to all museums will be free for all children and the adults accompanying them.

There are now no less than 30 hotels in Valletta, some not cheap at all. Valletta has become a cultural attraction.

A week ago he led a delegation as guests of the Chinese government to a very big exhibition organised by China. Despite its small size, Malta was one of the only 12 countries invited to be guests.

Over the past week too, it was announced that jobs in the private sector had increased by 10,000 in just one year.

Later Dr Muscat had fulsome words of praise for the continued modernisation of the health service as announced last week regarding the acquisition by Malta of cutting edge technology in care of the heart through non-invasive investigative fibres which see the state of the arteries and repair them. This technology is not available in many advanced countries and in fact the company selling this technology was surprised Malta could afford it. It has been bought through proceeds from IIP sales.