Three days in the week

Wednesday evening: The issue of the Police Commissioner’s Valentine card published in MaltaToday is raised once again by an ‘admirer.’ I am called shameless. I try very hard to ignore it. I could have retorted about the Stephen Ciantar (a former MLP propaganda secretary) porno pixes that adorned the front page of In-Nazzjon years back. But I do not.

Better still about the revelation that a witness in the notorious Mdina attempted murder case was suffering from MS and splashed on the front pages of the same newspaper. I chose to remain silent.

Afterwards, I sit back to watch Alfred Sant speaking in parliament.

Good performance but not convincing enough and the man has taken up the election cry too early in the day, I would say. I could be wrong.

Later on, I have a chance to feast my eyes on a silly cartoon strip featuring Arnie Schwarzenegger. I never used to watch these politically incorrect films, yet this, Commando, was just the tonic a boy needed to loosen up after a nasty day at work.

Thursday morning: Enemalta disrupts the electrical supply and the only shirt that makes the mark, is black, and very black at that.

With black trousers and the shirt supplanted by a bad mood I could very well have been confused with a Hitlerite clone.

Walking into a staff meeting and taking in the comments did not help. To brighten the day, confirmation that Noel Arrigo was to be Chief Justice dominates the newsroom meeting. Checking his profile and business or non-business connections becomes a priority.

In other democratic countries where the media does not pretend to be a lap dog, a Chief Justice is cut to pieces. Is he liberal, rightist, leftist, married and more?
Sooner rather than later, the cronies will demand that one puts an end to this demonisation project.

Best was yet to come. Browsing through L-Orrizont, I read about Magistrate Padovani Grima’s decision to grant bail to Norman Bezzina for the alleged importation of 2.2 kg of cocaine. I could not find any other references in any of the other newspapers.

Mr Bezzina was asked to deposit Lm2,000 as bail.

The market value of the cocaine if sold would amount to some Lm66,000, tax-free of course. One gramme I am told by the younger and livelier staff members costs Lm30 to Lm20.

Now, considering that cocaine is regarded as disruptive to society, how can we be anything but gobsmacked by the magistrate’s decision to grant bail to Mr Bezzina? But then Mr Bezzina is fortunate enough to bear a surname that does not send shivers down the backs of the judiciary.

Do I have to prompt names?
Well, good luck Mr Bezzina and I would not worry if I were you.

Saturday afternoon: The photographer returns from his assignment. He has covered a dialogue meeting by Labour leader Alfred Sant with disabled individuals.

There is no doubt in my mind that these disabled have been purposely regimented to listen and talk to a group of politicians.

Is there no distinction between mental and physical disabled.

Different categories of disabled are then invited to talk and listen to political prose. The press circus is asked to attend.

What are we supposed to do?
Zoom in on the speakers and avoid focusing on the disabled in front of Alfred Sant?

saviourbalzan@maltamag.com