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Dear Anna, I have read your missive (MaltaToday 23.01.05) gratuitously advising members of the Malta Labour Party to oust their freely elected and confirmed Leader, Dr Alfred Sant.
I have pondered whether to reply by attacking, or by ignoring you or by sending you a sober meaningful message.
I have opted for the letter.
I am doing this because I have known you for many, many years and wish you well. You may be temporarily misguided; however it is not in your character to err and persist with diabolical fervour.
Dear Anna, I understand that you are no longer a paid up member of the Malta Labour Party. However, as a past member and a one time delegate to the Party’s General Conference(s) you are abundantly aware that the Malta Labour Party takes its democratic decisions in a free vote from among the Delegates, following a properly worded motion, moved, deliberated and then voted upon.
The decision is binding.
This has been the democratic process of the Malta Labour Party since its inception in 1920 and faithfully, fervently and most scrupulously adhered to according to the Party’s Book of Rules in continuous successive decades to the present day.
This fundamental principle has always been steadfast and jealously guarded.
I have lived with and experienced this for close to fifty years as an active member, official and delegate of the Malta Labour Party.
The Malta Labour Party has never entertained the veto nor used shadowy means and secret meetings to remove, choose and elect its leader.
I am sure you are aware of this as a serious student of the history of Maltese Political Parties.
It is the General conference of the Party that elects the Leader, the members of the administration and the National Executive. This it has done from the 1920s, in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and into the 21 century.
Dear Anna, in any free and democratic organisation the member/delegate of the Party, like the elector in a democratic society who sends his/her representatives to Parliament, the vote is supreme and sacrosanct.
Outsiders, from whichever quarter and whatever convictions, real, imagined or conveniently imposed, do not matter.
It is the individual delegate’s vote that is supreme and has the final say.
Anyone in the Party who is dissatisfied with an individual, persons or the system can freely have recourse to the rule book in order to remedy.
Attempting to dictate, to rule from outside by courting the media and inciting is anathema in the Malta Labour Party.
Only the Statute Book guides and regulates one and all.
I earnestly entreat you to reflect on all this.
Richard A Matrenza
Sliema
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