July 1999, Qawra, Malta

I refer to your editorial, TMI, Surprise at the Surprised of Friday 16 July 1999. Despite your comments that no surgeon operates on his wife, I feel that the Prime Minister's involvement in the initial investigation was understandable. Pontificating on matters with the benefit of hindsight is one thing, but, the handling of matters, as they gradually unfold, is another.

Mind you sir, having said this, I still do not think that the Prime Minister erred. Possibly, he might have adopted the right solution but to the wrong problem-set as he was being led up the garden path. This situation materially differs to when a person adopts an incorrect solution after being presented with the right problem-set. I am sure that the Prime minister, who after all is one of the fairest men living on this land, will leave no stone unturned to address all alleged legal anomalies emanating from this case in the best interest of justice.

I also beg to disagree with your claim that apart from those who are die-hard Nationalists, there was elation all around after the last Tuesday's acquittal. In my opinion, this elation seems to have emanated from die-hard Labourite sources that fell very short of declaring celebratory carcades. Indeed, the rest of the population remains too baffled by the sordid events involved in this sad matter to venture an opinion.

Perplexed by the elation following last Tuesday's acquittal, I feel that this reaction warrants clinical examination. Does this exhilaration stem from the fact that an innocent man beat a bad judicial process? Or are they rejoicing because Mr Anyman and his dog beat the judicial process in a case involving the Prime Minister?

This notwithstanding, our predictable Opposition will go out in full force to rub the Prime Minister's face in pig swill. Had this country been lacking in issues and causes, then, one might possibly understand the Opposition's priorities. But, this is not the case. That the Opposition places this matter so high on its political agenda while the country is teeming with so many important issues might indicate that we do not have a decent opposition. This bothers me no end.

Finally, I wish to express my consternation on the brutal attack perpetrated on Mr Richard Cachia Caruana's person and express my sincere empathy to him. Irrespective of whether one knows, likes or approves of a person, as civilised human beings, we should stand steadfast in our condemnation of such horrendous crimes. In all the hype surrounding these court trials, the nation seems to have forgotten that this man nearly lost his life.

Malcolm Caire