In the online parliamentary report (June 18), Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is reported to have included my name among those “… attacked through some of (Richard) Cachia Caruana’s acolytes…” with the purpose of being sidelined in Maltese politics.

For close to 30 years until I was elected Speaker, I worked very closely with Mr Cachia Caruana in the team consecutively led by Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi. In all the administrations formed by the two Prime Ministers until 2008 I was each time invited to serve as Minister of the Malta Government. In 2008, I was nominated by Prime Minister Gonzi, and seconded by Alfred Sant, then Leader of the Opposition, to be elected Speaker of the House of Representative. In 2010, following Prime Minister Gonzi’s nomination, I became a member of the European Court of Auditors, a position which does not allow me to involve myself in or to comment on matters of political controversy.

The above facts speak for themselves.

However, having said this, may I also say that, on my perch in the European institution in Luxembourg where I work, I am saddened that events in our country are prompting déjà vu questions and comments. I could not help perceiving in these a flickering orange light reminding me how important it is for one and all to nurture the first class reputation Malta has painfully succeeded to build as an EU member.