Sensitive issue

With regard to Stephen Bugeja's letter (Basic Needs And Rights, August 21) I would like to point out yet again that in no way did I imply that he should be prohibited from expressing his opinion, especially since he is very right to complain about the hardships that he and other Birzebbuga residents are having to endure. There was simply no need to "joke" about the very sensitive issue of immigration.

Also I didn't say he was racially prejudiced, I said he passed cheap comments, which is a very different matter. Instead of simply answering me Mr Bugeja also provides me with a list of things I should be worried about, although they had nothing to do with my letter. Since he has a lot of hopes for me, my hopes for him are that in the future he will be able to choose his words more carefully when he voices his opinion without confusing two very different subjects.

This will be my last item of correspondence on the matter, and I hope that my "European ears" (which incidentally are also as Maltese as Mr Bugeja's) will hear that the Birzebbuga works will be ready soon.