Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513303
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 DECEMBER 2023 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications A noble initiative ALLOW me to commend the initia- tive being taken for yet another year by the Archbishop's Curia to organise a Christmas day lunch for those who have no one to celebrate the day with. It is a heart-warming and noble initiative that brings some joy to many people who would otherwise spend Christmas day alone. This gesture should serve as an example to those of us who have rel- atives passing through a hard time by offering them the opportunity to share in the joy by inviting them in- side our homes. N. Cutajar St Paul's Bay Avoiding conflicts for MPs PEOPLE employed with the public service who subsequently get elected to parliament should not continue to work with the government. As MPs, they are expected to act as watchdogs on the executive, which puts them in conflict with their nor- mal day job with that same executive. To avoid this, public servants who are subsequently elected to parliament should be granted long leave without pay by the State for the duration of their parliamentary stint. They can re-join the public service when they no longer remain MPs. It would be a form of secondment with parliament. At the same time, MPs should be paid decent wages that make it worth- while for valid people to even consider contesting elections. With this added remuneration, however, should come greater ac- countability as to attendance and par- ticipation in parliamentary work. But our parliamentarians should also have the tools necessary to pre- pare themselves well for debates, including access to a parliamentary pool of researchers who can help them in preparatory work related to the legislation or matter under dis- cussion. This will be another way of profes- sionalising our parliamentary setup while avoiding potential conflicts for those whose main job is in the public service. T. Mangion Gżira Carrying the Maltese shirt with pride THE national women's football team did us proud in the Nations League and their success should be toasted by all and sundry. They did not lose a single game in the tournament, a very rare feat in Malta's sporting history. Our women footballers carried the Maltese shirt with pride and not for one moment did they go onto the pitch with a defeatist attitude. Indeed, they displayed fighting spirit and a thirst for victory. Well done to the players, their coach and the Malta Football Association ad- ministration for working hard to achieve this success. Martin Abela Żejtun