We were discussing a project and at one point one of the Minister’s senior staff got upset that my boss and I were sticking to our point (or should I say position?) and exclaimed:

“I don’t know why we have to keep on discussing this, you keep harping on this point because you are just two frustrated housewives”. We were both full-time professionals.

I don’t know what hurt me most, his comment or the other men’s smug reaction.

Minister Mizzi’s behaviour turns back the clock and undoes the work done by the PN government. But it also shows that deep down, notwithstanding the bla bla about gender equality and most feminist government, the chauvinistic attitude is still there.

The woman has absolutely no idea just how she is being used, and just how much her ‘colleagues’ laugh at her behind her back when she gets all defensive of women’s rights

Leader will be even better

And the PL is a serious liability for us all.

I recall a time when I had to sit in endless meetings being the only woman around the table when such comments were the order of the day.

Thanks to the leadership of Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi, the number of women in decision-making positions increased.

However the real success was the culture change they wrought in the civil service where such comments would definitely not be tolerated.

Is this governement inviting and condoning such behaviour? I think Claudette Buttigieg was spot on with her astute assessment of the situation.

Position could mean a person who receives a call from Castille or one of its agencies and told that the person is going to get paid for doing nothing or at least get paid to live a life of luxury abroad. If only €13000 a month could afford it.

Position could mean that a woman with humble aspirations in life dreams of becoming someone`s concubine, Chinese emperor style, getting paid for it, being given a highly rewarding job within the enclaves of one of the Government Department harems.

Position could mean the position one finds oneself in after their Labour movement fires one for no justifiable, obvious reason especially if the position is one of Permanent Secretary.

Position could meant the position a person involved in politics, takes in front of a camera with the lover in the picture on the eve of their departure into exile in one of our country`s embassies.

Position could finally mean the pitiable state the Minister for Transport is in having failed in all his promises and efforts to extract the black gold. It also means the position he is in having failed to notice, understand and learn the definition of so many definitions of position on his side of the House and within their Labour movement.