I know it’s the end of the year and that we’re supposed to be nice(r) to one another and what not but I really cannot help myself. So please allow me to be mean for the last time this year. I promise that’ll be it. Honest.

In any event my New Year’s resolution is to be nicer to people so I will have no choice but to be true to my word. Oh no, don’t you go thinking that those are just empty words; I’ve decided that as I have come of age, New Year’s resolutions will no longer be made to be broken. As from now on, they will be kept and so I’m going to be less mean and (try) to extend my compassion from animals to humans.

Ok now that I have convinced you can we get to the point?

Did you hear what Bérenger said at his end of year party (to which I was cordially not invited)? That the “opposition had done a tremendous job this year”! As you might have gathered, my first reaction was “what opposition?” But then the clever girl I am put two and two together and I fi gured he was talking about his own party.

A tremendous job?! How does he fi gure that one out, according to you? Very easy. The leader of the Opposition asked 21 PNQs and 755 PQs were asked.

That’s it. That’s how Mr Bérenger figures he’s done a great job.

This year has easily been one of the worse in terms of the curtailment of fundamental liberties, it’s been a horrific one for people who have lost their jobs, and it’s been even more dreadful for those like Rehana Ameer who have been penalized senselessly for daring to oppose a dictatorial regime at the MBC.

This year has shown how powerless and irrelevant a mediation commission can be in the face of the intransigence of a political nominee. This year has seen the country being literally stormed by arrogant foreigners who are creating their own little ghettos, this year has seen a dramatic increase in the cost of living and this year has shown the disdain with which government treats the loss of the purchasing power of the little people when they threw peanuts at them disguised as wages compensation.

Shall I go on? I could- I’m only quoting from memory here but if I had to go through the events that took place this year,

I’m sure I’d ruin your New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Yeah, right; whom am I kidding? Nothing is going to ruin your New Year’s Eve celebrations because if there’s something else that this year has taught us is how far removed and indifferent you are to your countrymen and countrywomen’s plight.

I told you I was going to be mean. And I won’t apologize for it; hopefully you’ll find a place in your heart next year for those less fortunate than you. Hopefully you’ll fi nd it in you next year to speak out against every kind of abuse.

You have yourself a good new year anyhow.