Fitting tribute

I read with interest the letter Sir Paul Boffa (March 2) by Anthony Agius and thought of penning these lines.

Sir Paul Boffa was one of Malta's past Prime Ministers who played an important role in the social history of our native land. For each of his services he deserves to be remembered with respect. After serving during World War I in the Gallipoli campaign and at Salonika in the Royal Army Medical Corps and won the Efficiency decoration, he returned to Malta and settled down in private practice.

He combined a professional practice and a political life. For many years he enjoyed an excellent reputation. His efforts to alleviate the sufferings of lepers between 1930 and 1950 are not well known. There was a substantial number of these unfortunates at St Bartholomew's Hospital and some others in a few localities such as at Qormi, Zejtun and Tarxien.

Apart from professional work without remuneration, indeed a labour of love, at Christmastime he used to contact some firms and these contributed cakes and eatables to leapers. Dr Boffa (later Sir) had a very kind heart and was loved by many in various sectors of our population. I know because my late father was a driver and for some years he was involved with Dr Boffa to distribute the goodies at Christmas, although this was an unpleasant task.