May I be allowed to endorse the comments expressed by various correspondents some weeks ago in the correspondence columns regarding the late Sir Paul Boffa. I did not write earlier because I did not want to give the impression that I am involved in politics, which I am not.

I wish to ask one simple question. Why is it that the base of the monument at Castille Square does not show that this one time Prime Minister was knighted for his lifetime for outstanding public services? Indeed an honour which was bestowed on him?

For the record, because the younger generation in general is not aware of the fact, in 1945, Dr Boffa and others insisted with the British government, that the franchise should be extended to women, becuase women had never voted in previous elections.

There was opposition in Malta from some quarters. It should also be noted that at that time, Mabel Strickland of the Constitutional Party and Helen Buhagiar of the Democratic Action Party had backed Dr Boffa, and in due course the motion was approved and later implemented in the new post-war Constitution.

Dr Boffa was a leader of vision and respected by a wide section of the population. He was blessed with fine qualities and full of practical wisdom, humanity and sense of fairness. When he was elected Prime Minister in the post-war years, he had to face very difficult problems. He was caring and compassionate especially with the poor, the sick and lepers.