Remembering Sir Paul Boffa

I was deeply moved on reading the letter (The Sunday Times, June 29). Sir Paul Boffa contributed much towards the Maltese needs. It can be said that the Maltese have benefited from his wise legalisation.

Monica Debono, however, failed to mention that Dr Boffa had campaigned and succeeded in pressing the British government in 1945 for the introduction of the vote for women, because women in Malta only voted for the first time in the 1957 election.

He was elected to Parliament every time he contested the general election. He had a positive personality and was available to everyone, especially the less privileged, the poor, the sick and lepers. He was a very humane doctor and was instrumental in the introduction of financial aid for those suffering from tuberculosis. The construction of St Luke's Hospital began in 1930 thanks to the initiative of Dr Boffa and Lord Strickland.

Dr Boffa's political and social life will always be an example to all politicians. He was an exemplary public figure and he sought spiritual guidance.

He gave the Maltese language the status it deserved, including its use in the law courts for its rightful place. Many do not know that court proceedings were, for many years, carried out in Italian and the accused did not understand what was going on. At one time, Godwin Ganado, a minister of education, used to mention this anomaly.

In the 1930s, Dr Boffa used to express his frustration at the illiteracy which existed and the numerous young children working in the fields and elsewhere. He was all-out for compulsory primary education.

His knighthood is unfortunately not inscribed on the monument.