Incomplete biography on Borg Olivier

c.camilleri

Mar 5th 2009, 17:56

As one who have lived throughout the years covered so far by the series Biografiji I feel that much is being left out and the name of the series should be changed to ' In Praise of'
As regards the programme about Ali Rezaq i cannot see how this was included in the Biogfiji serious as it sounds more like a documentary alas with much irksome date missing.

martin borg

Mar 5th 2009, 15:58

@ Alfred Sacco.

My thoughts exactly. Having seen the Ali Rezaq 'biography' yesterday, and whilst acknowledging its undoubted reporting standard, I felt it hardly qualified as a biography. A documentary on the Egypt Air hijacking perhaps but not the Ali Rezaq life story.

Dane Cauchi

Mar 5th 2009, 15:42

As for the real reasons for Integration to fail everyone knows that it did not go through because the Church was against it; true to its Catholic ideals the Church realised that it would lose all power that it had all over Malta.

Dane Cauchi

Mar 5th 2009, 15:41

@ J Martinelli

The MLP prior the 1955 election was crystal clear either Integration or else Self-Determination (that implied full Independence and not a dominion status)

Vis-à-vis the referendum result the result was a positive one. More than 60.000 voted in favour while 20.000 voted against. The NP and the Church claimed that the referendum did not pass as there were 60.000 who did not bother to cast their vote.

Your claim that the result was a negative one does not hold water. Some weeks ago a Professor of History who is a lecturer at the University of Malta (and you cannot certainly refer to him as a Labourite) claimed that the result was a positive one and those who claim otherwise, in his own words ‘they do not know how to interpret a referendum result’.

And the really funny thing is that you do not need a Professor of History to tell you that the RESULT was a successful one. It’s stated in black and white 60.000 in favour 20.000 against.

Alfred Felice

Mar 5th 2009, 15:09

Dr. Borg Oliver was 37 years in politics at a high level, being Prime Minister of Malta for long periods, he was involved in the Integration and tough Independence talks and eventually lead Malta together with his Cabinet and Party to Independence in 1964 . He survived hard times during the 1940's and good times during the 1960's. He had his memorable days, good and bad political events. He was know for his astuteness, foresight, honesty and a good man at heart and despite all of his defects which we all have some too he will be remembered as one of Malta's great. We pray for many like him, for that we thank you O Lord.

Alfred Sacco

Mar 5th 2009, 14:38

Biografiji possesses the potential of becoming almost as popular as Xarabank, if only it would adhere to the criteria of what a biography should look like like. Did the last edition about Ali Rezaq really merit the description of a biography? A biography should be more of a description of someone's life, the vicissitudes he/she had to go through. But describing one single event in the life of a person does not qualify it to be called a biography.

M Attard

Mar 5th 2009, 14:25

The program may have been 'incomplete' however I found it to be very interesting. I watched the whole program and was glued to the TV until the very end. I did not live through the Borg Olivier era and although I knew the most important historical facts, the program included many details and incidents I knew nothing of.

I would have thought that one would understand that a one-hour program cannot possibly cover the entire life of any prominent person. I am sure that there is much much more to say about Borg Olivier, as there probably is much more to say about Mintoff although his biography was split over two programs. Of course, the decision on what to include and what to exclude from the program is that of the producers... whether you like it or not is another question!

I think that the producers of this show should be commended.... this is the first program I follow from week to week on any Maltese station and in my opinion it really meets international standards.

J Martinelli

Mar 5th 2009, 14:04

@ Dane Cauchi

The failure of Integration was the result of a negative referendum by the people of Malta. Had the result been otherwise, and in spite of campaigns by the NP and others, Integration would still have been earned, change of government in Britain or not.

Labour never went to the streets proclaiming Independence, at least not until Borg Olivier requested it in London. Typically, Labour made a U-turn, hopped on the band wagon and campaigned for their own brand of Independence.

In essence, the NP successfully campaigned against Integration and successfully campaigned for Independence. Borg Olivier happened to be Leader of the NP and also Prime Minister, therefore earns the distinction as father of Independent Malta following the widely known stance of the NP for "Dominion Status".

"Dominion Status" is very much like independence within the Commonwealth - a status which Canada had until 1982 when the British North America Act was repatriated. During its 'Dominion Status' tenure, Canada made its own laws, ran its own Defence forces and fashioned its own Foreign Policies.

The Malta Labour Party never had a destination port - Integration, maybe Independence, anti EU but now pro-EU. It changes course whenever expedient.

Dane Cauchi

Mar 5th 2009, 12:08

@joe felice pace
successful anti-integration polciy?

Integration was not fulfilled because of several reasons such as the change in Government in Britain in 1957, the Church which opposed integration, Britain’s non commitment when it came for the years that Malta had to attain before British standards were reached and last but not least Labour’s decision to call for independence.

All those contributed for the integration policy not to materialise and not Borg Olivier.

wally vella-zarb

Mar 5th 2009, 11:46

Also not emphasised was the fact that Giorgio Borg Olivier was a true 'Gentlom', the likes of whom has been largely absent from the Maltese Political scenario.

jcmicallef

Mar 5th 2009, 11:42

well put, Mr. Formosa

the whole truth should have come out, whether its nice or not (as in mr aquilinas comment)

what about dr borg-olivier's vision for malta's economic independence like the allocation of industrial estates?

what about dr borg-olivier's vision for social housing?

two of the many good incentives of the late 60's that were not mentioned and often subsequent governemnts take credit for

Joseph M Aquilina

Mar 5th 2009, 11:23

What about not mentioning how he was removed from power by his right and left hand men during one party meeting held in the middle of the night............................

joe felice pace

Mar 5th 2009, 10:44

Tony is very right. What about Borg Olivier's stubborn stand when he was a member of the Council of Goverment during the War years? What about his successful anti-integration polciy? On both occasions the might of British colonialism was against him. What about his filling the void so unexpectedly left by Nerik Mizzi and increasing year after year the PN vote? What about his call for independence, his greatest political achievement and the fulfilment of a years-old dream, coming to fruition against all odds? All in all it was an amateurish production.