Angelo Micallef, Marsaxlokk
Tribute to a great statesman and leader
April 2003: Eddie Fenech Adami during the signing of the EU Accession Treaty in Athens. Photo: courtesy of DOI.
Last Saturday we saw the start to the Presidency of George Abela, a man who, without any doubt, brings honour to the office of the Presidency. A man who without doubt shall serve his country to the best of his ability and who shall distinguish himself as a man of integrity. Saturday however also saw another historic event, the closing of a political career which has quite literally changed Malta.
Eddie Fenech Adami became leader of the Nationalist Party at a time where reading the PN published In-Tagħna - since the word Nazzjon was banned - meant risking being labelled, or worse. He became leader of the Nationalist Party at a time when the house of the Leader of the Opposition was attacked, where the building of independent dailies such as The Times were burnt down by those who opposed the voice of freedom.
Throughout his leadership our country went from being a country where democracy was under threat to a country with a modern and dynamic economy, a country where democracy reigned, a country where the opposing political party was free to set up Super One Television without any undue hassle; a country that apart from being the pariah of Europe is today a member of the European Union at par with former colonisers.
As President of the Republic, Dr Fenech Adami distinguished himself as one able to be a man of the state and not merely a man of the party.
His integrity, sense of leadership and statesmanship were a key signature of his Presidency.
Dr Fenech Adami has spent the best part of his life serving his nation, serving the cause of freedom and liberty, serving the cause of justice and striving to make Malta a modern European state with a modern economy. Malta owes a great debt to Dr Fenech Adami and even though the current Labour leader Joseph Muscat seems to prefer the odd hamburger over functions to thank such a distinguished statesman, I am quite sure that just like George Borg Olivier before him, Dr Fenech Adami will be recognised for the leader that he truly was, even by his once political adversaries.
Until that day, however, we thank Dr Fenech Adami and wish him the very best.
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Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 10th 2009, 11:56
P zammit..lots of words and no substance whatsoever.
Pullicino was never my pet.
Actually,I have no problem stating that the man got what he deserved.(and you say I'm the one wearing blinkers!)
As for the issue of promotions, as is your style, lots of words, but you failed to answer a very simple question.
Every official is responsible for his own actions, adn as such, whoever commits certain actions cannot say that they were just obeying orders(Nuremberg Trials anyone?)
As for little me, I am not afraid of the boogey man, however, after reading certain comments here, it seems people like you still believe in the Boogey man! Hilarious!
As for all your references to Super one and net etc....that just proves my point that you have no idea what you where talking about as my reserach was not being done for Super One.
As for, and I quote, 'are you getting goose pimples just from where you did your research ?'
I can't really understand what you're trying to imply!
It really is hard to decipher. If you have trouble expressing yourself in a foreign language, feel free to let me know what you're trying to say in Maltese.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 8th 2009, 20:45
@ Roderick Abdilla If EFA wanted to Polarised the Maltese public he would have done the same thing as MIntoff did with Dr. Alexander Cachia Zammit. The only difference is that EFA would have had a much bigger pool from to choose to take to Justice. The only difference is that the charges would''t have been bogus as was the charges against Dr. Alexander Cachia Zammit. EFA chose to let bygones be bygones and choose the high road, like any true statesmen does.
P.Zammit
Apr 8th 2009, 20:13
Mr. Camilleri - as I said there were other officers who got as much a whiff of a promition as Lucifer will ever get to see Heaven. But to me, of course not to you, your pet, Pulucino was the head and paid for all - he was the master of the sheep and paid for it. What did you expect ? The whole police force (or lets say majority) to be kicked out. Who would have protected dear little camilleri at the time from the boogy man ? Very few were promoted and those were instrumental in putting the head in the sack. But that would not tickle would it, for you it would've been much better letting the brimba running about. As to where you did your research from and me getting wound up...well you do realise that research is done from everywhere. Its an open party, your beloved Super 1 actually ask PN communications company for footage and research material from their library. This happens vice-versa as well. What't your point? are you getting goose pimples just from where you did your research ? I am happy for you, shows that the PN is open to all.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 19:32
P zammit...So what is your opinion regarding those who were promoted after 1987, despite their reputation? The name Pullicino does ring a bell.....of course, in your case, it is only Pullicino who rings your bell...I Wonder why? As I recall, he was not the only person involved! As for yours truly, well, in the not so distant past, I was lucky enough to have interviewed some known Nationalist supporters who were beaten up by Labour thugs in the 80's. I remember somone from Zejtun, with tears in his eyes, and on camera, state that one of his most painful experiences was going to the police at the time, and being totally ignored. Even worse, he continued was watching the proverbial sun rise in 1987, and having to witness the same officers promoted! Stranger than fiction is it not? As for me interviewing victims of 80's violence...that must have confused a person who prefers using an initial rather than a name. Now just for the fun of it, and to add to your total confusion, most of the research I did as to the above interview was garnered from the then PN Headquarters in Pieta. And you talk about blinkered!!!!
Rodnick Abdilla
Apr 8th 2009, 19:21
Niringrazjah ta xiex ? talli kin insulta il laburisti ? meta quddiem il qorti sfidahom billi beda jistaqsi "FEJNOM IL LABURISTI ? " Dan kien il bniedem li dahhal firda politika kbira fil poplu Malti bi Kliemu
P.Zammit
Apr 8th 2009, 18:50
Jeremy J Camilleri - see dissett of last Tue. You will realise the complete hogwash that you just wrote about the Raymond carunana case. As for the police, some were promoted, some we pushed aside and resigned on their own and some ended up in prison. Pullucino rings a bell jew insejtu ghax jaqbillek. Mr. Camillieri and Mr. Abela I have never seen such twisted bogus arguments from labourite people, of whom I know quite a few. To me you are either old school labourites or just playing dumb and blinkered.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 18:37
@ Mr c camilleri - 'However some persons would never learn. They never want to hear the truth as it hurts them.' It is not a question of people never learning, or being hurt by the truth. I, for one, become deeply hurt when people do not bestow on EFA his rightful qualities and the effects he had on Malta. Of course he was a statesman. Of course he brought about a certain level of unity in the country. But I would not go as far as to deify him (or any man, for that matter!) and certainly I will not heap praise on him while at the same time denigrate the other party - and this, for the simple reason that I don't like to antagonise people. Besides, I always try to speak and write about things of which I am sure, things that I witnessed, things that I enjoyed - or suffered from, if we had to speak of the 70s and 80s! Anyway, time has passed. In the 70s and 80s, we were tired of hearing about what Labourites 'suffered' from, in the 60s. Are we going to do the same now?
J Martinelli
Apr 8th 2009, 18:27
So, B Borg, winning is everything? Is that why the LP attacks anything the government does, because it wants to win at all costs often making unfair allegations many of them they have to retract later? You judge EFA by the number of elections won? You should be fair for once and give him credit for forging ahead with EU membership, thus improving your lot and that of future generations. That alone shows the character of the man, elevating him from the ranks of a politician to that of a Statesman of whom we can only boast of less than a handful.
P.Zammit
Apr 8th 2009, 18:13
@BBorg Totally disagree with your last part. You do not attribute the title of great statesman to Dr. Fenech Adami for winning 4 elections and a referendum. To that, you could just say he was a great party leader. Dr. F. Adami is attributed with the title of great statesmen because he just was, a father of this nation, a person with great vision for this country. His strategic moves proved themselves well. We all beared the fruit of this. From an oppresed nation in the 80s to a sound nation, today a state part of a mega state in the world with a currency that is the 2nd most important in the world (the last bit thanks to Dr. Gonzi) But what further empahsises Dr. Adami's statemanship is that he had all the time in the world to come up with a civil war at 1981, or mass pay back in the late 80s. It is something he never did, instead he preached calm and reconciliation to the nation. That, Sur Borg, makes a great Statesman, not winning elections. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela wins elections and referenda, but does anyone consider him as a great Statesman ?
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 18:06
@ Mr Borg: 'Instead, you did what EVERY SINGLE TIRESOME BORING Maltese person does in these circumstances - you used the occasion to attack the political opposition.' Exactly! My thoughts exactly. You managed to put the nail on the head. I could not have expressed myself better. That is exactly what I wanted to tell young Angelo.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 17:44
M Gauci, to be honest, I never recall having ever read your contributions, so they couldn't have been that important. Sorry. Of course, your recent statement just goes to show that you were not saying the truth in my regard. So much for your credibility!!!!!! As for the police in the 80's, well, we all know what happened to officials from those times....They were punished? dimissed or promoted? Its also funny that you should mention Raymond Caruana....seeing that the great statesman mentioned by A Xuereb stated that he would tell us who was responible for that, and this, unlike your statements in my regard, is not a false utterance.
c.camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 17:03
Angelo congratulations for your appraisal of the former President. I quite agree with all you wrote. However some persons would never learn. They never want to hear the truth as it hurts them.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 16:46
@ Mr Abela - It WAS a 'Socialist regime' but one has to be free from any partisanship in order to realise what is true and what is not. You, obviously, were not on the receiving end at that time. Otherwise, you would sing a different tune. What saddens me is the fact that after all these years and after what Malta went through under Mintoff and KMB, there are still many who would describe events according to their partisan colours. And since these episodes still bring the best and the worst in people, from both sides of the political spectrum, that is why i find Mr Micallef's letter distasteful and without any possible good coming out of it. It is useless.
B Borg
Apr 8th 2009, 16:38
We Maltese lack the gift of subtlety. @ Angelo Micallef - you would have been taken much more seriously if you had tried to temper your paean to Dr Fenech Adami somewhat. Instead, you did what EVERY SINGLE TIRESOME BORING Maltese person does in these circumstances - you used the occasion to attack the political opposition. I've voted PN and I've voted PL (or MLP at the time), and both are no great shakes. Red and blue, blue and red, intelligent debate flies over their head(s). But turning every single political remark into a reminder of 'the dark 80s/the dangers of socialism/the MLP cronies of the 80s/the burning of the Times/etc' simply turns me (and many more like me) away from the ruling party. Dr Fenech Adami will always be remembered as one of Malta's greatest statesmen. Not because he led Malta away from the 80s etc, but simply because he won 4 general elections and a referendum on EU membership. No mean feats, but your crass letter cheapens them.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 8th 2009, 16:37
@ S. Abela "He will then be in a position to judge what was under threat, what certain individuals did to try to hamper the then thriving Maltese economy." S. Abela, Maltese economy was thriving prior to Dom Mintoff and the MLP came to power in 1971. When Mintoff came to power there was a building boom, a thriving Tourism industry and the manufacturing base was well on it's way to take shape. The first 5 years of the Dom Mintoff and the MLP in Government were great because they distributed the wealth that was the fruit of the previous PN Administration. Problems started after the 1976 election. Mintoff and the MLP stifled the economy and unemployment became rampant. in Malta. The economy was stifled as a direct result of Mintoff's and the MLP socialistic policies and for no other reason. Mintoff and the MLP policies were like a muzzle around the Maltese economy, period..
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 15:44
@ Angelo Micallef - And I end by once again saying that the new President has many problems in trying to instill a sense of unity in the country with people like you. Unfortunately, your thoughts do not augur well for the new blood that is being put into politics.
It takes two to tango, you know.
M.Gauci
Apr 8th 2009, 15:31
S.Abela - as I said, the police force was in the hands of the socialist goverment of the time. Those who threw ballustrades as you say, could have easily been arrested.
Do we need to mention the Rabat incidents, the Zejtun, the court breakages, the times of malta, Eddie's house, the PN clubs and headquaters, raymond caruana, and doctors issue. I could go on you know. T
You do not know what Dr. F Adami's integrity is my friend. He himself avoided much worse when he preached calm to the majority of the country when these atrocities were happening. Do you know that Robert Mugabe still has a lot of followers despite his lovely way of managing that country ? That is what you (as in labour supporters) did in those dark times. Lejber l-ewwel u qabel hutek Maltin.
J J - as if I kept record on file of your writings, did you keep of mine ?
Angelo Micallef
Apr 8th 2009, 15:29
@ Franco Farrugia- You speak to me now in your last posting as if you are the wisest of the wise speaking to an ignorant child who knows not what he says.
Few of us have lived through World War 2 and none of us have lived through The Great Siege; that doesn't mean none of us can write about it does it? Your argument about my age merely proves how banal it is!
As for my appraisal of Dr. Fenech Adami it has nothing to do with what I know and what I don't know. I've probably read more SKS (Sensiela Kotba Socjalisti) literature then any other publishing house and every time I come to the same conclussion... democracy in Malta was minimal at best.
As a believer in democracy be this social democracy or christian democracy, I will give my respect to anyone who fights for democracy. Eddie Fenech Adami is one such man. This is my last post in response to your diatribes for the day. People like you are just not worth the bother!
S Abela
Apr 8th 2009, 15:01
@M. Gauci.
The MLP meetings of the 60's where drowned in church bells. Thugs did run around during the 70-80 but they wore red and also blue. The MLP supporters never toppled whole balustrades on people. Those of the PN in Zebbug did. The PN strategy was to destabilise by instigating violence. The fools obviously responded in great kind. The bombs started during the mid-70's and miraculously ended in the mid-80's. We're also still waiting for Dr. Fenech Adami to say who placed the bomb in Profs. Grech's letterbox. He did say he knew, didn't he? Just before some election. As he did with the blatant lie on Dr. Sant before the referendum, a lie to which he was found guilty (while in office).
Mr. Gauci, do not put the blame solely with those who were involved with the MLP and belittle what those involved with the PN did. They where both thugs.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 14:56
M gauci, if you know me so well, then it shold be easy to quote where I denied that the 80's incidents ever happened.
I am not playing St.Peter here, so please don't play Judas.
Of course, If in the so many write ups that I have participated in, you fail to find such evidence, and refuse to apologise, then we all know what that means don't we?
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 14:51
@ Angelo Micallef - I am giving you some sound advice in order not to be the laughing stock by writing about things you don't know much about. Things which are way above your head. Such as 'Socialist regimes' of which you know nothing about! let those who lives those times write about them! In your 'christian-democrat' zeal, you overestimate your capabilities.
All kinds attract my interest - but once again, don't be overcome by what you think of yourself!
S Abela
Apr 8th 2009, 14:46
@ Mr. Micallef,
Hearing you calling the Government of the time, Socialist Regime, all but confirms which papers of the time you read. You should broaden your mind more. There are more facts that happened during those days that are very carefully hidden and obscured by those who do not want to be associated with them today. Do you know what happened to "the police thugs" of the 80's? What colour of jacket a special group of people wore at PN meetings? Do you think that today with all the democracy EFA brought us, one can read whatever paper one wishes and be promoted?
@M.Gauci: Did the Maltese suffer hunger during the bulk-buying days? Did the Maltese coffers have Eur3 billion in depth?
Can you say what made a German chain recently in Malta successful? Bulk buying. Why do you think this chain is importing up to 90 conatiners A WEEK in Malta? Is it because the majority can afford the free prices?
The government of the time brought Malta from the 3rd world like that. The "spend now, our sons will pay later" attitude is causing us all the trouble
Karl aquilina
Apr 8th 2009, 14:23
Was he really that great??? whilst reading i couldnt help but laugh at your biased article. If you wanted to write a tribute to the supposed 'great leader' that you desire than i guess criticising the opposition should not have been mentioned.
Angelo Micallef
Apr 8th 2009, 14:21
@Franco Farrugia- You've been telling me to shut up on every occasion I've penned a single word...in case you haven't gotten the point yet, I won't be shutting up any time soon...if you don't agree with me thats your democratic right to do but hurling subtle insults and telling me to shut merely shows how irrelevant your writings really are and how it seems I always manage to attract your interest something which I'll take as a compliment; its good to have loyal readers after all!
M.Gauci
Apr 8th 2009, 14:18
Jerry J - let's not play St. Peter shall we. You know me on these blogs and I know you. We've seen each other's write ups many a time. As for things happening when EFA came to the helm in the PN... the labourites caused a stir before the 70s as well with their mass demonstrations etc. But the worse had yet to come, 70s-80s where thugs ran around unhindered. If you close an eye to such thugery you are an accomplice...and that is what the labour government was. As far as I am concerned, the little PN supporters were not angels...well the police should have done their job and arrested them ifwhat you say is true.
Not framing up innocent people or murdering people and leaving them under a bridge.
Malta was classified as a semi-free country by the west during the lovely labour admin of that time. Furthermore after the perverse 1981 elections, it should have been the labour supporters themselves to revolt against their leaders when it was patently obvious that the majority of Malta did not want labour. We are living beings, the constitution is just ink on paper.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 13:32
Angelo - May I suggest that you stick to SDM material and keep the real, hot stuff to grown-ups who lived those years and who are the only people who know what it was all about.
Bil-Malti, qalbi, ghadek fil-fisqija!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 13:07
Why you mentioned them was not under question.
You stated that EFA was elected at a time when these incidents were occuring.
The truth is that these events occured later.
It is my belief that whilst Labour thugs were a threat to democracy at the time, I also believe that no conflict is one way traffic, and that certain people within the then PN party where far from blameless with regards to this sad situation. Of course, people like Angelo Micallef will have trouble seeing this, as they seem to be struck by a severe case of colour deficiency....
As for M Gauci, could you quote were I denied that these events ever happened, or are you in the habit of making false accusations?
Of course, since you were obviously misled as to my opinion regarding 80's violence, I suggest you admit your mistake and apologise.
Failure to do so would obviously mean that you are a person who hides behind lies when attempting to win an argument.
Angelo Micallef
Apr 8th 2009, 13:06
@ S Abela:- Just because you disagree with my view does not give you the right to assume that my view is based on misinformed judgment. Indeed I've read the papers of the day and I've seen all too well what went on in those days.
The Socialist Regime of the times was nothing more then a regime trying to stay in power at all costs, even at the cost of democracy and liberty. It was thanks to Dr. Fenech Adami that Malta once again became a democratic nation.
M.Gauci
Apr 8th 2009, 12:32
I am old enough to remember the 71 till today times. I can say that never have we really been a free and modern nation as we have been since 1987 onwards. This also partly thanks to Dr. Sant, but the architect of it all was Dr. Fenech Adami. No doubt about.
The life and times of 71-87 were hard, polarised, akin to Zimbabwe a few months ago. You could not read the PN papers without fear. The beatings at meetings, the bombs, the way we lived sometimes with basic needs coming from bulk-buying (what the rest of europe used to feed to the pigs). You will still find the Jerry J's etc.. denying this, but you still find people around the world denying the holocaust. So you just take such people in your stride.
Dr. Fenech Adami, as a human did mistakes and I have no issue pointing them out, but overall he is a true statesman, a true Maltese and no one from recent history can beat his larger than life record. Dom ? Karmenu ? Sant ? Lets not mention CMJ as its still early days for him - even though someone described him as a seasonedpolitician
Angelo Micallef
Apr 8th 2009, 11:39
@ Jeremy J Camilleri- I mentioned those events precisely because those events occured under the leadership of Eddie Fenech Adami when Malta was the under the leadership of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, with Dom Mintoff duly instructing him.
@ Franco Farrugia- I see you didn't miss our regular appointment!
S Abela
Apr 8th 2009, 11:38
Mr. Micallef is too young. Too young to remember what happened between 1977 and 1987. At all costs, the power HAD to shift hands. During those 10 years Malta found many a bar in its spokes. It was those 10 years that divided the Maltese unity. He should read more of the newspapers of the era before passing certain judgements. He will then be in a position to judge what was under threat, what certain individuals did to try to hamper the then thriving Maltese economy.
De-stabilisation of the establishment was the key. And it was played to perfection.
He is also too young to remember that the 87-92 years where a cleansing excercise of the official posts and departments.
Mr. Micallef should read more of the last 20 year's history to see that the Maltese culture has switched overnight from one of caution and family centred to one of greed and laissez-faire that saw the crumbling of the Maltese family and the promotion of the shaky society we live in today.
Mr. Micallef, you should thank not just Mr. Fenech Adami but more those who before him built what Malta has today. Or had?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 10:40
So, when EFA was elected, Gorg Borg Oliviers house had been attacked?
Was the Times building burnt and ransacked before 1977?
And I thought that similar events happened later...
Franco Farrugia
Apr 8th 2009, 10:05
@ Angelo Micallef: 'Malta owes a great debt to Dr Fenech Adami and even though the current Labour leader Joseph Muscat seems to prefer the odd hamburger over functions to thank such a distinguished statesman,'
I personally think that the new President has a lot of work to do to continue sowing the seed of unity, with people like Angelo Micallef.
Reading such letters, what hope do we have of the new 'intelligensia' leaving Tal-Qroqq?