Call for protection to Mintoff's childhood home

Peter Bonnici

Jan 21st 2010, 18:22

@ C Camilleri. Titkellimx ghal haddiehor siehbi, ahna diga konna ilna nies hafna qabel ma tfacca Mintoff. U jekk qrajt sew, lill Carrington ma fahhartux, u lanqas ma maqdart lill min (skond int) ghamlek nies.

Antoine Attard

Jan 21st 2010, 17:33

Perhaps they can requisition, upgrade it from taxpayers' funds and one day convert it to a Labour Party Club. History repeats itself

Roger Vella Bonavita

Jan 21st 2010, 16:07

Love him or hate him Mintoff was an important figure in Maltese history and he will be judged by history. As for his birthplace, should it be pulled down, the Malta Labour Party should at the very least put a commemorative plaque on whatever replaces the building recording the fact Mintoff was born there and spent time there.

C.Camilleri

Jan 21st 2010, 10:10

@ Peter Bonnici

U tort dan il vexing wasalna u avvanzajna u ghamilna nies. But as usual there is a section of our population who prefer jiftahru bil barrani milli b'Malti bhalna.

Peter Bonnici

Jan 20th 2010, 23:08

Ronnie Agius, Lord Carrington ma fahharx lill Mintoff ghax kien kapaci, imma sehhajhlu l-iktar politiku 'vexing' li qatt ghamel business mieghu. Issa aqbad dizzjunarju u mur tghallem xi tfisser "vexing".

Peter Bonnici

Jan 20th 2010, 23:05

Ronnie Agius, gab kemm gab miljuni, bqajna bla ilma, sistema tat-telefon ta zmien il-kavallieri, dawl iktar maqtugh milli mixghul, toroq isiru biz-zrar u qatran, u xorta wahda dawn swew il-miljuni kbar. Gid ghal ftit tal-madwar kemm trid, imma ghal kulhadd zgur li le.

A. Zahra

Jan 20th 2010, 21:39

@ Galea L.
I agree with you; people should stop showing any form of hatred toward the party they do not agree with, or under which they felt unhappy or mistreated, or..or...whatever.... But, by reading what you have been writing, on everything related to this administration, certainly the same is very much applicable to you ...stop showing all that hatred against the party, under which you feel unhappy, mistreated, or ..or...whatever. Everyone, and yes, everyone, ought to remember that it is one Nation...one country...one history...and one future...let us move on..we can only make if we work together...

Raymond Sammut

Jan 20th 2010, 21:04

If Muscat wants to become the next prime minister, he had better put Labour MP Chris Agius on notice and stop him reminding Maltese voters of Mintoff and his "childhood abode". The moment Maltese voters start to hear the old rhetoric -- such as, "Salvatur ta' Malta" and all that nonsense -- they will get put off and Muscat will remain in opposition for the next entire generation. Muscat should, in fact, do the opposite. He should insist that the adjacent block in Bormla gets demolished as well in order to bury Labour's ugly past and move forward instead of backward.

Alfred Camilleri

Jan 20th 2010, 20:44

'Thanks to God it was Mintoff who pulled every Maltese out of the misery' Joseph Brincat. You should have said, 'it was Mintoff who made the Maltese suffer all that misery'. By the way, kindly don't speak on my behalf. P. Gauci. Borg Olivier's house in Sliema is where he lived, not where he was born. If, as you say, it is scheduled, perhaps Mintoff's houses of residence in Tarxien and Delimara could also be listed. I am sure Mintoff would be over the moon with happiness were this to happen. Mari van Rooij. I don't think you are Maltese at all. Were you so, you would have known that Malta discarded 'Third World Country' status in 1987, when the NP came to power. Charles J. Buttigieg. I am sure that Mintoff, like all the other Prime Ministers you mentioned, would be honoured by the nation after their demise. Wouldn't preserving these houses, which for fairness sake, should include not just Mintoff's, but those of the Leaders mentioned and other famous personalities, be taking matters too far?. And how would those personalities whose house of birth is no longer standing, be honoured?

Ronnie Agius

Jan 20th 2010, 20:39

Skuzawni mhux 7 miljuni gab il-perit Mintoff fis-sena imma 14 il-miljun fis-sena dak li jfisser il-perit Dom Mintoff gid ghal kulhadd.

Mike Farrugia

Jan 20th 2010, 20:06

Min jaf kieku kien fi zmien mintoff kienx ikkollu rispett lejn xi dar ta' xi hadd tal-PN. Ma tarax x'gara fid-dar ta' EFA. Fi zmien mintoff jekk ried iwaqqa xi dar kien jaqbad u jwaqqa u kemm djar gew rekwizizjonati, fi zmienu lil nanti dahlu l-puluzija u wadabulha l-ghamara l-barra sabiex jattu l-post lill xi hadd tal-qalba.
U fuq kollox nahseb li kieku kelkhom issaqsu lil mintoff ma kienx jaghmel dan il fuss kollu forsi kien jara jistax jiddobba xi kumpens

Ronnie Agius

Jan 20th 2010, 19:49

@Giovann Said
Prosit tal-kitba dettaljata li ghidt fuq il-perit Dom Mintoff, imma tajjeb infakkruhom lil-apologisti nazzjonalisti li Lord Carrington politku kbir rispettat Ingliz kien qallu qatt ma ltqajt ma negozjatur kapaci daqsekk meta gab 7 miljuni fis-sena ghal 7 snin fejn dak inhar Malta bdiet tassew tiehu r-ruh u il-haddiem beda jiehu drittijietu u jkollu id-dar tieghu.Dak hu il-perit Mintoff ghalhekk hu IS-SALVATUR TA'MALTA u il-P.N. sahta ta' Malta kif kien jghidilom Mintoff stess u dan nistghu nikkonfermawh bhalissa ghax hlief qaghdt,taxxi,korruzzjoni,gholi tal-hajja,kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma l-ghola fl-Ewropa m'hawnx.

T Pace

Jan 20th 2010, 16:54

Perhaps, if the residents still want to remember the guy's name, they should rename the street after him.

Raymond Sammut

Jan 20th 2010, 16:52

@ J. Xuereb

If you did your research you would have found that it was Boffa who was the first Labour prime minister and who initiated government programs to help the poor such as compulsory primary schooling for all and old age pensions. Only because of poor health Boffa could not continue. But free education and free health services continued to improve immediately after the war and throughout the sixties under Borg-Olivier, even under severe economic conditions.

Mintoff brought division in the Labour party under Boffa; caused upheaval in the fifties with the failed integration policy which led him to resign in 1958; and Malta experienced the worst ever mob behaviour under his prime-ministerships of the seventies and the eighties. MP Chris Aguis was asked in parliament to provide the precise address. He should have been asked instead to provide substantiation for his claim to need of restoration.

André Xuereb

Jan 20th 2010, 14:20

To J Xuereb, et al.: Yes, Mr Mintoff introduced several very, very important social measures, and for those I am amongst the foremost to thank him. The problem is that under his leadership, in the late '70s and throughout most of the '80s, Malta went through a bit of a "dark phase" -- this is of course denied by about half the population. I could not care less whether you (or anyone else) believes me or not. Life in that period was not good for those who were not Labour party supporters.

Having said that -- to reiterate, Mr Mintoff did a whole load of good and a whole load of bad -- I do not see why anyone's house should be preserved. Yes, OK, an important person lived there. So what? That person could be Mintoff, EFA, Karol Wojtyla, Mohammed, ... and I would say the same thing. Urban regeneration is more important than any one house.

joe schembri

Jan 20th 2010, 13:33

THANKS HON CRIS AGIUS..YOU DID A GREAT JOB..ALL PARLAMENTARIES SHOULD SUPPORT YOUR REQUEST,,AS THE MAJORITY OF THE MALTESE IM SURE WILL DO...THIS HOUSE MUST BE PROTECTED,,AS OTHER HOUSE AROUND ALL MALTA AND GOZO ARE..A MARBE SLAB SHOULD FIXED OUTSIDE THIS MUSEUM TO SHOW THAT IN THAT HOUSE DOM MINTOFF WAS BORN............WELL DONE HON CHRIS AND IM SURE ALL 65 MEMBERS OF PARLAMENT ...........

J. Xuereb

Jan 20th 2010, 13:16

To all those who hate Mintoff. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have the social benefits and services that you are still enjoying today. Mintoff came at the right time, and Malta needed a tough person to lead during that hard time. No other person has done the greatest things a country should have; minimum wage, where no employer can pay his employees less than a particular limit, social services and benefits, free health services. etc. I tell all those who are politically minded to do some research (from good sources) about this great person, instead of falling in the trap of believing every word said by Mintoff's rivals. Mintoff worked hard to elevate the poor, and whether you like it or not he is the only prime minister who did the greatest things in Malta, after so much suffering and poverty. You better do some good research and read about the truth!!!

S. Vella

Jan 20th 2010, 12:57

I don't really care for politics be they red, blue or green but this suggestion is simply hilarious!
If we start preserving houses of "prominent" politicians, we'll run out of real estate in a few years.

B. Zammit

Jan 20th 2010, 12:51

What do the present owners of the house have to say?
Their property rights should come first.

B Galea

Jan 20th 2010, 11:05

Good initiative - not because I especially liked Mintoff's politics, but for better or worse he was a leading figure in 20th century Malta, and a Maltese statesman known across Europe.

One can imagine the place being turned into a place of interest for tourists to look at (similar to say Freud's house in Vienna), with the money generated being put towards the regeneration of Cospicua itself.

Let's not turn an issue as simple as this into a blue vs red match too, please.

Peter Korsten

Jan 20th 2010, 09:30

It's not unusual for (local) governments to preserve the house(s) where an important politician once lived. The question is, however, if this will happen to such a figure as Mintoff. Because, whilst carefully avoiding the question regarding his legacy, that is about the only thing that people agree upon: that he was devise, and still is.

And another, perhaps more important, question is: how important is it for the nation's collective memory that this particular house would be protected? Whether his legacy is positive or not is irrelevant; after all, the house where a certain Austrian/German dictator was born still stands, and is one of the sights of Braunau am Inn.

So, has Mintoff been important enough in Maltese politics to protect that one house? Regardless of what you think of him?

Raphael Dingli

Jan 20th 2010, 04:06

Please please - will you all please grow up. The comments here truly reflect the immature level of the maltese politcal reality in 2010. Whether he was a dictator a saviour or a traitor he was still the leading maltese statesman of his time and did achieve some significant milestones for Malta. He also held on to power for too long and manipulated the police and made some unfavourable decisions which efffected his political opponents and their followers. He was no Stalin or Mao though so critics should temper their attacks and adulants should recognise his weaknesses. This exagerraated adulation and hatred must surely be considered for inclusion in any political museum. Although I guess it will be maintained in the collective memory.

laurence schembri

Jan 20th 2010, 00:17

To the man proposing that Mintoff`s house should be demolished, will he also refuse to draw his pension? How can people spew so much hate is beyond comprehension. This is the kind of a person that upon his demise will go out and celebrate.

Kevin Borg

Jan 19th 2010, 22:57

If the date of this article was April first I would be convienced to beleive there was some sense behind this idea. And by the way, if this idea will eventually materialise can please the honorable MP tell us who will be supplying the candles?

Joseph Ellul - Sydney

Jan 19th 2010, 22:18

History is history but life goes on and sometimes an old building will have to go. I suggest that this particular house be disassembled and cut up in 100mm cubes. An inscription be put on each cube and sold off to the public as memos. All profits to be donated to a charity.
I think that many people will buy one or two, even those who are against Mintoff. The proceeds go to charity but what you do with the stone cube is left to ones immagination.

Alfred Cassar

Jan 19th 2010, 21:52

If this house is in the middle of a slum area which is being demolished and rebuilt, it should also be demolished whether there lived Mintoff, GBO, EFA, or even the Pope himself.
If Hon Chris Agius wants it restored, he should demolish it carefully and rebuilt it in his backyard and open it to the public

Maria Camilleri

Jan 19th 2010, 21:31

During Mintoff''s times we were used to the slogan "Malta l-Ewwel u Qabel Kollox" and now for the past years the slogan has been "Malta l-ahhar f'Kollox".

Jesmond Abela

Jan 19th 2010, 20:59

Mr Mintoff !!!!!!! what a name and bad memories of my childhood. Get rid of it, the better the sooner. If he wants Mr Chris Agius buys it himself and restore it himself. We had enough of that name and person.

Pule' Carmel

Jan 19th 2010, 20:51

Mintoff was a useful man indeed, but he was a very lucky man to have lived in an era when the economy was based on the income from the british military , naval and airforce which later was extended in turn of British tourism, as the name Malta in Britain was spoken of through two generations.
But when the British started losing their dominions and the british empire started dwindlling down, the British lost their teeth and started evacuating their stations overseas. This is where Mintoff paniced and statred showing signs of political breakdown as he was not trained to generate wealth through exportaion of local services and products. He paniced and started building factories many of which remained empty. We could build the stone work but not the markets. All this saw us through chocolate and old fashioned textiles which went kaput. Then started the Libyan and Russian connection which the British and the American nations realised the form of blackmail Mintoff was up to and for what reason. The Libyan , Russian short affair was a dangerous proposition for Malta and it could have resulted in havoc for Malta and Mintoff himself. Thank God it did not last.

N.Cortis

Jan 19th 2010, 20:11

Mr.Martinelli and all blue eyed------Quote "Social Policy Minister JOHN DALLI requested the exact address and details on the HISTORICAL VALUE of the house so that the necessary verification could be made.
The above statement says it all !!!!!!!! As to the fact that there people hating or loving Mr.Mintoff--------I agree------but this same statement is also said about Dr.Fenech Adami.

Gerry Cowie

Jan 19th 2010, 19:56

I guess it all boils down to whether or not you or somebody you knew suffered or gained during the time during which Mintoff was in power.
We all know those who do not regard him as saint and saviour and equally those who praise him to the skies. There are always two sides, though the pro Mintoff side is usually the noisiest! One wonders why that is?
Does he deserve his house being made into some kind of shrine or museum?
Some say yes and some say no.
If everything else is being cleared it would make sense to demolish that house and I feel somehow that the progressive part of Mintoff might well agree. After all he was all for change.
Then one might look at how some of the horrors of the past have been preserved as a reminder to mankind that they should never be repeated.
So those who oppose the preservation of the house of Mintoff, since they did not perhaps enjoy the benefits which his supporters did, might like to equally preserve it as a reminder of the regime which was sadly not all things to all people!
That way everybody gains an advantage!

Denis Catania

Jan 19th 2010, 19:43

Mintoff was no dictator, altough with two super powers like China and Russia on his side he could have became a, especially with the type of cowards we had in Malta (some are commenting on this blog). For the sake of the Maltese people he chose not to become a dictator. For tha I commend Prime Minister Dom Mintoff. As a PN supporter I wish PM Gonzi has the guts Mintoff had.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 19th 2010, 19:37

@ J. Abela

Mintoff,Strickland,Mizzi, Boffa,GBO,KMB,EFA,Sant and Gonzi are not just like you and me, they are the people who, in their different ways, led our forefathers and us to build a country which we are proud of. My father supported Strickland, Boffa and Mintoff, I supported Mintoff and his Labour Leaders successors yet I have no difficulty to admit that the Nationalist Leaders also gave their best for us to arrive where we are to-day. These politicians gave us a lot and we are all in duty bound to treat them with respect and honour their memory when they are resting in eternal peace.

Lino Fava

Jan 19th 2010, 19:35

I was sorry for what he did to the labour party but still he was the best of all the Maltese leaders we ever had. I pity the mind of those who tries to belittle Dom or try to say that he was a tyrannt. We can say he was the shield for Maltese from the dragons and serpents that we have around us. Thanks to Dom that we are to say that we can hold our head up and proud.

Joseph Brincat

Jan 19th 2010, 19:22

@R Sammut

I am never afraid to speak for myself especially when I remember Dom Mintoff.

It was he who brought social justice, gave a future to the poor widows and orphans,
free education to all, free health, and so many other benefits that I don't have enough space here to make you remember some of them.

My mum and dad were proud to be Mintoffians and pure Labourites.

mari van rooij

Jan 19th 2010, 19:21

@ G MANGION Dear sir if there was no Mintoff where you think you be on this moment ?????
By the way i am and feel more Maltese then you because i have respect and you not to read your words.
My father in law was forced in the ,sixties to leave his house a few days before christmas with his family of 11 children this was under a not labour goverment who is the DICTATOR ?????
And Mr Mintoff arranged a place to stay for christmas what a nice goverment was in power very democratic please think before you talk thank you in advance and be proud of your last 70 years of history because without the fighter DOM you be in a third world country think again regards and no hard feelings make love no war.

Raymond Sammut

Jan 19th 2010, 18:38

@ Joseph Brincat

Your "father and mother"? Please speak for yourself.

Joseph Scicluna

Jan 19th 2010, 18:15

Who is this Mintoff you are talking about? Mintoff the dictator, the saviour or the traitor?

Peter Bonnici

Jan 19th 2010, 18:15

@ Dane Cauchi. Great idea, anything related to the Mintoff era should be placed on display at some Mintoff museum. Its one thing displaying his distinctively buckled belt, or his spectacles, but have you got any idea as to how we could display confiscated properties?

G .Mangion

Jan 19th 2010, 18:15

@ Joseph Brincat

First, if you want to call Mr mintoff your Father, DO , BUT pls Dont include Me since I am Maltese !!! My Father lived at Mintoff's Regime and suffered a lot , by the way he ruled Malta !
@ mari van rooij

Mintoff was not a person like you and me he was, He was the greatest Dictator of All .....

J Farrugia

Jan 19th 2010, 18:06

I cannot stand hypocrisy from the Labour elves. Have you forgotten those who shouted traitor in 1998? Have you forgotten that it was a labour MP who tried to savage Dom Mintoff for not voting with Labour? We have never forgotten what thisman did to Malta in 1955-58, and in 1971- 1987 (even under his protegee KMB). Never will Malta forget the criminality which was rampant in his time without being stopped by the Salvatur. No we will never forget that it was Mintoff who ruined many a youngman's career by the stupid studentworkers scheme. No one must forget all this and we dont owe anything to Mintoff. Nationalist blood was shed when he decided that enough was enough. Otherwise Malta would have become the Rhodesia of the Med. So we owe him nothing. It is he who owes Maltaan apology. Reconciliation must come from the Labour lot and not from those who suffered at the hands of Labour. And dont come lying about the hardship labour supporters are undergoing.

GiovDeMartino

Jan 19th 2010, 18:00

Th sooner this house is demolished, the better. Th name Mintoff brings back frightening memories. Only those who lived io those dark years can understand what hell we had go through when he was prime minister.

Peter Bonnici

Jan 19th 2010, 17:56

I do not wan't to get into the merits of whether the house ought to be protected or not, but...

@ Joseph Brincat. Please don't speak on my behalf, thanks.

@ P Gauci. GBO's house in Sliema is protected for its architectural value. Apart from that it is the house in which he lived as PM. If anything at all, the villa and sprawling grounds Mintoff lived in as PM in Tarxien should be protected. Oh and the other Villa in Delimara, we'll schedule that too. (Hmmm... not bad for a socialist who spent his life preaching against the excesses of the wealthy few.)

Dane Cauchi

Jan 19th 2010, 17:42

Everything related to Dom Mintoff should be stored away and placed in a national museum dedicated to the Man. In the first place a Mintoff library should be organised in where one would find Mintoff’s writings and speeches in relation to the particular era or struggle.

E Gatt

Jan 19th 2010, 17:29

@ P Gauci

Dr Borg Olivier’s house in Sliema is the house he lived in after he got married. The house belongs to his heirs and not to the state.

As far as I am aware Dom Mintoff lives in Delimara and Tarxien – if you had to inform him that these buildings should be listed he might not be too pleased. Mintoff was financially successful, and he recently received significant compensation for Delimara and also some prize money from Gaddafi. If he feels attached to his childhood house, he could perhaps fund the purchase of his old house himself and bequeath it to the country.

wally vella-zarb

Jan 19th 2010, 17:28

@ Martinelli

Right on cue! Thank you continuing to prove my point. With people like you on the PN side, the Labour Party continues to become ever more attractive to rational floating voters. Do keep it up!

Joseph Brincat

Jan 19th 2010, 16:24

If we forget DOM MINTOFF we would be forgetting our own father and mother, dear R Messrs. A. Cassar and R. Sammut and Martinelli.
Thanks to God it was Mintoff who pulled every maltese out of the misery.

P. Gauci

Jan 19th 2010, 15:58

I cannot understand all this fuss. Dom Mintoff was the longest serving Prime Minister of Malta and whether we support him or not should not be an issue. His home should be taken over by the authorities and restored as any decent country would do.

Apart from this we should also keep in mind that the house of former Prime Minister George Borg Olivier, in George Borg Olivier Street Sliema, is a scheduled building. There is also a plaque on the facade of the house.

What was done with Borg Olivier's house should also be done with Mr. Mintoff's house.

André Xuereb

Jan 19th 2010, 15:56

A Cassar: "Parliament will discuss and decide." -- Yes, because that is exactly what they're paid to do. Discuss whether a house in a slum area is worth saving.

For heaven's sake when is this country going to grow up? I suggest that whoever wants to save Mintoff's house could help the demolition crew, get hold of the stones and rebuilds the house somewhere else on their own property. Then everyone will be happy.

A Cassar

Jan 19th 2010, 15:31

Love him or hate him? Hero or villian?
Whatever your opinion about Mintoff no one can argue that he is not one of the most important politicians of the last century.
Future generation will decide how to remember him in history. Will this house represent an important part of our history?? Parliament will discuss and decide

Raymond Sammut

Jan 19th 2010, 15:10

I remember the days when we used to hang this picture in the "intrata" -- gold-plated frame, too. ("We had such dreams back then" -- not even Monte Cristo can imagine!) Joseph Muscat was still holding his milk-bottle. If Joseph Muscat now wants to run the country, he should put labour MP Chris Agius on notice, and get him to table instead some decent piece of legislation that would protect Malta's heritage and fauna. Malta of 2010 has well and truly had enough of the Mintoff cult, and it will get nowhere with this kind of partisan psychology that labour MP Chris Agius is proposing here. Malta cannot be in any mood to indulge in Labour party paraphernalia.

Galea. L

Jan 19th 2010, 15:07

J Martinelli
Forget the MLP years? Never Martinelli, because in those years the poor people were taken care of while under the PN Governments the middle class has become poor. Mintoff gave us 52 extra days leave because Saturday was a working day under PN, Mintoff gave us bonuses, established the minimum wage, maternity leave, equal wages for women, 40-hour week, voting at 18, social housing, social services, an efficient health service, COLA across the board, and a myriad other benefits that we shall never forget. You would be better off being concerned on whatever happens in Canada and leave the Maltese citizens living in Malta to argue among themselves and stop showing your hatred for everything Labour Martinelli.

Mark Degiorgio

Jan 19th 2010, 14:31

So we've raped Sliema, St Julians, we're slowly destroying Kalkara (see the number of townhouses demolished on the front there in just the last frew months).
Now by calling a block of houses "Slum buildings" MEPA allows the demolishion of town houses to be replaced by yet more FLATS inside an area of historic value (Cottonera). These are the first row of houses across the road from the BASTIONS. 100m
away from the Cospicua (St Helen) Gate. So of course Mintoff's house should be safeguarded, not (only) because of who lived in it but because it and all the others in its block are in a conservation area.

tony abela

Jan 19th 2010, 14:26

Without Mintoff the PN would have not been able to be recorded in history that they got Malta in the EU.

They would have never had the chance to be in Government for 20 years.

So please PN bloggers stop spreading more hate and let's grow up and be one Nation.

Whether Mintoff's childhood house should or should not be protected can then be judged better and the good of the Nation will also be judged better.

Thank all those truly good willing Maltese

GIOVANN SAID

Jan 19th 2010, 13:56

@ J. Abela

Milli nista' nifhem, int qed tghid li Mintoff ma huwa hadd specjali. Ha nghidlek jien min hu Mintoff:
(a) Il-mexxej li bena lil pajjizna wara t-telqa li hallewh fiha l-Gvernijiet Nazzjonalisti tas-sittinijiet;
(b) il-bniedem li waqqaf is-servizzi socjali li ghandna fil-pajjiz fosthom il-paid vacation leave, sick leave tal-haddiema, maternity leaf ghan-nisa tqal, il-pensjoni lill-anzjani u ohrajn;
(c) il-mexxej li waqqaf l-Air Malta (in-Nazzjonalisti kienu jghidulha l-ghasafar tac-comb) u s-Sea Malta - illum privatizzati grazzi ghall-PN fil-Gvern;
(d) il-bniedem li sewwa d-dghufijiet tat-trattat bazwi li l-PN ghamel mal-Inglizi dwar in-newtralita' ta' Malta u welled lil Malta Repubblika u aktar tard, hielsa;
(e) il-mexxej ta' principju li ma bezax jivvota kontra l-Gvern tieghu stess meta ra li certi decizjonijiet ma kinux qed jittiehdu fl-ahjar interess tal-klassi tal-haddiema.

Jidhirlek int li dan mhu xejn? Kellu bzonn il-mexxejja kollha tal-PN matul iz-zminijiet ghamlu mqar nofs il-gid li ghamel Mintoff meta kien Prim Ministru tal-pajjiz!!

T. Bugeja

Jan 19th 2010, 13:52

I fully agree with J. Abela. Not even San Gorg Preca's house was preserved (and please note it was converted into a Gaming room which is not in function any more) I see no reason why Mr. Mintoff's childhood home should be saved. Unless it is not scheduled as being historically value then the request is ridiculous.

C.ZARB

Jan 19th 2010, 13:17

@ J Abela

San Gorg built il Museum while people like George Borg Olivier and Duminku Mintoff built a nation.
Now I understand that Malta is a catholic nation who wouldn't mind having its country being lead like a parrocca or a youth center. On the other hand, while I do agree that San Gorg's house should be protected, I still believe that people like Mintoff did more to Malta than any saint, archbishop or pope had done to this nation.

C.Zarb

Jan 19th 2010, 13:09

I never agreed much with Mintoff's policies. Stating that he is one of the foundations of our country's history and his childhood home should be protected. I only wish that Malta had more people like him and less yes men in parliament!

J Martinelli

Jan 19th 2010, 13:04

@ wally vella-zarb

LP supporters constantly remind NP supporters that the 1971-1987 past should be forgotten.

Architect Dom Mintoff was what made that same era, an era which, according to the LP should be put behind us and forgotten.

So why would anyone, including LP supporters preserve something which the architect (pun intended) of that era, continues to remind them of ?! One cannot have it both ways!

Galea. L

Jan 19th 2010, 12:41

wally vella-zarb
Totally agree with you. And they say they want reconciliation!!!!!!!!!!

J Farrugia

Jan 19th 2010, 12:34

He loved Cospicua so much that he absolutely did nothign for them. It had to be concurrent nationalist administrations which made the Cottonera area what it is today, a hive of activity. Even the mayor did more to his hometown than this Mintoff ever did to Bormla. All the upgrading in the cottonera area was done by PN adminsitrations. History cannot be changed.

Ian Fenech

Jan 19th 2010, 12:06

There is no doubt that Don Mintoff has an important place in Maltese history. He has done great things for Malta, especially for the lower income workers, and had a hand in Malta becoming independent and a republic, but one cannot praise the man without remembering what went on in the late 70' and early 80's. This same man was also responsable for countless suffering of thousands of people during the 'Dictatorship years'.
I know that I am going to get rapped by the Mintoff supporters and the young, but this is our history. Although most of the young people of today have no recollection and disbelief in what when on during these years, we cannot forget the great suffering Mintoff caused.
I don't know if we can seperate the great statesman from the terrible dictator, but I know this debate will always be controversial. Having visited Turkey and seen several houses where Ataturk ( He created the Turkish republic) lived, I was surprised to learn how many people love him and others despise him. What I coulndn't understand, is the value of saving so many residences, wher ehe stayed. What is for sure is that Cospicua deserves and uplift....

P Borg

Jan 19th 2010, 12:00

And we should even ask the pope to go and bless the place once we're at it!

And yes, the attraction should be turned into some sort of inquisitor's palace as being the place from where the instigator of one of the darkest moments in Maltese political history was brought up!

E Gatt

Jan 19th 2010, 11:11

If Mr Chris Agius feels that Mintoff’s old house is worth postponing a slum clearance project, then he could start a fund-raising campaign to buy the old house, and give taxpayers a break. Mr Agius could also suggest to his own party, that they swap one of their many properties (example Australia House in Pembroke) for the old house.

Mr Agius should also remember that Dom Mintoff is not adored by the whole population.

Joseph Cauchi

Jan 19th 2010, 11:07

@ Chris Agius,

I find the expression by the actor Clark Gabel in the movie “Gone with the Wind”, quite appropriate in the circumstances, when Rhett Butler tells Scarlett, “Frankly, my dear I don’t give a damn”

JC.

wally vella-zarb

Jan 19th 2010, 11:05

The hatred that is nurtured towards Dom Mintoff and anything that has to do with the Labour Party knows no bounds and exemplifies the true colours that are characteristic of SOME of the supporters of the party that is continually pontificating about 'christian values'. With all his faults, the contribution that Mintoff made towards the development of post-war Malta, especially in the area of social services, emancipation, national pride and the elimination of destitution, cannot be erased from the collective memory. We owe it to future generations that the memory of this great leader is not allowed to slip into oblivion.

M. J. Mallia

Jan 19th 2010, 10:38

One would not need Mintoff's childhood home for his memory to linger on. It will remain alive - though not for the reasons he may wish - for generations to come.

mari van rooij

Jan 19th 2010, 10:38

@J.Abela,
Sorry sir/madam Mr. Mintoff was not a person like you and me he was the foundation of Malta how it is now a great personality with good and bad things like you and me viva MALTA.

S. Caruana

Jan 19th 2010, 10:26

This is a very good idea of protecting such a house, since this is all history.
Ex Prim Minister Dom Mintoff was brought up in Cospicua as a Child. He Loved COSPICUA and the surroundings especially People.

His house would be a Monument and could be transformed into a museum, so that Maltese people, but especially tourist who come to visit such place, will know who was really Dom Mintoff. This would be an honour for the Good things he did when he was in Power, especially with middle class workers. We all should remember that he provided alot of Social Benefits, such as free housing and free Health which today people are still enjoying.

So I think that such an idea, for preserving such a Monument should b taken in consideration.
May be the Local Council will have a role in such an idea.

People who were in Power ( Ex Prime Ministers of Malta ) should be respected and thanked for the Good they have done to Improve the Life of the Maltese People, even tough they might have done some mistakes.

Grazzi Ta` Kollox Dom Mintoff

Raymond Sammut

Jan 19th 2010, 10:16

Nowhere have I ever read here in The Times about Labour MP Chris Agius urging the authorities to protect Baħrija, as it is his duty to do so. Is this residence in a protected zone; or has it ever been mentioned in Malta's history texts? If the Labour party want to restore a private residence for their own political purposes, then labour MP Chris Agius should be notified by the Maltese authorities that he should instead direct his urging at the PL's purser. Labour MP Chris Agius has no right to expect the Maltese tax-payer to shoulder the bill.

Marthese Gatt

Jan 19th 2010, 10:15

If we treasure and consider as heritage houses the old village residences of some quasi-obscure but historical figures, we should do the same and more to a house connected with the greatest political statesman in Malta's history.

J. Abela

Jan 19th 2010, 10:11

Does this Hon. Gentleman think that a slum clearance project can go ahead without pulling down all the properties that exist on the site, like Dom Mintoff used to do in Valletta, when he ordered all slums to be cleared for new buildings to be erected thereon? And who is this Hon Gentleman to call for this 'house' to be protected? Malta did not even protect San Gorg Preca's house from new development why should Malta protect Mintoff's childhood home? He's no saint. He's just like you and me. just a man.