Mario Felice: A man for all seasons

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s letter about Mario Felice was not only an appreciation but an eye-opener.

I recall attending a talk by Dr Felice with my wife, whom I had just started courting, prior to the 1981 election. She wasn’t sure who to vote for considering the quality of Nationalist candidates.

His way confirms political parties always required people who think; today’s PN rank and file too have a responsibility to think and not just follow! My deepest sympathy to the family, particularly Victor, who was in my class at St Aloysius College along with Anton, son of Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, the politician whose vision I have always tried to emulate.

Victor, Anton and I had attended this odd parliamentary sitting in 1977 only to be summoned as witnesses for a Breach of Privilege motion against another man in the Strangers’ Gallery who was wrongly accused of passing negative remarks about a loud Labour minister. I can also recall their and my late father’s concern that their 15-year-old sons might have had to endure what they had been experiencing regularly since 1971.

Times change but this man was a man for all seasons.