Stanley J. Clews, Sliema
Still difficult to digest
I have no intention of taking up a further exchange of correspondence with Eddy Privitera. I would, however, just like to inform him that during my 25 years in management at the Drydocks I gave the Mintoff government and every worker my fullest, loyal support.
However, I lost all confidence in him when after the seven-month industrial action, when the management took on emergency night duties in the pumping stations (to keep the docks free from flooding), the Prime Minister addressed a public mass meeting in Gavino Gulia Square for Dockyard workers – management are workers too, of course!
In his address, the Prime Minister called all ’yard workers a lazy lot of eunuchs, followed by a wage and overtime freeze and a reduction in management salaries.
When some workers present booed, they were promptly beaten up by their fellow workers. This is difficult to digest even after 28 years in retirement.
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Victor Laiviera
Feb 22nd, 09:52
Mr Clews' memory does not serve him well. I was present on that day and I know that things did not go as he relates.
Dom Mintoff did no call anybody a "eunuch". He said that the "genital equipment" of the Yard workers was not inferior to that of their German or Italian counterparts, and there was no reason for them to take longer to finish a job.
It was true that there were some who booed and left - but none of them were attacked or manhandled in any way. That is pure fiction.
Some unpopular measures were announced, in an effort to make the shipyards viable. Compare that to the measures taken by later governments who simply closed the place down and sold it off to foreigners.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 22nd, 17:12
Mr Laiviera you are obviously a die hard MLP supporter from way back so we expect your kind of support for the leader. There are two sides to the story and because of the past I tend to believe Mr Clews. I am sure that Mr Clew's memory is as good as yours. That day Mintoff offended the workers in the lowest form, even if he meant otherwise. It is not so unprecedented that some of the MLP thugs manhandled the opposition, it wouldn't be the first time they did that. Mintoff led with arrogance and an iron fist and he sanctioned physical power against those who did not agree or refused to go along with him. There is enough proof of that. You are not the only person there Mr Laiviera. I am not too crazy about the government we have now, but Mintoff was a dictator at best. Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion. Mintoff is no hero of mine.
Gerry Cowie
Feb 22nd, 09:37
Some people just cannot accept that not everything done by the Mintoff administration was necessarily liked by all.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 22nd, 10:59
He'd better hurry up and write his version of events before someone else gets in there first!