Misery under Dom Mintoff

I would like to set the record straight following my letter The Film On Dom Mintoff (April 9) reviewing the film Dear Dom and some comments questioning my historical knowledge of socialism according to Dom Mintoff.

I would like to assure both Joseph Farrugia and Dane Cauchi that I was very much alive and kicking during the “Dark Ages” when Mr Mintoff took it upon himself to decide that there was no future to look forward to for a school-leaver such as myself.

I endured Mr Mintoff’s egotistical charades and appeals to his political heavies and was deprived of choosing my own foodstuffs to protect my country’s manufacturing prowess. I was labelled for what I believed in and suffered for not adhering to communist ideals shrouded under the excuse of socialism.

I witnessed the invasion of Chinese workers who were based at Tignè Barracks and the influx of Libyans resulting in the birth of Maltese racism. No one at that time can deny that on the streets in Malta our “brothers” were also our enemies.

I was not alive to witness Mgr Michael Gonzi’s tough stance on the Labour Party resulting in the interdiction and I strongly condemn the whole concept of this mediaeval strategy, which also contributed to Malta’s division.

I do not agree that Malta was and will always be divided. When you experience life from all aspects you have to be flexible and give merits to those you do not agree with. Believing and practising socialism is noble, to say the least, but I have my sincere reservations about politicians in general putting the ideals of the party they represent into practice without dabbling in some form of extremism. People are only divided when they choose to see everything

through the lenses of their advocates rather than their own unique views. If they think Malta is divided now they will never change their opinion – ever, which is sad!

If Messrs Farrugia and Cauchi think that the divide of the 1970s and 1980s was equal to now then they are still living in the “Dark Ages”.

The whole scope of my letter was to share my opinion on the film Dear Dom and not to delve into the misery we all endured during his time.

About that subject I can speak and write volumes!