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Monday, August 20, 2012, 21:22

Dom Mintoff, Malta's political giant, passes away

Dom Mintoff, the man who held sway over Maltese politics for half a century and pulled the carpet under two Labour governments, has passed away, aged 96.

He died at his residence in Tarxien.

Malta's longest serving politician, Mintoff served in the House of Representatives between 1947 and 1998 and remained at the heart of Maltese politics right up to 2003, when he campaigned against Malta joining the European Union.

A socialist throughout his life, Il-Perit will be remembered most for social reforms and the welfare state he engineered as Prime Minister between 1955-58 and between 1971 and 1984.

He will also be remembered as the man who undermined Paul Boffa's government in the late 1940s and Alfred Sant's government a generation later.

Mintoff's first government in 1955 also ended in resignation and turmoil in 1958 after the failure of his campaign for integration with Britain .

He then went in the opposite direction, pushing for independence, only to be beaten to it by George Borg Olivier.

Mintoff, however, was to go a step further, making Malta a Republic in 1974 and then overseeing the closure of the British military base on March 31, 1979, clearly the most important day of his political life.

Educated in Britain and married to a Briton, Mintoff looked East, rather than West during his years at the helm of the Maltese government.

Lighting the torch on March 31, 1979.

Within months of taking office in 1971, tough negotiations with Britain's Lord Carrington forged a new defence and financial agreement leading to the end of 200 years of British military presence in 1979.

And within hours of achieving that agreement, he surprised the Western democracies by flying off to Communist China to establish a lasting friendship which included generous assistance for infrastructural projects, notably the Red China dock and the Freeport.

But despite shifting to the East and labelling Western Europe as the Europe of Cain, Mintoff's policies remained something of a mystery - the then USSR was allowed to open an embassy here only in the 1980s. At the same time Mintoff insisted that Malta's future lay in neutrality and non-alignment, which he was to eventually to hammer into the constitution in 1987 in return for the most elementary of democratic safeguards – majority rule.

Mintoff also forged a close friendship with Muammar Gaddafi, who bankrolled him in the early months of his 1971 government as funds ran dry and Britain threatened to pull out its forces from Malta. The friendship with Gaddafi was to endure, despite a dispute over oil exploration rights which saw Mintoff calling Libyan action to stop Maltese exploration as the 'actions of the worst enemy'.

When not fighting the British, Mintoff was, most of the time, fighting the Church. Matters came to a head in the 1960s, probably costing the Labour Party the two elections held in that decade. Peace was eventually reached, but Mintoff continued to erode the privileges and influence of the Church – such as by introducing civil marriage.

The son of a cook of the British Royal Navy, Mintoff studied at Oxford during the war years and on his return to Malta had a mercurial rise in the Labour Party. He was appointed to the Council of Government in 1945 and was elected for the first time in the in 1947 general election, which returned a Labour government.

Mintoff was responsible for post-war reconstruction.

He was Minister for Reconstruction under Prime Minister Paul Boffa and became party deputy leader. Disagreement with what he viewed as Boffa's weak stance in Malta's demands for more generous post-war assistance eventually saw him oust and replace Boffa at the party helm in 1949. The Labour Party split and Boffa set up the Malta Workers' Party. Boffa was eventually to ally himself with George Borg Olivier for a succession of weak Nationalist governments.

Mintoff became prime minister – Malta's youngest so far – in 1955. His plan for integration with Britain failed however – not least because of opposition from the Church. A Break With Britain resolution was adopted and social unrest led to the suspension of the constitution in 1958 after Mintoff resigned. Relations with the Church worsened and Archbishop Gonzi declared before the 1962 election that anyone voting for Labour would be committing a sin.

Back in power in 1971, Il-Perit's grip on the government was absolute – he was also foreign minister and home affairs minister for most of his years as prime minister. The hallmark of his administration were a raft of social benefits -including better pensions, children's allowance and the minimum wage - aimed at raising the living standards of the lower strata of society.

The economy grew rapidly but eventually became a command economy with imports, in particular, closely controlled by the government which adopted a policy of bulk buying and shunned imports from countries with which Malta had an unfavourable trade balance. Various sectors, such as the provision of fuel, broadcasting and the banks, were brought under government control. Private hospitals closed their doors, though not without a fight. The Mintoff government however, set up companies such as Air Malta and Sea Malta, which were key for economic development.

There were various outbreaks of violence, notably during a long running strike by doctors. On October 15, 1979 an angry party supporter managed to make his way almost to Mintoff's office at the Auberge de Castille. A shot was fired. Mintoff was never in danger, but violence followed. The offices of The Times were torched and the residence of Opposition leader Eddie Fenech Adami was ransacked, with his wife beaten up. Mintoff said he was sorry, but no one was ever arraigned.

Matters were to sink lower in 1981 when Labour won a majority of seats in the House while the Nationalist Party won a majority of votes. Mintoff still formed a government, despite indicating later that he only did so because of pressure from his party.

He eventually handed over the reins to his hand-picked successor Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici in 1984 but continued to pull the strings until Labour lost the 1987 election.

Mifsud Bonnici was the most prominent of Mintoff's former political adversaries to become his friends – he had been very active in the Church's fight in the 1960s against Labour, as was Toni Pellegrini, who Mintoff was to make head of Xandir Malta.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat greeting Dom Mintoff during his first visit to the Labour HQ in Hamrun.

Alfred Sant, elected Labour leader after after the 1992 elections, sought to move the party away from the Mintoff legacy but was stopped short by Mintoff himself when he voted against Sant's government in 1998, bringing it down. It was only after Joseph Muscat was elected to the helm of the Labour Party that the party reopened itself to Dom Minoff and Muscat himself welcomed Mintoff to the new Labour HQ in Hamrun - from which Mintoff had kept away in the Sant years.

Throughout his years as party leader Mintoff was revered by his supporters – one only needs to see how many Labour supporters, now in middle age - are called Dominic. A man who hardly ever held press conferences, never held consultation meetings and hardly allowed anyone a glimpse into his private life, Mintoff used to captivate Labourites with his fiery, sometime vulgar, sometimes humorous and always brilliant oratory.

Right until old age he used to go for a swim at Delimara all year round, come rain or shine. He also used to enjoy horse riding and bowls.

As his chapter closes, many will remember what was at the heart of his beliefs and at the end of all his speeches – Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox.

THE TIMES SUPPLEMENT ON DOM MINTOFF

The Times will tomorrow feature a special supplement on Dom Mintoff.

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265 Comments

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John Pace

Aug 30th 2012, 16:03

The late former Prime Minister was a visionary, driving force in laying the foundation for a free indipendent ,self governed nation. All this in the face of adversity. I sincerely hope that this and future generations will cherish and hold these same ideals.Thank you Sir Perit Dom. Mintoff, may God bless and God speed. You are my hero!!

Bill Millam

Aug 29th 2012, 16:13

Hadd wara Hadd tasal ta' kulhadd.
Good riddance!

Bill Millam
Los Angeles

Brian Farrugia

Aug 29th 2012, 07:15

May I wish you a small rest then much more work.
Don`t forget us, we still need you!

Charles Portelli

Aug 24th 2012, 12:38

Dom Mintoff was a great leader he was strong willed and unwavering in his actions when he felt that they would benefit society. He was responsible for so many things that that Malta Benefits from to day, minimum wage, the separation from Church and state, maternity leave, children’s allowance, removal of slums, public housing, free health care and pensions, he created the well fare state in Malta. These are the corner stones of a society that tries to take care of its people. Mintoff also made sure that the Head of state of Malta is Maltese and asserted Maltese sovereignty by making sure that Malta is not used as a military base by other countries. He showed that one of the smallest countries in the world can survive on its own. Would anyone like to live in a Malta without these achievements?

Obviously no one can be perfect, there are some people that didn’t always agree with Dom Mintoff but like him or not, Malta needed Dom Mintoff!

Joseph P. Borg

Sep 7th 2012, 13:22

Mr C Portelli,
Why is it that blindfolded supporters of Dom Mintoff keep crediting him with achievements carried out by the Father of the Workers , Sir Paul Boffa. Mintoff did not create the Wellfare State , he built on what others had initiated.
Voting rights for women, compulsary education, old age pension and income tax were all introduced before Mintoff ousted Paul Boffa from leadershipof the Malta Labour party.
Minimum wage was introduced ,and initially applicable to government employees in 1966 when Mintoff was not in government. In 1974 Mintoff made minimum wage applicable to all workers,
Do not try to rewrite history , to give glory to whom you support

Albert Falzon

Aug 23rd 2012, 16:56

Duminku Mintoff was a political giant with no equals. He strived for the betterment of worker conditions and social justice. He worked tirelessly for the Maltese Nation, the downtrodden and for Malta's self determination, free from the shackles of a foreign power. And for the first time in the lives of most of us we could walk with our heads held high in the thought that we a free nation, who have the wisdom and the courage to make our own plans and decisions. A man of stamina, high intellect, political genius, master debator and negotiatior, and an architect of this Nation's history which also carries on today through his social justice reforms. Though life is not also easy for a small country with very few primary resources and sources of energy like ours we should feel proud in our skins that we are masters of our lives and we all are indebted somewhat to this great man.

May you now rest in peace ghaziz Duminku Mintoff.

Robert Falzon
NSW - Australia

Joseph Ellul-Grech

Aug 23rd 2012, 10:57

Dom Mintoff the man and archeticet with determination and forsight who gave the MALTESE NATION its EDUCATION, DIGNITY ,SEFL-DETERMIONATION AND FREEDOM. MAY HE R.I.P. Condolences to all.

John Benner

Aug 21st 2012, 23:33

I send my condolences to the family he leaves behind , you have to respect him for the office he held twice , a man whose reputation for standing up to the Roman Catholic church , and the British divided the nation. I have read many comments here today but I wish people would not rewrite history , he did many good things only equaled by the many bad decisions he made .I have read a lot about Mintoff especially after being brought up by a Maltese mother and an English father who I remember had a love hate relationship with him and his policies ,one myth which needs dispelling is that free compulsory education was introduced by him just read Maltese history it was introduced by the British in fact for all his anti British rhetoric he actually carried on with many of the institutions that were introduced by the British .

James Goode

Aug 21st 2012, 16:45

As an ex-Royal navy man I sincerely regret that Dom has died.

We may not have liked his policies in removing us from Malta in 1979 but we admired the Man

Jim Goode
Lascaris (Malta) Association

Christian Sciberras

Aug 21st 2012, 16:43

Finally, one bad chapter of Maltese history closed for good.

This man killed progress in Malta for 40 years, and these people below can't say anything better than "he was liek the best politician eva!"

I'm so ashamed of my ancestry right now. That's saying a lot considering the achievements and what it lived to... which crumbled to dust in these few years.

John Briffa

Aug 21st 2012, 23:25

You should be ashamed to ignore the progress Malta had achieved since Mintoff voiced his opinions economically and culturelly. I, like thousands of Maltese had to immigrate to foreign countries to earn a decent living.Please educate yourself about a political giant who was not afraid to speak up for the Maltese citizens.Mintoff always said Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Thanks Perit for giving us an ID.

Christian Sciberras

Aug 22nd 2012, 10:40

I *AM* ashamed knowing the people I've always been surrounded with do not have half a clue about governing an island. It's been like that, and it will always stay like that.

Mr Briffa, you yourself admit you had to move elsewhere to get a decent living - didn't you wonder why?

Let me tell you something, I know a *LOT* of people that have been forced to move elsewhere because of the political climate, yet they easily fall for and adore Dom Mintoff (or his great adversary).

That isn't being proud, that's plain being ashamed knowing people act like sheep, on both sides of politics.

By the way, what's all this talk about "perit" or not? My profession is ten times as difficult as his was, and I'm certainly risking my reputation when talking openly about this issue - something most of you people don't.

Mrs c. Lazzari Portelli

Aug 21st 2012, 16:10

No doubts The Best Political leader Malta has ever had...He was courageous and as I already read in the comments THE BEST NOGOTIATOR EVER!!! If one honestly looks at all he did and achieved for Malta seems impossible he did all that...but some do not want to remember as they are fanatics of just a political party and do not see what is GOOD as GOOD if done by whom they do not support!!!
He did lots and lots of Good for Malta...He did a lot of changes but always knew what he was doing and did what was best for Malta.....all should think and go back and honestly they find that HE WAS A GREAT LEADER AND LOVED HIS COUNTRY AND DID WHAT WAS BEST FOR HIS FELLOW CITIZENS...Thank you Dom for making Malta a better place ...May you rest in Peace....

Barbara Pilgram

Aug 21st 2012, 15:51

Rest in peace Dom Mintoff, and my condolences to his family. I only ever saw Mr Mintoff once, on a walk to St Peters Pool with my family in 1975 during our posting to Malta with the RAF. He was walking back up from the pool with I presume a body guard, he smiled at us and said 'good morning'. We said good morning back, and carried on with our walk. A memory I will always remember.

A. MICALLEF

Aug 21st 2012, 14:25

FAO - GERRY COWIE - Let the great majority of the Maltese people mourn in peace the
loss of a great Maltese gentleman and father of our nation. Gerry, may Jesus have mercy
on the souls of those scandalous families called monarchs who caused misery and are
still causing misery around the world to many millions of poor people. May Jesus have
mercy on those imperialists who comitted genocides and are still murdering and enslaving
people in Africa. The privileged society of that time, the church and the British imperialsts and
occupiers of Malta are to blamne for the number of mistakes Mintoff has made. The policy
of the british imperialists and occupier was always "DIVIDE AND RULE" and that is exactly
what the british have done to us. Gerry, you may go and murder, enslave other people and
make war for your woman called queen and your country and may God have mercy on
your soul. But you have no right especially at this time to insult the Maltese or any of their leaders.

David Smith

Aug 21st 2012, 12:41

I would much rather die unknown, than die hated by half the population of a whole nation.
Stop this "Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox nonsense" - it always was"Mintoff l-ewwel u qabel kollox" - you either did what he said or you would be destroyed.
What exactly did he do for Malta - sow division, allow democracy to be eroded, destroy every institution that did not share his twisted principles, and so much more.

Joseph Brincat

Aug 21st 2012, 13:02

David Smith
Today, 12:41
@ I would much rather die unknown
YOU WILL FOR YOU ARE NOBODY !!!!!

Kyle Podesta

Aug 21st 2012, 13:27

Spot on mate, Mintoff l-ewwel u qabel kollox mhux Malta...and when he was in trouble he went to China or ghaddafi a tyrant to bail him out...and we all know what happend to him!

Joseph Buhagiar

Aug 21st 2012, 14:32

Dear David,
I am close to 61 and a Nationalist Supporter by nature. There was nothing, nothing in Malta not even one industrial estate when I was 18. We were fully dependant on the British and you need to read history to undersstand how authoritarian the British were. I used to go to the Brisish Family Quarters in St. Andrews with a mobile dosco. The pres=mises there were perfectly organised and it was like a perfecft toyland compared to where the majority of us used to live.

Of course, same as in any other nation, there are die hearts of either party who fall into the pitfal of party progaganda, do not read, do not care, ..................and it is often because they stand to gain from whenever their party is in power. There will always be the boys of the party.......

But the men; Let me say how I remember him, which is now echoes in the The New York Times since I am very proud of this:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/20/us-malta-mintoff-idUSBRE87J0U320120820

“When we took office, we had an English governor-general, an English queen, English currency, a Bank of England man as the head of our central bank,” he told The New York Times. “We had a police force run by a commissioner who stated openly that his loyalty was to the British crown and nobody else. This was only eight years ago. Now Malta is a republic. Everything has changed. Nothing is British anymore.”

And today I realise what this meant to all of us Maltese and to all leaders that governed and will govern the contry in future. Like me, all Maltese can unleash their potential and this is why we are, where-we-are today.

Borg Olivier will always have my loving supoort. He was so diplomatic and his effortd brough us Independecne. This prepared the environment and with Mintoff's determined mind finally, all ties came to an end. May they both rest in piece for ever and ever cause they both loved Malta truely.

Ronnie Callus

Aug 21st 2012, 14:51

@ David Smith:
Most probably it's you who is going to die unknown and not MINTOFF the great man on our island who is known allover the world for all his work. If you are not a Maltese citizen its' not fair to comment on behalf the other people and if you are a Maltese citizen you must be ashamed of yourself. Even Dr.Gonzi does not speak as you did. It's a lie to say 'it always was 'Mintoff l-ewwel u qabel kollox' . and a lot of social benefits speaks for himself. Hoping that you are not taking Pension or other Social Service built by DUMINKU MINTOFF from our beloved country.

Tony Agius

Aug 22nd 2012, 14:18

I agree 100% .

Taht it-tmexxija tieghu qlajna hafna xebghat ghal xejn b'xejn , u Mintoff kien pront jiddefendi lil minn ghamel dawk il hnizrijiet ( kif kien isejhilhom Hu ) u jghaddi kemm jghaddi zmien ismu mal-lewel ifakkarna f'dawk ix - xebghat bla bzon .

Eve Axiaq

Aug 21st 2012, 12:38

Mintoff..the best negotiator ever.

Kyle Podesta

Aug 21st 2012, 12:35

He wanted Independence, he got it and then IN 2004 we decided to join the E.U. If we stayed under the British we would have been members of the EU in 1973 and joined with countries like Germany, Denmark, France...Instead of joining 31years later ith countries like Latvia, Romania Slovakia ect...ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK!

Stephen Lock

Aug 21st 2012, 20:58

Totally and in time we would have had the same standards of living as the UK which even now are far more than ours !

marc pace

Aug 21st 2012, 12:32

nessewh iz zmien fin 97 meta ghajjruh traditur ta malta!!!!malta is full of double faced people without principles!!! condolences to his family but i will never forget the torment that my parents and family like other pn supporters went through under his regimes!!!!

Anthony Grech

Aug 21st 2012, 12:15

Grazzi ghaziz Perit.

Anthony Paul Naudi

Aug 21st 2012, 12:02

A legend in politics has ended his journey on earth.
May the good Lord bless his soul.
As all he had his good and his bad times but in this moment
of grieve let the past be bygone and at least remember in the good
things he has done for our great country.
A.P. Naudi

carmel cassar

Aug 21st 2012, 11:55

He had such convincing arguements that I voted for him even so ,that with his action I wasnt going to benefit on the contrary loose ehat I had at that time, It was for Malta as a whole that he fought for not individuals. Thanks to his vision I found myself better of as years went by. Thank you PERIT.

Robert Ducker

Aug 21st 2012, 11:51

I am not normally sentimental but I couldn't help shedding a few tears. It is such a sad day for me and all my family.

I just can't find the right words to thank you enough for what you have done for our beloved country and us Maltese. Apart from introducing social justice and equality, you gave us an identity and the will to succeed.

Condolences to the Mintoff family.

I will never forget you, may you rest in peace.

Robert Ducker

carmen coleiro

Aug 21st 2012, 11:11

Such a long night in shock ! Malta has lost one of its greatest Statesman.....alongside Profs Guido De Marco, Dom Mintoff was Monumental because Malta was in his soul .....

Thank you Dom Mintoff for building Malta as it is today for us....you left us a living legacy....besides Social Welfare, Education, Health, the Industry and other sectors...we also won Freedom from Foreign Occupation and became a Maltese Nation who believes in itself.

And to all those who may be criticizing him....its so easy to criticize ! But no Maltese politician was capable of winning so much for our Country .

Thank you Mintoff. May you rest in Peace . Our condolences to all his family.

Carmen Coleiro

Joseph Brincat

Aug 21st 2012, 09:58

To blind folded PN >>>> In a statement Dr Gonz said !!!
His work ( Dom Mintoff ) had profoundly marked recent political, economic and social history. His commitment and determination led to major developments which marked Malta and Gozo.

Mark. Galea

Aug 21st 2012, 10:31

@Joseph Brincat

read between the lines, Joe.

JJ Agius

Aug 21st 2012, 10:46

I am a Maltese citizen. A great follower of Guido De Marco.Not only Gonzi but while on a Private Yacht in Greece Lord Carrington told me that was a pity Dom was not a P.M of a bigger nation.L.C.said he never encountered such a brave statemen from such a small nation.L.C. just than was comming from one of his talks with Dom.Mintoff.
Giljanu

Charles Micallef

Aug 21st 2012, 09:55

I first met Dom Mintoff as a 16 yrs old original employee of the Corinthia Palace Hotel, where he was the architect and I became the go between the directors and the Perit’s office in Blata il-Bajda ferrying plans and various documents back and forth between offices, I remember getting to the Perit’s office, and my name became “Ta’ San Pawl” and he never once forget to open his paraffin fired fridge and give me a bottle of Friskee or Gulep with cold water which went down a treat in the middle of summer heat….!
Little things which stay with us for the rest of our lives!
Thank you and Rest in Peace Perit!

Stefan Limongello

Aug 21st 2012, 09:50

3 short comments:

1. Once I was told that Mr Mintoff had spoken of the concept of a "Switzerland of the Mediterranean" and that this slogan was taken by another Labour leader. Is this true?

2. Did this person ever write an autobiography and if not can anyone indicate a good biography?

3. Is what is written here - about some Maltese - true:

http://pro-tridentina-malta.blogspot.com/2012/08/end-of-era.html

Lawrence Fenech

Aug 21st 2012, 09:46

Duminku Mintoff "il-perit" the greatest politician post war. The man who gave all his political working life for the good of Malta and the Maltese. Condolences to his children and relatives.

Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO

Aug 21st 2012, 09:41

Dom Mintoff was the greatest political and Maltese national figure of the twentieth century. He gave dignity to the Maltese poor. He took us out of a colonialist mentality and allowed us to walk tall when dealing with foreign people and nations. Condolences to his family and the maltese nation for losing such a true and worthy son of this harsh land .

Charles Micallef

Aug 21st 2012, 09:37

One of the episodes which made me even more proud to be Maltese was when I was living in UK and was watching the ever popular Michael Parkinson Show on TV who was hosting Lord Carrington.

I remember Michael Parkinson distinctively asking Lord Carrington who was the most tenacious man he ever had to deal with amongst his travel hot spots, and reminded him of amongst others of Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin, Joshou Kenyatta, Ian Smith and a host of other trouble spots leaders... and Lord Carrington replied, Michael I will not dare mention his name as he will be on the phone tomorrow morning wanting to know why I brought his name up, he was the most difficult negotiator that I have come across, Michael Parkinson, replied, come on you must tell us, and Lord Carrington replied a man of little stature called Dom Mintoff’s but the toughest of negotiators and made things very difficult for us and proceeded to recount some of the stories about Mintoff's negotiating stances.

And yes, I was even more proud of being Maltese knowing that Dom Mintoff took on the might of NATO and the UK and won hands down!

Stephen Lock

Aug 21st 2012, 20:56

The British left of their own accords as their retired the Med Fleet along with that of the Far East. Do you really think the likes of the UK government and the USA with regards to NATO would have bowed down to Mintoff !!!!! Let's just say RIP as every one deserves respect in death

stephen mifsud

Aug 21st 2012, 09:16

Lewell Malta qabel kollox .... its very noisy in heaven today as my father and his friends all greeted him at St Peter gate ... oohh what an amazing leader you are who made decisions in the toughest climate but you had courage to make them for the best for us all yes he angered some as u cant please them all they say but Mintoff heart bled red and white with the cross in his forehead ...RIP Dom ... L-ewwel Malta Qabel Kollox

Claire Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 08:50

Grazzi ta kollox perit!! issa strieh. kondoljanzi lil familja.

Joseph D Borg

Aug 21st 2012, 08:47

Goodbye Perit

Giov DeMartino

Aug 21st 2012, 08:32

Why don't we ALL say a prayer and leave his past behind us?

charles tabone

Aug 21st 2012, 12:31

For omce I say BRAVO, Giovanni!

Eddy Privitera

Aug 21st 2012, 19:06

Congratulations Giovann. We'll have a beer together someday on this !

Rocco Camilleri

Aug 21st 2012, 08:29

Kemm kont ghaqli Perit meta fittixt lil pajjizi ta' l-East biex jghinuna meta bdejt tara lil tal-West xettici maghna l-Maltin. nIftakar meta hadd il-Gvern f'idejk u ma' sibtx flus biex thallas lil haddiema tac-civil u sibt lil Gaddafi jtik l-ghajnuna. Habib ta' veru hu dak li ssibu fil-Maltemp u mhux fil-Bnazzi. Dawn il-pajjizi ghadna nficcuhom sa'llum u ghadhom jirrispettawna wkoll, bhall Cina, Libja, l-Italja u ohrajn. Min jiggieled ghad drittijiet tieghu juri li mhuwiex giefa. Hu hekk urina l-Kbir DUMINKU MINTOFF. Ghadni niftakar meta darba fi zmien il-PN fis-sittinijiet taw zjieda bil-percentagg fejn iz-zghir ha ftit soldi u l-kbir ( aktar mghandu) ha l-belli liri. Dik Gustizzja Socjali eh !!! Fi zmienu l-ewwel mghamel gholla liz-zghir il-fuq u holoq il-faxxa tan-nofs ghax kien jemmen fil-vera gustizzja socjali u meta ta' zjieda qatt ta' bil-percentagg li tiffantaggja lil-kbir.Strieh fil-Paci Perit u nies ta' rieda tajba titlob ghalik.

Lino Cuomo

Aug 21st 2012, 08:01

Condoliences to all the family of Mr Dom Mintoff.

Peter Simpson

Aug 21st 2012, 07:54

Today's La Republica has already paid tribute to the architect of modern Malta. See how Dom Mintoff is seen by our Italian friends: la Republica.it

Malcolm Mifsud

Aug 21st 2012, 07:42

Both sides of a coin. Rest in peace just the same.

alfred seguna

Aug 21st 2012, 07:03

L'iktar politikant li habb lill Malta u lill Maltin.Ghamel hafna gid.HELISNA MILL FAQAR,u ghamilna Nazzjon.RIP.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 08:53

parole sante! bhalek ma ikunx hawn Dom

Carmelo Sammut

Aug 21st 2012, 06:59

Grazzi ta Kollox Perit

Mr Michael Debono

Aug 21st 2012, 09:44

Miet il-perit. Erbgha kelmiet li jfissru kollox.
Ma titsghax tidhol fid-deralji ghax zgur tinsa xi hagal izda il-kliem il-Perit tkun qed tghid kollox.
Perit huwwa l-bennej, il-bennej ta Malta.
Francis Farrugia

A.f Ellul

Aug 21st 2012, 06:50

God put him R.I.P. Mintoff that ruled Malta for many years has the good and the bad. Everyone is the same and has to be judged for all that we do in our lives .condolence to his family .Whatever left is his Memories, so leave him R.I.P.

Mark Cocker

Aug 21st 2012, 06:35

I am 44.. how do I remember him??
When I was six, in 1974, me and my brother were playing aloud in the living room when we were forced to stop by our father. The reason was the Budget Speech.. and they were truly Budget Speeches, not like the farces we are used to nowadays.. unfortunately..!!
At one moment my father jumped with joy shouting "MINTOFF ALLA!!".. Me and my brother stood still and puzzled seeing our Breschnevish father jumping with joy!! But he turned to us saying aloud "Lm4 zieda!!". Yes, in 1974, the lowest workers were awarded Lm4 pay rise!!.. a rise that we only dream of nowadays!!
I am the product of the 70's Labour Goverment.. free education and health schemes.. and now proudly I say that I form part of the Engineering Department as a Ground Engineer with our beloved National Airline.. AirMalta.. now being downgraded.. sorry.. re-branded.. to a low costish image ready to be privatised..!!
Yes.. being a convinced Labourite, I was very cross and felt betrayed by his actions in 1998.. and that is a scar that will never heal..
Still now I feel I lost my father.. my protector..
Rest in Peace Great Leader.. Architect of Modern Malta.

CAROLINE CACHIA

Aug 21st 2012, 07:35

very well said Mark Cocker ..... my same feelings... I was born in 1976 (oht Vanessa jien) .... I loved this person though I never knew him...but his actions speak louder than words...and all the benefits and his rights he gave to the whole Nation can never be forgotten !! I am still benefitting from these rights...sick leave, vacation leave, right to vote, equal rights as a women, etc.... how can I forget such a BIG FATHER to me !! Rest in Peace Dear Saviour ..... Malta Lost one of a kind Leader & Patriot !!

A Camilleri

Aug 21st 2012, 08:25

How pathetic of your father to compare a mere human to the one God. And you seem to have taken very much after your father.......lacking or found analytical skills and judgement and not been able to see both idea of the coin.

G Tonna

Aug 21st 2012, 06:32

You must really be a giant to burn the Times of Malta offices down!

Pauline Sciberras

Aug 21st 2012, 08:15

Well said my friend. What i remember of him are the horrible times we went through, may these times never come on us again.

Lina Caruana

Aug 21st 2012, 06:08

Christian democracy is a principle I will never give up. For those who cannot find respect or compassion ,may they be reminded that the Dom Mintoff was above all a human person who in the twighlight of his passing away was shouldering his responsibilities and like all of us , getting closer to his creator. The last time I met him accidentally in Church, he asked me if I believe and he did not dispute my yes. I was touched by his humanity. May God recognize his efforts good or bad and give him eternal peace and rest.

henry mellor

Aug 21st 2012, 05:37

A part of Maltese history has come to an end, love him or hate him, he left a mark on the history of the island, he was proud to be Maltese and like any Maltese who has this pride, the love of the island and the Maltese came first. So forget the petty politics and remember him as just a great Maltese. if you cannot find something good to say after such a long time in public service , then it is sad, and this applies to both sides after all those who served so long cannot be remember for anything, very sad in fact. May he Rest in eternal peace.

Anthony A. Mifsud

Aug 21st 2012, 04:59

I will never ever forget you dear Dom , go in peace.
Don't need add more sorrows the world lost a leader and a savior
Ninu.

Alex Buds

Aug 21st 2012, 04:48

A truly unique and great man worthy of tribute. He is no more but his legacy will live on.

Lots of us were blinded for or against by political passion when we were younger and did not know much about seeing both sides of the story. In truth he was a man who loved his country and served it well to the best of his abilities. If we could all live up to that standard, this world would be a much better place indeed. RIP.

Connie Deguara

Aug 21st 2012, 03:40

Great Man I don't think Malta will ever have a politician like him.

David Dalli

Aug 21st 2012, 02:34

By far the Greatest Maltese politician ever! Thank You Perit.
May you rest in pease and God bless..............

A. Sultana

Aug 21st 2012, 01:24

First things first; May he rest in peace and may God have mercy of his soul and all the lately deceased. My condolences to his family and loved ones.

Secondly, I cannot go passive to some comments being made…

1. Apart from my real parents who for the last decades raised me and loved me unconditionally, only God is my father. Neither Mintoff nor any other Prime Minister went through any sacrifices to give me a better upbringing. If anything kudos goes to Dr. Fenech Adami for managing to haul the country out of the dark abyss.
2. Mintoff was the person to introduce the social benefits. However, I recall paying heftily for these benefits. Apart from that, as good as these benefits might seem to many, it is the same benefits that are burdening our country as the more it goes the more they become unsustainable. Problem is that neither party wants to negotiate these benefits in fear of losing votes.
3. It was under Dom’s rule that I spent months barely seeing my father as a kid because he felt like sending him to the other island for work just for sheer revenge.
4. For some reason, having my family been tagged as Nationalists (for no apparent reason as my family was Labour) there were plenty of wrongdoings done to us.
5. Freedom was given to us from the hands of foreigners, but was it really given to us locally? Who gained mostly? Dom or the Maltese? Did he really fight for us or for himself?
I could go on for hours, however, on the other hand it would also be totally unfair to discount the mammoth achievements he had in his career. His influence to this country was paramount and perhaps, even if not always in the best interest of the country, he shaped Malta to what it is today. Whether that being positively or negatively.

Most importantly I’m quite confident that not only did he reshape history during his life, but he will continue to make history in the afterlife.

Victor Laiviera

Aug 21st 2012, 07:52

Your mean-spirited and mostly false assessments would have been better left for another time.

But if you feel you must scratch your sores now. feel free. You gripes will be lost in the flood of grief at Mintoff's passing away.

A. Sultana

Aug 21st 2012, 11:44

You really believe I am the one to be mean spiritied?

Michael Gatt

Aug 21st 2012, 00:59

In my opinion, Malta were lucky to have some leaders at the right time.

In the early stages of a Democracy, where the country is extremley 'fragile', a strong personality is needed to 'guide' the country. Mintoff did that. Unfortunately he should have been not more than 5 years at the helm.

On the other hand, he could be classified as a disaster. He bullied some members of my family and never gave the, an 'inch'. Will never be forgiven.

All in all i have mixed emotions....

Peter Azzopardi

Aug 21st 2012, 00:45

Strieh fil paci habib. Int kont is salvatur , li hdimt biex tlibisna meta konna arwenin, tmajtna meta konna qed nittewbu , tajtna is servizzi socjali meta konna tallaba, tajtna id djar meta konna eremiti, tajtna ix xoghol meta konna nigu eziljati lejn l Awstralja u tajtna l edukazzjoni meta konna injoranti...........................................

P Mangion

Aug 21st 2012, 08:02

Dawn huma l-monumenti hajjin li wiehed ghandu jhares u jghozz, ghax l-aqwa monument hu li wiehed jaghti d-dinjita' lil bniedem. Kull tip ta' monument iehor huwa biss simbolu.

Mr Michael Debono

Aug 21st 2012, 09:51

Malta has lost her father, however what he left behind is bot lost. His memory will remain. He dominates the Maltese history.There was no ubject he did not know Maltese or foreign. Mintoff's life is an encyclopedia of hitorical events. His memory will last for ever.

Mario Camilleri

Aug 21st 2012, 00:35

Dom, int kont mhux perit biss tal-arkitettura li fassalt u tajt lill-ħaddiema d-djar fejn jgħixu suret in-nies, imma kont ukoll perit tal-umanita maltija li dawwart l-għixin tal-maltin mill-providenza ta' dawk il-loqom li kienu jħallu l-barranin biex inlaqtuh aħna u uliedna, għal umanita li iddependiet fuq il-ħiliet tagħha bil-bżulija tax-xogħol li kienu kapaċi għalih il-maltin. Int dejjem emmint li Malta tiġi l-ewwel u qabel kollox.
Grazzi Perit u s-sliem fil-mistrieħ ta' dejjem.

Benigno Saliba

Aug 21st 2012, 00:31

My generation owes everything to this great Maltese patriot. He created the Maltese middle class and afforded a decent living to the downtrodden

Michel Bencini

Aug 21st 2012, 00:17

Never a fan of this prime minister who I think was not unlike the colonial Brits who divided in order to rule. But there is something captivating about him. He had a great personality and accomplished what he believed in come hell or high water. One cannot accuse him of being power hungry. In fact he left office. Not many politicians are capable of that. To many, he reminds people of the good old days when life was much more simple and unique. He did elevate the poor and downtrodden. I wonder how many remember this. The guy had a sense of humour and when I think about him what comes to mind is not rancour but a nostalgic feeling for good things gone by. May Dom rest in peace!

manuel Attard

Aug 21st 2012, 00:13

grazzi min qalbi perit ta dak kollu li ghamilt ghal pajjizna. poggejt isem Malta hielsa fuq il mappa tad dinja.illum ma hemmx Laburisti u Nazjonalisti , illum ghawn Maltin li kullhadd bil mod tieghu jiftakar fik f'dak li irnexxielek taghmel ghal dan il pajjiz.

Grazzi ta kollox
u sa ma nergaw niltaqaw hdejn il-Mulej
insellimlek.

Christopher Zammit

Aug 21st 2012, 00:07

There are no words big enough to describe this man. In simple words Malta lost the biggest statesman and politician it ever had. His achievements to the benefit of the lower classes of soceity have no precedent. I hope that someday someone writes history on this great man as it is and not with hidden agendas like the shameful production of 'Dear Som'. RIP and condolences to his family and all Maltese citizens of good will.

Antoine Vella

Aug 21st 2012, 00:03

Dear God, please make sure Mintoff gets EVERYTHING he deserves.

ALBERT FENECH

Aug 21st 2012, 03:43

God has ALREADY given Duminku Mintoff what he fully deserves because he has become IMMORTAL in the pages of Maltese history and no matter what some belly-aching and deluded commentators may say and state, MALTA = MINTOFF and MINTOFF = MALTA and that is how history will record it. He gave Malta an identity, transformed a colony into an independent and military-free nation, wove the country's social fabric and won international acclaim and adulation as one of the shrewdest international negotiators and statesmen.

ALBERT FENECH

T.F. Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 08:46

j'Alla Prof Vella li l-Bambin jghatik ftit mid don ta Dom Mintoff u wara mewtek tkun imfakkar bhala Professur mahbub mill li studenti, irrispettat u mhux tibqa mfakkar ghal dak li gejt ikkritikat ghalih.

Alfred Vassallo

Aug 21st 2012, 16:56

Oh I am sure God will hear your heartfelt plea. You have set it in motion by your own doing unless, of course, you have second thoughts until.........

C Galea

Aug 20th 2012, 23:50

You will be for the rest of our live remembered for helping the small people by giving us free plots of land to build. There is so much more to say it is impossible to name it all

thank you perit

Donald Mangion

Aug 20th 2012, 23:48

R.I.P. Dom

Joseph Agius

Aug 20th 2012, 23:48

The Man who built Malta, lifted the middle class and the poor, gave us an identity................the greatest warrior and leader Malta ever had. RIP dear Dom

C Busuttil

Aug 20th 2012, 23:43

I have been all my life a nationalist, I belong to a family that has been nationalist since the early days of the party but I must admit that Dom Mintoff was the Greatest politician and statesman of this nation. Not that the PN did not have great leaders but none of the calibre of "Il-Perit".
Although I opposed him blinded by political passions I came to realize that what he did was always for the good of our beloved country and its people. His pride of being Maltese (unlike some of our countrymen who always lick the boots of foreigner) was another trait of his character which I admired.
RIP Perit from an adversary who came to admire you.

Rocco Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 23:56

You are a true gentleman hopefully that others may follow. You didn't allow the politics to blind you but felt how good Dominku Mintoff was and how hard he worked for his beloved country. He fought with foreigners for the sake to see our country move on and not counted as a second class country. Through his work we have, pilots ( air and sea), aircraft engineers and much more. Thanks for everything PERIT.

D Mifsud

Aug 21st 2012, 00:20

@C Busuttil
The fact that you admire a person who fights for his country instead of licking the foreigner is something to admire independently from which political party you support. Unfortunately nowadays almost everyone is a licker of foreigners and we lost our independence/freedom...for which we fought so hard.

Hossam Helwani

Aug 21st 2012, 00:22

I do not think you have any idea what you are saying as for the pride in being Maltese. I think Maltese are much more recognised today than it was during his day. With his foreign policies Malta was forgotten and never reckoned with at all.

justin spiteri

Aug 21st 2012, 00:54

Proset c.busuttil. nispera li ohrajn bhalek jahsbuha bhalhekk :)

Joseph Gatt

Aug 21st 2012, 02:29

Well put Mr. Busuttil.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 09:17

@busuttil-prosit, il poplu malti, hekk ghandu jitaghllem ikun....jighd l abjad abjad, u l iswed iswed.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 09:19

@helwani-maybe you do not know the real story. This man has made it a point that malta moves on, and be recognised....it was all started by him.

Ronnie Callus

Aug 21st 2012, 17:16

@ Hossam Helwani:
For sure you are commenting like this because you do not know Malta's History and the changes which took place after the 1942 war for which Malta was given the 'George Cross' . Where when we came to ask the British for more aid and work for the Maltese workers they were reluctant to give us. Malta took Independence in 1964 through George Borg Oliver, but the most important arteries were kept by the British. Infact we had to take permission through them when coming to do something for the economy and so on. Mintoff was the man who revised the agreement with the British through Lord Carrington where he said that he never saw a great man such as Mintoff when signing an agreement. Mintoff always fought for Malta's rights in fact I remember him asking the British to clean around 'Filfla' from all bombs and debris thrown by them through Military exercises. MINTOFF never stood put doing nothing for his beloved country. 'It's what you give to your country' and 'not what the country gives you' which matters. Mintoff gave a lot as he was a true Maltese Citizen, born among a large family and an examplar family for most. His father had to work on board ships to gain his family earnings. RIP Perit.

John Schembri

Aug 31st 2012, 02:32

Well said my friend !!

A Dimech

Aug 20th 2012, 23:43

His massive contribution included:-

- creating a secular state, outside teh cobwebs of a church dominated state;
- vote to woman;
- free health care for all and free medicine;
- free education to all
- children allowance
- pensions
- widow allowances
- plus many other social services
- companies he created:-
MidMed
BOV
AirMalta
SeaMalta
EneMalta
DryDocks
FreePort
Gozo Channel
- Private companies he brought to Malta:-
SGS
Dowty
PlayMobile
Corinthia
Baxter
and many others
All these employed thousands of Maltese

But most, he was a fighter for Malta. He fought for the Maltese and put Malta on the map.

Yes he was controversial, and may have done some stuff which was controversial - however if you look at the big picture, one understands, what a man this guy was.

thanks Perit!!

Hossam Helwani

Aug 21st 2012, 00:25

Erm I do not believe you have any idea what you are talking about

BOV indeed you need to know some solid facts before you say anything else

BOV is a robbery and no one could stop him. You need to read your history again .

Anthony A. Mifsud

Aug 21st 2012, 05:31

Very true, Mr. Dimech, the most important was the freedom he gave to our Island Nation Malta.
Ninu

Anthony A. Mifsud

Aug 21st 2012, 05:31

Very true, Mr. Dimech, the most important was the freedom he gave to our Island Nation Malta.
Ninu

Joe Xuereb

Aug 20th 2012, 23:42

Hawn Dumink. Forsi ma kontx perfett (imma qalbek, u l-konvinzjonijiet tiegħek dejjem f'lokhom kienu. Dak li għallimtna Missier). Taf li għadhom jiftakru li, minħabba fik, ma setgħux igawdu ċikkulata ta' barra. Naħfrulhom il-banalita' hux perit?! U tiftakar snin ilu, kont għadni tifel, kont Delimara nilgħab ħobża w sardina u meta rajtek, ġejt niġri ħdejk u int poġġejt idek fuq spallti. U ma niftakarx x'għidtli bl-eċċitament li qabadni.

Isma', jekk tara lil missieri sellili għalih. Jismu Ġanni, raġel mibni saffejn b'par idejn enormi ta' ħaddiem li kien. Jekk tara lill-Isqof, agħmilli pjaċir tagħtihx tislijiet daparti tiegħi.

Strieħ sinjur. Tinsiex li Malta u Mintoff huma sinonimi u dan unur li ħadd ma jista' jeħodulek. MIN ser jirrepetik?!

Henry S Pace

Aug 20th 2012, 23:36

' Dom Mintoff, Malta's political giant '

MINTOFF WAS THE pRIME mINISTER WHO WANTED THE cHURCH sCHOOLS TO CLOS DOWN IN 1984

Mintoff forced the Blue Sisters (ZAMMIT-CLAPP ) Hospital and St Cathrine Hospital run by the Dominican Sisters to close down.

J. Scicluna

Aug 21st 2012, 00:09

Yes he did and in so doing, he built a secular state that we wouldn't have had.

In exchange of that he laid the foundation stones for the great country we have today.

Mr Nathan zammit

Aug 21st 2012, 01:06

he made the church schools open to all that were capable enough to enter them, and not just reserved to the elite! I myself am one who entered st aloysius' college with the common entrance examinations, after i finished from the state primary school. if it wasn't for mintoff I and many others wouldn't have had that chance..

Victor Laiviera

Aug 20th 2012, 23:34

A sad,sad day for Malta and the Maltese. To paraphrase the bard, "Here was a man - when comes such another?"

Rest in peace, "Dear Dom", and may whoever uses those words do so in a genuine spirit.

Rocco Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 23:30

Grazzi Perit. Int veru kont MALTI TA' VERU li dejjem hdimt ghall art twelidek. Int kont Politiku tant kbir li bosta kbarat u nies madwar id-Dinja saru jafuk u saru jafu lil din id-daqsxejn ta' blata li hafna ma' kienux jafu bina. Min jaf kemm saggrifficji ghamilt ghalina u l-ljieli b'nuqqas ta' rqadt biex tara lilna merfugha mill-inguzztizzji socjali li kien hawn. Ma' qadtx thares l-interessi tieghek imma ghalik l-ewwel tigi 'MALTA QABEL KOLLOX' u bqajt tahdem fuq dan il-princippju. Ma' qadtx tibza mill-Interdett u d-Dnub il-mejjet ghax kont taf u thoss li int kont fit-triq it-tajba, fuq it-tghalim ta' KRISTU li dejjem ha hsieb lil bghatut u liz-zghir meta kien maghna fid-Dinja. NIxtieq naghti l-kondoljanzi lit-tfal tieghek, lil hutek kollha u l-familjari taghhom, kif ukoll lil Dionisyio Mintoff li jahdem bla gheda fil-LABORATORJU TAL_PACI f'Hal-Far minghajr hafna daqq ta' trombi. Lil Doinisyio tfittxu u issibu lest biex jghin f'dak kollu li jista . GRAZZI MILL- QALB DUMINK u noffri talbna ghalik li tant jisthoqqlok. Strieh fil-PACI PERIT.

Richard Galea

Aug 20th 2012, 23:24

Why am I sheding tears for this old lion... when in my youth I have antagonized him??????......Why..

Jo Meli

Aug 20th 2012, 23:31

Richard you are not alone !

Frank Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 23:53

Maybe because like me, as we grew older and wiser we realised we were too young and too distracted by people that was in their interest to paint a picture on Mintoff that was not true. Today I feel privileged to have have known the great man. Thank you DOM may you rest in peace.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 09:24

@galea- i think it is because deep down every maltese is aware that this person was kind, and he did not want to see people suffering and begging any more, and thus makes him very very human. he had a very strong character, he had his ways, sometimes he maybe was too loud, and too harsh, but if you think about it all, he was like that, because he wanted this tiny tiny island, to be part of the world, which was and has never been an easy task.

James Dewar

Aug 20th 2012, 23:22

He was a global legend and political giant whose comittment and massive contribution to Maltese society is unlikely to be repeated by any one individual. How lucky the Maltese were to have had a man and politician of such quality and vision.

Stephen Lock

Aug 21st 2012, 08:35

Locsl legend no one outside these islands, remember him, he will never be on pare with the great leaders of this world, but R.I.P. in the end we are all equals

David Bezzina

Aug 20th 2012, 23:20

A WELL DESERVED SALUTE TO A MAN WHO ALWAYS PUT MALTA AND THE MALTESE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.A TRUE PATRIOT.
MALTA'S ONE AND ONLY STATESMAN !

Henry S Pace

Aug 20th 2012, 23:14

@ Dr Emy Bezzina

No doubt MINTOFF DOM should now be given a STATE FUNERAL.

YES , that would be.

Henry S Pace

Aug 20th 2012, 23:12

' Dom Mintoff, Malta's political giant '

The Dockyard workers would always remember him for insulting them in Pjazza Glavino Gulia in 1972

Rocco Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 23:36

@ Henry S Pace:
U hallina Sur.Pace thalltx il-hass mall- karrotti ( flok nghidlek xi haga ohra). Din biss gietek f'mohhok, veru ghandek qalbek perzuta u njisperaw li minthiex xi wiehed li qed qed tgawdi jew se' tgawdi l-pensjoni li ghamel ghalik Mintoff barra tant u tant Servizzi Socjali ohra. Kieku minnek tehodhomx .

A Dimech

Aug 20th 2012, 23:36

Henry - be ashamed.

Ivan Falzon

Aug 20th 2012, 23:43

please shut up at least for now and show some respect to his family

A Dimech

Aug 20th 2012, 23:12

Nitlob lil Maltin u l'Ghawdxin kollha (nirrepetti kollha - kulur huwa x'inhu) - jigu ghal-funeral ta' dan il-bniedem kbir.

Mintoff sab pajjiz imkisser bil-gwerra u l'faqar - u irnexxielhu jdawwar ir-rota. Flimkien inselmu lil Mintoff.

Grazzi Perit.

Rocco Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 23:45

@ A.Dimech:
Hekk ghandu jkun biex intuh ftit lura minn dak li taghna , fejn hadem bla heda u mistrieh ghal kulhadd blu jew ahmar, abjad jew iswed. Minn ma' jafx li storja ahjar ma' jikkummentax milli jaqa fin-nixef.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 21st 2012, 09:26

@dimech- min ihobb u jirispetta lil malta, ghandu ikun presenti!

Henry S Pace

Aug 20th 2012, 23:10

Mintoff made good and bad things.

In 1974 with the amendmet to the Constitution he did not have the guts to remove the George Cross from the National Flag.

K CASSAR

Aug 21st 2012, 00:36

Why should he? If you won a medal during the war, would you put it away because you don't like the person who gave it to you? You should show it off so the world can see how brave you were!!!!

Peter Xuereb

Aug 21st 2012, 02:38

Remove the symbol of resilience, resistance and the utmost determination against the forces of tyranny? Those who lived through the war - including Il-Perit - know well enough what that George Cross symbolises and they would consider the very thought of removing it as a national sacrilege of the highest order.

Nenu Galea

Aug 20th 2012, 23:09

The greatest leader Malta will ever have in its history. The man who erased poverty,led Malta from a poor colony to a country of the future he truly beleived in what he said : Malta L ewwel u qabel Kollox

RIP SALVATUR TA MALTA

Mary Ann Borg

Aug 20th 2012, 23:08

He may have been a giant, but so were Castro, Caucescu, Kim il Sung and Gaddafi. All friends of Mintoff, all giants. Being a giant is not necessarily a good thing, as Mintoff and the four mentioned here prove.

K CASSAR

Aug 21st 2012, 00:21

A giant he was and even those that are staunchly against him will admit that the result of his being a giant is what put food on peoples tables and their children into the position they are today! Had it not been for Perit, most of the politicians that are serving our country today, would never have received the education they did!!!

Mario Camilleri

Aug 21st 2012, 00:22

If for you Mintoff was a little man, that little man gave you Mary Ann Borg your humane dignity amongst men.
Bil-Malti ma ħallikx tajba biss biex tagħmel it-tfal kif riduk sħabek fis-sittinijiet!
Naħseb int waħda minn dawk l-insara li tibla l-ostja kuljum u wara toħroġ tqasqas fuq in-nies. Istħi jekk taf!!

William Caligari

Aug 21st 2012, 09:26

Mary Ann Borg,

X'hemm fl'istonku tieghek il-bambin biss jaf,Mintoff patrijott kbir Malti.
trid tkun Mary Ann Borg sabiex tipparaguna lil Mintoff ma Castro,Caucescu,
Kim il Sung u Gaddafi.
Grazzi lil Gvern Malti(Nazz) li sa jonora lil dan il-kbir Leader Malti f'funeral
Statali. Well done.

Paul Giordimaina

Aug 21st 2012, 10:50

Agree

anthony borg

Aug 21st 2012, 12:57

Mary Ann Borg il perit wara hames snin fil gvern ghamel elezjoni u b'hekk isejhuwlu ditatur . Ditaturi bhal Castro, Caucescu, Kim il Sung and Gaddafi qatt ma sejhu elezjoni jeww baqa igranfat ma siggu tal poter meta ghandek gwerra fil partit tieghek ... Lil haddiem dejjem stmah GRAZZI PERIT.

Victor Laiviera

Aug 20th 2012, 23:04

A sad, sad day for Malta and the Maltese.

To paraphrase the immortal words of the Bard. :"Here was a man - when comes such another?"

Rest in peace, "Dear Dom" - may all who use those words do so in a genuine spirit.

Robbie Williams Galea

Aug 20th 2012, 23:04

he polarised alot the political scene maybe he had misgivings in his later life.

Peter Simpson

Aug 20th 2012, 23:04

Thanks to great man, a giant of a man who redeemed us from the medieval cobwebs of an insular, fossilized society controlled by the obscurantist Church, our British colonial masters and a confessional party that goes by the name of ' Partito Nazzjonalista' Thanks Dom: you mad us free in our homeland!

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Aug 20th 2012, 23:03

Those of us who were priviliged to go swimming with IL-PERIT, have long discussions with him at Peter`s Pool & IL-HOFRA, and subsequently have a late lunch at L-GHARIX before that great monstrosity was erected, where DOM personally used to serve a substantial number of guests present and then listen in to him analysing some particular situation / situations............THOSE are moments which we have always cherished and will remain intact in our memories as we too grow older and reminiscence about those days.

Whenever I visited IL-PERIT at his summons at THE OLIVES in Tarxien, an intended quarter of an hour would translate into some four hours where one aspect would always make an impact : how well read was this great man and how knowledgable he was on what was truly was going on, not what we are made to hear on the controlled Media.

Mintoff had chided me when I broke ranks with the Labour Party basing his arguement that from within I could fight, from without I was an outsider. However I used to tell him that I believed in my objectives and wanted to be free to say whatever I wanted and whenever I wished to do so. This decision I never regretted.However, I assisted Mintoff with his SAMARITANI Project when he founded that Organization on December 13, 1987, and was immediately invited to sit on the Committee as one of the Founder Members.

Mintoff was most sensitive away from the PUBLIC EYE.................he would shout his worse at you, only to inform you that your work was appreciated and he wanted you to do even better. He cried too aqs all normal humans do and this is the MINTOFF few people indeed knew.

The political authorities showed great disrespect to DOM MINTOFF by not nominating him for the post of PRESIDENT of THE REPUBLIC he created on that cold day of December 13, 1974 , at at time when it would have been most honourable so to do. Instead those encircled wanted to remain so encircled for their personal aggrandisement.

No doubt MINTOFF DOM should now be given a STATE FUNERAL. May history show MINTOFF in a wasy that is not distorted and it is the duty of all who can contribute to this end, to see that this objective is duly achieved. DOM TOWARDS THAT COSMIC QUEST OF ETERNAL FREEDOM WHERE NO ONE WILL CONDEMN ANYONE WITH MORAL SIN & INTERDICTION. By the way, say HELLO to MICHAEL GONZI:
See you in time as there is a mission still to complete and complete it will be.

Jo Meli

Aug 20th 2012, 23:33

Our tribute to Dom Mintoff is one and universal ...

Malta l-Ewwel u Qabel KOLLOX !!!!

which is not a slogan but a way of Life.

David Farrugia

Aug 20th 2012, 23:02

A great national and international statesman. He had a vision to free Malta and succeeded against many difficulties. He was cunning and witty. But always had Malta's interest in his heart. We miss him and may he rest in peace. Thanks Perit. L-Ewwel Malta u qabel kollox!!!

Ronnie Callus

Aug 20th 2012, 23:02

Strieh fil- Paci Perit il-Mulej u l-Madonna zgur laqakw b'idejhom miftuha ghax hlif gid int ma miltx mill-icken tarbija sa' l-ixjah persuna. Int qatt ma' zammejt f'qalbek u kullma ghamilt ghamiltu ghall gid tan- Nazzjon Malti kollu, kif dejjem kont tghid 'MALTA l-EWWEL U QABEL KOLLOX'. Kulhadd gawda u qed igawdi mill-gid li hloqt lil dan il-pajjiz li lanqas kien jidher fost in-nazzjonijiet, imma int bil-kuragg u d-detirminazzjoni tieghek wassalt lil MALTA fejn xtaqt int, avolja kien hemm hafna li ghamluluek il-bsaten fir-roti. Is-servizzi socjali li hloqt int, ma' jispiccaw qatt kif ukoll maghhom il-progetti kbar li qatt ma rat bhalhom Malta. Int se' tibqa miftakkar minn dawk kollha ta' rieda tajba u ma' jistax jonqos dan ghax kieku t-tallaba konna nibqu narawhom mas-saqqajn. Ix-xoghol li ghamilt ma' jispicca qatt u se' nibqu niftakkruk. Nixtieq minn qieh qalbi nghati l-Omor lil tfal tieghek lil hutek kollha u tfal taghhom, specjalment lil Fr.Doinisyio Mintoff li ghadu jahdem bla qatieh fil-laboratorju tal-Paci gewwa Hal-Far, l-aktar ma' dawk li jinhtiegu l-ghajnuna bhal Kl;andestini u ohrajn. Grazzi mill-qalb Perit u noffri t-talb tieghi u tal-familja ghalik. Kemm bqhatejt PERIT GHALINA flimkien mall-familjari tieghek.

M Mealclaff

Aug 20th 2012, 23:00

Respect to the Passing of a Great man who always had Malta as his First Interest.

Vince Piscopo

Aug 20th 2012, 23:00

F'isem Mary Piscopo armla tal-ex-ministru t-tabib Dr Daniel Piscopo flimkien ma' uliedu Peter, Ivan u Vince, minn qalbna nuru soghba ghal din it-telfa u naghtu l-kondoljanzi lil familja tal-Perit Mintoff mod specjali lil uliedu, qraba u bosta Mintoffjani kollha fil-madwar tal-Kottonera.

Perit grazzi tal-gid li ghamilt u grazzi talli dejjem poggejt lil Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Inti kont, ghadek u tibqa mhux biss wiehed mil-aqwa mexxejja li qatt rat Malta imma ukoll MISSIER MALTA HIELSA.

Insellmulek Perit - strieh fis-sliem.

Mary, Peter, Ivan u Vince Piscopo - Bormla

Robbie Williams Galea

Aug 20th 2012, 22:59

Daqs kemm ghamel gid ghamel deni. However he remains a great fighter.

Frank Attard

Aug 20th 2012, 23:22

Allavolja fil-mewt tiieghu xorta trid tghid xi hazina hazina fuq bniedem li nehha l-faqar u l-injoranza minn fuq il-Maltin, tal-misthija. Minflokk ghid xi talba ghalih ghax kieku ma kienx hu ghadek tiggerra bir-roqa fuq wara.

Mr Luciano Busuttil

Aug 20th 2012, 22:58

Halliena il-Perit ta' Malta moderna. Is-salvatur. Halliena missierna. Xi dwejjaq. Strieh Perit. Itlob ghalina. Grazzi ta' kollox. Grazzi talli nehhejt il-faqar, grazzi tali tajt lill-Haddiem dinjita. Grazzi tal-helsien. IMMORTALI!

Ronald Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 22:56

Malta tilfet l'arkitet tahha! Grazzi ta' kull ma ghamilt ghal dan in nazzjon Zghir pero b'qalb kbira. Fuq kollox Grazzi talli ghallimtna nuzaw u nahsbu bil mohh taghna u mhux ta' haddiehor . Malta ser tibqa tiftakar fik ghal dejjem, Strieh fil paci Perit!!!

Tony Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 22:55

Malta has lost its greatest politician of our times.
May he rest in peace and may we have another politician of his calibre that we so badly need.

R Falzon

Aug 20th 2012, 22:54

Pajjizna spicca bla missier. Ha nhossuk. Il-kummenti sbieh li ghaddejjin juru kemm kien bniedem kbir. Ggant tal-politika Maltija. Naqqax ismu u isem pajjizna mal-erbat irjiehat. Insellmulek Salvatur, l-arkitet ta' Malta Hielsa u Repubblikana. Grazzi talli tajt dinjita lill-haddiem, lill-fqir u lill-batut. Inzommuk f'qalbna u f'mohhna.

A. Schembri

Aug 20th 2012, 22:53

Difficult to find another mintoff.. Rip !

Paul Giordimaina

Aug 21st 2012, 11:08

Thanks God Mr Schembri

Joseph Grech

Aug 20th 2012, 22:50

Mintoff is the father of modern Malta. He brought the island out of the darkness of the middle ages and the iron grip of colonialism. My teenage years, while serving in the British Navy were focused on Malta's political freedom and evolution as an ardent follower of Dom...first for integration and then Independence. The Times has for once tried to give a balanced view of Mintoff's achievements. I am 73 years old and this appears to be the end of one of Malta's most historic eras. Mintoff won the political battle hands down. Just look at the modern Nationalist Party, they would hardly dare to touch the social safety net that Mintoff created, a far cry from their history in the twenties, thirties and forties. Now let us start a new day for Malta by electing a worth successor.

Hossam Helwani

Aug 20th 2012, 22:49

We shall never forget you and make sure you believe it that we never will and never again!

K CASSAR

Aug 20th 2012, 22:48

My condolences to the family: no film, documentary or program could ever bear true testimony to the greatness of this man! Love him or hate him, no one can deny that it was this one man and the courage he brought up, that laid the basis for making this country a free and modern one. Rest in peace Perit.

A Dimech

Aug 20th 2012, 22:47

People of Malta and Gozo, show respect to the person who has made us who we are.

an sincere appeal to attend his funeral. one last chance to say good bye and thanks to this great man

Nicholas Grech

Aug 20th 2012, 22:47

He was indeed a great man who put Malta and the Maltese above all else, RIP Dom Mintoff.

P.S; when all stations are showing respect to Dom Mintoff for what he has done, NET TV are already making use of his passing to further the PN's agenda, do these people know no shame?

M Busuttil

Aug 20th 2012, 22:45

RIP Perit!! Malta has lost her father, her saviour!! Thank You for everything!!

And now on a very sad sad note can some kind of authority stop this woman from spreading more hatred.

For goodness sake this is revolting: http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2012/08/glory-glory-allelluiah/

B Attard

Aug 20th 2012, 22:42

The IRON man. May You rest in Peace and may there be typical Maltese leaders with guts like you Perit.

Wilfred Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 22:41

Regardless of one's political stripes, one has to acknowledge that Mintoff was one of Malta's greatest Prime Ministers. He certainly put Malta on the map. I still recall a meeting with an American colleague in California a few years back and when I told him I was from Malta, he started telling me all about Mintoff! It blew me away.

Antoine Vella

Aug 20th 2012, 22:35

I appeal to TVM to screen Dear Dom as a fitting tribute to the man.

Victor Laiviera

Aug 20th 2012, 22:50

Don't you even have the grace and decency to be generous at a time like this?

Shame on you.

robert pace

Aug 20th 2012, 22:57

i appeal to al media to screen the truth about a man who believed in the workers values . social services, minimum wage , pensions , allowances of all sorts, removal of slum areas, right of womens vote,human right to gays, vote to the young from the age of 18yearsDear Dom is not the truth but twisted truth by far. The beginning of maltese important entities like Air Malta, Sea malta , enemalta,telemalta all that is maltese!!

Yes a man who lives in our hearts for ever. We were so safe as workers , we passed our o levels and off to several interviews were we were employed instantly in one job or other. Dom was a real dream to the Maltese worker and lived to give Malta a new identity one to be proud od forever!!

John Farrugia

Aug 20th 2012, 22:34

It was evident that the end was near and although I was never a 'laburist', in my later years I understood the good that this man did for our country and reading this article just now made me cry. Because although many people abused of him in his later days, he was the man of his times. May you know rest in peace!

Colin Stanley

Aug 20th 2012, 22:48

agree with you 100% i was never a labourite. but to day i say he was one of the great man we had in Malta. may he rest in peace.

nigel cini

Aug 20th 2012, 22:33

thank you for your helpfull work. may you rest in peace.

Joseph Zerafa

Aug 20th 2012, 22:32

Strieh fis-sliem Perit. Inhobbuk ghal dejjem.

Mrs Theresa Demanuele

Aug 20th 2012, 22:32

Tislima lil persuna li genwinament hadmet ghal gid tal-haddiema u tana d dinjita lill-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin kollha bhala nazzjon.

Insellmulek u niftakru dejjem il-kliem li kont tghid - Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox

stephen mifsud

Aug 20th 2012, 22:29

May God give you peace that you so rightly deserve Perit, you are the father of our Malta you fought the Maltese and you represented us with passiion and intellect amongst the strongest countries in the world ,you always looked out for the best interest for Malta and itsmpeople . May you rest in peace now Domimku and my sincerest comdolences to your family and to all the Maltese people from whatever poliotical colors they support as we lost our Father of Malta.

Karm Gauci

Aug 20th 2012, 22:29

Malta wll never have another Prime Minister like him. Thank God. May we rest in peace.

Victor Laiviera

Aug 20th 2012, 23:20

a tifilħux taħbu ftit il-ħdura għal ftit minuti?

Istħu.

carlos ellul

Aug 20th 2012, 23:50

Rari naqbel mieghek victor biss illum
Ghandek ragun

Stephen Lock

Aug 20th 2012, 22:29

We come in to this world as equals with nothing and we leave it the same ! History will be the judge. A great man who did what he thought was best even if on times he was very misguided. R.I.P

A Dimech

Aug 20th 2012, 22:28

grazzi missier. issa istrieh

Joanne Micallef

Aug 20th 2012, 22:27

Rest in Peace Dear Dom. Thank you for all the good you have done to this Nation, may we someday get another true leader whom like you will love and take pride in Governing this Nation.

Henry Mifsud

Aug 20th 2012, 22:23

Dom Mintoff. One of a kind. He will always be remembered for practicing what he preached. A good Samaritan with a conscience of gold. To describe him as Malta's political giant is an understatement.
RIP Perit.

Willie Sammut

Aug 20th 2012, 22:22

Rest in Peace Perit.

david debattista

Aug 20th 2012, 22:22

Rest in Peace Perit ! Thanks for all that you've done for our country ! A TRUE LEADER AND A LEGEND !
DOM MINTOFF.......... THIS IS WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS MADE OF . A TRUE POLITICAL GIANT !
WE WILL NEVER FORGET .

Mary Vella

Aug 20th 2012, 22:21

Rest In Peace Perit you always in our heart..

Mike Hunt

Aug 20th 2012, 22:19

Respect

Marlon Harmsworth

Aug 20th 2012, 22:19

Another political giant passes away. A sad year for a generation, who, in good and bad lead Malta through some of its hardest times ever. Condolences to the family.

Chris Grillo

Aug 20th 2012, 22:18

The End of an Era....

Never will such a figure be so prominent in Maltese politics... Love him or hate him, one cannot deny his capability in dragging us from under the boot of English rule... Into a modern country that , yes , struggled initially, but stood proudly on its feet.

Yes, he was stubborn, and many times wrong in his assessment, but his never say die attitude will remain in our hearts.

Antonia Vella

Aug 20th 2012, 22:17

Rip Mintoff You were a great person, a big politician may you rest in peace and thanks for everything you have done

J. Scicluna

Aug 20th 2012, 22:15

We'll be at your funeral but, in actual fact, you will live on in the great legacy you left behind - a country finally Free and self governed.

Darren Agius

Aug 20th 2012, 22:13

L-ghomor lill-familja Mintoff. Dan jum ta'luttu ghal kull min hu u jhossu tassew Malti. Strieh fil-paci Duminku, dak li ghamilt ghalina ma ninsewh qatt. Int kont li ghamiltna nies, nies hielsa, nazzjon. Int kont, int u tibqa il-perit tan-nazzjon Malti.

Ruth Muscat

Aug 20th 2012, 22:13

What sad news indeed. You made us mad, you made us love you. Rest in peace dear Mintoff. You will never die.

S Sammut

Aug 20th 2012, 22:12

Rest in peace dear dom. You did enough for our nation now it's time to rest. I had the honour to meet you back in 91 helping you with the computer.

D Bonello

Aug 20th 2012, 22:12

Mintoff will also go down in history for violence, housing requisitions and intimidation under his watch as Prime Minister of Malta.

Alfred Grech

Aug 20th 2012, 23:49

... u li kieku ma kienx hu, kemm inti u kemm hafna konna nibqghu nghixu fl-ghaks. Min jghid li Mintoff ma ghamilx gid f'Malta jkun qed jigdeb jew jimxi ta' faccol.

CHARLES ZAHRA

Aug 21st 2012, 16:08

Mintoff will mostly be remembered for the fact that he made us a respected Nation by allowing us to decide our own destiny. Which is something I can not say about much of the Maltese Politicians.

How dare you insult a person on the day he dies.

It shows that although Mintoff had tried to do his best to educate people in Malta we still have some of us that need further lessons in life.

Dear Dom Mintoff,

May you rest in peace and that is com
ing from the real Maltese.

Lourdes Buttigieg

Aug 20th 2012, 22:12

R.I.P MR. Mintoff Kondoljanzi l-familjari kollha tieghu!!

A. Attard

Aug 20th 2012, 22:09

Thank u!!! You have done so much for us! Your name will live on in generations to come....now your rest in peace and my god give some kind of comfort to your family...u were and example and someone to look up to!

Brian Azzopardi

Aug 20th 2012, 22:09

A great leader can never please everyone, can never rule without controversy, will be loathed and adored......... a great leader will stir different emotions in each and every person that has anything to do with him. Farewell Perit.

Alfred Falzon

Aug 20th 2012, 22:07

A Maltese patriot, one who never took NO for an answer, who made Malta sovereign and inspired the Island's young generation of the early sixties, a time when medieval thinking was still rife...

A Leader who stood up even to those within his Party who failed to rise to expectations...

An ICON that is part and parcel of Malta's chequered history!!

Rest in peace Dear DOM!

Alfred A. Falzon

Michael Grech

Aug 20th 2012, 22:07

GRAZZI PERIT.

A Tonna

Aug 20th 2012, 22:05

Tislima kibira lil dak il-bniedem li ta dinjita lil Malti w Ghawdxi, specjalment lill-haddiem u l-fqir.
Grazzi. Ahna ma ninsewk qatt!

John Zammit Ph.D.

Aug 20th 2012, 22:04

A big shock for me, my family and all Mintoffians - Malta's Greatest Leader is no more with us. He will live for ever. Condolances to Yana and Ann and his brothers and families. -

Paul Gauci

Aug 20th 2012, 22:04

Rest in peace Perit. Thank you for your service.

Paul Gauci

Aug 20th 2012, 22:01

Rest in peace Perit. Thank you for your service.

John Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 22:01

Mintoff was a great politician Though he committed some mistake the good he done for the Nation will be hard to surpass. Condolences to all the Family

john hili

Aug 20th 2012, 22:00

Grazzi Perit tas-sevizz siewi li tajt lil pajjizek u lil hutek Maltin. Int kont strumentali biex illum ahna qed ingawdu livell tajjeb ta ghixien. Il-Mulej ma jhallasx bhan-nies tad-dinja u ahna certi li Hu diga laqghek fi Hdanu u tinsab tgawdi il prezenza Tieghu. Perit ahna ma ninsuk qatt u int tibqa dejjem haj go qabna u f'qalb uliedna. Ghaziz Perit, bhal ma hadt hsiebna meta kont fostna, ibqa hu hsiebna mill-genna li lilek wisq tixraq.Grazzi ta kollox.

Joseph Meli

Aug 20th 2012, 22:00

Sad news for Malta and other countries that remember him as PM of Malta. May God grant him RIP...

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Aug 20th 2012, 22:00

MALTA became MALTA as an identifiable country and not merely as a pick and grab rock at the whims of much greater powers only through MINTOFF`s charismatic personality. On a visit to Washington in 1999, I met EDWARD HEATH the former bachelor UK PrimeMinister at an International Conference. Mr Heath, outsted by Margaret Thatcher, was then in his eighties. Ever smart in his appearance and dress code, I was introduced to Mr Heath who enquired from where I hailed. I replied REPUBLIC OF MALTA................Ah MALTA, Heath said, then apparently going back in years, he looked at me and said Ah MINTOFF.............how is the old man ?

Having met Mr Mintoff a short while earlier, I replied Still Going Strong.......................MALTA HAS LOST WHO MADE IT INTERNATIONALLY & gave its people a feeling of dignity and nationhood.

DOM I am sure you are negotiating already......................ETERNAL FREEDOM TO YOU.

Luanne Galea

Aug 20th 2012, 21:59

RIP Perit, grazzi ta' kull ma ghamilt ghall-poplu Malti. Strieh fis-sliem.

Andrew Cumbo

Aug 20th 2012, 21:59

Grazzi Perit ta dak kollu li ghamilt ghall Malta u il- Maltin. Strieh fi sliem.

Neville Carabott

Aug 20th 2012, 21:58

Inti tlaqtna perit,imma l-gid li ghamilt int mhux se jhassru hadd.u ghadna ngawduh illum flimkien ma uliedna.
GRAZZI DUMINKU!!!

Joseph Fava

Aug 20th 2012, 21:58

And the elements were so mixed in him,
That nature may rise up
And say " There was a Man.."

Let us all pay tribute, friend and foe alike, to Malta's Man of the Century.

M. Bezzina

Aug 20th 2012, 21:57

Grazzi ta kollox ghaziz perit nibqaw niftakruk tal gid li hloqt mix xejn ghamilt lil Malta taghna....

Andrew Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 21:56

Thanks for everything you did for us!

edward vella

Aug 20th 2012, 21:56

THIS WAS A TRUE LEADER.IT'S A VERY SAD DAY FOR THE WHOLE NATION HE LOVED SO MUCH.YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS,DEAR DOM!MAY YOU REST IN PEACE!MALTA HAS JUST LOST IT'S MOST PROMINENT LEADER OF ALL TIMES.

stephen debono

Aug 20th 2012, 21:56

RIP perit, thank you for everything.

Byron Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 21:55

Strieh fis-sliem Perit. Malta tirringrazjak.

Elvin Muscat

Aug 20th 2012, 21:55

Maybe now we shall get the real truth about this man.

Raymond Fava Naudi

Aug 20th 2012, 21:55

Grazzi ta' kull mghamilt ghal Malta,perit RIP

Edward zahra

Aug 20th 2012, 21:55

L ikbar politikant li qatt kelna malta, emmen fil kapacitajiet tal maltin u hadem kemm felah ghal malta, ghamel zbalji wkoll... imma dak li ma jamel xejn ma jizbalja qatt!! L ghomor lil familja kolla fdan iz zmien ta niket.. zgur li fil funeral se jintwera kemm hu mahbub!! Grazzi Perit R.I.P

Karen Vassallo

Aug 20th 2012, 21:55

Grazzi ta' kollox perit. Int Missier il-Maltin.

A. Caruana

Aug 20th 2012, 21:54

Grazzi ta' kull ma ghamilt ghal Malta u l-Maltin Perit.

Ser tibqa' f'qalbna u f'mohhna ghal dejjem.

Il-Mulej jaghtik il-mistrieh ta' dejjem.

Matthew Balzan

Aug 20th 2012, 21:54

Strieh fil-Paci Perit, int kont li tajt tifsira lil Malta Grazzi RIP

Daniel Borg

Aug 20th 2012, 21:54

Ragel kbir li ghamel affarijiet kbar wahdu!

Mr Eric Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 21:53

A great leader who changed Malta!!! Thank you Dom Mintoff we will never forget you

Lucretia Busuttil Hysock

Aug 20th 2012, 21:53

Lucretia Busuttil Hysock

I live in United States of America, My Condolences to his FAMILY ! REST IN PEACE DOM MINTOFF.

Mr saviour magro

Aug 20th 2012, 21:52

Grazzi Perit. dak li ghamilt ghal pajjizna ma ahna ha ninsewh qatt.
R.I.P.

Joseph Grech Attard

Aug 20th 2012, 21:52

Very true, apt and honest heading ... "Dom Mintoff, Malta's political GIANT ... ". Rest in peace Dom, and thank you.

Mr Malcolm Agius

Aug 20th 2012, 21:51

Accepted or hated, the legacy of Mintoff will never die.
The government should declare 3 days of mourning.
RIP Perit.

B. Theuma

Aug 20th 2012, 21:51

Strieh fis-sliem Perit. L-aqwa Prim Ministru li kellha Malta.

Jeff Kawki

Aug 20th 2012, 21:51

Grazzi ta kollox Perit, jixraqlek il-mistrieh ta' dejjem. Kondoljanzi l-familjari kollha tieghu!!

Jeff Kawki - M'scala

A. Mifsud

Aug 20th 2012, 21:50

A political giant indeed and a true socialist... RIP

S. Bugeja

Aug 20th 2012, 21:48

Strieħ fil-paċi Perit.

ALBERT FENECH

Aug 20th 2012, 21:48

Il-Perit has passed away from this mortal life and into a history which will judge him in many ways. In my way, Dom Mintoff is Malta's most illustrious son, most brilliant statesman and a most brilliant politician who laid the foundation stones for Malta's real economic and political independence.

ALBERT FENECH

Joseph Brincat

Aug 20th 2012, 21:48

Dom Mintoff,
HOW LUCKY WE ( MALTA ) WERE THAT WE HAD YOU TO GUIDE US
YOU ALWAYS WILL STAY IN OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS
Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox.

simon vella

Aug 20th 2012, 21:48

RIP perit tghajtu shemmek ghal da nazzjon, hafna nies kull ma ghandhom jafuh lilek ghax bis-sahha tieghek .

rita zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 21:47

Dear Dom........what a life you've had. Sadly it's over now but you have done so much for Malta. You will never be forgotten. Although i am sorry you passed away, its now time for you to rest. in peace.

J. Camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 21:47

Grazzi dom mintoff! Alla jaghtik il mistrieh ta dejjem.

Rodianne Fenech

Aug 20th 2012, 21:46

grazzi mill-qalb perit ta kollox li ghamilt mal-haddiem u zghazagh...

M camilleri

Aug 20th 2012, 21:46

Thanks for every thing you hav done for us ,you will always be in my memory till the day I die...Condolences to Mintoff family..R.I.P father of Malta

Lina Caruana

Aug 20th 2012, 21:46

Condolences to all his family . May the Lord sustain them in their loss and grant them peace.

chris dimech

Aug 20th 2012, 21:45

R.I.P DUMINKU MINTOFF.

SEBASTIAN MAGRI

Aug 20th 2012, 21:45

Grazzi Perit

Victor Vella

Aug 20th 2012, 21:44

They say that in death all is forgotten, I do not believe so, may he rest in peace, but I will never for get.

G Schembri

Aug 20th 2012, 21:52

No you should never forget that he lead us from being the slaves of a foreign country to self government. YES the 70s and 80s needed a great leader, and God granted us Mintoff. We now need a great leader, hopefully God will grant us another one.

Martin Saliba

Aug 20th 2012, 22:07

How can you forget when your wife and daughter cast their vote , all your family recieves free education , free health care , pensions and countless other social benifits all given to you by Mintoff.

Malcolm Meilak

Aug 20th 2012, 22:16

Don't listen to G Schembri over here, we were delivered from one slave driver to an other if you ask me and that's the way it will always be.

R. Caruana

Aug 20th 2012, 21:44

RIP Dom Mintoff, our most sincere condolences to his family & this country who direly needs statesmen like him especially in these times.

m. borg (slm)

Aug 20th 2012, 21:44

A politician that will not be matched in a hundred years.

May he rest in peace.

Warren J. Borg Ebejer

Aug 20th 2012, 21:44

Alla jtih il-mistrieh ta' dejjem. RIP Mintoff.

Jeff Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 21:44

grazzi perit

Anthony Arpa

Aug 20th 2012, 21:43

RIP DOM .... Int kont wieghed mil l-aqwa mexejja ta zmienek ...

Robert Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 21:43

People of Maltese can save memory of Dom Mintoff..

Frank Borg

Aug 20th 2012, 21:42

Great loss of Malta's greatest ever leader, he will always be remembered, sad day for our Country

Noel Cutajar

Aug 20th 2012, 21:42

Missier Malta hielsa...R.I.P.

Mario Hammett

Aug 20th 2012, 21:42

RIP

Edward Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 21:41

A very sad day indeed. Dom RIP

martin chetcuti

Aug 20th 2012, 21:41

Malta's political giant never to be forgotten. RIP

Joseph Bonello

Aug 20th 2012, 21:41

Rest in peace dear Dom. A true leader, your name will always be mentioned. Perit ta Vera, ghax ghalik, Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox......

Grazzi ta' kollox Perit.

JB

Victor Vella

Aug 20th 2012, 21:40

May God gives you eternal rest. You are already enjoying the joy of God because you really preached and lived both the spirit and word of the gospel. Malta lost a real gentleman and a wise politician. You`ll be always in my prayers and mind. RIP.

David Magro

Aug 20th 2012, 21:40

Grazzi Perit . Il-bambin riedek hdejh. Inti qtajt il-faqar min Malta, tmajt lil baghtut, libbist il fqir, tajt fejn joqghod il-haddiem, ghamilt lil Malta fuq il-mappa tad-dinja. Malta qatt mhu ser tinsiek. Strieh fil-paci Dumink.

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2012, 21:40

Dom Mintoff... with tearsssss... WILL MISS YOU!!!! You were the GOD of our country. Inti l-ALLA ta' Malta. Inti kont li għamilt NAZZJON minn pajjiż. Il-ġid tiegħek jibqa jinħass għal DEJJEM. Inti kont, għadek u tibqa l-ALLA ta' Malta. May you rest in the much deserved eternal peace.

D Mifsud

Aug 20th 2012, 21:39

A great Man...who really loved Malta and the Maltese. RIP Perit we will never forget you and thanks for fighting for the poor

Robert Zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 21:38

Dear Dom, You are honour of all Maltese, Rest of Peace.

Kevin Sciberras

Aug 20th 2012, 21:37

A sad day for Malta.RIP

A Cardona

Aug 20th 2012, 21:35

RIP Mr.Mintoff.

This day has for sure ended with a bitter taste.

My deepest condolences to his family.

joseph mifsud

Aug 20th 2012, 21:35

strieh fil paci perit u grazzi ta kollox li ghamilt ghall malta taghna.int li libbist il fqir u gibt lil malta fuq saqajja.grazzi ta kollox perit.

Stephen Florian

Aug 20th 2012, 21:35

R.I.P and thank you for being here for us always. Watch over us in the times ahead. Condolences to Yana and all the family.

Fiona Vassallo

Aug 20th 2012, 21:33

Rest In Peace....

G. Agius

Aug 20th 2012, 21:33

RIP. Int kont l-aqwa politiku li kellha Malta ghal dak iz-zmien u dejjem rajt li ggib lil Malta fuq saqajha.

Josef Pisani

Aug 20th 2012, 21:31

RIP Perit Kont ragel kbir, kondoljanzi lil-familja

Dominic Carbonaro

Aug 20th 2012, 21:31

Ahbar li sincerament hasditni. Telfa ghal Poplu Malti kollu.
Ghatih o mulej il-mistrieh ta dejjem.

Mr Nathan zammit

Aug 20th 2012, 21:29

l ghomor perit!

mario salnitro

Aug 20th 2012, 21:29

RIP Perit!!!!

carlos ellul

Aug 20th 2012, 21:29

One of the very few true patriots of this nation died. Sad indeed.

Robert Teuma

Aug 20th 2012, 21:26

Lejl it-tajjeb papa!
Missier il-Maltin!

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Dom Mintoff, Malta's political giant, passes away

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Aug 23rd 2012, 15:14 Thousands follow six-hour Dom Mintoff cortège

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Aug 23rd 2012, 15:14
Thousands follow six-hour Dom Mintoff cortège