Thoughts from the other side
‘As a Christian I forgive and will allow history to judge his actions’
No political figure in life and death can possibly elicit sentiments as diametrically opposed as can Dom Mintoff.
The adulation that accompanied the outpouring of grief after his death was tempered by the views of those who despised Mr Mintoff’s rough ways.
He was championed for introducing the welfare state but derided for leading a government that trampled over human rights.
He was lauded for eradicating poverty but despised for allowing violent elements to take root in his party.
One man who suffered the brunt of Mr Mintoff’s policies was Richard Muscat, a former Nationalist MP who in the 1980s left Malta for Sicily from where he ran a clandestine TV channel to broadcast the PN’s message.
Mr Muscat admits Mr Mintoff’s death rekindled the memories of suffering his family had to endure. But this is a time for “respect and dignity” towards the dead, he insists.
“The death of any person has to be accompanied by respect and dignity. As a Christian I forgive and will allow history to judge the actions of Dom Mintoff based on proven and documented facts,” Mr Muscat said.
Mr Mintoff’s legacy is a mixed one, insists former diplomat and civil servant Evarist Saliba.
“Dom Mintoff tried to do his best to bring about change but despite his rallying call being ‘Malta first and foremost’, he never made the distinction between Malta and himself.”
Mr Saliba recalls the suffering inflicted on many people, including his brother, a doctor, by the policies of Mr Mintoff’s government in the 1970s.
“Mintoff could have achieved more had he had people around him who kept him in check,” Mr Saliba says.
This was particularly evident in Mr Mintoff’s foreign policy, he adds. “He could have done better things for Malta had he adopted methods that were less rough and antagonistic towards the West.”
As for Mr Mintoff’s actions to remove former Labour leader Pawlu Boffa after the Second World War and the scuppering of Alfred Sant’s Labour government in 1998, Mr Saliba believes it is up to Labour supporters to judge their former leader.
“They will have to decide whether Mintoff’s contribution to the party was positive or not,” Mr Saliba says.
But there exists mutual respect between Mr Saliba and Mr Mintoff. “As a civil servant I had the courage to stand up to him and say no and he respected me for it.”
Mr Saliba says he did not suffer any consequences for his behaviour but others were not so lucky. For these people Mr Mintoff’s legacy will always be tainted.
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Mark Cassar
Aug 24th 2012, 04:24
In the final years, Perit Mintoff governed Malta by using fear, fear and violent retribution for those who opposed his views on how Malta should be governed into the future. He could not tolerate dissenting views whether verbal or written; and perhaps most people at that time could not convince him with regard to their views. That is the difference between then and the present. Now you can speak until you are blue in the face, pardon the unintentional pun, but the fact is you can. Whether the incumbent PM actually takes your views on board, that is not your prerogative, but obviously that of the PM. Perit Mintoff was a man of the times, whose methods become increasingly questionable and objectionable. Hopefully Malta can now move on and learn from the past.
Nicola Farrugia
Aug 23rd 2012, 16:38
We can tell Mr Richard Muscat how much we sufferred as a result of the interdict, and how much he tried to harm Malta as a result of the transmissions he used to transmit from Sicily on behalf of his party. The title of this article is correct, because Mintoff was on the right side, he did the best for Malta, whereas Richard Muscat was defintiely on the other side trying to harm Malta and the Maltese.Maybe Mr Muscat can also tell us who used to instigate the violence and who put the bombs. NB; Unlike Mr Muscat and his colleagues we never received any sum of money for all we had to go through. RIP Perit, God knows the good you did.
Terry COURTNADGE
Aug 23rd 2012, 14:47
To : Tuffy Davies Davidson - I am also a Briton.
To: Readers of his comment - he was writing on behalf of himself.
Hossam Helwani
Aug 23rd 2012, 13:54
@ victor laiviera
you refer to character assassination a phrase which recently came into the lejber brain.
There was never a time in the history of a nation when we went through the horrors of demonstrations , bullying, burning down.
These thanks to filming were captured for ever and are there to remain.
We never in our history have experienced government blessed atrocities like we experienced the last years of the reign of terror.
You have the audacity to wipe away all this. All you care for is " id dnub il mejjet" and "il mizbla"
First " id dnub il mejjet was strongly opposed by Dr Borg Olivier because he knew it would have dire consequences.
Another is the Term mizbla. The term mizbla is a term adopted by the lejber party to create a scene. The place is never and was never referred to as il mizbla. It is a respectful place by the Government to ensure that people who were not in agreeing with the faith would have a decent place of burial.
Lejber took advantage of a word and started to refer to it as il mizbla and also insulted other buried people there who were not buried there because they were lejber but they happen to be of another faith. Lejber showed how stupid and backward they were when they used that term ( It is suddenly occurring to me that it might actually befitting to some )
I remember vividly as if it was yesterday the horrific incident when there was a lejber activity in zebbug and thugs went over to burn it down.
Nationalist supporters threw the ballusters down to frighten them away , and mintoff angrilly threatened them to tear them limb from limb if they did not surrender.
This was the legacy and your famous character assassination. You either agree with him or you will face his wrath. the last person who had to succumb to his horror was Dr Alfred Sant who had to face another election thanks to his threaths. Where were you then?
I am sure that you were there clapping at the words traitor! this is what worries me in this tiny island that ignorance is the only battle human never managed to win. And it shows evidently how true this is when we see what is going to happen the coming days.
Joe Xuereb
Aug 23rd 2012, 13:24
@ Hossam Helwani (Today, 10:20). Mr.?/Ms.? Helwani (or is it Helwani Hossam?), and I imagine YOU know all about democratic principles?! I'll help you out......No! I'll leave you and the rest to work it out for yourself. Most of the rest will never grasp, or have the courage to grasp, what I am implying because they are too frightfully entrenched in their agenda. These would have voted against divorce when the referendum was thrown at them like a bit of putrid meat, untouchable by 'delicate' hands and frightfully, frightfully precious minds.
Victor Laiviera
Aug 23rd 2012, 12:13
It must be very galling to certain people to see that decades of character assassination have not dented the respect and admiration that the Maltese people nurture for Dom Mintoff.
As will be in evidence over the coming days.
Joe Xuereb
Aug 23rd 2012, 11:23
Quote: '‘As a Christian I forgive and will allow history to judge his actions’. Hold it guv, you're walking on egg-shells! I guess anything done in the name of Christianity - slips so easily off the tongue it has ended up devoid of any true feeling - cannot be accused of being cliche'-ridden?! Being Christian proves something good, yes?! And not being manifestly christian is damning, is that right?! Especially when one considers that dissidence between unchosen cardinals and chosen popes over centuries? When all Mintoff did was stand up to an unashamedly manipulative bishop, that's all!
Today, in 2012, important social issues are forever being debated only to end up in a bottle-neck (the last one resolved by referendum because the present leader of this pathetic little country had an attack of (religious) conscience. If anything, this state of affairs was even more pronounced during Mintoff's heyday (people being threatened with ignominious burials, withdrawal of the sacraments, vilification of Labourites and their children, and so on. By definition, Labourites tend to be drawn from the working-class (mhux mill-klassi privileġġjata), the underdog that needed an uplifting , by a strong leader. They found him in Mintoff (and the fact he was a professional working-class man stood him in good stead with his followers). I am not sure that Mintoff instigated violence but his followers could be volatile because underdogs often are. The class war was raging then and rages still. The Maltese ħobża tigħhieli llum qabel għada will vote Nationalist if he feels it propels mobility towards what is no more than a pretend middle-class, tip borgeżija 'żgħira' tal-provinċja (we're talking about that uniquely Maltese trait called 'mainly Italian, possibly British' vomit-inducing snobbery), arani mama'! and with an accent that makes one wet oneself.
Mintoff was at loggerheads with the Maltese Church and he fought back because for him, his people were more important than the Church; lanqas illum aħseb u ara ħamsin sena ilu (and this does not mean, necessarily, that his followers understood this. In fact I would guess that most Labourites are at least nominally religious, enough at any rate, to save their souls if this is what it takes. Now there's a juicy debate for the jury, let's have some fun! His fault - so to speak - was that he angered/frightened the religious then as now. In Malta, irreligiosity is a crime most foul and Mintoff tried, and to a large extent, succeeded, in turning that on its head. From this point, Malta will never, ever, be the same again. Malta dipped its toe in a socialism that is still practised, and benefitting from, a welfare state AND IS NOW OFFICIALLY A SECULAR STATE (one could not start to dream of this in Mintoff's time - it would have been a step too far although naturally, the idea was welling up in his mind. Or maybe he was expressing this through his social reforms, the giving of a voice to the despised ħamalli, despised because they remind one that we all work and therefore, we are all working-class. And holding forth one's thought for the day at some chi-chi cafe' in town of any morning does not qualify one to the local gentry, and a pretend one at that. Kollhom kowtijiet u toqob fil-peduni.
The great man was a Socialist from a working-class background, moħħu jilħaqlu u mhux qarrieqi to a fault (with a good head on his shoulders and honest to a fault). Just get over it! (But one needs to know the 'risky' where he is coming from).
@ TuffyDavies Davidson (Yesterday, 15:01). Mr. Tuffy D.D.T, I wonder if you are aware that Mr. Mintoff's wife was English? And what's this nonsense about you 'not being Maltese thank god'?(apart from thankfully saying you're not Maltese and I guess we have god to thank for that little gem). For a true blue Englisher, not very subtle are we now!
And finally, in Malta, anyone who expresses or otherwise demonstrates sentiments against the local belief system is vilified and banished from the tribe at least. And if they are in the political arena, it is political suicide. This much I know. But this shameful situation which keeps Malta 'mitt sena lura' reflects more on the local belief system than it does the exiled son. It breeds contempt and hypicrisy; in other words, a deceitful hell on earth (as expressed earlier).
JJ Agius
Aug 23rd 2012, 11:13
Skond kwazi il Bloggers kollha mil hazin ta Mintoff Gawdew u ghadna ngawdu kwazi l- Maltin kollha.Mit tajjeb tieghu Malta marret from Rags to riches! Wara mintoff gawdejna li kien hemm fil kaxxa u gawdejna mid d-dejn li sar.Issa niehdu pacenzja li gawdejna f'dawn l-20 sena nbatu fl 20 sena li jmiss! Veru kellu l-hazin ukoll!! ax hekk hu "mix xewk johrog il ward. Min Mintoff ix Xewka harget dik il fjura hamra hamra.Fjura li tant kien jghozz.;Simbolu Ta "Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox" li tkompli "min gie wara h--- kollox!"Pero nemmen li kemm l-hazin ta Mintoff u ta min gie wara sar ax huma umani. Kullhadd joqmos meta tniggsu! U hadd ma jixtieq jaqa min fuq dak is siggu!!
Mil ezami ghadda zgur ax kellu hafna aktar tajjeb min hazin.Mela prosit Dr.Gonzi li offrejt Funeral Statali.
Duminku anke jekk bzajt minnek meta kont zghir llum nahseb b 'mohhi u nghidlek Grazzi Ta Kollox!
J.J
J.J.
Hossam Helwani
Aug 23rd 2012, 10:20
@ victor laiviera
you have absolutely no idea of what democratic principles mean. For you democracy means that we have to follow your ideals or else. That comes from the doctrine which mintoff believed in and I for one despised him and never gave him my vote. I am glad I never did because I would never forgive myself for ever voting for a person who only believed in himself.
He gave pennies he robbed from the rich. The denuded the rich and brought them down to misery. He confiscated property illegally.
dekontroll
housing lill lejburisti biss
expropriation of land and given to favourites ( still pending )
Robbing of privately owned bank shares National Bank and threatening the families who owned them with all kinds of violent threats.
He terrorised all kinds of directors of institutions.
Malta is showing the world today that she is honouring a man who loved only himself.
Nehha it tallaba mit toroq spejjes ta hafna familji li huma spiccaw tallaba.
Look at his enormous villa in tarxien it speaks of exuberance and extreme wealth. Look at this fully detached dellimara villa built on green area land and demanding from the countries coffers
LM360 000 to the detriment of us all " Malta l ewwel u qabel kollox " indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EMANUEL BUSUTTIL-DOUGALL
Aug 23rd 2012, 09:09
Sur Editur,
Minħabba l-Funeral Statali u b’qima lejn l-ex Prim Ministru l-Perit Dom Mintoff, il-Kumitat tal-Festa San Duminku fil-Birgu flimkien mal-Komunità Dumnikana u l-Kumitat tal-Għaqda Filarmonika Prince of Wales Own tal-Birgu ddeċidew li:
1. Jitħassar il-Marċ ta’ Filgħodu li kellu jsir nhar is-Sibt, 25 ta’ Awwissu 2012 kif ukoll l-isparar kollu li kellu jsir filgħodu.
2. Il-Banda Prince of Wales Own se tieħu sehem fil-Korteo Funebri li ser isir nhar il-Ħamis fil-5.00pm minn Misraħ ir-Rebħa għal Triq il-Mina l-Kbira sa ħdejn il-Mina fi Triq Pawlu Boffa l-Birgu.
3. Il-kumplament tal-Programm tal-Festa ser isir kif kien avżat, voldieri.
Il-Ħamis, 23 ta’ Awwissu, fit-8.30pm Il-Banda Nicolò Isouard tal-Mosta, tibda marċ minn Triq Boffa, quddiem l-Istatwa ta’ San Duminku u tgħaddi minn diversi toroq sa quddiem il-Każin tal-Banda Prince of Wales Own.
Il-Ġimgħa, 24 ta, Awwissu, fit-8.30pm Il-Banda Prince of Wales Own tal-Birgu takkumpanja l-istatwa ta’ San Duminku minn ħdejn il-Knisja Dumnikana tal-Lunzjata fi Triq il-Mina l-Kbira, sa ħdejn il-Każin tal-istess Banda, fejn l-istatwa ta San Duminku tittella’ fuq il-kolonna.
Is-Sibt, 25 ta’ Awwissu, fit-8.30pm Il-Banda Prince of Wales Own tal-Birgu tagħmel marċ minn Misraħ ir-Rebħa, sa Triq it-Torri San Ġwann (fuq is-Sur) fejn tesegwixxi programm strumentali bin-Nar Sinkronizzat bis-sistema Pyrosure. Wara jibda l-logħob tan-nar ta’ l-art.
Il-Ħadd, 26 ta’ Awwissu, fis-6.30pm Il-Banda San Ġorġ ta Bormla tgħamel marċ u wara tesegwixxi Programm Mużikali.
7.30pm Il-Banda Żejtun u l-Banda Ċittadina Sliema jdoqqu marċi waqt il-purcissjoni bil-vara ta’ San Duminku fost kant tal-innijiet sa mal- vara tidhol fil-Knisja.
10.45pm Il-Banda Prince of Wales Own tal-Birgu tagħmel marċ tal-aħħar li jibda minn quddiem il-Knisja fi Triq il-Mina l-Kbira sa ħdejn il-Kazin tal-istess Banda, fejn l-istatwa ta San Duminku titnizzel minn fuq il-kolonna u akkumpanjata mill-Banda titwassal sal-Kunvent tal-Patrijiet Dumnikani.
Victor Laiviera
Aug 23rd 2012, 09:06
Mr Richard Muscat has been peddling his "martyr" image for years.
The fact is that his much trumpeted suffering was self-inflicted. Mr Muscat went (or was sent) to Sicily for one reason only - to be able to transmit falsehoods about the Labour Government without having to answer for his words before Maltese law. I still remember those broadcasts and the obscene lies that were transmitted had to be heard to be believed. In the end, even the Italian authorities could no longer stomach them, and shut the station down.
And Richard Muscat has been handsomely rewarded over the years for his so-called “suffering” – through diplomatic posts and through being given a free hand at Voice of the Mediterranean. We still remember how the PN heavyweights savaged the Auditor General when he dared to criticise Muscat’ running of that radio station.
Dom Mintoff has no need of Muscat’s forgiveness. It is Muscat who should humbly apologise to Mintoff’s memory and beg to be forgiven
Alfred Vassallo
Aug 23rd 2012, 09:27
Well said Vic and true to the mark.
One remark I wish to add is that it wasn't muscat who suffered the brunt of Mr. Mintoff policies but the other way round, the nation suffered from Muscat's broadcasts.
Mark. Galea
Aug 23rd 2012, 09:27
@Victor Laiviera
People who support tyrants cannot understand the basic principles of democracy and free speech. Malta is now democratic and both YOU and ME can express themselves freely. Imagine writing on this blog during the 1981-1987 period. Unthinkable.
Hossam Helwani
Aug 23rd 2012, 10:10
@ victor laiviera
I would like to see you squirm if you did this kind of criticism in the time of mintoff. mintoff was an intollerant man, he trampled on human rights.
You insult Prime Minister Gonzi all the time thanks to freedom of speech and Thanks to this newspaper that Mintoff allowed to be burned down.
Mur arak kieku xi hadd iwaqqfek milli tiftah halqek jew taqla xi xeba jew ihalluk barra min Malta bhalma ghamlu lill Mr Richard Muscat.
L akbar ghama min ma jridx jara.
. Il poplu Malti ma jinsa qatt iz zminijiet koroh li ghaddejna minnhom.
Eddy Privitera
Aug 23rd 2012, 13:11
Mark Galea: Who told you that today we are free to express our opinions in public ? Ask those who have been denied promotions, denied government employment etc.. etc... due to their political opinions ! thousands of labour supporters have suffered such psychological violence for 25 years of PN governments. This is far worse than being punched as we keep reading from GonziPN apologists who keep repeating such incidents which happened decades ago. But the psychological violence and political discrimination IS STILL GOING ON TO THIS VERY DAY !
Mr Simon Azzopardi
Aug 23rd 2012, 08:57
Wow! Some harsh words. This article depicts the other side exactly.
Maria Vassallo
Aug 23rd 2012, 08:56
But why was Mr. Mintoff barred from stepping in the New Labour Headquarters at the Mile End-Hamrun?
Definitely there was some very serious reason to exclude Is-Salvatur ta' Malta from the MLP Sanctuary?
Cotemporary history has to be written.
Robbie Williams Galea
Aug 23rd 2012, 08:26
17) I also forgot to mention the gagging of the Church during the divorce campaign and all the hatred and lies pushed forward against the church. (than when the church talked about the poverty they commented favourably.
and alot more.
A. Borg
Aug 23rd 2012, 07:40
Kien strumentali biex dhalna fl-EU. Li ma kienx hu kieku ghadna barra!
Karl Farrugia
Aug 23rd 2012, 08:24
ked naqra sew jiena? inti bis-serjeta?!?!
Robbie Williams Galea
Aug 23rd 2012, 00:11
I think there is room for another INTERDETT not only from the church but also from the Constitutional law courts. I have noticed alot of wrongdoings and most of them going unreported or unpunished.
!) Alfred Sant saying '" war. war, war" UNACCEPTABLE.
2) Alfred Sant saying " ghajn ghal ghajn u sinna ghal sinna" UNACCEPTABLE.
3) Alfred Sant before the election " I will work only with labourites" UNACCEPTABLE.
4) Perverse Sentences from our Lawcourts.
5) unacceptable illogical reasoning and arguments.
6) Lies, LIes and Lies
7) Double Standards
8) Persecution, Vindictive Attitude, Bullying, Discrimination at Work
9) Discrimination during Interviews
10) Strained Social ties.( even family ties)
11)They say they are Nationalsit and they are Labourites.
12) Teachers unable to teach because of pupils disruption
13) Immoral Behaviour Antisocial behaviour. Promoting immoral behaviour.
14) Doing whatever they please them wherever they are.
15) Foul Play( example driver diverting his route to destination to provoke complains from commuters. UNACCEPTABLE The Attorney General, the Constitutional Courts and the President together with the Prim MInister should take action. He may issue a warning initially and in my opinion there is room direct Banning from public life and politics. UNACCEPTABLE. Behaviour.
Hossam Helwani
Aug 23rd 2012, 10:12
Prosit ..........there is someone who sees the truth
well done
Robbie Williams Galea
Aug 22nd 2012, 23:40
He gave people one fish to feed on but he didn't give the fishing rod to be able to catch more than one fish just one fish to feed on. He was a bully alot of arrogance considering the crass incompetence and incapability to govern and bring jobs " he came out to say that he was not capable of creating jobs as he was in getting money to Malta" and now they are calling him the champion of economic revovery of Malta. BLASPHEMY.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Aug 22nd 2012, 23:29
You write: "One man who suffered the brunt of Mr Mintoff’s policies was Richard Muscat, a former Nationalist MP who in the 1980s left Malta for Sicily from where he ran a clandestine TV channel to broadcast the PN’s message." He sounds like a real victim, doesn't he! Why not tell the full story? What exactly led to his departure? Like a good Christian he forgives, but he still makes mention of it in an effort to demonise an opponent.
Emmanuel Caruana
Aug 22nd 2012, 23:06
But still was he a ' Saviour' or 'Traitor' ?
Salvino Giusti
Aug 22nd 2012, 22:35
Salvino Giusti
Is-Sur Maurice Abela, Kap tal-Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Barranin ghal bosta snin, kien jghidilna "Jien tlett slaleb kbar ghandi f'hajjti....Evarist Saliba, li minn Geneva dejjem jeqred biex nghollulu l-allowances u li meta ttieh struzzjonijiet jghamel bil-kontra li tkun tlabtu (u zewg persuni ohra li mhux ser insemmi ghax ma ghadhomx maghna).
Meta Varist kien kap tal-Ministeru ghal sena jew tnejn, il-fama li kien igorr fil-Ministeru kienet li "tidhol ghandu bi problema u tohrog bi tlieta!"
Meta jien kont kap tal-Ambaxxata Maltijja fi Tripli, habib kbir tieghi, u ta Varist ukoll, kien il-Commodore Mujib Rahman, l-Ambaxxatur ta' Bangladesh fi Tripli.
Fl-l987, bi Gvern gdid ta Dr Fenech Adami gewwa Malta, meta Mujib kien Malta u ltaqa ma Varist fil-Ministeru, dan ta' l-ahhar habbar lil Mujib li gie appuntat "Junion Foreign Min ister" u li fi zmien qasir, meta
Dr Censu Tabone kien mistenni li jilhaq President, aktarx li jilhaq Foreign Minister hu (jigifieri Varist).
Dan hu kliem Mujib irrappurtat lili fl-Ambaxxata taghna fi Tripli fejn kien proont gie jarani Mujib biex
kunfidenzjalment jghidli li jien kont ser nigi mghajjat lura Malta minnufieh.
Infakkar li kien il-mibki Dr Censu Tabone li b'weggha kbira fqalbu kien qal fintervista li il-kbarat fil-Ministeru
tal-Affarijiet barranin ippruvaw jimminawh mewtya nhadmet manuvra minn wara darhu bhala Foreeeeign Minister. Niftakar kien qam pogrom shieh meta dan gie rappurtat jidhirli mit-Times of Malta.
U ejja ma nimlewx rasna li dan Varist hu xi awtorita' fuq il-hidma tal -Ministeru tal-Affarijiet Basrranin.
Fi zmien li Alfred SA.Aant kien Prim Ministru, dan Varist biex jimpressjona, qal li Alfred Sant sar Prim Ministru buis-sahha tac-C.I.A Amerikana. Meta Sant gie mistoqsi minn gurnal lokali biex jikkummenta, Sant irrisponda "I dont have time for this bullshit"
Li naf zgur hu li meta kont inservi fl-Ambaxxata Maltijja fi New York, waqt li dak iz-zmien Varist kien ikopri is-CSCE, waslitilna nformazzjoni kunfidenzjali hafna minn diplomatici ta' pajjizi ohra f'din il-konferenza, li kienu ferm skandalizzati ghax qalu li r-rappresentant Malti mhux derba wera' x-xewqa maghhom privatament, li xtaq jivvota kontra l-istruzzjonijiet specifici tal Gvern Malti, pero kellu idu marbuta. Alla jbierek x'serjeta' ta diplomatici kellna sabiex iwettqu il-policies tal-Gvern Malti
Salvino Giusti
Alfred Vassallo
Aug 23rd 2012, 09:15
Proset an 'eye opener' ta veru. Jien dejjem ghedt li kien zball kbir li il mlp hallew fil poter certu nies b'tendenzzi nazzjonalisti fil 1998 ghax dawn dejjem kontra il policies tal gvern laburista imxew.
Evarist Saliba
Aug 23rd 2012, 10:41
I am not going to waste too much space to answer your allegations in detail.
I will only ask you whether you reported to your superiors the allegations that you are quoting against me. If you did you were not believed because Mintoff kept me representing Malta in the CSCE as long as he was prime minister. If you did not, you failed to do your duty.
As for Maurice Abela, you seem to be unaware of his sense of humour which has kept us close friends up to the present day.
As for Censu Tabone you are being unfair to his memory. Soon after the misunderstanding on my position on the date for Malta's application to join the EU, he made a public declaration on TV that he had no reason to doubt my loyalty to him, and privately he has praised my memoires as a valuable contribution to Malta's recent history. He said this after reading my book, and not like Alfred Sant who passed his remark without reading what I had written or listening to what I had said on TV.
Evarist Saliba
Aug 23rd 2012, 12:33
May I add that I cannot control what the ambassador of Bangladesh said that I had told him, but for the record, the relevant facts are the following.
As long as Censu Tabone was Foreign Minister I was his right-hand man as Secretary at the Ministry. When he was elevated to the post of President of the Republic, and practically at the same time I retired on grounds of age, I was appointed Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs .The portfolio of this ministry was assumed by Prime Minister E. Fenech Adami.
You may wish to learn that most summits at international meetings attended by Heads of Government are usual preceded by a meeting at foreign minister level. On such occasions Fenech Adami sent me to represent Malta at the Foreign Ministerr level, even though I did not hold this rank, while he attended the summit at which I formed part of the delegation as well.
Is this an eye-opener?
Toni Borg
Aug 22nd 2012, 22:08
The government should place a bust of George Borg Olivier and Dom Mintoff in front of the new parliament building in Valletta.
Both gentlemen should be considered as the fathers of our Independent and Republican island. Those that have given us a constitution and our own parliament.
RIP to Mr Mintoff and condolences his family.
Henry S Pace
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:50
' He was lauded for eradicating poverty but despised for allowing violent elements to take root in his party '
Yes this is a true fact however, one has to say that after the Seond World War the forst e;ected government
was led by the Labour Party. At that time there was poverty all around europe.
Following nearly fice years of Co
aolition Governments led by Dr Gorg Borg olivier with Dr BOffa's Workers party, the last government in 1055
was defeated by aDr John Cole who voted against the Government,
1955 mintoff won the election and embarked on a programme to lift the whole nation from the past.
The concept of Welfare state say the light.
Following that period any subsequent improved the welfare state.
Following the 16 years of a fist government led by Mintoff up to 1984 the people had to face difficult times.
Thank God those days are over and we hope that those days would never come.
These are the fact of the mintoff days.
MAY THE LORD GOD GIVE HIME REST IN PEACE.
Alfred Falzon
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:47
Amb Saliba, Who was Permanent secretary when the late and beloved Dr Censu Tabone was advised to write a cabinet memo (which was made public) recommending the immediate transfer of those seasoned civil servants who where supportive or otherwise with the Labour party. Do you remember that particular year when the Foreign Ministry was brought practically to a stand still for one whole year because MFA had lost valuable civil servants, some of whom have been appointed Ambassadors by the same Nationalist government that had, in those years, given them a transfer?
Evarist Saliba
Aug 23rd 2012, 13:49
Your memory must be playing you tricks.
No ambassador appointed by a Nationalist government prior to 1987 was transfered after Censu Tabone became became Foreign Minister, except in the normal routine. I can only think of Victor Gauci who was posted to Australia. He was chosen as a career diplomat, who already knew Australia and whose family lived in Australia, to replace the political appointee, M r Forace.
On the contrary, ambassadors appointed by the Labour administartion who were considered career ones, were retained. Other officers in the ministry, posted there after the Tal-Imnarja summary transfer of most of the staff, were not only retained but even promoted under a Nationalist administration even to the rank of ambasdsador.
What do you mean when you say "seasoned civil servants supporters or otherwise with the Labour party"? Can you make up your mind whether their transfer was, allegedly, due to their political leanings?
I have written on a number of occasions that transfers were not made because of political beliefs, but for a number of reasons extensively detailed in my memoirs, including evidence that they were not loyal to the new administartion. The new administartion was also entitled to ensure a balance destroyed by the Tal-Imnarja mass transfers, secondments from other departments or bodies (including a beach cleaner),and irregular employment.
I can assure you that the ministry never came to a standstill, in spite of difficulties in recruitment, until we could built up a proper recruiting system since none existed after Mintoff abolished the Foreign Service.
Peter Simpson
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:19
Mintoff was the man of the time who confronted our colonial masters, the obscurantist Church and that faction of Maltese elite that resisted change: head on.
Birth pangs of any nation are always painful; the English civil war, the French revolution -that produced the first modern parliament- the American civil war, and every other change that was resisted brought conflict among its peoples.
Compared to others, the building of modern Malta was very peaceful and only hypocrites would say that those who resisted change did not throw as many spanners as possible in Mintoff''s way to defend their Status quo.
The millions that Mintoff negotiated for Malta-through US, Germany, and especially our Italian friends, made it possible for Malta to neutralize the effects rundown after the British left in 1979 free from foreign bases for the first time since the Phoenicians!.
As for foreigners, the more they talk against Mintoff's' personality, the more it shows that his love for this tiny island- that for thousands of years was always in the hands of these very foreigners-came first and foremost!
Those who will study the primary sources-and not the biased political accounts as scribbled daily by PN apologists- will see Mintoff as the man of destiny that Malta needed to make its first take off politically and economically.
The social and political emancipation of the Maltese was made possible only because of his stamina and perseverance; great leaders make thing happens: Mintoff was one of them!
A Dimech
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:09
The only thing which I say is this; I hear a few Nationalist saying "me and my family suffered under Mintoff";
1st - they very rarely give detail of what that suffering entailed;
2nd - they never took Mintoff to court for damages suffered;
3rd - they have the habit of underlining "their family" to make it look worse;
4th - They do not mention the conditions before Mintoff - the poverty and dirt which existed.
I am not saying he was not rough or he was of not a strong personality or that he did not do mistakes, but are these exaggerated?!!
Evarist Saliba
Aug 23rd 2012, 15:37
Since I am one of the only two persons in the article above to whom your comments could apply, may I tell you that the details of my brother's dismissal on unexplained "grounds of public policy", following false allegations against him, and contrdictory sworn statements to shore up these false allegations have been public property for very long years. He took his case to the proper body, the Public Service Commission and not the courts, and he was vindicated.
So what you say shows your ignorance of the truth and not the truth itself.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 25th 2012, 15:11
@ A Dimech
Please excuse the delay in answering due to indisposition.
I have given ample details of the injustice done to me in various blogs so much so that, apart from you, I do not know of any other Mintoff diehard who still attempts to question its authenticity.
The Public Service Commission declared that my compulsory retirement was a "miscarriage of justice" and reinstated me fully in my post of Police Medical Officer without any penalty.
I did not take MIntoff to court because he was extremely clever not to soil his own hands when there were abject sycophants, thirsting for undeserved promotions, ready and willing to do the dirty work for him. But Mintoff was loyal to his henchmen so much so that he promptly amending the PSC Regulations making doubly sure that I would be unable to take his henchmen to court.
Nevertheless I still tried. The Police would not charge the person who was an aspirant for the pending post of Commissioner of Police and whom I had exposed as a flagrant perjurer during the PSC hearings.
No sir. Mintoff is not one of my heroes but I am convinced that the good God would deal mercifully with his soul.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Aug 22nd 2012, 20:34
TuffyDavies Davidson, as you correctly wrote, you are "not old enough to remember this guy" and it really shows. "he must have really had it in for the British and perhaps even hated every Brit" Here you are also wrong, since:
1. He was married to a Brit whom he adored AND
2. He loved MALTA AND THE MALTESE PEOPLE first and he would not let any Foreigners to step on us or in any way dictate to us!
Finally, yes Sir I do Thank God you are not Maltese because we do not need arrogant, insolent and shameful persons such as you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TuffyDavies Davidson
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:01
For what i can understand and read as i am not old enough to remember this guy, he must have really had it in for the British and perhaps even hated every Brit. on the islands at the time., ofcourse i might be wrong, but then i am only a Briton and not Maltese thank god
GL Calleja
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:57
Mintoff hated the British and he also hated the Americans. Many of his followers shouted " British and Yankees go home." Yes there was a big hatred for both and that was instilled mostly by Dom Mintoff and the others followed. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and Dom Mintoff took full advantage of that ignorance, most dictators do.
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 22nd 2012, 20:33
@Davidson
On the contrary, the british made a lot of maltese friends and that is why most of them keep coming back to Malta for the umpteem time for their Holidays. Most british turists came to Malta because by word of mouth they come over.
When the british were stationed in Malta in submarins and warships "The "Forth" for one, officers and their families in Malta lived in private houses and made constant contact with the maltese. I for one of them made a lot of english friends in my younger days and no regrets both ways.
Noel Abela
Aug 22nd 2012, 20:34
Mr Davidson it is very imature of Mr Calleja to imply that |Montof was against the Brits or the Americans. Mintoff always stood up for the rights of Malta and thje Maltese. How could Mintoff hate the Brits when he was actually married to one. I was my idol but I don't hate the Brits or anyone else. So please don't believe all the crap that you may be reading about this great Man.
William Vella Zarb
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:03
Quite ironic since he married an English woman.
Tony Borg
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:06
What he hated most was the British and Nato Bases here but the ignorant mass could not make the distinction between the Military and the Civilians.
How could he hate the Britts when he was married to Blue Blood Britt and his two daughters having dual citizenship?? He also studied and graduated from Oxford University.
But ignorance is bliss sometimes..............
A Dimech
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:10
Tuffy - if he hated the British, why did he marry a Brit?! He hated British colonialism, which is different.
No worries you don't want to be Maltese - the feeling is probably mutual.
James Galea
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:14
Like Mintoff was I am proud to be Maltese.
It only stands to reason that when a nation is dominated exploited and abused by other people who think they are superior, no love can flower unless the person abused and exploited is without identity and personality and himself believe he does not know better. Thank God Malta is now an Independent & Free Nation much safer than Britain...
Michael Sciortino
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:44
@GL Calleja. Mintoff did not hate the British. He hated colonialism but not the British. He did not like the British as masters of Malta. This was a sentiment shared by everyone except by the few imperialists!!
J Azzopardi
Aug 22nd 2012, 21:50
Dear Mr Davidson,
You are wrong on this one...he not only loved the Brits but even married a British girl!
He was against the injustices that the Brits were doing against the Maltese. Just to mention one example is the fact that if two labourers were doing the same job at the dockyards and one happened to be British, he was paid better than the Maltese.
He was against any foreign power who used Malta without contributing to its socio-economical situation. Thus that's why he refused to keep the Nato in Malta, and that's why he agreed with the British to leave Malta.
The best slogan that represents the truth is 'Englishmen pay up, or go home'.
Mr Henry A. Grima
Aug 22nd 2012, 22:01
@ Tuffy
Correction:
Mintoff wanted the British colonial power to cease operations from Malta.
British colonialism was not good for Malta as we were then too dependent on them for jobs, education, etc.
They always used and abused us, did not even repair the war damage, built to their requirements on historic buildings and even prevented us from even swimming where we wanted.
The only people who were trusted were people who had British surnames, and they were always granted a pension on retirement.
He certainly did not hate the British people! He was married to an English lady; God bless her!
She was a good Christian; I met her at the then Floriana Gospel Hall, near the then KGV hospital.
By the way I am Maltese and I thank God for that.
Raymond Borg
Aug 22nd 2012, 23:21
Maybe he didn't like being treated like a second class citizen in his own country!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Aug 22nd 2012, 23:23
Mintoff married an English woman. He was a Rhodes scholar. What Mintoff hated was the fact that the British ran Malta. He wanted the Maltese to run their own country. How would Tuffy feel if England were to be run by Iran or the USA?
Maria Barbara
Aug 22nd 2012, 23:30
Mintoff did not hate the Brits ... how could he? He studied there and his wife was British. But he hated the fact that the Brits used us; he hated the fact that Malta was not running itself ... and PLEASE !!! you must be racist and very rude to write on a Maltese newspaper and say Thank God I am not Maltese! Maybe your comment gives Mr Dom Mintoff reason to act as he did!
James Galea
Aug 23rd 2012, 00:08
So proud to be an Independent and free Maltese.
It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you (a) become really committed to winning, and (b) become a genuine ally of other people struggling for their freedom. - Robin Morganf
Salvino Giusti
Aug 23rd 2012, 00:24
Salvin o Giusti
@ TuffyDavies Davidson
Mintoff never hated anyone. His wife Moira was British and if I am not mistaken his two daughters were born and bred in England. One of them was so very British that she had free access to the British House of Parliament where she flung horse dung on the Parliament floor in protest at some policies that were
perceived as hurting the working Brits.
Salvino Giusti
Victor Laiviera
Aug 23rd 2012, 00:34
No, Mr Davidson, Mintoff hated nobody. He just loved Malta and the Maltese and wanted the best for them.
Victor Laiviera
Aug 23rd 2012, 00:38
@ GL Calleja
Dictators are leaders who stay in power against the will of the people.
- In 1987, Mintoff emended the law in way that made it certain he would lose power in a few months time.
- At present we have a Government which is clinging to power even though it knows it has lost its majority.
So who is the dictator?
Sebastian Hawks
Aug 23rd 2012, 01:48
Mintoff hated the British so much that he married a Brit, sent his daughters to live in Britain and wanted Malta to be integrated with Britain.
What Mintoff really believed in, I don't think he himself knew.
Johnathan Cilia
Aug 23rd 2012, 03:21
His wife is British though. That's the paradox.
Michael Grech
Aug 23rd 2012, 07:59
Apparently people cannot distinguish between opposing the government of a particular nation and hating that nation's people (something that MIntoff logically could not do, given that he married one)
Anton Zammit
Aug 23rd 2012, 08:10
@ davidson.....
What a cheek to write in a local newspaper thanking God that you are not Maltese!
RE hating the British, I am pretty sure that Mintoff was an opportunist politician who decided to woo England when necessary and to bark loudly against when necessity called.
pat muscat
Aug 23rd 2012, 11:42
The colonialists and the powerful-including the Us -only respect those who are strong, determined and on the right side of history; Mintoff was one of them.
Can you imagine a meek leader having his way with the greatest empire that ever existed? Mintoff resisted not only the Brits but also the medieval Church led by a Bishop who thought that he had a right to interfere in politics!
There were two kinds of men in Malta; those like MIntoff ,and the lackeys; luckily for us Mintoff prevailed and the lackeys had to swallow their tongue!
H. Galea (NRK)
Aug 23rd 2012, 12:14
There is really nothing to thank God for, it is so very simple ! …. just decide to call it quits, pack your knapsack and return to the place you came from. When you get there, I am sure that you will have to thank God, not only a second but so many more times !
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 25th 2012, 18:04
@ Mr Henry A. Grima Aug 22 at 22:01
Correction:
Mintof begged and begged again for the UK forces to continue to operate from Malta. In fact he succeeded once to prolong the defence agreement, but he failed the second time. That failure was not due to any Mintoffian principle. It was due to the fact that he overplayed his hand (about the risk of Warsaw Pact powers replacing NATO) and because he set his price too high.
It is true that Mintoff did not hate the British. His first choice was to annex Malta to the United Kingdom by an integration. On that previous occasion it was also the British government that declined to accept on the terms set by Mintoff
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 25th 2012, 21:26
"What Mintoff hated was the fact that the British ran Malta." (Joseph Carmel Chetcuti 22 Aug at 23:23) .
Wrong! Sir! If Mintoff had his way Malta would have been swallowed up by the UK and it would still be ran by the British up to now, with Malta being fobbed off with an insignificant three seats in the British Parliament.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 25th 2012, 21:51
" .... where she (Yana Mintoff) flung horse dung on the Parliament floor in protest at some policies that were
perceived as hurting the working Brits. ..." (Salvino Gusti Aug 23 at 00:24)
Not true, Sir. That intervention (and that of her companion) was in the interest of the IRA, not your "working Brits" who were being blown up by IRA terrorists using Semtex provided by Mintoff's bosom friend Gaddafi of ill-repute and who was transhipping his deadly explosive in our waters.
Joseph Grech Attard
Aug 22nd 2012, 12:13
Mintoff put Malta first, not the Party, contrary to what is happening today! So, people like me, a PL supporter, admire him for that. Judging is too strong a word and is not advised from one human being to another. He was only harsh to those persons and things that tried to undermine the country's progress to full freedom, as the doctors', bankers' and teachers' politically-motivated strikes in the late 70's. His elogies in parliament to Nerik Mizzi and GBO and his thanking personally Archbishop Gonzi for trying to help in the 1972 conflict with the British government, show what kind of person he was. He never instilled hate and spite, contrary to what certain bloggers are doing during this sad, national mourning time.
Joseph John Camilleri
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:44
You mention the doctors', bankers' and teachers' strikes. What was the GWU's pre 1971 dockyard strike when GBO was is government and it all ended as soon as the MLP came to power in 1971. That was one of the dockyard's worst monetary losses which kept always accumulating.
fred fellon
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:52
if the ruling administration put Malta first like they say they do , they should have called for an election months ago.
Mr Mintoff you are greatly missed,
Rest in Peace with the Risen Lord .
Francis Saliba M.D.
Aug 25th 2012, 15:46
@ Joseph Grech Attard, August 22 at 12:13.
Mintoff put HIMSELF first and foremost, before Malta and the MLP.
If he had his way, and had not the UK government rejected Mintoff, Malta would not the independent Malta that we have today. Malta would have been swallowed by the UK He renewed the defence agreement with the UK when Malta was independent and when the defence agreement had ran out its term. Mintoff pleaded to have it renewed but the British government was unwilling to pay Mintoff's asking price.
He used his premiership to wreak vengeance on anyone who had stood in HIS way. That was the reason why he antagonised and persecuted every trade union mentioned by you and did not agree to "marry" him (meaning all trade unions apart from a servile GWU).
He only had a good word for opponents who were dead, or who had been enfeebled by advanced age, and therefore could not longer offer resistance to his plans.
He routinely "instilled hate and spite" against the church hierarchy, all the professions, the law courts and the judiciary, the teachers and especially tertiary education, the commercial and banking community etc. You mention it - Mintoff incited hate and spite against them all unless they licked his boots.
It is politically correct not to speak evil of the dead. But is despicable to go to the opposite extreme and to continue to insult his victims by fabricating untruths.
Alfred Dimech
Aug 22nd 2012, 11:37
Evarist Saliba's perspective as an adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always been an interesting one. I feel that he is one of the few who has always been willing to talk about Malta's foreign affairs and dalliance with Libya more frankly than most of his contemporaries.
It would be wonderful if he were to publish his memoirs, or his experiences in such a position. I'm sure it would be very well received.
Evarist Saliba
Aug 22nd 2012, 19:46
Thank you for your comments.
In 2007 BDL published my memoirs undrer the title "No, Honourable Minister - Memoires of a Senior Maltese Diplomat". Some copies may still be available in the main bookshops
A few weeks ago I was interviewd by Al Jazeera TV for a documentary on Relations between Malta and Libya which has yet to be broadcast. The Prague Office of the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe will be interviewing me for of a project called "CSCE Oral History" which will be available to researchers on the CSCE, a conference in which I represented Malta from1972 for some 20 years.
As you are aware, I continue to write on Malta's foreign policy, past and present, mainly to correct distorted impressions which are not corrected through serious research, after a number of years, as happens in other countries.
Carmel Camilleri
Aug 22nd 2012, 10:14
The labour party has still to decide whether Dom was a traitor or saviour.
Joseph Pavia
Aug 22nd 2012, 12:04
Mintoff made a hero of the Gozo MP who remained loyal to him. Sant expected as much from all his MPs. What do you call someone you trusted who did not remain loyal to you? Yet if this same someone had saved your beacon on another day, what would you call him? Anyway Mintoff was a controversial figure of mega proportion and we should be forgiven for not understanding his way of doing things.
George Joseph Cauchi
Aug 22nd 2012, 10:10
The man was not perfect but then were the leaders that followed him perfect?. Without any doubt he was perfect to be leader of a country which came out of being a British colony into a mature small nation that we have to-day. He was the Architect that put the foundation stones for others to build on.
Please choose the reason of your report below: