Former Minister Joe Grima resigned from One TV as a result of the foul language he used to rebut Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith’s account of misdeeds endured by the Maltese during Dom Mintoff’s regime. Being one such victim, I mention a few.

A family house in Attard was requisitioned by the late Minister Patrick Holland. When I protested, he suggested we report to him any vacant house we may spot and it would be ours in no time. But we never resorted to this foul practice.

Queuing up during a general election, I noticed one doctor issuing bearer certificates which were later transferred to others. When I complained, we were called “assassini”.

Family members were spat on from the MLP club in Mosta. We were neither spared insults from the Brigata Laburista every time they stopped in front of our house.

Although we ignored provocations, one day I decided to report the matter to the local MLP committee and to Agriculture Minister Freddie Micallef. Thanks to him, these insults stopped.

Another injustice we suffered during the Mintoff era was when a consignment of 50,000 day-old chicks we had ordered arrived from Holland – all licences were in order and paid for. These chicks were hijacked by the Trade Department on the pretext that they were required for the Government Experimental Farm. Mr Micallef was unaware of this, had a row with the Trade Minister and was heard saying (in Maltese “What you did is an act of political vindictiveness against Mr Barbaro-Sant”.

I do not intend to offend Mintoff’s memory but only to state facts and inform Mr Grima that some people still recall injustices.

I dissociate myself from uncalled for remarks against Mr Mintoff, but neither I am in favour of exaggerated praise. The hysterical shouts of “Mintoff, Mintoff” inside the Cospicua church and St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta were out of place. They reminded me of the spontaneous call of “santo subito” during the funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II. While the latter happened on St Peter’s Square, the former took place in a church. Adoration is reserved only to God.