I have no intention of taking up a further exchange of correspondence with Eddy Privitera. I would, however, just like to inform him that during my 25 years in management at the Drydocks I gave the Mintoff government and every worker my fullest, loyal support.

However, I lost all confidence in him when after the seven-month industrial action, when the management took on emergency night duties in the pumping stations (to keep the docks free from flooding), the Prime Minister addressed a public mass meeting in Gavino Gulia Square for Dockyard workers – management are workers too, of course!

In his address, the Prime Minister called all ’yard workers a lazy lot of eunuchs, followed by a wage and overtime freeze and a reduction in management salaries.

When some workers present booed, they were promptly beaten up by their fellow workers. This is difficult to digest even after 28 years in retirement.