Much has been written and no doubt will continue to be written about Dom Mintoff and his politics. In the circumstances I cannot but recall my one and only official meeting with the late prime minister.
This was in the early 1980s, when, apart from my full-time employment in the management of Malta Drydocks I was also chairman of the Malta Racing Club. Trotting races were still held on the old track where spectators could only see part of the races (mainly trotting) so that it was impossible for the track judges to be able to cover all the race and were of course open to mistakes.
Matters, however, came to a head one Sunday when the old track was still in use and when after one particular race the Racing Club offices were smashed by the owner and his followers after his horse had been disqualified and some officials were injured. The police on duty intervened to limit the damage and injuries.
As a result of this fracas I was asked to write to the Prime Minister informing him that no further race meetings would be organised until the new track was ready or until we received better protection from the police. Following this letter I was called to appear before the Prime Minister a week later.
When I entered his office I was pointed to a chair directly opposite the Prime Minister with the police superintendent in charge of the Race Club police on race days sitting next to me. My excitement – and fear, to be honest – increased.
Mr Mintoff’s first words to me were: “I hope you are not wasting my time, Major Clews”. But I was able to answer quite calmly: “I am sure, Sir, if you thought I was wasting your time you would not have sent for me”.
From then on it was plain sailing. His final words were to the Police Commissioner and the superintendent: “On race days the police take their orders from the chairman of the Racing Club – Major Clews in this case!”
Today the Malta Racing Club is a flourishing enterprise with flat racing also organised regularly, trotting of international standards – and floodlighting for evening race meetings.
And may this success continue at the Malta Racing Club.