Even if one disliked him intensely, one still cannot deny that Mr Mintoff was a great man. Entering politics at 19 and becoming prime minister at the age of 38, he was one of the world’s greatest politicans. I say ‘world’ because the whole world got to know about him. He put Malta on the map.

Everywhere I travelled people would reply “Dom Mintoff” when I told them I was from Malta.

His reforms transformed Malta from rags to riches, and it was all due to him that we no longer have beggars in the streets. He introduced bonuses, children’s allowances, maternity grants, the minimum wage, two-thirds pensions, affordable government plots, etc.

Mintoff was the best prime minister Malta ever had and for that alone will be sorely missed. Yes,he did bellow instead of talk and he did have the habit of shouting in one’s face to explain something but that was Mintoff. He couldn’t change any more than I could. He did not have one bad bone in his body though, and that is why I don’t think it will be long before God will take him into Heaven with Him. God speed, dear Dom, and have a safe journey ‘home’.