The Life And Exploits Of A Maltese Sailor is the autobiography of Danny Marks, which has just been published in England (people interested in the publication, contact mmb.marks@ntlworld.com). The book deals mainly with the author’s childhood, his experiences during World War II, his life in the navy and his transition to civilian life. In writing his book, the author was simply chronicling his life experience and does not at all attempt to comment on Maltese politics.

The book also dedicates a few pages to the author’s father (and my grandfather), Labour Party politician John F. Marks. My grandfather was not only a progressive idealist in politics, one who dreamt of bettering the life of the poorer strata of Maltese society, he was also a writer and an intellectual. He contributed to various newspapers, wrote a novel and various short stories, was a Maltese chess champion and shared many a game not only with his Maltese friends Erin Serracino Inglott and Gino Muscat Azzopardi but also with British champions.

As a politician, Johnnie Marks, a close aide of Pawlu Boffa, drafted a number of Acts of Parliament dealing with social reform, took a very active role in Maltese trade unionism, introduced the May 1 celebrations to the island and, in the immediate pre-war years, acted as mentor to the then young Dom Mintoff.

As often happens to people with genuine ideals, he was hounded by his political adversaries, which came from outside the Labour Party... but also from within the Workers’ Movement. In Danny Marks’ words: “He was subjected to many threats to his life and his family was put in danger of physical assault by hysterical partisan behaviour. He was given police protection and issued with a gun for self-defence. He worked tirelessly to help the poor and deprived and organised charity meetings to distribute food to the needy.”

The Labour Party of the origins, the one Johnnie Marks contributed to build and enhance in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, was a party that really had the well-being of the underdogs at heart. It was a party with a social conscience that defended the interests of the poorer in society with a view to improving their quality of life.

Mr Mintoff maintained and enhanced the social conscience nurtured by the Boffa leadership but, as time went by, his divisive policies led to privileged criminal cliques within the party, including corrupt ministers, who were perpetrators of violence themselves at the expense of fellow Maltese harbouring different political beliefs.

Alfred Sant’s New Labour swept away these criminals from the Labour Party. But then the party leader became too obsessed with managerial politics to feel the real pulse of the people. The removal of VAT and the adversity to the EU became two obsessions, which were eventually to lead to the downfall of Malta’s last Labour Prime Minister.

And what about today’s Labour Party? It has actually become a hotchpotch of everything.

The leadership trio is made up of a leader who is prepared to say yes to opposite and contrasting factions in order to obtain votes, a maverick deputy leader whose sole obsession in life seems to be the renewal of Maltese ID cards and a second deputy leader who, through his wit and intelligence, has to try and make up and compensate for the serious political shortcomings of his counterpart. Then, today’s Labour Party is made up of a number of advocate-politicians who could easily switch to the Nationalist Party without anybody ever noticing it, intelligent and/or well pre-pared MPs and hard line fundamentalists.

But the cherry on the Labour’s cake today goes to two particular MPs. The first justified the raise in MPs’ salaries because he needs money to buy wedding presents; the second because she needs to spend money on “cutex” to keep her well- manicured nails up to standard! The depth of the political vision of politicians of such ilk is simply astounding!

I can imagine my grandfather listening to these “sublime” political arguments. I have no doubt that if John Marks had the possibility of doing so, he would emerge from his grave at the Addolorata Cemetery and level a well-aimed metaphorical kick in the two MPs’ back side.

Alas, the era of intellectuals-politicians seems to be rapidly disappearing from the Maltese political scenario. Mediocrity, superficiality and appearances, rather than content, are swiftly taking over. Let us hope the new Piano Parliament will not become a living museum to this political mediocrity.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com