“The Ghaqda Duminku Mintoff was founded a year ago with the aim of honouring the late former prime minister Dom Mintoff and not to simply use his name,” the group’s chairman Josef Grech said.
He was addressing a handful of Mintoff admirers this morning who gathered in Cospicua’s square for the launch of the design of one of three monuments to be placed in different localities. Mr Mintoff died in August last year.
Mr Grech said it wouldn’t make any sense to place the monument in Cospicua (Bormla) since the Labour Party has plans to place a monument in the locality itself, a comment that wasn’t too well received by those present, which led some to say that it’s either Cospicua or nothing.
One of the two other monuments is planned to be placed outside the late prime minister’s residence in December while the other in Gozo some time next year.
The monument is designed by Johan Scerri and his wife Mrs Scerri. The most prominent part of the monument is a statue of Mintoff on top, accompanied with a torch, which is the symbol most associated with Labour and Mintoff (far bottom left), a bunch of sailors, and a family – “something Mintoff held dear to his heart” – and which shows the father carving stone, representing the worker, and last but not least the Maltese flag.
One person in the crowd remarked that those who receive social benefits like the children’s allowance should thank Mintoff.
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi turned up towards the end of the launch.
Mr Grech explained the foundation’s intentions to Mr Mizzi, which led the minister to state that as long as the government is consulted on where the foundation intends placing the monument, there shouldn’t be a problem.
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In a statement, the Labour Party said it had no involvement in initiatives involving its former leader except those the party organises.
It said that on Tuesday it will be commemorating the first anniversary of Mr Mintoff's death with an exhibition of the drawings for the momument the party will be erecting. The winner will also be announced.