A monument dedicated to literary giant Oliver Friggieri was unveiled in his hometown, Floriana, on Monday evening.

The monument is based on a design by artist John Grima, following a call for applications from Heritage Malta under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister.

In his address, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that Friggieri was not only an author, a professor of Maltese and a great teacher, but one of the greatest thinkers Malta ever had.

He said that Friggieri shared his thoughts in different eras of the nation which, like any other, has its own challenges. Malta is not perfect and had its good and bad monents. But Professor Friggieri never belittled the Maltese people or lost hope.

Friggieri wanted to touch the Maltese conscience because he believed in the country’s future. “He never rested... He was sure that there was a better future for the Maltese... his words were listened to, whether you agreed with them or not... whatever the circumstances, Friggieri spoke his mind on the way he saw things,” Abela said.

There were times when his writings exposed his anger, but he always wanted to build on what is good. He was a harsh critic of Malta because he loved the Maltese and believed in them, Abela said.

The monument, placed opposite that dedicated to national poet Dun Karm Psaila, includes verses of one of Friggieri’s poem “Jekk”.