I wish to comment on the late Sir Pawlu Boffa, one of Malta’s prime ministers who dedicated and gave a life time of service to Malta – Din l-Art Helwa, and our people in peace time and war time.

Dr Pawlu Boffa, as he was affectionately known, had breadth of vision and contributed extensively for us to have a better life; he was one of the pioneers to campaign for basic social services, such as the Workmen’s Compensation Act in the late 1920s. Workers and others injured at work were given a very small weekly allowance until they recovered. His past legislation is synonymous with good legislation and honesty and he was respected by a broad section of society.

In the post war years, he was instrumental in helping lepers (around 250 in Malta and Gozo) medically with better amenities at St Bartholomew Hospital, as well as a small weekly allowance because many of them were ostracised by society. My late father used to talk about his kind heart and medical services he gave to the poor and the sick often without any remuneration.

Dr Boffa deserves to be remembered as a sensible honest statesman who was ahead of his times considering the legislation in which he was involved, such as the setting up of St Luke’s Hospital in the 1930s and so on.

When he died, Malta lost one of its best avant garde politicians whose public services spanned about half a century, which was marked by difficult times. As district commissioner of Paola, Tarxien, Luqa and Cottonera during World War II, he and the many fine officers and workers in the rescue, protection units, doctors, paramedics and essential services were instrumental in saving so many lives in the blitzed area of the south district and others.

May I suggest that a small bust of him be erected in Paola square in memory of his humanity and generosity.

Ganni Abela

PAOLA