It was interesting, but not at all surprising, to read the letter entitled The indomitable ‘Dom’ (TMID, 11 August) by Valerie Borg.

In her letter, Ms Borg gave a whole sermon of praise for Duminku Mintoff, the fiery former Prime Minister and Labour leader, and the man who was responsible for throwing the Malta Labour Party in the opposition benches in 1998 where it still is today.

On reading Ms Borg’s letter I couldn’t help but ask myself a few questions which perhaps Ms Borg would very kindly like to enlighten me about. Which prime minister went to Vittoriosa to hold an impromptu mass meeting and decided to launch a massive barrage against Dom Mintoff? The supporters of which political party in Malta branded Mintoff a tradditur tal-pajjiz (traitor of the country)? From where did the idea that Mintoff was somewhat of an extinct dinosaur emerge? From whose supporters did Dom Mintoff need protection when he voted against the Labour government of 1998?

Perhaps Ms Borg would be kind enough to enlighten me here.

As for Mintoff’s record, it is indeed unique and hopefully it will stay that way. For no other prime minister in the history of this island has brought us ever so close to a lack of democracy.

Under no other prime minister did members of the opposition party have to fear for their lives, let alone their right to speak.

Under no other prime minister were the party clubs and party meetings of the opposition party disrupted by people who should instead have been providing protection.

And Ms Borg would perhaps do well to brush up on her history and remember that while Dr George Borg Olivier was in London, fighting for Malta’s independence, Dom Mintoff was in Malta preaching to his masses about the benefits of integration. How’s that for tactics against the British?

Indeed a happy belated birthday to Duminku Mintoff, a politician whose time has long ended and passed and one hopes will never ever return again in any similar form.

Angelo Micallef

Marsaxlokk