It must be admitted that, whatever one’s political views and what one experienced during Mintoff’s exceptionally long reign, it was a mixed experience of both happiness and suffering.

The state funeral and farewell in his honour was of a unique and exceptionally high standard, difficult to beat or indeed emulate in any similar future occasion honouring a departed national personality.

Personally, I was highly impressed and felt that full marks should be allotted to the highly capable organisers celebrating the sad occasion of the departure of an ex prime minister who strove hard to give his all to improve the lot and future of his beloved motherland.

Admittedly, in the course of relieving and removing what he considered national shackles, he often flew off at a dangerous tangent causing some serious harm and even death to not a few who happened to be in his flight path towards progress and independence. Such of course is the stuff that human frailty is made of.

In Dom’s case, it was clearly his frequent ruthlessness and strong determination to reach his goals no matter what. The casualties caused were on many occasions quite needless and often avoidable. But I digress.

In the state funeral, the stars of the sad celebration were undoubtedly the army contingent followed closely by the police corps both with regard to the funerary music renderings and interpretations, but primarily for their smartness, precision, discipline and faultless turn out.

The absolute precision of the army’s soldiers and officers was impeccable – an honour of the highest order for the army as a whole, making the nation very proud that Malta has managed to reach such an admirable level of perfection and discipline.

This level is surely second to none and may even shame much bigger countries with a long and impressive tradition of army training and organisation.

Indeed, all in all, the state funeral was highly impressive and excellently conducted, with the general public displaying its appreciation of the departed for his work and efforts to advance Maltese society.

It was observed that the persistent clapping, shouting and calling out Mintoff’s name by the adoring crowd took place in all the three cities of Cottonera.

All this noise, however, sounded as being more suitable for a political gathering and reception rather than a solemn and sad occasion to honour and salute a political giant many consider the father of present day Malta.

Another observation, this time relating to the church service at St John’s Cathedral is that while, on the one hand, the ceremony was in every respect flawless, with an admirable and well delivered homily by the Archbishop in words and content, little thought appears to have been given on the possibility of serous damage by the dense congregation treading on the treasure of the floor, a unique masterpiece of the marbler’s artistry.

The point is that much greater attention and thought should be given when any kind of future celebrations take place inside the cathedral.

It should be understood once and for all that whatever is damaged by foot traffic, although it may be repaired by our skilled marblers to retain its pristine appearance, this can never be equivalent to or as perfect as the original product.

Finally, what struck me as distracting from the solemnity and seriousness of the occasion was the frequent loud clapping inside the church that was reminiscent of behaviour in an opera house and not in a building designed and intended for worship, prayer and respect.

Edwin Calleja

BALZAN