Architect Dom Mintoff served as Prime Minister of Malta for four legislatures and this is one of the focal points the Mintoff maquette by sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cauchi portrays.

This characterstic comes out in a series of articles penned by the former Prime Minister which ran in The Malta Independent from June 1992 all the way to 1994 and which will be distributed today, in a standalone publication, in our newspaper.

Alfred Camilleri Cauchi’s maquette shows Dom Mintoff in an imposing pose. He is in trousers, shirt and blazer but no tie – a style synonymous with the former Prime Minister and which shows that despite his position, he remained close to the people. His left arm is on his chest as if he is embracing it to his heart. This signifies his work in social aspects.

To portray the island’s progress in Mintoff’s time, the artist built his maquette with the right leg making a step forward.

Two other characteristics which distinguished Mr Mintoff, and which the artist chose to include, are the pipe – he was a pipe smoker – and his belt with a large buckle with the Republic of Malta emblem etched in it – an episode in Malta’s history which Dom Mintoff worked hard for.

Besides the national monument, to be placed at Castille Square, the Ghaqda Duminku Mintoff will be unveiling another monument to the former late Prime Minister in Tarxien.

The maquette, together with two others to former Presidents Guido de Marco and Censu Tabone, has been selected from among 16 which were submitted. The call for submissions was made by Heritage Malta. The judging panel was made up of artists, architects, people with a cultural background, Heritage Malta representatives, and officials from the OPM in consultation with the families of the three personalities.

The monuments’ scope is to celebrate the lifetime achievements of the three personalities involved, both professional and politically, in particular their respective contribution to the formation of Malta as a modern and independent state.

They will be unveiled next year, which marks the 50th anniversary of Malta’s independence, the 40th anniversary of it becoming a republic, the 35th anniversary of the departure of the last British forces, and the 10th anniversary of Malta joining the EU.

The announcement of the three chosen maquettes was met with both positive and negative reactions. Artists speaking to The Malta Independent generally questioned the need for monuments representing figures, noting that these are unoriginal. Relatives of the late statesmen meanwhile had positive remarks on the initiative and look forward to seeing the complete monuments.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Camilleri Cauchi said that one tries one’s best to get the character of the person out as much as possible and this could only be made possible when one knows the character of another very well.

Mr Camilleri Cauchi explained that the statuette shows Mintoff holding a clenched fist in the air with the idea in mind that he was a revolutionary and a great politician.

He said that he placed a smoking pipe on the other hand, synonymous with Mintoff.

Mr Camilleri Cauchi expressed satisfaction over the monument being placed next to the monuments of former prime ministers Sir Paul Boffa and George Borg Olivier, which are the works of sculptor Censu Apap, who was Mr Camilleri Cauchi’s teacher.

He pointed out that some 35 years ago, he designed a monument of Mr Mintoff and the emblem of Mintoff’s buckle was manufactured at the former dockyard, for both the monument and the one attached to the actual belt Mintoff wore.