Joe Camilleri, who served as private secretary to former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, died today aged 86, the Labour Party said in a statement.

Only last December, Camilleri was awarded the Gieh ir-Repubblika honour.

Camilleri was president of the Labour League of Youth between 1957 and 1964, serving also as Labour’s international secretary.

Camilleri later served as private secretary to Mintoff and other public posts.