In 1973 Dr. Joe Micallef Stafrace (1933-2021) B.A., LLD was a Member of Parliament for the Malta Labour Party. In October 1971 he had resigned as Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism.
Our first meeting took place at the Law Courts, Valletta, on 14th July 1973.
‘In December 1955 Dr. Flores, the Speaker of the House, became a judge and was succeeded by Mr. Nestu Laiviera, who was the editor of Is-Seph. Het had to resign his editorship and I, a law student, succeeded him. I was unknown in the Labour Party, but I was a friend of Leli Tabone. When I took over it was a weekly, it became a daily in July 1958.
In June 1958 I was emprisoned for vilification of the Governor, General Laycock. The paper was suspended for two months. So we started under a new name: il-Helsien, with Mr. Laiviera es editor. Il-Helsien became Ismin and now it is Is-Seph again as a weekly, because many old people have memories of that name. I was in my last months in the University and wanted to finish my law degree. But I missed writing in a paper and in 1960 they offered me a column and I have been writing ever since.
In June 1971 I was made Minister of Trade, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism. I resigned in late October, because I hated always to have Mintoff at my back. Politically I agree with most of what Mintoff does, but I would be less blunt and I would show more concern for the individual’s pain. Formerly there were only two things you could do: either shut up or cross the floor. But I am a labourite and I consider it my duty to openly show my views against measures or policies of the government, maintaining my loyalty to the government.
I am anti-Nationalist. As a result from their laissez-faire attitude comes corruption and nepotism.
The Labour MP’s are unhappy because the lack of consultation. Sometimes we learn of important things in the House, like some very important details of the foreign policy. This annoys MP’s.
Yesterday’s Orizzont referred to my outburst and to Dr. Vincent Moran’s outburst (he was supported by Mr. Paul Carachi). It criticized the fanatical labourites who think that these MP’s mean harm to the party. But these MP’s really have the wellbeing of the party at heart. Nobody should think that he is infallible. Everybody whoever he is can make mistakes.
I was never hampered by it-Torċa. They never touched one single word. May people think that the free hand they gave me is because the trade unions agree.
I am a non-subservient Labour MP.
Sometimes it worries me a bit, because I am personally indebted to Mintoff. In 1962 and 1966 I was not elected. Dr. Holland beat me. But the executive committee (Mintoff) asked him to vacate his Valletta seat and I got it. And in 1971 Mintoff made me his most important minister.
Before I was a minister I was not in his inner circle I avoided working closely with him. I disliked his manners. He is wrong in the dosage and the method of approach. The impression he makes is that he is punishing the nation without the corresponding rewards.
The church in Malta was paternalistic. It regulated your conception and was present at your birth, confirmation, wedding and death.
During the building boom Mintoff did not want to be Prime Minister. He fought the Church and got rich.
Now many people left hem, even Carmelo Farrugia of the Development Corporation, his top financial advisor. And Alfred Bencini, the Commissioner of Police (who loves the police). He tries to smear them both, which he does not do with me, because he needs my vote.
I have been through everything with the MLP. I was interdicted and had to marry in the sacristy. The police had to keep the pro-Church people at a distance. Fortunately my wife was from a labour family, she had been the secretary of Reggie Miller, the first president of the General Workers Union.
On tv before the 1971 elections I teamed with Paul Xuereb against Guido de Marco and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.
Two things worry me 1. The succession of leadership. Continuity when Mintoff goes away. His successor has to rely at least a year on Joe Camilleri and Edgar Mizzi, the Crown Advocate General. They always go abroad with him, together with some idiots.
Joe Camilleri already offered his resignation three times. Twice when I was a minister. But he stayed when Mintoff persuaded him and because they are close friends.
Mintoff was notorious for launching into tirades against ministers and civil servants. After my resignation I was snapped at in parliament.
He phoned me and started shouting. I emptied my stomach and went home. I sent my files back. I wrote my resignation letter, showed it to my wife and asked the police commissioner to have it brought to Mintoff.
I went for a while with Freddie Micallef, who cried. In the meantime Mintoff told Paul Xuereb, his Parliamentary Secretary) to phone me, either apologize or resign. I did not apologize. Joe Camilleri sent the message with my letter to his lawyer. I sat in the room of the Speaker. When Mintoff heard Paul Cuereb did not reach me he got furious.
The next day in Parliament Mintoff asked me to go on a holiday and forget the resignation. I refused, we would have the trouble again. Then he asked me to stay until he replaced me, which I did. But no longer than ten days, I told him. Because my office has a jury case, which I will defend. He agreed. When he replaced me after a week I went for a short holiday to Turin.
Mintoff and Borg Olivier don’t have a family life. Perhaps therefore they are so keen on politics. I told the young Nationalists it would be good for Malta if they criticize their leader like I do.’
After rhis interview we met many times ans started a lifelong friendship. We met in his old office in Valletta, in his new office in Strait Street, at his home in Misrah Kola in Attard and, finally at St. Catherne Home on the other side of the Road. I came to know his wife Yvonne and his eldest children Simon and Yana. I was a guest at Yvonne and Joe’s dinner parties and toured them in my car to Rotterdam when they paid a brief visit to the Netherlands.
‘Let me know when you’re in Malta;, he would always say when we said goodbye and I did. He treated me to many luncheons in Valletta and took me a few times to the Casino Maltese, of which he was a member. During these luncheons we liked to exchange our frank views on what was going on in Malta
In 1979 I was the victim of a traumatic traffic accident in Zabbar. My Volvo Amazine Station Car had severely been damaged and, to make matters worse, I had been served with an impediment of departure. Joe immediately took action, stood surety for me, had the impediment lifted and took care of all insurance matters. Ever since I called him jokingly ‘my Maltese lawyer’.
He read my manuscripts before publication in order to see what I could not be accused of libel, as I had no idea of the Maltese Libel Law.
Our last luncheon was in a small restaurant in Attard, where we both enjoyed a genuine ħobż biż-żejt.
I cannot let my friend Joe any more when I’m in Malta, alas.
After Joe died I posted an appreciation of Facebook. Unfortunately I cannot trace this text at the moment.
(Originally posted on Facebook, 18th July 2026)