Irresistible Malta

When I first met him Mr. Cassar (1924-2014) was head of the Union Press (since 1962)

He told me he started his journalistic career at the Times of Malta. In 1960 he became parliamentary reporter and editor of l-Orizzont.

Our first conversation took place at his office at the headquarters of the General Workers’ Union, Workers’ Memorial building South Street, Valletta. Date: 15^th May 1973.

‘History of the left: Manwel Dimech was influenced by the carbonari-risorgimento. Malta was a centre for Italian refugees. They published papers here for export. These papers were banned by the governments of Italy and Austria and here by the church. The British wanted freedom for the press, the church not as it was afraid this might propagate the protestant religion.

Lord Strickland was a liberal. He was in favour of the Maltese language. He wanted reforms and secularization and made a pact with the Labour Party. Bishop Gonzi of Gozo later disagreed with the MLP as he thought it was going Marxist. Archbishop Caruana was pro-British. The clergy was most stubborn.

Father Joseph Borg of Birkirkara wrote a thesis on the seminary reforms. Malta was the last country in the world to perform them: 50 years after the order from Rome arrived.

The church in Malta was medieval. There was strong authority and censorship. Malta looked like a convent, but it helped education, built orphan houses and had charitable institutions.

The church was rich. When old people were dying they left big legacies to the church.

Much has changed. The Italian television was an important reforming force.

The church has been obstructing progress, but it lives. In Italy the churches are museums, but here everybody goes to church. It is a tradition to go to church. Here the priests are well organized. Laymen organizations preach the Catholic Doctrine, the fratellanzi. Every parish has a Youth Hall, it is well organized. The church of Malta is a living thing, but its authority is diminishing.

Malta has a long tradition of parliamentary government. There have been elections, even in the last century for the Council of Government. Since 1921 there has been a form of parliament with a kind of government. There has been a tendency towards two parters. Unione Politica Maltese (Mgr. Panzavecchia) and Partito Democcratico Nazzjonalista (Dr. Enrico Mizzi) became the Nationalist Party under Dr. Mizzi. It was pro-Italian. Strickland was pro-British. He helped Malta not to become totally Italian. Since the War Italy is out of the question.

Strickland recognized that Malta had its own language and that the Maltese are a homogeneous people. We have no minorities (compare Cyprus) and even some British assimilated completely in Malta.

In 1943 the General Workers’ Union (GWU) was founded. It helped the NLP to win the 1947 elections (24 seats out of 40). The MLP took the place of the Constitutional Party, like Labour and the Liberals in the UK. The PN with its old tradition started growing again.

In 1949 Mintoff had a clash with Prime Minister Dr. Paul Boffa over the English assistance. He resigned his ministry and took over the party. Boffa accused him of Marxism and founded the Workers’ Party. Workers’ Party and Nationalist Party formed a coalition under Dr. Enrico Mizzi. When the latter died Dr. Borg Olivier took over in 1950.

In 1955 Mintoff became Prime Minister. He wanted integration with the UK or independence. The church wanted guarantees in the constitution, for instance against divorce. Officially it was not against integration. But England became a second class nation and closed down its defence all over the world. It announced the Dockyard (12.000 workers) to be closed. Mintoff: to hell with it. He wanted massive economic aid. England said no. Mintoff resigned. On 28^th April the GWU called for a day’s political strike. There were riots. Mintoff wanted independence. There was a resolution in the House: We want to break with Britain, signed by Dom Mintoff and seconded by Georgio Borg Olivier. Borg Olivier did not want to form a government, because he was afraid of the situation and because he was also a patriot.

The Nationalist governments (1962-1971) had much corruption. Rhere was overemployment 19242014)

Joe Attard Kingswell founded the Union Press in 1944. Between 1962 and 1973 it grew from 30 to 170 men. Malta News is published since 1962 for the English employers of Maltese workers and for the international organisations. We lose money on it.

Dom Mintoff is influenced by Umberto Calosso, an Italian socialist (a school in Hamrun is called after him) and by the Fabian Society. For instance by Sir Stafford Cripps was Chancellor for the Exchequer in the Attlee government. He worked for the British ministry of planning during the war. ‘

We continued our conversation at his office in The Workers’ Memorial Building at 24rd May 1973. Mr. Charles Mizzi was also present for some time.

‘The Nationalists tried to profit from the quarrel between the church and the MLP. Their slogan was ‘for country and religion’. The church condemned socialism Thet were against independence, because Mintoff was in favour. The Nationalists were in favour too. So the church was in a difficult position. It tried to weaken the big parties by pushing Dr. Herbert Ganado into politics. He founded the DNP, and by supporting Tomy Pellegrini, who used to be secretary of the MLP, to found the CWP, though he is not a practising Catholic. Another party was founded, the Democratic Christian Party by George Ransley, but it got no seat.

All these parties, together with the Nationalists, were called the Umbrella parties because they operated under the umbrella of the church. They won in 1962.

Dr. Ganado was president of the Catholic action and editor of its newspaper Leħen is-Sewwa. He supported Franco in the civil war of Spain, because he was anti-communist. When Reuter (wrongly) announced that Franco entered Madrid he put instead of the name of the newspaper: We entered Madrid.

The Labour party paper Is-Sebh (now a weekly) was condemned by the church It-Torċa, the paper of the GWU, was not condemned. Is-Sebh was printed at the union Press and everybody who read, distributed, printed, sold or advertised in it was condemned. The Union Press went on printing it. Mintoff then wanted his own press for the Labour Party and the Freedom Press was founded.

The correspondence between the Malta Labour Government and the Vatican pus published by the Government Gazette.

The results of the Second Vatican Council were published first by us. We agreed with them. The Malta church lost its battle in the Council. We also published Pope John XXIII’s Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra in It-Torċa. I translated it.

In 1969 in a convent Mintoff and the Archbishop (Gonzi; AK) signed a short agreement, they met each other first in 1964 during Independence Day.

1971: We made a new defence Agreement and sent Perendelli (a fascist; is this correct? I cannot trace this man AK) out.

The Governor-General (Sir Maurice Dorman; AK) was not bad, but we wanted to change the image of colonialism and appointed Sir Anthony Mamo, who had already been Acting Governor-General for a couple of times.

The Nationalists got an association with NATO. NATO did not want full membership, because of the opposition in Malta. Now we are not associated anymore. Dom Mintoff got rid of the American fleet. He does not want the Russians either. He wants non-alignment. We recognized China and have good relations with it. We have many economic ties with Libya. They helped us with money during the agreement crisis. Gadafi can learn from Mr. Mintoff, who is an experienced leader. We don’t have bad relations with Israel. We are associated with the Common Market. Now we want more help.

We want to amend the Constitution and allow people to vote at 18. You need a two-thirds majority. The PN did not help. Mr. Mintoff did not appoint a vice-president for the Constitutional Court. There was a murder case. Now he appointed one for three months, so it can work again. The Constitution was made by the English and the Nationalists and accepted in parliament by a simple majority.

I think Civil Marriage will soon be realized.

Mr. Joseph Ellul Marcer, Minister for Reconstruction during 1955-1958 and Deputy Leader of the MLP, was buried outside the churchyard. Now the walls are taken down.’

About the Maltese press: ‘Every paper is supported by a movement, and therefore less independent.

I suggest you’ll meet the following Nationalist for interesting information: Guido de Marco, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Mario Felice and Vincent Tabone.

They call me ‘The Jesuit’. Because I’m shrewd.’

We continued our conversation at his office in The Workers’ Memorial Building at 13^th Jule, 1973

1962 elections ‘Cato (Sir Arturo Mercieca) wanted the Catholics to vote for the strongest of the Umbrella Parties: the PN.

Since 1962 there has been a moral crisis in the church. Before it was medieval in the convents and at the seminary. Many priests have left the priesthood and vocations went down. Priests that married were literally exiled’

Over the years I used to drop by his office regularly and we became quite attached to each other. Anton told me how, even when the quarrel between the MLP and the church was at his peak, he kept being on speaking terms with Archbishop Gonzi.

He appreciated my publications and thought them to be impartial.

In 1986 I visited him at St. Luke’s hospital. Later, after his retirement, we met several times in Valletta and at his home in Msida. I miss him when I am in Malta.

Anton’s funeral was preceded by a band march of the Trinity Band Club from his residence to the parish church of Msida. A most fitting tribute.

(Originally posted on Facebook, 8th August 2026)

Elsewhere I posted how, through the amicable intervention of Pronuncio Mgr. Cassidy, Laurence Grech and Dr. Guido de Marco, I was able to present my books to Pope John Paul II at a public audience in Rome.

The audience took place at a packed St. Peter’s Square. I was positioned, with a few other people, in the so-called ‘prima fila’, the front row. The Pope delivered a long speech, frequently interrupted by cheers. After his speech the Pope toured in his open-top car through the crowd. The many Poles, in particular, were wildly enthusiastic

After the tour, the Pope walked along the people in the front row and spoke with each of us. I wondered in which language I should address him. He liked addressing everyone in their own language, but which languages ​​did he actually speak himself? I wasn’t sure if he spoke English and took a chance on German. A good guess, as it turned out.

I told the Holy Father these books dealt with the Church in Malta. He replied: Ich bete jeden Tag für Malta (I pray everyday for Malta)‘. I told him that he would make the Maltese very happy if he woud pay a visit to the islands. He replied: ‚Ich werde kommen, aber nicht jetzt (I will come, but not now)’ His Holiness thanked me for the books and kept walking

Note: The fact that The Pope was not keen to visit Malta in those days might be interpreted that he would not get in the way of Archbishop Mercieca, who was in those days engaged in a conflict about Catholic private schools with the government of the day.

Personal notes

Although my parents were protestants this did not prevent my father to give this photo a prominent place in his living room.

Many years later our eldest son Corneel, in his capacity as board member of Aeroméxico, was able to welcome Pope Francis in Mexico City. Another nice photo.

(Originally posted on Facebook, 1st August 2026)

Dr. Guido de Marxo B.A., LL,D (1931-2010) was a Nationalist Member of Parliament and Secretary General of the Nationalist Party when we first met at the Speakers’ Chambers on 10^th July 1973 during a session of the House of Representatives.

‘I am an MP since 1966. My background is working class. This influenced my thinking. The PN exists for the workers. The PN is the party of the nation.

In 1971 we got an absolute majority in six districts, the MLP in three districts, 1 district was in the balance.

Now the problem is unemployment, our government reduced it to the lowest figure in the history of Malta.

We don’t sell or rent our country to others, like Mintoff did with the British and NATO. We had a defence agreement with our friends, the British.

We created an independent Malta and made it economically independent. We created factories, industries, tourism and agriculture. We increased the standard of living and also eliminated unemployment. We brought the factories to the workers. Now with the Labour Corps: if you fail to go to work you are sent to prison.

The agreement with Britain ruined the island. Mintoff in Helsinki acted as the godfather of the Arabs.

Socialism: fight of the classes. You cannot build a nation on that.

I belonged to the DNP (the party of Dr. Herbert Ganado; AK). But I disagreed with it about independence during 1962-64 and I left the party. The DNP was formed because not all NP members agreed with the party policy against Mintoff. We thought it was not vigorous enough. In the statutes of the party was written: Independence within the Commonwealth.

Borg Olivier gave Mintoff a rope and he hanged himself. Borg Olivier’s long term effect is more effective than you think when he makes his moves. He hates to kink out people. In his opinion they have to remove themselves when they fail, what his ministers did not do in 1968 0r 1969.

Mgr. Gonzi is a vigorous personality.

Mr. Mintoff was wrong in ousting issues which put the church in a position to oppose him. Out of evil some good does come, but this does not make it good itself what Mintoff did. He used vulgar language and the archbishop had to react. The Archbishop acted as he thought best in the circumstances.’

At my question if the PN did gain from the quarrel he replied: ‘If a party makes a mistake, the other party is bound to win from it.’

‘Mgr. Gerada is looking for something. Some Vatican diplomats later reflect to look what happened with their priestly vocation. The Maltese are not accustomed to their priests and bishops acting like diplomats. Things like swimming with Mintoff is his way of doing. But the PN was a bit hurt by the church overdoing it a bit by having dinner together.

The peace between the church and the MLP is uneasy, because everything is uneasy with Mintoff.

I am a practicing Catholic’.

**

It took more than a decade before I met Dr. De Marco again.

In the eighties of the previous century I was asked to visit the Papal Pro-Nuncio to the Netherlands in The Hague Mgr. (later Cardinal) Edward Idris Cassidy. I told him about my studies in Malta and presented him with copies of ‘Ptrelates and Politicians in Malta’ and the two volumes on Lord Strickland I co-authored with Harrison Smith. Mgr. Cassidy, an Australian was aware of Strickland’s controversial administrative activities in colonial Australia (‘he was a pain in the ass’).

Mgr. Cassidy suggested I should present these books as well to Pope John Paul II during my forthcoming visit to Rome. He would inform the Holy See about me.

A few months later, after arriving in Rome, I was asked to meet a certain monsignor at the Vatican, who told me that, unfortunately, the Holy Father did not hold private audiences. Instead, I was allowed, along with a few other people, to take a seat in the front row at a public audience next week. Afterwards, the Pope would speak with each of us individually, and I could hand him the books.

I realized that I did not have any copies of the books with me. As they were sold in Malta by Progress Press I phone my friend Laurence Grech at the Sunday Times of Malta who told me not to worry, he would take care of this.

A few days later I got a phone call, from Dr. Guide de Marco: ‘I am in Rome and I have your books with me.’ The next day we met at the famous Caffè Greco, where Dr. De Marco handed me the books and told me how much he had enjoyed reading them. He explained to me this was the place where Fortunato and later Enrico Mizzi used to go when they were in Rome. We had a very pleasant conversation and bid each other farewell as dear friends.

**

In the next years we met very often. He told me about his negotiations with Mintoff, which resulted in the 1987 connotational changes

When he was elected President of the General Assembly of the United Nations het would joke to me: ‘They have made me President of the World’. As Minister of Foreign Affairs he offered me an honorary consulate of Malta in the Netherlands. I had to decline this generous offer for personal reasons.

**

Another time I had just arrived in Malta and visited my friend Joe Micallef Stafrace at this office in Strait Street, Valletta. When I entered Joe’s room I heard him mentioning my name. When he hung up the phone, he added that I was expected at the palace the next day at 10 o’clock for an audience with the President of the Republic of Malta: Guido de Marco.

The next day the President embraced me and kissed me on both cheeks. When I called him Your Excellency he reprimanded me: ‘No Excellency Adrianus: For you I will always be Guido.

**

After his retirement I was happy to visit him a few times at his residence in Hamrum. It was always a great pleasure to listen to this flowery language. I loved this man.

A fitting tribute was paid to him by erecting his statue in front of the law courts in Valletta. Whenever I pass it I salute my dear friend.

(Originally posted on Facebook, 25th July 2026)

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 14^th 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)

I have just been informed of the death of Laurence Grech (1948-2026), a lifetime friend ever since we first met at Strickland House in 1973.

Laurence always took a great interest in my academic work on Church and tate in Malta. He often give me valuable advice and invited me several times to write contributions for The Sunday Times of Malta.

Laurence was a great help when I needed copies of my books to present to Pope John Paul II in Rome. He took care that Dr. Guido de Marco handed me the copies I needed at the famous Cafe Greco.

During my various stays in Malta we kept on meeting. I visited him during my last visit to the island when he was in the Mater Dei Hospital. When I left him there I could not help having a bad feeling about Laurence’s health condition.

We kept in touch via WhatsApp. His last two apps were: ‘Still undergoing test and feeling weaker, affecting my mobility. Need prayers’ and ‘Huge loss of appetite and have mobility problems’.

Farewell dear friend,

My sincere condolences to Mrs Lilian Grech, his sons and everybody who mourns the loss of Laurence.

(originally posted on Facebook, 15th Fevruary 2026)

Mgr. Joseph Carabott, or Father Joe as I carried on addressing him with affection, was parish priest in Marsascala when I arrived there in 1975. In 1976 he was transferred to Siggiewi to become the next archpriest over there. In 1981 het was made Archpriest of Mosta. When he retited he was created a canon (monsignor) of the Cathedral Chapter. He spent his last years in Dar tal-Kleru in Birkirkara and dieds in January 2022. He was buried in his native city Zejtun, where I searched in vain for his grave.

Our first meeting was the start of a lifelong friendship.

For me, a Dutch Protestant, he was my mentor into the Catholic Church of Malta. I learned so much from him and I am still grateful for all the things he shared with me. He had a great sense of humour. My essay The Kappillani: The Changing Position of the Parish Priest in Malta profited greatly from his generous input.

In my research notes I found about 40 pagers handwritten notes of conversations we had together. I need to summon the courage, and it will take a lot of time, to rework this very interesting material – which I previously used in my publications – once again.

MY GREAT FRIEND JOE SPITERI-GONZI

Some personal memories

(After Joe passed peacefully away on 27th March 2022 I was not able to pay him the tribute he deserved because the impact of the sad news upset me too much. I promised to do this later and found it fitting to publish it on his birthday)

To-day (29th December 2022) it-tabib would have celebrated his 95th birthday. It is strange for me not to phone him and congratulate him. We have known each other since summer 1975, so we were old friends in many respects.

Over time my wife Margreet and me became quite fond of dear Betty, for us every inch an English lady, and Joe. We shared many memories.

In Marsaskala they, as so many summer residents, participated in quite a few parish activities. We all attended, with many parishioners, the installation of Father Joe Carabott as Archpriest of Siggiewi. As a matter of fact, the future Archpriest of Mosta, was the one who introduced us to each other.

In 1977 we spent Christmas in Malta. We informed nobody as we intended to have a quiet time together. We had to learn by experience it was virtually impossible to spend an ‘unseen’ holiday in Malta. So we found ourselves invited to Joe’s birthday party in Fgura. This was quite a funny experience with minister Lorry Sant in one room and Dr. JoJo Mifsud Bonnici in another room. I realized that I still had a lot to learn about the intricacies of Maltese society and Joe was one of my teachers.

During one of the summers we spent in Marsascala my father stayed a few weeks with us. As he was under medical control I asked Joe to look after him. At the end of the visit I wanted to offer Joe a glass of Dutch gin, with which he became quite familiar during his residence in Singapore. When I came into the room with the bottle, Joe said thank you and took the bottle with him… I never told him I meant to pour him just a glass.

Joe, a labourite at heart, was the physician of the General Worker’s Union. After the doctor’s strike Betty and Joe went to Saudi Arabia. I still remember their farewell barbeque at St.Thomas Bay. From Saudi Arabia Joe came over to Holland during Yuletide in 1982 and stayed a few days in our house. I took him to Amsterdam and when he wanted to see the red light district I had to ask a policeman as I had never been there before. We ate Dutch raw herrings, which he liked very much. We went to Haarlem for Händels Messiah and he really loved it.

The purpose of the visit, however, was the football match Malta-Netherlands in Aachen*. His son Ernest was an international player for Malta in those days. We stayed in the same hotel as the Maltese team and shared a room. Joe complained about my snoring! By the way, the foorball reporters of the Times of Malta and the Orizzont shared a room as well. Before the match Father Hilary Tagliaferro, priest and tv-commentator, said the Rosary in our presence in the changing room. After the match (0-6) we all had a great time in Aachen, partying with German beer and Dutch Herrings.

From Saudi Arabia Joe wrote to us the sad news of the death of their dear son Edward in Italy, a horror story.

After returning from Italy Betty and Joe became involved in running the Ta’ Monita Holiday Complex in Marsaskala, which had become my accommodation whenever I was in Malta. When our son Corneel stayed in Malta he was allowed to stay there too and Betty took very good care of him. I am still grateful to them for this.

When they left Ta’ Monita Betty and Joe took up residence in St. Julian’s where Joe stayed on after Betty’s death. His final years he spent with his companion Maria at the Hilltop Gardens in Naxxar. From there we went to visit the late Mgr. Carabott in December 2019 and so the circle became round. I did not realize then that both of them would not be there any more when I returned finally to Malta after the pandemic (April/May 2022; AK).

Joe used to drive me all over the island, up to the very end. He took me to festa’s and events like a strawberry festival in Mgarr and many other places and events. He loved to introduce me to other people and treated me (and himself) to quite a few good meals, often in the pleasant company of one or more of his children (he was a proud father and grandhather) and their spouses. I used to take Dutch herrings to him, which he really enjoyed.

Joe and I shared our sense of humour. He was proud to be Maltese and fond of his native town Bormla. He would not hesitate telling me when, in his eyes, my Dutch manners dit not fit into Maltese culture. ‘I like to call a spade a spade’, he would often say and he certainly did. He could be blunt some times.

A few weeks before he died we had our last conversation on the telephone. His health was deteriorating and he told me ‘it’s nice when you go up, but not see nice when you go down’.

During my recent stay in Malta last May Joe’s son Tony, a very dear friend as well, took me to the Addolorata, so that I could pay respect at Betty’s and Joe’s grave. I cherish my fond memories of them both.

(originally posted on Facebook on 29th December 2022)

In June 2025 there was another football match between Malta and the Netherlands. On my own Facebook page of 9^th June I posted in Durch my memories to the 1982 match in Aachen, where Joe and I were present. Great memories.

Dominic Mintoff (1916-2012) was Prime Minister of Malta when I conducted my research there. As he was one of my main research objectives I thought it proper to ask him for an interview. However, his personal secretary Mr. Joe Camilleri informed me that Mr. Mintoff was a very busy man and that we would prefer to meet me when I would know more about the subject. When he considered me to be ‘ready’ het would send for me

Mr Camilleri referred me to Mr. Salvu Sant who would supply me with all the information I needed about the Malta Labout Party. Mr Sant was indeed very generous to me and provided me with various political pamphlets Minoff wrote and various magazines of which he was the editor. I met quite a few people who knew Mintoff well, what helped me to portray him adequately.

In 1984 I published my book ‘Prelates and Politicians in Malta’. When I happened to be in London I left a copy for Mr. Mintoff at the Malta High Commission where he was due to arrive a few days later. Het had just stepped down as Prime Minister.

Some time later I happened to be in Malta, where I was welcomed at Castile by the new Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsuf Bonnici. Het presented me with a stamp album in which he had written ‘to Adrianus Koster, who knows us better that we know ourselves’. He told me that Dom Mintoff would like to meet mee informally and invited me for a swim at Delimara.

The next day I was collected from my hotel by a nice lady. She told me she was a businesswoman and a staunch Minroffian (Many years later, when I ran into her by accident she told me how disappointed she was in Mintoff and the Labour Party, but that’s another story.

The lady took me by car to Delimara, where Mr. Mintoff was already in the sea, together with another man, I supposed him to be a bodyguard. I was asked to join them in the water, but there was no place to change clothes. So I wriggled myself into my swim trunks behind a bath towel.

Mintoff and the other man were throwing a ball at each other in the water and after I arrived I played along with them. (There must be a photo of this rather peculiar event, but I have no idea where it is.)

After some time we climbed on the rocks and dried ourselves. I asked Mintoff if I could interview hem, but he indicated this was not the suitable time. He invited me to have lunch with him. The lady was supposed to drive me to location where this would take place and so she did.

It was a long drive by Maltese standards to a renovated farmhouse near San Pawl tat-Targa. There were quite a few people present, although Mintoff had not yet arrived. Somebody briefed me about the prevailing etiquette. I was supposed not to address ‘il perit’ before he spoke to me himself. Smoking was strictly forbidden in his presence.

After Mintoff arrived we sat at the long table. He sat at the head with a pretty lady on each side. I was situated just around the corner on the left of one of the ladies, within speaking distance of Mintoff. I had another goodlooking woman on my right side.

The soup arrived, it was ‘soppa tal-armli’ (widows’ soup). Mintoff stood up from rhe table and handed out the soup himself to those present. When he filled my plate he asked me what I thought of his action. I replied: ‘It reminds me of the last supper’.

I dis not like the soup, nor the rest of the meal, but did my best not to show it and ate reasonable portions.

During dessert or coffee Mintoff suddenly addressed me: “The Prime Minister has lent me your book’. I told him that I left a copy for him at the Malta High Commission. He raised his voice: “Where is that book. I want to have that book. Alex (The Foreign Minister; AK) must have pinched it’.

After a while I asked him if he would consider me to become his biographer. ‘Biography. When they start that you are almost dead. I don’t want to die….’ After a while he added: ‘If my biography will be written it might as well be by you. You are quite balanced. But don’t expect to get a penny out of it!’

A few moments later he left and the lady drove me back to my hotel.

It would be my first and last meeting with Dom Mintoff.

**

As, due to other commitments, I was not able to execute the Mintoff project I had to shelve it for the moment. However, many years later there might have been another opportunity. During a meeting with the then Prime Minister Alfred Sant the latter suggested I should have another go. He arranged that Helen Dalli, an MP from Zabbar, should collect me the next day and take me to Mintoff’s residence in Tarxien.

The next day, however, I received a phone call that Mr. Mintoff did not feel well and that we had to postpone the meeting. It was not possible to set a new date as I was due to leave the island in a few days.   

In 2001 I was due for an academic sabbatical at the Free University of Amsterdam, where I worked. I considered going to Malta again to give the Mintoff project a serious try. When I submitted my plans to the new Dean of the Faculty the latter asked me ‘Dom who? I have never hear of this man’. I told him Mintoff was quite famous in Britain, but he would not hear of it.

He told me the faculty needed some positive publicity on the national level. The biography of a former Prime Minister of a ministate, in those days not even a member of the European Union, would attract hardly any attention from journalists. So I had to change my plans. Instead of Mintoff I chose Andreas (Dries) van Agt, an unconventional Durch politician, who was Prime Minister of The Netherlands in the years 1977-1982. When my book on him De eenzame fietser was published in 2008 it certainly attracted the attention of the Dutch national press. Some time later I retired and no longer had the opportunity to start another extensive academic study. So the Mintoff project ultimatedly turned out to be nothing more than a beautiful dream. 

Many years larer, December 2024

(originally posted on Facebook, 12th July 2026)

This story was told to me at Miss Mabel Stricklands villa in Lija in 1973 by a member of the British House of Lords, who was one of the intimates of Lord Carrington, then United Kingdom Secretary of Defence. Because Jozef Luns was still very active in international politics at the time, I wrote it down for my university’s VU Magazine. I posted it a few days earlier on Facebook especially for my Dutch friends who still remember Luns. For those of my Maltese friends who do not master Google Translate I now present the English version as well.

When Malta became Independent in 1964 the British troops still stayed on the island. When Dom Mintoff became Prime Minister he wanted to set a date to end this situation and demanded much more money for the remainder of their stay. Mintoff went to London to renegotiate the deal made by his predecessor Borg Olivier. His British counterpart was Lord Carrington (1919-2018), in those days Defence Secretary. The negotiations, held in a rather unpleasant atmosphere, were broken off without any result. Now NATO came in as the alliance was afraid Mintoff might help the Soviet Union to a stronghold in the Mediterranean instead.

In those days my Dutch compatriot Dr. Joseph Luns (1911-2002) was Secretary General of NATO. Luns, who had been Minister of Foreign Affairs in eight successive Dutch governments between 1952 and 1971, was a skilled negotiator. Before het was going to meet Mintoff Luns was warned by Lord Carrington for ‘this rather nasty little man’. Luns replied that het had met quite a few world leaders: Nikita Chroesjtsjov, Josip Broz Tito, Sukarno, Charles de Gaulle and many others. Some of them were quite nasty too.

The meeting ended more or less in a row. Mintoff left the room shouting that he expected more respect as leader of Malta, which had never been a Dutch colony. Luns came after him on his socks, almost throwing a shoe at Mintoff’s head. He told Carrington: ‘I thought I met them all, but he is the most loathsome character I ever met.’ Carrington would later, in his autobiography, call Mintoff a genuine patriot, despite his ‘impossible behaviour’. I am grateful to Mark Fenech for informing me about an interview in 2005 by Henry Frendo, when Carrington also expressed words of admiration for Mintoff. Mark was present at this interview.

After the breakdown of the negotiations Archbishop Gonzi travelled unexpectedly to London and was invited to tea by Her Majesty the Queen. Nobody knows what exactly happened but I was told Luns (1m95) met the Arbi shop as well. It must have been fun to see the very tall Luns (1m95), who was an old fashioned Catholic, bend over and kiss the tiny Archbishops ring.

Soon negotiations were resumed and a deal was made. Mintoff got his money and the British troops were due to leave Malta on 1st April 1979. Ever since Mintoff sent the Archbishop a bouquet of roses on his birthday.

(originally posted on Facebook 23rd August 2023)

25^th May 1973 (on my way to meet Archbishop Gonzi)

Before I arrived at the Archbishop’s Palace a rather peculiar incident took place.

I was late and hurried through Strait Street (as a newcomer in Malta I did not yet know its rather questionable reputation.

From a bar a scarcely dressed woman not only addressed me with certain improper suggestions, but also tried to grab me in my private parts.

I was completely embarrassed by the situation and said something like: ‘Sorry, I’m in a hurry for my meeting with the Archbishop.’

The girl laughed mockingly and uttered some bad words in Maltese.

I ran away from her, most probably redheaded

Mgr. Michael / Mikiel Gonzi (1885-1984)

Bishop of Gozo (1924-1943), Bishop of Malta (1943-1944) and Archbishop of Malta (1944-1976)

My first meeting with Mgr. Gonzi took place on 25^th May 1973 in the Archbishop’s palace, Valletta. Dun Charles Vella was present at the meeting

‘You are from Holland. I had a Dutch friend in Rome, but he died there.

I used to be a professor of Holy Scripture. My successor was Sidon, who translated the Bible into Maltese. Now it is mgr. Sant, a good professor.

I forgot Hebrew: qatal, qatela. It’s such a long time ago. Hebrew was very easy for Maltese to learn.

My time in Gozo: those were the happiest years in my life.

I would like to tell you about my life, but not now as I will leave to-morrow for a holiday in Italy.’  

Second meeting 30^th June 1973

‘You have been to Mgr. Gerada. What did he tell you’ ? (I did not take down my reply in my notes, but it must have been rather evasive. For those interested cf https://www.irresistiblemalta.com/2026/06/28/emmanuel-gerada/.

 ‘I made a request for an assistant under my supervision at the Holy See and I named the man. It was granted. He never was a nuncio, perhaps they would have made him one.’

‘You want to know about my career? I studied at the Royal University of Malta. I was Doctor of Theology. Then I studied in Rome two years at the Institute of Canon and Biblical Studies at the expense of the University. In 1915 I was appointed Professor in Holy Scripture and Eastern Languages. In 1923 I was made Canon Theologian of the Cathedral Chapter and in 1924 Bishop of Gozo. During the war I was de facto Archbishop of Malta on the orders of the Holy Father.  

During 1962-1965 I was a member of the Second Vatican Council and during the last three Senates I was in Rome.’

‘Strickland was a good Catholic. It finished well. He made a declaration that he was sorry for what had happened and as a Catholic he submitted to the wishes of the Holy See.’

‘I do not want to discuss the conflict with the MLP with you as this man (i.e. Dom Mintoff; AK) is in the Government now. There have been some differences between State and Church, but that’s settled down. We are on good terms with the present Government.’  

‘I am Archbishop de facto and Metropolitan of Malta and Gozo. I am awfully busy. They look upon the Archbishop as their spiritual father. With questions of some importance they’ll come to me.’

Ever since I witnessed Mg. Gonzi several times presiding over Church functions. I remember him leading a procession in Valletta. I watched it with my family. For my children it was the first time they saw a bishop, with the exception of Saint Nicholas, popular with catholics and protestants alike. Our two year old son exclaimed: ‘What a little Saint Nicholas!’.

A remarkable occasion was the ordination of 50 new priests on the occasion of Mgr. Gonzi’s 50^th anniversary as a bishop. St. John’s Co-cathedral was packed and as a down-to-earth northerner I was shocked to see parents kissing to hands of their just ordained sons. “Don’t you any feelings? Cannot you be happy with us?” I was asked by someone who noticed my expressionless face. It would take a few years before I learned to show my sentiments and be happy or sad with my Maltese friends.

The photo on top of this post was taken during a courtesy call I made to the Archbishop in 1974 in order to congratulate him in his Jubilee.

I met the Archbishop several times. ‘When your book is ready, I want to read it’, he once told me. I remember two meetings with Archbishop Emeritus Gonzi after he stepped down in 1976. Both times he was in the company of the Vicar General, jolly Mgr. Carmelo. ‘Look at this man. I made him a priest, I made him a parish priest, I made him a monsignor and now he is the Vicar General.’

‘I am very busy, so they have given me an assistant.’

I’ve always had a soft spot for Mgr. Gonzi.

Many years later, preserved for posterity

The photo was taken in the Mdina Cathedral in December 2024.

(originally posted on Facebook 28th June 2026)

His Lordship Mgr. Emmanuel Gerada (1920-2011) B.A., Lic.D. I.C.D., titular Bishop of Nomentum, was in those days Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Malta.

He was born in Zejtun and studied in England and Rome. He was in the Vatican Diplomatic Service between 1950 and 1967. He told me he served in Egypt, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico and Ruanda.

We first met on 28th May, 1973 at the office of Malta Television, Gwardamangia. He told me that he was now seven years in Malta and that he spent half his life abroad. This helped him to see Maltese affairs from more distance. It took him some time to get used to living in Malta again.

Our second meeting was on 1st June, 1973, at his office, Archbishop’s Palace, Valletta.

‘Luckily many people are nowadays not so anticlerical as during the fight between the Church and the MLP, some, however, did not change.

According to the Australian Broadcast Company I should have said that the festa’s should be abolished. This was not true. I wanted to streamline them a bit, and I wanted the political rivalry to be over now.

I was asked for this job by the Pope. I said yes, so I’m here. Otherwise I would have been a nuncio now. I don’t know who recommended me for this job. I think Mgr. Gonzi liked the idea. First I was Auxiliary Bishop. Seven months later I was appointed Coadjutot, a higher rank.’

I asked him when he expected Archbishop Gonzi to retire. ‘The age is 75, but this is an advice. If you don’t want to retire you don’t have to. Mgr. Gonzi is still fit for the job and I’ll help him as much as I can.

I am NOT against the Mc Kinsey report. I criticised some details of it. I thought it was my duty to show the parts I did not approve of. But I accepted the general idea behind it and the Church is reforming itself like this. We don’t want to own a commercial bank.

According to Mgr. Gonzi the Church owns 1/16 or 1/17 of the land in Malta. During the boom we sold some and now we are trying to dispose of more. But we cannot risk ourselves by selling land at once now that the market is very bad.

In 1966 I was not in Malta, so I don’t know about the Pastoral Letter before the elections. In 1971 we all agreed on the Pastoral Letter.

Mintoff asked me to try to make peace between the Church and the MLP. It was difficult to make the first step, but it had to be done.

The Church lost much money with the Canadian Millionaire. That was Mgr. Gonzi, and with BICAL. It was an authorized bank. Only recently the Central bank controls all banks.

Mgr. Galea ordained me as a priest. He and Mgr. Gonzi (I asked him because he was becoming my chief) ordained me a a Bishop.

I solved the problem of the burials in unconsecrated ground, outside the cemetery, silently, by making a hole in the wall and extending the gravesite.

In case of another interview I would like to see your questions first so that I can reflect about them. I would recommend you to read Fr. Houtart’s report on the Church of Malta.’

I remember Mgr. Gerada insisting to have the final say in what I should write down. I politely refused and decided not to ask him for another interview in the future as I could not allow any interference from outsiders with my research.

Mgr Gerada would never become Archbishop of Malta. It was rumoured that his mishandling of the church’s finances (BICAL) cost him this promotion. In these days the joke circulated that at the Vatican as a prelate you could sometimes get away with a killing, but not with an scandal with women and certainly not with wasting the church’s money.

Mgr Gonzi would be succeeded in 1976 by Mgr. Guiseppe Mercieca, in retrospect a much better choice.

Mgr. Gerada resumed his diplomatic career and retired to Malta in 1995. He died in 2011.

(originally posted on Facebook 24th November 2024)

Politics is a risk, you have to take it

Dr Borg Olivier (1911-1980) LLD. D. Litt MP was in those days Leader of the Opposition. He was Prime Minister of Malta between 1950 and 1955 and between 1962 and 1971.

We met at 9th July 1973 at the Speaker’s Office during a session of Parliament. ‘Dr. Tabone is addressing the House, he might carry on for ages, so let’s talk in the meantime’

He considers himself a practising Catholic, but does not feel guilty if he has not been to church on Sunday.

‘Since the 1921 Constitution we had a Nationalist Government first. Later there was the Constitutional Party. Lord Strickland was a controversial person. Mintoff followed his footsteps, but is less formal.

Not the Church meddles in politics, but the political parties bring in the Church. Nowone expects the Church to be lenient if religious education is not given its prominence in the schools. They had a right to make their voices heard.

During the thirties the priests had a right to vote and to be an MP. They made opposition against Strickland. He blamed the whole Church. The priests (because of the tradition and the Italian language and culture) sided with the PN. Strickland was unfair against the professions and the Church. He stimulated class hatred.

It is not true that Mintoff hates the Church because he hates religion. He only ? the voice of the Church too strong.

The Church pronounced itself. I never encouraged it. In 1962 there was a rumour that the Archbishop might excommunicate the MLP leaders. I asked the executive committee (of the Nationalist Party; AK) to join me in going to Mgr. Gonzi to ask him not to do that. Then Mintoff would always have blamed his loss of the elections to it.

In 1962 I only wanted to become Prime Minister if some amendments to the Constitution were accepted, for instance the police under me and not under the Governor. I got them. I also wanted some financial contribution towards the infrastructure. The Colonial Administration had nor built a single classroom, they did nothing for us. England was difficult. I got Malta removed from the Colonial Office to the Commonwealth Office.

Dr. Ganado split from us because in his eyes we did not attack Labour enough. He was influenced by Mabel. He did not want Independence. Politics is a risk, you have to take it.

Photo: Independence: His finest day

Mabel was one of the first who congratulated me when I gor Independence. Later also Dr. Ganado did.

In 1966 I foresaw the smell parties to disappear, I proved right.

In 1971 I only lost with one seat. But I had more votes than in the previous election. In a democracy one has to loose. But Mr. Mintoff makes too much of his one seat majority.

The Civic Council for Gozo was an invention of the Colonial Administration to keep Gozo quiet.’

Unfortunately, at this moment, Dr. Borg Olivier was called back into the House. I promised me a continuation of the interview, but this never materialized. A few years later I watched him being taken on the shoulders of his staunch supporters during the feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck in Valletta. During 1976 the electoral campaign I watched him address some mass meetings and saw his ‘fatal’ Ejjew maghna speech on television. It was the end of a brilliant career.

Many years later, preserved for posterity

The photo was taken in December 2024

(originally posted on Facebook on 1st September 2023)

Politics is the art of the possible

Dr. Anton Buttigieg, B.A. LL.D. M.P. (1912-1983), was in those days Minister for Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. He was not only a politician, but a well-known poet as well. He was destined to become Malta’s second President of the Republic (1976-1981).

We met at 26th June 1973 at the Speaker’s office during a session of Parliament.

‘You should look at the laws in particular. Canon Law is still law for Maltese Catholics. If they get a civil marriage abroad the church does not recognize it.

Once you are baptized as a Catholic it makes you a Catholic for your whole life. Non-Catholics are not allowed to baptize a Catholic child.

You have to undergo a religious examination before you are allowed to enter University and before you are allowed to marry.

The Bishop is above the law.

The cemeteries are controlled by the Church. Always there is a priest administering them, even when the State pays for them completely.

Many antiquities belong to the Church.

Canon Law is against the Constitution. It is against the freedom of conscience. An atheist who is baptized cannot marry.

In the fight of the MLP against the Church Gozo was worse than Malta.’

On my question why civil marriage was not introduced by the present Labour Government Dr. Buttigieg replied: ‘You have to be very careful, otherwise they’ll start raising hell again. Look what they did when we passed the homosexuality bill.’

I wondered why civil marriage was not included in the 1969 treaty. ‘Politics is the art of the possible. We could not let Malta go bankrupt under another Nationalist administration only because we wanted civil marriage.’

NOTE: Less than two years later, after the constitutional changes of December 1974, civil marriage was yet introduced in Malta.

I was quite impressed by this gentleman. To my regrets we never met again. However, I noticed him in August 1974 at the Phoenicia Hotel in an animated conversation with a certain Mr. Forace, who might have been the Maltese High Commissioner in Australia. I could not help overhearing parts of this quite interesting conversation, in which two colleagues were grumbling about their boss. I did not think it proper to make any notes about the contents of this conversation.

(originally posted on Facebook on 25th August 2023)

Miss Mabel Strickland OBE (1899-1988) former politician and owner of several newspapers. Het father Lord Strickland (1861-1940) was a colonial governor and Prime Minister of Malta.

We first met on 18th May 1973 in her Bentley. Her secretary asked me to present myself at the headquarters of the Allied Newspapers in St. Paul Street, Valletta. The receptionist told me to wait in Miss Strickland’s car, which was parked in front of the building. The driver instructed me to ‘sit on this side. The other side is Miss Mabel’s side’.

After she arrived she told me: ‘So you’re the young professor from Denmark who is going to study us’. I told her I did not come from Denmark, but she considered this a small detail. I also to told her a was not a professor, but this happened to be another small detail: ‘You will be some day’.

In the meantime the driver took us to her residence, Villa Parisio in Lija, where I met her faithful factotum, Miss Connie. I instantly liked her.

In the car we discussed Archbishop Gonzi. Miss Mabel: ‘I fought him for 25 years and I fought with him for 25 years. I told hem he should retire, but he did not hear or (with a twinkle in her eyes) pretended he did not hear it.’ And then she put her elbow into my belly like a jolly old aunt.

A bit later I was invited to join het for luncheon. Other guests were her relatives Lord and Lady so and so (I do not remember their names). He was a member of the British House of Lords.

At the table Miss Mabel told her how proud she was when Dom Mintoff inspected seemingly unmoved a guard of honour during his recent visit to Red China. ‘Lorry Sant seemed to be a bit nervous. Dom enjoyed alle cultural events, while Lorry was bored. Dom was bored during the official receptions, but enjoyed signing the official documents, while Zhou Enlai was unmoved’. She had seen a film of the visit.

Later she introduced me to a certain Mr. Victor Cauchi, ‘the man of the Dockyard Monument. I should have realized that most of the old Stricklandians now vote Labour. I should have supported Mintoff in wanting integration.

I am a great admirer of Mintoff, but I strongly disagree with his politics.

The pity for this country is that the Nationalists are no good alternative to Labour. When Dr. Ganado and I were in Parliament we acted as the conscience of the Nationalists and they listened to us, but things have gone worse since Borg Olivier had a clash in his personal life four years ago (his wife left him). They should remove him a their leader, the sooner the better.’

During luncheon the Lord told us some salient information about the negotiations between Mintoff, the British Government and NATO about the dismantling of the British military base of Malta. The will be dealt with in another post.

(originally posted on Facebook on 18th August 2023)

Mr. Camilleri (72) was a former Health Officer. He was a Member of Parliament for the Christian Workers Party during the 1962-1966 legislation.

We met on 4th July 1973 at the residence of his son in Fgura.

‘Our family came from Sicily in 1840 (Camiglieri). It means driver of Camels. My coat of arms is a camel with three stars. My great grandfather came from Zebbug. I was born in a Maltese colony in Corfu. My nationality was Greek. When I was six years and 10 months Bishop Pietro Pace visited the Maltese families in Corfu.and choose three boys in order to make them priests and send them back as missionaries because many Maltese became Greek Orthodox. I was seven years in the seminary but did not become a priest like the other two for personal reasons, I went to New York for more than a year.

In 1921 we had our first self-government and I was in the executive committee of the Labour party. As a government official I was not allowed to go into politics, so I had to leave. In 1960 I got pensioned. Then I received a letter from Father Bilocca to join Pellegrini’s party. I did not answer but later I was asked again by Fr. Bilocca and Archbishop Gonzi, so I joined the CWP and was elected.

In 1966 I was close to being elected. A Nationalist died and I should have taken his place. Borg Olivier put another Nationalist in my place, who did not even contest my district. In 1971 the MLP came for me, Borg Olivier heard it and also asked me to stand as candidate. I refused and gave up politics.

Perhaps Demech wouldn’t have been a heathen now. He had new ideas. In those days a small mistake was made into a big one.

During the Strickland fight there was too much fanatism on both sides.

Gonzi always was a good and sincere friend of the working class. He came from the working class himself. He was an MLP senator, but did not cross over. That was Fr. Bagelli in the lower house, who crossed over to Mizzi.

Boffa was my personal friend and doctor. As president of the Band club of Paola I directed a ceremony of rejoice when he was chosen Prime minister

Pellegrini: His party was founded to contest the MLP. Now he is back in the MLP. You know what I think of him. (Mr. Camilleri did not specify this remark, but his face expressed disapproval; AK)

In Parliament I voted twice against my party. The issues were too important for me at that time.

Mabel: Her days are over.

(About the Maltese Episcopate): Gonzi does not realize he is 88 and that het should give up.

Mgr. Gerada (his father was a pharmacist in Zejtun) has no experience in pastoral work. Here the circumstances are different altogether.

Mgr. Galea is humble, unpretentious and brilliant.’

Mr. Camilleri intended to leave Malta and settle in California. He died in 1979.

(The picture of a camel I put there just for fun. I might replace it with a photo if it becomes available to me; AK)

(originally posted on Facebook 29th July 2023)

Anthony Pellegrini (1924-1996) used to be secretary of the Malta Labour Party, which he left in 1962 when het founded the Christian Workers Party (CWP), after the party did not return to parliament in 1966. Pellegrini returned to the MLP. When I met him in June 1973 he was Director of Information. We met in his office at Auberge de Castille.

Mr. Pellegrini was first reluctant to talk to me; ‘Read the newspapers’. I had to convince him to reveal his perception of what happened.in the sixties when he broke with the MLP ‘because that party went too far in its conflict with the church. When you accept the six points of Mintoff I will leave. The church supported me and some other political parties financially. Father Bilocca canvassed for us. That was his good right. If a doctor may be active in politics, why not a priest?

I am still behind my political ideas of those days, even with respect to independence. I am still against it, we are not ripe for it. I believe in God, in a protestant way. I am scarcely practising. Religion is a financial matter. You give five pounds for the festa of your patron saint and the latter tells God: “let’s help this poor fellow”.

Borg Oliver was a shrewd and clever politician. He took care that the Independence Constitution could only be changed with a two thirds majority. He did not want a referendum, but coute que coute independence. The British were against it, but accepted it when they imposed their finance and defence aid on Malta. That’d why Mintoff was right when he undid this. The British press attacked him wrongly. The landlord sets the rent. Moreover Malta had been receiving the least of all Commonwealth countries from the British in the last 50 years. Even Uganda, Kenia and Cyprus got more.

In parliament I voted with the CWP 7 out of 10 times for the PN government, because I thought they were right. Mintoff told me: “That’s not the task of the Opposition.”

After the 1960 “treaty” there was no more reason for a Christian Labour Party. I dissolved my party and joined the MLP again and supported them moderately in the 1971 elections.

Since Mintoff’s victory he tried to persuade we several times for this position (Director of Information; AK0. I finally gave in for Malta’s sake. I could have holded this position under the Nationalists as well under the same conditions. I make no propaganda. I think I will be fed up with it after two years. I have other sources of income. This salary goes mainly to the taxes. I don’t have to do this. I am lazy.

I refused to become chairman of the Broadcast Authority, because I cannot stand as a candidate for elections within three years. I was to leave all possibilities open. I like to fight and I can talk my head off. I can convince the people.

The bishops are all parasites, the archbishop is senile. Gerada is clever, but a diplomate. Galea can only talk about the church.

The MLP government is not of the same caliber as the Nationalists. They have performed nothing so far.

The Peace Corps is a good thing. Let them work for their unemployment benefit. A fure Nationalist government will certainly keep this measure.

If we had elections now the MLP would loose substantially. I would give them no more than 15 seats, they cannot keep their pants on.’

After boasting that Prime Minister Mintoff needed him to stay into power Mr. Pellegrini explicitly told me: ‘If you publish this now I will call you a liar and I will sue you’.

I did not want to repeat this rather awkward experience and told my self that this would be my first and last interview with this unreliable man. I never met him again.

(originally posted on Facebook, 15th July, 2023)

PHOTO: Pellegrini (cenre) with Miss Mabel Strickland (left) and Dom Mintoff.

Father Bilocca OFM CAP SBD taught sociology at INSERM, a kind of seminary for the religious orders and he was tied to the Archbishop’s Curia.

Our first meeting took place at the Capuchin Friary in Floriana on 15th July 1973.

‘In my public ministry the bishop is my boss, for the rest I obey the religious superior of the order.

When I took part in the quarrel the bishop wanted me to help him. It was against the will of my superior. So he took me out of the order.

I wrote in Lehen is-Sewwa from 1974 till 1971 under the noms de plume Baruk and Don Camillo. I also write in Il-Hajja. I have been teaching since 1947 and wrote a book on Catholic sociology.

During 1921-1933 the clergy had the Italian culture. It had always been biased against the English. Whenever something British was suggested to the government of Malta it was always interpreted as a danger of the faith. Freemasonry was strong. Mintoff gave them a hard blow when he was put to power. Many English freemasons he sent away.

During 1921-1933 the Boffa MLP got a Bolshevik label. There were always anti-church elements: Demech, freemasonry. Many Maltese turned against the church under provocation.

The church wanted safety for the Italian language and culture. During Stricklands time Mussolini started fascist propaganda at the Umberto College in Old Bakery Street. The Nationalist politicians always used religion for their political ends. It was a means to obtain power. The majority of the clergy has always been Nationalist. They were afraid of the English influence on religion. They used a man to take oath that he saw Lord Strickland in a freemason lodge. Then the church published a pastoral letter putting this in mortal sin to vote for Strickland. The British thought that religion was used for political purposes and suspended the constitution. Bishop Caruana was accused by the Nationalists because he was pro-British. Mgr. Gonzi was anti-Strickland and pro-Italian. In his heart of hearts he has always been a labourite. But there were extremists in the MLP who were harmful to the party. They were anti-church (Demech’s followers). So Gonzi had indirectly to support the Nationalists because of the extremists in the MLP.

In 1947 the Nationalists did not get many votes after the Italian bombs. Boffa got the majority. He was very moderate. They called him ‘the monsignor’.

The MLP always had an anticlerical section (Demechjani and later Stricklandians). Mintoff found his strength in this point when het split the party. In 1953 Boffa had 4 seats and went into coalition with the PN. Borg Olivier had succeeded Enrico Mizzi. He was deputy leader and just fell into the office after his predecessors death. When the budget gave a good rise to those already well-paid and only a few pence went to the workers, Boffa’s Workers Party had to retreat from the coalition. So Mintoff came into power (1955).

When in 1956 there was the referendum for Integration the Church went into politics. Mgr. Gonzi wanted guarantees for the religion. The referendum was lost. It was boycotted on religious grounds. During January-August 1956 I was intermediary between Mintoff and Gonzi (being a labourite and a priest). Mintoff was always friendly to the extremists. He repeated the Strickland affair for himself. He kept attacking the church. His excuse was that he was provoked by the church. In August I gave way to professor Aquilina (also a labourite). In 1958 Mintoff resigned suddenly.

In 1962 there was the penalty of mortal sin for whom voted for Mintoff. He publicly stated six points that would be dangerous for us. But he was very prudent and followed the Vatican Council . I was against the six points and put up a third party (the PNP; AK), because the PN was laissez-faire and the MLP was extremist. What I did was with the blessing of the ecclesiastical authorities. The church authorities believed in a third party in the balance, but many individuals only wanted the two major parties. I asked Pellegrini. He had not wanted to be the leader but we could not find somebody else. He wanted to save the MLP. Dr. Ganado was against the laissez-faire and the laziness of Borg Olivier.

In 1966 the cry was: Wash away the small parties, though both Pellegrini and Ganado were under the blessing of the church. But the ordinary people were brought up that the Nationalists were the protectors of the church. So the Nationalists won under the mortal sin. If Ganado was not such a sound Catholic he would have left the church.

In 1969 the Holy See, after the Vatican Council, started a new policy. It wanted a dialogue with socialism. In the meantime the extremists had died or disappeared from the political scene (Ellul Marcer). Once the six points of Mintoff were put down, either by the Council itself: the separation of church and state. There were for the bishops no more grounds to keep acting against the MLP. So mortal sin was kept out of the elections of 1971 and Mintoff won.

The MLP first did not trust Gerada. He could not succeed. I made a nice declaration for both sides. Then Gerada did not want a declaration. Pellegrini was also involved in making the peace.

The clergy remained Nationalist, but many of them were fed up with the PN. What they did not want from Mintoff the PN did as well: the casino, the change in the order of precedence, a dirty film in which they used a church of Our Lady in Gozo. Their motto Religio et Patra did not work. Borg Olivier never took the lead of Mgr. Gonzi, He always thought Mgr. Gonzi was behind Dr. Ganado to replace him. Duncan Sandys (Minister of Defence of the UK; AK) also wanted Borg Olivier replaced. The English never wanted Mintoff in power.

Nowadays Mintoff treats Gonzi better that some heads of state. He even appointed his medical doctor, Dr. Farrugia, ambassador to the Holy See.

Mintoff builds Malta stone by stone.

Sending away De La Salle brothers and nuns of the sacred Hearts (these religious orders were in charge of the training of teachers in Malta; AK). The curia knew beforehand and we don’t need as many teachers as before (the reader should keep in mind that Fr. Bilocca belonged to a religious order and it is a well known fact that there is always some kind of rivalry between there orders: AK).’

Our final meeting took place in St. Luke’s Hospital in 1987, a few weeks before the elections which would return the Nationalists into power, after sixteen years in opposition. I was visiting Anton Cassar, who informed me that Father Bilocca was in hospital too. He was very weak. His last words to me were that he was optimistic about Malta. He died soon afterwards.

NOTE: In 2004 Sergio Grech published Father Bilocca’s biography.

(originally posted on Facebook, 11th July, 2023) 

Thomas W. Hedley (1906-1980), a well-known journalist, was a former Editor of The Times of Malta (1950-1965) and later of The Malta Observer, a pro-Church newspaper, which was terminated in 1969 at the advice of Bishop Gerada. If I remember well he was a widower, taking care of his retarded son.

We met at his residence, 59 St. Thomas Street Floriana on 9th May 1973.

See also: https://timesofmalta.com/…/tom-hedley-an-all-round…

‘Gaddafi’s Libya gave the present government a lot of money. As a result of this we are their best friends.

This government is not against the English language, but against British influence. English tourists are most welcome as they spend all their money over here. Other Europeans are much frugal.

Mgr. Gonzi was born in Kalkara. As a priest he was a member of the Senate for Labour. As a Bishop of Gozo he was respected and admired, not popular as he was not a Gozitan himself. In thoese days he was quite progressive. He forced Gozo to feed Malta during the war. The British gave him a Knighthood for his merits.

In 1929 Prime Minister Strickland was opposed by the curia as they were angry because of his cooperation with the ‘by tradition’ anticlerical MLP. Two pro Strickland Franciscans were banished to Sicily. While Strickland was in London, his deputy Prime Minister Bartolo withdrew their passports. Strickland was unaware of this, but he supported Bartolo later. Archbishop Caruana, although pro-British, got involved, supported by Mgr. Gonzi. This resulted in the 1930 Mortal Sin Pastoral Letter.

In 1943 Miss Mabel Strickland opposed the idea of Mgr. Gonzi becoming Malta’s next archbishop.

1n 1949 On May Day at St.Paul’s Bay Mintoffians sang The Red Flag, a British socialist song. The Archbishop (Gonzi) strongly spoke against this and was supported by the Times of Malta. Ever since Miss Mabel and the Archbishop maintained good relations.

On 28th Apiril 1958 there were riots. The church spoke out against violence. Borg Olivier kept silent.

The personal relations between the Prime Minister (Mintoff) and the Leader of the Opposition (Borg Olivier) are good.

Mgr. Gonzi wrote in his pastoral letters: You have to vote, otherwise you commit a mortal sin.

A Member of Parliament or Minister has a lot of power. Their private lives (are they good Catholics?) and attitude with regard to Catholic teaching are of great importance. If you find fault with somebody in this respect and still vote for him you commit a mortal sin. The priests, especially on Gozo, interpreted this as do not vote for Mintoff.

Now a Nationalist newspaper attacks Education Minister Agatha Barbara as religion was going to disappear from the schools. The Archbishop declared that she assured him this was not going to be the case.

In-Nazzjon launches some covered attacks on Gonzi: He does nothing. Of cause, because otherwise he’ll be blamed to be dictated by the PN.

It seems that the Nazzjon rather attacks Il-Hajja than the Labour Government. The Archbishop ordered il_hajja to be moderate pro-Government. The Times of Malta was ordered (I suppose by Mabel; AK), as a catholic newspaper, to write against the Government.

The Archbishop regrets that Dom Mintoff did not finish his education at the seminary.

Mintoff respects the vitality of the Archbishop, but understands that even he can hardly resist the local curia.

Bishop Gerada thought in 1969 that Mintoff could be right. Maybe the church had too much influence. He reconciled both parties in 1969 and stopped publishing The Observer in order to cause less friction. He took care of a more soft pastoral letter before the 1971 elections.

The Archbishop does not want Gerada to be his successor, but he was not able to successfully oppose the appointment in Rome.

However, he was promised not to be pensioned off. Mgr. Gonzi should be willing to resign if Fr. Maurice Eminyan SJ would succeed him. In that case Gerada would be promoted away. But there is little chance as both Minoff and the Italians want Gerada to be moved as he would not likely start a new Church-State quarrel.

Mgr Emanuel Galea, auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Caruana, was seen by many as his successor. Instead Mgr. Gonzi got the appointment, but he kept him as auxiliary. He wrote many pastoral letters and was in charge of the curia. Some regarded him as the brains behind Gonzi, but would be an underestimation of the latter. The formed a good team. Now he acts as a trait d’union between Gonzi and Gerada. He used to be in favour of a hard line towards the MLP.

Bishop Pace of Gozo, once the secretary of his predecessor Gonzi, was strongly anti-Mintoff. His successor Cauchi administered the diocese already when het became bishop.

Dom Mintoff had the best brains since Strickland. He is a man of the people and an advocate of democracy with an autocratic mind. He won’t commit a coup as he has nothing to gain with it. He is likely to win the next elections with the electoral and propaganda apparatus in his own hands. And even if he loses he can earn a lot of money, which he likes.

Borg Olivier has a great instinct for politics, but not for ruling. Its his gradualness versus Mintoff’s direct action. He speaks Italian fluently, but his English is poor (with Mintoff this is exactly the opposite. He is popular with the older generation of the Nationalists, but not with the younger ones. He never makes up his mind, He is lazy, but honest.

Tony Pellegrini came back to the MLP. He is no threat to Mintoff. He has no experience, no savoir-faire, no contacts. Mintoff wanted a good Director of Information. He is a good organizer: ‘Get in or get out’.

Miss Mabel wanted more contact with the UK, but did not support Integration. She speaks not a word in Maltese and does not understand the Maltese mentality. In fact she plays no role any more since Independence.

I don’t expect another conflict between Church and State. Things like that can be noticed beforehand, they start slowly. Only if Mintoff would want to introduce divorce, abortion and/or contraceptives.

After this first meeting we met quite a few times during my various stays in Malta. Mr. Hedley gave frank and valuable comments on the very first draft I wrote on Malta. He invited me to watch the procession of St. Publius from his balcony. When my father visited us in Malta I took him, as an admirer of English football to Mr Hedley and they had a keen discussion on the matter.

When, after a traumatic car accident in Zabbar, I was confronted with an impediment of departure he generously offered me financial help. I still cherish the autographed copy of his novel ‘Duello’ he gave me. He died in 1980. I considered him a fatherly friend.

(originally posted on Facebook on 7th December 2024)

Before the war Dr. Ganado (1906-1979) was president of the Catholic Action and editor of its newspaper Lehen is-Sewwa. In 1939 he was interned by the British because of my pro-Italian sympathies and later exiled to Uganda.

In the sixties he left the Nationalist Party and founded the Democratic Nationalist Party (DNP), It obtained four seats in a Parliament of 50. ‘In 1966 the Church panicked and advised to vote Nationalist in order to keep Labour in the opposition. So we lost all seats and I withdrew from politics.’

In his younger years Dr. Ganado had experienced the bishopric of mgr. Caruana, the predecessor of Mgr. Gonzi, who played an important part in the Strickland affair. I was very curious to learn more about this very interesting prelate.

Dr. Ganado was very generous to me. Not only did he grant me several interviews, but he also donated me his books Rajt Malta Tinbidel. I found them very valuable for my studies. He invited Margreet and me a few times to visit his beautiful home in Floriana.

I found some interesting quotes from this first and later interviews in my research notes.

‘The only thing we have in common with the Arabs is the language.

The British as individuals are nice. The British colonial system is bad.

The Holy See often blundered with respect to Malta. Mgr Casaroli (1914-1998, a highly skilled Vatican diplomat, created Cardinal in 1979; AK) is looking for compromise all over the world. Perhaps this is necessary in countries where the church is a minority. But in Malta we have a majority church, which is rather orthodox. Here there is no need for compromise as in the Eastern bloc, where they have to be glad with everything they obtain in the negotiations.

Bishop Gerada blundered with the Bical Bank, he was too greedy for the 8% interest.

Gonzi used to be uncompromising, now he changed, but so has the Vatican. He would not immediately be backed by them. But if he should really start a fight the Vatican would be forced to back him

Strickland was a good Catholic, but, in his opinion a good Catholic could be anticlerical, which is nonsense. He was an imperialist, a despot and tactless. But he had initiative. He was a kind of Mintoff type, but Mintoff is no imperialist and perhaps more progressive than Strickland. But both were more progressive than this conservative country. Both were educated abroad and they are our only politicians with a foreign policy.

Mizzi was pro-Italian qua language and tradition, liberal, not a fascist. But his link with Italy belonged to the past and that made him a conservative here. For the rest his ideas were quite progressive. Mizzi had some admiration for Mintoff as he quarrelled with Britain. But Mizzi was a man who lived in the past. Tradition was important for him. For Mintoff the past does not count. For his supporters the history of Malta starts with his first government in 1955.’

Labour politician Miss Agatha Barbara held the same view as she told me some years later when she received me at the Palace as the first Maltese female President of the Republic.

‘When Mizzi died Mintoff held a sentimental speech in Parliament, his only one.

Manwel Demech (1860-1921) was a forgotten man. Henry Frendo made him alive. Demech was against all authority. He wanted a republic and founded unions. In his time the Church was strict and he was condemned. He had advanced ideas for his time and undermined the establishment.

The 7th June riots of 1919 were caused by many groups, some of them were Demechjani and other Dockyard people. Others were Nationalists who wanted a better Constitution, students and people angry against the wages and prices etcetera.

Demech was the first to fight the Church. Even Mintoff uses some of his phraseology. The Malta Labour Party started as a Catholic party. Now they want to reaffirm their identity by referring to Demech.

Bishop Dom Maurus Caruana (Floriana 1867-1943) was a man of character. His father was in the navy and he was educated by the British Jesuits. He was a Benedictine and Abbot of a Scottish monastery. There the Catholics were a minority. This made him an uncompromising man. As a Bishop elect he drove a motorcycle. He was a good preacher and pro-British. At first he was not popular with the clergy and the monsignors who wanted the bishopric for themselves. They were all Nationalists and he was not. The conservative clergy did not cooperate with him. He was a reformer. He reformed the Church music as he was a lover of good music. The people did not like it, but he was right.

A pontifical high mass presided by Bishop Caruana was more dignified than in the Vatican. Gonzi tries to imitate him.

First Caruana was pro-Strickland, but when Strickland interfered with the Church and a monastery (I suppose Dr. Ganado referred to the Father Carta case; AK) the Benedictine Bishop became angry. When the Church was in danger he was uncompromising. When it came to a fight he fought.

Gonzi was not Strickland’s main opponent, Caruana was.

Bishop Gonzi of Gozo was very unpopular with the British government. When Archbishop Caruana was invited for a government dinner at the palace and could not attend Gonzi replaced him. He was not given the traditional second place for the Archbishop, which was given to the Anglican Bishop of Gibraltar. Gonzi refused to come. His absence was reported by Deputy Governor Sir Harry Luke to the Vatican (but not the reason).

With Governor Lord Gort the British attitude changed towards Gonzi. He realized that without this man we would have starved. Gort persuaded King George VI to give his permission for Gonzi’s nomination as Caruana’s Coadjutor. Caruana was glad as he had asked for this before, but then the British refused. Now Gort ordered Mabel Strickland to support him in the Times of Malta.

In 1942/43 Mabel wrote an editorial in the TOM about the integration of Malta with the United Kingdom. Cardinal Godfrey (in those days apostolic delegate for England, Wales and Malta; AK) talked it out of her head. It might stimulate Protestantism in Malta. So she turned against it when Mintoff took over the idea. That was very brave of her.

Dom Mintoff is a left-wing socialist, but not a communist. He thinks ‘to big’ and commits blackmail when it comes to him. He is against NATO as I wrote in the London Times in 1969 or 1970. He is unpredictable, his ideas are extremely socialistic. He gets close to China and North Korea. He has no religion and never attends important church ceremonies in function. Even the ambassadors of Libya and Israel do! The mobs are his force, that scares people. The English expected a revolt when they left, but the population was afraid.

Integration would have given Mintoff a platform in the House of Commons. Now he wants money and wants the whole Mediterranean as his platform.’

During our last meeting, at his home, Dr. Ganado started explaining to me how much he, who had suffered much by the British, was mourning their final departure from Malta, which would soon take place. Our intriguing conversation was interrupted, however, by the unexpected arrival of a noisy male relative of him (Albert or Walter, I don’t remember; AK) who immediately started dominating the conversation completely. I am still angry at this man, even more so as I did not get another chance. Herbert Ganado, a true empathic gentleman, would die soon after what became my last visit to him.

I cherish his memory.

(originally posted in Facebook, 25th June, 2023)

At twelve he was refused confession because his father was a strong Labour supporter.

In 1961 he was in the executive Committee (of the MLP) that was interdicted.

His children at a convent school could not stick it. Since the war he was not practising. ‘For most Nationalist members religion is also a façade. We go to church when we have to.’

Archbishop Gonzi almost stopped his wedding as he was a Member of Parliament and invited Mintoff as his witness and not Boffa. AB told him not to stop it or else he would marry before a registrar office in Italy.

‘During the fight MLP-Church there always were indirect contacts between Mintoff and the Archbishop. During the 1962 elections the PN did not think they were going to win, but the Church fought their battle. In 1966 they lost more votes. Even in 1971 the priests tried to raise hell again. In my district they started a whispering campaign against me. I lost my seat by 100 votes. Women still let themselves be influenced by the priests.

My parents-in-law did not vote Labour in 1962 because of the interdict.

There are over 1000 churches in Malta and Gozo. It’s a waste of time and effort.

Mintoff’s six points will come again, after we changed our economic situation.

We would like to have the British electoral system. It would give us a stronger government.’

Mr Attard Bezzina generously allowed me to use his chambers in Parliament for interviewing MP’s of both sides of the House. This helped me a lot during the initial stages of my research.

(Originally posted on Facebook, 19th May 2023)

I would like to share a funny story. One of the people I met in Parliament in 1973 was Dr. Censu / Vincent Tabone (1913-2012), in those days deputy leader of the Opposition.

As Dr. Tabone had to leave me soon for a debate in the House he invited me to his residence. The appointment was at 20.00. This gave me ample time to have dinner first with my family at the usual Dutch time of 18.00.

We kept in touch and many years later Dr. Tabone became President of the Republic of Malta. He invited me to the Palace where I received a VIP treatment. He reminded me of that visit and said that I did not look very happy when I left. At last I was able to clarify why and we had a good laugh about it together.

I still have sweet memories about this well loved eye doctor and politician. After he stepped down as President I was able to visit him again at his residence. He died at the venerable age of 98. When I pass his statue in Balluta I respectfully greet him.

Dr. Tabone was not the first President of Malta who received me at the Palace. That was Miss Agatha Barbara. The last one was President Mr. George Vella in 1923. To make the list complete I was also received by Dr. Guido de Marco and dr. Eddie Fenech Adami. I am proud of this.

(originally posted on Facebook, 2nd May 2023)

In those days Father Charles Vella was making a popular tv-program called Djalogu. He invited me to join his crew and collected me very early in the morning from St. Paul’s Bay on the way to the ferry. I was surprised to see that the ferryboat originally had been in use in the province of Zeeland in my own country. There were still the original signs Dames and Heren to indicate the toilets.

While the tv-people were doing their job I was able to have a look around. I was impressed by the huge rotunda, but much more so by what was left of the beautiful previous church, which was pulled down during the building of its successor. I wondered if a village like this with some 2000 inhabitants really needed such a big church. Would it ever be completely filled with people? When I tried to discuss this with Dun Charles he immediately put me in front of a camera and asked me for my opinion. This was going to be my very first appearance on Maltese television.

After my opinion was transmitted I was told that my rather frank comment was not quite well received in Gozo, where feelings of proudness about the new Church prevailed over anything else.

I learned that Dutch frankness was not always appreciated in Malta. I had to polish my style and conversation, i.e. put on my Malta Cap.

If I were to understand Maltese society I’d better not start judging it by my own standards, but let people explain why they were acting as such. But some times I just had to ventilate my genuine feelings and I have been happy with a few good friends who did not blame me for calling a spade a spade.

(originally posted on Facebook, 24th April)

In the meantime we tried to get ourselves accustomed to living in Tal-Furi in particular and to Malta in general. Whenever there was time for a drive we would explore another part of the island. The children loved it when we would eat out. Especially The Wimpy (Valletta, Gzira or Sliema) was a favourite. I remember the strawberry milkshakes and the Knickerbocker Glory. We would like to shop in Sliema and even saw a Disney movie at the cinema there.

In restaurants we noticed that most people were very tolerant towards children, much more than we were used to. Almost everywhere there was a high chair available when we needed it. The atmosphere was relaxed and we felt most welcome. Soon we would add Kinnie to the drinks we liked.

We loved to go to the nearby Golden Bay Hotel where the pool and restaurant were open to non-residents.

In those days the British past was still very much present in eating and drinking habits. You could get a good cup of tea (with a lot of milk) almost everywhere, wile it was difficult to get a decent cup of coffee, with the exception of the Caffe Cordina in Valletta. On the menus you would often find curry and rice, often alongside with pasta dishes. In those days we were not too enthusiastic about the Maltese wines. They improved a lot, however, over the years.

The main celebrant was a very small and very old man. The next day I read in the newspaper this was Archbishop Michael Gonzi himself, a man who was going to be very important indeed in my studies. A large crowd followed the clergy, mainly women (quite a few barefooted) and old men (later some friends in Marsascala learned me rather naughthy Italian rhyme about old men returning to Church). Some prayed the rosary, others were happily chatting with each other. The procession, which stopped at each church they came across, was accompanied by the police.

(originally posted on Facebook, 18th April 2023)

Originally posted on Facebook, 13th April

I was supposed to study Church-State relations in Malta, but had hardly any knowledge about the Church I was going to study.

I was raised in a Protestant family in Rotterdam. My mother told me that, before she was married, she was employed as a pharmacist’s assistant. Her employer was a Catholic, ‘but a very good man’, she would always add. When I was twelve years old we spent our summer holidays in the province of Limburg, in those days a Catholic stronghold. I still remember someone telling to me: ‘If you were born here and not in Rotterdam, you would have been a Catholic just like us’ and that sentence influenced me for life. I’ve always found the connection between believers much more relevant than their differences. However, I had a lot to learn about the Catholic Church in general and about the Maltese Catholic Church in particular. Dun Charles gave me a booklet we the order of Mass in English, which helped me to follow mass in Maltese. I learned my first Maltese words in mass.

Father Joe became a lifelong friend. I was present at his installation as Archpriest of Siggiewi and later as Archpriest of Mosta too (in which he came from the altar and embraced me). Finally he became a Monsignor. In spite of his dementia he always recognized me when I visited him at Dar tal-Kleru, where he spent the last years of his life. I tried to find his grave near the old parish church of Zejtun, in vain unfortunately.

I must admit that, as a non-Catholic I have always felt very welcome in the Maltese Roman Catholic Church.

On 8^th April we got a visit from Marion and Edgar Causon. I had phoned them up after our arrival as we had mutual Dutch friends. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Both were very much interested in my research. From then on I was always welcome at their home in Paola. We laughed a lot together. I always felt at home there.

Some day I started talking about some remarkable experience as soon as I entered their door (In many Maltese homes the door is always open). When I arrived in the kitchen I realized, however, I had entered the wrong home. The neighbours were much surprised. Later we laughed our heads off.

As a researcher often you cannot show the back of your tongue. With the Causons I could relax and should not always be on guard. I am still grateful to them.

Edgar was Manager of the Lybian Trade Co in those days and I quite often visited him in his office in Floriana, where I was always treated to a cup of tea by his cheerful secretary Doris. Edgar soon introduced me to his cousin Emmanuel Attard Bezzina, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Marion and her sisters Josephine, Connie and Polly were very keen Catholics and liked to discuss the many priests and feasts on the islands. For me very valuable information.

Later Edgar would read later read several of my research reports and I thoroughly appreciated his comments. I was rather sceptical about his countrymen. I remember him saying: ‘Independent intellectuals over here are either shouted down or ignored’.

During my first visit after Edgar’s death Marion took me to his grave at the Addolorata Cemetary.

Marion Causon, nee Frendo (1935-2020) made us feel most welcome in her Paola homes in Sannat Street, later Palm Street and in recent years in the apartment which she shared with her dear twin sister Josephine.

As far as I remember I always made it a point to visit her during the first evening of my stay. She had a great sense of humour and a catchy laugh. I always enjoyed thoroughly myself with dear Marion and her family.

During my visit to Malta in December 1919 I went to see her in Mater Dei and Karen Grech hospitals.

It was difficult to say goodbye as I had a hunch it might be our last goodbye.

Josephine / Guiseppina Frendo (1935-2026) survived her twin sister. She was a teacher and, when I dirst met her, a headmistress. We often met at the Causon residence in Paola. Her ‘hobby’ was the church and she knew ‘everything’ about religious ceremonies and also quite a few members of the clergy.

She had a great sense of humour and Marion, her other sister Connie and Josephine laughed a lot.

When, after Edgar’s death, Marion moved in with her at Paola square, it was always a treat for me to visit the two of them during my stays in Malta. After the death of dear Marion I still liked to spend some time at Josephine’s.

My last visit to her was on 27th April 2026 and she was very much alive and kicking. She told me she had not yet acquired a small fridge magnet image of the new pope, but she wanted to get one as soon as possible

I will remember her as a kind-hearted women. She’ll be an asset to heaven. Bye dear Josephine.

(originally posted on Facebook, 3rd March 2020, 11th April 2023 and 3rd June 2026)

(originally posted on Facebook, 9th April 2023)

Figolla is a Maltese pastry stuffed with a marzipan-like filling and served as an Easter sweet.[1][2][3] These are often shaped like hearts, crosses, stars, fish, bunnies, any symbol which links to Christianity, particularly Catholicism, but in modern times these can be shaped into anything the person you give one to is passionate about.

The biscuit base is predominantly made of plain flour, butter/margarine, caster sugar, vanilla essence, eggs, lemon rind and water.

The marzipan-like filling is made of ground almonds, caster sugar, egg whites, and almond essence. Some may also add orange rind or more lemon.

Figolli are generally topped with sugar icing or melted chocolate with hundreds-and-thousands on top.

In Malta, these are baked during Holy Week in the Catholic denomination of Christianity, and given to children/close family or friends to be eaten on Easter Sunday. Some Maltese villages have a tradition where the Figolli are blessed by a priest in the Pjazza outside the church along with modern chocolate Easter Eggs.

Figolli (plural of figolla) are thought to have Ancient Sicilian roots as the word comes from the Sicilian word ‘figulina’ meaning figure. These were also baked for religious purposes and also for victory against invaders such as the Turks who were also made to be figures also in remembrance of those events. These figulina baked in Ancient Sicily, are not as popular in Sicily in modern times, but have stayed and evolved in Malta.

(originally posted on Facebook, 8th April 2023)

I have visited Good Friday Processions all over Malta. Zejtun, Zebbug, Cospicua, Vittiriosa, Senglea, Valletta, Rabat. The most pompous one was Qormi. The one I liked most was Luqa.

(originally posted on Facebook, 7th April 2023)

Photo: Altar of Repose, Cospicua

I intend to write about my own experiences on Maundy Thursday later, in another post

(originally posted on Facebook, 6th April 2023)

(originally posted on Facebook, 4 and 5 th April 2023)

In 1973 Malta was an independent country with the British Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. She was represented locally by a Maltese Governor-General.

Father Charles’ advice

I started my research a few days later at Dun Charles’ office as Director of the Cana Movement on the fourth floor of the Catholic Institute in Floriana. I have been so many times to that place. Fr. Vella was always very busy and in the meantime he started bossing me around and to my surprise I enjoyed it. I also met Father Louis Camilleri, the Deputy Director, always in a good mood. Het lived ‘far away’ in Hal-Dingli, a place where I was going to enjoy the festa in due time.

From the beginning Father Charles was very much interested in my studies. He lectured me for two hours on Malta, the Church, the State, the Cana Movement and everything ‘I needed to know’.

During one of our first meetings he gave me a numbered list of 26 persons I should interview. I still have this list, written in green ink. I could mention Father Charles’ name to most of them. In his opinion I should explore the backgrounds of Church-State relations, such as the Demech case and the Strickland affair. Therefore I should interview political oldtimers. His advice: ‘don’t go waste your time with youngsters who have their information from others. Go for first-hand facts’.

NOTE : Those wo know Father Charles will notice that thephoto above was certainly not taken in 1973, but many years later after het was made a Monsignor.

In the meantime we started exploring the island by car and by foot. I bought a road map and we drove to the utmost north from where we could see Gozo and Comino. On the way back we had a great meal at The Hilltop in Mellieha, a restaurant we would often frequent after we settled down in St. Paul’s Bay.

In the utmost south we enjoyed the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk. We had to go the national phone office in St. Julians in order to tell our parents about our travelling to and arrive in Malta.

We were often amazed by our first impressions of Mdina and Rabat, Dingli Cliffs, the three Cities and places like Zabbar, Siggiewi, Zebbug and Qormi. During this and later stays we would love to have a drive over the island and stop somewhere for a walk. All of us really enjoyed Malta. Margreet and the children like several well kept playgrounds all over the island.

I loved to take the family (my wife Margreet and our children Jetty 2,5 and Corneel 1+) with me as much as I could. We stayed about a week in Sliema, where we enjoyed the sunny weather, not too hot (we came from the cold). Although we enjoyed our daily walks with the children near the sea we were not so fond of climbing all these stairs to our flat, so we decided to look for a more suitable accommodation. I still remember us checking a dark place in Rabat owned by a man, who said he was a nephew of the Archbishop. Margreet always had the last say, which was no in this case.

I cannot remember how we met Mr. John Mallia who became our landlord at Tal-Fjuri in St. Paul’s Bay. We stayed at the ground floor of his summer residence, his family living on top of us. It was a nice place with hardly any traffic, so the children could safely play around the house. We had a beautiful view on the village, Xemxija on the other side and the sea.

For me an extra asset was Mr. Mallia’s son Louis, a keen observer of the local political scene, who gave me precious information during the first years of my research. Unfortunately for me he emigrated later to Australia, of all places.

On Saturday 7^th April 1973 I bought my first copy of The Times of Malta in a small shop on Tower Road, Sliema I wonder if it is still there. We had to make ourselves familiar with the recently introduced Malta pound or lira (Lm), which was divided into 100 cents, each of 10 mils. We found these mil coins quite peculiar. I was amazed to hear Maltese mothers shouting to their children in English.

In the afternoon we drove to Valletta. We parked the car in Floriana, another town but quite close. We saw a beautiful fountain and an ugly City Gate. We were impressed by the main street, Kingsway, with its many shops. Among them Sapienza’s Bookshop, which I was going to visit many times in the forthcoming years.

We had a glimpse at the impressing St. John’s Co-cathedral, where we saw two thrones near the altar and enjoyed ourselves in the Upper Baracca Gardens. Overwhelmed with impressions we drove back to Sliema and ate dendici (another first time) at the Meadowbank Hotel, quite near to ‘our’ apartment.  

(originally posted on Facebook, 3rd April 2023)

I became interested in Malta in the late sixties of the previous century. After I managed to get a small research grant we (my wife, our two children and me) drove in early April 1973 overland in five days via Belgium, France and Italy to Siracusa, where we took the ferry to Malta.

It was already dark on Friday 6^th April, the ferry-boat from Sicily has been at sea for hours. Then, suddenly. lights were seen. Within half an hour the boat was tied to the quay at Malta’s Grand Harbour; it was 10 o’clock p.m. A few immigration officers embarked. Since I had filled in a disembarkation card, I expected to be off the boat soon. But the officers wanted to ask everybody personally what their business was going to be in Malta and how long they intended to stay. That took a long time, especially because our family passports were not kept together. After I was handed back our stamped passports I drove the car off the boat.

Dun Charles Vella (ta’ Cana), who I met in Amsterdam a few months before, was waiting at the quay for us. He wriggled himself into our fully packed Volvo Amazone, told me to drive on the left and coached me towards his flat in Amery Street, Sliema. There he had made an apartment available for us on top of his own. There was coffee, tea, lemonade, bread, butter, sugar, cheese and other necessary things for all of us.

After we had unpacked the car and put the children to bed he poured me a glass of whiskey, the first I ever drank. It was a great welcome to Malta.

(originally posted on Facebook, 2nd April 2023)