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Members of the Armed Forces of Malta carrying Mr Mitnoff's coffin during the state funeral for the island's longest serving Parliamentarian and Prime Minsiter
Amid Emotional scenes in the main street of the capital Valletta during a state funeral at the end of two days of mourning, on Saturday morning, Malta's former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff , Malta's longest serving prime minister, who died on Monday, aged 96, was laid to rest at the island's main cemetery.
The coffin with Mr Dom Mintoff left the President's Palace in Valletta where it was lying in state since Friday evening, and draped in Malta's national flag was carried by members of the armed forces of Malta, to St John's Co-Cathedral about a kilometre away where the coffin was laid for mass and prayers with the participation of the island's top dignitaries.
Prayers and readings during mass according to Roman Catholic traditions, paid tribute to the former leader of the Maltese Labour Party, and Malta's Archbishop Paul Cremona, who celebrated mass said that two of the qualities that distinguished Dom Mintoff as a politician throughout his life was his dedication to lift people out of poverty and improve working conditions, and get the best possible deal for Malta in his negotiations with much bigger countries to improve the country's condition for the benefit of the people..
Afterwards, the President of Malta Dr George Abela, the Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi and the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labour Party, Dr Joseph Muscat, led the congregation that accompanied Mintoff's coffin to the War Memorial in Floriana, the funeral continued in a strictly private manner.
Quoting one of the Beatitudes: "blessed are those who are kind, for they will find kindness", he said that Mintoff had two virtues that distinguished him as a politician. The love for his fellow citizens and the love for his country.
Libya was also represented by its charge d'Affairs, while Mohamed al-Sadi the Imam of Malta's mosque was also present throughout the funeral and religious celebration.
Throughout the funeral procession the large crowds lining the streets to bid the last farewell, applauded the coffin and clearly overcome with emotions wholly participated with spontaneous shouts of “Mintoff, Mintoff” and sang the National anthem.
The funeral was transmitted live on all three main TV stations and the occasion so caught the imagination of the media, that most of them will feature extensive reportage, and carry special supplements about the occasion.
Among those lining the streets in Valletta were a number of Libyans residing in Malta. In comments to tripolipost.com they said they wanted to show their gratitude for Mr Mintoff who “always stood by Libya” and also gave them the chance to welcome them on the island during difficult times in their country.
Some of the Libyans who talked to tripolipost.com said they had left Libya to try and make a better life for themselves in Malta, which they regarded as their second home. Many of them have also married in Malta and built a family.
They said they regarded Mr Mintoff as a visionary and lauded his efforts to always bring the two peoples together even at a time when the Libyan leadership tried to create problems with Malta
Mr Mintoff, who at the age of 39 was the youngest ever Prime Minister when he was first elected to lead Malta in 1955, spent half a century as a parliamentarian, was four times Prime Minister, and was leader of the Maltese Labour Party for 35 years.
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| Name:
Joe Borg |
Date: 27/08/2012 10:05:59 |
Comment:
Mintoff was a scourge with the Maltese private schools but he sent his own daughters to Cheltenham Ladies’ College.His thugs burned down The Times of Malta building, a newspaper that not even the Luftwaffe was able to put out of business.His thugs beat up striking students at the university. His thugs attacked the Archbishop’s Curia and his thugs attacked the house of the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, and assaulted his wife,now these are things that remind my of Gaddafi |
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