Two different banks. Both banks eventually succumbed to the Mintoff greed.

Joseph Borg Today, 17:41

Mr Laiviera whether Ms Vella is a shareholder or not is not really relevant. What is relevant is whether what happened back in 1973 was legitimate or not.

By all accounts this was an illegal and immoral act. To accept that one must also accept that Mintoff was a robber no less. On Xarabank a few weeks ago when they were meant to discuss the film Dear Dom, jeremy Cassar Torregiani made an intervention and Toni Abela was very quick to chastise his nationalist counterparts for not having done anything to settle the claim. In so doing he is acknowleding that the shareholders have a claim and that therefore Mintoff committed an illegal act using his authority to steal what he wanted, otherwise they would haven no claim at all.

This case is about so much more than compensation to the shareholders. It is about the fact that our Republic was built on theft. That its foundations are corrupt to the core. In committing this crime, Mintoff did not steal from the rich to give to the poor. He created a new wealth order and impoverished some in the process. Like this he controlled the economy as these new wealthy owed their beginnings to the theft he committed. How easy it is to build a business like that. on the back of others. It is most likely that we will find some recipients of our National Merit of order amongst these. Some wishing now to leave a legacy of integrity. What irony. What hypocrisy.

It is only too easy to make the taxpayer the fall guy. For there to be true justice in this case, not only should compensation be paid to the shareholders but anyone who benefitted from this illegal and corrupt act should be made to make good for what happened. Presciption pleas should not be permitted in the name of the common good to somewhat give some level of dignity to the rule of law and order in this country which was so flagrantly disregarded by Mintoff and all those who went along with his scheme.

People have since died and the courses of destiny changed by this action so any form of compensation can only be a mere token to the real loss sustained. Mintoff himself should be held accountable. Regardless of whether his own personal coffers benefitted from this act (and a full investigation should be made to see whether they did), he went ultra vires his authority as prime minister by taking the bank using the tactics that he did. It is about time that public officers were made accountable for their actions and not simply shove the burden on the taxpayer

I believe that the case has been handed over from judge to judge over the years. It looks like nobody wants to take responsibility.

Barclays Bank had been in Malta for eons. Initially it was Barclays Bank Dominion, Colonial, Overseas.

When the subject of colonies and domination was treated as it should have been, it became Barclays Bank DCO. In the Sixties it became Barclays Bank International Ltd.

This was the bank that dear Mr. Mintoff tried to get his paws on, but Head Office’s board of directors told him to go jump in the nearest Mediterrenean – they just upped and left Malta and the bank became the banka tal-lottu farce more commonly known as Mid Med Bank Ltd.

Joseph Muscat has no plans to solve it fast. In fact, he plans to assemble “a ‘team of advisers’ to draw precise conclusions on the implications of the National Bank court case.”

Joseph Muscat must be hoping that once the court delivers its decision, it will take his “team of advisors” another 35 years to draw precise conclusions.

I even got a terminal benefit and because I was under 19 – an ex gratia payment to taparsi make up for the monthly cut down to minimum wage which in those days was sizeable, £65.

The National Bank case was not a quarter so civilized was it, as you should know as the Mr Vella who chaired the famous meeting was your grandfather. I agree with Milica Micovic that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. This case must be solved, and fast.

At least I asked and admitted my ignorance on the subject. Little appears to have been written about Barclays in Malta – all I remember was a beggar of sorts always sitting in front of the bank (in Valletta). I was a little lad then. Hence my question to you since you appear more up to date on the issue. Perhaps a post could help.

Barclays was another bank that was taken over to become Mid-med. Mintoff wanted to own and control all the banks in Malta.