Edward Mallia, who came back to Malta in the darkest of the dark years, 1983.

That’s it.

In short, yes. There were the nutters but many of those who left in that latter wave were anti-Mintoff. For obvious reasons I don’t want to mention names, but trust me there were many who are now here working in various sectors who seem to have congregated around the Sliema, Swieqi, St Andrews, St Julian’s areas.

Baxxter, surely you can’t tell me you don’t know at least one.

Oh really? Because most of the returned migrants seem to be Mintoffian pseudo-intellectual c*nts. Think Yana Mintoff and ‘Bertu’ Marshall.

One should make a distinction between pre and post-war emigration (particularly the 1950s) as distinct from the comparatively smaller waves of those who left in the 70s and early 80s prompted mostly by the fact that they had had enough of Malta’s political situation and saw no future for their children, nor any chance to apply their skills or further their careers other than being sent by Mintoff to Libya to live and work in a virtual open prison.

Osservatore, I know you know all of the above but I felt I had to clarify for those who may read this.

After all, Malta benefitted greatly from the waves of reverse immigration of the returning emigrants from places such as Canada, the US and Australia, but not exclusively. In the pre-1987 days the Maltese left to every corner of the earth to make their careers and build a future for their children away from the oppression.

Emboldened to return by the 1987 democracy-winning election result, they brought back skills, knowledge and expertise that helped re-build Malta and make it what it is today.

Does nothing ever happen in Australia?

What a let down.