And what about those gifts which Mintoff’s daughters flogged to the highest bidder?
The most pertinent comment I received here over the last few days was from somebody who remarked on the utilitarian cynicism of a political party which manufactured an outcry about a hobby-made Maltese clock, given to a politician who wasn’t even a cabinet minister at the time, but then regarded with complacency the sale by auction of van-loads of gifts given to somebody who was a (Labour) prime minister when he received them and took them home.
I italicise the last three words intentionally, for this is the factor which differentiates objects of formal and official tribute given to a head of state or head of government from gifts, possibly corrupt, given to the individual in his political role for reasons which may be untoward.
Gifts given in official, formal tribute to the prime minister remain the property of the state and should be displayed – if they are worth displaying or if it is appropriate to display them (if they are not, for example, from Kim Il Sung) at the Auberge de Castille, the prime minister’s country residence at Girgenti or at Villa Francia in Lija, which was left to the nation for use by the prime minister.
Prime ministers come and go but the gifts they receive in their official position stay in the official buildings.
The fact that Dom Mintoff took his gifts home and retained them there as his personal possessions, to be auctioned by his daughters after his death, means one of two things:
1. that those gifts were indeed given to him personally in his political role as prime minister, and given that there were crates full of them, this underscores the extent of the Labour Party’s hypocrisy in making a fuss about one hobby-made clock;
2. that Mintoff wrongly appropriated gifts given to him in formal tribute by heads of government and that his daughters have now profited from this misappropriation, selling objects for personal gain which should more properly be archived or displayed in the Auberge de Castille.
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This piece actually makes the Arlogg tal-Lira look ridiculous and over-inflated. Times of Malta and Malta-cum-Star-Today helped in creating a storm in a cup over that blessed “Arlogg”. One would now expect them to objectively criticise this Mintoffian sale and how the Mintoff daughters sold off “gifts” that were given to the prime minister.
The Auditor General should investigate whether gifts given to the former prime minister Dom Mintoff, in his official capacity, were sold during the auction.
Aren’t politicians, acting in their public capacity, required to report all official gifts received from heads of state or politicians of other courtries?
This auction’s profits from public gifts should be donated to the Community Chest Fund to alleviate the troubles of the poor, a cause both our dear future President and Ms Yana are so keen about.
Come on, Yana, be an exemplary model. Donate.
http://www.ghaqdaduminkumintoff.com/
On the top left hand corner there is “L-innu Ghaqda Duminku Mintoff”.
“Malta tieghek u Malta taghna”
Oh come on….is-Salvatur was an honest man who would never accept bribes.
Is-Salvatur didn’t need bribes. What he wanted, he just stole, with the full authority of the law, the House and the Attorney-General.
If anyone is thinking of suing for libel, they should read this: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140109/local/national-bank.502022
HPB, his friends would have wanted their fair share too.
Well, if Labour say they just removed time bar over political corruption they should now consider the official gifts sold as having been misappropriated. But as we all know this is Labour and Labour is nothing but hype, and that the monies made last week will remain with Mintoff’s family.