Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici announced that Heritage Malta, under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister, is launching a call for proposals for the design of a monument in honour of Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, who served as Prime Minister of Malta from 1984 until 1987. The monument will be located in Castille Square, Valletta.
During a press conference announcing the call for proposals, Minister Bonnici lauded Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s values and attributes, particularly his honesty and great humility, his strong sense of altruism, and his steadfast loyalty to the principles he believed in and worked for. He said that through this gesture,the Government is giving due recognition to the contribution Dr Mifsud Bonnici – a well-loved and esteemed gentleman – gave to his country.
Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, Noel Zammit, said that Heritage Malta is privileged to announce the creation of another monument which will find its rightful place under its wing, to be preserved for generations to come. “We hope that the people at large will appreciate the artistic talents of the creator of the eventual monument. Indeed, a monument’s highest value is to be able, across the centuries, to evoke a nation’s collective identity and be a link between the past and the present,” Mr Zammit stated.
Through this call, interested artists are being invited to submit designs for a figurative bronze sculpture in honour of Dr Mifsud Bonnici. The style of the monument will be the prerogative of the artist. The scope of the works includes the pedestal and ancillary works, comprising lighting. The indicative budget for the design and construction of the monument is around €150,000.
A jury will evaluate the submitted projects and will also review the tentative breakdown of costs submitted with each entry. All relevant information may be downloaded from https://heritagemalta.mt/public-calls/.
Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was born in Cospicua on the 17th of July 1933. He was a lawyer by profession and also lectured in industrial and fiscal law at the University of Malta.
On 2nd May 1982, Dr Mifsud Bonnici was co-opted to Parliament and appointed Minister of Labour and Social Services. The following year, he was appointed Senior Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22nd December 1984.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici passed away on 5th November 2022.
