In Castille Square, a memorial in honour of former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was inaugurated. In a ceremony held, Prime Minister Robert Abela noted how Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was a lawyer and politician who always embraced the values of social justice, integrity and humility. He said that Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici gave us the best thing, his time. He explained how his availability for people was something that fascinates you. He also mentioned how strong a voice he was for workers.
The memorial commemorating this figure in Maltese political history was created in Italy in collaboration between Heritage Malta and the Ministry for Culture, Arts and Local Government, under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister. Designed by Maltese artist Manuel Farrugia, the memorial consists of a pedestal made of Malta’s limestone and a bronze statue. This realistic and contemporary monument depicts Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici for the person he truly was, a person who was dedicated to his work, close to the people and always ready to listen to what others had to say. The memorial not only serves as a memorial to former Prime Minister Mifsud Bonnici but is also a point of reference for another important figure in Maltese political history.
In a ceremony that commemorated this character and the history of our country, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that the legacy left by Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici is still alive and well to this day. “As a politician, he was forward-thinking. He was formidable in his thinking and so determined to achieve that, at a time of ongoing political developments, he insisted on and succeeded in introducing the principle of neutrality together with another change that we are still experiencing today, that the will of the majority of the people be supreme, a legal amendment with which he strengthened democracy and brought stability”, stressed the Prime Minister.
Dr Abela said that for Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Malta was not a small island but part of a larger reality, that of the Mediterranean. For him, there was one world of different peoples who should be free and freely choose who should lead them with political and social systems of their own choosing.
“When he came to introduce the principle of neutrality, he also stressed that in issues that arise between countries we should seek specific means. This is still relevant to this day”, said the Prime Minister, stressing this legacy left by former Maltese Prime Minister Mifsud Bonnici.
Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Owen Bonnici pointed out that there was no Karmenu of politics, Karmenu of advocacy and Karmenu as a private person, but there was only one, authentic Karmenu, the man who gave his heart to the worker and to our country. Minister Bonnici described Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici as a gentleman, a man of principle and who never compromised with what was right and fair. He said that Mifsud Bonnici was never interested in money, so much so that as a lawyer, Karmenu was very kind to his clients, while to needy students, whom he taught at the University, he would even share with them the income he had from the University. He also said that this monument is the least the Maltese State can do in honour of a gentleman who gave everything for the Malta he loved so much.
The Chairman of Heritage Malta Mario Cutajar said that the kindness, humanity and humility of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici are known and recognised. Not so much his political, legal and intellectual legacy. What this character left behind is still alive to this day in the stable democracy we live in and in the peace we enjoy despite what is happening around us. The national monuments that also fall under the responsibility of Heritage Malta should serve, just as this agency wants its museums and sites to serve, as a reminder of the experiences of these people so that we can better understand ourselves and look forward with greater confidence.
Photo: OPM
