Malta's population

I refer to an article (January 15) which highlights the fact that the Maltese population has now hit the 400,000 mark. This is the highest in the Mediterranean which, in my opinion, gives rise to concern, considering that Malta has no natural resources.

One major challenge among others in the post-war years was the rising unemployment. This made the government, then led by the late Paul Boffa, set up, quite rightly, a Department of Emigration led by the indefatigable Minister John Cole. In the following years many thousands -around 60,000 or so - left Malta and Gozo under the assisted passages scheme, for Australia, Canada, the US and the UK, where they did well.

At that time, Dr Boffa was criticised - that he was exiling Maltese! This policy was continued by George Borg Olivier's sensible administration.

Dr Boffa, who was an enlightened statesman, was and is still held in high esteem by the very elderly who remember his public spirit and fine qualities.

What would have been the situation now had those thousands of Maltese not emigrated? They also did Malta and Gozo proud. Further comments are superfluous.