Soldiers of steel

Laburisti tal-Azzar

Vol. 1

Ed. Claire Xuereb Grech

SKS Publishers (2026)

This is not a dispassionate objective analysis of the Malta Labour Party over the years. It is a passionate account of the lives of a number of people who came together over the years to become the party of the workers in very difficult circumstances from the beginning, in the 1920s, through the turbulent 1930s, the wartime 1940s, the first period of government in the 1950s, the conflict with the Church in the 1960s and the years in opposition before getting to govern in the 1970s.

The book consists of short pen portraits of 75 Labour activists over the years. Putting them in alphabetical order might have seemed more sensible but it requires the reader to do a fair amount of mental gymnastics.

Having said that, the book is readable and informative and includes some details which had never been made public before.

The first to be mentioned is Joan Barbara, the sister of former president Agatha Barbara, who I remember selling tickets at the Playhouse Theatre near the Malta Shipbuilding. There I had watched Blonde in Love, the classic 1955 film by Miloš Forman.

Some pages later, we learn of the case of Salvu Buttigieg, a teacher, who allegedly was not giving children religious instruction. After repeated claims on Il-Berqa, one day Buttigieg confronted the editor, Anthony Montanaro, who, under pressure, told him the letters in question were written by two other teachers led by a priest, Dun Mosè Debono, who died only recently.

I knew relatively well the two journalists mentioned in the book − Anton Cassar and Lino Cassar. I still miss the latter with his boisterous character and his film lore.

Quite a number of Labour activists who suffered for their political opinion came from Gozo where the Church had a huge say.

The worst case, in my opinion, was that of a man from the hilltop village of Żebbuġ, Ċikku Cefai, known as ‘Ċikku ta’ Xarrab’, an up-and-coming building contractor who allowed a Labour meeting in his garage.

As we approach this year’s election, this book can help the party measure its present with the past

Instigated by three priests, a crowd tried to disrupt the meeting and the speakers had to escape through a country lane to Marsalforn.

The bishop of Gozo went to the village and interdicted Ċikku and told the congregation not to give him work. Ċikku’s wife wrestled a firearm from her husband and threw the weapon into a well. The police arrested 33 people and charged them. Eight women and three men were given prison sentences.

Labour had its saints too. The book points at two in particular − Edith Debono Grech, wife of firebrand Joe, and Maggie Moran, wife of Ċensu. Both were famed for helping people. Immediately after the PN victory in 1987, the Debono Grech house was broken into and devastated.

On the men’s side, Matty Grima, much loved by Dom Mintoff, who indiscriminately helped all who asked for help, was undoubtedly a saint. The article about Grima by Fr Mark Montebello is perhaps the best one in the book.

Dwardu Ellul disagreed with Mintoff’s reconciliation with the Church.

He joked:

“Mangiapreti jien m’inix

għax minn grieżmi ma jgħaddux

u jekk nibla xi kanonku,

żgur jibqagħli fuq l-istonku.”

Two other strong characters within the party with a strong focus on culture were deputy prime Minister Ġużè Ellul Mercer, who changed schools from a half-day system to a full-day one, introduced free milk and free textbooks and improved sickness benefits, but who, for his troubles ,was buried in the unconsecrated part of the cemetery and poet Karmenu Vassallo.

The book also mentions two of the first pioneers of the tourism industry in Malta − Mosè Fenech, who built the Golden Sands Hotel in Għajn Tuffieħa, and Anġlu Vella.

The latter owned a small bar in Birkirkara, the OK Bar, which became a gathering place for Labour supporters, to the anger of Provost Emmanuel Vella. But, then, his children started to fail in every exam they sat for and no priest would baptise his children.

When the PN won a second election in 1966, he moved to Buġibba. There he learned that land was cheap and that priests and monsignors were buying land as fast as they could. He also acquired land, which is now the site of the Qawra Palace Hotel.

There are some sad stories too, the worst being that of Lewis Wettinger from Mellieħa, a young activist who moved away from the Catholic organisation Young Christian Workers and became more active within the Labour Party.

At that time he was employed with the government but when the PN won the 1962 election and he needed medical care, he was sent to the government farm at Għammieri and ordered to pick up cattle waste.

Two of his brothers were among the 300 boys and girls from poor families who were sent to Australia. Many of them were later found to have been abused.

His brother was famous historian Godfrey.

When Toni Patiniott was condemned to death, Lewis was among those who pleaded against the death sentence.

However, on January 6, 1972, after an evening with friends, he was found dead in his bedroom. Due to his condition, he had a small bell to call his brother but it seems he was unable to reach it.

The title Soldiers of Steel comes from a Nestu Laiviera editorial on party paper Il-Ħelsien after the 1962 ‘mortal sin’ election.

As we approach this year’s election, this book can help the party measure its present with the past.