A monument dedicated to Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici will be erected in Castille Square, not far from a monument dedicated to another former prime minister - George Borg Olivier.

Artists interested in designing a bronze statue in memory of Mifsud Bonnici can submit their proposal to Heritage Malta and the Culture Ministry.

Born and raised in Cospicua, Mifsud Bonnici died last November, aged 89. A lawyer by profession, he served as prime minister between December 1984 and May 1987, having been chosen by Dom Mintoff as his successor.

Known to friends and foes simply as Karmenu or KMB, Mifsud Bonnici had a chequered public career. 

It saw him fighting Mintoff in his dispute with the Church in the 1960s, only to become the point of Mintoff’s spear in a new Church-State dispute in the 1980s before finally taking over from Mintoff himself in 1984.

On Monday, Heritage Malta and the Culture Ministry launched a call for designs for a figurative bronze sculpture in honour of Mifsud Bonnici with a budget of €150,000 for design and construction. Each artist can submit up to two designs. 

The deadline for submissions is mid-September, with shortlisted candidates announced towards the end of the month. A jury will evaluate the submitted projects.

Heritage Malta's CEO Noel Zammit said it was a privilege to announce the creation of another monument that will be preserved by the heritage agency. 

"A monument's highest value is to be able to, across centuries, evoke a nation's collective identity and be a link between the past and present," he said.

Monuments in memory of former prime ministers Dom Mintoff and Paul Boffa can also be found in Castille Square.

Addressing the launch of the call for proposals on Monday, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici recalled how the country mourned Mifsud Bonnici when news broke of his demise last year.

"I remember how in parliament, both sides of the house paid tribute to his values,  hard work, and qualities," he said. "I hope this monument reflects his qualities, achievements for our country and his hard work."

Last week, a separate monument in honour of Mintoff was unveiled in a garden in Paola.