Mintoff’s Baħrija hideout should be scheduled, objectors insist

North Korea's ‘Dear Leader’ spent a year at Mintoff's hideout

 

Objections have been filed with the Planning Authority against proposed structural changes to a large, abandoned villa in Baħrija surrounded by unobstructed open sea and country views on a promontory.

However, unlike similar representations, objectors are insisting that the rundown villa, named Ix-Xabbattur, should be left untouched due to its “historical national and international value”.

Research by The Shift shows that the villa, built by Dom Mintoff for his personal use when he was prime minister in the 1970s, hosted, at least for a year, Kim Jong-Il, who later became the despotic supreme leader of North Korea, better known as ‘Dear Leader’.

Jong-Il, the son of North Korea’s ‘Great Leader’ Kim il-Sung, had come to Malta in his youth for a whole year to learn English. While Kim’s time in Malta was top secret, it is known that he was put up by Dom Mintoff at the Baħrija villa, which was watched day and night by members of the North Korean secret service.

It has also been established from various historical sources, reported even in The Guardian, that through his friendship with Kim il-Sung, Mintoff had also acted as a mentor to the North Korean leader, who took power in 1994 and remained in power until his own death in 2011.

The current North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Un is the son of Jong-Il.

In exchange for his hospitality, which included one-on-one tuition with Prof Daniel Massa from the University of Malta, Mintoff established a cosy relationship with the North Korean dictator, who had even signed a secret agreement with Malta to provide Mintoff’s government with arms and military training.

Dom Mintoff’s Baħrija hideout perched on the cliffs

Little is known about Ix-Xabbatur or how the vast land surrounding it was acquired by the late Labour leader.

While no documents exist to show the villa’s construction was covered by any development permit, the area where Mintoff built the getaway was classified as a green area, or Outside Development Zone on today’s terms.

According to the Mintoff biography penned by Dominican friar Mark Montebello, Ix-Xabbatur in Bħhrija, together with l-Għarix in Delimara, were hide-outs Mintoff used for his “escapades” when he was at the height of power.

It is documented that the former socialist leader had a substantial amount of property worth millions in today’s market prices.

The current application for structural changes to the villa was filed by Carmel Gatt, who claims to be the site’s owner. It is unclear how he acquired the large ODZ site or from whom.

According to one objector to the plans, the villa should be scheduled for its historic value and be turned into a museum “on the life of despotic dictators and Malta’s friendly relations with Pyongyang”.

                           

Sign up to our newsletter

Stay in the know

Get special updates directly in your inbox
Don't worry we do not spam
                           
                               
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
makjavel
makjavel
1 year ago

I am sure a willing notary can find for us mortals how Mintoff got his hands on this land and how it got in the hands of the present owner and any intermediate dark world transactions.
Dictators were always Mintoff’s best friends.
By the fruits we recognise the tree.
Army soldiers hunting coloured immigrants , killing one and nothing happens; they are still free.
A Police patrol hunts illegal immigrants at night and tortures them .
A Traffic Control Uniformed sadist beats up a Maltese person semi conscious on a public road , Nothing happens until 2 WEEKS later the Video appears on the media.
These two have not been dragged to court next day the attack happened, if a report was allowed to be made, being close friends of Ian Borg , the minister.
Sexual harassment at the Malta National Orchestra by one of the latest employed friend of the minister , covered up by the Orchestra Director who threatened the victim and the apparently also the witnesses. Things only happened when the story went live on the media.
Daphne was murdered.
Raymond Caruana was murdered
Karen Grech was murdered
Cauchi , Lorry Sants accountant was murdered and hacked into pieces and thrown in a well.

Viva il Labour.

Lenny
Lenny
1 year ago
Reply to  makjavel

You missed the priest who was also dragged to court urgently on a Sunday for watching unblessed open legs paid by donations. Jimmy Magri, John Dalli, Kieth Schembri and the corrupt Conrat Mizzi still under investigation.

Francis Said
Francis Said
1 year ago

The residence should be torm down and the area returned to it’s natural habitat.
There is no historical value to this property. It was used by Mintoff for his escapades and hosted a dictator whose son is a criminal of the first degree.

Wilfrid Buttigieg
Wilfrid Buttigieg
1 year ago
Reply to  Francis Said

HORRENDOUS!
IT SHOULD BE TORN DOWN!!!

Charles
Charles
1 year ago
Reply to  Francis Said

It should be blown up!

Related Stories

Opinion: A different gap
The latest survey shows Labour’s dominance has ended. The
Change of planning rules in the pipeline to accommodate Villa Rosa developer
The government has ordered the Planning Authority (PA) to

Our Awards and Media Partners

Award logo Award logo Award logo