Arturo Colombo and the Introduction of Income Tax, ‘Malta Finance Minister Resigns to Become a Priest’, by Robert Attard

Description

This book tells two intertwined stories. The first is the life of a largely forgotten statesman whose vision helped shape Malta’s modern economy. The second is the history of income tax itself, a law that remains central to the country’s success. It follows Colombo’s rise, his bitter political struggle with his one-time protégé Dom Mintoff, his transformation into a Capuchin missionary, and his final return to public life. Above all, it restores a neglected architect of modern Malta to his rightful place in history.

Arturo Colombo was not a man easily liked, nor readily forgiven. Sir Arturo Mercieca feared his radicalism. Enrico Mizzi dismissed him as a political pygmy. Archbishop Gonzi viewed him with suspicion. Mintoff bristled at his irreverent humour. The British secret services described him as a “small cock-sparrow of a man” who spoke too confidently on every subject. Yet history repeatedly vindicated him. The causes for which Colombo was criticised were often the very causes that proved him right. He championed equality, economic reform, and modernisation long before they became widely accepted. His Income Tax Act, denounced in opposition, became a cornerstone of Malta’s fiscal system. He helped lay the foundations of modern Malta, promoting foreign investment, strengthening public finances, expanding social services, pensions and healthcare, and steering the island out of post war hardship.