Żebbuġ street row: ‘Caruana didn’t deserve to be a bishop’

Żebbuġ residents are up in arms over their council’s plan to rename Bishop Francesco Saverio Caruana Street after the mayor labelled the historic clergyman “a French lackey”. More than 80 per cent of the street’s residents have signed a petition against changing its name in honour of Frans Sammut, a leading novelist who died two years ago. Sammut made a major contribution to Maltese literature and served for many years as secretary of the Maltese language academy. He was also a known Labour supporter who used to work in the private secretariat of former Prime Minister Alfred Sant. Mayor Alfred Grixti, supported by Labour councillors, believes Mr Sammut – who used to live in the road – deserves to have one of the best streets in his hometown dedicated to his memory. “Bishop Caruana was an opportunist and a French lackey who didn’t deserve to become bishop,” he said. The mayor’s position is being vehemently opposed by leading Żebbuġ figures including Archpriest Daniel Cardona, PN councillors, and former Nationalist MP and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Michael Bonnici. Bishop Caruana – born in Żebbuġ in 1759 – served between 1831 and 1847 during the turbulent times...