Together

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.)

At the 50th anniversary celebrations of Malta as a Republic, I delivered a speech to a large and enthusiastic audience in St George's Square, Valletta.

I recalled how 50 years ago, albeit in different weather conditions - it rained, perhaps as a sign of blessings and good luck, on that fateful night a relatively unknown gentleman made a sombre appearance on the Grand Masters Palace balcony to a huge crowd that braved the weather conditions to welcome him, Sir Anthony Mamo, as their first President.

And then, I explained, briefly, of course, how in 50 years Malta changed profoundly, but the resilience, courage, and determination of its people did not.

50 years ago, Malta had the British Monarch as its head of state, and the Maltese owed their allegiance to the Crown.

Until a man, in his prime, a fierce advocate for Malta's freedom, a skilled negotiator and a patriot Dom Mintoff, Malta's Labour Prime Minister, decided that Malta had had enough of serving foreign powers and that it was time for Malta and its people to decide their future.

The people of Malta, despite having grown accustomed to long decades of British rule, and despite thousands of Maltese depending on the British Monarchy for their livelihood, believed in 'il-Perit', as Mintoff was affectionately known, and his crusade for change. They followed him through thick and thin. He led them bravely.

When Sir Anthony Mamo, flanked by a beaming Dom, saluted the crowd at St George's Square, it was the start of a new chapter for Malta and its people.

Everyone knew that it was not going to be a walk in the park. Changes were needed, and most of them were tough. Some seemed insurmountable. Many predicted that Malta would fail. They were proved wrong. The Maltese, since the earliest of times, have always been resilient, and it was resilience that enabled them to chart a way forward for them and their country.

And then, Freedom Day followed when the last British soldier packed his bags, boarded his ship, and left Malta for good. Many years later, Malta earned its place around the decision table, which is the European Union. And since then, huge achievements have been made.

Today, we have the fastest growing economy in the entire European Union, and our employment rate is one of the highest in the EU.

We have, as a nation, withstood the test of time. Our forefathers stood up to be counted when the going got tough.

There was a time when tearful mothers waved their children goodbye as they embarked on vessels that took them to the other side of the world in their quest for a new life. Many never saw their children again.

Today, that time is no more. From a situation where the Maltese had to work for others to one where today our economy requires the input from foreigners due to it growing at an impressively fast pace.

We look back at our achievements with pride. We look forward to new opportunities with resilience, determination, and optimism, knowing that no challenge is impossible to overcome and that together we can reach new heights.

Together, as one nation, for that is what has always made this country special, unique, and successful. We have, of course, our differences, and we argue, often passionately, about them. But faced with challenges, we have always come together. We did, always, and we will forever.

We need only recall what happened barely four years ago when a fierce pandemic ravaged the world, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions of jobs lost.

Many feared that tiny Malta would succumb to its ferocity, but it was not to be. The Labour government, ably led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, stepped in and made good for peoples' jobs and livelihoods. The people did their part too - they were resilient and determined to keep their heads, and their country's, above water. And they did successfully and extraordinarily well. Malta and its economy bounced back - where others were gravely wounded.

And then, a war came along, in Europe, as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. The panic button was hit in Europe and across the world. Inflation went sky high. Beyond our shores, jobs, in their thousands, were lost.

And Malta, yet again, for the umpteenth time since it became a Republic 50 years ago, stood up and overcame what many thought were now insurmountable challenges. The Labour Government stepped in, again, this time making good for the hefty increase in the price of food items and subsidies and schemes were rolled out to cushion Maltese families from the impact of a fierce global inflation.

Here we are, with inflation now under control, tourism on a high - from a time when Malta was desperately in need of numbers, to a situation where we seek quality over numbers and a budget, its measures to be implemented in a few days' time that announced the biggest tax cut in history.

I count myself lucky to have the privilege, thanks to the people, of sitting around the Cabinet of Ministers table where decisions that have a direct impact on people's daily lives are taken.

I am aware of the challenges that Malta faces as global events unfold, but I know that safely leading the ship is a government with its heart in the right place.

This is why I am extremely optimistic about our country's prospects for the year ahead.

But it is the people's ability to overcome the toughest of challenges that come our way, their love for their country, their resilience and their unique ability of coming together at the most trying of times that convinces me that tomorrow shall be better than today.

I wish you, dear readers, the editor and staff of this newspaper, a healthy, peaceful, and successful 2025.