It was a quiet 25th anniversary of Freedom Day yesterday, breaking with the tradition of the past two years when the official wreath-laying ceremony was marred by anti-war protests.
To mark the day in 1979 when the last British forces left their garrison in Malta, the national festivities committee also organised a tree-planting ceremony, the traditional Grand Harbour regatta and a concert by the Armed Forces of Malta band.
A planned military vehicles display had to be cancelled because of the inclement weather.
The wreath-laying ceremony at Vittoriosa started at about 9.30 a.m. when the AFM band and a guard of honour marched from Gavino Gulia Square, in Cospicua to Freedom Monument, in Vittoriosa.
President Guido de Marco, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and AFM commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo received a salute by the army as they arrived near the monument.
The President inspected the guard of honour before proceeding up the slope to the monument to lay flowers, accompanied by Dr Gonzi. It was the Prime Minister's first national day celebration since he was appointed a few days ago and President de Marco's last.
Dr Gonzi accompanied Prof. de Marco for a tree planting ceremony at San Anton Palace. Sources said that although invited, the opposition was not represented at the ceremony.
Freedom Day was also celebrated in Gozo where Minister Giovanna Debono placed flowers beneath a commemorative plaque at Independence Square, in Victoria.
Last year, anti-war protesters clashed with the police when they tried to rush towards the President and the Prime Minister at the end of the flower-laying ceremony in Vittoriosa.
The only controversy marking Freedom Day this year has been the opposition's complaints that the government was not giving enough weight to the occasion, being the 25th anniversary of the British forces' departure.
Freedom Day regatta competition
The poorly attended Freedom Day regatta open competition in Grand Harbour was won jointly by Cospicua and Marsamxett.
Both the Cospicua and the Marsamxett oarsmen amassed a total of 68 points each. Vittoriosa came third with 32 points.
The under-23 competition was won by Senglea with 76 points. Cospicua were second with 60 points and Marsamxett third with 24.
The winners of the open and under-23 competitions in last year's regatta were Marsa and Marsamxett respectively.
Those taking part in the regatta are Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Kalkara, Marsamxett, Marsa and Senglea.
The last regatta in September ended in chaotic scenes as members of opposing teams clashed over a race incident, forcing a postponement of the presentation ceremony.
Although no incidents were reported yesterday, trophies are to be presented to the winners on another day. This was one of the measures taken by the committee to avoid trouble.
Full results
Under 23 - Race 1: Dghajjes C tal-Pass - Cospicua (6.29 minutes), Senglea, Vittoriosa; Race 3: Kajjikki - Senglea (7.30 minutes); Race 5: Dghajjes A tal-Midalji - Senglea (5.01 minutes), Cospicua and Vittoriosa both placed second; Race 7: Frejgatini - Cospicua (7.14 minutes), Senglea, Marsamxett; Race 9: Dghajjes B tal-Pass - Senglea (5.35 minutes), Cospicua, Marsamxett.
Open - Race 2: Dghajjes A tal-Midalji - Cospicua (5.10 minutes), Marsamxett, Vittoriosa; Race 4: Frejgatini - Cospicua (7.15 minutes), Marsamxett, Vittoriosa; Race 6: Dghajjes C tal-Pass - Cospicua (6.07 minutes), Marsamxett, Vittoriosa; Race 8: Kajjikki - Marsamxett (6.39 minutes), Vittoriosa, Kalkara; Race 10: Dghajjes B tal-Pass - Marsamxett (5.26 minutes), Cospicua, Vittoriosa.