This year, the Nationalist Party celebrates its 125th anniversary. What does a political party do to remain at the heart of a nation, at the service of the people, and in that process remain a force of inspiration that is credible and can be relied upon?
I would say that the major secret behind the PN's success throughout all these years has been its ability to remain a catalyst for change. The party has never failed to renew itself constantly. It holds steadfastly to its basic principles and values, but equally knows how to adapt to new social trends and requirements, to the new challenges faced by a nation as it moves from one phase to another in its chequered history.
I remember some discussion that had gone on within the rank and file of the party after Malta became independent as to whether the party should then change its name. The PN had achieved its most important objective: it had ensured the birth of our country as a sovereign nation.
When the idea of self-government and autonomy was mooted from the party's inception, many had thought that it was proclaiming an unachievable 'pie in the sky', that it was too visionary and other forces had even tried to tempt the people to move in a diametrically opposite direction: that of securing our future through integrating with the colonising power!
History proved the Nationalist Party right and on September 21, 1964, Malta became independent and Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier has rightly been recognised as this nation's Founding Father. Those who had argued that the country would be unable to cope as a sovereign nation realised that Malta went through incredible development by being able to face the challenges that ensued as a result of independence.
Even if some thought that this was the right time to change the party's name to 'Christian Democrat' or 'People's', it was overwhelmingly felt that no change of name was necessary. 'Nationalist' implies a policy to do what is best for a nation even after that nation is born, and if the meaning of the term is restricted to 'safeguarding a country's sovereignty', the Eighties have proved that that is a challenge that remains relevant even after gaining Independence. In the Eighties, the PN had to wage a relentless campaign to stress that sovereignty ultimately belongs to the people. Where the people's will is not respected, then sovereignty is again at risk and needs to be defended.
Championing the cause for European Union membership has been another manifestation of not only safeguarding this nation's sovereignty but also of strengthening it further as Malta secured its right to be treated as an equal with 24 other sovereign states that pertain to one European family. We did not integrate with and become part of any country, but became the equals of all sovereign nations that form part of the Union.
It is not only the 125th anniversary of its foundation that will be celebrated by the Nationalist Party this year. This is also the year when we commemorate the centenary of the death of the party's founder, Fortunato Mizzi. Originally, the party was known as the Anti-Reformist Party since Mizzi's first task was to oppose reforms that were proposed by a Royal Commission and that would have harmed our country's national identity.
Three years later, he became editor of Malta and in 1899, accompanied by Salvatore Cachia Zammit, he was in London presenting a petition to the British Government demanding constitutional reforms. The party that was originally opposing reforms that would have affected our national interest, was now itself the reformist party - except that in this case it was clamouring for reforms that led to self-government.
This year is also the 25th anniversary of the death of Giorgio Borg Olivier. His greatest moment of triumph was achieving independence for Malta and then seeing to the growth of this new state. He led the party for no less than 26 years and he has left behind a legacy that has not only enriched the Nationalist Party but also the nation as a whole. Dr Borg Olivier passed away on October 29, 1980, and it will be fitting to pay a deserved tribute to his memory.
I have fond recollections of Dr Borg Olivier as party leader, for it was during his leadership that I began to take an active part in the party, including organising or presenting events under his patronage and making my first public political speech at an event held at a theatre in Sliema in 1974 to mark, in rather difficult circumstances, the tenth anniversary of independence.
This is not only the year of looking back on important happenings that in one way or other have shaped the present, as it is also the year to keep looking ahead. It already feels as though it has been much more than one fortnight since the beginning of the year and that is only symptomatic of much more to come ahead in the coming weeks. The Nationalist Party remains a catalyst for change.
I recall with pride the electoral programme we had presented before the 1981 election after being out of office for ten years. The programme was entitled "Ripe for Change: Nationalist Government Programme for the Eighties". Even that programme was not an end in itself but a means of promoting the kind of change that the country badly needed.
The absolute majority of the people endorsed that programme, but it took another five years of striving for the fundamentals of democracy before the PN was back in government and that change process could be set in motion. When the change promised was fulfilled, the party had the courage to go back to the electorate with the theme, 'The Change Continues'.
The change brought about since then has been in the political, social, economic and general way of life spheres. Part of the change was inspired by the principle of giving all the necessary space in favour of personal initiative after years of state capitalism.
Considering that we are still engaged in such processes as the bold restructuring of the Malta Tourism Authority, and other public entities, it all goes to show that the change continues even now, and the Nationalist Party is the one that has the necessary vision and courage to keep looking forward as opposed to sitting on our laurels!
In its commitment to serve the country, the party remains inspired in its vision and tasks by its fundamental principles. It is a Christian Democrat party that places man at the centre of all its activity. It is not only man in relation to the state, but man with regard to family, the community, and civil society. The party believes and practices the principles of solidarity and social justice.
The party is an inclusive, not an exclusive one. There is room and space for all, and the party does not try to use any particular segment or group for its convenience or advantage as is still unfortunately the case with the other major party in the country.
It is also the party that gives priority to education and to social policies. It is no coincidence that the PN has been responsible for the building of most Government schools and that it is now equally engaged in ensuring that tomorrow's schools will rise to the present day and future expectations of our community. Nor is it a coincidence that this is the party that built, enlarged, and even had to refound the University. Or that this is the party that had set up and had to refound MCAST.
It remains the party that brings about economic growth even when we are sailing through difficult waters, and it is the party that has been responsible for most major projects that characterise Malta as we know it today. Think of the new telephone digital system, mobile telephony, the air terminal, the new power station, the reverse osmosis plants, health centres, residences for elderly people, the national park, financial services, open and free broadcasting with a plurality of stations, sports centres or our Freeport.
There is an equally impressive list of projects in the pipeline to fulfil over the coming months and years: the Cruise Liner Passenger Terminal, Dock No. 1 in Cottonera, Manoel Island and Tigné project, new roads, conservation projects for key heritage sites, and the new hospital.
The Nationalist Party has been and will remain a catalyst for change.
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