Building together

For those of us who have been active in the Nationalist Party for many years, we still refer to it as l-Istamperija. I remember the days when former Nationalist Minister Carmelo Caruana had taken it upon himself to ensure that the party would have its own printing press to be able to reach out to the people more effectively.

That is how the original name was born. It was on April 19, 1968, that the printing machinery set up in what was then the new building started being put to use. Initially the party's only publication was Il-Poplu, published every Tuesday and Friday. It used to be printed at Lux Press. In the late Sixties, the editor was Dr Eddie Fenech Adami; later Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici took over.

Still the party lacked a daily paper. With our own Stamperija this dream could come true and on July 1, 1970, In-Nazzjon Taghna was published for the first time. Dr Caruana's dream had been realized. Persons such as Manwel Bonello, known as ta' l-iSpel, had contributed very generously and together with the activists and pioneers of the time ensured that the party would have an effective communication tool that was eventually to be tested through thick and thin since very difficult years followed when Labour came to power in 1971.

Even as the building grew to provide offices, meeting rooms and other amenities, we would always refer to a visit to it as going over to l-Istamperija. The phrase is still used by many of us to this day.

When I joined other ministers, MPs, and countless party activists and loyalists last Tuesday to participate in a marathon to raise funds for building the second phase of the new party headquarters, I could not help but remember the countless sacrifices put in into making the party what it is today. People were keeping our telephone lines constantly busy as well as coming over in person to make their modest contribution.

For us it's the experience of building together the structures that we need to function effectively and to communicate our vision and message to the people. Even if the weather was probably the worst we've had for years, it did not deter many persons from coming over, and in any case those who would not leave the comfort and warmth of their home, made donations by telephone. One could appreciate that there was a sense of joy and enthusiasm to participate, to be part of a memorable fund-raising event that was thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying.

By the time the marathon ended at around 11.30 p.m., we had raised the record sum of Lm271,201. The money had poured in just as the rain had not let up practically all day!

The happiness and joy that prevailed throughout the programme became jubilation as ministers and MPs receiving telephone calls, producers, presenters as well as other participants spontaneously joined in the merriment and celebration. Even when the final credits rolled and the programme was no longer on air, the music and dancing carried on. We had all worked hard at it and could enjoy the tremendous success that was achieved.

The success of the marathon reflects the trust that the people have in the Nationalist Party. This year the party is celebrating its 125th anniversary. They are years of being of service to the people and the nation. The party, throughout its history, changed that of our country. It is the party that apart from other achievements remains historically the one to have brought about independence as well as European Union membership for Malta.

All those who came over could see that the money collected in previous marathons has been well spent. The first phase of the new Dar Centrali built on the footprint of the former Stamperija is not only ready but also fully functional. In fact the first phase houses media.link communications - incorporating the editorial offices of the party's papers, and other publications, the library - Malta's best political archive - as well as Net Television and Radio 101 studios.

The second phase has already kicked off. The former building - to the left of the new block - has been pulled down to make room for a new building. The original plan was to rehabilitate the former area and add one floor. However, it was later decided that it made more sense structurally to pull down the former building and build anew for at least two reasons: the first being that the former structure could not hold another floor above it, and secondly, when one pulls down and builds again, there was much space that could be gained and used well, not least through excavating the ground below.

The new building will cost around Lm2 million and needs to be ready in time for the next general election in 2008. This phase will include the offices of the leader of the party and other officials, meeting rooms and a large hall that would be suitable for meetings of our General Council and other events that are now being held outside the party buildings.

In line with the way of life that we are now enjoying in Malta, the new building will have an open and inviting structure. Formerly, the Stamperija had to be protected by well-welded iron grids and a side door protected by an iron door. The reason was that the Nationalist Party was repeatedly targeted by well known violent squads that wrecked its clubs, attacked the residence and family of Dr Fenech Adami, set fire to Strickland House, and also attacked our Stamperija.

All that comes over and above an 'official' raid on November 26 and 27, 1983, carried out by the police, the Army and others purportedly to look for cordless phones! Is it not amazing how times have changed since then? It is only to the credit of the Nationalist Party that the country has gone through such an amazing transformation and it is now up to each and every one of us to ensure that our new way of life is not in any way reversed.

Unfortunately when I hear certain utterances from senior Labour Party officials, not to mention persons representing their 'privileged' trade union, I am not at all convinced that these people have really changed.

The original Stamperija had grown to twice its original size, and on December 7, 1980, the party leader, Dr Fenech Adami, had inaugurated the building that has been pulled down to make way for a totally new building, as befits the party 25 years later. Persons like former ministers Joe Fenech and George Bonello du Puis deserve the main credit for seeing to the expansion carried out then despite all the difficulties of being a party in Opposition during the worst years of the Labour regime. Others who worked round the clock to keep the party structures going and operational include the late Joe Stellini, for many years the party's treasurer.

I remember those years very well. When in 1982 my summer job was that of assistant night editor of In-Nazzjon, doing proofreading till late at night, the fear of being attacked by Labour squads was a real one. Moreover I remember the paper coming through a linotype process where the smell of lead permeated the atmosphere, and where every correction would mean resetting the entire line where the change was required. Later, the party was to invest in the latest offset and computer technology.

Back to the present challenge: just as phase one of the new project saw the party through the EU referendum and the last general election - with a successful outcome in both cases - phase two needs to be ready in time before the next general election. The second phase will see to the party's carrying out its political tasks effectively and in a manner that responds to present-day needs.

The designation given to the building as Dar Centrali emphasises that it is home to one and all - and in building it together we drive home the message as we did last Tuesday that we are the co-owners. The concept does not extend only to the building since that is never an end in its own right, but it extends to the way we formulate policy, the way we implement our mission and in the way we reach out to others with what we stand for.

It is through our home that we have conducted our election campaigns from 1971 onwards. The working environment that we create together and from where we will carry out the next election campaigns as well as all the other work that a democratic party has to see to in this day and age are part of the challenge that we are now facing.

Following last Tuesday's success, we know that we can rise to the occasion and see this challenge as one more opportunity. Much as we are proud to look back at the past 125 years of our history, we look forward with determination and enthusiasm to the years ahead.

That is what we are gearing up for and that is what the people last Tuesday highly encouraged us to do as we embarked on building together the party's political wing that will co-ordinate all that is required for the next general election.

Well done to all those who worked hard and contributed to last Tuesday's success.

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