Bid to further strengthen Malta-Wales ties

Collaboration between Malta and Wales is poised to be further strengthened through two initiatives, one dealing with a twinning arrangement and the other a sponsorship by the Royal Welsh Show.

Elfred Williams, president of the Maltese-Welsh Society, said at a celebration dinner marking St David's Day, patron saint of Wales, that a twinning of Gozo with the Welsh island of Anglesey was being discussed at a high level".

In addition, the Royal Welsh Show, one of the most important agricultural shows in Europe, is offering to sponsor Malta at the 2008 event, under its new policy of sponsoring a country each year. This could be a big opportunity for Maltese tourism and business, Mr Williams said.

He also mentioned the Maltese hero of a terrible 19th century shipwreck, able seaman Joseph Rodriguez, whose bravery resulted in the saving of many lives, and who remains the only non-member in history to be awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Association.

The dinner, attended by over 70 Welsh and Maltese guests, started with a prayer, evoking the saint and calling for a blessing on Wales. The prayer was read by Michael Turner.

The guest of honour, Winston Zahra Snr, gave a short and witty address, outlining his own Welsh connections through his wife Dolores.

The Pembroke local council, which is twinned with Pembroke, Wales, was represented by vice mayor Ray Mizzi, councillor Evelyn Vella and executive secretary Kevin Borg. The mayor, Joseph Zammit, could not attend as he was attending a function at Pembroke in Wales.