President laments pique

President George Abela said yesterday he would not like to attend village feasts marred by pique.

Dr Abela said feasts should start being carried out with a sense of civic duty, with their main aim being to create unity and enjoyment.

In the coming days, he would convene meetings with band club associations, fireworks enthusiasts, the police and the College of Parish Priests to discuss how village feasts could be improved.

The President made his comments during a reception on the occasion of the feast of St Publius in Floriana after he and Mrs Abela attended a Pontifical Mass.

Dr Abela also spoke about the immigration issue and appealed to the Maltese to be hospitable towards those in need, without looking at their skin colour. He recalled that when St Paul came to Malta, the Maltese welcomed him and hosted the 267 people who were with him, giving them all they needed.

"We need to reflect on the importance of strengthening those values that make us Maltese. We should not forget who we are," he said.

His words echoed those of Archbishop Paul Cremona who in a recent interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano was quoted drawing similar parallels between illegal immigration and the shipwreck of St Paul.

Since his swearing in on April 4, Dr Abela, the first President to be nominated from the opposing party to that in government, has on a number of occasions highlighted the importance of national unity.

Next article • Strawberries anyone?

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

lgalea (on 27/4/09)

Victor Mamo
You are counting your chickens before they hatch.
Just wait and see whether the other states accept lumping our illegal immigrants.

As for skin colour or not, ILLEGAL immigrants remain ILLEGAL and should be treated as ILLEGAL immigrants whatever the colour of their skin.

Victor Mamo (on 27/4/09)

@ Morana While deploring you name calling to Mr Seychell, may I refer you to this article which very well explains the "pie in the sky cooked up by a weak PM": http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090425/local/malta-italy-press-brussels-for-compulsory-burden-sharing Burden Sharing is very much a reality which will happen, not only for our sake (or Italy's for that matter), but also for the rest of the EU since it can not afford to allow one or two Member States weather the storm on their own if it wants to reach it's functionalist goal of greater cooperation.

Alexander Morana (on 27/4/09)

Mr. Seychell, burden sharing is a pie in the sky cooked up by a weak PM. It will not work now or next year, which by then you'll have another 10,000 illegal immigrants knocking on your door. So keep on hoping like a weakling expecting that Brussels will settle this problem once and for all. Ha Ha I would like to see Italy being forced to take another 40,000! Dream on Pal.

Michael Seychell (on 27/4/09)

Edward Morana - Contrary on what you stated the two major political parties have a common policy on immigration issue. This includes the detention for those who are not eligible on humanitarian grounds. In fact the MLP is differing from the E. U. Socialists on this issue. This was stated by Jason Micallef himself on a TV talk show. The only and main difference between the big parties is, that Joe Muscat is prepared to use the veto whilst the PN prefers a negotiable solution. As it happened, today the EU voted unanimously in favour of a proposal that all E U members will have to accept the Burden Sharing and this will not remain voluntarily. This will not come into force to-morrow, however the fact that the principle has been accepted one hopes that the mechanics will be worked out asap, and hopefully before the end of next year this will cnme in force. Michael Seychell Pieta

edward bartolo (on 27/4/09)

Unfortunately, many assume that pique is good because of its motivating power. As the president is saying, pique is dividing the Maltese people, which is very said indeed. Pique divides, there is no need of more evidence... The Catholic Saints should be a sign of unity, rather than a sign of division, because, they were declared by the Church as saints, for the very reason, that their lives, were a very good example of living the gospels. This should be the message of all Catholic feasts, rather than a void competition between parishes. @Moderator Kellek ghalfejn ticcensurani?!

Alexander Morana (on 27/4/09)

If President Abela wishes unity amongst the Maltese he should stop misinterpreting and confusing the issue of illegal immigration, especially now that both major political parties and the majority of the public, have opposing views on how to tackle the problem. Surely by declining the invitation of some village feast does not constitute so much intelligence as though one invites St. Paul to San Anton for tea.

Franco Farrugia (on 27/4/09)

The President is wrong to draw a similarity between the time of St Paul and illegal immigration now.
I think we are receiving just a little more than the 267 who came with Paul, don't you think?

Martin Spiteri (on 27/4/09)

While I welcome the analogy of st Paul, I wish to say that St Paul was no illegal immigrant in Malta. At the time historically Malta was under Roman Law so St Paul was no illegal. I feel a bit insulted when our leaders make comparisons like these. Let us address the issue. Illegal immigration is a gross abuse and it is being organised by people who are making a mint out of it. It should never be used to bring about compassion and to make us maltese feel guilty. Racism is not right, but abuse was never right. If anyone is trying to hide under this banner of being humane, then it will be hypocrisy. The Maltese are hospitable and what is hurting us most is that we are being played about by people who are hiding under the pretence that we have lost our values. Illegal immigration is a problem which is dangerous and should be stopped the sooner the better.

J Galea (on 27/4/09)

I'm no expert on village feasts, but if there's rivalry between two band clubs or fireworks factories, why not let them organise one day each of the festivities, say Saturday and Sunday, so the rivalry can be channeled in the right direction? If, for example, Sunday is a preferred day for both clubs, one can alternate each year. A feast is a celebration, not an occasion for local acrimony and senseless petty violence. Surely this is obvious?

A. Muscat (on 27/4/09)

"He recalled that when St Paul came to Malta, the Maltese welcomed him and hosted the 267 people who were with him, giving them all they needed."

I guess the Maltese population by the time was double St.Paul companions!

Any anthropologist not a theologian to provide an approximate figure pleases?

Marvin Mizzi (on 27/4/09)

St.Paul was A Roman CItizen who had the right to land on these islands. The ship was in distress on the way to Rome and just when the weather was better they continue on the trip while the illegal immigrants abusively want to go in other countries. I feel offended that the our President seemed to compare our Patron Saint to these illegals.

Ernest Vella (on 27/4/09)

The difference we must make when mention Paul coming to Malta was that he was not an illegal immigrant for Malta was under Roman rule and Paul and the ship soldiers were to Roman Citzens...lets make the difference....immigrants must be helped but than send them back to from were they left - Libya

Ramon Casha (on 27/4/09)

"He recalled that when St Paul came to Malta, the Maltese welcomed him and hosted the 267 people who were with him, giving them all they needed."

Actually, when Paul's ship was stricken off Malta we catered for their immediate need then sent them off to Rome - which was their intended destination anyway.

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