Reasons to remove the George Cross from the flag

There are a number of reasons why the George Cross should be removed from the Maltese flag.

Firstly, space on the flag should be the exclusive preserve of symbols that are quintessentially Maltese. To have a symbol of a foreign country on the Maltese flag, no matter how high that country is regarded, suggests to the world that the Maltese have nothing of their own to adequately represent them on their flag.

Secondly, the worthiness of the George Cross to occupy its prominent position on the Maltese flag is questionable.

It is only Britain's second highest military honour which has been awarded to over 100 individuals, the youngest being only 15. Further, there is much to suggest the George Cross was awarded more to shore up Maltese morale, which was important to the British war effort, than acknowledge the gallantry and suffering of the Maltese.

Thirdly, it is questionable whether Britain deserves the honour of having its second highest award featuring on the Maltese flag. Like all colonial powers, Britain made decisions according to the best interests of the empire which were, at times, very harmful to Malta and the Maltese. Britain also toyed with the idea, in the years approaching the outbreak of the war, of betraying Malta to the Fascists to buy itself more time.

Symbols on the Maltese flag should be exclusively and representatively of the Maltese. The Maltese deserved the George Cross and much more and they should be proud to display it in their war museum but not on their flag.