Call for joint Independence Day celebration remains unheeded
There has been no approach by the government for the Independence Day wreath-laying ceremony to also involve the opposition, a Labour Party spokesman said today.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat last year and also on previous occasions, called for a joint ceremony headed by the President.
However, as in previous years, only the President and the Prime Minister took part in the official wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Independence Monument in Floriana this morning.
Dr Muscat laid flowers on behalf of the Opposition shortly afterwards.
In 2008, when the issue was also raised, the government had said that the Leader of the Opposition was not invited to the official Independence Day wreath-laying ceremony in terms of an agreement reached between then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and then Opposition Leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.
According to the agreement, wreaths on monuments are laid by the President and the Prime Minister on Freedom Day and on Independence Day.
Government and Opposition officials lay wreaths on June 7 and September 8 while the President gives out Ġieħ ir-Repubblika medals on Republic Day on December 13.
President Abela, who this morning also presided over a ceremony during which three Consuls were honoured with the National Order of Merit, made indirect reference to the issue, saying the time had come to updated the directives issued in 1990 about how national feasts are celebrated.
The consuls who were decorated were Thomas Stoecker, Joseph Micallef and Krystyna Mari Mikilanka.
PONTIFICAL MASS
Earlier, Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona led a Pontifical Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral which was attended by, among others, the President, Dr Gonzi, Dr Muscat, the Chief Justice and former Presidents.
Other members of the Judiciary stayed away, reportedly in protest over their working conditions (see separate story).
An AFM Guard of Honour formed up outside St John's before the Mass. It then marched to the Independence Monument, where a gun salute was fired during the official wreath-laying ceremony.
The PL spokesman said the Opposition was also renewing its calls for talks 'without pre-conditions' for Malta to have a National Day.
Malta at present does not have a national day but celebrates a number of 'national feasts' which mark milestones in its history.
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Mr Angus Black
Sep 22nd 2011, 15:10
No response from the government, the LP states regarding joint Independence celebrations. Why not bring the issue up in the House and propose an amendment to the agreement made between the government and the Opposition which was signed by both and established the protocol of the ceremonies used to this day?
On a more positive note, why cannot the Opposition swap joint celebration with the granting of 'pairing'?
A. Cachia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:37
National Holiday my foot! The celebrations are just a fiasco!
Mario Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:36
Ma naħsibx li hu l-jum addattat bħala l-jum nazzjonali. Għaliex? Għaliex jekk xi jinbidel xi ħaġa minn dak li jintqal fl-istorja tal-passat dwar l-1565 jew jinstab li l-istorja m'hix dik li hi, imbagħad x'jiġri?
Il-ħelsin tal-pesta, kien hemm aktar perjodi ta' epidemiji ta' mard, kolera u tuberkolozi fost oħrajn!!
Il-waqfien tal-Gwerra Dinjija, dik m'hix xi ħaġa direttament tagħna. Aħna konna kolonja u ma satjnix naghħmlu mod ieħor, daħluna fiha bla bżonn.
Jien ngħid li jum ir-Repubblika għandu jkun il-jum nazzjonali bla ebda partiġjaniżmu. Għaliex? Għaliex dik kienet ġurnata jew avveniment li qabel magħha kulħadd bl-eċċezzjoni ta' xi sitta. Kemm kemm ma tingħatax l-impressjoni wkoll li l-PN kienet fi ħsiebu. Barra minhekk din kienet transizzjoni minn stat maħkum bħala kolonja tal-barrani għal stat jiddependi totalment fuq il-governanza totalissima tiegħu bil-President ikun l-ewwel figura rapreżentanti tal-pajjiż.
Aktar minhekk, il-pożizzjoni ta' Presisdent tar-Repubblika ħadd ma jirrifjuta biex ma ngħidx li għal xi wħud kemm ma jiġġieldux għaliha!! L'ebda persuna minn naħa u oħra ma jirrifjuta din il-poziżżjoni. Mela hawn, hawn qbil assolut.
Rigward jiem l-Indipendenza u l-Ħelsien, nixtieq inkun x'sinifikat għad fihom dawn il-jiem?
Kemm għadna Indipendenti u ħielsa llum li sirna parti mill-blokk Ewropew u li rridu noqodu għar-regoli tal-pajjiżi l-kbar li qed imexxu huma? Tant li llum qed inħallsu dak dovut minnha fi flus kontanti qabel ma nircievu jekk nircievu xi finazjament, u dan ikun marbut b'kondizzjonijiet. Dak li nħallsu aħna lill-EU, m'hemmx kundizzjonijiet imma għax obligati!!!
Meta konna kolonja li kellna żejjed akatr kien li kellna l-bażijiet militari jokkupaw partijiet minn artna u n-nies kienu bl-unformijiet. Illum hemm barranin oħra li qed jokkupaw partijiet minn artna, sempliciement m'humiex bażijiet "militari" u n-nies huma pajżana.
M Muscat
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:51
Sur Hili nahseb li l-anqas idejgha ta’ PROTOKOL m’ghandek
Joseph Muscat imur ippoggi l-fjuri wara li tkun spiccat ic-cerimonja ufficjali. Meta jista jmur kulhadd.
Ivan Attard
Sep 22nd 2011, 06:29
Nahseb ma nkunx qed nizbalja jekk nghid li JUM IL-VITORJA (8 ta' Settembru) GHANDU JKUN IL-JUM NAZZJONALI TAL-POPLU MALTI U GHAWDXI KOLLU. Ser naghti r-ragunijiet tieghi ghal dan:
(i) kronologikament, din kienet l-ewwel grajja li sehhet fl-istorja mill-hames grajjiet li nfakkru fil-festi nazzjonali taghna ghax sehhet fl-1565. L-ohrajn graw fl-1919, 1964, 1974 u 1979.
(ii) hija l-unika festa li ma tfakkarx grajja wahda biss fl-istorja ta' pajjizna imma tikkommemora numru ta' avvenimenti storici li graw providenzjalment f'jum wiehed - qed nirreferi ghar-rebha tal-Maltin fl-Assedju l-Kbir fl-1565, il-helsien ta' Malta mill-epidemija tal-pesta fl-1814 u l-waqfien mill-glied fit-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija fl-1943.
(iii) hija grajja li twahhad flimkien l-istorja glorjuza ta' pajjizna mar-Religjon Kattolika li hija mnizzla fil-Kostituzzjoni ta' pajjizna bhala r-religjon ufficjali li jhaddan pajjizna u
(iv) hija festa li ma tfakkarx il-kisbiet ta' Gvernijiet Laburisti jew Gvernijiet Nazzjonalisti li mexxew lil pajjizna fil-passat imma tfakkar il-kisba tal-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi kollu bl-intercessjoni f'waqtha ta' Marija Bambina.
Ghaldaqstant, meta wiehed iqis dawn ir-ragunijiet kollha, nahseb li Jum it-8 ta' Settembru ghandu jkun l-uniku JUM NAZZJONALI taghna!
Mr louis scicluna
Sep 22nd 2011, 02:42
What about April 1st as our National Day. Most of the time we are all being taken for granted, and treated as fools.
Mr Henry Mifsud
Sep 22nd 2011, 00:59
Obstinance doesn't pay. Pity Dr. Gonzi did not agree to have the leader of Opposition as part of the wreath laying ceremony. He could have given the chance of the PN leader as leader of the Opposition to do the same thing on the 50th Anniversary of Malta Independent.
Daniel Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2011, 00:02
The national day should be the day we get rid of pn and pl. Qishom tfal zghar.
Joseph Laus
Sep 21st 2011, 23:54
L-azzjoni min jaghmilha ,mhux min jirceviha.....
Mr Angelo Vassallo
Sep 21st 2011, 20:53
@ FRANS H SAID
The worst MORTAL SIN that the mlp ever did, when under mintoff's rule, was tp govern the country against the will of the MAJORITY. This sin against the Maltese people can never be forgiven.
Albert Spiteri
Sep 22nd 2011, 23:16
The worst MORTAL SIN that the NP ever did was HAVING EXISTED!!!
Mr Angelo Vassallo
Sep 21st 2011, 20:44
@ Albert Spiteri
"21st September 1964 was for Malta a day of national pride as for the first time our flag was also flown outside the building of the United Nations in New York telling the ALL the world that a new island called MALTA hAs just been born after given Independence from Great Britain, and this without bloodshed.
Without what you are calling "fake constitution" we would have never become a republic, the British would have never left MALTA in 1979, we would have never joined the European Union and we would have never joined the Euro Zone.
21st September 1964 is THE BIRTHDAY OF MALTA.. No other day can be even slightly more important than this day.
Albert Spiteri
Sep 22nd 2011, 23:12
History and truth dictates that 21st September 1964 be the day when Malta was sold for peanuts. If that had been a REAL independence then we would have had our Republic Day and Freedom day 10 years ahead. 21st September 1964 is the blackest day in Maltese history.
Mr Joseph Brincat
Sep 21st 2011, 20:01
National day should be
THE SETTE GIUGNO IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING
AND THERE WARE NO BLUES OR RED ? ? ? ? ?
Giovann Demartino
Sep 21st 2011, 20:19
In case it has slipped our memory......There was a time when Independence was no longer a public holiday
There was a time when the government did not even allow the opposition to celebrate independence The dog wouldn't eat the hay nor would he allow the cow to eat it.
Anthony Farrugia
Sep 21st 2011, 21:27
Do not agree at all. This was rioting, looting and burning very much like the recent London riots. And Malta's finest just stood by doing nothing.
PS: Your Caps Lock key got jammed !
Nicholas Vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:25
@Antony Farrugia
Unfortunately you are wrong in the matter... it wasn't just a matter of looting and buring it was protest to free ourselves from the oppression of the British Colonists that had control over the Island. In other words the Maltese community wanted a new constitution wihich it got in 1921.
Anthony Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:49
Well the Sette Giugno , April 1958 riots and torching of Times building by you-know-who are one and the same thing : riots, arson, looting with a good dose of political instigation.
The Joseph Stalin syndrome involving rewriting and airbrushing of history is alive and kicking in Malta and has become a major industry.
Well your edition of "Outline of Maltese History" by Mgr. Laspina (remember it ?) needs updating.
Albert Spiteri
Sep 21st 2011, 19:18
Ma naqbilx li bl-iskuza tar-rikonciljazzjoni nazzjonali ninsew id-dnubiet u t-tradimenti. Ghandna nghiduha cara w tonda - dan hu JUM IL-LAGHQA U L-BIGOTTI!
IR-RIKONCILJAZZJONI NAZZJONALI GHAD TASAL, IMMA META FL-ISKEJJEL KOLLHA TAGHNA TIGI MGHALLMA L-ISTORJA VERA TA' MALTA, BLA RISPETTI W KANTUNIERI, BIEX IL-GUDIZZJI JSIRU U L-ISKELETRI FL-AHHAR NOHORGUHOM MILL-ARMARJI U NIDFNUHOM DARB' GHAL DEJJEM.
Mr Albert Dimech
Sep 21st 2011, 18:33
After 23 years of PN rule, we have the so called 'rikonciljazzjoni nazzjonali'. The PN have been, up to yesterday, on a constant onslaught of KMB and now they come to throw at us a 20 year old deal!!! How long will it take to change it? Oh, I see now why Dr Gatt wants to be in power of another 20 years.
A. Borg
Sep 21st 2011, 18:08
Let there be a referendum and the people will decide which will be the day.
Mr George Farrugia
Sep 21st 2011, 19:17
I totally agree with you Mr Borg... when the politicians cannot seem to agree on such a simple yet vital issue, it has finally to be the citizens who should have the final say.
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Sep 21st 2011, 22:37
Following this year`s very positive experience in correct democratic rule, it is THE PEOPLE who should determine and decide on all important issues, such as THE NATIONAL DAY. Agreed : there should be a call as to which DAY should be referred to as NATIONAL; criteria have to be laid out; then the Referendum question followed by the Referendum.
However, to save the country alot of unnecessary waste of money, why not use modern means to ascertain the people`s wills,such as making use of Internet which is widespread nationwide. For those who do not possess this service, facilitating means have to be adopted that this section of the population can also have their say.
This years-long farce of having FIVE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS to represent FIVE MOMENTOUS MOMENTS MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORICAL EVOLUTION has to be done away with, as logic dictates so clearly.
Alfred Falzon
Sep 21st 2011, 17:55
Partisan politics is behind the sorry plight in which our Independence Day has found itself!
Shame on those who are using divisive tactics to turn this auspicious day into a free-for-all among hardened party activists whose goal should be NATIONAL UNITY and not mud-slinging!
From the look of things, there are some politicians who need urgently to grow up, for their IQ still leaves much to be desired!
Going down memory lane in politics is not always pleasant but we must now look to the future through our present-day policies!!
Mario Grima
Sep 21st 2011, 17:54
And the PN likes to be called the Christian Democrats of Malta? Sounds more like some third world country regime!!! Wake up PN, we are living in the 21st Century.
j brincat
Sep 21st 2011, 17:38
Despite the narrowest of victories in the last election the PN is still determined to do it all alone.
Certainly not 'the new way of doing politics' as promised by Dr Gonzi.
(jb)
Alfred Mangion
Sep 21st 2011, 17:58
There was a time when a party with a minority of votes did it all alone.
FRANS H SAID
Sep 21st 2011, 19:31
@ Alfred Mangion
Two wrongs NEVER make a right. Like the wife of LOT (for those that know GENESIS) it is not wise to look back.
Let us grow up and top the pique.
Mr J Xerri
Sep 21st 2011, 17:28
Of course PN will change their stance if their is a change of Government, keeping in view the fact that if the present protocol is kept, the PN leader will be kept out of the official ceremony of Independence Day.
Shouldn't we grow up and forget politics when we come to celebrate national feasts.. otherwise 'national' feasts is a misnomer.
M Schembri
Sep 21st 2011, 17:41
Most probably if PL is in government they will include the opposition in the official ceremony. After all Alfred Sant, (although many things were said against him) as Prime Minister went to put flowers on the Independence Monument, only to be insulted by the PN supporters - that is National Reconciliation according to PN.
R Saliba
Sep 21st 2011, 18:27
M Schembri. Have you any idea what protocol is? Because judging by your comment, you don't
Mr d. attard
Sep 21st 2011, 17:10
what comes to mind is the extent to which the labor party has moved on in comparison to the cocoon the np continues to inhabit. Wake up PN we are in the 21st century.
Victor Vella
Sep 21st 2011, 17:07
When Independence day is the National Day they can come and lay the flowers, until then please stay away, we suffered enough on this day in history, Let's face it , without independence we wouldn't have been able to declare Malta a Republic and the British forces would have naturally stayed here by right, as it turned out the Labour geverment extended thier stay on our island by 5 years ( even though this is never mentioned by the Labour Party choosing instead to say that they threw them out keccejnihom as if the British wanted to stay against our wishes.)So PL if you really want to have a joint celebration, move a motion in Parlament to have the Independence day delclared as the National Day of the Republic of Malta enshrined in the constitution.
M Schembri
Sep 21st 2011, 17:20
There goes National Reconciliation. Int Demokristjan? Your attitude is neither Democratic nor Christian. It seems that to be a true Christian you have to vote against divorce, and take part in the Holy Mass, iyou can disregard your political opponents and preach division. Then to make it more believable you can quote the bible and say that Our Lady is crying our Island is losing its faith ( only when politically conviient of course.)
Nathalie Frendo
Sep 21st 2011, 17:01
What a childish and stupid attitude I think that it is Independence Day for the whole island and not a celebration for the party who happenend to be in office almost half a century ago. It is so ridiculous that everything in this country has to be tainted with a political colour. The PL celebrates Freedom (from what I still have to understand) Day, and Republic day the PN celebrates Independence day and to some extent Mnarja because of long forlorne political connotations. When are our politicicians gpong to show some maturity towards us. Lest they all forget we are their employees.
Alfred Grech
Sep 21st 2011, 16:44
It is time that we, the public, boycott any "national" event that is organized with a political motive, be it Independence, Republic or Freedom day.
We cannot continue to act like we are enemies of each other here. We have to acknowledge that we only have one Flag, the Red and White one and not the red or blue ones. I once again urge our beloved President to push them to change their attitudes or else he should refuse to be part of a political opportunistic celebration.
We want a Maltese government not a Labour or Nationalist one. We need someone to unite us and not to continue to separte the people - we had many of those in the past. How about the media? Would they start a strong campaign to see this happen?
Joe Gatt
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:03
Agree totally with your comments Mr Grech.
Perhaps a Goverment or Administration that will Make us, the Maltese Nation,
WEII &TRULY INDEPENDENT, Once again.
Fran Abela
Sep 21st 2011, 16:44
Anthony Grech - facts are facts Mr. Grech and nobody can deny that without Independence we could not have become a Republic, face it, it is the truth.
Alfred Grech
Sep 21st 2011, 16:36
Listen the speeches by the PM and to those by his predecessor! Are they about Malta's Independence? No, they are political meetings and I say SHAME ON ALL YOU POLITICIANS that do not work hard to unite this country.
It';s time even the President should boycott the laying of wreaths in both Independence and Republic holiday unless the event is a joint celebration organized by the supposedly government of Malta.
Stop being so selfish and stupid and act as Maltese.
Mario allison
Sep 21st 2011, 18:09
hear hear ,we are truly fed up with this charade. This us the same as recently we have assisted to the farce of who was the biggest whore who bedded gaddaffi from the two parties lol and another big LOL
Albert Spiteri
Sep 21st 2011, 16:34
@ Fran Abela - Sorry my mistake Mr. Abela. I should have included that the sluttish situation went on until in 1971 Malta was saved from that humiliation by Dom Mintoff's MLP!
Fran Abela
Sep 21st 2011, 16:47
Mr. Spiteri - sorry to disappoint you but in truth I cannot understand you. So you think that Dom Mintoff' saved us humiliation - well then why do you think we are still a slut if we have been saved ? You are entitled to your opinion as I am to mine. I wish you serenity and happiness in your life.
Victor Vella
Sep 21st 2011, 17:14
Mr Spiteri, if Malta was a slut of the British, what did it then become? Gaddafi's whore?
Mintof gave up millions of liri in revenue from the airspace he gave to Gaddafi,
Gaddafi stopped us from drilling for oil.
Gaddafi used Malta as a stepping stone for terroism in Europe.
Gaddafi used Malta for his secret service, so that hey would be able to monitor and eliminate his opponents in exile in Europe.
Where the so called students at Ta giorni here to be at the ready should we the Maltese rise against the Goverment of the day?
What was actually happening at the Mosque?
M Schembri
Sep 21st 2011, 17:37
Mr Victor Vella are you serious? Are you trying to rewrite history.
> Gaddafi stopped us from drilling for oil.
-When this happened Mintoff called them our enemies - The PN leadership ran to make friends with Gaddafi ( their motto being Mintoff's enemy is our friend.
> Gaddafi used Malta as a stepping stone for terroism in Europe.
> Gaddafi used Malta for his secret service, so that hey would be able to monitor and eliminate his opponents in exile in Europe.
Where the so called students at Ta giorni here to be at the ready should we the Maltese rise against the Goverment of the day?
What was actually happening at the Mosque?<
- according to US intelligence that was under the PN government.
Need we say more.
R Saliba
Sep 21st 2011, 18:23
M Schembri Why don't you say that the US intelligence reports also claim that Gaddafi funded the MLP? Maybe you are trying to erase history at your convenience?
Anthony Grech
Sep 21st 2011, 16:30
"in terms of an agreement reached between then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and then Opposition Leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici."
I am not sure but I think that there was also an agreement between almost ALL parliamentary members that Malta is a democratic and NEUTRAL country. Wonder what happened to THIS agreement.
Mr John Doneo
Sep 21st 2011, 18:39
Mr A Grech
I cannot understand all you bloggers!! The sto0ry is about laying of flowers on indipendence day. How is it everyone is blogging about the PL or PN done this, Gadafi done this or that. Can you please explain to the ordinary men and women has all this got to do with the story on the top?
Anthony Busuttil
Sep 21st 2011, 16:09
Rikonciljazzjoni...mur ghemmnu !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
issa jitla labour u nghidu consensus
Albert Spiteri
Sep 21st 2011, 15:34
I 21st September 1964 was for Malta a day of national humiliation! On that day Malta was given a fake independence with the collaboration of Malta's slavish Nationalist government, put into power in 1962 by the British colonial masters with the help of a treacherous Maltese curia following rigged and corrupt general elections! After that fake independence nothing changed, and Malta went on playing her role as Britain’s slut in the centre of the Mediterranean!
Fran Abela
Sep 21st 2011, 16:19
How old are you Mr. Spiteri ? I do not think you are young because you seem to have that inferiority complex when talking about colonialism. Britain and the rest of the European Union are forking out millions to us (and we also contribute in our way towards other members of the EU) We certainly are no slut but you are quite free to think so if you have been brought up that to thnk that way. What hate and anger you seem to have in your heart.
Philip Grech
Sep 21st 2011, 17:46
@ Fran Abela
I have been going through various readers' contributions and found out that you always seem to have something to say to defend the PN whether it is in the wrong or not. You do it in every subject. What Albert Spiteri wrote is the whole truth and it seems that it is you who is not old enough to remember. May I remind you that occasionally, sluts are able to speak. There is another reader exactly like you; he is old enough to remember, but I cannot blame him for having a selective memory. With all the manna that was falling on his family only in the 60s, one cannot really blame him, can one?
I urge JM that if ever he is PM, first give them a taste of their own medicine and then if you feel like it , amend things later. Whatever you do, the opposition will not appreciate.
Mr George Calleja
Sep 21st 2011, 15:16
Whilst admiring the Leader of the Opposition's request, one has to keep in mind that the PL had always been against Independence Day, in fact when it was in government ,it discarded this most important day in every country's history. Not only that but on many such days, hooligans supporting the MLP (those day) used to disrupt the festivities by organising bodily confrontations where Nationalists supporters used to be manhandled and hurt. If JM really wants reconsiliation, he should propose one single national day-- Independence Day . All the other present day feasts are secondary to this most important day.
M Schembri
Sep 21st 2011, 16:13
I wonder how would you feel if the LP won the next election and the leader of the opposition would not be involved in the ceremony. The leader of the opposition represents nearly 50% of the electorate, these Maltese citizens are not represented in a National day ceremony. Ithis national reconcilation for you?
Mr Angelo Vassallo
Sep 21st 2011, 15:06
At least JM remembered were his place is and should be and that that he should not lay flowers on the Independence Monument in Floriana before the His Excellency the President of the Republic George Abela and the Honourable Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, just like he did last year against all protocol practices.
Tony Dalli
Sep 21st 2011, 15:03
Durely the rules of this ridiculous game can be changed!!!!!!!!
Anthony Borg
Sep 21st 2011, 14:55
".....Of Mice and Men...."
C Muscat
Sep 21st 2011, 14:54
If I am not mistaken we have 5 national days.
Julian Tonna
Sep 21st 2011, 14:57
who wants to take part of this joke?
Mr Charles camilleri
Sep 21st 2011, 14:48
It is childish on the part of the opposition that 47 yrs after Malta became a sovereign state still does not recognise 21st September as the National day of Malta.
No other day can replace the birthday of a nation and any other date chosen is just fiction. In no other country in the whole world does this childish play happens.
Wenzu Vella
Sep 21st 2011, 15:07
Mr Camilleri, Malta is not a sovereign state. You get your directives from Brussels a club called EU
Wenzu Vella
Sep 21st 2011, 14:41
You should all stop being childish and grow up
Malta’s National day should be a totally new day and to be called “MALTA UNIFICATION DAY” the date to be pulled out of a barrel by a child and that way it belongs to no one, but at the same time would belong to everyone.
Mr Joseph E Briffa
Sep 21st 2011, 17:38
Wenzu Vella...where do you get thes ebrilliant ideas from? Isn't it obvious that the national day is Independence day? What else should it be, surely not Republic Day, or "Freedom Day"? If Malta were not independent in the first place there would not have been a Republic Day. As for 31 March 1979, this date was nothing else but the end of the British forces' stay in Malta, which had been agreed between the two sides in 1972, when Mintoff tried hard and succeeded in keeping the British forces here for another seven years. You will perhaps recall that this'Freedom Day" was such a fake that no foreign head of state came to Malta, except Gaddafi with his female guards and a few hundred of his supporters who got a free ride to Malta to celebrate the end of the British forces' presence in Malta. Nobody else celebrated this event. 90% of the Maltese were in tears including Anton Buttigieg who waved the last warship leaving the Grand Harbour. But then Mintoff, who never achieved integration or independence had to create some occasion to convince himself and his followers that he was also capable of some achievements. JM is still living in the clouds and hasn't yet come down to earth. Well even if he wanted, the old guard in Labour's fold will not permit JM to admit that Independence is Malta's national day.
Wenzu Vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 00:30
This could be a bit late for you Mr Briffa. I live in a continent called Australia a federation of 6 States and 2 Territories all with their own legislative governments plus the Federal Government and yet we have just one NATIONAL DAY called AUSTRALIA DAY on 26 January each year. People in Malta should take their political blinkers off and be MALTESE FIRST AND FORMOST. Hope this will give you something to ponder about.
FRANS H SAID
Sep 21st 2011, 14:37
How pathetic! An agreement reached decades ago, and I thought that Malta had matured? When will Malta act like a democratic nation not a Middle East .....?
So it is not only St Mary vs St Joseph, or St Mary vs St George. It is not only St Mary vs Our Lady of the Lilly, etc.
This is from a party that claims to be advanced democratic with a pair of solid hands.
We are scandelised by the way the Isrealis are at logger heads with the Palestinians, etc.
Wake upMalta. We are now full members of the EU, we use the euro, we even help in international problems and fora, but are not capable of diminishing our problems.
If certains events are celebrated jointly it does not mean that the members would have changed party allegiance.
Even the very fact that we have FIVE (5) national days is rediculous. The smaller we are the more national days we have.
How can we be expected to trust our "leaders" when they act like small children having tantrums?
Wake up all of you. If the PN represent 50% plus say 1000, the PL also represent 50%, give or take a few.
The polItical parties must learn to be truly democratic and not dictatorial. We do not have Ghaddafi, Mubarak, or come to that Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini and the rest.
I CRY FOR YOU MALTA, WHEN WILL YOU LEARN TO LIVE AND LET LIVE?
Fran Abela
Sep 21st 2011, 15:52
The Maltese will lear to live and let live when ALL the political parties stop dividing the nation !
Ms Marija Falzon
Sep 21st 2011, 14:36
Dr. Gonzi and Co have become more obsessed with petty politics, over milking the Libyan situation, than doing a penny's worth to unite the country.
Mr Ernest Vella
Sep 21st 2011, 14:23
issa la Dr.Muscat ikun fil-gvern...qed niehu x'nifhem li dawn ir-regola bla sens ha jinbidlu!!! iz-zmien jaghtina parir
D Farrugia
Sep 21st 2011, 14:37
Of course Mr Vella. Piques on such days should be forgotten.
It's good that Dr Muscat pays his respect to the Independence, despite the protocol. It's a sign on maturity.
Mr Ivan M. Dingli
Sep 21st 2011, 14:37
Sur. Vella, jistaw jinbidlu issa ukoll sakemm hemm Dr. Gonzi bhala Priministru hux vera? Anzi kien hemm cans sa minn zmien Dr. Fenech Adami biex jittiehed dan il-pass. Zida ma 'to do list' tal-Labour halli jkollok fuq xix taqbad iktar il-quddiem (forsi).
Philip Hili
Sep 21st 2011, 15:00
@D Farrugia
No body denied Dr Muscat to pay respect to the Independence although in the past I am sure that he never agreed tpo pay tribute to Independence.
What Dr Muscat wants is to go against ALL rules of the protocol, something he should learn that he cannot do. This is not the first time he wanted to go against all rules of the protocol!!!
Mr Victor Laiviera
Sep 21st 2011, 14:19
The usual excuses. The PN wants to be free to keep on using (or misusing) Independence Day for partisan propaganda.
M Muscat
Sep 21st 2011, 14:12
Fit-13 ta’ Dicembru JUM ir-Repobblika u fil-31 ta’ Marzu JUM il-Helsien.
La ssir Quddiesa Pontifikali fil-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Gwann mill-Arcisqof.
La jsir Kuncert mill-Orkestra Filarmonika Nazzjonali fil-Palazz il-Belt mill-President ta’ Malta.
U l-anqas issir ir-riceviment fil-Gnien tal-Barrakka mill Prim Ministru.
Dan ghaliex mhux jum nazzjonali dawn ukoll? Jew forsi tat-tieni klassi.
Jew taparsi ghamilna rikonciljazzjoni!
Fran Abela
Sep 21st 2011, 16:21
Mr. Muscat - without Independence there could not have been Republic Day !
Anthony Grech
Sep 21st 2011, 16:35
Mr Abela without Adam and Eve you and me could not be here today either.
M Schembri
Sep 21st 2011, 17:14
Now let me see where did it all start. Without the BIG BANG there would be no Solar System - no Earth - no Malta -No Independence no Republic no PN and no PL. Let us all celebrate the BIG BANG.
M Muscat
Sep 21st 2011, 23:34
Skuzi Sur Abela nahseb li ma fimtx dak li jiena ktiebt.
Il-Kustjoni kollha hija li jekk ghandek sitt festi Nazzjonali ghandek ticcelebrhom l-istess.
Minn qallek li kieku ma gietx l-Indipendenza ma kinietx tigi ir-Repubblika.
Mr Edward Mallia
Sep 21st 2011, 14:06
Pretty pathetic show all round. Perhaps we can have a referendum on the matter, with 'the question' designed to allow God to bring together what man has divided, this time.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 21st 2011, 13:57
Now that is being 'stately'