Freedom Day (1)

Today, the Maltese commemorate a very significant event in the country’s historical timeline – Freedom Day – when the very last ship of the British forces left our shores. This day marked the beginning of a new era, marked by the will of the Maltese people to stand on their own feet and manage their own country without foreign interference. From then on, the Maltese government could manage the country’s foreign affairs and communications sector, the autonomy of which was absent in prior agreements with the British colonisers.

Having said that, Freedom Day would not have been possible without the granting of Independence in 1964 and the proclamation of the Maltese Republic in 1974. Thus, these three were steps towards the achievement of true political freedom and, ultimately, the opportunity of governing one’s own country, something which we Maltese seldom tasted throughout our extremely exciting history.

I highly appreciated, therefore, Joseph Muscat’s speech during the Freedom Day celebration organised by the Labour Party because it was an address aimed at creating a communal vibe among different sectors of Maltese society.

Ultimately, the achievements of any one party in government belong to the entire society and occasions like Independence Day and Freedom Day should be hailed by all as equally important milestones and celebrations of unity instead of literally using them to stir discord among members of the same society.