Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg yesterday formally launched Il-Kunsill tal-Maltin ta’ Barra – The Council for Maltese Abroad. Through the Council, the Government is reaching out to all Maltese living overseas and trying to provide closer links between them and their homeland. Immediately this opportunity throws up a host of questions.

Why should a nation as small as ours, which has over-achieved, occasionally disown the fact we are Maltese- Rosalie Rivett

When I was appointed on this laudable, voluntary endeavour I asked those questions: what are we supposed to do with it, what is it for, how will it work in practice and what benefits will it bring for the island and for those who live overseas? How could we best respond positively to this cross-party initiative?

This is a very special moment, one of those occasions in life which could make a difference. First of all it needs to be said that we are proud to be Maltese, and not hesitate to proclaim as much, in a loud and clear voice wherever we live. Just to have to say this strikes non-Maltese as odd.

Why should a nation as small as ours which has over-achieved and produced distinguished international figures in the arts, sciences, jurisprudence, politics and commerce wish to downplay its heritage, even, occasionally, disown the fact that we are Maltese? And yet that is what has, sometimes, happened over the years.

It all had to do with issues of citizenship, personal rights, identity, especially that of married women, and nationality, but that is in the past. Today most have multi-layered identities, such as being Maltese, a Commonwealth citizen and a European citizen as well as in many cases, the citizenship of the host country.

There is another longer-lasting, insidious and softly spoken jealousy between some of those who have stayed in Malta to build their lives here and those who have ventured abroad to seek their fortunes, or whose personal circumstances have taken them away from their homeland.

This Council has a duty to build a bridge between Maltese wherever they live and our island community. The point of a bridge is that people, trade, skills and ideas can travel in both directions.

Our island may be small but in the great scheme of things so, too, is the world and surely it behoves those who have been successful to help others, to guide them, advise them, support them, invest in them... even if they have left Malta.

The Council has been established by act of parliament and is enshrined in the Maltese Constitution. Its purpose is to represent interests of Maltese communities abroad before Maltese authorities, to protect and cherish the national identity, to promote our heritage and culture in all its richness. That does not mean that we are trapped in a time warp of pastizzi and bigilla, our heritage goes so far beyond Żeppi and Grezz.

There is a major difference between culture and folklore, yet there is room for both. It is sometimes these aspects, different perspectives and perceptions, that alienate some members of the diaspora as they feel that some of their compatriots may not have moved with the times. There is occasionally a tendency still to act, and indeed maintain standards, as they did one or two generations ago.

It is such a pity that, occasionally, we denigrate ourselves by harking back to old times and age-old customs such as trying to reproduce a Maltese village festa of 100 years ago in other major cities abroad without modern adjustments. The formula just doesn’t always fit and can jar with some more progressive Maltin ta’ Barra.

Our traditional dance, music, costumes, customs and language are important but we should not give the impression that that is all Malta has to offer. Malta is a growing nation, a flourishing commercial and financial centre attracting businesses from all over the world and we have influence.

We have played strategic roles in international affairs, negotiations and conflicts and we have shown our ability to navigate skilfully in hostile diplomatic waters. We have much to be proud of and now we have a chance to pool our talents and capitalise on them.

The establishment of this Council is a bold undertaking. Like all modern nations, the government of Malta is reaching out to its diaspora as it realises that engagement with all Maltese is mutually beneficial.

However, the Council will be stillborn unless we all realise that this could be a vehicle to help all Maltese achieve even greater heights.

Council members are open to suggestions and for the venture to succeed there has to be dialogue. Although the Council is an instrument of Foreign Affairs it exists for the benefit of all; it does not issue decrees, pass laws or give instructions.

The following are a few suggestions as to what it could do, there will be others:

Communication – we live in a world of instantaneous and continuous communication so let’s make better use of the internet and broadcasting systems to reach out to one another to interact and to keep ourselves informed of what small and great endeavours we are undertaking in Malta or overseas.

This flow of information will keep the world up to date about our modern country and its people. To varying degrees this does happen within some overseas communities.

Networking – it should be possible for anyone travelling anywhere in the world to be able to find out if there is a fellow Maltese in a city. Council members represent various regions where many Maltese already live and their role can include the facility to provide the right connections and make appropriate introductions.

A voluntary register of names and contact details might be the only chance of finding an attentive ear in foreign parts to help a project to succeed.

By complimenting, not transgressing, the work of our embassies and High Commissions, the Council can facilitate all manner of private and corporate initiatives, exhibitions and educational gatherings, conferences and concerts.

Investment – I see this as selling Malta in all its facets (business, finance, tourism, education and the arts) to the world.

I also see it as a vehicle for selling the entrepreneurial drive of Maltese as they build their lives and international businesses.

We live in a tough economic environment – why not work with fellow countrymen and women? If you have been blessed with success then sprinkle some of that magic dust on our students at university or give a helping hand to young, budding entrepreneurs should they call out of the blue and ask for advice.

Your voice – above all the Council is the Maltese (abroad) voice before Government regardless of how far away from Malta one might live. We are specifically tasked with making sure opinions are heard on all aspects of new legislation as it may affect members’ interests.

But, and it is a big but, if you don’t talk to members of Council, write to them, e-mail them, then they cannot speak up on your behalf. In due time all these lines of communication will be open. There are, and will be, specific websites to promote what members and the Council are achieving together.

Last, but not least, the young – the population of Malta is quite youthful. They are the masters and mistresses of new technology, new ways of communicating, new trends and styles.

I would urge them to be the main drivers of the Council, helping to set its course and agenda. We can and should celebrate our history, for it is only by understanding the past, and learning from it, that we can forge an even brighter and better future.

In summary, the Council has been established for all Maltese, to celebrate the lives they are living today, the achievements of the past, and the ambitions for what is yet to come.

Because of Malta’s geo-strategic location countless visitors and invaders have landed on our shores.

We have absorbed their influences, adopted some of their ways; they have had an impact on our culture, on our language and over the centuries created a glorious heritage but throughout we have remained Maltese.

I believe we are a richer nation because of the wealth of influences and by understanding and rejoicing in our history we can build wider and deeper personal, cultural and commercial relations wherever we find ourselves.

We are fortunate to be Maltese and we celebrate what it is to be a citizen of Malta.

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