At the beginning of the 19th century, Malta, like other European countries, suffered from poverty.

Today, an iconic memorial of this terrible period exists at Nix Mangari lane in Valletta, which records the suffering of the poor and hungry. Beggars gathered there with outstretched hands pleading for alms from people on their way to Victoria Gate.

With the arrival of the British in Malta and the country’s use as a naval base for the Mediterranean fleet, the picture started changing and improving.

The navy’s daily surplus of nutritious food was bought by local tradesmen and consisted of boiled green peas, mashed or boiled potatoes and slices of meat.

These foodstuffs were generally bought for a nominal charge by the hungry poor. With time, employment opportunities arose at the dockyard and consequently there was more money in circulation.

Since then, our prosperity never ceased to progress and thanks to our hardworking workers and businessmen, our people now enjoy a relatively high standard of living.