Fifty years ago I was there. Not only to celebrate the birth of a nation when, at the Independence Arena, in Floriana, watched by over 100,000 people, the Union Jack was lowered and the red and white Maltese flag was raised on the same flagpole to the playing of the Maltese national anthem. I was also there to play my part in the May 1964 referendum, which approved Malta’s Constitution and paved the way for independence.
On March 15, 1964, a joint statement by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Duncan Sandys, and the Prime Minister of Malta, George Borg Olivier, was released in London saying it had been agreed that the independence Constitution should be submitted to the Maltese electorate through a referendum.
I recall being summoned to Auberge d’Aragon, the prime minister’s office. At the time, I was assistant editor of the Nationalist Party official paper Il-Poplu. Due to financial reasons, the paper was published only once a week and Borg Olivier asked me whether it was possible for me to publish Il-Poplu three times a week during the referendum campaign... and include foreign news.
The main ceremony brought tears to the tens of thousands assembled at Independence Arena
For me, the prime minister’s and PN leader’s wish was an order. It was a challenge I accepted without hesitation. This was all voluntary work.
I am proud to say that I made a good job of it, so much so that on May 19, 1964, I received a letter from Borg Olivier, who was in London, thanking me for my contribution towards the referendum’s positive result. He ended his letter with the words that “with persons like you around me, I am ready to tackle any opposition”.
The referendum took place between May 2 and 4 and the result was 65,714 votes for the proposed Constitution and 54,919 against.
The independence referendum was held with a background of an economy in a very bad state due to the British Services rundown.
At the time, a UN mission, headed by Wolfgang Stolper, recommended an emigration target of 10,000 people a year.
A report by a joint study group of UK and Maltese officials concluded that if no remedial measures were taken by 1967 “unemployment would reach about 20,000 on fairly favourable assumptions and 29,000 under less favourable assumptions, national income would drop by 15 per cent, while government revenues would suffer substantial reductions”.
It had to be Borg Olivier, who had faith in the Maltese people, to go for a referendum under those circumstances. He argued the economic and social situation would not improve unless Malta’s fate was in the hands of Maltese.
Having won the independence referendum, Borg Olivier flew to London for the longest stay away from Malta in his political career: two whole months.
He wanted to round up problems related to the independence Constitution, the mutual defence agreement and the financial agreement.
These agreements were hailed in Malta with vast celebrations.
Borg Olivier, following the long drawn out negotiations for a Constitution, which were brought to a successful conclusion on July 21, 1964, returned to his country on July 26 to a hero’s welcome at the airport and all the way to Valletta.
He addressed the crowds assembled on St George’s Square, Valletta from the Palace balcony, reminding the thousands present that, in 1921, as a boy, he had witnessed from the square below Filippo Sciberras the announcement of the granting of the first responsible government for Malta and said after so many years he could now announce Malta’s independence after such a long struggle.
From this day onwards, Malta was preparing for the great day. On the night of September 20-21, the Maltese and the Gozitans witnessed the attainment of statehood. Ninety minutes of parades, displays and folk dances were the prelude to the main ceremony which brought tears to the tens of thousands assembled at Independence Arena.
Prince Philip, representing the Queen, handed over to Borg Olivier the constitutional instruments. He triumphantly waved these documents and held them high for all to see.
Addressing those present, Borg Olivier said: “Independence does not mean that our country can do away with all outside help, that our people need not work, that we require no friendly aid. Independence means that we shall have to work harder and with greater will as we have to prove to the world that we are indeed worthy of the independence we have attained; that we can work democratically, and lead our people along the road of law and order towards economic prosperity for ourselves and our children.”
Wise and sincere words that the Maltese nation has followed during the last 50 years of its independence.
On that historic occasion, I was there.
I am proud that I have contributed a small part to Malta’s independence.
Joe Zahra is a former newspaper editor.