In the last 50 years, there have been two pivotal events in Malta’s history. The first was Malta’s attainment of independence, whose 50th anniversary will be celebrated in four days’ time. The second was Malta’s accession to the European Union 10 years ago, which confirmed and embedded Malta’s arrival on the European stage both psychologically and as a sovereign independent state.
At the time of writing, either Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge, or another Royal representative of the Queen, will be arriving in Malta on Saturday to mark the importance of the last 50 years, and to add a touch of colour and glamour to the Golden Jubilee of Malta’s Independence celebrations.
Their presence in Malta will serve as a warm reminder of the time, long before the Duchess was born, when Malta was one of the jewels in the British Crown. The British legacy to Malta after a period lasting 164 years is a strong, honourable and enduring one. Despite the inevitable political tensions that have sometimes divided Maltese and British politicians, especially in the wake of independence when an economically weakened Britain was disentangling itself from colonial involvements as fast as it decently could, Anglo-Maltese friendship has been strong, despite the odd political spat.
I was fortunate to catch the tail-end of the British Empire, with Britain still a world power that had been instrumental in saving Europe from German Nazism and Italian Fascism. Our grandparents, however, knew Britain when it was still the world’s superpower. Today, you have only to read the contemporary accounts of the first and second world wars to understand the friendship, love and respect of the British for the Maltese, and vice-versa, to comprehend its depth and genuineness.
Almost 50 years after Independence, Malta is now able to look back on the century and a half of British colonial rule with a measure of objectivity. It is now a successful – indeed, a thriving and vibrant – parliamentary democracy with a remarkably solid economy.
As one looks out from Valletta along the Mediterranean littoral, it is indeed a beacon of light in this turbulent sea: affluent, democratic, homogeneous and free. Much of that success can be attributed to the British legacy to Malta years ago.
What legacy you might ask? I would begin by pointing at the English language. We have been fortunate that the founding fathers of the Maltese Constitution 50 years ago were far-seeing and broad-minded enough to make English one of the official languages of Malta. That decision has ensured that in an island that borders both Africa and Europe, uniquely placed at a crossroads, a nation that is blessed with the facility to learn, speak and use English gains an advantage of incalculable proportions over other countries in this region.
English has given Malta a pathway to the modern world. It has given it the ability and the means to conduct and attract business, commerce and visitors to these islands, to the considerable benefit of our economy and the enrichment of our culture. Our bilingualism – albeit today regrettably under threat – gives us a huge competitive edge. Malta’s use of English helps it to achieve its goals of economic growth and international communications and friendship. English has been our lifeline to the world.
Next, I would place the solid institutions that were established, painfully and sometimes in the face of British opposition, during the colonial period. These survive and thrive to this day. Prime among these is our liberal parliamentary democracy. The Independence Constitution of Malta is based on British constitutional theory and practice. It came about in the wake of earlier limited self-governing constitutions. It represents the bedrock of the democratic governance of Malta.
Malta is indeed a beacon of light in this turbulent sea. Much of its success can be attributed to the British legacy to Malta years ago
This Constitution, notwithstanding some deficiencies, has served Malta well for the last 50 years and is perhaps the greatest unsung British legacy to Malta.
A vibrant House of Representatives, political parties, an embedded electoral system which sees over 90 per cent of voters participating, all have their roots 100 or more years ago. When we look at countries around us, we find that Malta’s parliamentary system is unique. It is a system learnt from the British and modelled on their institutions. It gives Malta a priceless stability when compared to our neighbours, both to the south and the north.
While our civil law is essentially Napoleon’s legacy to Malta in line with the civil law pattern in the rest of continental Europe, the criminal, administrative and fiscal legislation is largely based on well-tried British laws. More importantly, however, the concept of the rule of law – even though we tend to be careless about it – is derived from an understanding, which is British, that it is fundamental to any democracy. All the experience obtained during the last 214 years of implementing British public law has served Malta well.
The other important instruments of society – the judiciary, the armed forces and police, Malta’s education system, the civil service and the concept of freedom of speech and the media – also stem from institutional structures honed during the British period. Unless such institutions have strong roots, democracy and good governance cannot work.
The foundations of Malta’s infrastructure – the airport, the harbour, road networks, aquifers, sewage system, water and electricity – were all laid down or were expanded during the British period.
Almost every sport played in Malta – most passionately football, but also athletics, rugby and tennis – owes its origins to the British Armed Services and the love of sport which they inculcated in the Maltese. Though the last 50 years have witnessed an appalling neglect of some aspects of British-built cultural heritage, there is now a growing appreciation that colonial architecture, and especially the military fortifications, offer an outstanding legacy which is not only historically important but also aesthetically pleasing.
But the jewel in the crown of Malta’s British cultural heritage is the presence of the George Cross on the Maltese flag.
Far from being a mark of colonialism, as some who have no understanding of history sometimes foolishly assert, the George Cross is the most outstanding tribute to that generation of Maltese people – our parents, grandparents and those my age – who suffered and fought willingly, bravely and fervently against Nazism and Fascism 72 years ago.
Those who argue that the Maltese were coerced into a war not of their making have no conception of the loyalty to the British democratic values that impelled them to do so. Except for a small minority of Italian Fascist fellow-travellers, the vast majority of Maltese endured the horrors and privations of that war not only because geography had placed Malta inescapably in a vital strategic position, but also because they believed utterly in the causes of freedom and democracy for which the war was fought.
The George Cross is a distinguishing mark of valour and Malta is unique among countries of the world in bearing it proudly on its flag.
Above all, the British legacy is epitomised by the strong and abiding friendship that exists today, when Malta, a proud sovereign state in the European Union and the Commonwealth, stands shoulder to shoulder again with Britain, head held high, on so many issues of common concern.