Two months ago, I visited your beautiful island and had the pleasure of being acquainted with a few locals who I can easily describe to be some of the most hospitable people I ever met.

One of the highlights of my short stay in Malta was a visit to the Old Military Prison in Paola. I met the curator of this heritage asset who enthusiastically showed me around, and also gave me some interesting information about the prison.

It seems this detention centre was built for British servicemen, but on two occasions even Maltese citizens were imprisoned there. During the last world war, locals who showed open sympathy with fascist Italy were detained there for a number of days before they were eventually expelled without trial to Uganda .

And in the late 1950s, a number of Socialist ministers were kept there for causing political agitation on the island, which the British authorities obviously did not like. Among these was a woman who later became President of Malta.

Allow me to congratulate all those who were responsible for the restoration of this historic building which I am pleased to note attracted financial assistance from the EU.