I just cannot understand why the George Cross on the Maltese flag keeps getting questioned. Malta’s long and chequered connection with Great Britain has been cemented with its inclusion on our national colours.

Malta was never colonised. After the French troops surrendered and left the island, Malta became a British protectorate. And that is how we became associated with Britain.

In 1802, the representatives of the Maltese drew up a Declaration of Rights in which they agreed to come “under the protection and sovereignty of the King of the free people, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. It was also stated that “His Majesty has no right to cede these Islands to any power... if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the inhabitants alone, and without control”. It was in 1814 that Malta, under the Treaty of Paris, officially became part of the British Empire.

Having said all this, I feel that we should be proud of our long association with Britain. There are various reasons but the main one should be what could have happened to us were we to end up under Nazi occupation in World War II. Also, Britain remains our top tourism market.

The Maltese flag should, therefore, forever carry the George Cross with pride.