Since the post office has been taken over by Lombard Bank, it is not issuing its annual philatelic programme, which is a great pity.

Here are some personalities who have special anniversaries in 2014: Luigi Billion, an educator and poet – 75th anniversary of his death; Giuseppe Caruana, artist – 50th anniversary of his death; Josie Mallia Pulvirenti, composer – 50th anniversary of his death; Maria Giuseppina Curmi, foundress of the congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Jesus of Nazareth – 150th anniversary of her birth; Mikiel Anton Vassalli and Sir Themistocles Zammit both have special anniversaries in 2014 but they have  already appeared on a Maltese postage stamp.

Moreover, 2014 is the first centenary of World War I, when Malta became known as the Nurse of the Mediterranean.

The Gozitan Diocese will be celebrating its first centenary.

This anniversary deserves a joint issue with the Vatican Post.  Finally Malta will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence, 40th anniversary of the Republic and 10th anniversary of its membership of the EU. All these deserve an issue of stamps.

Thanks to the 1964 Constitution, the Innu Malti became the national anthem, Maltese became the national language and the white and red flag with the George Cross became Malta’s national flag.

Malta became part of the Commonwealth 50 years ago. Malta had its first High Commission in London in 1964 and the first Maltese passports were also issued in that year.

Do these anniversaries deserve to be marked on stamps?