This month marks the 70th anniversary since the infamous deporation of 48 Maltese to Uganda by the British authorities, and it is about time that this important, albeit sad, episode of Malta’s history is recalled in some way.

The Maltese who were exiled were part of a far larger group of Maltese who were interned and separated from their families for years, on the pretext of supporting Italian culture. My father was one of them.

Although my father, John Navarro, was not deported to Uganda, I was kindly invited by Pino Scicluna to view his production Internati u Deportati in the vaults of the Auberge de Castille – a perfect backdrop to recall what those poor people endured.

Considered as children of a “lesser God” by some

The production portrays a vivid picture of the events the internees went through.

Mr Scicluna, host and proud son of a deported internee, gave an emotional rendition of the events. The events were highlighted in detail – from the humiliation which the internees went through when being “questioned” right through to their imprisonment at Fort Salvatore, Corradino and St Agatha Catacombs followed by the departure of 48 of the group on board the cargo ship Breconshire on their way to Uganda. The trip was an ordeal in itself, with the prisoners locked in the hold as the ship was bombed. It just missed being hit by a torpedo.

Once in Uganda most of the internees were afflicted by many maladies including malaria.

Mr Scicluna, who was 11 years old when he lost his father after the war, yearns to connect with his dear departed father in this real life drama, and still questions why all this happened.

My father, like his father, was a dockyard employee, trying to eke out a living for his mother and 10 siblings after having had to give up his studies when his father died suddenly at a young age.

Dad suffered a lot of prejudice in his lifetime because of his internment, particularly when he started seeing my mother during the latter part of the war – even though, upon his release, he was actually conscripted in the army after having been labelled a traitor!

I lost my father at the age of 15 and am still considered a child of a “lesser God” by some fools.

The anguish and pain followed him to his grave even though he retired as higher executive officer at the law courts, where he won the esteem of all his peers for his integrity and sterling work.

Mr Scicluna’s great initiative should be given prominence by TVM so that the sheer ignorance that still exists can be eradicated.

I dare say that it is very high time that all internees are commemorated in a dignified manner. The internees never stood trial. Their sole crime was that they shared a passion for the Italian language and culture.

I hope I am wrong when I say that this obscure chapter in our history seems to have been “conveniently” forgotten.