I am glad, perhaps even elated, that in the opening of the 13th legislature there has been a formal promise to write a new constitution. This is long overdue.

Let us all hope our representatives will appreciate the importance of such a move. So far,the constitutions had always been “given” with the express approval of a foreign power.

I, and many others, are sure we have matured enough to be able to control our future. We have learnt through experience that we need a constitution that works, is suitable for all the people and that functions irrespective of who governs these islands.

In drafting the new document, all those involved must look well beyond the present time. This is not a case of party politics. A new constitution must honour our background and history.

Let us all pray and hope we are capable of working together. We must show Europe and the world that, though small, we have had civilisation for many millennia. We have learnt from some of the great powers and have made a mark in the history of the Mediterranean, of Europe, if not the world.

Finally, the day the new constitution is approved unanimously by Parliament should be declared a national holiday: a day everybody will be proud of, a day of unity, a day of maturity.

Let us stop commemorating an insulting Constitution imposed on us by a foreign power. Once we have a new constitution there should never be any further mention of June 7, 1919 which was, and still is, a day of shame.

From then on, we would be able to boast of one national day.