Addressing participants at the conclusion of the third Convention for Maltese Living Abroad, which focused on strengthening unity between all the people of Maltese origin wherever they live, President George Abela rightly said that, while it was indispensable for Maltese migrants to integrate in the community of the country they are living in and absorb its way of life, it is also good that they seek the roots of their parents and cherish the heritage that is theirs.
In this context, it was surely a positive experience to see one speaker after another at the convention communicating a strong desire to ensure that all that is Maltese continues to be treasured not only by the older generations but also the new generations of people of Maltese origin living in so many different countries, societies and cultures.
In this context, the announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg that the government sought the setting up of an institute composed of Maltese people living in Malta and Maltese people living abroad, to promote Maltese cultural heritage, language, traditions and folklore among people of Maltese origin living in other countries, was surely a step in the right direction.
Such an initiative promises to be a valuable forward-looking investment, especially if the new mechanism is not only given clear terms of reference but also guaranteed sufficient funding and other resources to be able to do a good job.
It would be able to bring together all interested parties in Malta and representatives of the communities of Maltese living abroad to scrutinise and work upon the proposals and recommendations made during the convention. It could then perhaps embark on a new carefully-planned and organised drive towards the dissemination and appreciation of all the essential components of the Maltese identity, especially among young people of Maltese descent living abroad.
It needs to be acknowledged that one of the big challenges that lie ahead after the positive experience of the convention, which proved to be a celebration of unity among Maltese wherever they are living, is definitely how to reach out in an effective way to the new generations of people of Maltese living abroad in order to encourage and help them keep close to their hearts their Maltese roots and heritage.
One message that perhaps needs to be driven home as effectively as possible among these young people is that, if one is living in a sea of ethnic groups, as is the case, for instance, in Australia, identifying oneself with one's national and cultural ethnic group is bound to translate into a sense of belonging.
Another welcome announcement was that by the Minister of Education, Dolores Cristina, regarding a number of proposed initiatives aimed at encouraging and supporting the teaching of the Maltese language among Maltese communities abroad, something which The Times has already had the opportunity to express itself in favour of.
All efforts aimed at fostering solidarity, cooperation and unity among people of Maltese origin wherever they live and to help embrace ever better the concept of a Greater Malta, which has rightly been described as a logical awareness of what is a factual reality, deserve full appreciation, encouragement and support.
Such efforts should, in fact, also reflect, among other things, a will power to reap the best possible benefits from the laws passed through Parliament introducing and gradually extending the right to dual citizenship, which is now available to all those who can prove Maltese ancestry.