Six organisations committed to the development of the Maltese language insisted on their position against the establishment of a committee to change the Maltese Language Act.

The Akkademja tal-Malti, the university’s Għaqda tal-Malti, the Għaqda tal-Qarrejja tal-Provi, the university’s Department of Maltese, the university’s Institute of Linguistics and the Junior College's Department of Maltese highlighted their concerns last week insisting that the National Council for the Maltese Language enjoyed strong support.

In a reply, the ministry said the process would strengthen the work of the council’s work while improving the language.

However, the organisations insisted this morning they were against the establishment of a committee consisting of a few hand-picked individuals.

“We retain our confidence in an autonomous and representative National Council as well as in the free and democratic process evinced during the National Forum on the Maltese Language, during which the present and future of Maltese were openly discussed.”

The forum, held jointly by the council and the ministry on November 7, agreed that "the Council for the Maltese Language should retain its regulatory role and should take decisions that were legally binding, following a wide-ranging consultation process".

It also stated that "the selection of Council members should remain autonomous and free of political interference".

The organisations said that as institutions and organisations working to support the development of Maltese as a modern language, they expected the minister to respect the free and open process that he himself initiated together with the Council for the Maltese Language, as stipulated by law, and proceed according to the conclusions reached by the National Forum.