On Friday, Malta celebrates its 54th birthday. It was only on September 21, 1964, and on no other day, that Malta was born as a sovereign and independent nation, as a member in our own right of the international community of nations. 

It was as of that date, and no other, that we could make further decisions about our own future, be it the decision to become a republic, or to terminate any mutual defence agreement or rental of space for the presence of British Forces in Malta, or to become a member of the European Union.

Now, 54 years later, we are again discussing what should be obvious – we need to stand united in favour of declaring Independence Day as our national day.

Labour Party councillor Desmond Zammit Marmara (September 4) pointed out that it is patently ridiculous to remain in the present situation, where Malta has five national days and Independence Day is not accorded pride of place as the single national day.

Then, writing on September 6, Henri Frendo observed that it is about time now that we remove the blinkers, and, as in most ex-colonies, fully recognise the historical import of Independence Day, warts and all.

Joe Pirotta added his own arguments in favour of proclaiming Independence Day as our national day.

The situation is even more ludicrous since the truth is that Malta does not even have a national day. In virtue of the National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act (Chapter 252), Malta has five national holidays but not one national day.

That law largely reflects one of the major reconciliation moves that former Nationalist prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami had made in 1989, amending the law as existing before that date.

Before 1989, Malta kept changing its national day.

For some time, the Labour Party in Opposition had supported Malta’s Independence Day as the country’s national day, but when in power had not only chosen not to celebrate Independence Day as a national day but not even allow that day to be celebrated as a national holiday.

Moreover, when the Nationalist Party would still organise events to celebrate our country’s birthday and gaining of full sovereignty, persons celebrating would be subjected to violent and repressive acts.

I would like to think that we have since then matured enough politically to reach consensus over one national day

My own baptism of blood within the Nationalist fold dates to 1974 when I was beaten up for delivering a speech about the cultural significance of Independence.

When the Labour Party was elected in 1971, it began by opting to change our national day to September 8 (Victory Day) – purely out of spite – and then after 1974, chose December 13 (Republic Day) as the new national day, changing later (as of 1980) to March 31 (Freedom Day).

While in office, Labour went through four changes of national day.

The 1980 law retained a reference to Republic Day as a national holiday but completely ignored Sette Giugno (June 7), Victory Day and Independence Day.

Fenech Adami opted for a totally different approach. He gave equal importance to March 31, June 7, September 8, September 21 and December 13. In the original Bill, Independence Day was indicated as the national day while the other days were proclaimed as national holidays.

Then in Parliament, Fenech Adami went a step further and removed any reference to any one day being national day and equated all days as national holidays.

That is how the law still stands.

I would like to think that we have since then matured enough politically to reach consensus over one national day – which we don’t have – and proclaim other days of relevance as national holidays.

In any country that respects its history, the choice should pertain to that country’s date of birth. None of the subsequent achievements ranging from becoming a Republic to joining the European Union, could be secured without gaining sovereignty in the first place.

Just as every individual would first and foremost cherish his/her birthday before celebrating other achievements that he or she would make later in life, our country needs to celebrate and honour its own birthday – September 21, 1964.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca expressed publicly her belief that the time is ripe for Malta to decide once and for all on a national day following a period of reflection and a national debate.

Now is the time to show our political maturity as a nation and make that decision together, through political consensus.  Independence Day should be the obvious choice.

The fact that there are persons of different political opinions who are making this argument is encouraging but the buck stops with the government.

What is taking the government solong to decide and promote national unity by truly celebrating and honouring our birthday?

Francis Zammit Dimech is a Nationalist Party MEP.

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