In her Republic Day speech during the investiture ceremony and the awarding of the medals at the Grand Council Hall, in the President’s Palace, in Valletta, President Myriam Spiteri Debono expressed the wish that the Maltese and Gozitans “use their good qualities properly and for the common good.”
Speaking about Gozo, the President highlighted the fact that connectivity between Malta and Gozo remains crucial for the people of Gozo. However, she noted that the situation nowadays is a far cry from the one prevailing fifty years ago. “Gozo’s double insularity has made of Gozitans a race within a race.”
The President noted with satisfaction that Gozo is to be the Region of Culture for 2025, auguring that “the Gozitans utilise this opportunity to showcase all that Gozo and its people have to offer.”
“During the last sixty years Malta registered rapid progress in nearly all sectors; Gozo took time to assimilate this progress in its system,” the President said. “In Malta this resulted in some elements of regress, therefore the fact that progress bypassed Gozo was perhaps a blessing.”
The President mentioned that during these last thirty years, Gozitans made their distinctive character the basis of organisations which are developing a particular vision for Gozo. “I am directly referring to the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber.”
“A particular vision for Gozo benefits both Gozo and Malta since it offers a variety of experiences in various sectors,” the President said.
“Gozo has a very particular ethos; on one side consisting of the intrinsic psychological independence of the Gozitans and on the other side the dependence Gozo has on Malta as the biggest island of our Archipelago.” The President stressed that “it is necessary that a balance be found between the Gozitan character and the situation on the ground so that Gozo develops its full potential.”
During her speech the President highlighted various developments for the country that have taken place during the past fifty years and emphasised that that “our people have nothing less than other peoples.”
Regarding the Commissioner for Standards, the President said that, “one wonders if this Institution has the necessary wherewithal to be an effective disciplinary tool. Oftentimes, it appears that the decisions in the Standing Committee part of this Institution are taken according to party lines, according to instructions by the whips.”
She noted that “in these circumstances, it is the Speaker’s casting vote which determines the issue. These instances put into focus the Speaker’s position. Has the time come to consider strengthening the Presidency of the House of Representatives?”
The President stated that “Malta is witnessing incidents of unethical behaviour, at times, behaviour which is not honest and worthy of those whom the populace tasked with its representation.”
“Respect for institutions depends on the behaviour of the occupant’s role,” the President said. “Members of Parliament are collectively and individually responsible for the public’s perception of Parliament when one mentions this institution.”
She stressed that “it is unfair that in this regard all members of the House of Representatives are lumped together. Whoever does not exercise proper behaviour and honesty is not only causing prejudice to the people, but also to those other Members who are upright and honest, and I add, also towards himself/herself.”
The President reiterated that “the less work the people’s representatives give the Commissioner for Standards, the more they deserve the title of Honourables.”
“I sincerely think that the time has come to seriously examine how the Parliamentary institution can be strengthened. Concomitant with this one also has to examine the law regarding the formation of the House of Representatives – the question whether Members of Parliament should be full time has been raised for a long time,” the President said.
She pointed out that “there is nothing to hold back the Members of Parliament from themselves moving forward on this, not only in their respective parties, but also in Parliament itself by an ad-hoc Committee endowed with the power to delve into this matter and make recommendations thereon.”
The President also expressed her wish that authorities lead by example “to instill in young people a backbone of character, which translates into a fine sense of ethics and of what is fair and appropriate.”
Photo: Office of the President/Francis Debono