A commemorative event was held on the occasion of ‘Jum Ghawdex’ at Independence Square, Victoria, on Friday. The memorial ceremony commemorates the 214th anniversary of the uprising of the Gozitans against the French led by Archpriest Saver Cassar in 1798.

The programme coordinated by the National and Regional Celebrations Committee in conjunction with the Office of Culture within the Ministry for Gozo, included poetry readings of Gozitan poet Anton Buttigieg read by a student from the Girls Secondary School and a presentation of a commemorative book written by Can. Agius de Soldanis.

The chorus of the Gozo College Victoria Primary School, Year 4, under the direction of Mariella Spiteri, sang the hymn to Gozo, the anthem of the Gozo College and the National Anthem.

Frederick Azzopardi Parliamentary Assistant within the Ministry for Gozo, delivered a message on behalf of the Minister for Gozo for this occasion which among other things urged students to recognise and appreciate the history and cultural heritage of the island.

The ceremony ended with the placing of wreaths at the monument of the Archpriest Saver Cassar, by Frederick Azzopardi and the President of the National and Regional Celebrations Committee Mr Vincent Grech, the President of Circolo Gozitano Dr Alfred Grech and by the Principal of the Gozo College Ms Anita Sciberras.

Also this morning 160 students attending primary and secondary schools participated in cultural visits to sites of historical importance in Victoria. The sites included the Monastery of St. Augustine, the Public Library, the Basilica of St. George, the Museum of Archaeology and Folklore Museum at the Citadel The Ministry for Gozo, the Convent of St Francis, the Banca Giuratale and the Cathedral.

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