The 46th anniversary of Malta becoming a Republic was celebrated in Gozo last night with a concert, and which concluded with a speech by President George Vella.

The concert, by three soloists of the La Stella Philharmonic Society of Victoria, took place in Independence Square and was organised by the National and Regional Celebrations Committee together with the Culture Unit at the Ministry for Gozo.

While greeting all those who have over the years worked in the political, social and spiritual fields to “get our country to where it is today,” the President observed that Malta is lucky to have people who had not only the ability but also acumen. He reminded that, “whenever the Maltese came together, they were able to get where they wanted.”

He appealed that “we learn from the past; we see what we have done well and do our best to adopt what is right and what is correct.”

The President’s speech, however, focused mainly on the present and the future, as well as on the need as a people to learn from our goals and ensure that we have moral authority over others.

He stressed that the Republic achieved it 46 years ago, but nowadays no one but us is responsible for it.

He expressed his fear that, despite all the goals and targets we may have for the coming years, there are things that if we do not fix them will hinder us from getting where we want to be.

In this context, he emphasised the importance of investing heavily in education, especially because we have no resources other than human resources, in order to reach the potential of young people and, thus, be able to get where we want.

Even on this occasion, the President expressed his sadness at the fact that the Maltese people “are too picky, not in a positive sense but in a destructive way, and that there is a division in the country, now, more than ever.”

“If in this country we will not have unity between us, if we will not work together, we will be wasting a lot of energy and we will be wasting what we can use, not to move back or stay where we are, but to move forward, that way we can get where we want.”

He made it clear that this does not mean that we do not have a stake, including a political one, but it has its limits. Instead of trying to break or destroy those who disagree with us, we should do our utmost to work together for the common good, despite the differences of between us.

The President pointed out that, despite the general impression that the country’s leaders dictate what should happen, they also react to what is asked of them and to show them what the people want. If the people demand fairness, transparency, and accountability from their leaders, the leaders will no doubt have to listen and take action according to the will of the people.

The President concluded by saying, “where we can clear certain roads and straighten them, and remove certain things that are harming and hindering us, we will do our best to get there. Then, there, we will be able to boast that we are an educated country, a civilised country, and a country that is politically united and knows where it wants to go. When you have your goals and a united people, then you can speak face to face in international fora on the values of how to lead the countries of the world. We cannot go and dictate to others in the fora where they are… then look at what is happening in our country, or tell us to see what is happening in our country and force us to do so. I am saying this with a sincere spirit, from the bottom of my heart, and I want this message to come forward and, year after year, I will come and boast that we have strengthened the Republic not only in name but in deed.”

Permalink: Republic Day in Gozo – President appeals that “we learn from the past”