Malta is on Friday celebrating 43 years of independence. After years of colonial occupation by various nations, the Maltese Islands were finally granted independence by the British government in 1964. The Maltese Islands celebrate their Independence Day every 21st September.
A number of activities and festivities mark the 21st of September, which is a national holiday.
A solemn pontifical mass was celebrated at 0930 CEST in St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta by Archbishop Emeritus Guzeppi Mercieca as Archbishop Pawlu Cremona is currently in Rome for the assembly at the Holy See for new archbishops.
In his homily centred on the theme “truth, liberty and the politician” [Il-verita’ il-liberta’ u l-politiku], Mons Mercieca thanked God for everything He has done with the Maltese people throughout the ages and at the same time prayed for Him to keep watching over us in the future. Mons Mercieca said that Christian morality and faith are facing great challenges which we must confront by learning to understand the truth. He said that we must learn from other’s experience such as in other European countries whereby the truth together with liberty have been arbitrarily and abusively interpreted in a way that can give space to egoism and other greed idols such as power, money and entertainment. “The Gospel truth is not safeguarded among us as it was some years ago”, he warned. However he encourages the Maltese people to have faith and courage adding that God is with us and will help us. Humility, prayers and love for each other are necessary.
Mons Mercieca said that our lives are built on truth and liberty and the politicians have to give their contribution. Former Maltese politicians have worked hard, many times sacrificing themselves and their families in order for the Maltese to gain the best for the country according to the signals of the time. He urged politicians to recognize the truth and show it to the people by exercising power with morality, transparency and responsibility.
The state’s highest authorities attended, including President Edward Fenech Adami who was saluted by the Band of the Armed Forces of Malta. The Armed Forces Band marched along Republic Street just before the mass.
Following the mass, President Fenech Adami together with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi laid a wreath in front of the Independence Monument in Floriana.
In the evening, at 19:00CET, President Fenech Adami will attend a symphony concert by the National Orchestra under the baton of Mro Michael Laus at the Presidential Palace courtyard in Valletta.
On Thursday, representatives of the National Feasts Committee laid wreaths in front of the monuments of former Prime Ministers George Borg Olivier, Paul Boffa, Gerald Strickland and Nerik Mizzi in Valletta and Ugo Mifsud’s in Floriana. Wreaths were also laid on the tombs of former Prime Ministers Joseph Howard and Francesco Buhagiar at the Addolorata Cemetery.
The Nationalist Party (PN) organised several days of activities on the Floriana Granaries during the past week ending on Thursday evening with a mass meeting addressed by PN leader and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
While addressing the crowd of PN supporters Dr Gonzi highlighted several projects and achievements in the country and promised that the work initiated will continue to further improve the country.
Dr Gonzi and earlier deputy leader Tonio Borg in both their speeches praised former PN leaders George Borg Olivier and Eddie Fenech Adami for trusting in the Maltese people and whose hard work brought the country independence 43 years ago and reaching its climax in contemporary time by joining the EU in 2004.
