Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Dr Joseph Muscat said that Dom Mintoff's efforts were not solely aimed for freedom, but also for equality. He said that his dream was that of seeing all people regarded as equal.

In his speech at the ceremony commemorating Freedom Day, Dr Muscat said that Freedom Day marks a crucial moment, a huge step in Malta's history.

"We should still ask ourselves, is everyone in this country treated equally? We made huge progress, but there is a lot more that can be done."

He mentioned persons with disability and equality between men and women. "We might think that the two sexes are treated in the same way, but it is not the case. There's a long way to go."

Dr Muscat said that there is still a lot of racism in the country, insisting that everyone who comes into our country should be treated with respect.

In his address, the Prime Minister reminded those present that Malta needs to move on from the illusion that we are somehow separated from the rest of the world and realize that whatever happens in the world around us, will affect us.

"The sea that separates us from the rest of Europe and Africa is an illusion," he added.

"Why does it seem that a victim in Bussels is more important than a victim in Pakistan?" he said referring to the latest terrorism attacks in Lahore and Belgium.

He said that although we preach integration, we ignore those who have different mentalities or beliefs and insisted that international policies have failed. Explained that in Malta, black people are only tollerated as long as they sit at a roundabout in Marsa, begging for work.

He made strong reference to immigration and integration in Malta saying that terrorism is the result of our lack of understanding and help to those who come to our shores. He warned that, should it persist, racism will come back to haunt us.

Dr Muscat mentioned how Dom Mintoff did whatever was possible to attract all the help for the country.

"Our country now has to pass through a test of maturity, to see if we truly are ready to make one more step forward in our mentality and reach equality". 

Outgoing Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Toni Abela was the first to address the crowd attending the Freedom Day ceremonies in Vittoriosa.

Dr Tony Abela said he always believed that the absolute freedom was never reached. “Freedom is like perfection, it’s a concept that can never be reached completely.”

He said that in our society, there is always someone that needs to be freed.

"Commemorating Freedom Day does not necessarily mean we have reached complete freedom"

Compared to other countries, Malta has made huge progress as regards freedom and rights of minorities, he said.

He mentioned Dr Gorg Borg Olivier by saying that he was the one who never stopped fighting for more and more freedom.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that the Labour Party won the last general election, led by Joseph Muscat, a lot of rights for minorities would not have been introduced, including the right for homosexual people to have a civil union or for couples to divorce.”

“I am a catholic, but I don’t go to church very often. But lately someone told me not to make the sign of the cross because it might be interpreted negatively. I feel that this should not be the case. We live in a time when everyone should be free to manifest one's beliefs.”