It is time to set up an institution, agency or council to revise the progress of plans and initiatives in favour of Maltese living abroad, on a regular basis, Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said.

Dr Borg was speaking at the Convention for Maltese Living Abroad, which opened yesterday morning. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat and Archbishop Paul Cremona also spoke.

While Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat said he agreed with the proposed institution, Archbishop Paul Cremona followed the government and opposition in apologising to child migrants who were sent away in hope for a better life in faraway lands. This was done through a declaration in Parliament a few days ago.

The Convention, taking place all week, is the third of its kind. The first two were held in 1969 and 2000.

Dr Borg said the new institution should have a representation of Maltese living abroad as well as Maltese people living locally. The government was considering the option of having it backed by a law.

The interests of Maltese living abroad should not only be discussed once every 10 years but should be in the government’s work and that of its departments every day, Dr Borg said.

Dr Borg gave a rendition of the government’s work in relation to Maltese living abroad, throughout the years. He noted that 16,000 people with Maltese roots had acquired dual citizenship since 1989.

It was important to promote whatever was Maltese, he believed. A cultural institute was necessary to promote aspects including culture and Maltese traditions. The Tourism, Education and Foreign Affairs Ministers were therefore to cooperate within the institution for human resources to be channelled in a single medium to diffuse Maltese culture abroad. Embassies could also help in the process, Dr Borg said.

“I am proud of the reputation you built for us all,” Dr Gonzi said in his address. He was especially proud that although many Maltese have been living away from our islands for a very long time, they still cherish their ties with Malta.

“We are here to discuss the future not the past,” he told the convention, which will be discussing education, culture, heritage, the elderly, young people, consular affairs and citizenship, among other subjects, in the coming days.

We must strengthen what we have and pass it on to our children – the future generation, he said. Dr Gonzi described the value Maltese people had for all that was Maltese as well as the appreciation towards their host country as “complementary emotions”.

Maltese were successful, hardworking, and their efforts flourished in every field. In the meantime, they made a good impression on governments and people in the streets.

Dr Gonzi advised that balance was the key to success and we must always continue to strife for a midway in between extremes.

This was a time of great change in economical, social and cultural fields, he said. The globalised world had an impact on our identity and values. Nonetheless, it posed challenges and opportunities for us all. These were to be tapped while our ties were to be strengthened for the benefit of future generations.

Describing the Convention as “a family reunion”, Dr Muscat said Maltese living abroad contributed to a huge success story with their wise intentions and industriousness.

Announcing he will be visiting Maltese communities in Australia later on this year, Dr Muscat reminded those present that many had sent money for their family members in Malta to be able to have a good education, contributing to the country’s development.

Referring to the government’s and opposition’s apology to child migrants in Parliament last week, Dr Muscat said this was an expression of maturity.

The Maltese language was in danger of being lost, he added. Politicians therefore needed to give all possible assistance for its teaching and to facilitate language studies in Malta. However, for the sake of credibility, he said the University of Malta was to stop giving the impression that students reading for degrees, including the Masters in Maltese language, were at a disadvantage if they used the Maltese language in their writing.

He believed each migrant was an ambassador for Malta and insisted they advertise our country well in matters related to the industry and tourism, for more employment opportunities. Meanwhile, he explained that Malta was preparing to host the European Union Presidency in 2017 – another opportunity to push up Malta’s profile.

Dr Muscat expressed disappointment that some recommendations from the last Convention for Maltese Living Abroad had not been implemented.

Archbishop Paul Cremona said the baggage of experience and memories each migrant brought strengthened them in different ways. He said some decisions had brought about great suffering and expressed the Church’s apology to child migrants.

He also acknowledged the work of Monsignor Philip Calleja who led the Emigrants Commission and plans to set up a Migration Museum. Meanwhile, he expressed the wish to visit the Maltese in Canada, parts of the United States and London this year.

With reference to asylum seekers in Malta, Mgr Cremona said patriotism should not hinder us from assisting other human beings and giving them a helping hand even though migration posed challenges for us all.

He suggested a parallel meeting to the next Convention which would discuss the Maltese in religious contexts.