Today is CHOGM day.
Malta has, over the past months, prepared in earnest for this day. Work has involved people from all walks of life and, together with the operators of the Ghajn Tuffieha Hotel venue, we hope to provide the visiting dignitaries with both the right forum for discussion as well as with a delightful experience to remember.
Situated right in the middle of the Mediterranean – the hub in which history goes back thousands of years – we have gained experience as to how to meet the whims and pleasures of the many powers that have overrun this enclosed sea. At the same time, we have chosen to take the best of the imprints left by these powers and have coordinated them in a likable way in order to form our own particular culture.
We have measured things well and, coupled with our islander survival instinct, we are today a fully-fledged independent country with a democratic system which runs on a level with the best in the world. To this end, save for a few sceptics, we have all positively contributed to make this meeting a success.
Within this small nation we have already networked for development and economic success. Even before modern IT and the latest technology came into being, we had our own particular system of networking. Were this not so, we would not have arrived at our present state of affairs.
However, forming part of various international institutions such as the UN, CPA, EU and Euromed, the need for networking has widened its areas of operation. The concept of globalisation, more than ever before, requires the cooperation of one and all – based mostly on that which unites us rather than the differences which separate us. Though it is necessary to have our differences in attitude, operation and cultures, we still require a united force which will coordinate us if we are to succeed economically.
This is what CHOGM is all about. We need networking for development – networking to bring out the best of our capabilities in order to have individual economic success as well as multinational developments concentrated towards the common good. In this day and age not even the largest existing economic power or the newer emerging economic giants can go all the way on their own.
The modern avenue leading to social and economic success envisages within it the concept of unity. This means conceptually planning operations that ensure a level playing field in which all those who participate go into the arena with a plausible chance of emerging successfully from the foray.
We hope that CHOGM, the relative retreat and the individual bilateral meetings, will bring about positive results whereby the ripple effects of the present discussions will be positively felt during the years to come.
In the meantime, this morning, after the fanfare of the opening ceremony, the “Games” begin. They should present an atmosphere of friendly cooperation wherein difficult and uneasy accords may be reached – but, more importantly, we are here so that the better off countries offer aid to those in more difficult conditions, in order to help some of the Commonwealth countries in dire straits become capable of meeting their agendas and progressing to a better existence and economic viability.
If we reach one positive decision for the common good – then the whole exercise will be a success story. This we can do; this is within reach; this is attainable if common sense and good will prevail.
Malta welcomes one and all to the CHOGM with cautious optimism that this meeting will be positively remembered by all the participants as a show of goodwill wherein we irrevocably moved forward for the common good.
Tony Abela is Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister