So, they tell us we are the happiest people in the world.

While this piece of news has certainly made Malta more well-known around the world, I find it rather amusing that the people the British knew as Maltese “gemgem”, are now the happiest of the lot.

I just wonder what has changed since then…

More seriously, I think that in spite of our problems and differences, we are a nation that is warm and gentle. Although many say that our hospitality is not as good as it used to be in the initial stages of the tourism industry, generally speaking, we still welcome our visitors with a smile.

This has been our trademark for decades and it should remain so. Let us not lose this characteristic that distinguishes us from many other peoples.

S. Vella

St Paul’s Bay