From Mr E. Micallef Figallo

The assertions on Maltese genetics provided by Marisa Micallef seem to echo imperialist cultural policies kick-started by the British in the 19th century against the Maltese, which all came under the general strategic notion of “deitalianisation”. This included among others turning the Maltese language into a pure dialect of Arabic. All this led to our current identity crisis, and Micallef’s botched opinion. This supposed thing of the past is no thing of the past.

Maltese nationalists opposed those policies, as they would have led to considering the Maltese as Arabic or Levantine in a day and age when the British Empire revelled in racist policies. The political successors of those opponents have Marisa Micallef in their ranks. Prosit. Even worse than leading to the consideration of the Maltese as being of Arabic or Levantine descent, some became “a parody of our masters” as Judge Giovanni Bonello termed those Maltese adhering to mentioned policies which together with deitalianisation included anglicisation.

The result of the above in the 21st century is Micallef et al telling us that we’re genetically North African in an English language Malta newspaper.

Micallef speaks of genetics as if she is some professional, yet she must have missed the most recent scientific contribution to local papers by a professional in the field. In an article entitled “Genetic Origin of Contemporary Maltese”, published in The Times of Malta, geneticist Prof. Alexander Felice stated among others that it “was shown that that the contemporary males of Malta most likely originated from Southern Italy, including Sicily and up to Calabria.” Further on it also added “there seems to be little input from North Africa”.

I’ll trust the geneticist, professor and academic and avoid accepting Micallef’s politically motivated ignorant opinion on Maltese genetics. Micallef will have to negate the thesis of a respectable professional in the field, to restate what she stated. She should accept Maltese DNA, instead of being the pot that calls the kettle black.

Finally, all this identity confusion is courtesy of the manipulations of a defunct empire whose leading nationality is currently not doing well in football. This malaise is the most significant heritage left to Malta by that empire.

Yet, Independence begot responsibility and it is time we became responsible for a critical analysis on mentioned manipulations on Maltese identity and heritage, before Micallef dishes out another one on Maltese genetics.

Edric Micallef Figallo

NADUR

GOZO