Freedom is not automatic; it’s a concept for which many people have fought for and even sacrificed their lives. The 30th anniversary of Freedom Day came to pass last week. The Nationalist Party in government remains determined to boycott the occasion as they did in 1979, stating Malta’s freedom day took place on 21 September, 1964.
The government’s programme to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Freedom in just 30 minutes was an insult to all the Maltese people and a clear confirmation that the Nationalist government does not believe in National unity. The Nationalist Party was also against the Cottonera local councils’ commemoration of this national day in their respective localities, claiming that these were partisan activities. This shows how much the PN wants political reconciliation in Malta.
Independence Day of 1964 was the first step in building from scratch a new constitutional framework that eventually developed and was sealed when the island was proclaimed Republic in December 1974, followed up by the closure of the British military base in March 1979.
Freedom Day marks a major historical milestone which by any standards should be considered as a major achievement of a statesman with extraordinary vision and unsurpassed political strength that gave this country complete sovereignty over its domestic and foreign affairs.
Dom Mintoff was instrumental to the Maltese in that he firmly believed that what a foreigner could do, the Maltese could do better! His undertakings were not just powered by hard work, determination and self-belief but, above all else, the capacity, as he would often say, “to dream with your eyes wide open”.
His drive subsequently paved the way, allowing Malta’s economic structure to gradually be weaned off from British military spending, which at the time supported directly or indirectly more than 40,000 families.
That is why Dom Mintoff was hailed as “Is-Salvatur ta’ Malta’ (Malta’s Saviour) in March 1972 as he returned home after the tough negotiations with Britain. Even Mintoff’s enemies had to agree with his boast that he had won a “great victory.”
Independence Day was never intended to give the much desired power of self governance and sovereignty to the Maltese islands. The British Crown determined if and how free we could be, so we were never absolutely free as it is frequently argued.
Huge tracts of land remained in the hands of the British and the Head of State remained the British Queen, not to mention that, in case of a perceived security threat to the British and their NATO allies could literally re-take the country and go ahead as if business was as usual.
Many of us still remember that until 31 March 1979 parts of Malta were still not accessible to the Maltese public.
As Dr Joseph Muscat said during the Freedom Day celebrations at Vittoriosa “Our forefathers had made an appointment with destiny, which was uncomfortable for those who feared change, those conservative forces that believe they have a divine right to continue ruling the country”.
Freedom day marks not only the creation of industrial and commercial activity that provided wide employment on a scale unheard of at the time, but also the provision of good education, decent healthcare, tourism investment and urban prosperity unsurpassed to this very day. In short, it gave real freedom and confidence which guaranteed economic, political and social stability to every citizen to pursue the good life.
Roderick Galdes is Labour Party spokesman for planning and housing