All Presidents of the Republic have given their own imprint to the role they occupied as Head of State, and all managed it in a unique style that distinguished them from the rest. In a way, the different characteristics of each individual emerged with passing time – the only common factor was that they all served the country well and never involved themselves in political controversy, in spite of having had, with the exception of Sir Anthony Mamo, a partisan political background.

George Abela has been in office for a few weeks, and he has already given the Presidency his own identity. While others were received with skepticism and sometimes also controversy, he has already broken the ice and fully immersed himself in his new duties, making it a point to meet with all the highest authorities but without forgetting Joe Public.

His intentions to use his term in office to stay in touch with all segments of our society and also with its individual members who might need a word of encouragement at a time of difficulty are commendable.

He started off with an advantage over his predecessors, all of whom were people of integrity like him but who had directly come from the partisan political sphere and, as such, were welcomed by more or less only half of the population.

Dr Abela had his own political background, but he was never a minister and never an MP, and the fact that he had been cut off from politics for more than 10 years except for his attempt last June to become Labour Party leader helped him to be received with open arms by the community.

Added to this, his nomination arrived from a Prime Minister on the opposite end of the political spectrum Dr Abela belonged to, and this was followed up by a unanimous endorsement of his appointment by the House of Representatives.

Past Presidents spoke of the need for unity in the country, and never strayed from the path that sought to bring the different political sides closer in the national interest. But first they had to struggle with their political past and some time had to pass before they were fully accepted, and finally thanked for the sterling service they provided.

Dr Abela did not have this hurdle to overcome, and he immediately made headway in the hearts and minds of the people. His focus on humility during his inaugural speech immediately endeared him with the population, who embraced him as the symbol of harmony and unison the country needs to see in its top citizen.

We are sure that Dr Abela does not like being described as being the country’s top citizen, because he considers himself like each and every one of us. And it is this humility that, among other characteristics, will earn him the accolades when his term of office expires in five years’ time.

Dr Abela has been using other terms in the public appearances he has had so far, and the one that stands out the most is his regular mentioning of the seed that needs to be nurtured well to grow. The obvious reference to Jesus Christ’s mustard seed parable shows the way that Dr Abela wants to take during his Presidency – that of working hard to maintain and possibly strengthen the values that have moulded our society for centuries.

He is also constantly saying that he cannot do his work on his own, but that he needs all the support he can get from each and every sector of the society, and each and every individual, to provide the fertile land and the water that is required for the seed to grow, and grow healthily.

We should all do our best to provide that fertile land in which Malta can grow. It is in our interest to do so.