We have been fortunate in Malta that the founding fathers of our Constitution almost 50 years ago were far-seeing and broad-minded enough to make English one of the official languages of Malta, after Maltese

That decision has ensured that, in the Mediterranean, in a sea where modern civilisation began, in an island that borders both Africa and Europe and acts as a bridge between them, that is uniquely placed at a crossroads, a nation that is blessed with the facility to learn, speak and use English, we gain an advantage over other countries in this region of incalculable proportions.

English is increasingly the language of global communication. It is spoken as a second language by around 375 million people. As I write this, about 200 million Chinese are in the process of learning English. It has official status in at least 75 countries, with a total population of over two billion. A quarter of the world’s population speaks it. It is the language not only of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Byron, Dickens and Jane Austen, but also, increasingly, of commerce, diplomacy, business, science, technology and the internet.

In Europe, young people between 15 and 24 years are five times more likely to speak English as German or French. At European Union meetings speakers automatically choose the language that excludes the fewest people in the room. This is almost always English. English is quite simply the best instrument for communication because it is now the world’s language.

English gives Malta the ability and the means to conduct and attract business, commerce and visitors to these islands, to the considerable benefit of our economy and the enrichment of our culture. A couple of years ago a leading firm of accountants carried out a survey of all foreign firms working in Malta. In answer to the question enquiring what had attracted them to Malta, the majority – over 80% – said that it was because Malta was an English-speaking country. Our bilingualism gives us a huge competitive edge. In this respect, Malta’s use of English helps us to achieve our goals of economic growth and international communications and friendship. It enables us to speak to the world.

I must declare an interest. I am the chairman of the English-Speaking Union of Malta, which was set up just over two years ago with the aim of promoting good spoken and written English in Malta. The English-Speaking Union is an international educational charity, founded over 90 years ago, to promote English in international public speaking, to encourage the enjoyment and constructive use of English through educational programmes, and to provide a forum for international friendship through the worldwide network of English-Speaking Unions around the world. It is found in about 55 countries, literally spanning the world from Santiago in Chile, to Serbia, from Armenia to Argentina, and Madagascar to Mongolia, and all points in between.

I must also stress unequivocally that the setting up of the English-Speaking Union of Malta is based on an absolute and utter respect for the autonomy of the Maltese language and the choice of all of us to speak it, to nurture it and to love it. The encouragement of the use of good, spoken and written English poses no threat to Maltese, either in its use, learning and teaching, or in its development as a living and vibrant language. On the contrary, it underlines the need for what we as a nation should be striving for: The attainment of good, spoken and written Maltese, as well as good, spoken and written English. We should take as our models the Dutch, the Swedes and others whose fluent bilingualism, in both their mother tongue and English, is exemplary.

Maltese is unique and will always remain so. As part of our historic roots and culture, it has survived over the centuries the presence in our islands of countless foreign powers who brought with them their own language, as well as an administration conducted in their own language, without denting the fertile and robust development of Maltese.

The Maltese language is an intrinsic part of our identity as a nation – a clear manifestation of the power of survival of the people of these tiny islands and their ability to overcome adversity and to retain a singular culture all our own. By speaking English better, the vibrancy and vitality of Maltese is not undermined or placed in peril. It should not be a matter of either/or, but of using both languages well.

The work of the English-Speaking Union of Malta has now been actively under way for some 18 months, and an enthusiastic sister branch has also been established in Gozo. We have started – albeit not as widely as we would wish – the development of debating and public-speaking skills in our schools. Very successful inter-schools competitions took place for the first time last March. The winner of the inter-schools competition in public speaking represented Malta for the first time ever in London and, in a field of over 80 nations, was one of the finalists. ESU Malta has sent young participants on ESU-sponsored scholarships in England on international relations and on Shakespeare for the last three years.

The English-Speaking Union of Malta is running an extremely successful ‘Arm of Support’ initiative for three-, four- and five-year-olds, in conjunction with Żabbar Primary School and St Monica’s School, and it is hoped to extend this further if more volunteers come forward to help. The Director of Education has a range of ‘English in Action’ courses, which cover everything from English conversation and presentational skills, to email writing, concise written English skills, letter-writing, business presentation skills, public speaking and others. Courses can be tailor-made to suit the particular requirements of major clients and, indeed, several major banks and firms have already availed themselves of ESU Malta’s hands-on expertise. Further details can be obtained from the website www.esumalta.org.

The English-Speaking Union of Malta has the support in all that it is doing of the Minister for Education, Sport and the Family, who has also graciously agreed to be the Patron, and of the Shadow Spokesman for Education. Both recognise the considerable added value which the English-Speaking Union of Malta can bring to promoting and improving the all-important use of the English language in Malta. Malta’s bilingualism – fostering both good English and good Maltese – is an unsung asset, which we should cherish and encourage.

Martin Scicluna is a member of the IVA Campaign and the lead author of the Report ‘For Worse, For Better: Remarriage After Legal Separation’