The monument in 13th December Avenue, Marsa, which commemorates the day when our islands became a republic as well as the inauguration of the avenue itself, is in a pitiful, neglected and shabby state. It’s filthy, mouldy and most of its parts are missing or vandalized. Even the two pathways leading to the front and back of the monument are covered with slippery, green mould.

Compared to the other four national days monuments, it is by far the worst of them, particularly its upkeep and the embellishment of its immediate surroundings. Since its unveiling on 31 August 1975, it has been vandalized several times and, if I’m not mistaken, repair work carried out has been few and far between. What a stark contrast to the other four national days monuments, especially those of Independence and 7 June!

Lately, I discovered that there is an original spelling mistake on the front side of the monument where the street’s name is sculptured in the monument’s stone structure in our two official languages. The English version of our ‘dicembru’ is erroneously written as ‘dicember’. Clearly an ‘i’ instead of the first ‘e’ of ‘December’.

Personally, I think it’s a monumental spelling mistake that has been inadvertently or deliberately left to rot for more than 36 years! I believe that such ‘little’ or ‘big’ things – depending on one’s perspective – can often mean a lot. In fact, I’m of the opinion that the state of this dilapidated monument silently speaks volumes for our ‘divided’ national pride!

I sincerely hope the authorities concerned will take all the necessary remedial action to restore this monument. Is Republic Day still one of our five national days or not? It belongs to all of us not to a particular section of our population. After all, the vast majority of Maltese workers are off on 13th December, regardless of their political creed! It’s a disgrace that has been left to degenerate for quite too long now. It’s an insult to our national pride, if we believe we have one!

Charles Cirillo

HAMRUN