In my work I am blessed with many beautiful experiences that I shall never forget. My recent attendance at the World Special Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium is one of them. I was already acquainted with their activities and know many of the athletes personally but this time I had the opportunity of accompanying the Maltese athletes to the games. I have no words to describe the excitement and fears we shared together and the sheer joy of seeing some of our athletes winning medals. I am also grateful to have been able to share this experience with my cabinet colleague Parliamentary Secretary for youth, sports and research and innovation Chris Agius. In our bouts of enthusiasm we started pondering how one day we could organise the World Special Olympics in Malta.

I felt great pride to be asked to present medals to winners and was absolutely thrilled when the first medal I handed out was to a Maltese competitor. Eventually, there were more of our athletes who received medals for their success. Let me assure you that Chris and I could not have been prouder of all our athletes.

Our gratitude goes to Ms Anna Calleja who, for many years now, has dedicated her life to seeing tha

t our athletes cut a good figure with their contemporaries at these international events. 

We have come a long way and we must be resolute in doing even more in the future to ensure that our people with disabilities make us proud with their contribution to our society.

I must just mention a funny thing that happened while I was in Antwerp. I spotted a billboard with the word 'Gozo' on it and, being curious, I asked what it meant in Flemish. They promptly explained to me that Gozo was this exotic island, part of the Maltese archipelago! I was really impressed.

This week I also had the privilege to be invited, along with Minister Anton Refalo, to the presentation of course-completion certificates by The Foundation for Information and Technology (FITA) at the Santa Marta Day Centre in Gozo. FITA has recently run courses for people with disabilities in Malta and Gozo on the use of IT as an aid to removing or overcoming barriers to education and employment caused by various disabilities.

With these courses we are showing people with disabilities that it is possible for them to surmount the extraordinary difficulties they face in being included in mainstream society. We are slowly but surely persuading employers and educators to accept that those with disabilities can contribute just as well to the profitable success of their enterprise or educational entity. At the FITA presentation ceremony I revealed the government’s plans for an ambitious programme to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

While I was in Gozo, I also officially opened the National Commission for People with Disabilities in Gozo. This has paved the way for another important initiative relating to the launching of the service provided by the national agency, Sapport. By the end of the year, the first residence for disabled people will be opened in Gozo and this will help assuage the concerns of parents and other relatives of those with a disability as to who will care for them when they are no longer able to do so.

Both these events were a success and it was clear that the people of Gozo need these events not only to learn but to express their preoccupations, frustration and needs. This weekend we are meeting in Gozo for an awareness weekend about dementia and disability.

I wish to extend my assurances, especially to those in direct contact with persons with disabilities and to all vulnerable people, that this government will leave no stone unturned in its quest to guarantee a better future for everyone.