Flags of the 53 independent countries that make up the diverse and unified Commonwealth community were flown on Republic Street to mark Commonwealth Day.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela, whose portfolio the Commonwealth falls under, started the day at St Benedict College Ħal Għaxaq Primary School. After addressing the school's morning assembly, the schoolchildren and teachers joined the minister for the 'Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth' initiative, an activity that will take place in schools across Commonwealth countries today.
Apart from raising the Commonwealth flag, students also read out the Commonwealth Affirmation and a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, about coming together to celebrate a common future. A commemorative bookmark was also given to the students.
Minister Abela then visited the Institute of Tourism Studies in St Julian's, where students, together with faculty members, also hoisted the Commonwealth flag. "The Commonwealth needs to safeguard its future by focusing on regenerating itself. It is striving to do so by focusing on what the Commonwealth's younger generation can offer", said the minister. He continued by adding that 60% of the 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens are 29 years of age or under, before trying culinary delights from the five Commonwealth regions prepared by the institute's students.
The minister then co-hosted a Vin d'honneur, with the High Commissioners from Australia, Ghana, and India, as well as the UK's chargé d'affaires. Held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion in Valletta, he praised the expansion of the growth of Malta's diplomatic Commonwealth community, as shown with the addition of a resident High Commissioner for India. He continued by highlighting how the Commonwealth family has grown to 53, with The Gambia re-joining recently.
"The renewed vigour towards a successful Commonwealth was first seen at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2015, and since then we have seen results", the Minister said, emphasising Malta's focus on the Commonwealth's 31 small states, especially through the establishment of the Trade Finance Facility as well as the Small States Centre of Excellence.
"As these projects progress, we continue to deepen our bond as a Commonwealth in achieving our targets set internationally, towards achieving a fairer, more secure, more sustainable, and more prosperous future."
This was the last Commonwealth Day that Malta will celebrate as chair-in-office, a position which it has held since November 2015. Malta will now pass the baton to the UK, which will be organising the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London next month.
"We commend the UK's commitment to continue building upon the outcomes of CHOGM 2015, and we are happy to continue to actively work together for the securitisation of our Commonwealth's future in order to be of service to the generations to come. So let us not lose sight of what we stand for. Let us keep up our positive attitude, guided by our values and vision. Occasions like this one today only serve to reignite discussions, forge stronger ties, and get one stepping stone closer in the right direction."