The Malta Independent 9 December 2024, Monday
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Activities for 50th anniversary of the Republic of Malta launched

Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 16:58 Last update: about 25 days ago

Activities celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Republic of Malta have been launched with the primary theme of 'L-Istorja, Int' (History, You), the Ministry for National Heritage said in a statement on Wednesday.

It was on the 13th of December 1974 when under heavy rain, the Maltese and Gozitan people flocked to St George's Square in Valletta in order to attend the first speech of the first President of the Republic of Malta, Sir Anthony Mamo, the ministry said. Fifty years later, the Maltese and Gozitan people will once again be invited to the same square to witness another story - their story, and that of the history of the Republic of Malta, it added.

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Speaking on the theme of 'History, You', the ministry said that this theme was chosen for the anniversary as it gives this national day a personal and human dimension where the history of the country is recognised as the history of every Maltese and Gozitan citizen.

National Heritage Minister Owen Bonnici said that the highlight of this anniversary will be an audiovisual show known as 'L-Istorja, Ahna' (History, Us), which he said will be staged on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of December in St George's Square. He added that the front of the President's Palace will serve as a modern canvas which will help portray the history of the country.

Bonnici commented that the theme was chosen to remind the people that collectively, and even on an individual level, we were all and still are as a people part of the achievements that the Republic of Malta has managed.

"Despite the fact that these activities will be an ideal occasion to celebrate this very important anniversary, they will also be an invitation for every Maltese and every Gozitan to work hand in hand in order to participate in the next chapter in the history of our country - a chapter that will once again be written with the strength of everyone, as the chapter of the first fifty years was written," concluded Minister Bonnici.

Aaron Zahra, the Chairman of Festivals Malta, said that Malta and the Maltese and Gozitan people deserve to celebrate this national event "in a big way", and so Festivals Malta is preparing big and worthy celebrations which commemorates Malta's 50th anniversary as a republic. Zahra said that the show 'History, Us' will be telling the story of Malta over the years and the achievements of the country and its people. "Where we started, where we arrived, and where we went after becoming a Republic. Above all, the show will be telling the story in a unique way," he stated.

Festivals Malta's CEO, Frans Agius, said that Festivals Malta is committed not only to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Malta, but also to convey the significance of this important day in the recent history of the country to the Maltese and Gozitan people. He continued that Festivals Malta, together with the Maltese and Gozitan people, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the country becoming a republic.

The Chairman of the National Celebrations Foundation, Liam Gauci, said: "As a nation, our country over the years has worked so that despite our small size we are always at the top of international dialogue. As a country, the journey to get here was not easy. The fiftieth anniversary of the Republic should remind us what this holiday means. A nation in the middle of the Mediterranean with a great history, whose own people lead its future through the mechanism of the Republic which turns 50 this year."

The ministry said that in the coming days, an educational campaign will be launched with the participation of many Maltese and Gozitan individuals as well as people who have made Malta their home. Through this campaign, it said that the advantages the country enjoys or has enjoyed since Malta became a republic will be identified, while also mentioning moments that will continue to be mentioned in history, along with the aspirations for the future of the country.

Everyone is invited to attend this show, the ministry added, which will be conducted on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of December in Valletta. Free tickets are available at showshappening.com.


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