It has been a hectic week of work and travel but an enjoyable one indeed. On Sunday, I was in Ħamrun to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Labour Party Headquarters. On Monday, I was in Strasbourg, France, to deliver a speech at the Cosmos Cinema, one of France's oldest cinemas, to launch the Malta Film week and to focus on Malta's application to become a member of Eurimages. On Tuesday, I was in Valletta for a parliamentary debate on the Lands Authority. I am writing this on my way to London where we will be inaugurating the Malta Pavilion at the London Design Biennale.
Ħamrun
30 years ago, the then Labour Leader Alfred Sant inaugurated the Labour Party Headquarters in Hamrun. Labour needed a new house, and Dr Sant had the political vision of building a new, state-of-the art party headquarters.
At the time, the Labour Party leadership, which included President Emeritus Dr George Abela and President Emeritus, Dr George Vella, as its deputy leaders, rallied the Labour party troops and with small donations from thousands of Maltese and Gozitans, Labour collected the extraordinary sum of 1 million Maltese lira.
That was a huge amount of money at the time and no mean feat - made possible by Labour activists who organized an impressive campaign led by, amongst others, my friend and Labour Party stalwart Emmanuel Cuschieri.
From the new party headquarters in Hamrun, the Labour Party made radical changes to its way of doing politics and to reflect modern times.
In 1996, Labour won the general election after long years in the political wilderness. There were challenging times since then, but the political foundations laid by Alfred Sant continued to bear fruit until in 2013 Labour was returned to office with a landslide victory - and has been doing so since then. As a lifelong Labour party member, activist, and now the longest serving Labour MP, I feel indebted to Dr Sant for his extraordinary political foresight 30 years ago.
Strasbourg
In Strasbourg, France, we launched the Malta Film week and focused on our country's quet for membership of Eurimages - a cultural support fund of the Council of Europe promoting independent filmmaking by providing financial support to animation, feature-length fiction, and documentary films.
At the Cosmos Cinema, one of the oldest cinema theatres in France, I described Malta's quest for accession to Eurimages as not only a significant policy milestone but a major cultural commitment. It testifies Malta's readiness to step into the heart of European cinema as both a creative partner and a bridge for small nations in global storytelling. It puts the development of the indigenous film industry at the core of the Ministry of Culture. It is a reminder that Malta has always had a cinematic voice, even before it had an industry.
As Malta celebrates 100 years of its film industry, it is proof that a small nation can successfully punch above its weight.
Cecil Satariano
The event in Strasbourg showcased a short film - Ġużeppi - of Maltese film icon Cecil Satariano. This short film, while remaining untouched from the original version, was revitalised and aesthetically improved thanks to some very good work by Dr Charles Farrugia and his team at the National Archives.
Satariano will forever be etched in our history as a Maltese pioneer of the film industry, and a forefather of auteur cinema.
The Malta Film Week in Strasbourg blended five very different Maltese films-from Castillo to Ciao Ciao-across genre, generation, and voice.
In Strasbourg, I had bilateral meetings with Susan Newman, Executive Director of Eurimages and Enrico Vannucci, the Deputy Executive Director to keep the impetus going.
Valletta
On Wednesday, I was in Parliament for a discussion on the 2024 estimates of the Lands Authority. It was my first public opportunity to speak about the Lands Authority since last week's assignment of additional duties.
The Lands Authority was until a few days ago under the political responsibility of my friend and colleague Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, who is now responsible for EU Funds whilst retaining his Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto portfolio.
In Parliament, I thanked Stefan for the good work done at the Lands Authority under his tenure, together with the Authority's Chairman Dr John Vassallo, CEO Robert Vella and the rest of the team.
A paperless Authority
The main highlight of the year 2024 was the launching and operation of the second and most daunting phase of the Paperless Office. In March 2024, all remaining files in circulation were collected, scanned, and sealed. This meant that all processing, movements, and minutes, which were done manually and in print, are now being carried out online through a greatly enhanced Digital Operation System (LEMIS). This was a significant step forward and a much needed one for the efficiency of the Lands Authority.
A stronger synergy
Now that the Lands portfolio is part of the Ministry of National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government have been concentrated in one Ministry, this will undoubtedly create a synergy which can strengthen the work we are doing for the safeguard of our cultural heritage.
I am looking forward to increase the tempo in our work in this regard.
For the greater good
We have ambitious projects ahead, including important land devolution projects that shall be used for the greater good of our communities.
In Parliament the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli, who i cannot thank enough for her extraordinary work and remarkable achievements in local government, will keep on working on a programme of intensive liaison with Local Councils who wish to consolidate their portfolio of devoluted property to establish a solid and long term commitment for the upkeep and preservation of properties which are essential to the needs of local government and ultimately to our communities.
A lot of work has already been done. We shall do more.
London
Today, at the iconic Somerset House in London, I have the privilege of inaugurating the Malta Pavilion at the London Design Biennale. Malta is represented by a team of seven Maltese, international creators, and their project is named URNA.
URNA
URNA is about cremation, and it gives a totally different dimension to the way we look at death. It is bold, daring, provocative and precisely what art should be all about: It challenges the status quo and this is precisely what we want, as a country, and as a government that supports these sectors: We want artists, creators, designers that are able not only to think outside the box but to dare to be different, shockingly, in a positive way, different.
Arts Council
The Malta Pavilion at the London Design Biennale is commissioned by Arts Council Malta under the auspices of the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government.
This year, Arts Council Malta is celebrating 10 years since its inception. What a journey it has been. From humble beginnings, Albert Marshall, the current Executive Chairman and one of Malta's finest authors and poets, was with me since the very first day we punched above our weight. We too dared to be different, to start a fresh page for Malta's arts sector - it was no easy journey, there were those who doubted us, those who told us that the arts sector can never prosper in a small country like Malta. But we persevered. Ten years later, we speak of Malta having taken part in the crème de la crème of art and design Biennales - in Venice, in London, and next year in South Korea.
The best is yet to come
As I write, I also reflect on the extraordinary achievements of this Labour government led by Prime Minister Robert Abela.
We have achieved so much together with the people of Malta and Gozo. We can afford to invest in culture and the arts, in education and healthcare, and in the country's infrastructure.
Malta can afford to give its people the biggest tax cut in history - free childcare; free IV services; higher pensions and better childrens' allowances - because we have the fastest growing economy in the Eurozone.
Only a strong Labour government can achieve this.
The best is yet to come.