Labour leader Joseph Muscat this evening paid tribute to the leaders who had realised the dream of the Maltese for freedom, and said their spirit and ideals were being rekindled through the awakening of a new generation.
Dr Muscat was speaking at a PL mass meeting held under umbrellas at the foot of the Freedom Monument in Vittoriosa.
He spoke of the courage of those who decided that Malta should, and could, be free. There was a lot of scaremongering at the time, he said, but the will of the son of a British services cook - Dom Mintoff, prevailed At just 33 years old Mr Mintoff had gone into government, swimming against the current, and he brought about the freedom which earlier generations could only dream about. And now Mr Mintoff was back with the crowd at Vittoriosa, where that dream had come true, Dr Muscat said to applause.
Dr Muscat said that he was only five years old at the time, and had followed proceedings on television. He was now proud to lead the celebration of this treasured achievement. As the son of the Republican generation, he could declare that the time had come for a new awakening by the people, who should appreciate the hardship of their forefathers to set a new course for Malta.
The spirit of Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Manwel Dimech and the first progressive movement was being rekindled. One could only move forward in full acknowledgment of the past. The time had come to forget divisions. The milestones of Malta's history were all important for the country - September 8; the riots of June 7, 1919, the achievement of Independence, the declaration of the Republic and Freedom Day made Malta a nation. All should be respected and celebrated, but there should be a proper debate to have a single, unifying, National Day, as political maturity demanded.
He was sure unity would be further promoted with the appointment of George Abela as President of all the Maltese, and he wished him and his family well.
Dr Muscat said the dream of the Maltese needed to be given new life within the reality of the EU. The Maltese needed to start believing once more in the ideals which united them. People should no longer be judged on the basis of their backgrounds. A free Malta meant a country which gave the same education, opportunities, equal and free medical care and job opportunities to all. A free Malta did not mean having an administration which hindered private initiative through bureaucracy and high costs of business. It was a country where consumers enjoyed their rights, where the environment was truly safeguarded not taken by speculators.
A free Malta acknowledged the problems of the Mediterranean, many of them created by the forces which also colonised Malta.Malta was ready to play its part for peace and prosperity in the region, but it could not carry more than it could. In illegal immigration, Malta could not give from what it did not have. And if help was not forthcoming, Malta should be prepared to fight for its rights. "We need to be firm with the foreigners, without shame, fear or rest."
Malta needed to shed its inferiority complex, Dr Muscat said.
The Labour leader said the new movement which Labour was leading would show the people that it would welcome back those who were returning or joining it for the first time. They had to show they had the ideas and the will to lead the country.
Free Malta needed to look to the future with confidence that it could be the best in Europe, formed of people of different beliefs who worked together.
Dr Muscat concluded his speech with the cry: Viva Malta Indipendenti, Viva Malta Repubblika, Viva Malta Hielsa u Maghquda..
Earlier, PL deputy leader Toni Abela said this Freedom Day was particularly significant because the current problem of illegal immigration was an opportunity for the government to exercise its political freedom and to take a stand in the EU on the issue.
Malta was in the EU to stay, but now that it was in the same boat as other countries in the EU, all had to pull at the oars. Malta rightly expected solidarity from the EU and the government should take a firm stand to demand its rights. Malta would otherwise not be respected but would be seen as weak.
In this special day, the government needed to shed its inferiority complex in its dealings with other countries and show the sort of courage which the Labour government showed in 1975 when it held up the CSCE Helsinki conference until it got what it was demanding.
Deputy leader Anglu Farrugia criticised the government over a deterioration in the state of public finances and living standards, including growing hospital waiting lists, rising prices and unemployment, saying this situation was threatening Malta’s freedom.
Dr Muscat then led the laying of flowers on the Freedom Monument.
Former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff was in the crowd for yesterday's celebration, his first appearance at the ceremony for many years.
PN REACTION
The Nationalist Party in a reaction said Dr Muscat's speech was anchored to the past with no vision for the future. It said the Labour leader had failed to make concrete proposals to help Malta overcome the challenges it was facing.
He had spoken of a new awakening, without explaining what he meant.. He had already promised a new beginning, but he refused pairing and said no or was skeptical of the reforms the government had launched, including those of local government, MEPA, public transport and the shipyards privatisation.
He had also spoken of national unity, and then he had local councils join Labour Party activities, the PN said.