Malta's new road
The most important date in Malta's political history shall always be September 21, 1964. The country never had the chance of being free from any foreign control, although under Roman rule, it enjoyed the exceptional status of being a municipium, ruled...
The most important date in Malta's political history shall always be September 21, 1964. The country never had the chance of being free from any foreign control, although under Roman rule, it enjoyed the exceptional status of being a municipium, ruled by Roman law, as most of the Roman empire was not, and using Roman coins.
When our ancestors approved a so-called Bill of Rights, that of the June 15, 1802, they asserted the principle of full internal government but, having recognised the monarchy in Britain as the protector of Malta, it cannot be concluded that they asserted that the island should be independent and enjoy full sovereignty.
The struggle for full independence started when Fortunato Mizzi established the Nationalist movement in 1880. Since then, his successors have never departed from that aim. The Nationalist Party had always striven to achieve independence for Malta.
When a limited Constitution was granted by the occupying power in 1962, the PN published an electoral programme, signed by the leader, George Borg Oliver, and myself as general secretary of the party, declaring, inter alia, the following:
"Malta should show interest and enthusiasm towards the new European trend of creating a 'Common Market', with good prospects of establishing a European federation".
In 1962, Britain started withdrawing from the Mediterranean. The American Sixth fleet took over, to face the Russian fleet, which was substantial and conspicuous in all areas.
A great percentage of Maltese workers owed their living to the British defence departments. The Naval Dockyard had already been transferred to Bailey's, a British private company.
The Nationalist government was faced with massive discharges by Britain. Dr Borg Olivier never lost faith in the determination of our people. While striving for independence, we embarked on a programme to diversify the economy from one dependent on defence to one based on the development of industry, tourism and a new approach to agriculture.
All these efforts were successful, as shown by the following figures taken from national statistics:
Emigration
1962 - 3,641
1963 - 6,579
1964 - 8,987
1965 - 8,090
1966 - 4,340
1967 - 3,971
1968 - 2,992
1969 - 2,548
1970 - 2,696
1971 - 2,798
Gainfully occupied population
1962 - 86,820
1963 - 86,080
1964 - 86,530
1965 - 88,120
1966 - 90,780
1967 - 93,310
1968 - 95,820
1969 - 100,460
1970 - 101,160
1971 - 103,080
GNP
1962 - Lm46,959m
1963 - Lm46,575m
1964 - Lm47,666m
1965 - Lm50,948m
1966 - Lm56,111m
1967 - Lm60,519m
1968 - Lm67,874m
1969 - Lm77,368m
1970 - Lm89,479m
1971 - Lm92,708m
Even before achieving independence, and thereafter, hotels started to be built: Hilton, Sheraton, Excelsior, Verdala, Preluna, Cavalieri, Corinthia and many other smaller ones. Industrial estates were also set up. When we lost the election in 1971, the island was flourishing as never before.
The second most important date in Malta's political history is surely May 1, 2004. The PN, as we have seen, had believed in Europe's future 42 years ago. It never distanced itself from reaching such goal.
A few years after the end of World War II, western European politicians were determined that Germany should not attack France any more, as it had done three times during the previous 100 years. The two countries had to agree on a peaceful future and the efforts led, first, to the setting up of the European Coal and Steel Community.
Over the years, cooperation among western European countries grew, leading to the foundation of the European Economic Community, first with six members, then 12, then 15. Eight of the 10 countries joining today had freed themselves from the shackles of communism.
The 25 countries in the European Union have a great challenge before them. Becoming the largest group of nations in the world, they have to face the challenge posed by the high technology of the US, with its powerful industry, economy and finance, the ever growing ability of Japan to increase its exports and overcome financial crises, and, above all, the ability of China and India, with a combined population of 2.3 billion, to expand their industrial production at a cheap cost.
Malta must now embark on a new road, that to preserve its sovereignty and defend basic national interests, to change its mentality regarding labour relations, by diverting social responsibility from the state to the employer and employee, to improve labour and production culture in order to face fierce competition from all sectors, to reduce our staggering national debt by avoiding wastage in all fields of public and private activity, and by reducing taxes, where possible, before it becomes rather late for attracting foreign and local investment, as Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Latvia and Slovakia have done. Austria is following suit next year.
By joining the European Union, we can expect to receive help where this is really needed. Such help should be invested and used properly and efficiently.
Malta should ensure that its requests for help can be seriously considered. We should not resort to the system of begging, we should remember that there are other new states joining the Union together with Malta. Some of these are faring worse and need more help than we do.
By giving our full support and cooperation, the European Union will appreciate our contribution for the welfare of its members.
Dr Ragonesi is former secretary-general of the Nationalist Party (1954-1962), political secretary to Prime Minister George Borg Olivier and secretary of the Cabinet.