Victoria's twinning with Palermo

Victoria council last week signed a twinning agreement with Palermo, this being the first time that a local council has signed an agreement with a major European city.

The agreement was signed in an outdoor ceremony on Independence Square, Victoria, in front of the Banca Giuratale, the historical building that houses the council.

The agreement was signed between Victoria mayor Paul M. Cassar and Palermo deputy mayor Bartolomeo Sammartino. Attending the ceremony were Mr Speaker Anton Tabone, Victor Galea Pace, MP and a former Victoria mayor, Dr Alfredo Barbaro, Malta's honorary consul in Palermo, councillors, mayors and representatives of religious and philanthropic organisations. The La Stella and Leone bands took part in the ceremony.

Asked what prompted the council to choose Palermo as its twinning partner, Mr Cassar told The Sunday Times that the Sicilian capital had a long historical connection with Victoria, especially when Malta and Gozo formed part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

In fact in his commemorative speech he referred to the special assistance Gozo was given by Palermo way back in 1798, when the island was under a French blockade. Substantial rations were sent over to Gozo following a petition submitted by the then archpriest of Rabat, Canon Saverio Cassar. This continued to help Gozitans withstand the French blockade.

Mr Cassar said that both councils pledged to promote exchanges enhancing their respective cultural, educational and sport fields. He also expected that the two opera houses Astra and Aurora could benefit from cultural exchanges.

The mayor was optimistic that the next council (being elected on March 8) will urge local researchers to visit Palermo's archives, since he was sure that many interesting historical facts could come to light.