President: Independence, Republic Day should be the only two national days

Independence and Republic Day should be the only two national days in Malta, President George Abela said this morning. The President was speaking at the Republic Day awards ceremony at the Palace. He said: “Now our people is mature enough to come to a wide consensus so that at least for the time being.” Malta’s National days should reflect special significance and a particular relevance to the historical development as a sovereign, Independent and Republican State, Dr Abela said “I believe therefore that it would be appropriate that the two national days should be those which have a particular significance in the contemporaneous constitutional development of our country and there are Independence day and Republic day. President Abela also suggested that as is done in Independence Day celebrations, on Republic day, a special commemoration be made on a suitable monument “set up in a prominent place”. Those awarded the National Order of Merit today included Mgr Sylvester Magro, titular bishop of Salde in Libya, who opted to stay on in Libya during the revolution and face the impending conflict. Anna and Charles Azzopardi, who are active in the National Foster Care Association and...