President George Vella announces conference for national unity

President George Vella has unveiled a new national conference on national unity.

The conference follows on Vella’s pledge in his April 2019 speech upon his appointment as President of the Republic, to work towards the strengthening of national unity.

The conference will be held on 27 February at the Verdala Palace, with a panel led by Reno Bugeja, former PBS head of news and presenter of Reno Bugeja Jistaqsi; writer Aleks Farrugia; University of Malta pro-rector Prof. Carmen Sammut; Chamber of Commerce David Xuereb; Faculty of Social Wellbeing Dean Prof. Andrew Azzopardi; and Prof. Simone Borg.

Vella said he was concerned about the lack of unity in Malta. “The time has come for us to ask about which causes we must unite over... I insist that we must be united on certain issues.” The President said that the event must be held “as far away from partisan politics as possible.”

Vella said the COVID-19 pandemic had forced upon the Maltese a period of reflection that inspired a sense of solidarity for those stricken by the virus, as well as respect for medical frontliners and a realisation that foreign workers “such as those who clean our public benches” were far more important to Malta than previously believed.

“Our exchanges and discussions have to be dignified, based on civic and correct demeanour, and never result in attacks of a personal nature. We need to continue reinforcing those civil liberties for which we have striven over the past years, and eliminate all forms of discrimination. We need to fortify women’s position in society and in the workplace. In this particular field, we have to  guarantee  those  rights,  which  remain  elusive…” Vella had said back in 2019.

Vella has also gone on record saying that he wishes to see less abuse on social media, the likes of which tend to be less present on printed  media  and  broadcasting. A serious, positive contribution is expected from the public, said the President.“You can criticise but be constructive, not destructive. Discourse must provide an alternative, otherwise we’ll just point fingers at each other,” Vella said. “This  definitely  does  not  contribute to  national  unity.”

“Do we have respect for other opinions? Do we try to convince through discussion or force? This is because we have lost mutual trust and trust in the institutions.” If you lose all trust in the institutions you will have no point of reference, said the President. “We must therefore find a solution. Education is key to this, he said. We must educate your children from the very beginning to show recognition and appreciation of what is Maltese. This includes history…” Vella went on.

He has also called on MPs to retain a tone and vocabulary that befits the office they hold when debating their adversaries.

The debate will also cover who much the Maltese people feel themselves represented by the institutions. Social inequality led to division, he said, adding that a plan was needed to implement social justice in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vell’s address a touched on a number of other issues of concern, amongst them the decline in the use of the Maltese language and lack of care for the environment.

In conclusion Vella said the answers were in the hands of the Maltese people. “If nothing, it should create a conscience about these things and raise awareness.

“I am pragmatic enough to recognise that things would not change overnight, but…it is our obligation to work together,” he said adding that at least the exercise would reveal what needs to be changed. “If we can change, it would be a shame not to."