Muscat highlights gender inequality on Freedom Day

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Malta isn’t completely free yet, forty years after independence from Britain. This, he said, was because gender inequality was still a reality.

In the annual gathering at Freedom Square in Birgu, accompanied by his wife Michelle Muscat and all members of his Cabinet, Muscat said that not all members of the Maltese community had equal opportunities.

“It’s always a labour administration that gave importance to women, that elected the first woman president and first woman minister. This is our legacy,” he said.

He added that the progress Malta had made in this regard ever since he took office showed how far Malta lagged behind in terms of equality.

“No category of people has less rights than others. It was only five years ago that we gave our brothers and sisters the same rights that we have enjoyed for years,” he said, commenting on the civil liberties granted to same-sex relationships.

Muscat said it was abysmal that just 27 women had been elected in parliament since Malta had its first independent election.

He criticised Nationalism as being an isolationist mentality. “Whoever tries to define this feast in the spirit of extreme nationalism doesn’t understand the point,” he said.

“Mintoff dreamed this day and his presence still justly commands this day. He wanted Malta not to isolate itself but to be a country in a level playing-field with other countries in Europe.

“Freedom is a tool for us to become an active member in a large community. We are celebrating freedom because this was when Malta took off in terms of social justice and equality.”

Muscat said that the promises of forty years ago are still being implemented.

He then proceeded to light the Freedom torch and place flowers underneath the Freedom Day monument.  

Economy Minister Chris Cardona, who addressed the crowd ahead of the Prime Minister, said that freedom relinquished the Maltese from being ensnared in a story that foreign powers wanted to write for the country.

“Forty years later, we are still increasing employment and creating work, boosting our economy. The story is the same.  It would be a mistake to think that there’s no need for further sacrifice for Malta to be the best in the world. For Malta to remain free, we need to keep making reforms in favour of equality, social mobility, and social justice,” Cardona said.

Cardona also criticised the Nationalist Party for “unscrupulously attacking Malta at every turn.”

The Labour party, the minister said, loved the country irrespective of who was governing.

Malta celebrates the 40th anniversary of Freedom Day on Sunday, 31 March.