Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

July 21, 2007

The Roland Report

As usual I do these things when I am half asleep, please note the name change, Roland Camilleri is the right spelling, not 2 ll’s in Roland as I had before.

Many of you may remember Victor Buhagiar, who was the poet laureate for Storytime Tapestry.  Victor is from the Mediterranean Island of Malta.   Recently you have been privileged in reading the work of Tanja Cilia, also from Malta.  Now I am happy to present to you Roland Camilleri who is Tanja’s uncle.  Roland is now living in Australia and enjoying his retirement.

Rolland becomes writer #422 for Storytime Tapestry.  He will be doing his own column, isn’t that wonderful!

What to expect:

We will learn about Malta

We will learn about the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta

We will learn about the free masons,

We will learn about history

And will learn about Roland’s illustrious life.

This new column is called

The Roland Report

Now for your first reading assignment.

Malta

Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of Sicily.  It consists of the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino, and the tiny, uninhabited islands of Cominotto and Filfla.  It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. 

Terrace farming over much of Malta makes the countryside look much like giant steps.  The balmy climate attracts many visitors.  Tourists also come to Malta to view some of the world's finest examples of Baroque and Renaissance art and architecture. 

Malta was once a British crown colony.  In 1964, Malta became an independent country.  Valletta, on the island of Malta, is the capital and chief port.  See VALLETTA. 



Government.  Malta is a republic.  The president is head of state and is appointed by parliament to a five-year term.  The prime minister is usually the leader of the majority party in parliament.  The prime minister is the country's most powerful official.  A Cabinet assists the prime minister in carrying out government operations.  The 65 members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people to five-year terms. 

People.  Most of Malta's people speak a language called Maltese, a West Arabic dialect with some Italian words.  Both English and Maltese are official languages.  Maltese is used in the courts.  The country has both Maltese and English newspapers.  Roman Catholicism is the state religion of Malta. 

Land.  Malta covers a total area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers).  Malta island covers 95 square miles (246 square kilometers).  Gozo covers 26 square miles (67 square kilometers).  Comino covers about 1 square mile (3 square kilometers). 

Malta has a mild climate.  Winters are moist and mild, and frost is unusual.  Summers are hot and dry, but the heat is moderated by sea breezes.  Malta gets about 21 inches (53 centimeters) of rainfall a year.  Northwest winds sometimes reach hurricane force in autumn and winter. 

Economy.  Many of the country's people work at the dockyards and in the building industry.  The one-time British naval dockyards are now used for commercial shipbuilding and repair.  A few light industries have been set up.  Malta is becoming more dependent upon tourists. 

Maltese farmers raise cauliflowers, flowers for export, grapes, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and wheat.  However, crops are small because of the rocky soil.  Maltese farms also produce milk, pork, and poultry.  But Malta must import most of its food.  It has no minerals or natural resources, except salt and limestone. 

Malta imports more goods than it exports.  It carries on more than half of its trade with Britain, Germany, and Italy. 

The country has a good road network and extensive local bus service.  Ferry service links Malta with Gozo.  Luqa has an international airport. 

Malta has compulsory elementary education for all children from 6 to 16 years old.  The country has both public schools and Roman Catholic schools.  By law, the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church that are taught in Catholic schools must also be included in public school courses.  Instruction is given in both English and Maltese.  The University of Malta is in Msida, near Valletta. 

History.  Malta is a region of great historical interest.  Through the years, it has had much military importance because of its strategic location and natural harbors. 

Remains of late Stone Age and Bronze Age people have been found in limestone caverns on the islands.  Rough stone buildings from early ages have also been discovered in Malta.  The Phoenicians colonized Malta in about 1000 B.C. Temples, tombs, and other relics of the Phoenicians still stand.  Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, and Arab conquerors followed the Phoenicians into Malta.  According to tradition, Saint Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked near Malta about A.D. 60 and converted the inhabitants to Christianity. 

Malta passed to the Norman kings of Sicily around 1090.  About 1520, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V inherited the area when he received the crown of Spain.  In 1530, Charles V gave Malta to the Knights Hospitallers.  For this reason, the Knights are sometimes called the Knights of Malta.  The Knights Hospitallers wore the Maltese cross as their badge (see CROSS [picture]).  They had fought against the Muslims since the time of the First Crusade in the 1090's.  In 1565, the Turks laid siege to Malta with naval and military forces.  Though heavily outnumbered, the Knights held out against the Turks for months, and finally defeated them.  The town of Valletta was named after Jean de la Vallette, the Grand Master who led the Knights against the Turks. 

The French under Napoleon Bonaparte took Malta from the Knights Hospitallers in 1798.  British forces drove out the French in 1800.  The people of Malta offered control of the colony to Great Britain.  Britain's control was not completely recognized, however, until peace was made with France in 1815, after the Napoleonic Wars.  Great Britain developed its Mediterranean military headquarters on Malta. 

During World War I (1914-1918), Malta served as a strategic naval base for Allied forces.  Great Britain granted Malta a measure of self-government in 1921.  However, political crises in Malta caused Britain to revoke the Maltese political power.  Malta's constitution was suspended in 1930 because of a dispute between the state and Roman Catholic authorities.  They disagreed about the role of the church in state affairs.  The constitution was reestablished in 1932, then withdrawn a year later.  This time the pro-Italian sympathies of the Maltese government led Britain to suspend the constitution.  Full authority was returned to the governor in 1936.

During World War II (1939-1945), Malta controlled the vital sea lanes between Italy and Africa.  The natural rocks and deep inlets of the colony concealed anchorages and submarine bases.  Many underground passages provided bomb shelters.  Fighter planes based on Malta defended convoys of ships.  The colony suffered heavy bomb damage.  In 1942, King George VI of England awarded the George Cross to Malta in recognition of the courage and endurance of the Maltese people during the war.  In 1953, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established its Mediterranean military headquarters on Malta. 

The constitution of 1947 gave the colony increased partial self-government.  The Maltese Labour Party gained control of the assembly and proposed political integration with Great Britain.  In a 1956 referendum, the people voted for integration.  A bill was prepared in the British Parliament, providing for local government in Malta and giving it three members in Britain's House of Commons.  No further progress was made because the Maltese wanted guaranteed work in the dockyards. 

An independence movement began to grow in Malta in 1958.  A constitution approved in 1962 provided that the colony become a state with internal self-government.  The new legislative assembly favored full independence.  Britain agreed to grant full independence in May 1964.  But disagreement among Malta's political factions delayed the action until September 1964.

Malta's political parties could not agree on whether to become a republic or a constitutional monarchy after independence.  Some factions did not even want independence from Great Britain.  But the Nationalist Party defeated the Labour Party on these measures and Malta became an independent constitutional monarchy on Sept. 21, 1964.  Dr. Borg Oliver, leader of the Nationalists, became prime minister.  In 1971, the Labour Party won a majority in parliament.  Party leader Dom Mintoff became prime minister. 

In 1974, Malta's parliament amended the constitution to change the form of government to a republic.  Mintoff remained as prime minister.  The Labour Party kept its majority in parliament in the 1976 and 1981 elections, and Mintoff continued to serve as prime minister until he resigned in 1984.  He was succeeded by Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, also of the Labour Party. 

In 1979, an agreement between Great Britain and Malta that permitted Britain's use of military facilities on Malta expired.  Britain and NATO then withdrew their military forces from Malta. 

In 1987, the Nationalist Party won a majority in Parliament.  Nationalist Party leader Eddie Fenech Adami became prime minister.

Addendum

The government of the Nationalist prime minister Edward Fenech Adami was elected in 1987 and was returned to office in 1992 and 1998. Alfred Sant of the Labor party was prime minister from 1996 to 1998. In the 1990s, Malta tried to balance its foreign policy between neighboring Libya and the economically more important Western nations. It applied for full membership in the European Union (EU) in 1990 and embarked on an extensive economic and restructuring program, and Malta joined the EU in 2004. Fenech Adami and the Nationalist party, strong supporters of EU membership, were returned to power in the Apr., 2003, parliamentary elections. Fenech Adami stepped down in Mar., 2003, to become president, and Lawrence Gonzi succeeded him as prime minister.

Best regards,

Roland Camilleri B.Ec FCPA.
Sydney, Australia.
Rolcam@aol.com