Malta became a sovereign state when it became an independent nation in 1964, but according to Festivals Malta it was only in 1979 that Malta “officially became a sovereign state”.
This gross misrepresentation of historical facts was made in a statement issued by Festivals Malta to list the activities to be held on Freedom Day, to be celebrated on Sunday.
The statement was issued by Festivals Malta for the National Festivities Committee, through the Department of Information.
The first words are: “Freedom Day is the commemoration of the day when Malta became free and officially a sovereign state”.
Wrong.
Malta became a sovereign state in 1964 when it became an independent nation. It then went on to become a Republic in 1974 and, in 1979, the last of the British troops left the island.
Malta had been a sovereign state for 15 years when Freedom Day was first celebrated.
A second statement, with a correction, was issued later.
The Freedom Day celebrations will be among the last activities to be presided by President George Vella, whose term expires on 4 April.
He was be replaced by Myriam Spiteri Debono.
