Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694841266564.pdf (Malta)
Address by the Honourable Anġlu Farrugia Speaker of the House of Representatives Parliament of Malta on the occasion of the commemoration of SETTE GIUGNO Friday, 6 June 2014 Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Presidents Emeriti, Speakers Emeriti, Honourable Members, Honourable Senior Members, your Excellencies, distinguished guests.
As in previous years, we meet here today to celebrate Sette Giugno, a special day for all of us which has remained engraved – and should remain so engraved – in our country’s history.

It is a day which commemorates that moment in 1919 when the Maltese and Gozitan people, demonstrated national unity and furthered the quest for their rights as a Maltese nation.

It is always interesting to delve deeper into what happened in those times.
On that day when riots broke out in Valletta, it appears that there was a group of supporters of the politician Manwel Dimech, who was a pioneer in the promotion of the ideal of self-rule, an independent nation- state that would have been able to assist, in particular, those persons who at the time were without rights, education and employment.

At the time when the Sette Giugno occurred in 1919, Manwel Dimech had already been exiled by the British.
He was the only Maltese exiled by the British during the first world war and was detained in a concentration camp in Sidi Bishr in Alexandria, Egypt.

There he had to endure serious hardship, including malnutrition, to the detriment of his health, to the extent that in November 1920 he suffered a stroke which rendered him paralyzed and was transferred to Victoria College which was also located in Sidi Bishr in Alexandria.
In the meantime, both the Maltese in Malta as well as those living in Alexandria, were feeling the suffering of this person as well as the problems our country was experiencing.

They were witnessing the Maltese being humiliated, even in the way they were being treated by the British at that time.
In fact, following the riots, precisely during the Parliamentary sitting of the 5th of July 1919, the Member of Parliament Salvatore Zammit, while calling for an inquiry into the circumstances which led to the Sette Giugno riots, had stated, and I quote: l’irritazione diventava protesta, “... la quale degenerò in sommossa.

Il torto non è nostro.


Lo avevo già prima attirato l’attenzione del governo sul malcontento generale, prodotto dagli abusi del’amministrazione.” 1 Subsequently, following a question by the Lieutenant Governor at the time, the same Member of Parliament replied in English as follows: “I’m drawing the attention of the Council to my speech delivered in connexion with Dr Pullicino’s Resolution for an enquiry.
I was simply saying that if unhappily the riots took place it was not due to the will of the population itself but to a disease in which the population found itself entangled and, through the disease, vermin of course cropped up.

1 “...the irritation became protest, which degenerated into riots.

The fault was not ours.
I had already drawn the government’s attention to the general discontent, which was the product of the administration’s abusive behaviour.” The uneasiness felt by the population was not the fault of the population itself; it was perhaps also due to the answer given to me in this Council on the 10th May when I asked the government to institute an enquiry about the excessive profits made by some people on the sale of potatoes, and the Lieutenant General in reply to my question had said: “The Government is satisfied with the measures taken by the Control Board to prevent excessive profits.” If the population was feeling, even wrongly, that excessive profits had been made, and the Government was sure that the Control Board were doing their duty, there was no reason why the Government should not have acceded to my simple request for an enquiry, and so on.” It is clear that there was disagreement between the Members of time concerning what exactly had led to the Sette Giugno riots.
the Legislative Council of that There were various reasons for the people to be unhappy.

First and foremost, was the issue of Maltese identity, because the Maltese always wanted to safeguard what was rightfully theirs.

There was widespread anger due to the fact that the Maltese language was not accepted and honoured by all the institutions in the country.
This can be seen from the parliamentary session which took place more than a year after the Sette Giugno riots, precisely on the 12th of June 1920, when Field Marshal Lord Plumer, who was Governor at the time, had presented the Legal Instruments for the establishment of the Constitution of Malta, which later became known as the 1921 Amery- Milner Constitution.
In paragraph 15 of these documents it was stated, and I quote: in the use of Maltese that while every member of “The question of the Legislature has been carefully considered, and I am of opinion the Legislature may be presumed to understand and read either English or Italian, there is no reason for precluding such members as can only express their views with fluency and ease in the vernacular from using it in debate, especially as their fellow members would also understand them, provided, however, that the record of their speeches should be kept, not in Maltese but in English or Italian.” This means that despite those protests, and despite all that had happened on Sette Giugno, one year later there was still a constitutional attempt to undermine the Maltese the language.
This was one of Dimechians, as they called themselves, were angry; because while their leader was exiled in Alexandria and had succumbed to poor health, they had not succeeded in persuading the British authorities, including the Maltese who at the time were members of the Legislative Council, to give greater importance to the Maltese language.
the reasons why Manwel Dimech died on the 17th of April 1921 and was buried without any ceremonies in an unmarked grave still unknown to this day, somewhere close to Victoria College in Alexandria.

Two years after the Sette Giugno riots in Malta, precisely in June 1921, it seems that other riots broke out in Alexandria in which some Maltese were also involved.

Evidence of such an event arise out of questions submitted in the Maltese Parliament.
In a question put to the Governor during a parliamentary session held on the 11th of June 1921, the Honourable Nerik Mizzi had asked: “Domando se e quali passi a preso il Governo per assicurare la tutela della vita e della proprietà dei Maltesi residenti in Alessandria d’Egitto e se e quali notizie interessanti i Maltesi può dare sull’ultimo grave sommossa egiziana, indicando possibilmente i nomi dei Maltesi morti, feriti o danneggiati, e il valore approssimattivo dei danni recati alla proprietà della Colonia Maltese.”2 The Governor replied as follows: “Maltese and other British subjects resident in Egypt are under the protection of the British Authorities in that country.
Enquiry has been made by telegraph whether any Maltese have been injured in the recent riots, and in the affirmative, the High Commissioner has been asked to communicate names and details.” This shows that following the riots that broke out in Alexandria, in which a number of Maltese were also involved, the Honourable Nerik Mizzi, who certainly did not share Manwel Dimech’s ideals, still took an interest in the fate of the Maltese community there, some of whom had followed Manwel Dimech.
It is not excluded that the Maltese in Alexandria could have been protesting against the British because of the way Manwel Dimech was being treated in exile, and because of the conditions inflicted on their brethren in Malta.
2 “I demand to know which measures, if any, were taken by the Government to safeguard the lives and properties of Maltese residents in Alexandria in Egypt, possibly indicating the names of the Maltese who were killed, injured or suffered damages, and the approximate value of damages inflicted on property of the Maltese Colony.” Today we may say that the road was long but we have come a long way.
The Maltese people have acquired an increased level of sovereignty; saw their country gain Independence, adopt a Republican Constitution, bring to an end the presence of foreign military bases in our country, thus acquiring freedom, and embark on a journey towards European Union membership, culminating in the tenth anniversary since EU membership which we commemorated this year.
We have now taken a further step forward to address a long-standing demand, namely to bestow upon Parliament, the country’s highest Institution, those tools that enhance its administrative autonomy, while at the same time making it more open to public scrutiny.
the Opposition for all I would like to take the opportunity to thank both the Government and the work accomplished to this end over the course of this year, and would like to start by mentioning the Select Committee of the House which was set up in October 2013 and tasked with drawing up a report on the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner and a Standing Committee on standards, ethics and proper behaviour in public life.
This Select Committee was set up after the House unanimously approved resolution number 77, which was tabled by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, the Honourable Louis Grech and after another resolution on similar lines was presented by the Leader of Opposition, Honourable Simon Busuttil earlier to the Speaker.
On the 16th of December 2013, this same Select Committee, which was chaired by myself as Speaker of the House and composed of the Minister for Foreign the Affairs Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with the Honourable George Vella and Disability and Active Ageing the Honourable Justyne Caruana from the Government side, and the Honourable Francis Zammit Dimech and the Honourable Ryan Callus from the Opposition side, presented an interim report accompanied by a draft Bill on Standards in Public Life which reflected a number of recommendations that were agreed upon by the Committee.
The said document also called on all members of parliament as well as civil society to forward their comments on the said draft bill.

Subsequently, this Committee met again and through the contributions of the same Members, my Office and that of the Attorney General, an updated report and draft bill were drawn up and presented to the House on the 24th of March 2014.
I am pleased to state that the First Reading of this bill was unanimously approved by the House on the 20th of May 2014 following it being moved by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto the Honourable Louis Grech and seconded by the Honourable Francis Zammit Dimech.
This is a major step forward towards the strengthening of Parliament, because through the appointment of the Commissioner for Standards and the establishment of the Standing Committee for Standards, each and every Member of Parliament will be more accountable in the performance of his or her duties in public life.
This is because according to what is being proposed in the same bill, any breach of the obligations emanating from the code of ethics shall be subject to investigation by an independent Commissioner and a Standing Committee composed of two Members from each side of the House.

The fact that the Maltese Parliament shall be discussing this Bill on Standards in Public Life should be considered as an important step forward for this Institution.
I now augur that this bill be considered and approved by the House as soon as possible.

As I mentioned earlier, another key step towards the strengthening of the Maltese Parliament concerns the administrative autonomy of this Institution, to ensure that it is free from any influence from the Executive, which it is duty bound to scrutinize.
It is essential that Parliament has total and absolute independence in carrying out its tasks as in practice this translates into better services for the same Members of the House who in turn will be able to perform better the people’s representatives in the country’s highest institution.
In my speech last year on the occasion of Sette Giugno I had stated, and I quote: their duties as “In other words, Parliament should have the power to prepare its financial estimates and to manage its own resources unhindered, independently and in a distinct manner from any type of influence from the Executive.” I am pleased to announce that on the 21st of May 2014, exactly one day after the presentation and approval of the First Reading of the Bill on Standards in Public Life, I tabled a report on this matter which was drawn up by an internal Commission that I appointed on the 16th of April of this year.
This report is accompanied by a Bill for the establishment of a Parliamentary Service with a view of giving the Maltese Parliament administrative autonomy.

This has been a long standing demand, particularly by my predecessors on this occasion, and I therefore firmly expect words to now turn into action.

This step should also lead to Malta no longer being the only EU country that has its highest institution, Parliament, not enjoying any form of administrative autonomy.
It would be a living example of a small country that is able to make a quantum leap truly reflecting the level of democracy which our nation was capable of achieving thanks to its elected leaders.

Parliamentary autonomy will be further enhanced in the coming weeks and months when the Maltese Parliament relocates from the Grandmasters’ Palace to its new premises.
Works are expected to be completed this summer, and I hope that during the summer recess we shall be in a position to relocate our offices in the new building, with the aim of convening the House in the new premises immediately thereafter.

This is an important and historical step as for the first time the Maltese Parliament shall have its own edifice and shall therefore be an infrastructural autonomous perspective.
All the necessary arrangements have been made for online video streaming of the plenary sessions once Parliament starts operating from the new premises, building on the service that my Office has already been providing over the last two years in connection with the meetings of the Parliamentary Committees.
This service will be another important step towards creating greater public awareness about the work carried out by all elected representatives in their bid to further the interests of the constituents they represent in this Institution.
entity from even an Always with a view to increasing access to this Institution, I would also like to refer to the proposal included in the aforementioned bill on administrative parliamentary autonomy which envisages the unprecedented step of Parliament having its own television channel.

Through this initiative, this Institution will also be addressing the so- called digital divide by bringing Parliament closer to citizens, in particular those who are not so familiar with modern day technology.
It is within this context of strengthening accessibility that we launched a number of publications, including the regular issue of the magazine mill-Parlament which will soon reach its fifth issue.

Last March we also launched the publication of rulings, Is-Sedja Titkellem, which comprises the rulings delivered during this legislature.

The Office of the Speaker intends to continue with this series of publications from time to time.
It is also planned to shortly issue a publication on Parliament’s work related to parliamentary diplomacy in order to increase public awareness on the important role the Maltese Parliament plays in this field, in particular through its regular contributions within various international organisations and fora.
Recently, for instance, I had the opportunity to deliver a keynote speech at a conference organised by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), under the auspices of the Austrian Minister of Justice, which conference addressed the role of parliament in the fight against corruption.

As I already mentioned, much has been done.


However, we have seen no developments on the idea that I mentioned last year and which was also included in the current Government’s electoral programme, that is, that MEUSAC is brought under Parliament’s wing.
Through such an initiative the House of Representatives would be able to benefit from this entity’s resources, and therefore be in a better position to scrutinize European directives and regulations and take positions which would also take into consideration feedback from civil society.

This will certainly be a further step towards greater parliamentary autonomy.
It is understood that since this measure was indicated by the present Government in its electoral programme, it will be implemented in the coming weeks or months.

There is also the urgent necessity – I would now say – to revise thoroughly the Standing Orders of the House in order to increase efficiency in parliamentary work.

Furthermore, much needs to be done in terms of Constitutional reform.
Important changes have already been made through amendments tabled in Parliament by Members of Parliament by way of private members’ motions.

Some of these amendments have effectively already become part of our country’s Constitution.
However, other amendments are still pending, and I am sure that the participation of Members of Parliament in the discussion concerning these amendments will, as usual, be active and will contribute in such a way that the Constitution of Malta truly reflects our country’s needs.

I believe that this Institution can never rest on its laurels.
Those of us who may in some way be responsible for the functioning of this Institution must continually endeavour to improve on the accomplishments of our predecessors.

We need to take initiatives to ensure that the Maltese Parliament, by right, always reflects our people’s hopes and expectations and its collective common consciousness through a dynamic and functioning parliamentary democracy.
As President of the House of Representatives, on this national day which is so dear to us, I would like to give a heartfelt tribute to all those who truly believed and still believe in their commitment in politics, despite the difficulties such participation may sometimes entail.

This day should remind us of the collective sincerity built on this common political commitment demonstrated by numerous us.
This commemoration should encourage present day politicians to continue striving towards empowering the Maltese people to be able to keep on choosing what is best for politicians who preceded them and for their country.

For this reason, the memory of the Sette Giugno martyrs should inspire us to continue striving towards the strengthening of a patriotic love for our country and a sense of national responsibility.
Diskors mill-Onorevoli Anġlu Farrugia Speaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati Parlament ta’ Malta fl-okkażjoni tal-kommemorazzjoni tas-SETTE GIUGNO Il-Ġimgħa, 6 ta’ Ġunju 2014 Prim Ministru, Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni, Presidenti Emeriti, Speakers Emeriti, Onorevoli Membri, Onorevoli Membri Anzjani, Eċċellenzi, mistiedna distinti.

Bħal kull sena niltaqgħu hawnhekk biex niċċelebraw il-jum tas-Sette Giugno, jum speċjali għalina lkoll li storikament baqa’ mnaqqax – u għandu jibqa’ hekk imnaqqax – fil-memorja ta’ pajjiżna.
Jum li jfakkar meta fl-1919 il-poplu Malti u Għawdxi, mingħajr xkiel tal-inqas vuċi waħda, wera għaqda nazzjonali u mexxa l-ġlieda għad-drittijiet tiegħu bħala nazzjon Malti.

Huwa dejjem interessanti li wieħed jidħol aktar fil-fond f’dak li ġara f’dawk iż-żminijiet.
F’dak il-jum li nqalgħu l-irvellijiet ġewwa l-Belt Valletta, jidher li kien hemm grupp ta’ sostenituri tal-politiku Manwel Dimech li mill-bidu nett kien imexxi b’ċertu qawwa l-ideal ta’ nazzjon indipendenti b’rajh f’idejh, u dan speċjalment biex setgħu jiġu megħjuna dawk li kienu mingħajr drittijiet, bla edukazzjoni u bla xogħol.

iż-żmien tal-ġrajja tas-Sette Giugno F’dak tal-1919 Manwel Dimech kien diġà ġie eżiljat mill-Ingliżi.
Huwa kien l-uniku Malti eżiljat mill-Ingliżi matul l-ewwel gwerra dinjija u kien qiegħed jinżamm f’kamp ta’ konċentrament l-Eġittu.

Hemmhekk huwa kien jitħalla jiffaċċja ċirkostanzi ebsin ħafna għal saħħtu, anke f’dak li kien jingħata bħala ikel.

Fil-fatt saħħtu tant marret lura li f’Novembru tal-1920 spiċċa pparalizzat wara li tatu puplesija u kellu jiġi trasferit għall-Kulleġġ ta’ Victoria li kien jinsab ukoll f’Sidi Bishr f’Lixandra.
f’Sidi Bishr f’Lixandra, Fil-frattemp kemm il-Maltin f’Malta kif ukoll il-Maltin li kienu jgħixu f’Lixandra, filwaqt li kienu qed iħossu t-tbatijiet ta’ din il-persuna kienu wkoll iħossu l-problemi li kien għaddej minnhom pajjiżna.

Kienu qed jaraw lill-Maltin jiġu umiljati, anke bil-mod kif kienu qed jiġu ttrattati mill-Ingliżi dak iż-żmien.
Fil-fatt, wara li seħħew l-irvellijiet, proprju waqt is-seduta tal-Parlament tal-5 ta’ Lulju 1919, il-Membru Parlamentari Salvatore Zammit, waqt li kien qed jitlob biex issir inkjesta dwar x’wassal għall-irvellijiet tas-Sette Giugno, kien qal hekk, u nikkwota: l’irritazione diventava protesta, la quale “... degenerò in sommossa.

Il torto non è nostro.


Lo avevo già prima attirato l’attenzione del governo sul malcontento generale, prodotto dagli abusi del’amministrazione.” Aktar tard, wara li kien hemm domanda tal-Lieutenant Governor ta’ dak iż-żmien, l-istess Membru Parlamentari – din id-darba kien qed jitkellem bl-Ingliż – qal hekk: “I’m drawing the attention of the Council to my speech delivered in connexion with Dr Pullicino’s Resolution for an enquiry.
I was simply saying that if unhappily the riots took place it was not due to the will of the population itself but to a disease in which the population found itself entangled and, through the disease, vermin of course cropped up.
The uneasiness felt by the population was not the fault of the population itself; it was perhaps also due to the answer given to me in this Council on the 10th May when I asked the government to institute an enquiry about the excessive profits made by some people on the sale of potatoes, and the Lieutenant General in reply to my question had said: “The Government is satisfied with the measures taken by the Control Board the to prevent excessive profits.” population was feeling, even wrongly, that excessive profits had been made, and the Government was sure that the Control Board were doing their duty, there was no reason why the Government should not have acceded to my simple request for an enquiry, and so on.” If Joħroġ biċ-ċar li kien hemm diżgwid bejn il-Membri tal-Kunsill Leġiżlattiv ta’ dak iż-żmien dwar x’kien eżatt li wassal għar-rewwixti li saru fis-Sette Giugno.
Kien hemm diversi raġunijiet għaliex il-poplu kien imdejjaq.

Ewlenija fosthom kien hemm il-kwestjoni tal-identità Maltija u dan għaliex il-Maltin dejjem riedu li jkun protett dak li huwa tagħhom.

Kien hemm rabja kbira għall-fatt li l-ilsien Malti ma kienx aċċettat u onorat mill-istituzzjonijiet kollha tal-pajjiż.
Dan narawh jiġri fis-seduta parlamentari li saret aktar minn sena wara r-rewwixti tas-Sette Giugno, proprju fit-12 ta’ Ġunju tal-1920, meta l-Gvernatur ta’ dak iż-żmien, Field Marshal Lord Plumer, kien ippreżenta l-Legal Instruments biex tiġi stabbilita l-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta, dik li wara saret magħrufa bħala l-Amery-Milner Constitution tal-1921.
F’paragrafu 15 ta’ dan id-dokument kien hemm miktub hekk, u nikkwota: the use of Maltese “The question of the Legislature has been carefully considered, and I am of opinion the Legislature may be presumed to understand and read either English or Italian, there is no reason for precluding such members as can only express their that while every member of in views with fluency and ease in the vernacular from using it in debate, especially as their fellow members would also understand them, provided, however, that the record of their speeches should be kept, not in Maltese but in English or Italian.” rispettat Dan ifisser li minkejja li saru dawk id-dimostrazzjonijiet, minkejja dak kollu li seħħ fis-Sette Giugno, sena wara xorta kien għad hemm tentattiv kostituzzjonali biex ma jiġix l-ilsien Malti.
Din kienet waħda mir-raġunijiet għalfejn id-Dimechiani, kif kienu jsejħu lilhom li l-mexxej tagħhom kien fl-eżilju f’Lixandra u kien jinsab fi stat ħażin ta’ saħħa, huma ma kienx irnexxielhom jipperswadu lill-awtoritajiet Ingliżi, inkluż il-Maltin li dak iż-żmien kienu fil-Kunsill Leġiżlattiv, biex jagħtu aktar saħħa lill-ilsien Malti.
infushom, kienu rrabjati; għaliex filwaqt Manwel Dimech miet fis-17 ta’ April 1921 u ndifen mingħajr ebda ċerimonji f’qabar li sal-lum għad ħadd ma jaf fejn qiegħed, xi mkien f’Lixandra stess qrib Victoria College.

Sentejn wara r-rewwixti li saru f’Malta fis-Sette Giugno, preċiżament f’Ġunju 1921, jidher li f’Lixandra kienu għaddejjin rewwixti oħrajn li fihom kienu involuti anke xi Maltin.

Dan joħroġ minn domandi li saru fil-Parlament Malti stess.
F’domanda li kienet saret lill-Gvernatur ta’ dak iż-żmien fis-seduta parlamentari tal-11 ta’ Ġunju 1921, l-Onorevoli Nerik Mizzi kien staqsa hekk: “Domando se e quali passi a preso il Governo per assicurare la tutela della vita e della proprietà dei Maltesi residenti in Alessandria d’Egitto e se e quali notizie interessanti i Maltesi può dare sull’ultimo grave sommossa egiziana, indicando possibilmente i nomi dei Maltesi morti, feriti o danneggiati, e il valore approssimattivo dei danni recati alla proprietà della Colonia Maltese.” Il-Gvernatur kien wieġeb hekk: “Maltese and other British subjects resident in Egypt are under the protection of the British Authorities in that country.
Enquiry has been made by telegraph whether any Maltese have been injured in the recent riots, and in the affirmative, the High Commissioner has been asked to communicate names and details.” fejn kienu Minn dan joħroġ li wara r-rewwixti li kienu nqalgħu f’Lixandra, involuti wkoll xi Maltin, l-Onorevoli Nerik Mizzi, li ċertament ma kellu l-ebda rabta mal-ideal ta’ Manwel Dimech ta’ dak iż-żmien, xorta ħa interess f’dak li seta’ ġara lill-Maltin ta’ dak il-post, li wħud minnhom kienu lil Manwel Dimech.
jsegwu Mhijiex eskluża l-possibbiltà li l-Maltin ta’ Lixandra setgħu kienu qegħdin jipprotestaw kontra l-Ingliżi dwar il-mod kif kien qed jiġi ttrattat Manwel Dimech fl-eżilju, kif ukoll dwar il-kondizzjonijiet ta’ ħuthom f’Malta.

jadotta l-Indipendenza, Illum nistgħu ngħidu li t-triq kienet twila imma mxejna ħafna.
Il-poplu Malti sar aktar sovran, ra lil pajjiżu Kostituzzjoni jakkwista Repubblikana, iġib fi tmiemha l-preżenza tal-bażijiet militari f’pajjiżna u jikseb il-Ħelsien u mbagħad jaqbad il-mixja lejn sħubija fl-Unjoni Ewropea, tant li din is-sena fakkarna l-għaxar anniversarju ta’ din l-istess sħubija.
Issa jidher li mxejna pass ieħor ’il quddiem biex tingħata widen l-għajta kbira li ilha tinħass, li l-Parlament, l-ogħla istituzzjoni tal-pajjiż, ikun imsaħħaħ b’dawk l-għodod li filwaqt li jippermettulu li jkun iktar awtonomu, jagħmluh aktar miftuħ għall-iskrutinju tal-poplu.
tal-Kummissarju u Minn hawnhekk irrid nirringrazzja kemm lill-Gvern kif ukoll lill-Oppożizzjoni għax-xogħol kollu li twettaq matul din is-sena f’din il-linja ta’ ħsieb u nibda billi nsemmi l-Kumitat Magħżul tal-Kamra li twaqqaf fis-16 ta’ Ottubru 2013 bl-inkarigu li jħejji rapport dwar it-twaqqif ta’ ta’ Kumitat Permanenti Uffiċċju tal-Kamra dwar l-istandards, l-etika u l-imġiba xierqa fil-ħajja pubblika.
Dan il-Kumitat Magħżul twaqqaf wara li l-Kamra, b’mod unanimu, adottat ir-riżoluzzjoni numru 77, li kienet tressqet mid-Deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru għall-Affarijiet Ewropej u Twettiq tal-Manifest Elettorali, l-Onorevoli Louis Grech u wara li l-Kap l-Onor Simon Busuttil, kien ukoll tal-Oppożizzjoni, ippreżenta mozzjoni fuq l-istess linja ta’ ħsieb ftit ta’ żmien qabel lill-iSpeaker.
għall-Affarijiet ippresedut minni bħala Speaker Fis-16 ta’ Diċembru 2013 dan l-istess Kumitat Magħżul, li tal-Kamra u kien magħmul mill-Ministru Barranin l-Onorevoli George Vella u s-Segretarju Parlamentari għad-Drittijiet ta’ Persuni b’Diżabilità u Anzjanità Attiva l-Onorevoli Justyne Caruana għan-naħa tal-Gvern, u l-Onorevoli Francis Zammit Dimech u l-Onorevoli Ryan Callus għan-naħa tal-Oppożizzjoni, ippreżenta rapport interim flimkien ma’ Abbozz ta’ Liġi dwar l-iStandards fil-Ħajja Pubblika ta’ rakkomandazzjonijiet li ntlaħaq qbil dwarhom fil-Kumitat.
L-istess dokument stieden lil kull membru parlamentari kif ukoll lis-soċjetà ċivili biex jgħaddu r-rimarki tagħhom fuq l-istess Abbozz ta’ Liġi.

Sussegwentement dan il-Kumitat reġa’ ltaqa’ u bil-kontribut tal-istess Membri, tal-Uffiċċju tiegħi u dak tal-Avukat Ġenerali tħejja rapport u Abbozz jirrifletti numru li kien ta’ Liġi aġġornat li kien ippreżentat lill-Kamra fl-24 ta’ Marzu 2014.
Għandi pjaċir ngħid li l-Ewwel Qari ta’ dan l-istess Abbozz għadda mill-Kamra b’mod unanimu fl-20 ta’ Mejju 2014 wara li ġie mressaq mid-Deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru għall-Affarijiet Ewropej u Twettiq tal-Manifest Elettorali, l-Onorevoli Louis Grech u ssekondat mill-Onorevoli Francis Zammit Dimech.
Dan huwa pass kbir ’il quddiem fid-direzzjoni lejn it-tisħiħ tal-Parlament għaliex permezz tal-ħatra ta’ Kummissarju u t-twaqqif ta’ Kumitat Permanenti dwar l-iStandards, kull parlamentari se jkun aktar kontabbli fil-qadi tad-dmirijiet tiegħu fil-ħajja pubblika.
Dan għaliex skont kif qed jiġi propost fl-istess Abbozz ta’ Liġi, kull nuqqas jew ksur ta’ dawk l-obbligi li jemanaw minn kodiċi ta’ etika, ikun investigazzjoni minn Kummissarju suġġett indipendenti u minn Kumitat Permanenti magħmul minn żewġ Membri minn kull naħa li l-Parlament Malti issa għandu quddiemu għad-diskussjoni dan l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi dwar l-iStandards fil-Ħajja Pubblika għandu jitqies bħala pass kbir ’il quddiem għal din l-Istituzzjoni.
Issa nawgura li dan Abbozz ta’ Liġi jiġi kkonsidrat u mgħoddi mill-Kamra kemm jista’ jkun malajr.

tal-Kamra.

Il-fatt għal Kif semmejt aktar kmieni, pass importanti ieħor lejn it-tisħiħ tal-Parlament Malti huwa dak li jirrigwarda l-awtonomija amministrattiva ta’ din l-Istituzzjoni b’tali mod li tkun ħielsa minn kull influwenza tal-Eżekuttiv, l-istess Eżekuttiv li hija fl-obbligu li teżamina.
Huwa essenzjali li l-Parlament ikollu din l-indipendenza totali u assoluta fit-tmexxija tal-ħteġijiet tiegħu għaliex fil-prattika dan isarraf f’servizzi aħjar lill-istess Membri tal-Kamra biex min-naħa tagħhom ikunu jistgħu jaqdu daqstant ieħor aħjar il-funzjonijiet rappreżentattivi tagħhom f’din l-ogħla Istituzzjoni tal-pajjiż.
Is-sena l-oħra fid-diskors tiegħi tas-Sette Giugno kont għedt, u nikkwota: “Fi kliem ieħor il-Parlament irid ikollu s-setgħa li mingħajr xkiel iħejji l-estimi finanzjarji tiegħu stess u jamministra r-riżorsi tiegħu b’mod ħieles u distint minn kull tip ta’ influwenza tal-Eżekuttiv.” fuq il-Mejda Għandi l-pjaċir inħabbar li fil-21 ta’ Mejju 2014, proprju l-għada li tressaq u ġie approvat l-Ewwel Qari tal-Abbozz ta’ Liġi dwar Standards fil-Ħajja Pubblika, is-Sedja poġġiet rapport dwar din il-materja li ġie mħejji minn Kummissjoni interna li ħtart jien fis-16 ta’ April ta’ din is-sena.
Flimkien ma’ dan ir-rapport ġie mqiegħed ukoll Abbozz ta’ Liġi dwar it-twaqqif ta’ Servizz Parlamentari bil-ħsieb li jagħti awtonomija amministrattiva sħiħa lill-Parlament Malti.

tal-Kamra is-sejħa ilna nisimgħuha għal bosta Din snin, tas-Sedja waqt din partikolarment mill-predeċessuri l-okkażjoni u allura issa nistenna li b’mod konkret u reali ngħaddu mill-kliem għall-fatti.
Ngħid ukoll li dan il-pass għandu jwassal biex Malta ma tibqax l-uniku pajjiż fl-Unjoni Ewropea fejn l-ogħla istituzzjoni tal-pajjiż, il-Parlament, m’għandu l-ebda forma ta’ awtonomija, imma jkun eżempju ħaj ta’ pajjiż żgħir li kapaċi jagħmel ta’ dik demokrazija li pajjiżna kien kapaċi jilħaq bis-saħħa tal-mexxejja eletti tiegħu.
il-quantum tirrifletti l-livell tassew leap li ser tissaħħaħ L-awtonomija parlamentari fil-ġimgħat u x-xhur li ġejjin meta l-Parlament Malti se jkollu l-binja tiegħu minflok ma jibqa’ jiltaqa’ fil-Palazz tal-Granmastri.

Jidher li x-xogħol se jkun lest sas-sajf li ġej u nittama li matul il-waqfa għall-vaganzi tas-sajf isir tkompli ix-xogħol kollu meħtieġ biex l-uffiċċji tagħna jsibu posthom fil-bini l-ġdid, bil-ħsieb li immedjatament wara, il-Kamra tibda tiltaqa’ fil-binja l-ġdida.
Dan huwa pass importanti u storiku għax għall-ewwel darba l-Parlament se jkun awtonomu anke infrastrutturalment.

Sar xogħol sabiex hekk kif jibda jiltaqa’ l-Parlament fil-binja l-ġdida, is-seduti parlamentari fil-plenarja jibdew jixxandru minn fuq is-sit elettroniku tal-Parlament permezz ta’ online video streaming, servizz li l-Uffiċċju tiegħi ilu jagħti għal dawn l-aħħar sentejn fir-rigward tal-laqgħat tal-Kumitati tal-Kamra.
Dan is-servizz se jkun pass importanti ieħor biex il-poplu jkun aktar konxju tax-xogħol li jkun qed isir mid-deputati li huwa jeleġġi biex imexxu ’l quddiem l-interessi tiegħu.

Dejjem bil-ħsieb li nkomplu niftħu l-aċċess għal din l-Istituzzjoni, nixtieq nagħmel referenza wkoll għal proposta li ġiet inkluża fl-Abbozz ta’ Liġi li semmejt dwar l-awtonomija tal-Parlament li taħseb biex għall-ewwel darba l-Parlament Malti jasal biex ikollu ċ-channel televiżiv tiegħu.
Permezz ta’ din l-inizjattiva din l-Istituzzjoni tkun qiegħda hi wkoll tindirizza dik li tqarreb jgħidulha d-digital divide għaliex il-Parlament lejn iċ-ċittadin, partikolarment lejn dawk li mhumiex daqstant familjari mat-teknoloġija tal-lum.

tkun qed tar-rivista mill-Parlament Huwa f’dan il-kuntest ta’ tisħiħ tal-aċċessibilità li tajna bidu għal numru ta’ pubblikazzjonijiet, fosthom il-ħarġiet regolari li dalwaqt waslet għall-ħames ħarġa tagħha.
F’Marzu li għadda saret ukoll pubblikazzjoni tar-rulings, Is-Sedja Titkellem, li tiġbor fiha r-rulings li ngħataw matul din il-leġiżlatura.

Is-Sedja beħsiebha tkompli b’din is-sensiela ta’ pubblikazzjonijiet minn żmien għal żmien.
Hemm ukoll il-ħsieb li fi żmien qasir toħroġ pubblikazzjoni dwar ix-xogħol tal-Parlament li dak għandu għal x’jaqsam mad-diplomazija parlamentari biex b’hekk il-poplu jsir jaf aktar dwar ir-rwol importanti li l-Parlament Malti għandu anke f’dan il-qasam, fejn b’mod regolari jikkontribwixxi f‘diversi organizzazzjonijiet u fora internazzjonali.
Dan l-aħħar, pereżempju, tagħmel keynote speech f’konferenza li ġiet organizzata mill-Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) u l-International l-awspiċi Anti-Corruption Academy tal-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja Awstrijak, fejn ġie indirizzat ir-rwol parlamentari fil-ġlieda kontra l-korruzzjoni.
is-Sedja kellha l-opportunità (IACA), taħt li Kif semmejt, s’issa sar ħafna xogħol, però punt li sal-lum għadna ma smajna xejn dwaru huwa dak li tkellimt dwaru s-sena l-oħra u li wkoll kien indikat fil-programm elettorali tal-Gvern preżenti.
Qed nirreferi għall-idea li l-MEUSAC tkun taqa’ taħt il-Parlament, b’mod li l-Kamra tad-Deputati tibda tużufruwixxi mir-riżorsi ta’ din l-entità sabiex tkun f’pożizzjoni aħjar li tgħarbel id-direttivi u r-regolamenti Ewropej billi tieħu in konsiderazzjoni wkoll il-feedback tas-soċjetà ċivili, b’tali mod li dawn l-istess konsiderazzjonijiet aktar fil-pożizzjonijiet li jieħu l-Parlament Malti.

Ċertament li dan lejn aktar awtonomija parlamentari.
Wieħed jifhem li ladarba din kienet miżura tal-Gvern preżenti fil-programm elettorali tiegħu, fil-ġimgħat u x-xhur li ġejjin tittieħed azzjoni sabiex tiġi attwata.

ieħor reali fid-direzzjoni indikata min-naħa inkorporati ikun pass dejjem jiġu sew l-Ordnijiet Permanenti biex Hemm ukoll il-ħtieġa - illum ngħid urġenti - li jiġu tiżdied riveduti l-effiċjenza fix-xogħol parlamentari.

Barra minn hekk hemm ħafna xogħol xi jsir speċjalment meta nitkellmu dwar tibdil Kostituzzjonali.
Diġà sar xi tibdil importanti anke permezz ta’ emendi mressqa fil-Parlament minn diġà ta’ pajjiżna.

Membri Parlamentari b’mozzjonijiet privati, emendi li parti effettivament wħud minnhom mill-Kostituzzjoni Madankollu, hemm emendi oħrajn li għadhom pendenti, u jiena ċert li l- parteċipazzjoni tal-Membri Parlamentari fid-diskussjoni dwar dawn l-emendi ser tkun bħas-soltu waħda attiva u li tikkontribwixxi b’tali mod li l-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta tkun tassew tirrifletti l-ħteġijiet ta’ pajjiżna.
saru Dan qed ngħidu għax nemmen li din l-Istituzzjoni ma tista’ tistrieħ qatt.

Kull min minna huwa b’xi mod konness mat-tħaddim tagħha, irid jara li kontinwament naħsbu fuq kif din l-Istituzzjoni tista’ tkun aħjar minn kif ħallewha ta’ qabilna.

Irridu naraw li l-Parlament Malti jkun dejjem aktar l-aspettattivi tal poplu Malti – u dan bi dritt – kif ukoll li dejjem aktar jirrifletti l-kuxjenza ħajja u popolari ta’ pajjiżna tramite l- espressjoni u t-tħaddim ta’ demokrazija parlamentari ħajja.
t-tamiet u jirrifletti Fuq dan il-ħsieb irrid li llum, bħala President tal-Kamra, f’dan il-jum nazzjonali u tant għażiż għalina, minn qalbi nsellem lil dawk kollha li verament emmnu kif ukoll lil dawk li jemmnu fis-sehem tagħhom fil-politika, minkejja kemm kultant ikun diffiċli dan ir-rwol.
Dan il-jum għandu jfakkarna fis-sinċerità kollettiva msawra fuq dan l-impenn politiku komuni li wrew numru ta’ politiċi li ġew qabilna, li għandu jagħmlilna kuraġġ, lilna l-politiċi tal-lum, sabiex b’ħidmietna nkomplu nsaħħu lill-poplu Malti biex jibqa’ jiddeċiedi hu dwar x’inhu l-aħjar għalih u għal pajjiżu.
Għalhekk il-memorja ta’ dawn il-martri tas-Sette Giugno għandha sservi ta’ riflessjoni qawwija biex inkomplu naħdmu ħalli naraw kif nistgħu nsaħħu dejjem aktar l-imħabba patrijottika lejn dan pajjiżna u kif nistgħu nrawmu wkoll dejjem aktar sens ta’ responsabbiltà nazzjonali.