Memory Lane 08/09/2002

Talking to Anne Agius Ferrante

Anne Agius Ferrante is still proud of the fact that she was the first woman MP elected in the interests of the Nationalist Party. Although she only served for one year as an MP she believes that she started the ball rolling for other Nationalist women to become interested in politics.

Although she lives in Sliema, Mrs Agius Ferrante hails from Mdina. She entered parliament following a by-election on the death of former PN leader Dr George Borg Olivier.

"I had contested the Sliema and Rabat districts in 1976 and, although I did well, I failed to win a seat in parliament. It was difficult for women to make it politically. Men had visibility, as they were the only ones to visit clubs and bars. Men also had the help of canvassers whereas it was difficult for women to find persons to help in any way.

"In the 1981 general elections I again contested the Sliema district and regret to this day that I did not contest the Rabat district. But the party wanted me to contest Sliema and I obliged," she said.

Mrs Agius Ferrante's involvement in politics started long before she contested the general elections. She was President of the PN Women's Movement and also ventured abroad several times to represent the party at various meetings.

Although 77 years of age she stills has an active life. She is a board member on the Development Control Commission at MEPA which meets three times a week. She also likes books. She's also the author of "No strangers in the silent city ". She is now working on a historical novel, which will be published soon.

Ms Agius Ferrante is still interested in politics. She loves reading newspapers and watching television programmes especially political ones. "One of my favourites pastimes is playing bridge with other women. Obviously whilst playing we also speak a lot and one thing I never tire of is politics. I always sow some PN propaganda among my friends," the former Nationalist MP said.

Ms Agius Ferrante has lived in Sliema since retirement as the General Manager of a family run business. Her late husband was a Paediatric Consultant.

Meanwhile Ms Agius Ferrante is a Grandma to four children and Great Grandma to three. One of her children is married to FOI's President Joe Zammit Tabona. A son works as an accountant in Libya.

She said that there is a huge difference between today's politics and that of twenty or thirty years ago. Tolerance was non-existent and it was more difficult for anyone seeking a political career. Now with the Local Councils in place it is easier.

"I remember speaking in the corner meetings of the day. Pierre Muscat and I spoke in a corner meeting at Rabat: the crowd consisted of around four policemen and a couple of cats.

"What a difference now, she said. It is about the European Union that we speak and not about polarisation. The EU subject isn't new to me. When I was involved in the party I went to Blackpool, England to attend meetings on what was called then the EEC. It was a long time ago, as England hadn't become a member then.

"I remember the meetings about a united Europe. I was always interested in the issue. I had even brought over loads of literature which I passed to the women's PN representatives Dolores Cristina and Helen D'Amato. These two women are an big asset to both the party and the country and this shows how much the PN Women's Movement has progressed."

The former Nationalist Party Deputy is an enthusiastic supporter of the European Union and she believes that today's young generation and the next will gain very much out of membership.

Anne Agius Ferrante was speaking to Ray Abdilla