New Republic Day monument to be inaugurated next year - Muscat

The Labour government will identify a new location for a new Republic Day monument and call on artists to submit maquettes and propose new locations for the monument, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening on the eve of the 39th anniversary of Malta's republican Constitution.

Flanked by Cabinet members and Labour backbenchers, the Prime Minister laid wreaths of flowers in front of the memorial in Valletta, saying that the memorial on the façade of the parliament did not pay a judicious enough tribute

"It is a pity that one of the most important landmarks in Maltese history is commemorated by a simple memorial. As such this government will seek to identify a suitable place for a new Republic Day monument," Muscat said.

The Prime Minister also said that in line with its electoral manifesto, the new monument would be built next year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Republic Day.

Dubbing President George Abela as an "ideal president and as an example", the Prime Minister also paid tribute to Abela for his work.

The government said that three monuments dedicated to Maltese personalities who left their mark on the country's recent history, Presidents Censu Tabone and Guido de Marco and Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, will also be inaugurated next year.

Earlier this week, three maquettes for the monuments of former presidents Guido de Marco and Censu Tabone and former prime minister Dom Mintoff were chosen.

While the monument honouring de Marco will be placed in front of the law courts, Mintoff's monument will be at Castille's Square. Tabone's monument will be in St Julian's.