Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, welcomed members of the Council for Maltese Living Abroad during a courtesy visit held at San Anton Palace.
Following an amendment to Act XX of 2011, which regulates the Council, the number of members increased from 15 to 21. This expansion has allowed, for the first time, representation of the Maltese diaspora from every continent. The members are currently in Malta to attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the Council.
During the meeting held on Thursday morning, the President noted that the Council members, who reside in various countries, come from diverse professional backgrounds, including education, pharmacy, medicine, business, sports, law, banking, and the arts.
In her message, Her Excellency encouraged the members to continue nurturing and strengthening the bond between Malta and the Maltese diaspora in their respective countries. The President observed that many Maltese living abroad—both those born in Malta and their descendants—continue to cherish the Maltese language and actively participate in initiatives that preserve Maltese culture, traditions, and values, even thousands of kilometres away from their homeland.
During the discussion, the Council members shared with the President a number of challenges they encounter in the countries where they reside. The President encouraged them to continue working together to discuss and address common issues.
The President also highlighted Malta’s strong international reputation, attributing this, to the positive image of the Maltese people who have established their lives abroad. She expressed her gratitude to the members for their contribution to this reputation.
In her intervention, Ms Chirelle Ellul Sciberras, Director for Consular Services and Maltese Living Abroad, spoke about the discussions and ongoing work to address the needs and requests of Maltese citizens living overseas. She also noted that during the Council’s Annual General Meeting, it was decided to establish subcommittees to address a number of issues of interest to the Maltese diaspora.
Among these initiatives is the launch of a new scheme for young people aged 18 to 30 who live abroad and are of Maltese descent. The programme will allow them to apply for a work-and-holiday visa in Malta, giving them the opportunity to work, travel, and explore their Maltese roots.
The Council members in attendance were:
- Mr Joseph A. Xerri – Secretary
- Ms Amie Cardona – State of Victoria, Australia
- Ms Judith Buhagiar – State of Victoria, Australia
- Mr Antoine Mangion – State of New South Wales, Australia
- Ms Miriam Friggieri – State of New South Wales, Australia
- Ms Alexandra Micallef – Australia
- Dr Edgar Brincat – United Kingdom
- Mr James N. Casha – United Kingdom
- Dr Loredana Gatt – Italy
- Ms Sarah Meli – Canada
- Ms Giselle Sherri-Migliore – Canada
- Mr Bernard Portelli – Asia
- Mr Philip Mamo – North Africa
- Mr Matthew Ciantar – Europe (excluding Malta)
- Mr Umberto D’Amico – Europe (excluding Malta)
- Mr David Galea – United Arab Emirates
- Ms Doreen Gatt – Canada
- Ms Debbie Gatt Ghiglieri – United States of America
Also present for the courtesy visit were the team from the Department led by Ms Chirelle Ellul Sciberras, and Dr Rachel Powell, Coordinator within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade.