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2-part series commemorating 60 years of independence maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 SEPTEMBER 2024 The great bulk of the proposed constitution – a quintessentially democratic one, in general incor- porating in written form the spirit of the unwritten British constitu- tion – raised no appreciable diffi- culties. But there were also some rather sticky provisions notably the so- called 'religious clauses' which, if I may say so without disrespect, bedevilled the whole issue. Af- ter some other vicissitudes and eventually approval by a popular vote in a referendum the Maltese Independence Act was passed by the United Kingdom Parliament in a matter of days, the 'appoint- ed day' being 21 September 1964, now known and celebrated as In- dependence Day. The new coat of arms The new coat of arms of inde- pendent Malta was entrusted to the Royal College of Arms, but Borg Olivier took it upon himself to find a suitable motto. He had shortlisted a number of possible ones, but was still undecided. I happened at that time to be read- ing Mario Barbaro's book Cos- tituzione del Sovrano Militare Or- dine di Malta which reproduces the document, in Latin, in which de Valette ordered the solemn annual commemoration of the 1565 victory, which we observe to this day. In it he refers to the de- fenders' remarkable qualities by which victory was in fact achieved virtute et costantia, by valour and perseverance. Borg Olivier adopt- ed this straightaway. There is another amusing sequel to this. Just a couple of days before the 'appointed day' Borg Olivi- er had some small scruple about the coat of arms which he wished to clear with the Royal College. I offered to go, but he ruled it out saying that at the time he surely could not spare me. Indeed, I was then already busy working on a number of post-independence matters such as legislation on the diplomatic privileges and immu- nities of the new ambassadors and arrangements for joining such in- ternational bodies as the United Nations and the Council of Eu- rope. So, I suggested that genial scholar Vincent Depasquale. He readily accepted, smilingly saying, since he was a non-flyer, that he would take a fast train. The mat- ter was dropped. I realise that in this limited time- frame I have had to rush through some momentous and unforget- table events with indecent haste but for those who are interested, more details may be found in Rec- ollections of Constitution Making in the first volume of my Selected Papers and in my constitution- al textbook. Lastly, even though by now practically out of breath may I say how delighted I am to have had this opportunity of cele- brating with you this great event, Independence Day. As from that day we Maltese have shown our- selves ready to face the future as masters of our own destiny. May that future be ever bright. Landmarks in constitutional history, published by the Central Bank of Malta Victor Ragonesi, who backed Borg Olivier's quest for Independence, is 100 Malta celebrates its 60th years of Independence from Great Britain. But one of the PN stalwarts at the centre of those negotiations last week celebrated his 100th birthday anniversary WHEN his children were still very young, Victor Ragonesi took on what became his life's most demanding occupation, at the side of Nationalist prime minister Gorg Borg Olivier, while Malta was engaged in negotiating its independence from the United Kingdom. He never slept more than four hours, his eldest daughter Mariella Cassar recalls. "After the 1962 election, he became Borg Olivier's personal assistant. He'd leave home at 6am, come back for lunch and a si- esta till 4pm, and then return at midnight." In these years of intense talks between London and Auberge d'Aragon (where the Office of the Prime Minister was situat- ed), Ragonesi was frequently travelling for talks with the British, and Commonwealth nations like India and Kenya, sharing their best advice on dealing with the old colonial master. "He wanted to go to the UK totally pre- pared," Cassar says of her father, who last week achieved a historical milestone of his own: a centenarian, a celebration that stands side by side Malta's 60th year since gaining independence. Malta celebrates six decades since acquir- ing independence from Great Britain, just weeks since Ragonesi, today in assisted liv- ing, celebrated his 100th birthday anniver- sary on 7 September. CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE > Victor Ragonesi (left) with Gorg Borg Olivier MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt