Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/257374
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2014 14 Cabinet Papers WHILE a liberalisation of sexual mo- res was in full swing in the Western world following the 'summer of love' and the 1968 riots, the George Borg Olivier administration was still trying to strike a balance between projecting Malta as a "progressive and modern tourist destination", and requests by Archbishop Michael Gonzi to intro- duce a morality police to clamp down on public indecency. Beyond these moral qualms, the new government was busy finding its feet in the international commu- nity of nations aspiring to full mem- bership of NATO and the EEC, but increasingly frustrated at not being given sufficient help by Western pow- ers in the task of building a national economy from scratch. The numer- ous Cabinet memoranda shed a new light on a meticulous Prime Minister equipped with sharp analytical skills and the remarkable gift of foresight, but somewhat reluctant to make any snap decisions which could stir the waters. Borg Olivier's foresight is evidenced in plans for a new power plant and a Freeport in the south of Malta. Equal- ly insightful were the government's detailed studies on the economic im- pact of the gradual removal of custom duties, in the long-term plan to seek full membership in the European Eco- nomic Community and the planned introduction of a purchase tax to make up for lost income from duties, a fiscal vision completed in the 1990s. Moreover, amidst a building boom, the government also showed the first signs of environmental sensitivity, as it sought help from the United Na- tions to set up an embryonic planning authority, a vision which came to frui- tion in 1992. When Gonzi demanded a morality police A request made by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi for the institution of a special branch of the police force with the "exclusive function to safe- guard public morality" was discussed in a memorandum presented by the Prime Minister to his Cabinet on 17 July 1969. The prime minister informed cabi- net that the police commissioner did not consider the Archbishop's proposal of a separate branch of the police force dedicated to morality as feasible. But Borg Olivier himself expressed concern on deteriorating standards of decency. "Admittedly there has been lately due perhaps to a marked influx of people whose moral values do not coincide with ours, an aggravation of the situation with regards to beach- wear and decency in dress which calls for immediate action on the part of the government." But the same Borg Oliver warned that "at the same time we have to safeguard our image as a progres- sive and modern tourist cen- tre which we have laboured to achieve". Borg Olivier was advised by the Commissioner that the issue should be best addressed by a press release on beachwear and general decency of dress. But he also suggested a revision of the law to clearly define what constitutes pub- lic indecency. However, not everyone agreed with this course of action. The chairman of the Mal- ta Tourist Board opposed the issue of a press release, as this "would have an ad- verse effect on tourism". He also argued that if "any warning is made it should be published in Maltese only". But the Minister for Education and Tourism was insisting that the press release should be issued in both languages. On his part, the Prime Minister admitted that, "there is a lot of argu- ment about what types of dress and costumes are offensive to public mor- als". For Borg Olivier the "offence lies not so much in what people wear but rather how they behave themselves wearing it and where they wear it." Therefore every case had to be seen in its own merits and he excluded leg- islation providing a clearer definition of public decency "without allowing some degree of latitude for varying interpretation". Finally, Borg Olivier proposed the issue of a press release reminding the public that bathing costumes worn on the beach should be covered when worn in the streets. He also recom- mended a police circular which included the ban on bikinis. The circular made it clear that po- lice were expected to take action "in case of women wearing bikinis" but made a clear distinction between biki- nis and "two-piece suits" which were not forbidden. They were also expected to take ac- tion against "indecent behavior and extreme kissing and cuddling in pub- lic spaces". But a "tactful approach" was recommended when visitors or tourists are involved as these may genuinely be unaware of these rules, provided that they take immediate steps to cover up the 'indecent' bath- ing costume. This conservative frame of mind was also evidenced in the decision to ban imports of contraceptives in 1962 on grounds that these items were "ob- scene". Lifting the ban on women jurors Another issue which was rearing its head was gender equality. One partic- ular issue, which cropped up in 1965, was Malta's ban on women serving as jurors. While the Justice Minister was willing to take the step towards modernity, he went half way insisting that jury service for married women should be voluntary. In fact, in his memorandum the minister argued that in "order to safe- guard the smooth running of family life I venture to suggest that the par- ticipation of married women should be made to operate on a voluntary basis". Married women wishing to serve as jurors would be expected to make an application to court in a way "which would necessitate the in- tervention and assistance of the hus- band". On the other hand, the same minis- ter argued that jury service should be compulsory for all spinsters aged 25 if they have a secondary level of educa- tion and 21 if they have a university degree. He also proposed the exclusion of female jurors from trials involving corruption of minors and sex of- fenses. 'White members' of the commonwealth In April 1964, the Cabinet discussed a memorandum on the title which was to be given to the Queen after independence. Borg Olivier first sug- gested that an appropriate formula for Malta would appear to be "Elisa- beth the second, by the grace of God, queen of Malta and her other realms and territories, head of the Common- wealth." But Borg Olivier also noted that mended a police circular which An infant nation torn between economic realities and a reluctance to cut its umbilical chord to the church and NATO: this is the picture emerging from cabinet papers released for the first time on Monday as seen from the eyes of JAMES DEBONO Swinging 60s: Fro m Gonzi to NATO Too sexy baby! Archbishop Michael Gonzi (right) wanted the Borg Olivier adminsitration to clamp down on too much skin being exposed. Killjoy