Conference marks 100 years since 1921 self-government constitution

The Office of the President on Saturday hosted a virtual conference marking and discussing the granting of the 1921 Constitution, 100 years ago. A number of keynote speakers—Prof. Ray Mangion, Prof. Joe Pirotta, Prof. Frances Camilleri-Cassar, Prof. Josann Cutajar, and Rev. Dr Nicholas Doublet—spurred the exchange of views from San Anton Palace on the historical-legal aspect, the role of women, the link between that Constitution and democracy in Malta, and relations between the State and the Church. The public was able to participate and follow through a videoconferencing platform and a live broadcast on social media. In his opening speech President George Vella described the granting of this Constitution by the British rulers as a very important turning point in the constitutional history of our country. “It was not an event that took place on its own or without context. It resulted from the fact that the Maltese people had had enough of the so-called ‘constitutions’ that only ensured the colonial dominance of the British government and avoided by all means the transfer of any form of responsible leadership to the Maltese people,” the President said. “The Maltese people’s call...