“What the Labour Party achieved through Freedom Day is something we still enjoy today, as it paved the way for our future.” This statement was made by the Deputy Leader for Labour Party Affairs, Alex Agius Saliba, during the opening of a commemorative exhibition at the Centre for Interpretation in Mtarfa. This event marked the start of activities organised by the Labour Party to commemorate the 46th anniversary of Freedom Day, under the theme “Freedom: Prosperity for the Maltese”.

The Open Day features free visits to the Clock Tower and a commemorative exhibition at the Centre for Interpretation in Mtarfa. Dr Agius Saliba said that Mtarfa symbolises the transformation Malta underwent from a colony to a free nation. He stressed that the Labour Party has always placed Malta at the forefront, not only in the 1970s but also more recently, when Prime Minister Robert Abela continued to uphold the principles of neutrality and non-alignment, in line with constitutional obligations, and emphasised the need for peace and dialogue amid instability in the Mediterranean region.

Mtarfa’s mayor, Dale Hayman, highlighted how Mtarfa exemplifies the progress made in Malta from both a social and economic perspective. He explained that what were once military buildings with restricted access have now been transformed into residential homes. He further mentioned that Belt il-Ġmiel, as Mtarfa is affectionately known, has a unique history and encouraged people to visit the exhibition at the Centre for Interpretation and the Clock Tower, which will be open to the public free of charge next Sunday, from 9 am onwards.

The curator of the exhibition Ħelsien: Il-Ġid għall-Maltin, Dr Anthony Degiovanni, noted that this exhibition offers a new perspective on the historic Freedom Day. It demonstrates how the Labour government at the time, led by Dom Mintoff, repurposed British buildings to create additional space for social accommodation. He explained that the exhibition features plans, photographs, and other materials related to Malta’s architectural, historical, and political heritage.

Labour Party President Alex Sciberras and CEO Leonid McKay also attended the opening of the commemorative exhibition.