Home 

  History 

  Interactive 

  Settlement 

  Malta Link 

  Statistics 

  Library 

  Links 

  News 

  Search 

  About Us 

    Contributors 

    Emigrants Commission 

    FOMA Convention 2000 

    About Malta, Gozo 

    How to help us 

  Contact Us 

FOMA Convention 2000

Conference of Leaders of Maltese Communities Overseas. Jan/Feb 2000.

This is the full text of the Proceedings and Report.

• Foreword
  The Hon. Dr Joe Borg LL.D., LL.M.(Wales), M.P. Minister of Foreign Affairs
   
• Chairman's Address at the Opening Ceremony
  George N. Busuttil, Chairman of the Convention
   
• Messages by:
  • Gilbert Laurin, representing the High Commissioner of Canada
  • Marc Villette, representing the Ambassador of France
  • Philip M. Tissot, Acting High Commissioner, United Kingdom
  • Deborah A. Bolton, Chargé d'Affaires a.i., United States of America
  • H.E. Colin Geoffrey Willis, High Commissioner, Commonwealth of Australia
  
   
• Statement
  H.G. Mgr Joseph Mercieca, B.A.(Lond.), S.Th.D.(Greg.), J.U.D. (Lat) Archbishop of Malta
   
• Opening Statement
  H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, K.O.M., B.A., LL.D.President of Malta
   
• Agenda
   
• Organisation of Work
   

Topic I
Maltese Connections Overseas

• Maltese Migration: A Historical Perspective
  Rev. Fr Lawrence E. Attard O.P.
• History of Emigration & Present Situation in Australia
  Mark Caruana
• Present Situation of Maltese in Canada
  Richard Cumbo
• History of Emigration (A Personal View) in the UK
  Bernard Scerri
• Present Situation in the United States of America
  Larry Zahra
• Present Situation of Maltese of Egypt
  Ivan Magri-Overend
• Present Situation of Maltese of Tunis
  Jean Peirre Zammit
• Present Situation of Maltese of Algeria
  Pierre Dimech
• Present Situation in Corfù
  Spiros Gauci (read by Nicholas Chircop)
• History of Immigration and Present Situation in New Zealand
  Rose Godfrey
• Maltese-Australian Historiography
  Barry York (read by Alfred Flask)

Topic II
Preservation of Maltese Culture and Language

• Ilhna tal-Maltin fid-Dinja: X'Futur Hemm ghal Rabtiet ta' Kultura Hajja u Identità Etnika?
  Prof. Henry Frendo
• Preservation of Maltese Language
  Prof. Maurice Cauchi
• Preservation of the Maltese Culture & Language in the State of Victoria, Australia
  Dr Victor G Borg
• The Preservation of Maltese Culture and Language in N.S.W., Australia
  Charles N Mifsud
• Preservation of Maltese Culture and Language in Canada
  Richard S Cumbo
• Preservation of Maltese Culture and Language in the United Kingdom
  Rev. Victor J. Camilleri O.F.M.
• How Many Maltese and Those of Maltese Descent are Keeping their Culture Alive Now - New York
  Claudia M Caruana
• Significance of Radio to the Communities Abroad
  Alfred A Zarb, Counsellor V.O.M.
• Preservation of Maltese Culture & Language - Maltese of Egypt
  Ivan Magri-Overend
• Les Maltais en Tunisie a la veille du Protectorat
  Andrea L. Smith (read by Jean F. Buhagiar)

Topic III
The Elderly and Services Available to them

• Convention of Leaders of Associations of Maltese Abroad and of Maltese Origin
  John F Axisa
• The Challenge of Longevity
  Prof. Anthony H. B. de Bono - Director United Nations International Institute on Ageing - Malta
• Senior Citizens' Care Services in N.S.W. and Victoria, Australia, now and into the New Millenium
  Dr Stephen P. Gatt
• Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland
  Alfred Flask
• Challenges of an Ageing Society - Canada
  Milo Vassallo
• The Elderly and Services Available to them - United Kingdom
  Dr Carmelo Cassar
• The Elderly and Services Available to them - New York
  Charles DeMicoli

Topic IV
Youths and their Achievements

• Maltese Origin Youth and their Achievements - New Zealand
  Dr Carmen Dalli
• Youths and their Achievements - Australia
  Pauline Calleja
• Maltese-Canadian Youth and their Achievements
  Joseph Portelli
• Youths and their Achievements in the United Kingdom
  Bernard Scerri
• Malta Memories of a Second-Generation, Maltese-American Women
  Claudia M Caruana

Topic V
Citizenship and Bilateral Agreements

• Citizenship
  J. Treeby Ward, Director, Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs
• Bilateral Agreements on Social Security - The Malta Case
  Edward Gatt, Director, Social Security Department
• Pensions Under the Agreement with Australia: Back to Basics
  Clemente Zammit
• Citizenship - A Sense of Belonging
  Lawrence Dimech
• The Value of Long-Term Strategic Links between Educational Institutions and Discreet Community Groups such as the Maltese
  Clemente Zammit
• Bilateral Agreements between Malta and the United Kingdom
  Rev. Victor J Camilleri O.F.M.

Topic VI
The Maltese Migrant and Religion

• L-Emigranti Maltin u r-Religjon
  Rev. Mgr. Philip Calleja
• The Maltese Migrant and Religion - Australia
  Rev. Tarcisio Micallef M.S.S.P.
• The Maltese Migrant and Religion - Canada
  Rev. Mark Demanuele M.S.S.P.
• The Maltese Migrant and Religion - United Kingdom
  Rev. Victor J. Camilleri O.F.M.
• Maltese Emigrants and Religion - United States
  Rev. Julian Cassar

• Report on the Convention of Leaders of Associations of Maltese Abroad and of Maltese Origin
   
• Recommendations adopted by the Convention
   
• Establishment by the Convention of a “Federation of Maltese Abroad”
   
• Indirizz tal-Gheluq mic-Chairman tal-Konvenzjoni
  George N Busuttil
   
• List of Participants
   
• Photographic exhibition of Maltese Emigrant Pioneers in McKay, Queensland, Australia entitled “Our Shared Heritage 1883-1946”
   

Annex 1

Events organised during the Conventions:

• Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture by Migrant Maltese Artists and
• Artists of Maltese Origin entitled “Maltese Talents Abroad”510

Annex 2

• Soirée at the Manoel Theatre