Malta Day in London – with TWO high commissioners dividing the ceremonial duties of the role between them
The government’s Department of Information had a press release out about Malta Day in London on 14 September. I had to read it twice. There were, apparently, two high commissioners of Malta there, dividing the ceremonies between them: “the recently appointed High Commissioner of Malta, Mr Norman Hamilton” and “High Commissioner Zammit Tabona” (no first name).
This is quite ridiculous. If Norman Hamilton is already officially high commissioner, then Joe Zammit Tabona shouldn’t have been expected to be there.
He certainly shouldn’t have been expected to share the ceremonial duties with the new high commissioner. How were they introduced, I wonder?
“Malta’s High Commissioner, Norman Hamilton.” “How do you do.” “High Commissioner Zammit Tabona.” “How do you do. High commissioner for which country?” “Malta.” “Oh. I see. Well, I must not have heard that correctly – are you both the Maltese high commissioner?”
And if Norman Hamilton is the high commissioner already, then obviously Joe Zammit Tabona is no longer high commissioner and shouldn’t be described in the government press release or anywhere else as ‘High Commissioner Zammit Tabona’. Does the person who wrote the press release actually know what a high commissioner is?
But wait. The fact that ‘High Commissioner Zammit Tabona’ is the one formally welcoming the dignitaries and officials at the proper ceremony, while ‘the newly appointed High Commissioner of Malta, Mr Norman Hamilton’ opened the fair, means that Joe Zammit Tabona is still the actual high commissioner and Norman Hamilton the precocious interloper who shouldn’t have been there yet.
So I would say that the problem lies with the wording of the press release, and the desire to have the focus on Norman Hamilton when it should have led with “the outgoing High Commissioner of Malta, Joseph Zammit Tabona” and his last Malta Day.
For the same reason, the DOI released only one photograph – of Norman Hamilton – and it doesn’t show him opening the fair.
Here’s the press release.
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MALTA DAY UK 2013 CELEBRATED IN LONDON
On 14 September 2013, Malta Day UK was once again celebrated in London. This event is a leading feature in the calendar of Maltese communities and individuals in the UK and is held around the feast of Our Lady of Victory.
Hundreds of Maltese, and their families and friends, travel from all over the UK to attend the day’s varied events. The programme is annually put together by the Malta Day UK Organising Committee under the auspices of the Malta High Commission and with the support of the various Maltese sponsors.
The recently appointed High Commissioner of Malta, Mr Norman Hamilton, officially opened a Maltese Fair held in the morning at Westminster Cathedral Hall – where a number of stalls were selling Maltese food and beverages. St Sebastian Wokingham Brass Band entertained the crowds which packed Westminster Cathedral Hall.
The Very Reverend Monsignor Anton Gouder, Pro-Vicar of the Archbishop of Malta, was the principal concelebrant at Holy Mass at Westminster Cathedral in the afternoon, to which hundreds congregated. St Joseph’s Choir of Kalkara, directed by Mro Josanne Zammit, performed psalms and hymns during this service.
High Commissioner Zammit Tabona welcomed The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Sarah Richardson, the Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Hon. Owen Bonnici, the Attorney General Dr Peter Grech, members of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, members of the clergy, Maltese in the UK and Friends of Malta amongst the congregation.
The Marian anthem was played by the Saint Sebastian Wokingham Brass Band and a fireworks salute was given to the Statue of ‘Il-Bambina’ as it exited the Cathedral to commence a procession through the streets of Westminster. As the procession reached the Sacred Heart Chapel of Ease on Westferry Road, there was a concluding ceremony where the Maltese and UK national anthems were played.
The day’s events came to a close with a Gala Dinner at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair.
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Xi hlew. Zammit Tabona b’ingravata hamra u Hamilton b’ingravata blu.
That is not Joe Zammit Tabona in the blue tie. He is not in the picture at all. Daphne pointed this out in her post.
I would say the one in the red tie is Dr Peter Grech, Malta’s Attorney General.
Is it really necessary to clog up the busy streets of London with an atavistic display of village culture?
These guys should be writing comedy skits of the Monty Python type – but unfortunately don’t realise it.
High Commissioner emeritus?
Clive Waters and Joseph Zammit Tabona-
“WE are the High Commissioner”.
Baldrick- What, both of you?
Amateurs the whole lot!
U mhux xorta, issa hemm ahna u naghmlu li rridu.
Tghaffiga shiha, a la Labour.
Maybe they wanted to say ‘Ambassador’ since its a title that seems to stay after having achieved that office.
Oh God “Hundreds of Maltese, and their families and friends, travel from all over the UK to attend the day’s varied events.” As if, this isn’t true, for heavens sake the Maltese in the Uk would not bother at all about these events.
According to well-informed sources, Zammit Tabona left towards the beginning of summer. In the meantime there was an diplomat manning the High Commission until Lord Hamilton moved and starts his several week induction period. So, practically, the High Commission is currently without a High Commissioner.
The Malta Day activities in London (this is Westminster Cathedral – a short walk from Westminster Abbey on your way to Victoria Station):
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=649436875066871&set=a.167116066632290.36024.167113593299204&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=518030428267316&set=a.125827067487656.20602.125825400821156&type=1&theater
F…… embarrassing.
The band is English. As you can see, although they are amateurs, they look smart.
What was that lady thinking when she showed up in her Maltese Burka? Does she really think that Burkas are representative of Maltese culture? This was Malta Day not a Malta 1900s day (what is the Maltese equivalent of the Edwardian period? Anny esspert tal Molti arawnd?)
That silly little parade made us look like a nation of cave-dwelling atavistic fuzzies.
Oh wait…
Mr. Hamilton should have been referred to as “High Commissioner Designate”, at best.
Without going into the merits of this particular case, however, it is usual protocol that the designate Head of Mission does not appear in official functions in the receiving country (if such is this case) before the outgoing Head of Mission leaves his post.
Indeed, in most cases, the new ambassador does not even go to the host state before his predecessor leaves (it is also a practical matter since the ambassador would reside in the official residence and would wait for it to be vacated).
In some countries, it is also the practice that, even if the Head of Mission resides in the receiving country but has not yet presented his credentials, it is not considered proper for him to appear at public functions, definitely not at state functions.
In some other countries, such a diplomat may take part in official functions if he has presented his copie d’usage to the Foreign Minister.
And how, why, and wherefore, may I ask, did the St Joseph Choir of Kalkara come into the picture? And, of course, at what cost and at whose expense. Not mine, yours, and ours, I hope.