Sister Cities? Valletta and Portsmouth Begin Twinning Talks
Discussions are currently underway between the local councils of Valletta and Portsmouth regarding a potential twinning of the two cities.
The idea was proposed by Charlotte Gerada, the leader of the Labour Group in the Portsmouth City Council, who is of Maltese descent.
She said that hundreds of Maltese people, including her own grandfather, had moved to Portsmouth in the late 1970s to work in the dockyard.
“If you have anything to do with the navy or the maritime industry, then Malta is renowned,” she said.
She also highlighted further similarities between Valletta and Portsmouth, noting that both cities feature historical fortifications, boast island locations, and have populations with “enterprising” and “outward-looking” attitudes toward life.
Valletta mayor Olaf McKay welcomed the proposal, stating that he immediately reached out to Gerada after reading the news on the BBC.
He said discussions over a potential twinning have commenced and, while there is agreement in principle, the process will be a lengthy one.
The practice of twinning, or sister cities, was introduced after World War II to promote diplomacy as well as cultural and commercial ties.
The concept of twinning aims to boost diplomatic, cultural, and commercial ties between cities. Although discussions are still in their early stages, Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, Jason Fazackarley, has already agreed to host a flag-raising ceremony on 21st September to mark Malta’s Independence Day.
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