Prime Minister's Visit to the Victoria Scout Group Headquarters

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
23 December 2012

The Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi visited the Victoria Scout Group Headquarters on Sunday 23rd December 2012. He was accompanied by the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono and the Mayor of Victoria, Dr Samuel Azzopardi. He was welcomed by the Chief Scout, Kenneth Demartino, the Group Scout Leader, Lorrie Saliba and the Group Chairman, Michael Grech. He also met other council members, Scouters and members from all the sections of the group. In a welcome address, the Group Scout Leader commented that this was the first time that a Prime Minister had visited the headquarters although two Presidents of the Republic had done this earlier on. In his reply, Dr Gonzi commented that in today's virtual world, organizations such as Scouts offer their members ample opportunities to be in contact with other persons and with nature.

The Mayor of Victoria praised the initiatives taken by the group as regards voluntary work and said that on several occasions it was the group who approached the council and offered their services instead of the other way round. As recognition for this, the Council had awarded the Ġieħ ir-Rabat Award to the Group in June 2010.

In 2013, the Victoria Scout Group will be celebrating 50 years since its inception. To commemorate this occasion, a special badge bearing the coat of arms of the city of Victoria will be added to the group scarf. The new badges were presented on this occasion and the first scarf bearing this badge was donated to the mayor.