Maltese Scouts and Girl Guides are gearing up for the Annual Rally. The much awaited event has not been held for the past two years due to the Covid19 pandemic. This year it is going to be held today 24th April. Over the past weeks, members of the Scout Association of Malta and the Malta Girl Guides, have been busy preparing their uniforms, sewing on any missing badges, practicing their marching, polishing their instruments and getting their flags ready, in preparation for the Annual Rally.
A thanksgiving mass celebrated by Mons. George A. Frendo, will be held at the Catholic Institute in Floriana at 9am. This year the South District will be attending mass and leading the parade, followed by the Central District, the Gozo District and the North District. After mass all other Scout Groups/Guide Units will start gathering for fall-in on the Floriana Granaries.
Sarria Street will be closed for vehicular traffic at 9.30am so that marching can commence at around 10.45am. The parade will proceed to the traffic junction by the Independence Monument and turn left, to pass in front of the Phoenicia Hotel. Groups will then march around the Triton Fountain as if going towards the Valletta Football Ground. The parade will then turn right through the ramp between the planters to enter Valletta City Gate and march down Republic Street. His Excellency President George Vella, patron of both associations will take the salute on the dais placed in front of the presidential palace. Upon marching through St George’s Square, the groups will turn right into Archbishop Street and then right again up Merchants Street. Dispersal will take place in front of Auberge de Castille and behind St James Cavalier.
The two Associations would like to thank various stakeholders for their involvement in the organisation of this annual event. A special word of thanks goes to the Malta Police Force, who go beyond their call of duty to accommodate the Associations’ needs and provide all the necessary logistics and officers, the Catholic Institute for hosting mass, the Floriana and Valletta Local Councils for the relevant permits and Transport Malta for rerouting their buses for the parade to take place.
Schedule
08:45 Arrival of the South District Groups/Units attending Mass. The same Groups/Units are seated inside the Catholic Institute Invited MPs, VIPs, National Scout Council, Girl Guides Council and National Board, The Trefoil Guild and the Scout Fellowship will be ushered to their reserved seats.
09:00 Mass celebrated at the Catholic Institute by Mons. George A. Frendo.
09:30 Triq Sarrija is closed for all traffic and arrival of all other Scout Groups/Guide Units at the Floriana Granaries. Scouts/Guides to form up as indicated on the last page of these instructions. Groups/Units are to assemble as close as possible to their allocated area to avoid delays. Please seek information from the Parade Co-ordinators.
10:45 Marching off as follows: South, Scout Fellowship, Central, Gozo and North Districts. 11:00 His Excellency the President will take place on the dais and takes the Salute.