Spring is upon us and so is the time for the Scout Association of Malta and the Malta Girl Guides to come together for the traditional Scout and Guide annual rally.
On Sunday 7th May, beavers and dolphins, cubs and brownies, guides and scouts, ventures and rangers, rovers and senior rangers, along with their leaders and mascots, will be marching down Republic Street in their full uniforms, to salute Acting President His Excellency, Professor Frank Bezzina, who will be taking the salute on the dais placed in front of the Presidential Palace at St George’s Square.
The rally will be led by the associations’ Central Districts who will also attend the thanksgiving mass which will be held at Floriana’s parish church at 9am. His Grace, Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi will celebrate mass joined by the associations’ chaplains, Fr Anton Briffa and Fr Luke Cutajar. The Scout Fellowship, Gozo, North and South Districts will follow.

Triq Sarria will be closed for traffic by 9.30am as other Scout and Girl Guide groups start arriving in Floriana to fall-in on the granaries and prepare for march-off at 10.45am. The parade will proceed to the traffic junction by the Independence Monument, to pass from in front of the Phoenicia Hotel. Groups will then proceed to 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 towards the presidential palace, His Excellency Acting President Prof. Bezzina, will take the salute on the dais. 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 the area near St James Cavalier.

Schedule
08:45 – Arrival of the Central 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 St Publius Floriana Parish Church by H.G. Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi together with the National Chaplains of both Associations.
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 previously indicated
10:45 – Marching off
11:00 – His Excellency the Acting President will take place on the dais and takes the Salute.