Ghajnsielem sculptor Joe Xuereb has been commissioned by the Gozo Ministry to design and carve a sculpture to commemorate the official visit to Gozo by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh who together with Queen Elizabeth visited Malta to attend for the Commonwealth Countries Conference. The sculpture is now exhibited permanently at the entrance of the Gozo Ministry building  in St Francis Square in Victoria.

Xuereb has worked from a large block of stone of height of 122 cm and has titled his work of art as "Life Within the Commonwealth"  He explained that in his endevours, he tried to show that the whole sculpture represents the Commonwealth with its individual members. The two entwined ends portray the special friendship and close relations between Great Britain and Malta whereby the Gozitan limestone represents the island of Gozo. During the offical ceremony Joe Xuereb has been acclaimed for his accomplishment.

As part of the itenerary planned for his official visit to the island of Gozo , HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited The Gozo Ministry in Victoria being accompanied by the Minister for Gozo the Hon. Giovanna Debono throughout his stay. In fact upon arrival for the unveiling ceremony the Hon Minister introduced HRH The Duke to sculptor Joe Xuereb who chatted with him for a while and then proceeded with the ceremony. The Duke commented very positively for the design in the local limestone so much so that he suggested that the sculpture can be also displayed in the open air for all the people to see and admire.

The sculpture project has been sponsored by the British High Commission who were also responsable for most of the organisation of the official visit to Malta by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. In fact the wording inscribed in gold colour on the black granite pedestal on which the sculpture is now displayed,  reads as:

Presented to the people of Gozo
by the British high Commission and unveiled by
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
on the occasion of his visit to Gozo
25th November 2005

"In Celebration of the Friendship and Heritage we share"

Sculptor Joe Xuereb is still working in his atelier in Ghajnsielem whose Gallery now is mentioned and recommended in various guide books. So far he boasts of welcoming visitors coming from 81 different countries who visited our village of Ghajnsielem to locate his Gallery in Bahhara Street. During this year 2005, he he has participated with 5 sculptures in  an exhibition that took place in an old castle in Bourges in France. For his future plans, he admits that he has concluded an agreement that as from March 2006, he is starting exhibiting his sculptures in Montserrat Gallery in Chelsea, New York, U.S.A. This Gallery has came across Xuereb's sculptural work through the internet and opened dealings with him to start displaying his sculptures in the prestigious area for art in New York.