EU Council president Donald Tusk and former Labour Party ministers Louis Grech and George Vella today were awarded the Gieh ir-Repubblika. They were made companions of the National Order of Merit in a ceremony that is traditinally held on Republic Day. Malta today celebrates the 43rd anniversary as a Republic.
Tusk was awarded the honour “for strengthening relations between Malta and EU, particularly during the Maltese presidency” of the EU.
In addition, former PL ministers Leo Brincat, Joe Debono Grech and and former PN minister and Speaker of the House Louis Galea were made officers of the Order of Merit.
Awards and medals were presented by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca during a ceremony held at the Palace to mark Republic Day. A parade was also held at Palace Square.
Honorary consul in Bulgaria Borislav Tzetkov Boyanov was awarded the title of Honorary Officer for strengthening bilateral relations, alongside Jubran Taweel, a former Palestinian ambassador to Malta.
The new members are: John Bencini (trade unionist), Joe Camilleri (PL activist) Paul Camilleri Cauchi (artist), Francis Ebejer (author, posthumous), Reginald Fava (businessman), Dominic Fenech (University lecturer), Charles Flores (journalist), Godfrey Anthony Laferla (surgeon) and Richard A Matrenza (former Labour candidate and diplomat).
The Medal for Service to the Republic was awarded to: Lorenzo Attard (noted for his time in the Second World War, posthumous), Gertrude Abela (breast cancer support activist), Joe Attard (former Zejtun Mayor, posthumous), Anna Calleja (director, Special Olympics Malta), George Farrugia (Malta carnival activist), Godfrey Grima (journalist), Susan Mulvaney (broadcaster, posthumous), Joseph Serracino (writer), Salvu Vella ('custodian' of Comino), George Zahra (Carnival activist) and Charles (Carmelo) Zammit (music teacher).
Republic Day honours and awards
On Republic Day of each year, the President of Malta, on behalf of the Government and people of Malta, pays public tribute to a number of Maltese citizens who distinguish themselves in different fields of endeavour. This is done by appointing them to The National Order of Merit or the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika, or by awarding them the Midalja għall-Qlubija or the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika. Nationals from other countries may be conferred with honorary membership of the Order or of the Xirka or awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika on an honorary basis.