President Edward Fenech Adami yesterday unveiled a monument in honour of former President Agatha Barbara in Zabbar.

Miss Agatha Barbara was born in Zabbar on 11 March, 1923 and started her career as a teacher.

In 1946 she began to take an active part in politics and was the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. She contested the general election for the first time in 1947 representing the Malta Labour Party.

In 1955, Ms Barbara was appointed Education and Culture Minister, becoming the first Maltese woman to hold a ministerial portfolio.

When the Labour Party was re-elected in 1971, Ms Barbara was reappointed Education Minister. She raised the age for compulsory education to 16 and set up various trade schools across Malta and Gozo.

In 1974, Ms Barbara was appointed Social Services and Culture Minister.

On 16 February, 1982, Ms Barbara was appointed President, the first woman and so far only woman to occupy the post.

Ms Barbara passed away on 4 February, 2002.