In a ceremony presided over by President Edward Fenech Adami yesterday, the National Order of Merit Companion was awarded to Mr Justice Giovanni Bonello and Malta’s permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana.
The Midalja ghall-Qlubija (Medal for Bravery) was awarded to Richard Bates, a man who saved the life of an elderly man and his daughter after their car ended up in the sea at Gozo Mgarr Harbour.
The ceremony took place yesterday at the Palace in Valletta following the Ceremonial Parade held at the Palace Square.
During the ceremony, seven members and two honorary members were appointed to the National Order of Merit, one individual was awarded the Midalja ghall-Qlubija and four members were awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika (Medal for Service to the Republic).
In his address, Dr Fenech Adami appealed for more tolerance and respect towards people from different cultures and countries and to use those differences as an opportunity to learn something new, “rather than make those differences building blocks of division of misunderstanding”.
He said that yesterday’s ceremony honours a few of the many individuals who overcame the barrier between reflection and action and worked hard to reach their goals.
“Every individual’s contribution, whether formally acknowledged or not, is a rich gift to us and to our society,” he added.
Dr Fenech Adami said that a community spirit that is founded on Christian values, culture and traditions unites Maltese society.
“It is this spirit of community that creates among the Maltese a sense of care towards one another, and towards the future of our island,” said Dr Fenech Adami.
He said that on several occasions, Malta was called to take a bold step and “embark on an ambitious journey.”
There were three important landmarks in Malta’s recent history, he explained. Two of these took place when Malta achieved independence in 1964 and became a Republic in 1974, with the first Maltese president appointed.
“Just over two years ago, the Maltese people chose to join the European Union, anchoring their country’s future within this community of States based on common values – respect for human rights, democracy, and a free market based on social values,” said Dr Fenech Adami. Soon after, he added, the Maltese parliament voted unanimously in favour of a constitutional treaty for all member states, he added.
Dr Fenech Adami said that on achieving EU membership, Malta not only acquired rights and advantages, but also took on a share of European responsibility.
“It is my firm belief that we cannot and should not live imagining that what is wrong in another part of the world does not affect our part,” he said.
Malta’s small size and strategic geographic location “mean that we are well-suited to act as an interlocutor to foster and promote a spirit of open dialogue, communication and understanding between different countries and peoples, he added.
THE NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT
COMPANION
GIOVANNI BONELLO K.O.M.
A lawyer by profession, specialised in human rights after graduating L.P. in 1954 and Doctor of Laws in 1958 from the University of Malta. He defended a number of cases before the Maltese courts, the European Commission and the European Court of Human Rights. He was the first Maltese delegate to the European Commission for Democracy through Law and former president of the Academy for the Development of a Democratic Environment. In 1998 he was appointed Judge of the European Court of Human Rights. He is also an authority on Maltese history and history of art in Malta and wrote numerous articles on both these subjects and the history of antiques, which were published on local newspapers and academic journals. He is a founder member and former vice-president of the heritage foundation Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.
RICHARD CACHIA
CARUANA K.O.M.
Malta’s Chief Negotiator and Chairman of Malta’s Core Negotiating Group with overall responsibility to coordinate the work, preparations and effort required in connection with Malta’s EU accession negotiations. During this process he was also vice-chairman of the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC). Malta concluded its accession negotiations on 13 December 2002 with a negotiated package that was considered to be “second to none”. On 1 May 2004, when Malta became a member state of the European Union, he became Malta’s first Permanent Representative to the Union and Chairman of the government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee for EU Affairs which is responsible for coordinating Malta’s internal positions on EU issues. In 2005, during the negotiations on the EU’s Financial Perspective for 2007-2013, he coordinated Malta’s positions on EU funding and was instrumental in Malta achieving maximum EU funding. He also served as Personal Assistant for 15 years and Head of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. He is also a founder council member of the St John’s co-Cathedral Foundation.
OFFICER
ENA CREMONA U.O.M.
Malta’s first Judge at the Court of First Instance of the European Communities. Graduated BA in languages in 1955 and Doctor of Laws in 1958 at the University of Malta and practised at the Malta Bar from 1959. She was Legal Adviser to the National Council of Women from 1964 to 1979 and member of the Public Service Commission from 1987 to 1989. She has examined doctoral theses in the Faculty of Law (University of Malta). She was legal advisor to Corradino Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Fund from 1994 to 2004. She was also a Maltese member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. On 12 May 2004 she was appointed Judge at the Courts of First Instance of the European Communities.
MEMBERS
SPIRIDIONE M. AQUILINA M.O.M.
A marine engineer by profession dutifully served the Malta Shipyards for 48 years until his retirement in 2005. In 1997, following his appointment as General Manager he was fundamental in implementing several positive changes in the shipyard and in establishing Malta Drydocks as a repair hub for Very Large Cargo Carriers (VLCCs), bulk carriers, passenger liners, gas carriers and tankers. Through his marketing ability he put Malta Drydocks on the ship repair map world wide which saw new markets opened to Malta in the field of major ship repair and refit projects. His tireless marketing negotiations resulted in the award of multi-million dollar contracts among stiff competition from all major yards in the region. His influence in the international cruise industry market was fundamental in bringing cruise liners to Malta.
JOSEPH CALLEJA M.O.M.
Born in Attard in 1978, he had his debut at the age of 19 as Macduff in the opera Macbeth at the Astra theatre in Gozo. He is one of the leading tenors of his generation and has to date appeared in 22 tenor leading roles in theatres such as the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, Munich State Opera, Liceo de Barcelona and the Metropolitan Opera House New York. As a concert artist he has appeared at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, the Salzburg Festival, the Rossini Opera Festival and the Wexford Opera Festival. Internationally renowned he has collaborated with world-class conductors such as Antonio Pappano, Daniel Oren, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Chailly. Prize winner in Placido Domingo’s competition Operalia, the Belvedere in Vienna and winner of the Caruso competition in Milan. An exclusive Decca recording artist since 2003 Calleja’s two solo recital disks were released to worldwide critical acclaim.
CARMINE LAURI M.O.M.
An internationally established leading violinist performing extensively around the world. As a soloist, he performed in the presence of Heads of State, including H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.
He regularly leads the London Symphony Orchestra of which he is the Co-Leader and is also one of the Concertmasters of the World Orchestra for Peace. He has led various orchestras including the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2004, Carmine was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and in 2006, a Fellow of the Royal Academy, thus winning the highest honour ever granted to a Maltese national in the musical sphere.
JOSEPH C. SAMMUT M.O.M.
A keen researcher on the history of Malta, with special emphasis on numismatics and associated subjects, and an avid collector of Melitensia. Has lectured on Maltese numismatics in Malta and abroad. In 1957 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society. He was entrusted with organising several exhibitions locally and abroad on the history of Malta. He helped set up the Central Bank of Malta Museum and is on the Currency Advisory Board of the Bank. He was a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee of the Planning Authority, and is a member of the committee of the Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, the Board of Trustees of the Farsons Foundation, the Captain O.F. Gollcher Foundation and the Malta Historical Society. Among his publications, one finds The Order’s Coinage in Malta, Currency in Malta, Currency Notes in Malta and From Scudo to Sterling. He is also the co-author of Malta in British and French Caricature 1798-1815. His most prestigious publication is the two-volume co-authored work, The Coinage of the Knights of Malta, which catalogue has now become the standard work of reference on the subject for collectors and international numismatic dealers.
HONORARY MEMBERS
LESLIE CASSAR M.O.M.
Dedicated most of his time in enhancing the strong relations between Malta and Australia by focusing his attention on the representation of the national airline Air Malta in the Asia Pacific Region and the United States. He assisted the Malta government in negotiating an Air Services Agreement between Malta and Australia 16 years ago, which enabled the designated airlines of either country to operate air services between the two countries and vice-versa. He also founded World Aviation Systems in Malta as a Joint Venture Company with Air Malta to represent major airlines including British Airways and Qantas Airways.
For the period 2002 and 2005 he assisted Air Malta Management in successfully negotiating a code-share agreement with Qantas Airways to operate daily flights between Melbourne, Sydney and London via Singapore and Bangkok, thus connecting Malta to Australia.
Mr Cassar founded the Australia-Maltese Chamber of Commerce and remained chairman for five years. He co-financed the chamber together with the Bank of Valletta plc.
SANTO SALVATORE PORTERA M.O.M.
The Finance Director of STMicroelectronics (Malta) Ltd who for the past 13 years has always worked hard to maintain the cost effectiveness of this “price sensitive” semiconductor business thus ensuring the continued expansion of its presence in Malta despite fierce competition from other locations worldwide.
Mr Portera has been a continuous supporter of Malta.
He actively encouraged other investors, mainly Italian and French, to set up shop in Malta and has always met visiting delegations of potential investors when asked to do so.
He has even travelled abroad as part of Malta Enterprise road shows to attest to the advantages of doing business in Malta.
‘MIDALJA GHALL-QLUBIJA’ (Medal for Bravery)
RICHARD BATES M.R.Q.
An employee of Gozo Channel Company Ltd and a professional diver who, in the early morning of 14 October 2006, with no regard to his own personal safety, committed an act of bravery by saving the life of an elderly man and his daughter after their car ended up in the sea at Gozo Mgarr Harbour. While he was in the passenger tent at the time and on hearing his colleagues shouting that a car was in the water, he rushed out to see the car floating nose down. One of his colleagues smashed the rear window and without hesitation he pulled the women out of the car and took her to the quay. On turning back he realised that the car had already submerged into the water and that the elderly man was floating to the surface and Mr Bates pulled him up to the shore unconscious.
‘MIDALJA GHALL-QADI TAR-REPUBBLIKA’
ALEX BORG M.Q.R.
One of the leading exponents of the snooker game. He showed his potential in the game at an early age and won various championships locally and abroad. He represented Malta in more than 25 countries obtaining prestigious results. His first notable success was in March 1990 when he won the first Rothmans Pro-Am Snooker Tournament held in Malta. His success culminated in the last two consecutive years when he won the European Individual Snooker Championships held in Poland in 2005 and in Romania in 2006. In 2005, he also won the Mediterranean Snooker Cup. He was the Captain of the Maltese team on both occasions when the team won the European Team Snooker Championship in 2004 and 2005.
PAUL CURMI M.Q.R.
His name is synonymous with the carnival in Malta. He is still active even to this day and is fondly known as Ir-Re tal-Karnival. From a tender age he showed great potential and talent where the art of carnival was concerned. He started 56 years ago by helping his family in building floats, choreographing dancing and designing costumes, until in the early 1950s he set up his own carnival company.
Throughout the years he has had many successes and earned a great number of awards.
When the carnival of Malta was passing through a tough period through lack of interest and participation, he was instrumental in keeping the art alive and was the mentor to most of today’s carnival company leaders.
MARY INGLOTT M.Q.R.
A household name, especially among older generations, in the teaching of needlework and sewing on Rediffusion, radio and television.
During her teaching career she taught in private and government secondary schools, at Palazzo de la Salle, the seat of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce, and at the Art and Fashion Centre in Floriana.
She continued teaching on a private basis until she reached the age of 80.
She is also to be remembered for the role she played in the career of her husband Anton Inglott, a short-lived but key figure in the history of the 20th century Maltese art.
In 1935 she was jointly responsible for the introduction of the female section of the Legion of Mary in Malta.
DIONYSIUS MINTOFF M.Q.R.
A Franciscan Friar and founder of the Peace Laboratory, a place for seminars and prayer meetings. The Peace Laboratory also organises the Pope John XXIII Award for Kindness every year. In 1968 he was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontefice medal by Pope Paul VI. As a teacher he taught Maltese at secondary schools and St Michael’s Training College and as Chief Education Officer he was responsible for the introduction of social studies in state schools. He authored several books and publications and was a regular broadcaster with the national stations for over 50 years.
He was a member of the Malta University Council and chaired meetings of the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
He is also the founder of Gubbio House, member of the Prison Board of Visitors for the past 21 years and mediator in various industrial actions.
He is also a member of the Akkademja tal-Kittieba tal-Malti. For the past two years he has been giving shelter to many asylum seekers.