From Mr V. Spiteri

Few people have done more than Professor Grazio Falzon to publicise Malta abroad. He is the acknowledged pioneer of internet websites advertising the country and yet, despite a strong international lobby recommending that he should be given a recognition (Gieh ir-Republika) for his services in advertising Malta around the world, entirely without help, he has once again been passed over, without so much as a civil “thank you” from Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, to whom the petition was addressed.

The colonial attitude that it is OK to squander tax-payers’ money on a foreigner for a failed publicity campaign that was met with derision persists, even on Republic Day. Professor Falzon, who is based in Indiana, USA, created Malta Virtwali in 1994, when he became frustrated at being unable to find anything about Malta. Advertising Malta and showing what Malta has to offer to its visitors became his all-consuming labour of love. In his Virtwali he took much care to familiarise visitors to his website with Malta’s unique archaeological heritage and natural beauty. This website, which always presented Malta at its best, was only made possible by his dedication and commitment in time and money.

From its inception in 1994 to the present day, Virtwali – now renamed All about Malta – has established itself as the source of a wide range of professionally presented information about Malta.

Professor Falzon’s love and loyalty to his mother country is richly evidenced by his published work. This ranges from scholarly work, such as his English-Maltese-English dictionary, to poems in Maltese. He is a modest, unpretentious ambassador for Malta who enjoys the respect of his peers and everybody who has had the privilege of meeting him, either personally or through his websites.

It is the fervent opinion of the undersigned that the 73-year-old Professor Grazioso Falzon richly deserves recognition for his pioneering exploitation of the internet to advertise Malta’s attractions as a tourist destination. There can be little doubt that he has been instrumental in bringing to Malta many of the tourists who visit his website. He is also an inspiration to others who seek to emulate his unstinting efforts in bringing Malta to the big wide world.

He was branding Malta long before the word became popular. I believe that he is a very suitable and deserving person to be bestowed with Gieh ir-Republica yet, sadly, he has been inexplicably passed over again, for the third time – hardly encouraging for any Maltese to dedicate himself to promoting the Republic.

Victor Spiteri

Attard