Professor Charmaine Gauci, Dr. Chris Barbara, and Cardinal Mario Grech were amongst 11 recipients of the National Order of Merit in the traditional Republic Day ceremony on Sunday.

On Republic Day each year, the President, 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, by appointing them to The National Order of Merit or to the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika, or by awarding them the Midalja għall-Qlubija or the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

Nationals of other countries may be conferred with honorary membership of the Order or the Xirka or awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika on an honorary basis.

Grech, who recently became a Cardinal, was made a Companion of the National Order of Merit in recognition of his contribution in the Catholic Church and to his pastoral work.

It was a ceremony which, much like everything else in the country in the past year, reflected the Covid-19 pandemic.  Dignitaries sat metres apart, all attendees donned their face masks, and it was not the President who gave the awards to the recipients in order to maintain social distancing.

Three of Malta’s leaders in the medical field during the Covid-19 pandemic were honoured during the ceremony by being made Officers of the National Order of Merit. 

These were Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci, virologist Dr. Christopher Barbara, and infectious diseases specialist Dr. Charles Mallia Azzopardi.

AFM head Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi was also made an Officer of the National Order of Merit.

Meanwhile, Maestro Paul Abela, Professor Charles Briffa, Anthony Cassar Darien, Professor Stephen Montfort, James Henry Pearsall, and Mons. Joseph Vella Gauci were all made Members of the National Order of Merit.

Another seven people were honoured with the Midalja Ghall-Qadi Tar-Repubblika.

These were international fisheries expert Professor Carmelo Agius, scholar in bioethics and professional ethics Professor Emmanuel Agius, filmmaker Rebecca Cremona, marine biologist Professor Alan Deidun, former football player and current coach Raymond Farrugia, film-writer Elio Lombari, and the Gozitan band The Tramps.