"There is no doubt unfortunately that this COVID-19 pandemic has effected drastically all aspects of our life impacting heavily on human relations, work organization and cultural enrichment. However 2021 marks a couple of landmark anniversaries in our national calendar, namely the foundation in 1981 of the new SGS-Ates semiconductor plant in Kirkop, and the memorable first-ever television debate between Prime Minister Dom Mintoff and the then new Leader of the Opposition Dr Eddie Fenech Adami. It is also a special year for me, characterized by the conferment of my appointment as UFFICIALE OMRI Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella.  Looking forward, it sets the ground for a much-requested operetta concert by Italian performers, now rescheduled for 2022.

I have vivid memories of the start-up work together with the Managing Director of SGS-Ates, Ingegnere Pasquale Pistorio, for a semiconductor manufacturing plant in the ex-GIE facility in Kirkop. At the time I was in charge of the Italian desk at the Malta Development Corporation but joined this international business guru by accepting the senior managerial role of Human Resources and External Relations. Pistorio already knew the strengths of Malta as a global manufacturing base since in the mid-seventies he had led the Motorola Corporation delegation which had come to assess if Malta was suitable for their investments. He was aware of the exceptional potential Malta had having conducted feasibility studies and due diligence. I worked closely and learned the fundamentals of business management from this world leader who entrusted me not only to perform a leading role in the development of the SGS plant in Malta, but to share and execute these experiences in the other assembly and testing operations in Ain Sebaa and Boskoura in Morocco, Muar in Malaysia, Shenzhen in China and Toa Payoh in Singapore.

These unique field applications and methodologies are incorporated in my publication entitled People Engagement for Business Excellence and Social Well-being.

The 1981 general elections in Malta were held in a highly confrontational environment exacerbated by the acceptance of then Prime Minister Dom Mintoff to hold the first-ever television debate on then Xandir Malta, with the new Leader of the Opposition Dr Eddie Fenech Adami. The two political parties under the guidance of the Malta Broadcasting Authority could not agree on a mutually accepted chairman to facilitate this debate. I had left the MDC and was acting as the "lunga mano" of the Italian investor in Malta. Initially I tried to avoid the chairmanship but when considering the national importance of this much-awaited debate, I decided to accept.  Prior to the recording of the programme, I had preparatory sessions with the representatives of the two parties, namely the late Joe Grima and Karmenu Vella for the Labour Party, and Michael Falzon and Louis Galea for the Nationalist Party. That evening the country came to a standstill with thousands of televiewers watching this extraordinary debate. I am told I managed the proceedings pretty well, with balance and impartiality in line with the Constitution.

The year of this 2021 COVID-19 pandemic will be cherished and remembered by me for the special appointment by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, as UFFICIALE OMRI Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. The official signed decree underlines my long standing promotion of Italian industrial interests and the unwavering appreciation of Italian culture. Mention is made of the constructive working relations with the various governments, unions and employees, thereby strengthening the special relations between Italy and Malta, a priority objective for me.

The decree highlights as well the development of excellent synergies with RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana through a beneficial Collaboration Agreement signed with RAI's President Marcello Foa'. Closely linked and associated with Italy, the decoration as Cavaliere OMRI was conferred back in 2001 by the late President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, subsequently I was also appointed as Malta's Delegate of ANCRI, Associazione Nazionale Italiana Insigniti della Repubblica. I am proud as well to belong to the Albo Ex Alumni of the Italian Foreign Ministry and International Cooperation.

 I was honoured to receive this decoration from the Italian Ambassador to Malta Fabrizio Romano in a dedicated if restrained ceremony due to the pandemic restrictions.

This UFFICIALE OMRI recognition enriches my international awards as Officier in France's Légion d'Honneur; Malta's National Order of Merit; Gozo's Service Decoration, and others  by STMicroelectronics in Geneva and the European Broadcasting Union.

This year I had to postpone the much requested Grande Serata all'Operetta at the Manoel Theatre which I have been organising for a number of years. The aim is to hold it at the end of 2022, COVID-19 permitting, but preparations are in full swing with the Italian operetta artists who will respond to relentless requests for its overdue revival in Malta. We all look forward to another wonderful operetta performance that will bring back some sort of normality with its spoken dialogue, humour, lively songs and dances. The gran finale with popular selections from Il Paese dei Campanelli and Cin ci Là will reach the serata's climax with the encore of   'E' scabroso le donne studiar!' We all need to be cheered up after months and months of lockdowns, restrictions and masks."