Jake Vella, Karl Gouder, and Lorenzo Vella were all posthumously honoured during the annual Republic Day ceremony, where the country’s highest honours are conferred.
They were awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika on Friday with the honour being conferred to their respective families by President Myriam Spiteri Debono at the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta.
Jake Vella passed away in August this year at the age of 15, having battled a rare condition called ROHHAD; Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic dysfunction, Hypoventilation, and Autonomic Dysregulation for all his life.
Jake Vella stole many people's hearts with his courage and determination to fight his condition and had organised a series of swimming challenges and other events to raise awarness about the condition as well as raise funds for abandoned animals, including an event which was done in collaboration with the wife of Prime Minister Lydia Abela. His fighting spirit pushed him to practise boxing and learn to play the drums, guitar and piano.
Lorenzo Vella also sadly passed away in the month of August, at the age of 43 after a short illness. Formerly part of the Labour Party’s youth movements, he went on to have a distinguished career in the world of foreign relations, and was the head of Malta’s European Commission Representation when he passed away.
Karl Gouder passed away tragically a month later, in September, at the age of 45. A former Nationalist Party MP and mayor of St Julian’s, Gouder at the time was the Chief Operations Officer in the party’s media arm and was set to be the party’s next Secretary General.
During the annual ceremony, the President appointed nine people to the National Order of Merit and awarded nine others and one organisation the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.
Besides Karl Gouder, Jake Vella, and Lorenzo Vella, there were others who were awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika as well.
Veteran journalist Reno Bugeja was bestowed the honour, as was Joseph Farrugia – who for several years headed the Malta Employers’ Association.
Fr Stephen Borg, Fr Joseph Formosa, Fr Mario Sant were all honoured in recognition of the work that they do with Maltese patients and their families who are in London, in the United Kingdom, for medical treatment.
Archbishop Emeritus George Anthony Frendo was honoured for his inter-religious work in Malta and Albania, where he has been a bishop since 2006 and Archbishop since 2016.
The artist Doris Micallef was also honoured, as was The Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies. Prof. Jane Somerville was granted the award on an honorary basis.
Dr Joseph F Grima and Dr Joseph Zarb Adami were appointed as Officers of the National Order of Merit.
Those appointed Ordinary Members of the National Order of Merit were Simone Attard, Narcy Calamatta, Prof. Daniel Massa, Clarence Pace, Prof. Paul Pace, Prof. Charles Scerri, and Commander Allen K. Harker who was granted an honorary membership.
Simone Attard was recognised for her work with couples facing infertility problems, veteran actor Narcy Calamatta was honoured for his distinguished contribution to the arts sector, and Prof. Daniel Massa was honoured for his contribution to the Maltese literary sector.
Clarence Pace was honoured for his work in the health sector, Prof. Paul Pace was honoured for his work in environmental education, and Prof Charles Scerri was also honoured for his work in the medical sector, specifically when it came to dementia.
Commander Allen K. Harper was made an honorary member of the order for his role in assisting the Armed Forces of Malta.