The Nationalist Party on Thursday saluted the memory of Victor Ragonesi, who served as Secretary General of the PN and later as personal assistant to the Prime Minister and PN Leader, George Borg Olivier, "during the historic journey towards our nation's Independence".

Victor Ragonesi, who passed away at the age of 101, played a crucial role in the fulfilment of the Maltese dream of becoming a sovereign state. He actively participated in all the negotiations held during the 1960s that led to Malta's attainment of Independence.

The Nationalist Party expressed its deepest respect and extends its sincere condolences the Ragonesi family.

Born in 1924, Ragonesi was educated at the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta, graduating as legal procurator in 1947, notary public in 1948 and lawyer in 1949.

He was honorary secretary of the PN between 1954 and 1962, and between 1962 and 1965 was public relations secretary to then Prime Minister George Borg Olivier.

In a short statement, President of Malta Myriam Spiteri Debono paid tribute to Ragonesi and offered condolences to his family.

“The Presidency pays tribute to the memory of Lawyer Victor Ragonesi, who during the 1950s and 1960s contributed not only to Maltese politics through his work within the Nationalist Party, but also played an important role, entrusted to him by Prime Minister Dr Ġorġ Borg Olivier, in the negotiations that led to Malta’s Independence,” the President said.