DIPARTIMENT TAL -INFORMAZZJONI DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MALTA Press Release PR 280 9 ENG 13. 12 . 2013 HONOURS AND AWARDS 2013 NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT COMPANION OF HONOUR PAUL XUEREB K.U.O.M. Paul Xuereb was a politician, a journalist, a well-established novelist, and a short story writer. He was born in Rabat, Malta, on 21 July 1923, the son of Adeodato Xuereb, a teacher and playwright, and Maria Dolores Busuttil. He attended elementary school at Mdina, and later had secondary school at St Aloysius College Birkirkara, and at the Flores College, Valletta. Between 1946 and 1949, he studied at City Literary Institute and at Regent Street Polytechnic, both institutes of the University of London, where he read journalism, political economy and political science. During the Second World War, he served as an anti-aircraft gunner, with the Royal Malta Artillery. Between 1944 and 1946, he worked as a clerk at the then British Imperial Dockyard. During this period, he was awarded the Africa Star, the War Medal and the Victory Medal. In 1946, he migrated to England, where he pursued further studies. In 1958, he joined the Department of Education as a visiting Master at the Lyceum. In 1959, he joined the Freedom Press as Literary Editor and Assistant Editor of the Voice of Malta. In 1962, he contested the general election and was elected as Member of Parliament. He was re- elected in the elections of 1966, 1971, 1976 and 1981. In 1971, he served as Parliamentary Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, and as Minister of Trade, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism. He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between July 1986 and February 1987, and Acting President of Malta from February 1987 to April 1989. Mr Xuereb was married to Edwidge Muscat and had a daughter Maria. Malta is honouring Paul Xuereb for his exceptional contribution towards the political development Malta and the common good of the Maltese people. Attachments: None Page: 1 of 26 3, CASTILLE PLACE, VALLETTA VLT 2000 Tel +(356) 2200 1700 Fax +(356) 2200 1775 [email protected] www.doi.gov.mt COMPANIONS MICHAEL FRENDO K.O.M. Michael Frendo was born in Floriana in 1955. In 1977, he graduated as a lawyer from the University of Malta and pursued further studies in European Law at the University of Exeter (1978- 1979). He was Director, Press and Media of the Nationalist Party and Editorial Director at Independence Press (1981-1985). He was elected to Parliament in 1987 where he served for a period of 26 years until 2013. In this period, he held various parliamentary positions, including First Vice-President of the Joint Parliamentary Committee between the Maltese and European Parliaments, Chairman of the Maltese Parliamentary Delegation to the European Parliament, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of Malta. In 2002 and 2003, he served as member of the European Convention on the Future of Europe as a representative of the Parliament of Malta. He served as Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Culture and Consumer Protection (1990-1992), Minister for Youth and Arts (1992-1994), Minister for Transport, Communications and Technology (1994-1996) where in 1995, he served as President of Eurocontrol, and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004-2008). From April 2010 to April 2013, he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Malta is honouring Michael Frendo in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards the political development of Malta and the welfare of the Maltese people. PR2809 ENG Page: 2 of 26 DIPARTIMENT TAL-INFORMAZZJONI – DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MALTA EDWIN S GRECH K.O.M. Edwin S Grech studied at St Aloysius College and at the University of Malta, from where he graduated as a pharmacist in 1952, and a medical doctor in 1955. He specialised in the United Kingdom becoming member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1963 and being elected Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1973. In 1964, he was appointed a lecturer and Consultant at the Makerere University Hospital in Uganda. While in Uganda, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Surgery in 1972. In 1973, he was appointed Professor and Head of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in Lusaka, Zambia. In 1977, Professor Grech returned to Malta and was appointed Professor and Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St Luke’s Hospital and the University of Malta, which posts he held until 1987. Besides his contribution to the service of patients, in the Medical School, he introduced new theoretical and clinical methods of teaching and was instrumental in getting all clinical departments recognised by foreign universities and medical councils. Shortly after his return to Malta in 1977, while rendering service in Maltese hospitals, Professor Grech suffered the loss of his daughter Karin, who was victim of an explosion caused by a letter bomb addressed to her father at his home. He served as Dean to the Faculty Board of Medicine and Surgery for ten years and member of the Senate and Council of the University of Malta (1979-1987). He retired from government service in 1991.He also served as consultant and advisor in maternal and child health for World Health Organization (WHO) and as Director for the WHO Collaborative Centre for Clinical Research in Human Reproduction. In 1992, Professor Grech was elected to Parliament for the Malta Labour Party. He served as Minister for Social Welfare (1996-1998). Malta is honouring Edwin Grech in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards the well- being of the Maltese and other peoples, notably, through his dedication in the provision of medical care of the sick, and the political development of Malta. PR2809 ENG Page: 3 of 26 DIPARTIMENT TAL-INFORMAZZJONI – DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MALTA OFFICER MGR VICTOR GRECH U.O.M. Victor Grech was born in Cospicua in 1929. He graduated at the Royal University of Malta and after his priestly ordination, he served as Vice-Rector and Rector of the Seminary and as National Director of Vocations. He was awarded a British Council Visitorship and was also a Visiting Lecturer at the Faculty of Theology, and Lecturer of religious and social topics at the Mater Admirabilis Teachers’ Training College. He founded the first Maltese priest-community in Brazil and collaborated with Monsignor Delleport in the foundation of the European Seminary in Maastricht. In 1977, Monsignor Grech was appointed Archbishop’s Delegate for Church Social and Charitable Action, and Director of Caritas Malta. He introduced professional social services in Church institutions, and founded the Caritas Agency and the community of trained volunteers to support those services. In 1984, Mgr Grech founded the Caritas Drug Prevention Project and the Drug Rehabilitation Project in 1985, founded the first Therapeutic Community for drug abusers in Malta, becoming Founder-Chairman of the Caritas Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers. In 1968, Mgr Grech was nominated Chaplain to Pope Paul VI, and in 1981 appointed Honorary Prelate to Pope John Paul II. In 1991, he was installed Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. For 50 long years, he was widely known for his radio programmes on social subjects, on youths and family. In 1993, as a result of his sterling work in the social and charitable field, Mgr Grech was nominated Member of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta. Malta is again honouring Monsignor Victor Grech in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the common good of the people of Malta, notably through several years of service heading Caritas Malta with dedication and commitment to people in difficulty. PR2809 ENG Page: 4 of 26 DIPARTIMENT TAL-INFORMAZZJONI – DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MALTA MEMBERS PAUL ASCIAK M.O.M. Paul Asciak was born in Valletta in 1923. He was educated at St Paul’s School in Valletta and at the Seminary. Asciak’s operatic debut was as Turiddu in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana in 1946. His Italian debut took place in 1950 when he sang Manrico in Verdi’s Il Trovatore at Catanzaro’s Politeama Italia. Following participation in concerts with world-famous singers Tito Schipa and Maria Caniglia, Asciak was encouraged to pursue his studies. In March 1950, Caniglia’s initiative led to Asciak’s being entrusted to renowned teacher Alberto Paoletti of Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera. In 1951, he won the Concorso per Giovani Cantanti Lirici together with, among others, Franco Corelli, Anita Cerquetti and Gabriella Tucci. He was granted a bursary for voice training under the guidance of Giuseppe Bertelli, Luigi Ricci and Riccardo Picozzi at the Teatro dell’Opera, Rome. In 1951, Paul Asciak performed in Italy in the leading roles of various operas. In 1952, he joined the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London, as tenor soloist. Up to 1958, he had appeared over fifty times in various roles among them as Flavio in Norma with soprano Maria Callas. He sang with the Welsh National Opera Company, the Dublin Grand Opera and the Carl Rosa Opera Company. He performed several times on BBC sound and vision as well as on ITV (1952-59) and had several other leading roles in the UK. Asciak gave numerous concerts and recitals, including Verdi’s Requiem, mainly in Wales. In Malta, he sang Ernani in Ernani , Manrico in Il Trovatore, Radames in Aida, Otello in Verdi’s Otello, Don Jose’ in Carmen and Canio in Pagliacci. In 1961, Asciak retired from stage performances and joined the Department of Education. In 1984, he retired as Head of the Department of Music.