Republic Day honours | Migrants’ welfare worker, US marine, and Maltese bishop in Libya honoured

OFFICER

Sylvester C. Magro U.O.M.

Sylvester C. Magro OFM is the Titular Bishop of Salde and Apostolic Vicar of Benghazi, Libya since 1997. When everyone was leaving Libya because of the revolution, the Maltese Bishop decided to stay on and face the impending conflict. He chose to stay close to his Christian flock and the people of Libya. Although he was offered a passage to Malta aboard a British warship in February when Gaddafi's forces were advancing towards Benghazi, Magro decided to remain in the city. Bishop Magro joined the Franciscan Friar Minors in 1957 and studied at the Franciscan seminary at Rabat Malta.

He was ordained priest in 1966. Magro furthered his studies at the Pontificio Ateneo Antonianum and at the Lateran University in Rome from where he graduated doctor of theology and obtained a diploma in pastoral theology. Mons Magro was a lecturer at the Franciscan seminary. In 1982 he was appointed parish priest of the parish of Our Lady of Sacred Heart in Sliema. In 1988 he joined the Franciscan Missions of the Milan Province in Libya, which Mission was passed on to the Maltese Franciscans in May 1991.

At the same time Magro was appointed Vicar-General to Bishop Giovanni Martinelli OFM, and was also appointed parish priest of the Maltese Catholic community and other English-speaking Catholic communities in Libya. In 2002 he was awarded The Cross of the Equestrian Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by the Polish President for his dedication to Catholic workers in Libya.

MEMBERS

Vincent R. Attard M.O.M.

Vincent R. Attard is the President of Nature Trust (Malta), a NGO that over the years has worked and lobbied hard to obtain legal protection for various plants and animals in the Maltese Islands, helping to save a good number of the around 78 local endemic species from extinction. Nature Trust (Malta) is very active in environmental education through various means. It has also been carrying out several environmental projects such as afforestation, habitat conservation and the creation of marine protected areas. Attard is also a member of the management board of the Majjistral Nature and History Park, Malta's first natural national park.

Attard became a member of the then called Natural History Society of Malta (NHSM) in 1972 while studying biology. In 1974 he became active in the Youth Section of the Society for the Study and Conservation of Nature (SSCN) and was the PRO of this section. In 1979 he was appointed General Secretary of the SSCN Council, a post which he held till 1990, when he was appointed President of the society.

After the merger between SSCN, Arbor, Verde and Marine Life Care Group, Nature Trust (Malta) was launched and he was appointed the organisation's first President. When NTM became a professional NGO, in September 2006 he left his carreer in banking and took up the post of Executive President.

Attard is today also the Director of Finances for the Mediterranean NGO Network - Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO).

Victor J. Borg M.O.M.

Victor J. Borg is one of Gozo's best known hoteliers with an interest in quality tourism. The owner of Ta' Cenc, he also owns the Cornucopia and St Patrick's Hotels, as well as a car hire agency. In all he employs around 250 people which by Gozo's standards is somewhat on the high side. In the early eighties, he launched the idea of special weekend breaks for Maltese visitors in Gozo and has thus been a pioneer in the internal tourism market. In such scenario it is possible to keep staff employed all year round instead of only in summer.

Borg aimed at ending dependence on part-time and seasonal labour in order to attain a higher level of professionalism, thereby also aiming to make tourism a career choice. Borg served on various boards such as NTOM, MTA, Gozo Channel, Malta Air Charter, MHRA and GTA.

Mario Buhagiar M.O.M.

Mario Buhagiar is Professor of History of Art and was for 25 years head of the department at the University of Malta, a department which he founded. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and an international authority on Early Christian and Medieval Antiquities and on the Art and Architecture of the Knights of St John. In 1988 he was responsible for introducing History of Art as an area of study at the University of Malta. His studies have provided scholars with an essential framework for the future development of research on the subject.

Buhagiar is the author of numerous specialized books and studies on art and archaeology. He  has read academic papers on the History of Art and related topics at various international seminars and has been guest lecturer at several universities and Fine Arts institutions across Europe. Buhagiar has placed Malta's rich patrimony on the map of international cultural studies and established a major network of international scholars working on Maltese and Central Mediterranean Art.

George Fenech M.O.M.

George Fenech is presently the Chairman of all the companies within the Tumas Group, which employs over 1200 people on full-time basis. From an early age, Fenech was actively involved in the business development of the main divisions within the Tumas Group. His vision and leadership skills are considered as his trademarks.

Under Fenech's guidance the Tumas Group expanded into new areas of activity and undertook the construction and management of major real estate projects such as Portomaso. This project was awarded the Gold Award in the Best Marina Development Category of the 2005 International Property Awards. He was the driving force that channelled the Tumas Group into new areas of activity. Fenech has been one of the main promoters in the setting up of the timeshare industry both locally and abroad. For several years he has also contributed to the Maltese economy. Fenech is a member of the Institute of Directors (U.K.), as well as a former Governor of the Malta Arbitration Centre.

Maria Frendo M.O.M.

Maria Frendo is a well known personality in the local cultural scene. She has been instrumental in the developments of the Laudate Pueri Choir, the resident choir at St George's Basilica in Victoria Gozo, of which she is the accompanying organist and main soloist. The choir specializes in polyphonic music and has sung widely locally and also in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Frendo is one of the co-founders the Victoria International Arts Festival that is in its 16th edition. She is also responsible for teaching the choir of various operas that have been staged at the Astra Theatre. She was elected Fellow of the London College of Music and Fellow of Trinity College, London.

Frendo started her musical studies in pianoforte under Sister Odelia Carbone and under Bice Bisazza. She took up singing at an early age and has specialised in renaissance, early baroque, modern and contemporary music. She performed several works of Joseph Vella in world premieres. As a pianist, Frendo has accompanied celebrities of international repute such as Katia Ricciarelli, Veronica Vascotto and Marcello Canci. She has also performed in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, England and the USA. She is active in the editing of old Maltese and Italian musical manuscripts housed at the Mdina Cathedral Museum Music Archives.

Frendo is a senior lecturer of English at the University of Malta and graduated as Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Durham. She is also Deputy Chairperson of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

Clare Mary-Louise Gerada M.O.M.

Clare Mary-Louise Gerada is a London-based doctor and Chairperson of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She has held a number of leadership positions both at national and local level in the UK, including those of Director of Primary Care for the National Clinical Governance Team and Senior Medical Advisor to the Department of Health.

Gerada has a special interest in mental health and substance misuse and was awarded Member of the British Empire for services to medicine and substance misuse in 2000. She is Medical Director of the Practitioner Health Programme and has published a number of academic papers, articles and books. She has been a general practitioner in the UK since 1992 when she became a partner for the Hurley Clinic in South London.

The Hurley Clinic has now expanded to become the Hurley Group and has a number of practices across London.

Herbert Messina Ferrante M.O.M.

Herbert Messina Ferrante Herbert Messina Ferrante is known for his contribution in Dentistry. He graduated Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Malta in 1960. He specialised at Guy's Hospital and at the Royal Dental Hospital in London. In 1965 he graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, while in 1985 he attended a postgraduate course at the Academie d'Art Dentaire in Geneve. Messina Ferrante became a Fellow of the International College of Dental Surgeons (USA), Fellow at the Murrie and Guggenheim Dental Clinic (New York) and Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academie.

He is a founder member of the European Dental Academy and for a time was Malta's representative on its executive council. Messina Ferrante was examiner of dentistry at the University of Malta. He served as dental representative in the Medical Council and representative of the Medical Council in the Dental Specialist Accreditation Committee.

Messina Ferrante is the President of Malta College of Dental Surgeons. Messina Ferrante is founder-member of the Self Employed Union and became its president in 1979, Councillor of the Attard Local Council and President of APAN. He was also very active in the sports sector serving as President of the Sliema Wanderers FC and Vice-President of the Malta Football Association.

In 1980 he was awarded the Sportsmanship Trophy and in 1990 he was a finalist of the Official of the Year Award. He is also member of the Executive of the European Senior Citizens Union (ESCU). In 2011 he was elected in the Noble Order of International Ambassadors and awarded the Jan Masaryk Commemorative Medal from the Czech Republic "for his outstanding contribution to the development of collaboration between the Czech Republic and Malta".

Egidio Mizzi M.O.M.

Egidio Mizzi OFM, a biblical scholar, is a member of the Malta Bible Society where he served as vice-president, member of the commission for the translation of the Bible into Maltese and adviser for the revised second edition of the Bible. He was commissioned by the National Liturgical Commission to translate into Maltese various Old Testament texts, and he also translated the Books of Job and Qoheleth for the Maltese edition of the Bible.

Mizzi graduated Bachelor of Philosophy from the Gregorian University in Rome, Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Theological Faculty of St Bonaventure in Rome and Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. As a Franciscan Conventual, he has held the office of provincial secretary, vicar, superior of St Francis Friary at Rabat in Malta and capitular custos.

Mizzi was also a lecturer of Sacred Scripture and Biblical Languages at the Collegio Teologico Missionario in Assisi, of Biblical Theology at the Gozo Seminary, of Sacred Scripture and Biblical Languages at INSERM, and of Hebrew and Biblical Greek in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta.

MIDALJA GHALL-QADI TAR-REPUBBLIKA

Anna and Charles Azzopardi M.Q.R.

The Azzopardi couple is very active in the National Foster Care Association Malta (NFCAM). Charles and Anna Azzopardi generously contribute in information campaigns about fostering, and also share their experience with new foster carers during the training courses which foster carers are obliged to undergo.

Their vast and rich experience helps new foster carers to better understand the challenges and satisfaction of fostering. Charles and Anna Azzopardi are of great inspiration to the foster carers who are providing a family structure to the 260 children and youth in care.

They have always done everything they could, even with great personal sacrifices, to give the best possible service to the three partners in the fostering arrangement, namely the children and youths who are being fostered, the foster carers and the natural family of the individual who is in foster care. The Azzopardi couple are themselves foster carers.

For the past years, Anna Azzopardi served as a member and is currently Deputy Chairperson of the Fostering Board. She is also involved in the selection of persons who qualify as foster carers.

Mamudu sive Ahmed Zanya Bugre M.Q.R.

Ahmed Bugre is a Ghanaian naturalised Maltese who is currently Senior Pastor at the New Life Christian Centre in San Gwann. He is also Director of the Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, the non-governmental organisation that operates and manages the Marsa Open Centre.

He came to Malta from Africa in 1990 and graduated as Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2011. He is married to a Maltese and they have three children. Apart from managing to be himself fully integrated in Maltese society, Bugre is instrumental for other immigrants coming from different African countries to integrate between themselves and also into Maltese society.

As pastor and coordinator of the Marsa Open Centre, he acts as a bridge between Maltese and African cultures. He is in a unique position of understanding the psyche of both the Maltese and African communities. On a daily basis he encourages residents at the Centre to cope with life's challenges. He is a firm believer in keeping the residents at the Centre fully occupied whilst instilling in them a sense of self-empowerment.

Charles Casha M.Q.R.

Charles Casha is best known for the books he authored for a children's audience, particularly humourous stories such as Fra Mudest. His L-Għaxar Anniversarju, a book for young adults, was awarded the National Literary Prize in 1998, while Xummiemu was awarded the National Literary Prize for Children's Literature in 2001. In 2007 his book Trasport published in the Kullana għat-Tfal series placed second in the National Book Prize.

Casha also wrote novels and short stories for adults such as L-Appartament fir-Raba' Sular which placed second in the National Book Prize in 2005. Casha initiated his love for short story writing when he was still a student. During his carrer as a teacher of Maltese and school librarian, he published a number of textbooks earmarked for the primary level of education. Casha has also written a number of plays intended for a young audience.

His book Minn Bejn il-Kwinti is a collection of four plays with social themes addressed for the upper forms of the secondary schools.

Helen Margaret Muscat M.Q.R.

Helen Margaret Muscat is one of the co-founders of the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF). Being an active healthcare campaigner through her support to other patients, she draws on her experience to help and encourage these patients to live a normal life the best way possible. ABCF acts as a Lobbying group complementing other existing support services. Muscat qualified as a state registered nurse and went on to specialize in palliative and breast care nursing. Her career in healthcare spans over 40 years.

Muscat worked in surgery and obtained the post of Ward Sister at the Kingston General Hospital (Hull) in the United Kingdom. Upon moving to Malta she helped in the setting up of the Hospice Movement.

She later set up the Breast Care Support Group. Muscat moved into developing rehabilitation services for the elderly spending eight years as Hospital Matron at Zammit Clapp Hospital, she was also Matron at two private hospitals and served on several committees including the Monitoring for Breast Screening Committee and the National Advisory Committee on Breast Screening. Muscat also contributes to the educational sector through her lectures in the Gerontology Department at the University of Malta through induction seminars for nurses and volunteers at several hospitals and developed the annual Hilda Schembri Memorial Lectures during her term as President of the Breast Care Support Group.

Rita and Kevin Vella M.Q.R.

Rita and Kevin Vella are a young couple from the community of Mosta who are of inspiration to many. This due to their determination to live their life in a normal way inspite of their disability. They promote the rights of persons with disability and were instrumental for a number of important changes that have been made in this sector. Rita and Kevin Vella are living proof of how persons with severe disability can live an independent life in the community.

The Vella couple are respectively the President and Secretary of the Muscular Distrophy Group of Malta. They pioneered the concept that disabled persons can be aided by personal assistants so they can lead an independent life, something that the Vella couple have been doing since they got married six years ago, and in the case of Rita Vella earlier still. The couple were instrumental in bringing about important changes in benefits for persons with severe disability.

Rita Vella is also Vice President of the National Commission for Persons with Disability and President of the committee that provides the services of Aāenzija Sapport. Two years ago she featured in the Women Inspiring Europe calendar organised by the European Institute for Gender Equality. She is also a mouth painter.

HONORARY OFFICER

Daniel Rondeau U.O.M.

Daniel Rondeau served as Ambassador of the French Republic to Malta between September 2008 and November 2011, after which he was nominated Ambassador of the French Republic to UNESCO. During his term in Malta, Rondeau seized every opportunity to promote Malta in the French press, both by penning articles himself as well as by inviting journalists from various media and broadcasting houses. Tourists from France increased by 10 per cent during the years he was accredited to Malta.

As a publisher, Rondeau founded a publishing house named Quai Voltaire devoted to literature and travels and headed the Bouquins collection at Robert Laffont Editions between 2004 and 2008. He is also the author of many books, some of them translated into different languages in many countries.

In 2012 he published a literary portrait of Malta, Malta Ħanina. It is a memorable and poetic journey through Malta and its history in which the author vividly recounts snippets of contemporary Malta and its past with his typical flair. In his book, Rondeau acknowledges Malta's strategic geographical location "at the very heart of the Mediterranean, occupying an enviable position between Sicily and Libya, between East and West".

Rondeau was awarded the Paul Morand prize by the French Academy. He is an Officier des arts et letters, a distinction conferred by France on people who have excelled by their creativity in the field of art or literature, and also a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, the highest distinction that can be conferred by France on a French citizen.

HONORARY MEMBER

John William Halinski M.O.M.

Lieutenant Colonel John William Halinski served in the US Marine Corps in a variety of positions for over 25 years including as a non-resident US Defence Attaché accredited to Malta between 1997 and 2000. He then became the first US resident Defence Attaché in Malta until his retirement in 2004. He was instrumental in strengthening the friendly relationship between Malta and the USA. This relationship resulted in the US allocation to Malta of nearly 12 million US dollars in Foreign Military Financing and well over half a million US dollars in International Military Training and Education funds during the period when he was accredited to Malta.

The funds allocated under the US Foreign Military Financing Program were utilised by the AFM to procure two brand new state of the art Protector Class Patrol Craft that to this day render excellent service to the AFM. Numerous Officers and Non-commissioned Officers in the AFM also successfully completed career and specialist military training courses at various military training centres of excellence in the US. These courses were sponsored through the International Military Training and Education Funds allocated to Malta.