Republic Day • Armed Forces, transgender who challenged State, and face of anti-censorship honoured

Midalji ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika

Air Wing - Armed Forces of Malta

Malta is honouring the Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta in recognition of its distinguished contribution towards the safety of life at sea, humanitarian assistance accorded to people in distress and welfare of the people of Malta.

The Air Wing is the aerial branch of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). Its primary role is to maintain the territorial integrity of the Maltese Islands.

The personnel of the Air Wing AFM are always ready to deploy on a 24/7 basis as instructed by the AFM's Rescue Coordination Centre. In fulfilling its tasks, the Air Wing AFM is assisted by the Italian Military Mission.

Lino Bugeja

Malta is honouring Lino Bugeja in recognition of his distinguished service towards the welfare of the people of Malta, notably, education, culture, sports and the protection of the environment.

Born in Vittoriosa in 1930, Lino Bugeja studied at the Lyceum and the Malta College of Education from where he qualified as a teacher in 1949. He held several positions in the Department of Education. He was a lecturer with the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta.

In 2005, Lino Bugeja founded the Ramblers Association of Malta.

He has published books and several papers in academic journals. He still contributes articles in local newspapers on Malta's historical and artistic heritage

Mark Camilleri

Malta is honouring Mark Camilleri in recognition of his contribution towards the development of art and literature in Malta.

He was brought before the Court accused of publishing and distributing immoral literature when he published a fictitious story of Alex Vella Gera entitled "Li tkisser Sewwi" in a university journal.

Following this event, he established the Front Kontra ic-Censura, a national movement that brought together political movements and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

This Front sought to put pressure on Government and other political parties to remove censorship from our country. To date, this movement has achieved its objective as the censorship legislation are no longer being enforced with regard to art, though these are being gradually amended.

Joanne Cassar

Malta is honouring Joanne Cassar in recognition of her distinguished service towards a fairer society and the common good of the people of Malta.

In February 2007, the Court upheld a challenge against a decision of the Marriage Registrar not to publish the marriage bans of Ms Joanne Cassar on the ground that her female sex was acquired through an operation and not at birth.

The Court, therefore, ordered that the bans should be published. The Government successfully challenged that decision in the First Hall of the Civil Court and in the Court of Appeal which held that the female sex which had been included in a court-ordered change in Cassar's birth certificate was only intended to protect the right to privacy of the individual but did not give rise to a right to marry a person of the male sex. Cassar took her case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Last April, the government and Cassar reached an out-of-court settlement as a result of which proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights ended. Subsequently, the right of persons to marry a person of the sex opposite to their acquired sex was legislated into the Marriage Act.

This is an important development for Malta towards which Cassar contributed through her determination and perseverance.

Lino Cassar

Malta is honouring Lino Cassar in recognition of his distinguished service towards Maltese society through journalism.

Cassar was manager of the Freedom Press at a time when it and its publications were under excommunication. It is precisely in the field of political satire that Lino Cassar contributed greatly. He carried on the tradition of politico-satirical journalism that Gino Muscat Azzopardi, Cassar's closest friend, and others before him kept alive for so many years.

Cassar was chairman of the Board of Film and Stage Censors (1972-87) and Head, Cinema Films at Xandir Malta (1975-83).

He contributed several film features to various newspapers. In 2007, Cassar was awarded the Gold Award at the 17th edition of the Malta Journalism Award. He died on 8th November 2012

Gaia Cauchi and team

Malta is honouring the Winning Team of the Junior Eurovision 2013 in recognition of their success and for honouring their country and the Maltese people.

Cauchi won the Junior Eurovision 2013 held in Kiev, Ukraine. This was Malta's first success in a prestigious European song competition and the first within EBU organized competition.

At this competition, Gaia Cauchi sang The Start, which she penned together with Matthew Mercieca and Elton Zarb. Gaia Cauchi was coached by Gillian Attard.

Cauchi has already achieved other successes, amongst these, are last year's victory of San Remo Junior in Italy and her successful participation in a TV programme on RAI Ti lascio una canzone.

Carmel Pulé

Malta is honouring Charles Pulè in recognition of his distinguished service towards the development of education in Malta.

Pulè contributed to engineering journals and published a book on Maltese traditional boats. He regularly contributes to local newspapers to advocate that modern technical processes should be included in early education as a means to widen the depth, horizons and maturity of Maltese young people and create a modern workforce suitable to better the economy of an independent country. He was responsible for advising the Libyan authorities to invest in technical education in Malta and Libya.

He served as court expert and consultant to local industry for over 45 years.

Maria Tabone

Malta is honouring Maria Tabone in recognition of her outstanding contribution towards the welfare of the people of Malta.

Tabone was born in Valletta on 9 February 1920 and married Censu Tabone on 23 November 1941 in Victoria, Gozo. They had 9 children, 19 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

During her husband's term as President of Malta, Tabone worked tirelessly for the Malta Community Chest Fund. She was always sensitive to the plight of the suffering and the less fortunate. Together with some friends, she helped in several fund raising events in aid of the Missions and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

She was founder member of the Moviment Nisa Partit Nazzjonalista.

Tabone dedicated her life to her husband and children. She loyally supported her husband in his medical profession and his political career.

Peter Valentino

Malta is honouring Peter Valentino in recognition of his contribution towards the development of sports in Malta, in particular, sailing.

Valentino was born at Sliema, in 1969. Since his childhood, he has been practising sailing as a sporting discipline. He became member of the Royal Malta Yacht Club and has also served as Vice-Commodore.

He served as judge both locally and abroad where he established useful contacts for sailing in Malta. In November 2000, he joined the list of international judges of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). He still maintains this position, which is extended every four years. As a result, he served as a member of the International Jury of the ISAF World Sailing Games in Europe, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

He participated at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as a volunteer. This led to being appointed as a judge for the ParOlympic Games in London in 2012.

During 2013, he served as Chairman of the International Jury of the International Federation for Disabled Sailors World Champships in Ireland, and of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Malta. To date, he has taken part in 200 sailing events in 20 countries.

Astrid Vella

Passionate about Malta's heritage, Astrid Vella is the co-founder of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), a leading Maltese voluntary organisation committed to the protection of Malta's built and natural heritage, as well as to ensuring a healthy quality of life.

Public awareness campaigns directed by Astrid Vella prompted the 2010 MEPA reform as well as the saving of Ramla l-Ħamra, Malta's most beautiful Natura 2000 beach from development, the saving of heritage buildings and gardens from demolition and trees and farms from destruction.

FAA has conducted two successful campaigns against proposals that endangered Malta's Baroque St. John's Co-Cathedral and Valletta's unique network of historic underground passages.

National order of Merit - companion of honour

Paul Xuereb

Paul Xuereb was honoured for his exceptional contribution towards the political development Malta and the common good of the Maltese people.

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.

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.

Michael Frendo

Michael Frendo was honoured in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards the political development of Malta and the welfare of the Maltese people.

Frendo was born in Floriana in 1955. 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. 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.

Edwin Grech

Edwin Grech was honoured 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.

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.

In 1992, Professor Grech was elected to Parliament for the Malta Labour Party. He served as Minister for Social Welfare (1996-1998).

National order of Merit - Officer

Mgr Victor Grech

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.

Grech was born in Cospicua in 1929. 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, 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.

National Order of Merit - Members

Paul Asciak

Malta is again honouring Paul Asciak in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards Maltese arts and culture.

Asciak was born in Valletta in 1923. 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 1951, he won the Concorso per Giovani Cantanti Lirici together with, among others, Franco Corelli, Anita Cerquetti and Gabriella Tucci. In 1951, Paul Asciak performed in Italy in the leading roles of various operas.

In 1994, Asciak was awarded the Midalja għall- Qadi tar-Repubblika. Asciak lent his vast experience to a number of young Maltese singers by teaching them vocal technique and interpretation, foremost among them the world-renowned tenor Joseph Calleja.

Mary Carmen Bellamy

Malta is honouring Mary Carmen Bellamy in recognition of her exceptional contribution towards welfare of the people of Malta, notably, health care services in Gozo.

Bellamy was born in 1948, in Victoria, Gozo. In 2006, Mrs Bellamy established the Gozo CCU Foundation to raise funds in order to procure specialised modern equipment for the Gozo General Hospital.

The Gozo CCU Foundation also donated life-saving equipment to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Gozo General Hospital and has now embarked on a fund-raising campaign to assist in the complete refurbishment of the Resuscitation Room in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Gozo General Hospital.

She runs the Foundation on a voluntary basis and gratuitously. Through her leadership of the Foundation, Bellamy has had a positive impact on the healthcare services in Gozo.

She was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to Gozo.

Lawrence Dimech

Malta is honouring Lawrence Dimech in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards the welfare of the people of Malta, and in particular, Maltese migrants in Australia. Dimech was born in 1936, in Hamrun. He migrated to Australia in 1954 but returned to Malta in 1962 and worked for the Malta Allied Newspapers as sub-editor with Il-Berqa. He also served as sports editor with Leħen il-Malti and editor of Malta News.

He is considered as a pioneer of Maltese print journalism in Australia. He founded the Maltese Herald which he also edited until 1971. He is the representative in Australia for the Institute of Maltese Journalists.

Angelo Psaila

Malta is honouring Psaila in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards medical science and health care in Malta, including education to the general through the media.

He was born in 1937 at Zabbar and received his education at the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta from where he graduated as medical doctor in 1961.

He is active in public health education, contributing significantly to programmes on the local media. He is also actively involved in sports, particularly football and tennis. He has also served as President of the World Medical Society (1993-95). He is the founder of the Medical Tennis Association (Malta).

Lawrence Zrinzo

Malta is honouring Lawrence V Zrinzo in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards medical science and health care in Malta.

Zrinzo was born at Hamrun in 1945. He graduated as a medical doctor from the Royal University of Malta in 1969, was awarded the Griffiths Prize in Anatomy and a scholarship by the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Specialising in neurology and neurosurgery at the university hospitals of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Leeds and Manchester, he became the first Maltese neurosurgeon.

In 1997, he was appointed Senior Lecturer in Neuro-anatomy at the University of Malta. Contacts with University College London progressed to joint research publications on brain anatomy and surgical techniques in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

He is a Senior Member, Society of British Neurological Surgeons, Fellow Royal College of Physicians (London) and Fellow Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh).

National Order of Merit - honorary companion

Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko

Malta is honouring H.E. Valentina Matvienko in recognition of her contribution towards the enhancement of bilateral cooperation and the friendly relations between the people of Malta and the Russian Federation.

She is Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

She became the first female Governor in the history Russia, following her election as Governor of St Petersburg. Under her leadership, the city of St Petersburg experienced a sustained period of economic development culminating in a large number of megaprojects in housing, the enhancement of the city's infrastructure and transformed the Shushary industrial zone into an important centre of the automotive industry in Russia.

National Order of Merit - honorary officer

Alain Dutheil

Malta is honouring Alain Dutheil in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards the development of industry in Malta and commonwealth of the Maltese people.

He is a graduate in Electrical Engineering from the Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Marseilles, France.

In 1989, he became Corporate Vice President of STMicroelectronics. In 1994, he was appointed Corporate Vice President, Strategic Planning, in addition to his position as Corporate Vice President, Human Resources 1992 to 2005.

He was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the French Government in recognition for his outstanding career in the service of science and industry.

National Order of Merit - honorary members

Margrith Lutschg-Emmenegger

Malta is honouring Margrith Lütschg-Emmenegger in recognition of her exceptional contribution towards the common good of the Maltese and the development of Malta as a financial centre.

Lütschg-Emmenegger has worked in Trade Finance with a special focus on Forfaiting and Factoring for most of her professional life, first with Barclays Bank, and then with Midland Bank Aval in London before joining West Merchant Bank (now WestLB AG).

This year, she was elected Chairperson of the International Factors Group (IFG). Founded in 1963, the IFG is recognised as the representative trade association for the factoring and asset based finance industry worldwide, and is composed of more than 160 members representing 50 countries.

Abdurazagh Ismail Zmirli

Malta is honouring Abdurazagh Ismail Zmirli in recognition of his exceptional contribution towards the development of local industry, the common good of the people of Malta and the friendly ties between the people of Libya and Malta.

Zmirli's association with Malta dates back to 1975 when as a Technical Manager at Libyan Airlines he assisted in helping the newly established Air Malta develop its technical department. He also assisted in promoting operations and maintenance opportunities in Malta.

Under his leadership, Medavia developed from a small office in Valletta with 23 employees into a company based in Safi Aviation Park providing air-charter operations and maintenance. Medavia currently operates in Malta, Libya, Mauritania and Sudan with 220 employees.

Locally, he is active within the Arab and Muslim community and, through his position on the Board of Trustees of Mariam Al Batool School and various other non-governmental organisations, assists people with their educational and cultural needs.

Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika - honorary basis

Annie Sciriha

Malta is honouring Annie Sciriha in recognition of her services to health care in Malta, particularly, the treatment of cancer patients.

Sciriha was born and educated in Scotland. In 1963, she qualified as a radiographer in diagnostic after having trained in Aberdeen.

In 1973, she was selected to work as a radiographer in the Radiotherapy Department at the King George V Hospital, later Sir Paul Boffa Hospital. She was the first radiographer to treat Maltese cancer patients with Cobalt therapy.