Gozo Bishop awarded Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika

Outgoing Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi yesterday became the third Maltese national to become a member of Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika.

The honour was bestowed on Mgr Cauchi during the annual Republic Day ceremony at the Palace, in Valletta.

Two others were made honorary officers of the National Order of Merit; five, including former The Times editor Charles Grech Orr, were appointed members to The National Order of Merit and one was awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

Mgr Cauchi, who will be stepping down to make way for newly appointed Gozo Bishop Mario Grech in three weeks' time, said yesterday that once Mgr Grech takes over, he will try to spend his time writing in the press and spreading his message through radio and television programmes.

"When you are preaching in church there are maybe 100 to 200 people listening to you, half of them asleep. Through the media, radio and television you can relay your message to thousands of people.

"This is a form of apostolate which maybe I can do."

Mgr Cauchi described the acceptance of his resignation and replacement as the removal of a burden from his shoulders. "But for as long as I am healthy I will not refuse work. I will continue working in another field without stepping on anyone else's toes."

On the honour bestowed on him yesterday, he said this was more meaningful to Gozitans than to him. "For me it was an ordeal to come here this morning!"

Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika membership was bestowed on Sir Anthony Mamo in 1992 and on Archbishop Joseph Mercieca in 1995.

The former ambassador of the European Union to Malta, Roland Gallimore and Athina Martinos, president of the shipping company Thenamaris Group, were made honorary officers of the National Order of Merit.

Anton Agius, Philip Farrugia Randon, Mr Grech Orr, Salv. J. Stellini and Paul Xuereb were made members of the National Order of Merit. Carmen Testa was awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in absentia.

President Eddie Fenech Adami, who bestowed the honours, appealed to the Maltese to be open to dialogue "especially with those who are different from us, whether in their political, religious or other beliefs, or in their traditions, backgrounds and cultures".

He called on the university and other institutions to continue to play their part in nurturing a society that embraced a way of relating "that is not confrontational, but rather through which one believes that one may learn something from those with whom one disagrees".

The ceremony was aimed to honour "a few of the many committed individuals who strove for the sake of our country".

He paid special homage to those who were not given public recognition but "without whom a drop would have been missing in the ocean of our civilisation".

Prior to the ceremony, the President inspected a guard of honour during the annual ceremonial Republic Day parade, which, however, was cut short because of heavy rain.

The recipients

Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi
Mgr Cauchi was ordained priest in 1952 and consecrated bishop 38 years ago. He is one of the founder members of the Social Action Movement and a "moral advisor" to the Cana Movement.

He is also a renowned preacher and writer.

Ronald Gallimore
Mr Gallimore was EU ambassador in Malta until last January. He was closely associated with the process of negotiations for Malta's accession to the EU.

"He was undoubtedly instrumental in the successful outcome of these negotiations and, moreover, played a constructive and informative role prior to the democratic decision of the Maltese people in 2003 to accede to the EU in the following year," the official investiture ceremony programme said.

Athina Martinos
Mrs Martinos is very closely linked to the growth and development of the Maltese shipping register. She was among the first of the primary international ship owners to express and tangibly show confidence in the Malta flag and to remain loyal in spite of the attractions of other jurisdictions.

Anton AgiusMr Agius is one of Malta's leading sculptors. He has nurtured a technical ability to work in a variety of forms and materials on scales ranging from small images to public monuments.

He has participated in a number of exhibitions in Malta, London, Edinburgh, Italy and Lithuania and his works are to be found in private collections in many parts of the world.

Philip Farrugia Randon
A lawyer by profession, Dr Farrugia Randon is also an accomplished artist and author. For a number of years he was also a well-known producer and presenter of programmes on radio and television.

He has held a number of appointments in public and non-governmental organisations, including that of Public Broadcasting Services chairman, council member of the St John's Co Cathedral Foundation and president of the Cana Movement.

Charles Grech Orr
Mr Grech Orr, editor of The Times for 25 years until 1990, described the award yesterday as a "great honour". He said it was a "recognition and a sign of appreciation" of his work and achievements during his editorship.

A solicitor by profession, Mr Grech Orr started his journalistic career in 1947 at the age of 20. In the 1970s, when The Times building was burned and ransacked and the newspaper faced many trials and tribulations, he ensured that The Times did not miss a single publication.

He was in 1994 awarded the Malta Press Club Gold Award and has just published his memoirs - In the Editor's Chair.

Salv. J. Stellini
Ambassador Stellini was largely responsible for the successful outcome of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last month as chairman of the task force responsible for the organisation of the meeting.

Currently an advisor to the Foreign Affairs Minister and non-resident ambassador to Portugal, he is a career officer of the diplomatic service, which he joined in 1966.

Paul Xuereb
For over 40 years, Dr Xuereb provided a major contribution to the development of library science in Malta and distinguished himself in the area of culture.

He was founder chairman of the Printed Matter Appeals Board and also drama critic for The Sunday Times and is the author of various books.

Carmen Testa (in absentia)
Ms Testa is held as a shining example of selfless dedication to the Maltese migrant community of West Sunshine, Australia, in particular the women of that community.

She founded the Western Region Maltese Community Council Women's Group, an organisation dedicated to eliminating isolation among Maltese women in the western suburbs of Melbourne. In 1998, she received the Order of Australia medal.