An anchor of determination

Guido de Marco was laid to rest on Monday after having dedicated his life making this country a better place. Having worked for him for so many years, a thousand experiences passed through my mind. I can count my self lucky to have hundreds of memories of a man who never tired of doing his utmost to achieve the best for his country. He excelled in all he did and was always ready to do a bit more to achieve the best possible results. Undoubtedly, he will be remembered as the man that managed to secure membership of the European Union for Malta, a vision he had at heart.

One can rightfully say that he left Malta a better place.

For Prof. de Marco politics was a mission and he dedicated almost 50 years of his life fulfilling this mission both in Malta and abroad. Many have written their experiences with him over the past days and I think all agree that one would need to write whole volumes to exhaust all there is to be written about this great man.

He was a person that touched the hearts of many, a person that was never too busy to talk with his constituents, a man that never had too big a workload to give a good word of advice or to share in the grief and sorrow of those who sought him for consolation.

Politically, he was an anchor of determination; he filled his supporters with enthusiasm but was at the same time careful not to instill hatred in anyone. He urged one and all to use dialogue and reason instead of brute force, even in the darkest of times. In the 1970s and 1980s, the dark period when freedom and democracy were under threat, Prof. de Marco was indeed a shield, a bastion of courage and a champion of justice. He never compromised his ideals but, nevertheless, sought dialogue with his adversaries to find a way out of the cul-de-sac that Malta had found itself in at that time. His meetings with Dom Mintoff on the Constitution were fundamental and, had they not happened, Malta would be a very different country today.

Together with Eddie Fenech Adami he worked incessantly to obtain membership of the EU, he met all European leaders persuading them that Malta was a relevant country and that it would be an asset to Europe. He was never bothered about Malta’s size. On the contrary, he was convinced and, rightly so, that Europe needed Malta just as much as Malta needed Europe.

He had at heart the Mediterranean dimension of our country and carefully cultivated Malta’s relationship with our North African neighbours. Maybe his contribution for peace in the Middle East is not given enough credit but he certainly played an important role in bringing Israel and Palestine closer.

One of Prof. de Marco’s characteristics that touched me most was the fact that, even though he was a walking encyclopaedia, he always remained humble. The way he took the trouble to ask about the families of his staff, the importance he gave to social activities and the way he enjoyed spending time with the man in the street are indeed credentials of a great man. He was a man of the people and for the people; the way people came out of their homes to bid him their last goodbyes, especially in Valletta, his capital city, and Ħamrun, the town he lived in and loved so much, is evidence of this.

One cannot forget to mention the importance he gave to his lecturing time at the University, the joy he felt when he spoke and discussed criminal law and the dedication he had to instruct and help those who were under his tuition. Prof. de Marco was not only a brilliant lawyer but a person who thoroughly loved the law and the law courts and his contribution in this sector is one that certainly cannot be discounted.

He can be remembered as a brilliant lawyer and a great politician but I feel I must add how his term as President of the Republic helped to bring the Maltese closer together as one nation. He wanted everyone to benefit from the common wealth and was the kind of person that managed to do without partisan politics to help all those in need irrelevant of their political creed. Prof. de Marco always believed that Malta belonged to all the Maltese and his Presidency was living proof of this.

Politics apart, Prof. de Marco contributed in many other aspects of our lives, notably in being one of those who set up the Strickland Foundation, thus fulfilling the wishes of Mabel Strickland in founding an association that is very relevant today and promotes literature and journalism.

Like all common mortals, Prof. de Marco’s time on earth came to an end but his contribution to the Nationalist Party, to Malta and to the world will be forever remembered. Prof. de Marco has set an example to all politicians. His Presidency was one that united the whole nation and, for sure, as a man, he is an example of love, integrity, honesty and commitment. I, like many others, feel like I have lost a father, a mentor and a sincere friend.

Rest in peace Dott. You will live in my heart and in the heart of Malta forever.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.