Parliament yesterday paid tribute to the late President Emeritus Ċensu Tabone with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi describing him as a person who proved himself as a unifying factor of the country even though he himself had doubts of achieving this when he assumed presidential office.
Within the Nationalist Party he was the “leader of the opposition” on the EU issue
Dr Gonzi compared Dr Tabone to a diamond with glittering faces adding that he was a gentleman and a role model for all Maltese.
To a Strangers Gallery packed by members of his family led by his surviving spouse Maria, Dr Gonzi commemorated Dr Tabone as the family man, the world-renowned eye specialist, the politician, the President of Malta and the old-age pensioner.
Dr Gonzi said that Dr Tabone was at the centre of the professional, social and political life of the country for a long number of years. He believed strongly in the competences of the Maltese and was proud of everything Maltese.
Within the Nationalist Party he was the “leader of the opposition” on the EU issue because he wanted to ensure that membership would not tarnish the country’s identity. He was a professional colossus, determining the country’s future through his altruistic sense of service.
The Prime Minister said Dr Tabone believed strongly in family values which were a beackon throughout his life. He cherished his family and dedicated all his life to it.
Dr Gonzi said that Dr Tabone remained relevant for the future in a world which faced the danger of losing the most important things in life.
As an eye specialist, Dr Tabone was the first expert sent by the World Health Organisation to treat trachoma and eradicate the disease in some of the poorest countries in the world.
As a seasoned politician, Dr Tabone professed strongly his Democratic Christian values while respecting his political opponents. His dedication of being of service to others led him to enter politics when he was already 50. He militated in the Nationalist Party because he strongly believed in the nation. One of his characteristics was that he found it difficult to tolerate those who did not believe in the abilities of the Maltese.
As Minister for Employment in the 1966 legislature, Dr Tabone was instrumental in introducing legislation which laid down that two per cent of employees in any place of work had to be disabled persons.
Dr Gonzi said that this legislative measure was considered revolutionary at the time and showed respect to human dignity irrespective of the disability that a person suffered. Malta should be proud of being among the first countries to introduce this measure.
Dr Tabone also served as Foreign Minister from 1987 to 1989 when he was appointed President of Malta, succeeding Acting President Paul Xuereb.
Dr Gonzi said he was proud of being the person – as Speaker of the House of Representatives – who gave the oath of the Presidential office to Dr Tabone in 1989. During his first days in office, Dr Tabone was very anxious to bring national reconciliation in view of the political difficulties surrounding his appointment. He proved that he was a unifying factor and at the end of his term as President was given thanks and appreciated by the political spectrum.
As President he showed that politics meant giving a service to the country and helping it to move forward.
Concluding, Dr Gonzi thanked the Tabone family for sharing their father with the country.