Any government is capable of passing laws and taking administrative measures and undertaking public works and infrastructural projects.

But there are political decisions and attitudes which distinguish one political leader from another, because of his or her behaviour and attitude to fundamental issues. It all depends on one's faith, philosophy or ideology. Depending on one's belief, analysing the signs of the times, the political leader acts according to his political conscience.

President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, when elected Prime Minister in 1987, found a deeply divided country. If you attended a family celebration such as a wedding, even an outsider would notice that one group of guests were supporters of one party and the other group supported another party! It reminded one of how congregations sat in our churches in the past: the men sat on one side, the women on the other.

But in this case, the separation was not due to gender but to one´s political belief. This sad political behaviour now belongs to the past. But this didn´t happen by chance, but only because Dr Fenech Adami made political reconciliation a priority of his administration and worked hard to achieve it, even if supported by the prayers of many people of good will on both sides of the political divide.

Dr Fenech Adami did not find his task easy. He must have faced opposition even from within his party, especially from those who wanted to 'get even' for past injustices. To succeed, this reconciliation effort needed a determined politician who, against all odds, kept insisting with his party and to the country that common political sense will prevail in the end, and the country will reap the fruits. And Dr Fenech Adami's persistence succeeded.

Dr Fenech Adami will be remembered for other political achievments. But what really distinguished him, to my mind, is this extraordinary service which he gave to his country. And because of this, he deserved to be chosen as his country's President.

I wish Eddie and his supportive and exemplary wife Mary good health.