Malta would soon face an attack on its family and values, which had already ruined other countries, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly, Mario Galea said.
Stopping short of mentioning the word divorce, Mr Galea said the older generation embraced values that withstood the test of time but, today, Malta faced “big challenges” where some people were ready to throw away these values to experiment with new ones. “Values which, most importantly, include the protection and strengthening of the Maltese family,” he said when speaking at the Elderly Person of the Year Award last night, pointing out he was talking about faith.
Although Mr Galea said he did not want to impose his opinion, he said the nation could not stick its head in the sand.
Everybody had to take important decisions, he added, and would have to choose to continue with the values that forefathers had left the island, always a main characteristic of Maltese. “Or else we can choose other modes of life that are being presented to us in nice, shiny wrapping paper, which, when opened and used, you notice that instead of building, they destroy,” he said, reminding his audience that such new ways of life were rejected by our forefathers because they were clever enough to distinguish right from wrong.
Mr Galea hoped today’s generation would also make this choice and so the next generation would inherit a strong country, like the one they got from the elderly people who were being rewarded.
John Debono was named the 2010 Elderly Person Of The Year for giving 15 voluntary working years of helping people in need.
The 67-year-old was founder of the Tereża Project of Appoġġ agency in 2003, which collects furniture for families in need, and continues his work in this project to this day.
He is also a reference point for professionals working in Appoġġ. Through his approachable nature, many people in need were introduced to the agency, which would have otherwise fallen through the safety net.
His work did not stop with Appoġġ and Mr Debono was also a member of the Diaconia Commission of Iklin and of the fundraising committee of the same locality.
Described as a humble man, Mr Debono’s satisfaction was evident by the smile on his face when his work helped a family sleep on a mattress for the first time.
The award giving ceremony was attended by President George Abela, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Archbishop Paul Cremona, President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami and members of Parliament.