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4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 DECEMBER 2022 4 NEWS FORMER Nationalist MP Rob- ert Arrigo was posthumously awarded the medal for service to the Republic during the Republic Day investiture ceremony in Val- letta. Arrigo, who died earlier this year, was awarded the medal for his lifelong work in the tourism sector, his contribution to sport as Sliema Wanderers president, and his contribution to politics as Sliema mayor and later an MP. Former MPs Dolores Cristina and Alex Sceberras Trigona were made companions of the Nation- al Order of Merit. On Republic Day each year, the President, on behalf of the Gov- ernment and people of Malta, pays public tribute to a number of Maltese citizens who distinguish themselves in different fields of endeavour, by appointing them to The National Order of Merit or to the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubbli- ka, or by awarding them the Mi- dalja għall-Qlubija or the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika. This year's investiture cere- mony took place at The Palace, Valletta, following the customary ceremonial parade held at Palace Square and the President's ad- dress. The President appointed seven members to The National Order of Merit and 10 other individ- uals were awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika. NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT Companion Dolores Cristina: She was born in Senglea in 1949. She is a for- mer MP who served in several ministerial positions under Na- tionalist governments. Cristina graduated from the RUM (Royal University of Malta) with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree and held teaching posts in History and English at Secondary and Post-Secondary levels. Be- tween 1991 and 1995, she held the post of President of the Na- tional Council of Women, with a strong involvement in the vol- untary sector. She was also Presi- dent of the Women's Section and President of the Administrative Council of the Nationalist Party. In 1996, she contested the Gen- eral Election unsuccessfully and in 1998 briefly served as Swieqi mayor until she was elected to parliament in the same year from the 10th District. During the leg- islature, she occupied the post of Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. She was re-elected to Parliament from the 9th Dis- trict in the 2003 general election and became parliamentary secre- tary within the social policy min- istry. In 2004, she was appointed minister for the family and social solidarity. In 2008, elected from both the 9th and 10th districts, Cristina was appointed education minister. In 2013, she was appointed Act- ing President, a post she occupied until 2022. Alex Sceberras Trigona: He is a former Labour MP and served as foreign minister between 1981 and 1987. He was also special envoy of prime ministers Dom Mintoff, Joseph Muscat and Rob- ert Abela. He obtained his Law Doctorate in 1973 with a thesis on 'Consti- tutional Change and the Maltese Constitution' followed as to form and substance in introducing Malta's 1974 Republican Consti- tution. He is a Rhodes Scholar, practic- es law as a notary and is Malta's Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. He is an arbiter on the International Commercial Arbitration Centre, Scientific Council member of the Europe- an Foundation for Progressive Studies (FEPS); a senior fellow and co-founder of DiploFounda- tion; a senior visiting lecturer in diplomacy at the University of Malta and at the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC). As foreign minister, he lobbied for, won and managed Malta's first ever term (1983-1984) on the United Nations Security Council. He negotiated Malta's neutrality agreements with Italy, France, Libya, Algeria, the Soviet Union and the United States of America. Officer Carmel Borg: An associate pro- fessor in the Department of Ed- ucation Studies, at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Borg is a former Head of Depart- ment and ex-Dean of the Faculty of Education. He lectures in so- ciology of education, curriculum theory, development and design; critical pedagogy; adult education for community development; and parental involvement in ed- ucation. He is an academic with a strong presence in the public sphere, both locally and interna- tionally. His professional work and his social activism focus on the intersection of education, de- mocracy and social justice. His three-decade struggle for equity in education has reached all corners of the world, with frequent keynote speeches, hon- orary visiting professorships, a string of collaborative research projects, and community-based initiatives. Michael Camilleri: He is a physician and scientist who has pioneered mechanistic studies of gastrointestinal functions in health and disease in human sub- jects during his entire career. He has developed innovative techniques and has devoted his clinical activity in Malta to estab- lishing regular upper gastrointes- tinal endoscopy and colonoscopy services and other specialised therapy that brought substantive advances in the diagnosis and treatment of diverse gastrointes- tinal and liver diseases in Malta. Prof. Camilleri was recently ranked by Experts Cape News as the best in the world in gastroin- testinal motility, based on his im- pact on the field. He is currently a consultant and holds an endowed chair as Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA. Salvina Zrinzo: Born in Gozo in 1962, she studied medicine at the University of Malta and, be- tween 1987 and 1994 obtained her training in general and breast radiology at Stadtklinikum Nürn- berg in Germany. She returned to Malta in 1994 and started working as a radiolo- gist at St Luke's Hospital. She was appointed consultant radiologist in 1999 and was Chairperson of the Medical Imaging Department at Mater Dei Hospital between 2011 and 2018. Her main clinical interest has al- ways been breast imaging, includ- ing mammography, ultrasound, MRI as well as image-guided biopsies and localisations. Dr Zrinzo was instrumental in set- ting up the Malta National Breast Screening Programme, which has been in place since 2009. She is the first radiologist in Malta who obtained the EDBI diploma (the European specialist Diploma in Breast Imaging) and is part of the team who runs the breast screen- ing and symptomatic breast ser- vices in Malta. Member Alfred Camilleri Cauchi: He was born in 1943 in Victoria, Gozo. He received his education at St Edward's College and the Malta School of Art. Camilleri Cauchi then furthered his studies at the College of Arts in Edin- burgh, Scotland. He is the author of several papier-mâché, bronze, wood, limestone and marble masterpieces found in Malta and around the globe. Various local parish church- es boast of his works, including Good Friday statues and altar or ceiling decorations. He is the author of many titular statues, mainly Christ the King, Saint Mary's Queenship, Saint Augus- tine and Saint George Preca. Archibald Mizzi: Maestro Archibald Mizzi was born in Qormi in 1952. He is a well- known icon in the classical mu- sic industry and local band clubs. Mro Mizzi started his first musi- cal lessons on the E-flat clarinet at St George's Band Club and pursued piano lessons with the Republic Day honours: Robert Arrigo's service to sport, politics and tourism recognised President George Vella has appointed seven members to the National Order of Merit and awarded the medal for service to the Republic to 10 other people