On Republic Day each year,
the President, on behalf of the Government 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-Repubblika, or
by awarding them the Midalja għall-Qadi
tar-Repubblika.
Nationals of other countries may be conferred
with honorary membership of the Order or of the
Xirka or awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi
tar-Repubblika on
an honorary basis. In rarer cases the
Midalja għall-Qlubija
canbe
awarded, even posthumously, to a Maltese citizen
for an act of exceptional bravery.
This year's Investiture
Ceremony again took place at The Palace,
Valletta, on Saturday 13 December 2008,
immediately following the customary Ceremonial
Parade held at the Palace Square.
During the Ceremony, one
honorary member was appointed to the Xirka
Ġieħ ir-Repubblika, eight members were
appointed to The National Order of Merit
and eight members were awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi
tar-Repubblika.
The Investiture Ceremony was
the culmination of a process which started with
a public call for nominations issued in
September to which a number of citizens
responded by submitting their nomination.
A short biographical note on
each of the seventeen distinguished persons
honoured this year is attached.
