MR. PAUL XUEREB: ACTING PRESIDENT OF MALTA (1987 - 1989)
Mr. Paul Xuereb was born in Rabat, Malta, on the 21st July,
1923, the son of Adeodate Xuereb, a teacher and playwright,
and Maria Dolores Busuttil.
Mr Xuereb first attended elementary school at Mdina, and
later had secondary education at St Aloysiuis College
Birkirkara, and at the Flores College, Valletta. Between 1946
and 1949, he studied at City Literary Institute and at Regent
Street Polytechnic in London, both extra-mural institutes of
the University if London, were he read journalism, Political
Economy and Political Science.
During the Second World War, between 1942 and 1944 Mr
Xuereb served as an anti-aircraft gunner, with the Royal Malta
Artillery, and between 1944 and 1946 he worked as a clerk at
the engineering Department of the then British Imperial
Dockyard. During this period Mr Xuereb distinguished himself
and was awarded the Africa Star, the War Medal and the Victory
Medal.
In 1946, he emigrated to England and took up work there as
Supervisor at the Accounts Department of Peter Robinson Ltd,
and later as a clerk with the Department of Inland Revenue. On
completion of Further studies in London, in 1950, Mr Xuereb
returned to Malta and took up the post of Managing Director of
Fardex Trade Development Company (Malta) Ltd. In 1958 he
joined the Department of Education as a visiting Master at the
Lyceum.
In 1959 Mr Xuereb gave up teaching to join the Freedom
Press as Literary Editor and Assistant Editor of the Malta
Labour Party organ "The Voice of Malta" until 1964
when he was appointed General Manager of the Party publishing
house. Paul Xuereb entered into politics in 1962, and
contested the general election of that year when he was
elected as Member of Parliament for the first time. He kept
his Parliamentary seat contesting the elections in 1966, 1971,
1976 and 1981.
In August, 1971 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary at
the Office of the Prime Minister, and in October 1971 was
given the Portfolio as Minister of Trade, Industry ,
Agriculture and Tourism. Mr Xuereb resigned from his seat at
the House of Representatives on the 27th April 1983, thus
vacating a seat into which was co-opted Dr. Karmenu Mifsud
Bonnici, the then Designate Leader of the Malta Labour Party.
On 15th July, 1986 Mr Xuereb was Chairman of the Mid-Med
Bank to take up the Chairmanship of the Investment Finance
Bank Limited, and of the Trade Licensing Board. He left this
latter position when he was nominated Chairman of the Malta
Development Corporation. At one time, Mr Xuereb was Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Investment Bank,
Chairman of Medigrain Limited, and of Medival Venture Capital
and Leasing Company Ltd, as well as Member of the Board of
Directors of Air Malta Company Ltd and of Mdina Weave, and
also member of the Disciplinary Board of the Malta Labour
Party.
Throughout the past 29 years, Paul Xuereb was appointed by
the Prime Minister as the Acting President of the Republic,
following the end of term of Office of the third President of
the Republic. Mr Xuereb took the Oath of Office on February
16th, 1987.
Mr Xuereb married Edwige Muscat, and had a daughter Maria.
Paul Xuereb was a well-established novelist, and short
story writer.
Publications:
Novels (Maltese) -
Il-Kaz tat-tfajla mahruqa (1966);
Is-Serqa ta' Nicolas Cotoner (1967);
Qtil f'San Pawl il-Bahar (1968);
Runduvu' (1971);
Meta... (1986), which won him the Malta Literary Award for
that year.
Historical Guide Books -
The Roman Villa in History;
Catacombs of Malta;
Gozo, a visit.
Other publications include a number of short stories in
English and Maltese amongst which "L-Ewropa tal-Llum".
"Zmienna", and "Fi Zmienna".
Publications in preparation - another collection of short
stories; two books for children; the first part of an
autobiography.
His pastimes were reading and walking. He died on September
6, 1994.
