Heard in the Hive

Michela Spiteri writes:

Anyone looking for a parking space in George Borg Olivier Avenue in Sliema last Thursday week would not have been short of expletives. For on April 15 at 8 p.m. 38 members of the Attorney-General's staff made their way to The Victoria Hotel to eat, drink and bid farewell to their long-time boss, Attorney-General Dr Anthony Borg Barthet, who was recently appointed to the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

After a few scrapes with the hotel garage, legal and clerical staff congregated in the hotel lobby and sipped on a delicious cocktail while waiting for the man of the hour to arrive. Arrive he did. At 9 his silver Accord (for those of you who didn't know, the Attorney-General has a weakness for Hondas) pulled up in front of the hotel's revolving door and Dr Borg Barthet and his wife Carmen made their entry.

By 9.15 everybody was seated (some more strategically than others) in the Copperfield Restaurant. And so began the five-course meal.

Those of you who know Dr Borg Barthet know that he can hardly be accused of being a man of few words. Au contraire (French - another of his weaknesses), he is a man of many words, a man who is never at a loss for words and a man who can joke his way into a conversation or out of one with incredible ease.

He is a man who has chosen to take everything with a pinch of salt and his unique way of approaching life has also found expression in his remarkable ability not to take himself seriously, which is uncommon in a man of his position, especially in a country like Malta. Dr Borg Barthet is a true gentleman in all the ways a gentleman should be.

Dr Borg Barthet joined the Attorney-General's office as Counsel to the Republic in December 1978 when Dr Edgar Mizzi was Attorney-General and when the office was Upstairs Downstairs in structure. With the arrival of Dr Silvio Camilleri in September, 1979, a close, almost symbiotic, relationship developed, which saw them through many an Attorney-General, not to mention trials by jury, appeals and applications (rikorsi).

Ten years and too many jokes later, on July 15, 1989, Dr Borg Barthet was appointed Attorney- General and so began another phase in his legal career. On Thursday Dr Borg Barthet will officially retire from his present position and embark on his new career in Luxembourg. He is expected to take his oath of office on May 11. Dr Silvio Camilleri will be Malta's next Attorney-General.

I am not sure whether it was before the dessert or just after the beef, shallots and juniper berries... but somewhere in between the five-course feast Dr Camilleri rose to the occasion (as he always does) and regaled us with one of his signature speeches.

He promised it would be like a ladies' dress - long enough to cover the main points but short enough to prove interesting. For those of you who don't know Dr Camilleri personally (and many of you probably don't) you ought to know that, despite his seemingly grim exterior, he is a teddy bear at heart.

He's like one of those fruity boiled sweets ... hard to crack but once you do, it's soft and gooey on the inside. And that, ladies and gentleman, is the truth. Dr Camilleri did a number on all of us and went down a rather long and winding memory lane.

He reminisced about the good old days when they were just starting out together and when he was often the butt of Dr Borg Barthet's jokes - which would not have been few or far between. He thanked Dr Borg Barthet for his invaluable work, his spirit of fun, his brilliant legal mind.

He said that he considered Dr Borg Barthet to be among the elite in the long line of Attorneys- General of Malta. He then went on to thank his wife, Carmen, for being behind him every step of the way. Behind him, by his side, one step ahead of him... we'd better list them all lest we offend someone in the process... and so he did.

Mrs Borg Barthet is an effervescent lady who makes fleeting appearances at the Attorney- General's office, usually when she is visiting the Community Chest Fund and helping out on her various committees. She has a spring in her step and a lightness of being reminiscent of Leslie Caron in The Glass Slipper.

Still reeling and tearful from Dr Camilleri's speech, Dr Borg Barthet took the floor and thanked Dr Camilleri and everybody else for their years of loyalty and service to the office. He noted that some of the members of staff had joined the office long before his arrival, others joined soon after and most joined more recently.

While some were his contemporaries, others were young enough to be his children. With that, Dr Borg Barthet ended his speech and was presented with a rare 18th century engraving from all the members of the AG staff. Mrs Borg Barthet was given a lovely bouquet.

While champagne glasses were raised in a toast, the flash of a camera went off in the distance. The evening drew to a close.

Dr Borg Barthet will definitely be missed. We hate to see him go but we must. The time has come to say farewell, good luck, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye!

US Naval chief visits Malta

US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vernon Clark made an official visit to Malta on Monday and Tuesday.

During his visit, Admiral Clark met with the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, and other members of the AFM. In addition to inspecting an AFM honour guard, Admiral Clark was given a demonstration of the P-51 Protector Class patrol boat that was donated to the AFM by the US Government in 2002.

He also visited the Malta Drydocks where he met with CEO Peter Moore and Malta Shipyards chairman John Cassar White.

During his visit Admiral Clark remarked that the US Navy holds the Malta Drydocks in high regard, and that since the US is the Malta Drydocks' biggest customer, the US Navy hopes to continue this mutually beneficial relationship.

Following a return to the AFM Maritime Squadron Base at Hay Wharf, and an exchange of gifts with Brigadier Vassallo, Admiral Clark hailed the excellent co-operation that the US Navy enjoys with the AFM.

While in Malta, Admiral Clark also met with Foreign Minister John Dalli.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Admiral Clark holds a Master's degree in Business Administration and has served in the US Navy for more than 35 years.

On July 21, 2000, Admiral Clark became the Navy's 27th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) - the senior military officer of the Department of the Navy, a four-star admiral, and responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command and operation of the Navy. A member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is the principal naval adviser to the President.

Poetry with flowers

An artistic floral art exhibition entitled "This is our life" was held last week at St Augustine's Recreation Centre, Valletta, by kind permission of the archpriest, Fr S. Grima.

The exhibition, organised by Mariuccia, Nadine and Glorian Micallef-Grimaud, official demonstrators of the UK National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS), was in preparation for the annual Spring Horticultural Show which will be held at San Anton Gardens on May 15 and 16.

The show will feature, among other exhibitors' work, flower arrangements by the Micallef-Grimaud students, who have been embellishing the garden's main lane for the past 24 years.

Winners of the Daily Mail Challenge Trophy for the 14th time, the Micallef-Grimaud ladies will also put on show their exhibits at San Anton Palace's Russian Chapel under the patronage of the President and Mrs Fenech Adami.

A meeting in true Rotarian spirit

A large group of Rotarians from Rotary Club Monforte Milano joined members of Rotary Club La Valette, Malta, for what turned out to be a very successful convivial evening on Thursday at the Victoria Hotel, Sliema. The contact person was Rotarian Antonio Marchetti.

Milano Monforte's president, Rotarian Paolo Morelli, explained that his club decided to visit as many as possible of the countries joining the EU this year. He had been in Malta as adviser to the Malta Standards Authority and so admired our islands that he wished to show them to his friends in Rotary.

Rotarian Patricia Salomone, president RC La Valette, Malta, in welcoming so many Italian friends, said that Malta had put on its most splendid weather to greet them.

The evening began with a very interesting presentation by Rotarian Past Assistant Governor William J. Caruana, who gave an illustrated talk on his adventurous Classic Car Rallies, the Peking-Paris in 1997 and the Inca Trail in 2001. The speaker explained that he hoped, during his next rally, to collect money for the Malta Rotary Clubs' charities.

This entertaining and humorous presentation was followed by a delicious meal during which the Rotarians from Milan and Malta were also joined by Rotarians from the Scilly Isles, England and Holland.

The two club presidents exchanged club banners and while the Maltese wished that the guests would enjoy their brief stay in our islands to the full, they were in turn kindly invited to visit Milan in the light of the beautiful friendship that Rotary promotes!

For your diary

The Dorthean ex-Alumni Association is organising a pilgrimage to the church of Our Lady in Bahar ic-Caghaq, on Tuesday. Mass will be said at 4 p.m. followed by high tea at the Sol Suncrest Hotel, Qawra. For bookings phone 2137-1024, 2138-1450 or 2133-1223.

A Coffee morning and tombola in aid of the Salesians is being held at the Salesian Oratory, Sliema, on Wednesday at 9.30 a.m. Tickets are available from Fr Forte and Yvonne Camilleri (tel. 2133-1447 or 2133-4253).

The Little Sisters of the Poor are organising a fund-raising bazaar at St Paul's Home in Hamrun on Wednesday and Thursday from 8.30 a.m. to noon and from 1.30 to 6 p.m.

The Maltese-Australian Association is organising a lunch to mark Anzac/ Mother's Day at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on Sunday at 12.30 p.m. For bookings phone Nick Bonello on 2148-6241, Tammy Cilia on 2157-7545, Victor Borg on 2144-0807, Paul Mamo on 2131-5191 or Marlene Xerri on 2137-6276, by Wednesday.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - April 26-May 2

Tomorrow
10.15 a.m. The President receives Tunisian Ambassador Nacuer Mestiri, at the Palace, Valletta.

11 The President is presented with a copy of the publication entitled Malta. Una Storia Linguistica by Professor Joseph M. Brincat.

11.30 The President receives British Council director-general David Green accompanied by British High Commissioner Vincent Fean.

Noon The President is presented with a copy of The Malta Year Book 2004 by Br Martin Borg and Major Stanley Clews.

12.20 p.m. The President is interviewed by Mario Micallef for RTK Radio.

12.45 The President receives Ronald Gallimore, head of the Delegation of the European Communities.

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President receives Gert Hof, light monument artistic director, at the Palace, Valletta.

10.45 The President receives the president and committee members of the Republic Street Community Association.

11.15 The President receives the president and committee members of Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl.

12.15 p.m. The President is interviewed by French journalists.

8 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a vocal and instrumental concert with the participation of the National Orchestra conducted by Mro Brian Schembri with the participation of tenor Joseph Calleja at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta.

Wednesday
1 p.m. The President hosts a luncheon in honour of the presidents and officials of the General Workers Union, Confederation of Maltese Trade Unions and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin on the occasion of Workers' Day at San Anton Palace.

6.30 The President presides over a meeting of the Commission for the Administration of Justice at the Palace, Valletta.

Thursday
10 a.m. The President is presented with credentials by Portuguese Ambassador Maria do Cormo Allegro de Magalhaes, at the Palace, Valletta.

10.40 The President receives Dr Noel Buttigieg Scicluna, ambassador of Malta to Hungary.

11.15 The President is presented with credentials by Branko Lukovac, ambassador of Serbia and Montenegro.

Noon The President receives David Manson, secretary-general of the International Duke of Edinburgh Award.

1.15 for 1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host an official luncheon in honour of the newly accredited ambassadors of Portugal and Serbia and Montenegro at San Anton Palace.

8.15 The President presides over the presentation ceremony of the NSTF Mini European Assembly at the Palace, Valletta.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives Attorney-General Dr Anthony Borg Barthet on a farewell call at the Palace, Valletta.

10.30 The President receives Belgian ambassador John F. Willems on a farewell call.

11.15 The President receives Police Commissioner John Rizzo on a courtesy call.

Noon The President receives the Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi.

7.45 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the Ambassador of the Netherlands and Mrs Wilton on the occasion of the National Day of the Netherlands at their residence in Ta' Xbiex.

10.45 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi on the occasion of Malta's accession in the European Union at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta.

Saturday
10.30 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a Pontifical Mass on the occasion of Malta's accession to the European Union at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.

6 p.m. The President is interviewed by RAI News 24.

Sunday
10 a.m. The President inaugurates the European Village on St George's Square, Valletta.

11.30 The President views a march past and is accorded a salute by the Scout Association of Malta during their annual rally at St George's Square, Valletta.