07-Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier

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1911 – 1980

PRIME MINISTER OF MALTA  (1950-1955, 1962-1971)

Dr. G. Borg Olivier, was born in Valletta on the 5th July, 1911. He was educated at the Lyceum, Malta, and the Royal University of Malta. He graduated Doctor of Laws in 1937.

In 1939 he was elected to the Council of Government. With the return of responsible Government in 1947 Dr. Borg Olivier was elected to the Legislative Assembly and was later Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

In 1950 he held the post of Minister of Works and Reconstruction and the post of Minister of Education in the Nationalist Minority Government led by Dr Enrico Mizzi. He succeeded Dr Mizzi as leader of the Nationalist Party, Prime Minster and Minister of Justice in a Minority Government on the latter’s death in December 1950.

After the general elections held in May 1951, Dr Borg Olivier formed a coalition Government with the Malta Workers Party. Dr Borg Olivier was Head of the new Government, he retained the Ministry of Works and Reconstruction.

He was again returned to office in 1953 and was Head of a Coalition Government with the Malta Workers Party until he was defeated in 1955. From 1955 to 1958 Dr Borg Olivier was leader of Opposition.

He led the Nationalist Party delegations in June and September 1955 for the Malta Round Table Conference and in November 1958 he led the Party delegation for talks in London about the restoration of self-government.

Following the February 1962 election, Dr Borg Olivier accepted to form a Government after obtaining important amendments to the Constitution. In addition to being Prime Minister, he assumed the portfolio of Minister of Economic Planning and Finance. In June he made a formal request for independence and in September of the same year he attended the Commonwealth Prime Ministers Meeting.

On the 13th July, 1963, Dr. Borg Olivier headed a Government delegation for the Malta Independence Conference at the end of which it was announced that Malta would become independent.

On 25th January, 1964, Dr. Borg Olivier was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope, by His Holiness Pope Paul VI.

After having had a series of talks with the British Government and after preparing a Constitution for an Independent Malta, which was endorsed by Parliament and approved by the people in a referendum held in February 1964, Dr. Gorg Borg Olivier set 21st September as Malta’s Independence Day.

On Independence Day the degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) was conferred on Dr. Borg Olivier by the Royal University of Malta.

In November 1964, he was received by His Holiness Pope Paul VI and made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX.

In March 1965, he became Minister of commonwealth and Foreign Affairs in addition to his duties as Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Planning and Finance.

In the General Elections held in March 1966, the Nationalist Party was again returned to power with Dr Borg Olivier as Prime Minister and Minister of Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs.

On the 14th June, 1968, Dr Borg Olivier was decorated with the Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Malta by the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitallier Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta .

Dr G. Borg Olivier married Alexandra Mattei in 1943. They had one daughter: Angela, and two sons: Alexander and Peter.

Dr Borg Olivier died on 29th October, 1980.  

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CABINET  December 1950  –  May 1951

Minister Ministry
Dr Gorg Borg Olivier Head of Ministry & Finance
Dr Fortunato Mizzi Justice
Dr G. Agius Muscat Health& Welfare
Dr J. Frendo Azopardi Education & Public Works
Dr Carmelo Caruana Commerce & Industry, Posts, Agriculture & Fisheries
Dr G.M. Camilleri Emigration & Labour

Note:  This was a minority government and an early election was called in May 1951

CABINET  May 1951  –  December 1953

Minister Ministry
Dr Gorg Borg Olivier Head of Ministry & Public Works
Dr J Frendo Azopardi Finance
Dr Guze’ Cassar Justice
Dr Pawlu Boffa Health & Social Services
Dr Fortunato Mizzi Education
Dr Carmelo Caruana Posts, Agriculture & Fisheries
Dr G.M. Camilleri Emigration & Labour
John Cole Industry & Commerce

Note:  Dr Fortunato Mizzi resigned in October 1952.  The Ministry of Education  was taken by Dr Carmelo Schembri.

Dr G.M. Camilleri resigned in September 1952.  He was replaced by Dr T Caruana Demajo.

In October 1953 Dr J Frendo Azopardi included the Ministry of Industry & Commerce to his existing portfolio of Ministry of Finance; Dr Antonio Paris was appointed Minister for Health & Social Services.    

CABINET   December 1953  –  March 1955

Minister Ministry
Dr Gorg Borg Olivier Head of Ministry & Public Works
Dr J Frendo Azopardi Finance
Dr Giovanni Felice Justice
Dr Pawlu Boffa Health & Social Services
Dr Antonio Paris Education
Dr Carmelo Caruana Posts, Agriculture & Fisheries
John Cole Emigration & Labour
Dr T Caruana Demajo Industry & Commerce

CABINET  March 1962  –  1966

Minister Ministry
Dr Gorg Borg Olivier Prime Minister, Finance & Economic Planning
Dr Giovanni Felice IndustryTourism
Dr Antonio Paris Education
Dr Carmelo Caruana Agriculture & Fisheries & Communications
Dr Tom Caruana Demajo Justice
Dr A Cachia Zammit LabourEmigration & Social Services
Dr Paolo Borg Olivier Health

CABINET  1966 – 1971

Minister Ministry
Dr Gorg Borg Olivier Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs & Commonwealth
Dr Giovanni Felice Finance, Customs & Ports
Dr Paolo Borg Olivier Education, Culture & Tourism
Not Guzi Spiteri Agriculture & Fisheries, Commerce & Industry
Dr Tom Caruana Demajo Justice, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs
Dr Censu Tabone Labour, Emigration & Social Services
Dr A Cachia Zammit Health
Dr Carmelo Caruana Public Works

 

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