142 members of the Armed Forces of Malta were given recognition for their long and efficient service in the Army.
In a ceremony held at the Barracks of the Armed Forces of Malta, the Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality, Byron Camilleri, together with the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Brigadier Clinton J O’Neill, awarded several medals to those members and former members of the Army who served 18 years, 25 years or 30 years of service.
Minister Camilleri said that the medal they were given is only a symbol of the knowledge of the sacrifices they have made and are making in their career in the Army. He added that the government is recognizing the commitment, sacrifice and dedication of soldiers and members of all disciplined bodies. He said that in fact an investment of more than €15 million has been made per year over a period of five years so that the members of the Disciplined Bodies can enjoy sectoral and collective agreements. He said that as much as ten years ago, the soldiers were forgotten both when it comes to investment and even in salaries.
“As recently as two weeks ago we continued with the series of continuous investment in the members of the disciplined bodies. You were duly given the right to trade union representation which later led us to the first collective agreement that improved your rights and conditions, while in the last weeks another agreement was reached to make an investment of more than €2 million over a range of two years for financial compensation for the extra duties you do”, concluded Minister Camilleri.
Commander in-Chief Clinton J O’Neill said that this is not a collective honor but an honor that each member has worked for and these years of service have shaped them into more mature people and undoubtedly endowed with more wisdom.
“When you sit and think a little, you know that the path to this moment was not an easy one. Our work is delicate and requires determination, dedication and sacrifices in order to be carried out efficiently. You should really feel satisfied with what you managed to achieve. Not everyone wears this medal”, concluded Brigadier Clinton J O’Neill.
