|
 Dr.
Borg Oliver was born in Valletta on the 5th July,
1911 and studied at the Lyceum and the R.U.M. from
where he graduated LL.D. in 1937. He received the
warrant of a Notary a year later.
Borg Olivier joined the Nationalist Party in 1939
and that that year up to 1945, he was one of the
Nationalist representatives elected to the Council
of Government. In 1947 he became deputy leader of
the party. That same year he became secretary of the
Party and editor of the Nationalist Party's
newspaper "Patria". In 1950 he was re-elected member
of the Legislative Assembly and held the post of
Minister of works and reconstruction, and later that
of minister of education in the nationalist minority
government led by Nerik Mizzi. He succeeded Mizzi as
prime minister and minister of Justice on the
latter's death on 20th December, 1950.
In 1951 Borg Oliver formed a coalition government
with the M.W.P. in which he served as prime minister
and minister for works and reconstruction. In 1952
he again formed a coalition government with M.W.P.
serving prime minister until 1955. He was leader of
the opposition in 1955-1958. In 1958 Dom Mintoff
resigned as prime minister but Borg Olivier declined
to form a government.
Under Borg Oliver the nationalist contested the 1962
elections with a program of full independence within
the Commonwealth. The NP won 25 seats and an
absolute majority in Parliament.
After a prolonged negotiations with the British
government and a referendum on a draft constitution,
Borg Oliver succeeded in achieving full independence
within the Commonwealth for Malta on 21 September
1964. He also signed agreement with the British
government about the defence of Malta and financial
aid from Britain. Malta joined the united nations,
the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth. In 1970
Borg Oliver associated Malta with the European
Economic Community.
After 1966 elections the NP was again returned in
power with Borg Oliver as prime minister and
minister of commonwealth and foreign affairs. In
1971 Dr. Borg Oliver lost the election and became
leader of the opposition a post he held till 1976,
when although he was successfully returned from two
districts, the PN failed to win the election.
In April 1977, after a brilliant career in Maltese
politics, Borg Olivier resigned the leadership of
the party and of the Opposition being succeeded by
Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami on April 11.
Borg Oliver married Alexandra Mattei in 1943 and had
one daughter, Angela, and two sons, Alexander and
Peter. He died at his residence in Sliema and was
given a state funeral. |
