Dolores Cristina was appointed Minister for Education
and Culture on the 12th March 2008, following
her election from the 9th and 10th Districts.
Her wide portfolio, in addition to education
and culture, includes public broadcasting services,
libraries, museums and national archives, arts,
youth and sport.
Her previous Ministerial appointment
during the Tenth Legislature was as Minister
for the Family
and Social Solidarity (from March 2004 to March
2008), with a portfolio covering social security
and social services, pensions, housing, equal
opportunities, children, family, voluntary organisations,
and welfare of irregular immigrants. From April
2003 to March 2004, she was appointed Parliamentary
Secretary within the then Ministry of Social
Policy, focusing on housing and gender equality.
In
April 1998, Mrs Cristina was elected Mayor of
Swieqi, a post of short duration as she was
subsequently elected to Parliament in the September
general elections of that same year, in a Casual
Election on the 10th District.
During the Ninth
Legislature (1998 – 2003),
Mrs Cristina chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the House of Representatives and was also
a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
From February 2002 to April 2003, she was Alternate
Member at the Convention on the Future of Europe.
Mrs
Cristina also held a number of political posts
within the Nationalist Party. Between 1997
and 1998, she was President of the Women’s
Movement (MNPN) and between 1998 and 2000 she
was President of the Administrative Council.
Mrs
Cristina has, over the years, been very active
in the voluntary sector. Posts she held include
that of President of the National Council of
Women (1991-1995).
She has also held posts within
the public sector and between 1992 and 1995
she was a board member
of the Public Broadcasting Services. From 1992
to 1994, she was a member on the Commission
for the International Year of the Family.
Mrs Cristina
was also a member of the Commission for the Administration
of Justice (1996–1998);
member of the Commission on Public Financing
of Political Parties (1996–1998); Council
member of the University of Malta (1994– 996);
a member of the Inter-Agency Forum on Violence
Against Women (1993–1994).
Mrs Cristina
graduated Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from the
Royal University of Malta in 1971. She
has held teaching posts in History and English
at Secondary and Post-Secondary levels.
Dolores
Cristina, the daughter of Michael Zammit and
Antonia nee' Gauci, was born in Senglea
on 10th January 1949. She is married to Victor
and
they have four children, Liliana, Marilena,
Alessandro and Anthony.
