SIR Miles Walker is this year's recipient of the Libertarian Award from the Liberal Vannin Party.
He was handed the award by Party Leader Peter Karran MHK at the party's annual general meeting and conference at the Old Friends' Club, Douglas, yesterday (Sunday).
Onchan MHK Mr Karran explained why Sir Miles, who served as the Island's first ever Chief Minister from 1986 to 1996, has received the accolade.
He said: "This award is not about the Liberal Vannin Party but about the core principles of libertarianism.
"The Isle of Man hasn't had a particularly proud record in the past as far as human rights are concerned and for standing up for minorities with the Island.
"The whole principle of this award is to award someone who stands up for the principles of fairness, justice and egalitarianism through an organisation or a section of society.
"Sir Miles Walker is well entitled to our support and admiration as far as his stance as former Chief Minister to bring about the situation where the individual could petition the European Court of Human Rights. A right that had been withdrawn by the Island some years before.
"As a young MHK I understood the pressures that we were all under as far as the legalisation of homosexuality is concerned and to stand up for this minority within our society was exemplary.
"His stand not only helped to mend the bad publicity and perception outside the Island as far as our record on human rights and other issues.
"But it also helped to bring about the broadening of the economic base of this Island which must be the number one priority, to make sure that we protect the social and economic benefits that we have seen in the last 25 years in our small nation and the Libertarian Award is not something that should be seen as a Party Political Award, it should be above that and it should be for the principles of libertarianism.
"Whilst politically we may not agree on a number of issues, the issue here is that Sir Miles Walker is well deserving of such an accolade and I believe that it is important that Liberal Vannin, even in this year of a general election, should not be doing things just to be popular.
"Everybody should be valued in our society from all walks of life, creeds, races and sexuality.
"We are still losing far too many individuals who cannot cope with the prejudices of our society and we must do something about it.
"I hope that we can broaden this award so that we can come up with an Electoral College that represents a cross-section of people who are worthy of praise. People who are worthy of such an award.
"Libertarianism is about accessibility, it's about all the things that we have fought for over the last 25 years, to try and destroy the old, nepotistic and sycophantic systems that were far too often allowed to flourish in the Isle of Man.
"I think it's long overdue that we do recognise Sir Miles Walker for his stance and the support of his family on such an important, fundamental principle that will protect future minorities from abuse."
