On 20 January, the political side of my brain will heave a sigh of sorrow when Barack Obama departs from the White House. Over the last eight years, Mr Obama gave hope and stability to the world... yes, hope and stability. He grew up in an unstable environment with a single mother, aided by two loving grandparents, but achieved greatness in adulthood and a family life that has served as an example to other leaders and married couples across the globe.

Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have clear love, respect and affection for each other, and they adore and care for their children. Whatever scars his childhood left, Mr Obama refused to let those scars control him. The President's good example in leadership skills offered something no other public figure could dream of. His early personal accomplishments: a prestigious law degree, a strong professional career and a modicum of fame as an accomplished writer, Mr Obama's public life showed the world that we need not be defeated by the plague of terrorism engulfing Europe and elsewhere in the world if we remain united.

I sincerely hope that when historians get together to assess President Obama's record of protecting America's public funds from disastrous commercial development – its national monuments, parks, forests, wilderness and wildlife – they will rank him high on the list of luminaries that include Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Barack Obama is an admirable man. The world is going to miss him. His exemplary behaviour in office, his leadership style, his skills and profound knowledge must never ever be forgotten. I too am going to miss him and the good example he set for other world leaders to follow.

 

Jos Edmond Zarb

Birkirkara