Both sides of the house this evening paid tribute to former minister and broadcaster Joe Grima, who passed away on 3 February. Mr Grima died just one day before reaching the age of 81.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Mr Grima was a freethinker, a man who was never afraid to speak his mind. “He was someone who made you listen to what he was saying.” Dr Muscat said Mr Grima had taken his World Tourism Organisation role very seriously, even if it was short lived. “I did not always agree with Joe, and I told him as such, but you always knew where you stood with him. He was a gentle gentleman and the PL will feel his loss,” the PM said.  

PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco recalled being invited on Joe Grima’s Net TV show. Many were shocked, he said, when the former PL minister started hosting a talk show on the PN’s TV station, but this happened at a time when the country was debating whether it should join the EU or not.

“Mr Grima made it clear that, as a social democrat he wanted to see the country join the EU. It shows how good it is to have politicians that are not the norm, that do not always toe the party line.”

Speaker Anglu Farrugia described Mr Grima as interesting and unique and character. “I learned something from our conversations.”