From Mr M. Guillaumier

It was with great sadness and maybe a tinge of disbelief that we learnt of Mr Galea’s passing away last week. Perhaps because of Mr Galea’s long involvement with the Exchange and his continued interest in this institution, even after his official association had ended, it somehow never occurred to anyone of us that this moment would eventually come about.

Much has been written and said about the man, his contribution to the financial services sector in Malta, his philanthropic work, his exemplary dedication to his family. We can add our voice to this choir from the privileged position of having worked directly with him, being able to learn from and to rely on his extensive experience and wisdom when we needed it most.

Mr Galea’s relationship with the Exchange was indeed a long standing one, first as a member of the Committee set up to draft the legislation and regulations for the new Institution, and later on as a Member of the Council where he served as Deputy Chairman for a number of years. None of us who were involved at the time in setting up the Exchange can forget the endless hours of discussion, drafting of rules and testing of systems. In the middle of all the mayhem and the exhaustion, when even spirits started to flag, Mr Galea was always there, solid as a rock, steadfast and calm in his resolution, always positive, encouraging, and full of enthusiasm. Neither can we forget his pride in the Exchange. With every milestone achieved, with every new accomplishment, he was invariably there with a murmured word of praise.

Even when he was no longer involved in an official capacity with the Exchange, he was still there; a telephone call, a brief handwritten note – to us worth more that any other plaudit we could receive because we all knew it was sincere and came from the heart.

There is so much each one of us at the Exchange can recall about Mr Galea, how much he taught us, how much we valued his always considered opinion, but perhaps it is enough to say that it was an honour to have worked with him, a privilege to have known him.

Mark A Guillaumier

Chief Executive

on behalf of The Malta Stock Exchange