It is still with disbelief that I find myself writing these few words to pay a very well deserved tribute to Cristina Parlato Trigona – a dear friend and colleague.  Although the news regarding her health over the last few months was discouraging, at the office, we willed ourselves to pray and hope that Cristina will be back with us sooner rather than later. Unfortunately this was not to be but Cristina will always remain in our hearts and minds. We shall miss her occasional and uncharacteristically loud peal of laughter whenever someone walked into her office with an amusing anecdote.  

Cristina was first and foremost a mother and a wife. Her daughters and her husband Jean Pierre held pride of place in her heart. Often, perhaps before an internal meeting, she would proudly show us photos of her daughters growing up into two lovely girls and would express her gratitude to her husband for all the support he gave her. 

As a director at the Malta Financial Securities Authority, Cristina will always be remembered for her calm and reassuring disposition even when under pressure.  She carried out her duties with a sense of loyalty and fairness and took, at times, very difficult decisions with the serenity of a person who had painstakingly and thoroughly examined and considered all the relevant circumstances. Yet, despite her successful career, Cristina retained a great sense of humility and was always ready to lend an ear to everyone while doing her utmost to help in any way she could. Indeed, the priest who celebrated her farewell Mass could not describe Cristina better –“a lady with a listening heart”.

It is an honour to have had Cristina both as a director, offering her knowledgeable guidance and support whenever necessary, and as a friend with whom to share life’s more mundane matters.

On behalf of all my colleagues at the Malta Financial Services Authority I would like to convey our deepest condolences to her husband and her daughters, Cristina’s parents, and her sister. 

Dr Sarah Pulis