Members of Parliament from both sides of the House paid tribute to Dr Paul Chetcuti Caruana on Monday, who passed away on 14 January at the age of 77, remembering him as a dedicated physician, public servant and community figure who served generations of families.

Speaking in Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg conveyed the government’s condolences to Chetcuti Caruana’s family, describing him first and foremost as a doctor who cared for hundreds, if not thousands of families, particularly in Mosta and its surrounding areas.

Borg said he came to know Chetcuti Caruana during the later stages of his public and political life, when he successfully contested local council elections and later went on to serve as Mayor of his hometown, Mosta, in 2007.

Borg spoke of Chetcuti Caruana’s earlier political role as a Labour MP between 1976 and 1981, and noted the deep sense of loss expressed by members of the Mosta community following his death.

“He is not only mourned by his family, but also by many patients and families who relied on him over the years,” Borg said, adding that the government saluted his memory and thanked him for his service.

He extended condolences to Chetcuti Caruana’s wife and their three children.

Opposition Leader Alex Borg also paid tribute, saying that Parliament was marking the passing of a man who chose a life of service through his medical vocation.

Borg described Chetcuti Caruana as part of a generation that lived through difficult moments in Malta’s history and faced them with courage.

Referring to periods of industrial unrest, including the infamous doctors’ strikes, Borg recalled how Chetcuti Caruana had lived through times marked by political tension and violence, including the letter-bomb era that culminated in the killing of Karin Grech.

Chetcuti Caruana was widely known for having survived one of the most notorious incidents during the doctors' strike of 1977, when he received a letter bomb that, by chance, failed to explode.

Borg spoke of the importance of safeguarding the common good and rejecting violence, saying such moments should remind the country of the need for mutual respect.

Borg also noted that Chetcuti Caruana had a public life beyond medicine, leaving behind what he described as an important chapter of service to the history of the nation.

He extended the Opposition’s sincere condolences to his family, relatives and friends.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia shared personal memories of Chetcuti Caruana, recalling first meeting him in 1974 during activities of the Socialist youth movement, at a time when Chetcuti Caruana was already practising as a doctor.

Farrugia recalled how Chetcuti Caruana had spoken during a youth conference about his intention to contribute to the general election, eventually being elected to Parliament.

He described him as a person who firmly believed in what he was doing, someone who could argue passionately but always acted in a genuine manner, without hidden agendas.

Farrugia spoke of Chetcuti Caruana’s determination as a doctor and his popularity beyond Mosta, recalling how he continued working despite being targeted during the period of the letter bombs and doctors’ strikes.

Farrugia also referred to Chetcuti Caruana’s later political career, noting the trust placed in him by voters when he was elected Mayor in 2007.

“When you read his speeches, you realise he had foresight, even without knowing it at the time,” Farrugia said, referring to positions he had taken on issues that later proved significant for Malta.

Farrugia concluded by saying that Chetcuti Caruana always placed his profession and his family at the centre of his life, and joined both government and Opposition MPs in conveying their condolences to the Chetcuti Caruana family.