Former Central Bank Governor dies

Anthony Galdes, a former Governor of the Central Bank, died yesterday aged 74, after a lifelong commitment to the public service.

Mr Galdes was born in Valletta in 1931 and joined the civil service in 1949, serving in various departments but mostly at the Treasury and the Finance Ministry. He served on various government commissions and delegations and was involved in formulating government economic policy and Budget planning from 1969.

Between 1975 and 1979, Mr Galdes acted as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and was a member of the Education Commission and its standing committee. He was also responsible for the planning and introduction of the two-thirds pension scheme.

In 1987, Mr Galdes was appointed the first Maltese Governor of the Central Bank, a post he held for two consecutive three-year terms. During that period, he was also Malta's representative on the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and was responsible for preparatory work to set up the Malta Stock Exchange.

He was also a member of the Public Service Reform Commission of 1990 and of the constitutionally appointed Commission for the Administration of Justice.

Mr Galdes was awarded membership of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta in 1993.

In 1994, the then Prime Minister, Eddie Fenech Adami, had put forward Mr Galdes' name as a possible successor to President Censu Tabone, in what could have resulted in Malta's only second non-political presidential appointment, the first having been Sir Anthony Mamo in 1974. However, Parliament then decided to nominated Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.

In 1999, Mr Galdes was appointed chairman of the National Welfare Reform Commission, a position he held until he resigned in December 2001.

Despite his age and long career, Mr Galdes was not retired and served on the board of directors of Farsons - a position those he worked with would not have wanted him to give up, his daughter-in-law, Valerie Galdes, said, adding that she could not imagine him inactive.

Ms Galdes told The Times that, apart from being totally committed to the public service, he was a dedicated family man.

"Despite being busy, he was always there for us... for everybody really, because he always remained very humble."

Ms Galdes had known her father-in-law since 1983 and admired him also for the fact that when he was in a position to patronise the arts as Governor of the Central Bank, he did his utmost, promoting concerts and the publication of Melitensia.

"He held the arts very close to his heart; he loved books and music," Ms Galdes said.

His daughter-in-law described him as "highly intelligent, gentle and kind, and open to everyone".

Bryan Gera, chairman, and Louis Farrugia, group chief executive of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc said yesterday: "Anthony Galdes has served as vice chairman of the Board of Simonds Farsons Cisk plc for 10 years.

"He has been an invaluable member of the Board for 12 years. His vast contribution and good advice will be very sadly missed. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Joyce and his family."