The F.O.I. was shocked to learn of the sudden death, last Wednesday, of Alfred Buhagiar, president of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU), and wants to express publicly its solidarity with his family in such a difficult moment, as well as with the union he served so steadfastly to the very end.

The FOI moreover wants to pay tribute to this exceptional leader within the trade union movement, who showed by his example the way forward to other opinion formers in the country, earning the respect of the FOI and other representative organisations in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

Mr Buhagiar, a teacher by profession, was a man of principle, who lived and died in the service of his fellow workers. He was known to be a morally correct person at all times, serving loyally the Malta Union of Teachers as president for 22 years; and in latter years heading the CMTU with the same commitment, enthusiasm and loyalty.

Mr Buhagiar continued to do this selflessly for a number of years beyond the age of retirement until the very day of his death.