The House on Monday paid tribute to former Nationalist Minister Michael Refalo, who passed away on February 3, aged 78.

On behalf of the government, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said they contested the same district so he felt a particular affinity for Dr Refalo, paying tribute to the long years of service which he gave the country as a doctor, editor, politician and later as Malta’s High Commissioner in London.

His translation of Herbert Ganado’s Rajt Malta Tinbidel (under the title of My Century) was also very significant.

Dr Refalo’s sense of humour was one of the traits he liked best about him. When he first began doing house visits, Dr Refalo had advised him not to drink every tot of whisky offered but to make sure he sat next to some plants and pour the whisky there instead.

“But then you have to be careful not to get a reputation for killing people’s house plants,” he had told him.

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil described Dr Refalo’s 32-year political career starting from his student days until he became a minister and later a diplomat.

He was an MP during Malta’s most difficult political history and was an editor when journalism was going through challenging times.

Dr Refalo laid the foundations for the tourism industry and had always emphasised that tourism should not eradicate the country’s natural resources. Scientific management through research and development were highlights of his tenure as minister.

He also used to stress the need for an increase in off-peak tourism and was a pioneer of language schools.

Dr Refalo was a gentleman with a refined intellect and great wit.

Dr Busuttil thanked the Refalo family for sharing Michael with the country, to which he had given such great service.

Expressing his condolences to the family, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said Dr Refalo was a gentleman loved by everyone.