Mr Calleja's former colleagues at the Third Country Nationals Unit
within the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security Anna Catania, Sonia Haber, Margaret Barahmandpour, Stephanie Cutajar and Marion Aquilina write:

We were devastated to learn of Darren Calleja’s passing away. For three years we worked in the same room and as his colleagues we want to say how much we treasured working with him. He was very dear to us and we genuinely cared for him.

He was highly educated, talented and a person of culture. He was very good at his work and he made sure he never left any work pending. He had perfect English and it showed. He was also very gentle to migrants when they came to the office for assistance.

Darren loved music in every genre, whether it was rock or opera, he enjoyed it.

He was a dreamer and a free spirit. He was such a selfless person, always thinking of helping others. It was very evident that he was a spiritual person, always seeking the truth about himself and God.

Darren dreamed of travelling, yet he was very much rooted to Malta and to his family. Actually he was one of a kind, and we must say that we loved our long discussions on life and the way he used to encourage us fellow colleagues – more than anything else ‘friends’ in the true sense of the word.  He shared his expectations for the future and he had started projects which will now be left unfinished.

We awaited him to come back to work with us, and we would have welcomed him with open arms.  However, that was not to be.  We were so happy when Darren came to visit us at the office and we were all looking forward to other visits. 

He had an amusing type of sense of humour and we loved it. He was a lovely person to work with and we are going to miss him. He had a loving family and he often spoke of them and of how much they meant to him.

We still care for him and he will always be in our hearts. Now he is in a place where no one can harm him anymore.  So until we meet again

Rest in peace Darren. For sure we will never forget you.