Former GRTU director Vince Farrugia dies, aged 77

Vince Farrugia, the former director-general of the Chamber for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, died today aged 77.

Farrugia was for long the director of the GRTU.

Tributes poured in as new of his death spread.

Mario Debono, who heads the pharmaceutical sector with the GRTU, paid tribute to Farrugia who he described as a “giant”.

“Words cannot describe the stature of this man amongst small and medium business owners. He was a mentor to many, a safe harbour for the many small businesses that sought his help, a consensus builder on many an agreement with governments, and someone who was never afraid of any challenge, even the most onerous,” he said.

Farrugia was born in Rabat in 1944. He obtained a diploma in business studies from MCAST and then entered the University of Malta from where he graduated BA (Hons) in economics in 1972.

Appointed university lecturer in economics in 1973, he served as a private industrial consultant between 1982 and 1984. He was also chief executive of the National Tourism Organisation of Malta between 1984 and 1986; chairman, Commission for Higher Education between 1986 and 1988; senior manager Malta Development Corporation; executive director at Bank of Valletta and Mid-Med Bank, and consultant to the Ministry of Education.

In 1994, he was appointed director-general of the GRTU.

In 2009, he contested the European Parliament elections for the Nationalist Party.

Source: Dictionary of Maltese Biographies: Michael J. Schiavone.