He was a principled socialist leader who never sold out on his principles for the development of Malta.
He also stood up to the imperial might of the US and Britain by closing down Royal Navy bases and refusing to integrate Malta into Nato or the EEC.
It was also rumoured that he warned Colonel Gadaffi of the impending US air raid on Tripoli in April 1986, enabling the Libyan leader to evacuate his residence and saving his and his family's lives.
Malta has lost a leader who put his people before profit.