Wistin Abela

The Honourable Wistin Abela MP
Deputy Prime Minister of Malta
In office 1981–1983
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Personal details
Born	(1933-10-19)19 October 1933 Żejtun, Malta
Died	20 January 2014(2014-01-20) (aged 80) Żejtun, Malta
Political party	Labour Party
Spouse	Catherine Abela
Children	3 (Carmelina, Marjohn, Lycia)

Wistin Abela (19 October 1933 – 20 January 2014) was a Maltese politician. He was the Finance Minister from 1983 to 1987, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Malta from 1981 to 1983. [1][2][3]

Biography

Wistin Abela was involved in the Labour party since 1959, and became the president of a district's committee in 1961. He was also a mathematics teacher.[2]

Wistin Abela served in the Parliament of Malta from 1966 to 1996, representing Zejtun. During his tenure, he worked on the creation of Air Malta, the transition to color of TV station Xandir Malta, the Malta Shipbuilding.[4] He was part of the delegation representing Malta on the country's first participation to the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1973.[5]

Wistin Abela served as Parliamentary secretary for finance under Prime Minister Dom Mintoff from 1971 to 1974, Minister for development from 1974 to 1976, Minister of energy, ports, and telecommunications starting in 1976, and as deputy leader of the Labour Party and deputy prime minister between 1981 and 1982.[4][2] He had initially run for deputy leader in 1976 but had lost against Joseph Cassar.^[citation needed]

Other tenures

• Since 1983: Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Malta[6]

Prizes

• 1997: Companion of the National Order of Merit of Malta[7]

Personal life

Wistin Abela was married to Catherine Abela. They had 3 children.[2]

References

1. Europa Publications Limited (1990). The International Who's who: 1990-91. Europa Publications Limited. ISBN 9780946653584. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
2. "Wistin Abela, former Labour minister, passes away". maltatoday.com.mt. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
3. "Announcements: Obituary: Abela". timesofmalta.com. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
4. Former minister Wistin Abela passes away, Timesofmalta.com, 20 January 2014
5. Charles Meilaq, First conference of the Non-Aligned Movement held 50 years ago today, Timesofmalta.com, 1 September 2011
6. 1983 Anuual meetings of the boards of governors, Worldbank.org, 30 September 1983
7. Past recipients of Maltese Honours and Awards and date of conferment, Opm.gov.mt

External links

• Official biography (in Maltese)