During the recently held Quadrennial General Conference of the GWU Pensioners’ Association, Pawlu Bugeja was officially appointed as the new Secretary of the Association. A new executive committee was also elected to serve a four-year term.
The conference opened with a minute of silence in memory of members who passed away in recent years. This was followed by a speech from Association President Lino Debono, after which the members unanimously approved both the administrative and financial reports.
In his closing address, GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja reflected on the challenges of the past four years, particularly the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He acknowledged, “Thanks to everyone, we got through that period. Pensioners are among the most vulnerable and required greater care.”
Bugeja emphasized the Association’s work across two levels:
Assisting pensioners with personal issues.
Presenting proposals to government authorities and ministries, including budget suggestions.
He praised the Association’s strong involvement in public discourse: “This is one of the most active entities in submitting proposals—ranging from pavement repairs to pension increases. The scope covers all of Maltese society. We believe pensioners must remain active members of the community—not just for themselves but because society needs them.”
Among the innovative proposals discussed was one encouraging retired professionals to mentor younger generations, ensuring their skills and experience continue to benefit the workforce.
Josef Bugeja concluded by thanking all contributors over the past four years and wished Pawlu Bugeja and the newly appointed executive committee every success in their new roles.
