A year has passed since the day we lost Karl Gouder, and the sadness of that moment is still fresh in my heart. The country lost a leader, but many of us lost a true friend.
Karl was more than a colleague to me. We crossed paths in our political careers many times, yet he was more than a colleague. He was a friend. We both ran in the 2017 General Election on behalf of PN and although running on the same ticket, he was more like a mentor to me. When he was serving as Mayor of St Julian’s and I was President of PN Local Councillors, he was always a source of help and support. You could always count on Karl. He never made things about himself. He was steady, reliable, and above all, genuine.
What I admired most about Karl was his quiet strength. He was never the loudest in the room, but his words carried weight because they came from a place of honesty and care. He had the rare ability to bring people together, to smooth tensions, to find compromise where others only saw division. He had an open heart, a listening ear, and a smile that reassured you instantly.
Karl was a trusted friend. Someone you could confide in, someone who made you feel heard. He lived with kindness and respect toward everyone he encountered. Truly, he was loved by all, and it is hard to think of anyone who could ever say a bad word about him.
As we remember Karl today, we should also remember what his life teaches us. Life is fragile. We often take for granted the people closest to us, yet the greatest tribute we can pay to Karl is to carry forward his example. We can all do more. We can celebrate life and celebrate our loved ones more fully. We can listen more, we can be more attentive, and we can make the effort to notice when someone might be struggling, even in silence.
Rest in peace, Karl. You are missed every day, but you will never be forgotten. Your legacy lives on in the friendships you nurtured, in the kindness you shared, and in the example you left behind for us all.