Yesterday, the news of Joseph Sant’s passing spread on social media. Joe and his brother Albert are the founders of the JB Stores and Tal-Lira local brands. The JB Department Stores’ Facebook page shared a tribute message written by Albert for his late brother.

“A tribute to a gentleman Joe Sant – a brother, a second father to me, a mentor and a business partner… that is what Joe is to me,” says Albert in an emotional tribute post.

“Joe was my elder brother. At the tender age of 7 years our father passed away and since then Joe was there for me and my family,” he shares. “Our mother taught us not only life skills but also passed onto us all her business sense. We used to help her at the farm selling eggs and delivering these to our customers.

“For the past 43 years we have been in business together. I still remember the first time we started selling material from the dashboard of his car during the open-air market in Rabat – I was only 15 years.”

“The rest is as they say ‘history’ - JB Stores - ‘J’ for Joseph and ‘B’ for Bertu (as everyone knows me). May you rest in peace dear brother. Till we meet again.”