VEGAN Grassfire threat

REVOLUTION LAWYER GUIDELINES in summer heat

Darryl Grima and Mental health czar ‘I lost all my olive
his campaign to looking into trees in Swieqi
change the way we controversial warrant
think of food MT2 grassfire’
guidelines PAGE 13 PAGE 12-13
€1.95

maltatoday
TRUTH IS OF NO COLOUR WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT

SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022 • ISSUE 1183 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY

IVF preimplantation genetic testing bill Cabinet’s Inflation and wages

wait-and-see on whether Vella will sign law PAGE 2
Police question Freeport
CEO over Polidano case
MATTHEW VELLA
THE private sector operator
believed to have been part of an
allegedly illicit inducement by
construction magnate Charles
Polidano, is Alex Montebel-
lo, the CEO of Malta Freeport
Terminals.
Montebello and his wife were
questioned by police in an on-
going investigation which has
seen Polidano and his son Gor-
don being arrested and interro-
gated on Friday morning, over
suspicions of corruption and
money laundering.
The alleged incident would
date back to the time when
Montebello was chief financial
officer at Malta Freeport Ter-
minals.
MaltaToday is informed that
the investigation was spurred
by inexplicable amounts of
Alex Montebello, Malta Freeport CEO
money in Montebello’s person-
al accounts. The case was then
handled by the police financial
crimes investigation depart-
ment (FCID).
The alleged corruption would
have taken place through the
sale of a property. Polidano
Group categorically denied any
wrongdoing, in a statement
sent to this newsroom saying
it was assisting the authorities
in verifying payments made to
the company in 2014, involving
a public deed.
“The Group is confident the
authorities will be satisfied
once these verifications have
taken place. The Group will
continue to cooperate fully
with the authorities,” Polidano
Group said.
This is not Polidano’s first
brush with the law. Last year,
Polidano was interrogated by
police on alleged threats, use of
force, bodily harm and revenge
porn.
Months before this, he was
served with a number of court
documents ordering him to
pay a massive €40 million bill,
some of which stretches back
to the 1990s.
PAGE 2
Maltese ‘real’
minimum
wage declines
by 3%
JAMES DEBONO
MALTA is one of seven EU
countries which have a “signifi-
cant decline” in their real mini-
mum wage rate amidst increase
in the cost of living, an annual
review of minimum wages in
the European Union carried out
by the European Foundation
for the Improvement of Living,
and Working Conditions (Euro-
found) reveals.
While the minimum wage in
Malta increased by 1% between
January 2021 and January 2022,
thanks to the Cost Of Living
Adjustment (COLA) in the
last budget, in real terms mini-
mum-wage earners experienced
a 3% drop in income when infla-
tion is taken into account.
Real wages – what money can
actually buy in terms of goods
and services – are calculated as
nominal minimum wages, de-
flated by national price indexes.
PAGE 4
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
President who called embryo freezing
‘moral travesty’ could face test on PGD
MATTHEW VELLA
SPECULATION is rife among
Labour ministers as to whether
President George Vella could
refuse to sign a law to allow IVF
couples to test embryos for he-
reditary and neurodegenerative
diseases.
MaltaToday understands the
Bill, which tomorrow heads into
its third reading before Vella’s
assent, could be a test for a Pres-
ident of Republic whose past
comments on embryo freezing
– a natural corollary for PGD
testing – left little to the imagi-
nation.
After stepping down as an
MP, the former foreign minister
dubbed Labour’s regularisation
of embryo freezing “a complete
travesty of morality”.
The Office of the President this
week did not release a comment
to MaltaToday when asked spe-
cifically over Vella’s position
on the PGD testing Bill when
it comes before him for his ap-
proval.
In 2021 he was non-committal
as to whether he would sign in-
to law a bill introducing genetic
testing of embryos produced by
Attorney General
Victoria Buttigieg
must go – ADPD
LUKE VELLA
ADPD, the Green Party has said
that Attorney General Victo-
ria Buttigieg should tender her
resignation and be removed
from her position if she refuses.
In a press conference in Val-
letta yesterday morning, ADPD
deputy chairperson Sandra Gau-
ci said that under the previous
Attorney General, Peter Grech,
Malta was the only country not
to take action after the Panama
Papers’ revelations. She accused
Grech of giving “criminals” am-
ple time to clean up their act
when he stopped the Police from
raiding the Nexia BT offices.
Gauci insisted that the situa-
tion was worse under Victoria
Buttigieg, highlighting how this
week the prosecution led by the
AG failed to submit the com-
plete documentation regarding
a European Arrest Warrant,
NEWS
IVF. “We will cross the bridg-
es when we come to them,” a
spokesperson told MaltaToday
when asked whether the Presi-
dent had any moral objections to
PGD testing.
Any act of parliament requires
the President’s signature to be-
come law and refusal to do so
– an improbable prospect in
Maltese political history – could
create a constitutional crisis.
Up until this week, Cabinet
sources insisted that Vella re-
mains uncomfortable with PGD
and its ethical implications.
The recent appointment of
Prof. Frank Bezzina, an academ-
ic who does not hail from the
political class, as acting presi-
dent, also raised speculation as
to whether a ‘stand-in’ had been
appointed should Vella object to
give his assent to the bill. Malta-
Today understands that Dolores
Cristina, who served as acting
president for over nine years,
never discussed the content of
the PGD bill with Vella prior to
the appointment of Bezzina.
When in 2018 the Labour ad-
ministration regularised embryo
freezing, President Marie-Louise
Coleiro Preca said her assent to
which led to the dismissal of ex-
tradition procedures against a
man wanted in Italy in connec-
tion with drug trafficking.
“We have also had the case of
the two lawyers accused of the
attempted bribery of journalist
Ivan Martin when the Office of
the Attorney General ‘conven-
iently’ cited the wrong article in
Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg
terms of the law which led to the
Courts freeing them from the
accusation,” Gauci said.
She said the AG was also re-
sponsible for the reduction of
charges against a criminal ac-
In a 2018
interview, Vella said
that a fertilised egg
that leads to human
life is “separate and
independent from its
parents”
the Act was “out of loyalty to-
wards the Constitution and the
democratic process”, despite her
moral objections.
Coleiro Preca had also issued a
statement saying she could have
chosen not to be in the country
at the time the Bill was in its
third reading, allowing the act-
ing president to sign the law into
power, but that she did not want
to shirk her responsibilities.
George Vella has already made
his red lines clear, saying that
he will sooner resign his role
than sign on a law that would
introduce abortion in Malta.
His statement, albeit couched in
more diplomatic wording, was
also made during his inaugural
cused of attempted homicide
of members of the Police Corp,
leading to a reduced prison sen-
tence on condition that he re-
veals all the information he knew
about the HSBC hold-up case.
“But he did not reveal any infor-
mation and still benefits from a
reduced prison sentence.”
“One must agree with the
Chamber of Advocates’ insist-
ence that Victoria Buttigieg
should not have been appoint-
ed Attorney General in the first
place, due to her lack of experi-
ence in criminal law. The mam-
moth deficiencies being exposed
under her remit confirm how
right they were,” insisted Gauci.
“It is time that Parliament, cog-
nizant of all that has been taking
place, requests Victoria Butti-
gieg to tender her resignation.
If she refuses she should be re-
moved.”
ADPD Chairperson Carmel
Cacopardo said that institutions
should be left to operate freely in
the country’s best interests but
not to defend criminal cliques.
“The performance of the Of-
speech at the Palace in Valletta
when he laid out the direction
of his presidency: “As a doctor,
I will fight for the health of this
country and the respect for life
from start to finish of every indi-
vidual,” Vella said.
PGD testing will allow parents
to ‘discard’ embryos carrying
hereditary diseases such as Hun-
tington’s Disease, which embry-
os will however be frozen indef-
initely.
Ideological differences
Before his appointment as head
of state, Vella had expressed se-
rious reservations on the IVF
law changes pushed by govern-
ment in 2018. He had branded
the IVF bill “a complete travesty
of ethics, morality, and human
dignity, allegedly to remove ‘dis-
crimination’ imposed by nature
herself”.
The bill made embryo freezing
legal after it was outlawed back
in 2012, and allowed egg and
sperm donation, making treat-
ment also accessible to single
women and lesbians.
Vella had then questioned why
government was going down a
“slippery slope” to deliver “the
fice of the Attorney General in
the past few months in particu-
lar is of utmost concern because
instead of facilitating that justice
is done we have its obstruction,”
Cacopardo said.
He said that the Police Un-
ion had asked Buttigieg to ten-
der her resignation as Attorney
General after having approved
the reduction of homicide
charges against Daren Debono
‘it-Topo’ in exchange for infor-
mation about the HSBC hold-up
case. Debono got a reduced jail
term but he did not reveal any-
thing.
“Not only did she not resign,
but Buttigieg has gone from one
blunder to another. Parliament
must take action now to remove
her and appoint someone who
will not continue to embarrass
the nation,” Cacopardo said.
“The institutions that are there
to safeguard our rights deserve
all the respect they can get.
However, how can we respect
an institution that instead of de-
fending our society continuous-
ly undermines it?”
utopic promise of equality”.
In an interview to the Malta
Independent in 2018, Vella was
paraphrased as someone who
believes that “life begins at con-
ception” and that a fertilised egg
that leads to human life is “sep-
arate and independent from its
parents”.
Vella, a medical doctor, disa-
grees with embryo freezing, and
has said that were he to advise an
infertile couple he would make
them “understand that these
are not capricious decisions,
that they are decisions that need
to be taken with a formed con-
science with ethical and moral
standards.”
Vella has also said allowing
same-sex couples to adopt chil-
dren via surrogacy was “not na-
ture”, despite having as MP vot-
ed in favour of civil unions and
gay adoption.
Polidano case
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
In 2021 he was fined €22,000
over animal welfare breaches at
his Montekristo Estates zoo in
Siggiewi. He had initially plead-
ed not guilty but eventually filed
an admission.
Montebello joined Malta Free-
port in 1989, coinciding with the
company’s initial establishment.
Montebello has been the CEO of
Malta Freeport Terminals since
2014, also serving as a board
member on the Malta Maritime
Forum, as well as one of the di-
rectors of the AS Hibernians
football team, according to com-
pany records.
Malta Freeport Terminals is the
private company that runs the
transhipment hub in Birzebbu-
gia. The company was privatised
by the State in 2004. The com-
pany is owned by Terminal Link,
the Turkish Yildirim Group,
shipping line CMA CGM, and
China’s lagest terminal operator,
China Merchants Port Holdings.
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
SUMMER
OFFER

BOOK TWO MONTHS

Enjoy a three-month summer stay in the heart of Sliema,
in a truly exclusive and wonderful environment that will
make you feel right at home.

AND GET THE THIRD Package includes:

MONTH FREE*
• Accommodation in fully airconditioned rooms
• Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Linen Change and Daily Room Clean
• Use of all in-house facilities including gym and pool
• Participation in all social events and group outings.
*This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer is only available for anyone who is 60 years or older. The offer is available during the months of June, July, August,
September and October 2022. The period of stay cannot be shortened, and the free month offer cannot be redeemed for cash.

The Imperial, Rudolph Street, Sliema, SLM 1279 | 2145 6440 | www.theimperial.com.mt | info@theimperialmalta.com
A member of St George’s Care Limited | Live Life with us!
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

NEWS

Real minimum wage eaten up by inflation

When inflation is mum wage mechanism. 2022 due to indexation mecha-
Moreover, in gross terms Por- nisms, while the Greek minimum
taken into account a tugal’s minimum wage, which wage was increased by over 7% in
paltry 1% increase in increased by 6% between 2021 May 2022 as a result of inflation
the minimum wage and 2022, has now overtaken concerns. In France, a further au-
Malta’s. While Maltese mini- tomatic increase in the statutory
was not enough mum-wage earners saw their minimum wage (2% increase, €25
to offset inflation, real income decline by 3%, Por- per month) is shortly expected
which has resulted in tuguese workers have seen their due to rising inflation.
income increase by 2% when in- The report shows that based
a 3% loss in income flation is taken into account. on the Gini index, Malta experi-
for minimum wage The decrease in the real pur- enced the largest increase in wage
earners chasing power of Maltese work- inequality between 2017 and
ers took place despite Malta hav- 2019 in contrast to Spain, which
ing had the third lowest increase experienced the sharpest reduc-
in its cost of living in the same tion in the gap between high in-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 period. come and low income workers.
The Eurofound report this year Since minimum wage in coun- The Gini index measures income
provides a more pessimistic pic- tries like Malta is pegged to the inequality.
ture of changes in minimum cost of living and adjusted on The reduction in wage inequal-
wages. Countries are divided into an annual basis, the report pre- ity in Spain is attributed to the
three groups, based on the trend dicts this automatic update “will hike in the Spanish minimum
in the real minimum wage rate – produce much higher increases wage in 2019, which “resulted in
a group of six countries where re- in the statutory rates if inflation a remarkable increase in wage
al rates have increased, eight that trends persist”. levels at the bottom of the wage
saw a modest decline, and seven In fact, in countries where wag- distribution and in a significant
with a “significant decline” in real es are adjusted regularly and not reduction in wage inequality.”
income of 3% or over. on an annual basis, workers are Malta set up its new Low Wage
At 1%, the statutory increase in already benefitting from wage Commission with social partners
the minimum wage in Malta was increases. These include two in 2017, with a remit to create a
the second lowest among the 21 upgrades of 2% to the Belgium new mechanism for adjusting
EU countries which have a mini- statutory rate in March and May the minimum wage and issuing
recommendations to the govern-
ment. It will make its first recom-
mendations in 2023.
Despite the Maltese govern-
ment’s claim that it wants to en-
sure a decent income for every-
one in Malta, in November 2021,
the government decided not to
Award of Honours and Decorations publish a report on a basic liv-
ing income that it commissioned
Malta pays public tribute to Maltese citizens who have in 2020, stating that it would be
distinguished themselves in different walks of life and used only as an ‘internal working
whose contribution and achievement enrich the general document’.
well-being of their fellow countrymen. Finance Minister Clyde Carua-
na has acknowledged the need to
Any Maltese citizen, a group of persons or a voluntary raise the minimum wage ‘to have
organisation which is duly enrolled with the a good standard of living’, but
Commissioner in terms of the Voluntary Organisation Act which is balanced by decreasing
may be nominated for the award of an honour on Republic companies’ income tax. Malta
is considering reforming its in-
Day.
dexation mechanism, partly to
take stark rises in inflation into
Nominations for 2022 will be received by the Nominations
account. The report also refers
Committee on the prescribed Nomination Form,
to the rapid increase in courier
addressed to the Chairperson, Nominations Committee, work, especially in the food-de-
Office of the Prime Minister, Auberge de Castille, Valletta livery sector with over 1,200
VLT 1061, by not later than Wednesday, 3rd August 2022. non-EU nationals working with
food-courier platforms being em-
Nomination forms may be collected from the Office of the ployed on ‘illegal work contracts’.
Prime Minister, Auberge de Castille, Valletta or “The problem appears to stem
downloaded from the website of the Office of the Prime from the fact that, while accord-
Minister www.opm.gov.mt. For further information, one ing to Malta’s employment laws,
may contact the Cabinet Office on 22001481. third-country nationals must be
employed on a full-time contract,
The persons nominated should neither be approached for these workers were being recruit-
details, nor informed about their nomination. ed as self-employed people, and
potentially being subjected to ze-
ro-hours contracts.”
NEWS
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
Italy green-lights Malta gas pipeline
despite uranium warning
€400m hydrogen-
ready gas pipeline
still subject of
NGO complaint in
Brussels over fossil-
gas ‘VIP’ projects
eligibility
MATTHEW VELLA
THE Italian government has is-
sued its approval of the Melita
Transgas pipeline that will con-
nect Malta to Italy.
The decree was issued by min-
isters Roberto Cingola and Dar-
io Franceschini, respectively
ministers for ecological transi-
tion and culture, despite recent
warnings from the Biviere Na-
ture Re-serve in Gela about the
environmental threat posed by
the gas pipeline.
A document by the Biviere
managing authority recom-
mended alternative routes, in
view of the large number of im-
pacts and high environmental
costs, claiming that the route
of the EU-funded gas pipeline
had been determined on the ba-
sis of solely economic criteria.
Indeed, the proposed pipeline
will not only pass through Nat-
ura 2000 sites and a bird and
biodiversity area but will pass
from the gulf of Gela, an area
which already registers worry-
ing levels of pollution, owing to
concentrations of radioactive
uranium 238 and thorium 234.
The European Commis-
sion said it will be contacting
the Italian authorities to see
whether a ‘verification’ is re-
quired with regards to the high
levels of radioactivity in the
seabed around Gela, where the
EU-funded gas pipeline linking
Italy to Malta is planned.
The concentration of the two
radioactive elements which
naturally occur on land, in the
waters opposite the coast, sug-
gests it was dispersed in the sea
from landfills, making the site
one of the “most problematic”
in Italy. The report calls for the
re-routing of the Malta-Sicily
gas pipeline as this would add
NEWS
Melita Transgas will have to comply with a list of environmental conditions set by the Italian government, but the Biviere reserve had also requested that
compensation measures be put in place to mitigate the burden on the industrialised Gela environs
up to the environmental degra-
dation of past industrial activ-
ity.
The issue was raised in a
question to the Commission
by Green MEP Ignazio Corrao,
who asked whether the Com-
mission will verify the pres-
ence and determine the origin
of uranium and thorium in the
waters around Gela.
Melita Transgas will have to
comply with a list of environ-
mental conditions set by the
Italian government, but the
Biviere reserve had also re-
quested that compensation
measures be put in place to
mitigate the burden on the in-
dustrialised Gela environs.
NGOs complain with EC
over gas
Around €200 million for Mal-
ta’s hydrogen-ready, gas pipe-
line to Italy will be funded by
the EU, but four environment
groups have also filed legal ac-
tion against a list of “projects
of common interest” (PCIs) for
fossil gas projects.
ClientEarth, Friends of the
Earth Europe, Food & Water
Action Europe an CEE Bank-
watch Net-work say the Euro-
pean Commission’s PCI list has
given VIP status to “climate-de-
structive projects”.
The list of gas projects
amounts to €13 billion, but the
groups say the Commission has
not calculated their output of
carbon dioxide and methane.
Malta’s gas pipeline, reject-
ed twice for funding due to a
change in climate ambitions
that were heading in favour of
hydrogen, managed to win PCI
status during the COVID pan-
demic in November 2021. Since
then, MEPs have carried the gas
projects’ eligibility for EU fund-
ing, approving them in April
2022, and recognising gas as a
transitional fuel while Europe
moves towards carbon neutral-
ity by 2050.
The European Commission’s
REPowerEU strategy now plans
to unleash another €10 billion
in new fossil gas infrastructure.
The NGOs want the Com-
mission to review the approval
of the PCI list, and will take its
case forward to the Court of
Justice of the EU to rule.
“The Commission did not
consider the impact of methane
emissions derived from gas in-
frastructure projects – in spite
of evidence that these are sub-
stantial,” said ClienEarth law-
yer Guillermo Ramo. “That’s
unlawful as it directly clashes
with the EU’s own climate laws
and its legal obligations under
the Paris Agreement.”
Methane, the main compo-
nent of fossil gas, has a glob-
al warming potential over 85
times higher than that of CO2
over 20 years. Experts have
clearly said no new gas or other
fossil fuel developments should
be built if the planet is to limit
warming within 1.5C.
Natasa Ioannou, climate
campaigner with Friends of
the Earth Cyprus called an-
other EU-funded pipeline,
the EastMed pipeline running
through Cyprus, a disaster for
communities and the climate.
“It is not in the interests of
local people in the region who
will bear the costs of fossil fu-
el lock-in, and the harm to the
ecologically-sensitive Mediter-
ranean Sea. All along the route
of the EastMed pipeline people
are saying no to new fossil fuel
infrastructure and yes to cli-
mate justice and to peace. EU
funding must focus on support-
ing projects that implement
just, fair, safe, and renewable
energy solutions.”
Environmental NGOs have
the right to ask EU institutions
and bodies – in this case the
Europe-an Commission – to re-
view one of their own decisions
for contravening EU law related
to the environment. The Com-
mission has up to 22 weeks to
answer.
If the claimants find that
the Commission’s reply does
not fix the legal violation, the
claimants can sue the Commis-
sion in the Court of Justice of
the European Union.
Gas extraction and trans-
portation not only emits huge
amounts of CO2: it is also a big
emitter of potent and poison-
ous greenhouse gas methane.
The drilling and extraction
of gas from wells and its tran-
sit through pipelines results
in emissions of methane – its
primary component, which is
a 85 times more powerful than
carbon dioxide in storing heat
over 20 years. Beyond climate,
methane also has devastating
impacts on human health – via
air pollution – and eco-systems.
Both the IEA and the IPCC
have clearly said no new oil and
gas extraction projects should
be built if we are to keep warm-
ing within 1.5C.
Additionally, a recent study
found that nearly half of exist-
ing fossil fuel production sites
need to be shut down early if
1.5C is to be achieved.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
Three commercial blocks proposed
next to Australia hall
Local plan
permits re-use of
Australia Hall
for a variety of
public, cultural
and recreational
uses but does
not foresee
development in its
immediate vicinity
JAMES DEBONO
THREE new “mixed use” blocks,
ranging between five and six
floors are being proposed on a
3,870sq.m area that envelopes
the historical Australia Hall.
In planning jargon, mixed-
use developments normal-
ly include a combination of
residential, office and retail
development.
A zoning application pre-
sented by the Fino Group
in 2018 had been removed
from the public informa-
tion system in 2019 when the
application was deemed to be
incomplete; the latest plans
from January 2022 were pub-
lished earlier this week.
The application no longer
makes any reference to the
application of the ‘high-rise’
Floor Area Ratio mechanism
as originally proposed, which
would have allowed a high-rise
development in the area.
The latest plans foresee devel-
opment over some 12,000sq.m
in total floor area, which in-
cludes the three massive blocks
and the restoration of Australia
Hall itself. Some 2,400sq.m of
the total 6,331sq.m site will be
retained as open public space.
The development is being
proposed by AH Develop-
ments, which is owned by the
Fino Group.
How local plan limits develop-
ment in the area
The local plan approved in
2006 makes no reference to
The latest plans foresee development over
some 12,000sq.m in total floor area, which includes the three massive blocks
and the restoration of Australia Hall itself. Some 2,400sq.m of the total
6,331sq.m site will be retained as open public space. The development is being
proposed by AH Developments, which is owned by the Fino Group.
development around Australia
Hall and only permits the “re-
use” of the historical building
as a “public meeting hall, for
commercial use, exhibition
space or other suitable cultural
or recreational use”, including
shops, offices, food and drink
establishment or educational
facilities.
The local plan also specifies
that any development must re-
spect the “architectural integ-
rity of the site” and “any views
from and onto the scheduled
buildings.”
The policy map setting height
limitations in different areas
of Pembroke does not foresee
any development around Aus-
tralia Hall and fails to set any
height limitation in the area
where the development is be-
ing proposed. Another map
designating the zoning of dif-
ferent areas in Pembroke limits
development on this site to us-
es outlined in policy regulating
the re-use of historical build-
ings. This excludes residential
development.
Australia Hall is currently
listed as a Grade 2 scheduled
building, which precludes
demolition but permits inter-
nal alterations. In this case the
development will inevitably
impact on the setting of the
scheduled building.
A policy introduced by the
PA in 2020 specifies that the
PA is duty-bound to “safeguard
NEWS
the context and setting
of sites that carry heritage val-
ue”.  When assessing applica-
tions, planners have to conduct
detailed assessments of how a
proposed development would
impact on protected buildings
and identify mitigation meas-
ures with the support and ap-
proval of the Superintendence
of Cultural Heritage.
Pembroke under siege
The development is being
proposed just 60m away from
the approved Chinese embas-
sy complex, which will also
include 20 residential apart-
ments. Two of the embassy
blocks will rise to six floors.
The Superintendence for Cul-
tural Heritage has warned that
the development “is evidently
one of very high intensity and
visibility” which will have an
“inevitable impact on the spa-
tial and visual context of the
7
surrounding scheduled build-
ings”.
Pembroke will also see the
development of two 17-storey
towers on the site of the former
Institute of Tourism Studies.
A major road tunnel project
passing through a Natura 2000
site will also link Pembroke to
the DB project, on the site of
the former ITS, and this will
also involve a new road passing
from undeveloped land link-
ing Triq Sant Andrija and Triq
Suffulk with the tunnel.
The Australia Hall saga
Back in 2005 Fino had applied
to turn Australia Hall into a su-
permarket but the application
was withdrawn by the Planning
Authority’s planning directo-
rate. In 2014, the new Labour
administration used its power
to stop a court action institut-
ed by the Lands Department
under the former Nationalist
government, to take back the
Pembroke land accorded to
the party back in the 1970s as
compensation for the expro-
priation of the party’s land in
Marsa, for the Malta Ship-
building Corporation, by the
same Labour government of
the time.
The PN protested the La-
bour administration’s deci-
sion in 2014 to stop the court
action, accusing it of using its
overweening power for its par-
ty’s financial gain.
In July 2014, Labour sold
Australia Hall to A.H. De-
velopment for just €582,343,
with the final price taking into
consideration unspecified out-
standing debts with the buyers.
But the Labour Party was
subsequently accused by the
Inland Revenue Department
of undervaluing the land and
property by millions. The
Commissioner for Tax first
insisted that Australia Hall
land was worth nothing less
than €5.5 million, and then re-
vised the value downwards to
€2,025,000. The party is oppos-
ing the tax assessment in court,
after it was told to pay an addi-
tional €14,426 in capital gains
tax over and above the €23,296
first incurred on the original
selling price.
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
EIA studies can’t
save unsustainable
projects, says
ERA chairman
“There is the myth that an EIA would
by itself solve all environmental issues
arising from big developments. Not
necessarily so”
JAMES DEBONO
FOR the past decades, planning
debates as to whether large-scale
projects can take place in sensi-
tive areas like Hondoq ir-Rum-
mien or the Dingli cliffs, have
been prolonged by endless stud-
ies despite the inherent incom-
patibility of such projects with
their surroundings.
This reality was recently de-
nounced by Environment and
Resources Authority’s chair-
man Victor Axiaq in the ERA’s
annual report, reaffirming a
recent objection of the ERA
to a tourism development in
Marsaxlokk.
“There is the myth that an
EIA would by itself solve all
Sailing
federation’s
Mistra
site faces
objection
from council
JAMES DEBONO
THE Malta Sailing Federation
wants to turn a 2,100sq.m sitein
Mistra into an Olympic training
base for demountable structures
to store sailing equipment.
The ecologically sensitive Mis-
tra is designated for its high land-
scape value, with past projects
like a proposed outdoors disco
on land belonging to former MP
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando having
triggered outrage in the past.
The Malta Sailing Federation
NEWS
environmental issues arising
from big developments. Not
necessarily so,” Axiaq wrote.
For when “a proposed project
is inherently unsustainable and
insists the project will not have
an negative impact on the sur-
rounding environment. “As a
sports federation involved in
one of the most environmentally
friendly sport activities, we have
by its very nature, is bound to
lead to significant environmen-
tal degradation, an EIA would
be worthless.”
On the other hand, according
no intention of causing any ne-
ga-tive environmental impact
to Mistra,” MSF president Mike
Mifsud told MaltaToday.
While acknowledging public
concerns on the ecological value
Environment and Resources Authority
chairman Victor Axiaq reaffirmed
a recent objection of the ERA to a
tourism development in Marsaxlokk
to Axiaq it would be far more
useful for the ERA to engage
into detailed discussions with
developers at the earliest possi-
ble stage of planning, to ensure
that what is being proposed is
not “only economically but also
environmentally and socially
sustainable”.
“I have personally witnessed
this happening on a number of
occasions, even during the past
of the area, he insisted the pro-
ject will entail no new construc-
tion and will not result in any
loss of agricul-tural land. Mifsud
said the side is already paved
with concrete and works will be
year. Such initiatives very often
go unnoticed and never gain
the recognition that is due to
our staff. But then, recognition
and praise are not our top pri-
ority. Having said so, it helps,”
Axiak said.
And in this case the ERA is
also practicing what its chair-
man is preaching as in the case
of a seven-unit tourist accom-
modation complex instead of
disused farming structures in
Marsaxlokk, adjacent to an
Area of Ecological Importance
and a Natura 2000 site. The
ERA said the development
would effectively commit an
8,300sq.m area with significant
uptake of undeveloped rural
land – currently a large open
The Malta Sailing Federation
insists the project will not have an
negative impact on the surrounding
environment. “As a sports
federation involved in one of the
most environmentally friendly sport
activities, we have no intention of
causing any nega-tive environmental
impact to Mistra.”
limited to clearing the site from
debris which has accumulated
over the years.
He said the proposed storage
will take place in “removable
concealed units” to en-sure the
site can be returned to its prior
state when no longer needed by
the MSF.
The area includes an already
existing farmhouse that will be
used as a briefing room and to
host visiting coaches. A gate will
be opened onto the road to allow
access to the foreshore across
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022 9

NEWS
maltatoday | SUNDAY
• 3 JULY 2022

ARTS • TV • WHAT’S ON
Miggy
DJ and
producer

field, only partly occupied by

COMMENT & ARTS

CLASSIFIEDS & COMMERCIALS

a small farm – and the urban-
isation of land outside devel-
Raphael Vassallo
opment zones, to accommo- ‘Bouncers can’t police Paceville’;
date residential development. INSIDE OUR MT2 & MT3 SECTIONS but nor can imaginary policemen…
The site lies very close to the
Magħluq coastal marshland,
well within the protected area
surrounding it, which should
be kept free from development.
The ERA insisted that such MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS
projects cannot be assessed on
an ad hoc basis, as these have Secure Investment
cumulative impacts introduc- Issue of €150,000,000
ing additional pressure on
in Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks
nearby lands.
Since such impacts would ________ (subject to the over-allotment option up
effectively prejudice the long- STOCK TAL-GVERN to a maximum of €100,000,000)
term integrity of the Natura
2000 site, these cannot be ef-
fectively addressed through
case-by-case studies, which
Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks
would not change their funda- The Accountant General announces the issue of €150,000,000 Malta Government in any one or any
mental reality.
combination of the following three stocks:
In fact proposals deemed “in-
compatible” with the protect-
ed status of the site should be (i) 2.60% Malta Government Stock (Fifth Issue)
“pre-empted at source through maturing in 2028,
the avoidance”, Prof. Axiaq
said. (ii) 2.90% Malta Government Stock (Sixth Issue)
And while such a develop-
ment requires a project devel-
maturing in 2032, and
opment statement so that the (iii) 3.40% Malta Government Stock (First Issue)
ERA can determine whether
a full environment impact as- maturing in 2042.
sessment is needed, such stud- The sum of money to be raised may be increased by an additional €100,000,000 in the event of oversubscription.
ies cannot resolve “the more
basic environmental impacts”
which are should be simply
avoided. Applications from members of the public for an amount up to a maximum of €100,000 per person in
any one or in each of the three stocks on offer open on Monday 11th July 2022 at 8.30 a.m. and close
at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday 13th July 2022; and
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

Applications from wholesale investors in the form of sealed bids (auction) open at 8.30 a.m. on
Friday, 15th July 2022 and close on the same day at noon (CET).
the road.
Mifsud described the proposal The Price for each Stock at (i), (ii) and (iii) above, offered for subscription by members of the public
as “a national project support-
ed by SportMalta and the Malta shall be established on Thursday 7th July 2022, based indicatively on the prevailing secondary market
Olympic Committee” whose aim prices, and shall be announced through a Press Release issued by the Department of Information
is to provide athletes with train- (DOI).
ing facili-ties to compete in the
Olympics, a long-term strategy
to attempt up to three Olympic
cycles over the coming years. The application forms may be obtained from, and lodged at, all Members of the Malta Stock Exchange
The site in question is privately and other authorized Investment Service Providers on the indicated dates. Application forms may also
owned, and will be rented out to
be downloaded from the Treasury’s website at www.treasury.gov.mt with effect from Friday 8th July
the MSF for the required cycles.
The PA’s advisory commit- 2022. Bids on the prescribed forms are to be transmitted by e-mail at the e-mail addresses indicated on
tee on agricultural issues has the application forms.
already objected to the de-vel-
opment, saying it is in principle
against any development outside MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH
development zones, which is INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF STOCK
not agricultural in nature or not
foreseen in the rural policy. The
Mellieħa local council has also  SECURITY  CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY  INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS 
objected, noting the ODZ site
should be used only for agricul- (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.)
tural purposes.
Mifsud said he will hold meet-
ings with both the PA commit- Treasury Department, Development House, Level 2-3, St. Anne Street – Floriana, Malta
tee and the local council to “put Tel: 2596 7125
their minds at rest”.
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

NEWS

100 days of Abela:

Life in soporific times
In his 100 days since his first electoral
mandate, Abela has presented himself
as safe pair of hands in a time of
crisis but controversy simmering as
various issues is bound to test Labour’s
cohesion in the next months. James
Debono looks back at the past 100 days

in controlling the flow of dirty

JAMES
DEBONO
AFTER being elected on his own
steam with a super-majority,
Robert Abela has shunned the
limelight (and a good part of the
press) to focus on management
amidst a global crisis triggered
by war in Ukraine which brought
inflation pressures to the fore.
Like Lawrence Gonzi during
the financial crisis after 2008,
Abela portrays himself as a
no-nonsense PM with a steady
pair of hands presiding the coun-
try in testing times. Compared
with a shambolic opposition and
the excesses of his predecessor,
Abela gives peace of mind which
may well give the country some
respite.
money.
Yet this was not matched in
similar zeal for reforms aimed
at fighting corruption, regulat-
ing lobbying and limiting the
number persons of trust, as con-
firmed by the latest report by the
Council of Europe anti-corrup-
tion watchdog GRECO. And the
lack of progress in solving the
various mysteries related to vari-
ous spin-offs of Panamagate and
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assas-
sination risk leaving the country
in a state of collective amne-
sia, as the events leading to the
he lack of progress in solving the
various mysteries related to various
spin-offs of Panamagate and Daphne
Caruana Galizia’s assassination risk
leaving the country in a state of
collective amnesia

Crowning
achievements and
lingering
problems
The removal of Malta from the
FATF greylist boosted the gov-
ernment’s credentials in taking
the necessary action to restore
Malta’s reputation. For by re-
moving Malta from the greyl-
ist in the space of a year, FATF
has certified concerted action to
address various shortcomings
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
2022 victory: since then Abela has
sedated the nation by keeping
himself away from the fray, avoiding
bruising interviews and simply not
reacting even when faced by serious
blunders like that of the Attorney
General in the bribery charges
against Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers
downfall of Abela’s disgraced
predecessor become a distant
and forgotten memory. In this
sense Malta risks being plagued
by the ghosts of mysteries left
unsolved as happened to Italy in
the frivolous 1980s, after its so-
called “years of lead”.
Abela’s Cabinet
sweep
Abela defused tension by
avoiding needless controver-
sies generated by controversial
members of his pre-election
cabinet. Ian Borg was trans-
ferred from roads to foreign
affairs, Edward Zammit Lewis,
Rosianne Cutajar and Carmelo
Abela were left in the cold while
Miriam Dalli, Clyde Caruana
and Aaron Farrugia, three min-
isters with a more technocratic
approach to politics, were re-
galed with super-ministries in
charge of vital sectors like ener-
gy, the environment, the econ-
omy, infrastructure and the
country’s finances.
In so doing he is also follow-
ing in Gonzi’s footsteps after
his 2008 re-election. But while
Gonzi’s bold move to leave
out former ministers like Jes-
mond Mugliette and popular
politicians like Jeffrey Pullicino
Orlando in the cold, further
destabilised his one-seat major-
ity. Abela’s super majority gives
him the gravitas and authority
required to assert his authority.
The soporific
effect
In this sense while Gonzi’s
honeymoon was short and his
exclusion of prominent party
figures presaged trouble, Abe-
la’s style of leadership has had a
soporific effect on the nation, as
people have switched off from
politics after passing through a
political crisis in 2019, a pan-
demic between 2020 and 2021
and an electoral campaign three
months ago.
Abela has also sedated the na-
tion by keeping himself away
from the fray, avoiding bruis-
ing interviews and simply not
reacting even when faced by
serious blunders like that of the
Attorney General in the bribery
charges against Yorgen Fenech’s
lawyers. And while the de-esca-
lation of political confrontation
does help in reducing partisan
tension, Abela risks looking de-
tached from everyday life prob-
lems.
In this sense the perception of
Abela as a “patrician politician”
who has always had it good in
life, also thanks to lucrative
contracts awarded by the Gonzi
administration, may well be his
Achilles’ heel especially if in-
flationary pressures push more
people in to the brink of poverty.
The cost of living
is back
Abela has succeeded in pro-
jecting himself as a safe pair of
hands, but inflation is taking a
bite from wages, which were al-
ready stagnating during the best
of times under his predecessor.
The cost of living which domi-
nated the list of public concerns
before 2013 has returned back
with a vengeance. The only sil-
ver lining was that Malta was
spared from energy hikes thanks
to the hedging on gas prices, but
it remains to be seen whether
this will remain the case.
And with little political will to
rock the boat by raising the min-
imum wage, Labour still banks
on the trickle-down from sus-
tained economic growth. That
While the
second Gonzi
administration was
characterized by
stagnation, Abela is
keen on pressing the
accelerator after two
years of COVID
restrictions and now
the impact of the
war… and this will
make the search for
balance even more
difficult and elusive
also explains why Abela is hes-
itant on a host of other issues
like the need to regulate the gig
economy and the exploitation
of foreign workers. But now he
also needs to address immediate
concerns, and expectations are
high for income supplements
in the next budget to make up
for loss of income. In this sense
the EU’s relaxation of budgetary
rules during the pandemic, has
proved providential to Malta.
IVF yes, abortion
maybe?
NEWS
Following Joseph Muscat’s
playbook, Abela also used his
honeymoon period to deliver
a major liberal reform in the
shape of a new law aimed at
widening access to IVF, which
has further destabilised the PN
and exposed Bernard Grech’s
weakness as he flip-flopped in
another major U-turn on PGD
testing. Yet while Abela can eas-
ily project his party as more lib-
eral then the PN, abortion may
well be for Abela what divorce
was to Gonzi, where he may well
end up being overtaken by expo-
nents in his own party.
While there are clear signs of
trepidation in the aftermath of
the Prudente case, Abela may be
more flexible in assessing where
the debate is heading. Abela has
kept his silence on this issue, but
Chris Fearne’s announcement
of a review of abortion laws in
the wake of the Prudente case
offers an opportunity for Labour
to further test the waters.
A balancing act?
The next move was honouring
the pledge to shift the Ameri-
can University from Zonqor to
Smart City, in a bid to green-
wash his government while still
accommodating developers who
will benefit from an intensifica-
tion of development in the area.
And with the Planning Board
not meeting due to a major hic-
cup in the appointment of its
chairman, the honeymoon was
not marred by decisions on ma-
jor projects.
But much more lies in store
11
in the next months with ma-
jor decisions on road projects
and land reclamation being in
the offing, amidst talk on “the
need to balance environmental
and economic considerations”
– which is also reminiscent of
the Gonzi administration: hav-
ing delivered a knock-out blow
to the environment through the
extension of building bound-
aries in 2006, it became more
cautious after 2008.
But like Gonzi before him,
Abela shows no willingness to
change the rules of the plan-
ning game and his party is at a
loss when faced by civil society
resistance like Graffitti’s actions
in Comino.
Clearly under Abela, Labour’s
love affair with big developers
continues with permits still be-
ing dished to whet the appetite
of the likes of Joseph Portelli.
But Abela is increasingly vul-
nerable to criticism from La-
bour’s own grassroots. And
Labour officials with an axe to
grind, are now more likely to
tap in to discontentment on
environmental issues to send a
message to Abela.
While the second Gonzi ad-
ministration was characterized
by stagnation, Abela is keen on
pressing the accelerator after
two years of COVID restrictions
and now the impact of the war…
and this will make the search
for balance even more difficult
and elusive. So one may expect
a greater attempt to square the
circle and to redefine the bal-
ance.
12
NEWS
Olive farmer’s 50 years of work
perish in flames in Swieqi grassfire
Joe Caruana lost
around 250 olive trees
in the 30 May grassfire
in the Swieqi valley,
costing him some
€95,000
LUKE VELLA
A labour of love that lasted half a century
went up in flames for farmer Joe Caruana,
67 when on 30 May, he lost his 30-tumolo
olive grove to the flames of a grassfire that
erupted in the Wied il-Kbir in Swieqi.
Caruana’s family had worked the land
here for over 200 years, with Joe venturing
into oil production in the last years, where
he spent most of time attending to hun-
dreds of olive trees.
A month since losing his grove to the
Swieqi grassfire, the grim aftermath is vis-
ible for every-one to see: a vast amount
of burnt trees, grassland and the nearby
fields, with the odour of burnt wood still
persistent in the area.
In a tour of the grove, Caruana pointed at
the various number of trees that survived
the fires. Once utilised to grow seasonal
produce like potatoes, cauliflowers and
onions, Caruana later shifted his focus on-
to olive oil. “We still have a good number
of fruit trees, but the produce is for per-
Jose Caruana expressed disappointment that the fire-fighting efforts were mainly focused on the
villas overlooking the valley, whilst his trees were destroyed to ashes
sonal consumption. However, the produc-
tion of olive oil is commercialised. Last
year we managed to produce 274 litres of
pure olive oil; in between 2009 and 2021,
we produced over 1,990 litres. We started
out around 15 years ago and we kept in-
creasing the number of trees every year.”
Caruana remarked how he and his sib-
lings attend to their crops every day in-
cluding Sunday. “It takes a lot of work to
ultimately produce the olive oil. Towards
the end of October, the olives start to ma-
ture and the picking starts. We don’t use
any machines and we pick it all by hand.”
Caruana’s family does not use machines,
fearing they could damage the produce,
which ultimately affects the final product.
“We are usually around six people, my
siblings and some friends who come over
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
ier for the fire to spread rapidly. The Civil
Protection Department was quick to re-
spond, appearing on the spot instantly. But
Caruana expressed disappointment that
the fire-fighting efforts were mainly fo-
cused on the villas overlooking the valley,
whilst his trees were destroyed to ashes.
30 firefighters, four officers and 10 CPD
vehicles were deployed on the day and
over 120,000 litres of water were utilised.
“Luckily, since we plough our land, the fire
didn’t spread as much as it did in other
areas. But this is not the first time we had
grassfires in the area and we make sure to
plough often so as to minimise the risks.
Regretfully on that day, the winds did not
favour us,” Caruana said.
to help. The olives are stored in boxes in Despite the peril, Caruana did not aban-
fridges and when we collect around 400 don the place and stayed in his field until
kilograms. I take it all to Wardija where it
is crushed.”
The crushed olives are then left to settle
for around 12 days, after which the sedi-
ment is re-moved and the olive oil remains.
It was on 30 May, that Joe and his sister
were resting in the shade at 2pm, eating a
piece of bread, when they noticed a grass-
fire at a distance. “The fire seemed quite
distant but in around five minutes, the
whole valley was taken over by the flames,”
Caruana said. “Everywhere was on fire and
I can’t tell you the desperation I felt as 50
years of hard work perished in flames.”
Caruana explained that the fire originat-
ed from Wied il-Għomor in San Ġwann,
but the high winds on the day made it eas-
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
late in the evening. The CPD re-
turned to the site over the course
of the next four days, as some
carob trees kept on burning for at
least eight days.
Caruana estimates that the
damaged equipment and loss of
revenue from the burnt trees,
could have cost him around
€95,000. “The damages were ter-
rible, as some 250 olive trees were
completely or partially burnt
down.”
He said some of the olive trees
were around 30-35 years old.
Orange trees, fig trees, vines, fir
trees and cypress trees were also
burned down in the fires.
“We lost the whole irrigation
system in the fires and we now
have to start over from scratch,
spending a lot of time and money
in an attempt to salvage our oper-
ations,” Caruana said in despera-
tion. “We spoke to several ex-
perts who recommended that we
keep watering the trees continu-
ously, to aid in their recovery.”
Once he realised the extent
of the damage, Caruana even
thought of giving everything
up. “It didn’t take long before I
changed my mind, as I can’t im-
agine myself doing anything else.
No one takes farming away from
you, if you’re passionate about it.”
“We won’t make any revenue
this year and the next, as it will
take around two years for the ol-
ive trees to produce fruit again.
This also depends on the amount
of rainfall and most probably they
won’t produce as many olives as
they did before.”
An inquiry into the grassfire
has been launched and Caruana
provided the police with a break-
down of the expenses he now fac-
es. He remains sceptical that this
was a natural grassfire, suspect-
ing it was accidentally caused by
human intervention. “Someone
must have been burning some
material and probably underesti-
mated the severity of the wind,”
Caruana said.
Mental health commissioner
looking into controversial
lawyer warrant guidelines
Committee does not
respond to Justice
Minister’s concerns
KURT SANSONE
THE mental health commissioner is
looking into controversial guidelines
that require lawyers to divulge physi-
cal or mental health problems to obtain
their warrant.
Denis Vella Baldacchino said he will
be seeking a meeting with the commit-
tee that drew up the ‘fit and proper test’
to understand the reasoning behind the
guidelines and questionnaire that law-
yers have to fill.
The committee for lawyers and legal
procurators is headed by former chief
justice Silvio Camilleri, which falls un-
der the purview of the Commission for
the Administration of Justice, a constitu-
tional body. It was set up after changes to
the law last year.
“I want to understand the committee’s
reasoning behind such guidelines and the
relative questionnaire that lawyers have
to fill. I have to make sure that there is no
discrimination against anyone who dis-
closes any such personal information,”
Vella Baldacchino told MaltaToday.
The proposed test is at the heart of a
stand-off between the committee and
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard, who is
objecting to some of the invasive ques-
tions. The guidelines have to be approved
by the minister.
Attard told parliament last week that he
sent back the guidelines with some ob-
servations and changes.
The impasse is holding back the war-
ranting process for more than 100 law-
yers and legal procurators, who are
oblivious as to what the test contains.
The Justice Minister told this newspa-
per on Friday that he has not received
feedback from the committee to changes
he has proposed.
“Unfortunately, the Committee for
Lawyers and Procurators has not re-
plied back to the reservations raised and
changes proposed by the ministry,” At-
tard said.
The minister called an urgent meeting
last week with law student organisations,
representatives of the law faculty at the
university and the University Students’
NEWS
Former Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri heads the
committee for lawyers and legal procurators,
which falls under the purview of the Commission
for the Administration of Justice
Council, to keep them abreast of devel-
opments.
“During the meeting, I gave an overview
of the situation and there was agreement
on the concerns raised by the ministry
over the guidelines,” Attard said. “I am
willing to take every step possible to not
only ensure that this fit and proper test is
concluded successfully, but also that the
awarding ceremony for warrants is held
as quickly as possible.”
The test, seen by MaltaToday, contains
a section on health issues in which law-
yers are expected to declare current and
past physical or mental health problems
spanning a 10-year period.
Another probing question is whether
they have a drug, alcohol or gambling ad-
diction, or whether they had one in the
previous 10 years, irrespective of wheth-
er they have recovered.
The revelations have raised eyebrows
13
among lawyers who cannot complete
their warranting process. Lawyers have
to take written and oral exams before
filling in the new fit and proper ques-
tionnaire.
The written and oral components of
the warranting process were completed
a couple of months ago and lawyers are
now waiting for the latest impasse to be
resolved.
“We have absolutely no idea what this
fit and proper test contains but it is dis-
quieting to learn, thanks to the news-
paper, that it requires us to declare any
mental or physical issues,” one lawyer
told MaltaToday.
Divulging personal health matters
should be at applicant’s discretion
“It would be ludicrous
to request applicants to
specifically mention any
medical or psychological
conditions they suffer from
when applying for their
warrant”
Opposition justice spokesperson Karol
Aquilina said he does not have visibili-
ty of the draft guidelines but expressed
confidence that the committee is carry-
ing out its duties “diligently and profes-
sionally and that its proposals are meant
to elevate the standards of the legal pro-
fession and improve the administration
of justice”.
Aquilina said he expected the ministry
to publish the guidelines for public con-
sultation. Basing his comments on what
has been reported by MaltaToday, Aqui-
lina said most of the questions appear to
be in line with the discussions held dur-
ing the parliamentary process leading to
the setting up of the Committee for Ad-
vocates and Legal Procurators.
“However, it is to be noted that the fit
and proper test was always intended to
be a benchmark and not an exam one
has to pass. On this basis, it would be
ludicrous to request applicants to spe-
cifically mention any medical or psycho-
logical conditions they suffer from when
applying for their warrant. The ultimate
responsibility on whether such informa-
tion is passed on to the committee at ap-
plication stage should be entirely at the
applicant’s discretion,” Aquilina said.
14
Eight-year saga
to return frozen
Gaddafi millions
in Malta, to Libya
MATTHEW
AGIUS
Senior Court
Reporter
OVER €96 million in money
held by Bank of Valletta by the
heirs of the late son of Libyan
dictator Muammar Gaddafi,
will have to be disbursed in
favour of the Libyan State, af-
ter an eight-year court case in
Malta came to an end this week
with a decision in favour of the
plaintiff, the Libyan Attorney
General.
Gaddafi’s millions were his-
torically managed by the for-
mer Labour Party treasurer Joe
Sammut, an accountant who
had been facing proceedings in
court for creating companies
with false stock to secure resi-
dence permits for Libyan busi-
nessmen in Malta.
The cash funded Muatassim
Gaddafi’s playboy lifestyle,
with millions held in his vari-
ous American Express and Visa
credit card accounts.
The three accounts at Bank of
Valletta were held in the name
of Mezen Ltd and Capital Re-
sources, companies owned by
Gaddafi, but who appeared on
company documents under the
name Muatasimbllah Muam-
mar Abuminyar.
Muatassim, 36, who held the
rank of Brigadier in his private
army, died in a Libyan hospital
on 20 October 2011, after being
captured by rebels during the
fall of Sirte.
The Libyan Attorney General
had also accused Bank of Vallet-
ta of violating know-your-cus-
tomer rules that should have
NEWS
prevented it from opening an
account for Gaddafi in the first
place.
The Libyan Attorney Gener-
al was represented by Shazoo
Ghaznavi.
Libya’s claims were opposed
by Safia Farkash Gaddafi, the
69-year-old widow now living
in Oman with sons Hannibal
and Mohammad, and daughter
Aisha.
Safia Farkash’s lawyer, Char-
ilos ‘Harris’ Oikonomopoulos,
claimed that Muatassim Gadd-
afi had another heir: his hith-
erto unknown wife, the Dutch
model Lisa van Goinga and her
son.
Oikonomopoulos, appearing
as a special mandatory for one
of Muatassim Gaddafi’s heirs,
insisted that Gaddafi’s Malta
cash were his private funds and
did not belong to the govern-
ment. “You’ve been trying to
prove that the provenance of
his funds was illicit… there has
not been a single clue of a sin-
gle time of any amount coming
from any official or related Lib-
yan business,” the Greek lawyer
told the Libyan AG’s lawyer in
Malta. “These funds were pri-
vate funds, having nothing to do
with the Libyan state.”
Sammut had testified dur-
ing these proceedings on three
separate occasions. In January
2018, he had told the court that
as part of his role as an auditor,
he had set up the Maltese com-
pany Mezen International Lim-
ited for Muatassam Gaddafi in
2003 or 2004 and later, in 2010,
had also set up Capital resourc-
es Limited for him.
He had explained that Mezen
no longer held any assets, as
these had been transferred to
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
Capital Resources. Mezen had
then been transferred to Sam-
mut’s ownership in order for
him to wind it up, but this was
interrupted by the 2011 civil
war in Libya. The company was
“completely inactive,” he ex-
plained.
Muatassim Gaddafi was the
only shareholder in Capital
Resources, and as it had been
frozen just a few months after
being set up, no audits had ever
been carried out, nor annual ac-
counts or returns or any other
documents ever submitted.
Sammut said he had trans-
ferred around €50,000 from his
client account into another ac-
count held in his name and had
subsequently informed the At-
torney General and the Minis-
try for Foreign Affairs when this
account had been frozen.
Sammut had also testified to
having made the introductions
between Gaddafi, as a share-
holder of Mezen International,
to Bank of Valletta’s directors,
but had not participated in the to testify a second time in April The auditor had also exhibited
discussions about the opening 2019, during which hearing he copies of documents which he
of BOV accounts, which had had identified the individuals had passed on to the Sanctions
taken place between the bank who had been present for those Monitoring Board, which in-
and Gaddafi, directly. meetings which he had attend- cluded a summary of the money
Sammut said that besides in- ed, adding that according to his he held on behalf of Capital Re-
troducing the company’s func- own records, he had told them sources Limited.
tionaries and associates directly to carry out their own due dil- In December 2019, Sammut
to the bank’s CEO at the time, igence. testified again, confirming that
he had also submitted “the usu- Asked about what monies he part of the money pertaining to
al documents” including the had received from Capital Re- Capital Resources came from
Memorandum and Certificate sources Limited, Sammut con- Mezen International. He had
of Registration to the bank. He firmed that he had received no details about the original
claimed that in one meeting funds, but had never withdrawn source of the funds because he
which he had been involved them because he was never had not been involved in the
in, he had told bank officials to given a mandate to do so. The discussions which took place
carry out due diligence or file a vouchers for these monies could directly between the company
money laundering report if they be found in the company’s files, and the bank. He added that he
had difficulties relating to the which had been seized by the only kept bank statements for
provenance of the funds. police in view of international six years and confirmed that he
Sammut had been summoned sanctions. had no control over the compa-
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
ny’s assets. Mezen International
was more of a holding company,
Sammut had said, adding that it
also owned “two or three boats.”
Former BOV chief officer Ray
Aquilina also testified in 2019,
explaining that at the time, the
bank would carry out due dili-
gence on companies and benefi-
cial owners, but if the beneficial
owner was already a client of the
bank, as was the case here, this
due diligence was not deemed
necessary.
Muatassim Gaddafi’s widow,
Dutch model Lisa Jacqueline
van Goinga, submitted an af-
fidavit during the proceedings
asserting that Gaddafi only
had one son and that the assets
held by Capital Resources were
Left: Playboy Muatassim. Above, capture in Sirte: moments before his death in
2011, along with his father Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator (below)
“clean”, adding that this had
been vouched for by Sammut
and others. Van Goinga stat-
ed that the money had come
from her late husband’s busi-
ness before he started working
with the Libyan government,
as well as a multimillion- euro
insurance payment for the loss
of Gaddafi’s boat Che Guevara.
She claimed Gaddafi had want-
ed his son to inherit his estate,
but when cross-examined in
court, it emerged that she did
not entirely understand an Ar-
abic-language contract that she
had signed on her wedding day.
The judge questioned the wom-
an’s reasons for having waited
several years after the birth to
her son to also file a paternity
claim recognising Gaddafi as
NEWS
The Dutch glamour model Lisa van Goinga was
revealed to be Muatassim Gaddafi’s widow, but
the Maltese court questioned the woman’s reasons
for having waited several years after the birth to
her son to also file a paternity claim recognising
Gaddafi as the father
Maltese fixer: Joe Sammut managed Gaddafi’s BOV Visa Platinum card payments in Malta and
set up his Malta companies
made it difficult for the defend-
ants to summon their witnesses
and obtain the documentation
requested.
In view of this unique situ-
ation, the court said it would
seek satisfactory evidence from
what had been exhibited and
the legal submissions.
On the plea of prescription,
raised by the defendant, the
judge first had to establish
whether Libyan law or Maltese
law applied. After taking prin-
ciples discussed in authoritative
legal textbooks into account, as
well as the facts of the case, the
court said it was of the opinion
that the immediate and direct
effect of the damage was the
breaching of Libyan law. Also
in view of the fact that the dam-
age had occurred in Libyan ter-
ritory, the applicable law was
that of Libya, ruled the judge.
The court noted that the law
exhibited, which prohibited
members of the Libyan mili-
tary from engaging in business,
only appeared to apply to con-
scripts doing their mandatory
two years of military service. As
the companies were set up at a
the father. time when Muatassim Gaddafi
The court underlined the had been an officer for over two
“extremely particular” circum- years, this law did not apply,
stances of this case, in view of said the judge.
the civil war in Libya and the No marriage certificate had
impact it had on persons who been exhibited, said the court,
had an interest in the outcome but if Gaddafi and Van Goinga
of this case. Not only had the had indeed married each oth-
conflict resulted in Muatassim er, this must have taken place
Gaddafi’s death but it had also in Gaddafi’s final years of life.
15
Muatassim Gaddafi must have
made his fortune long before
that, said the court, as it was
unlikely that he was doing busi-
ness deals whilst trying to put
down a revolution.
Mezen International’s bank
statements showed that Mua-
tassim Gaddafi had received
millions of euros in his BOV
accounts. This was hard to rec-
oncile with the income he had
declared, even though he was
alleged to be running a busi-
ness, said the judge, pointing
out that no concrete evidence
of this business had ever been
exhibited.
Taking into account all the
evidence he had seen, the judge
said that the assets of the two
companies were both tainted by
the same illicit actions and had
also not been declared.
In view of this, the court or-
dered that the assets be re-
turned to the Libyan State.
However, the judge also ruled
that the allegation of money
laundering was not sufficiently
proven as it did not appear that
Gaddafi had saved the money
in the Maltese bank in a bid to
hide it, also pointing out that
the company shareholding was
in his own name.
Oikonomopoulos was assist-
ed by lawyer Louis Cassar Pul-
licino. Lawyer Simon Micallef
Stafrace was appointed by the
courts to act as curator on be-
half of the unknown heirs of
Muatassin Gaddafi.
16
Ministers sign off on higher prison sentence for animal abusers
MATTHEW VELLA
THE government will increase
the maximum prison sentence
for animal abuse from three to
a maximum five years, and in-
troduce a registry of convicted
abusers to prevent them from
keeping animals.
The new raft of amendments
to animal welfare laws were
approved by the Cabinet this
week after the closure of a
public consultation period on
the proposed rules.
Under the new rules, the vet-
erinary services directorate
will be granted the power for
spot inspections on premises
and farms that keep animals,
allowing the directorate great-
er discretion that it had in its
investigations.
The amendments are sepa-
rate as yet unfinished work on
zoo legislation, two years since
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
NEWS
a 2020 proposal to ban big-
cat cub petting inside zoos.
The proposal was withdrawn
following outrage by the zoo-
keeper Anton Cutajar.
Zoo regulations have so far
remained the same despite the
White Paper proposals.
Under the proposed animal
welfare rules, local councils
will deploy their own animal
welfare stewards to educate
animal owners on their legal
obligations.
The strategy calls for poten-
tial pet owners to be made
aware of the breed-specific re-
quirements before owning or
adopting certain animals.
Potential owners will be
made aware of the potential
costs associated with owning
certain breeds to avoid un-
sustainable financial burdens
The government will increase the maximum prison sentence for animal abuse from three to a maximum five years, and which would be detrimental to
introduce a registry of convicted abusers to prevent them from keeping animals animal health.

COMMENT
The Skinny
No 146 – The Humbling Fallibility of the AG’s Office
What are we skinning? The
humbling fallibility of the
Attorney General’s office.
Why are we skinning it? Be-
cause it serves as a healthy
reminder that we are all
humans who make mistakes,
even those at the highest
echelons of Malta’s legal
infrastructure. This is both
humbling and reassuring,
and therefore a boon in our
ongoing efforts at self-care
during tough times.
Sounds nice. Was this some
kind of government-spon-
sored wellbeing initiative?
If it was, I personally find
it nothing if not utterly
commendable. I’m all for my
tax money actually going to
a useful initiative that can
help me feel better about
myself and my shortcom-
ings.
Didn’t Robert Musumeci –
that other great soother of
many a developers’ mind
– in fact say that the Robert
Abela administration was
all about acknowledging
that people are ‘imperfect’
and should be given a break
from time to time? Yes, and
here we finally have that
theory crystallised in deci-
sive practice.
Neither is it surprising that
the former president of
Malta is running an entire
foundation based on the
concept of wellbeing. Yes,
because while the likes of
Musumeci carry on steam-
rolling across our natural
environment – the availa-
bility of green spaces being
a proven, key component of
ensuring the wellbeing of
a population – we can take
solace in her speeches and
photo opportunities to salve
our despair.
And in the meantime, the
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
JOSANNE CASSAR EDITORIAL
As prices keep going up, will No ‘Green Deal’
our lifestyles eventually without pain
come crashing down? PAGE 2
PAGE 6
MICHAEL SAVIOUR
FALZON BALZAN
A convenient No country for
technicality pregnant women
PAGE 7 PAGE 5
Malta, shrunk down MIRIAM DALLI There’s value in key values PAGE 13
Attorney General’s office
reminds us that if we make
any logistical judgements or
ethical errors of judgement,
we will find an empathetic
ear among the occupants
of its august office. Indeed:
the collapse of two key
cases – the alleged bribery
of a journalist, along with an
extradition attempt of a sus-
pected Maltese drug dealer
from Italy to Malta – on the
basis of misfiled paperwork
by the AG’s office is just the
kind of ‘whoopsie’ we can all
relate to.
The Labour administration
always did make a big
thing about being ‘close
to the people’. This is not
quite what I personally
had in mind when I heard
that, but it’s always nice
to be surprised by political
developments in one’s home
country.
But will this be it? Or will the
AG be helping our wellbeing
some more in the near fu-
ture? Well, Caqnu’s just been
arrested. I would bet a (tiny,
nay miniscule) fraction of
his unpaid taxes on another
inspirational and deeply
teachable mistake heading
our way pretty soon.
Do say: “A consistent streak
of supposed or actual
administrative errors from
the Attorney General’s office
cannot but stand as a deeply
worrying snapshot of the
dysfunctional state of our
institutions, no matter how
the overarching – and often This is what ESG is all
overdone – political rhetoric
chooses to paper over it.”
about: investing in the future
Don’t say: “In a time of in-
of our companies to ensure
flation and another looming that they can do well for their
financial crisis, perhaps
scrapping the office of the shareholders whilst doing good
Attorney General altogether
would be the kindest cut of
for the broader community
all?”
6
2
OPINION
maltatoday
Editorial
MaltaToday
10 years ago
3 July 2012
Migrant’s death: Soldiers are held
TWO officers from the detention services and
three soldiers from the Armed Forces have
been arrested in connection with the death of
a Malian man in their custody late on Friday
night.
A Malian man who sources named as
32-year-old Mohammed Abdalla, 32, report-
edly died while being driven by the officers to
the Paola health centre at around midnight on
Saturday morning.
Police sources told The Sunday Times a
post-mortem confirmed that Abdalla had sus-
tained multiple blows to the groin and lower
back.
They added he had not died of natural caus-
es and his death may have been caused by
several blows. The incident began on Friday
afternoon, when Abdalla reportedly turned up
at the Floriana health centre requesting medi-
cal attention.
It subsequently transpired that he had es-
caped from the Safi detention centre in Au-
gust 2009 and had never been apprehended.
Staff at the health centre alerted the police,
who took Abdalla to the Safi detention centre.
According to a detention services statement,
at this point Abdalla began to act aggressively
towards guards as well as other detainees,
prompting the officers to take him back to the
Floriana health centre and book him a psychi-
atric appointment for the following morning.
But upon his return to Safi, Abdalla report-
edly became aggressive once again, to the
point where he had to be moved to an individ-
ual guardroom.
Abdalla then somehow escaped from the
detention centre, although details of how he
managed to elude officers’ custody remain
sketchy. Officers eventually caught up with
him and apprehended him somewhere within
Ħal Safi village.
In a statement, the detention services said
that Abdalla attacked officers, biting and in-
juring one. The statement made no reference
to Abdalla being assaulted or injured, though
it pointed out he had been taken to Paola
health centre.
As they approached the health centre, of-
ficers noticed that Abdalla was not breathing
or showing any signs of life.
...
Quote of the Week
“It’s ugly and distasteful to render the
sensitive debate into an ‘us and them’ fight,
putting women vs unborn””
Former Nationalist Party MP
Therese Comodini Cachia on ex-EU
Commissioner Tonio Borg’s opinion piece
saying that Malta should not introduce
‘abortion on demand’
Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016
Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address
No ‘Green Deal’
without pain
TO European audiences who follow developments
in the EU’s Council of Ministers and the European
Parliament, the regional bloc’s Green Deal may often
feel like a positive and a beneficial phenomenon that
priorities green energy.
In Malta, we might experience it through initiatives
that hasten the transition towards cleaner energy: in
the form of solar or wind power, and electric cars. But
it is impossible to divorce this process towards carbon
neutrality, from the underlying geopolitics of oil and
gas – which will have to fuel the transition – as well
the war in Ukraine, which is now the greatest driver of
geopolitical risk.
Plans like REpowerEU want to accelerate the de-
ployment of clean energy and green hydrogen; but the
proposed timeframes are not helpful, in the context of
an immediate energy crisis of the kind the world faces
right now.
In terms of its effect on food-supply alone, the
war in Ukraine now dwarfs the concerns previously
experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mal-
ta sources most of its wheat, corn and barley from
Ukraine – and Russia, to a lesser extent – and import-
ers are already struggling to keep up with price hikes.
In some instances, a one-litre bottle of edible oil
has risen by as much as €1 over a matter of weeks; as
exports from Ukraine, the world’s largest producer of
sunflower oil, ground to a halt. This has pushed prices
of sunflower oil and alternatives up; and it is but one
reflection out of many, of the food inflation that is
currently biting hard into people’s pockets.
But there is also the energy crisis that Europe has to
deal with. The green transition is not just about sub-
stituting one form of energy for another, overnight. It
also involves readjusting a global energy system, that
includes generating that energy, storing and trans-
porting it – a process that will be inherently disrup-
tive.
Europe was already paying high prices for its Rus-
sian gas. With its climate ambitions to keep planetary
warming low, and reach net zero by 2050, the bloc
cannot forgo the use of oil, gas and even coal during
any recession.
This demand for hydrocarbons must be accompa-
nied by a very necessary, intensive investment in clean
energy – a very hard process, that gives Russia lever-
age - but it is also necessary that OPEC states, who
have the supply of oil readily on hand, patch up the
mismatches that Europe will encounter in the pace of
transition.
Europe has answered the call strongly to disentangle
itself from the Russian energy relationship, because
of a moral imperative not to fund the war. But this
maltatoday
maltatoday
| SUNDAY • 27•MARCH
| SUNDAY 2022
3 JULY 2022
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella
mvella@mediatoday.com.mt
E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt
does not mean that Europe is also in favour of wors-
ening the energy crisis at a time of ‘stagflation’ – slow
growth and high inflation. For in that scenario, Russia
only retains its high leverage.
Meanwhile, different viewpoints on the pain Europe
can endure are already evident, by recent sanctions
which separate pipeline oil imports from seaborne
imports. Even European Union energy commissioner
Kadri Simson has suggested that a possible goal of
sanctions would ultimately be to force Russia to offer
its energy at a discount, therefore reducing revenues
for the aggressor, and minimising pain for Europe.
Perhaps that is also why even the United States,
whose president previously pledged to make Saudi
Arabia a pariah for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, is
now visiting the country: demonstrating, in the pro-
cess, how the U.S.-Saudi relationship remains crucial
within the overarching debate on the energy crisis.
These ‘realpolitik’ concerns are not just matters for
the political establishment to deal with. Perhaps, at
its lowest level, it is for this reason that the Maltese
– according to the latest Eurobarometer survey – are
amongst the highest category (55%), fourth highest af-
ter Cyprus, Portugal and Bulgaria, to say they felt the
consequences of the war in Ukraine; and that it had
reduced their standard of living, much higher than the
40% European average.
Well over 71% of Maltese say they were not ready
for increases in food and energy prices from the war
on Ukraine, as opposed to the EU average of 40%.
And the Maltese (63%) preferred maintaining price
stability “even if it affects the defence of our common
European values” (EU 39%); but were less likely to
favour defending freedom and democracy (32%) if it
impacted cost of living (EU 59%).
In this, the Maltese were again the third highest in
prioritising price stability, after Hungary and Bulgaria.
But findings like these should not be met only by
the hackneyed phrase that the Maltese are ‘amoral’,
when it comes to international relations. Surely, the
distant events in Ukraine are manifesting themselves
in a more financially impactful manner: while keeping
the horror of war itself distant enough from the Mal-
tese.
But it is perhaps this ‘distant’ view of the effect of
the invasion that also chimes in with the realpolitik
fears and concerns about the effects of sanctions, and
how it impacts domestic politics.
For ultimately, it is not just the Maltese – or the
Hungarians, or Bulgarians - who have to prioritise
‘price stability’, in the delicate balancing-act of war.
All of Europe is now finding that it has to do the same
thing.
maltatoday
maltatoday || SUNDAY
SUNDAY •• 27 MARCH
3 JULY 2022
2022
Mikiel Galea
Honouring the
aged
THE Maltese Association of Ger-
ontology and Geriatrics (MAGG) is
honoured to showcase the permanent
art installation, by Mr Wallace Falzon,
that has been done in collaboration
with the Sliema Local Council.
The inauguration of this public art-
work, entitled ‘Lest We Forget’, will be
held by His Excellency George Vella,
President of Malta, at 7:30pm, Saturday
16 July, at Sliema Promenade, Fond
Għadir.
The world’s population is rapidly
ageing; indeed, the proportion of the
world’s older adults is estimated to will
almost double from about 12% to 22%,
Letters & Clarifications
between 2015 and 2050. In absolute
terms, this is an expected increase from
900 million to 2 billion people over the
age of 60.
It is one of the most significant de-
mographic and socioeconomic devel-
opments that is happening on a global
scale.
Malta is not exempt from this phe-
nomenon, as about 20% of the Maltese
population is already over the age of 60
years. This will put increased economic
and social demands on all countries.
At the same time, older people are
a precious, yet often ignored resource
that makes an important contribution
to the fabric of our societies. A resource
that societies seem slow to appreciate
and fully utilize the older persons’ ex-
pertise accumulated over so many years
of experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put
older people in a disadvantageous posi-
tion, from targeted public health meas-
ures to discriminatory discourses used
as well as stereotyping a generational
cohort.
Ageism and age discrimination vi-
olated the human rights of older per-
sons and exacerbated inequalities in
different ways. Hence, this sculpture,
commissioned by MAGG, holds a noble
cause as it commemorates those older
persons who have suffered isolation,
pain, or death during the COVID-19
pandemic, as well as acknowledge and
support the resilience of those people
who have forged successfully through it.
The sculpture consists of two figures
in metal, one a teenage girl and an
older woman touching the tip of their
fingers with each other. The concept is
three-fold; the touch signifies the psy-
chological relief following the end of the
COVID-19 isolations.
OPINION
LETTERS &
EDITORIAL
It also embodies the inter-genera-
tional resilience, where the younger
and older person support each other
through the tough times.
As well as the oscillation between
the phases of time, from past to future
and vice versa; the young child will one
day be the older person, and the older
person who looks at their past life in the
eyes of the youth.
Maltese Association of Gerontology
and Geriatrics
Clubs choose
Muscat for quick
profit
THE election of Joseph Muscat to
head the Premier League is just an
excuse to push for the commerciali-
sation of the football stadia premises.
This corresponds to Joseph Muscat’s
statement to “generate more business
and independent revenues”.
His election gave the following result:
Hibs, Hamrun, Floriana, Sirens, Mosta,
Marsaxlokk and Gżira voted in favour
of Muscat. Gudja, Santa Lucija, Birkir-
kara and Valletta voted against. Pietà,
3
Żebbuġ and Balzan abstained. If one
looks at the seven clubs voting in favour
of the internationally disgraced former
Prime Minister, one realises that the
presidents or close associates of these
clubs have strong interest in the build-
ing industry (Hamrun, Gżira, Mosta)
in catering (Marsaxlokk, Sirens), or are
industry captains (Hibs’s Bezzina, close
to Konrad Mizzi), or with multi busi-
ness interests (Floriana).
By roping in Muscat, these clubs are
hoping they can go into a frenzy of
building and commercial activity. Mon-
ey and quick profit is their major scope.
Unfortunately, they have not realised
that having as their frontman a proven
protector of political criminals and an
alleged assassin, Muscat will not only
smear the image of Maltese football but
will also continue to remind the rest of
the world of the terrible international
reputation the country has built for
itself under Muscat.
Lovers of Maltese football and of
Malta itself must unite to show one
and all that the majority of the country
is not driven by a craze for money and
power but by high ethical and moral
standards.
Arnold Cassola
Independent candidate
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
maltatoday
Get the critical
perspective on
politics, culture
and society
Be the first to enjoy our print
newspaper with a subscription

When you need to decode what politicians are saying, when

you want to understand why Malta’s crazy construction
industry is impacting upon your life, when you need to step
out of the social media and understand the world from a
different perspective, our journalists and columnists will
provide you with expert reporting, analysis and commentary.

Order now at maltatoday.uberflip.com

22
Y 20
2 MA 2022
PACE Y•2 JULY
PAUL
NDA Y•3
| SU
gle day ORIA
L NDA

y
a sin to | SU
alta day

Migg d
‘Not d where m EDIT about ato
war re not re is y, not malt
a l t u
estic e r e s’ c u t
Dom ence
th urse Agri d securi lklore’
J an
gh n W
enou TERVIE mal foo st ‘fo GE 2
Viol AR
CASS for a nor

y
D
IN ju
e
hav MT2
NNE PA
er
g l

a
eople JOSA e headin abnorma

produc
w
sa Do p t to kno ’
Mari eb

d
We’r er with lems
T
e r igh rtners Y.CO
M .M
Xuer t h ir pa tory?
summing prob
ODA

o
t h e LTAT
of nt his

t
ing: 3 .MA AN
Gam ese viole AGES 12-1 W WW
staff 6 BALZ nd
YING OUR

a
lt P R
LOU
BULL
a Ma stem O CO PAGE SAVI amation rts:
a

t
y OF N
ecos

l
reveals
MT2 ION TR U
TH IS Def ese cou ct
tudy of AEL alt effe

a
cycle OPIN MICH ON the Mchilling press
FALZ g for the e
on th PAGE 5
AY

m
and ND S
UND
ation AY A
ey? t i n
ON

Op ine GE 13
mon
ESD
EDN
e or Ukra 7 ge PA

i
6 RY W f
valu chan
E

e
V
HAT’S

E
PAGE
ENT

mate
HED
s and

D
95 BLIS i
• PU
ent c l

r
ye on
7
r par
E 117

e
An e

t
ISSU
lts fo
M

•
erer

ns Ma tract
022
AY 2
esu s Eng
COM

•W

ful r
2M
NDA
Y•2
ess Cyru
SU
succ
ering

y ru ent con
• TV

eliv
me d

n
gram

a
F pro runk d
own

p
ARTS

nt IV a , sh
nme Malten

com overnm
ny treatm
ts
over
ON Is
g Skfrionm IVF mbryo nPcerostte-ors
Ththe
e
ATI

t
a e Ebredth ) Ae Sta
STIG e dat nt to th

a
In alk
INVE eeplyty: it is med-

Priv ithout g
pre Our u(Dthori se you w l-
to 0 –n A s the nit. t then Va
14ctio 2019 d pay u l, same. Bu trance into ne
No te from
Data 20 shows es an Thneing the Welth
ALS

eo
provid g? n ng by uegh the en d that som ters
that e wesoskninnnelinru
and 20 g freezing en ci2020 throthe to fin plan
ar per nomelase
that egta is not
qu
n olind Malu- tsourcletta on e ly es of
Whatical p e, a seri
ERCI

ge
of a o
ar y to Circle ramasmplac . ed
in Mal hieving

IVF w
resultsAn0d-5,000inyeistr
ac ghraF prog h to ur way
even sults
of 4,h50
eault h mfromt’Xa singIV how e neeindyo g u to ru
n
any re mansmen th n ad yo retations
teseghover ns reveal as to
onst in s and bri th at’ll le
ers wen ra rp
MM

burial as ildre te
e u er- ciful inte to con-
e,
cave tinplge-bu s th Tr
yp
tem cl toccwesar ds BC,ian hout ofatmer k. One has ay a big
theci e
in
rov d mro
su
e n iu
o mv
the ng duca
illen
ar th
e ses etty qu ic ics pl
eticpde
& CO

genim toirze inbr(O diSS) pr ans-that genet

ow thne th eeH tr de
enddof lt ofn to contactbryo cluev erit, yes.
g n a ncy a reusu
y im
likelst
latiproiv y
gt fresehto a lack
em of ly pa
licab
n rt of ters
y plan or Hagar
al pr e e n ot bevin
en s du ex p m an
IEDS

to prereigner as suin .
rys-how at Ggantija
Dism, a lucrativ withfeforsri… w d ch . Gubes
ar vals anthrough n ual emyoug’lledfind
an
rates act that rivate
at
bo llowed f?
fo ninisg oit sewfe
inys k charim. Ze
eees ro? plenty
wean skal Qt by ere’s
SIF

owdnew th r tmen But th , and they

contr f its one p Why In arean s aaslan
gy? It’ddiatng ea
of ou ar
is onhe dep , a pic ture deed. them
Honoes lotly h taltboos wPhPen Zeromine space for look cute a
e d P
CLAS

ben any, an t br ee e m of ly
in
andto ea th shot binogh. prog ra tu al dle of
che p-
u lau IVF hasmay ac in the mid crifice.
comped attemp last th Cher good years
g forgaes of an last two tive relo- dg er place of
ed sa
aimin
a fail tsourcing I V F
em er th e p o si fo rm
h for ieve €1.5 ass
whic led to ach an annual ern- weed and gr around
at ou rnment’s stions strug
g
spite
of
by th
e gov Oh, s naturally, ‘life finds
go v e s q u e lts in nancing grow . Indeed sly
nded
su
aise fi em .. m ou
illion th fa
unit r e state-fu uction
’, as a istory
r m t. a way siastic preh
ds fo en thu
t h
on ed rep ro d d th ousan – af- m
P A G ES 2-3 en ff once sa
id.
pai State lion bu ark
assist e
it is th e ssic P
And F cycle by e €1.6 mil in g Jura as
back t Quotin me across insult to
ser vic
er- IV th
e op each won unit may cohing of an work
e privat wed to ter having t up the to co llec
et e
m e, th was allo hout to se s role is som ers whos to here.
ra m it n d er it sear ch e
prog herubino ssion w n or te 4 – but
ag -
the re paying hom ace them
LA ar s. at o r C co nce te n sio 2 01 r w e’re tter br insults
VEL o ye in th
e t ex about I
ou they be eadier
HEW - st tw rates ntrac Well, for even h ion of the .
MATT n m ent-fi fo r the la ry IVF out reta formal co e m e laughors, then - t and lv es se ct tari at
gov er ater expired satisfac to y Mak ancest ere shor se n
ons ab the an
ai en
e at M a cert comm
servic lic-private
un uesti f ewal. inbred u. They w embers of at from se online
TA’S
MAL fertility With raising q ficiency o ity ren dare yoated with mShouldn’t
th Malte rce
d a p ub sp en t
at ar e d ef fe rt il
re . at will fo find-
nance ospital is an s th
a th e success ernment’
has proc ily k r
n fam u? u thin n thei e
hich perating v their ow gh for yo Do yo look upo t? Quite th
Dei H ship w s th tese go to h
er ars o ite it Mal be en
ou such them a new lig
partn st two ye n, desp wards
aving ncy to on-slap- a ings in y.
the
things: eed
la at io h de l
th e p er io n te n
Your , bordering- speak to con trar en. I’l
ive o ncess ion, th
lucrat ment co lebrat ampagne
e mainmove. We nt just
es
visual umour do tendency
gover
n h se for ce
Cause pop the to wallow
ch
k thre
and reused, no
stick Malte stage
ular thin
ed to re nsume
e on e
partic ds the sam ntingly let them ntinu
we co y
We ne e create, co that can beume in a war
der
towar reen… Hau e study un e while here.
will
and sc ting that th even hav down istory g,
es ay gh ’s preh tin
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022 5

OPINION

Saviour Balzan

A boy-scout cannot win elections

THERE are two things that hap-

pen to you when you exit pol-
itics. You either become more
cynical about politics – or else
you become more truthful to
yourself, less hypocritical and
start speaking the truth more
freely.
Therese Comodini Cachia, the
former Nationalist MEP and
MP, in my view falls in the sec-
ond category.
I may not agree with all her
viewpoints, but her decision to
stand up to Tonio Borg’s dia-
tribe in the press against the
pro-choice lobby was com-
mendable.
Comodini Cachia did not at
least mince her words when Jo-
seph Muscat chose to get back
into the limelight with his role
representing Malta Premier
league clubs.
I guess Hibs fan and football
fanatic Jason Azzopardi, anoth-
er former MP, chose not to say
anything about Muscat, in full
cognisance that Hibs actually
backed Muscat’s nomination.
Such is life!
When Tonio Borg was quizzed
in 2012 as a nominee for the
EC’s health and consumer com- – which I doubt – she would has been abandoned by most, Bernard Grech knows that he Labour.
missioner after the forced resig- be taking a different stand on if not all his advisers and close cannot win the next European That this government needs to
nation of John Dalli, Borg was abortion. aides. And it is now that he elections in 2024. have a watchdog goes without
very careful not to irritate MEPs Abortion is certainly no needs the most support and He lacks the leader’s gravitas, saying. But you cannot confront
who questioned him about light-hearted subject, but it inspiration: why they chose to the charisma, the rhetorical a government without an oppo-
abortion. cannot be seen from the polit- leave him now, beggar’s belief. will-power and vision to pull sition.
In 2012 Borg was careful not to ical lens of 2012. That political His former campaign manag- the electorate towards the Na- And you cannot have an oppo-
say the wrong thing. After hav- class is totally out of synch with er Chris Peregin vowed to help tionalist Party and away from sition if its leader is a boy scout.
ing served as Lawrence Gonzi’s today’s society. Grech save the country from its
deputy and as self-appointed Instead of scribbling about rot, quitting the day after the
arch-conservative persecutor abortion, Borg would be bet- most damaging electoral result
of the ‘liberal elite’, Borg landed ter off reflecting on his time as ever experienced by the PN, a
himself with sizeable Commis- home affairs minister, and the party now seemingly in a state
sioner’s pension by assuring his legacy of some his decisions of irreversible decay.
MEP inquisitors that he would there; or perhaps acknowledge Grech’s new deputy-to-be,
uphold women’s rights, gay that his time together with Law- Alex Perici Calascione, was as
rights and all that.
It was, in similar fashion, the
rence Gonzi contributed to the
spiralling demise of the Nation-
much a surprise for us as Grech
himself. For it is inconceivable
Grech knows he cannot win the next
same kind of declaration of faith
of Roberta Metsola, when she
alist Party, with the hubris they
showed that started a down-
that a leader of a party does
not attempt to manoeuvre the
European elections... he lacks gravitas,
needed the backing of Renew, ward trend. choice of his deputy leader. I charisma, rhetorical will-power and the
the liberals under the Macronite You could say that that trend guess that’s Grech for you.
wave of politics, and proceeded has now brought the party to What’s more worrying is that vision to pull the electorate away from
to sign the Simone Veil Pact so
as to quell any French doubts
the Bernard Grech leadership,
a politician who seems to lack
many loyal Nationalists have
given up trying to change what’s
Labour
on her commitment to repro- the respect of his peers, and is wrong from within. They are
ductive rights. now hanging on to his post for grouping together so that when
I’m sure that, had she decid- reasons known only to himself. time comes, they will simply
ed to return to Maltese politics Grech is out of his depth. He move in and jack him out.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
Josanne Cassar
As prices keep going up, will our lifestyles
eventually come crashing down?
LATELY, every conversation
seems to inevitably turn to how
expensive everything has be-
come. The cost of living has been
escalating for some time for a
variety of reasons, ranging from
Brexit to Covid and the Ukraine
war which have all caused the
cost of freight and food supplies
to skyrocket. There have been
rumblings for months that the
accumulative domino effect was
going to hit us eventually, but
people seemed to be on an unin-
hibited roll, living their lives and
spending in blind oblivion. Now,
however, many are really start-
ing to feel the pinch and almost
belatedly realising that they have
to cut back.
With salaries remaining the
same (and being on the low end
of the scale across the board
in almost very sector when
compared to other countries)
– there is only so much you
can stretch your pay cheque.
In fact, for the first time, I am
hearing people say that they
have simply stopped dining out
because restaurant prices have
become exorbitant, preferring
to save their money and travel
instead.
Now for Malta this is a big
deal, because going out to eat is
considered one of our favour-
ite ways of socialising. We love
getting dressed up (or dressing
casually down) and meeting up
with friends and family over a
meal.
The way things are going,
however, the eye-watering
prices are forcing many to stay
home and organise a rooftop
BBQ instead. It is only those
eateries which are tucked away
in less commercial areas, where
the rent is not so steep, which
might be managing to keep
their prices as they were a few
years ago.
There is also the suspicion
(which may or may not be
well-founded) that restauran-
teurs are using the above-men-
tioned factors as an excuse to
raise their prices unnecessarily,
thus taking advantage of the
situation. Many have ended
up in a vicious cycle: a drop in
customers means they are not
covering their costs so they
raise prices to break even, los-
ing even more customers in
the process. Whatever the rea-
son may be, people are voting
with their feet, and taking their
business and hard-earned Eu-
ros, elsewhere.
Shopping for groceries has al-
so served as a cold shower for
many. I once got home after
spending €40, looked at what
I had bought spread out on my
kitchen table and realised that
there was really nothing which
could make a meal.
They were just random items
I had run out of. Probably for
the first time in my life I sat
down and started comparing
prices online between the var-
ious supermarkets to see which
one gave the most value for
money.
I used to think that saving a
few cents here and there was
not worth driving around for
bargains because you end up
spending more on petrol, but
the shock of those €40 spent
on a few items could not be ig-
nored. These days with online
shopping being offered by most
major supermarkets (one of
the few silver linings brought
about by Covid), it has become
even easier to pick and choose
where to shop.
In fact, one software devel-
oper, Manolis Chountasis,
seemed to have read my mind
because he has created a site
which compares prices across
10 leading supermarkets in
Malta called cheaptrolley.com.
What spurred him to do it
was an experience similar to
mine…he was gazing at his bill
and his shopping and suddenly
realised how little he had actu-
ally bought.
What he found is that there
isn’t really a single cheap su-
permarket in Malta – “some
products are cheap at one su-
permarket, while other prod-
ucts are cheap at other super-
markets”.
Speaking to Lovin’ Malta he
said, “By using our website, us-
ers can prepare their shopping
list and see how much money
they are going to spend; where
they can save money and keep
on their budget.”
This concept, which is rela-
tively new here, is used abroad
all the time, of course. Con-
sumer watchdogs are always
comparing prices and giving
the public pointers on how to
get the best deals.
Breakfast shows and daytime
programming often feature
guests whose job it is to look
around for ways to save money
and pass this information on to
viewers, especially in the cur-
rent climate when inflation has
hit our pockets so deeply.
At least we have moved a step
forward because supermarkets
are now openly posting their
prices online, so that a com-
parison can be made from the
comfort of your own home
without having to physically
drive round in this sweltering
heat, with a list and a calcula-
tor.
Unfortunately, when it comes
to other retail sectors, howev-
er, many are still guarding their
prices as if they were top secret
KGB files.
They advertise their products
constantly on Facebook but
when you ask them how much,
the shop owners reply ‘sent you
a PM’ as if it is a hush-hush op-
eration which requires a secret
code and mysterious hand sig-
nals.
This really has to stop be-
cause it is highly irritating and
counter-productive. I’m pre-
suming they persist with this
practice because they are afraid
their competitors will under-
cut them if prices are listed
openly but really, consumers
look for many factors when it
comes to buying certain things
(especially when forking out a
lot of money). The price is im-
portant, but so is quality and
above all customer service and
after sales.
As prices rise, people will do
their utmost to search for al-
ternatives.
One sector which has suf-
fered greatly on the local mar-
5
OPINION
ket is anything for the home, bars was ridiculous. My ears
from furniture to kitchens, were starting to bleed so we
with many travelling to neigh- headed in the opposite direc-
bouring Sicily and buying tion until we thankfully found
everything from there. a wine bar with muted music. I
Who can blame them when regret not recording the noise
they can get what they want because I would have sent it to
for sometimes half the price? the Prime Minister and ask him
I think the surreal experienc- for his reaction.
es we endured with Covid re- Alternatively someone should
strictions have also made many go underneath his bedroom
people re-think their priorities window, carrying a boom box,
and shift their way of thinking like John Cusack in “Say An-
about what to spend thousands ything”. But rather than a ro-
of euros on. mantic serenade, I would turn
Many couples, for example, up the volume on the loudest
are no longer so determined to music I could think of and let
have a wedding on a grand scale it play for five hours straight…
à la Maltaise, but have trimmed just so that he can get a taste of
down their expenses by having what Valletta residents are be-
a smaller guest list, and doing ing forced to endure.
away with a lot of what was
once considered “must haves”.
After all, there are no rule
books in life except the ones
which society forces upon us –
but, as many have realised, the
sky won’t come falling down if
you do things your way.
Of course, this does not mean
that everyone has cut back - I think the surreal
there are still indications that
some pockets of our social fab- experiences we
ric persist in living a lifestyle
which is beyond their means.
endured with Covid
How long can it realistically
last though before it all finally
restrictions have
catches up with them? also made many
A cacophony of noise people re-think
I went into Valletta on Friday
night to watch a film, the first
their priorities and
time since the new amendment
allowing music to be played
shift their way of
outdoors until 1am. Even at thinking about what
9pm however, there were areas
where the noise was unbeara- to spend thousands
ble.
I don’t know about you, but
of euros on
the prospect of a singer one
foot away from me, belting out
tunes into a microphone as I eat
dinner is the opposite of relax-
ation. One singer was so close
to the diners she could practi-
cally help herself to a bread roll
between songs. This scenario
repeated itself throughout Re-
public Street.
As we came out of the cinema
at 11:30am, the cacophony of
noise spilling out from nearby
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
A convenient technicality
LAST Monday two lawyers
were cleared of the charge of at-
tempting to bribe a journalist on
a technicality. The magistrate
ruled that although the two law-
yers had been charged with ac-
tive bribery and the compilation
of evidence concerned that of-
fence, in the note for referral the
Attorney General had indicated
another provision of the law that
concerned passive bribery in the
private sector, when the case was
one of attempted, active bribery.
Humans are always subject to
error. But some mistakes are
unpardonable. As Dom Mintoff
once said, when he pushed for
the ousting of former GWU su-
premo Joe Attard Kingswell,
there are mistakes that cannot be
erased by a rubber. Erasing mis-
takes in this way belongs to the
life of schoolchildren and not to
real adult life in which the coun-
try’s Attorney General has a most
important role in our society.
One must not forget that the
current Attorney General was al-
so involved in an agreed plea-bar-
gain in the case of Daren Debono
– accused of being involved in the
shooting in a burglary attempt at
HSBC – who promised to testify
against other suspects if the level
of charges against him was re-
duced. He subsequently refused
to testify as promised, saying he
feared for his son’s safety, with
the Attorney General ending up
as an idiot that could hardly hide
her blushes.
Assuming that the latest blun-
der by the Attorney General was
another naive blunder, there is
no doubt that the present incum-
bent of this very important office
in our judicial system is not fit
for purpose.
Waiting for the whole process
to end, whatever that means, as
some have touted, is of no satis-
faction to the general public.
Historically, the persons who
occupied the post of Attorney
General in Malta, more often
than not, were among the finest
legal minds that had the privilege
of serving this country. The two
stupid mistakes of the present
incumbent is an insult to their
memory and to the legal profes-
Michael Falzon
sion in general.
Many suspect that the latest
mistake was no mistake at all.
There is no proof that the error
was made maliciously but the
lack of confidence that the gen-
eral public has in our judicial
system leads people to suspect
all sorts of backroom deals. As
usual, public perception leads
to hearsay that adds the imagi-
nary cherry on the cake, whether
there is such a cherry or not.
The mistake is serious enough;
so much so that even assuming it
was done innocently one cannot
absolve the Attorney General of
its gravity. It is so serious that it
has continued to help the ero-
sion of public confidence in our
judicial system – something that
can only be recovered with the
resignation of the Attorney Gen-
eral herself.
I rarely join the chorus of those
who are always asking for the res-
ignations of people with whom
they disagree, but in this case
the Attorney General is so much
at fault, that the country has no
alternative but to insist for her
resignation. Her remaining in
office will serve to continue to
erode the trust and confidence
that the general public should
have in the office she occupies
and is therefore a dangerous
prospect.
It has been said that the legal
process has not been exhausted
and therefore one should not
arrive at premature conclusions.
For many, this is lawyer-speak
aimed at prolonging the time be-
fore the definite decision is tak-
en... or for the whole incident to
be forgotten. This may not be the
case, but this is what the majority
of the public perceives.
An appeal against the sentence
will hardly serve any purpose
as it is improbable that such an
appeal can overturn the Magis-
trate’s decision, considering the
way this decision was delivered.
The Chamber of Advocates has
refused to comment on the case,
arguing there is an ongoing in-
ternal investigation and it would
be premature to comment before
that is concluded. The investiga-
tion, however, regards solely the
Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg
merits of the case against the two
lawyers in question and also in-
volves the possible breach of the
advocates’ code of ethics. This is
a separate issue from the blatant
error in the charge sheet made by
the AG’s office.
So who is there to defend the
public against this injustice?
Cleaning up the ketchup
A week ago, practically no one
– either in the US or in the rest of
the universe – knew who Cassidy
Hutchinson was.
She was the former White
House aide who last Tuesday de-
livered the most alarming testi-
mony yet about Donald Trump’s
behaviour during the attack on
the US Capitol in Washington
on the 6th January 2021.
Trump’s presidency and its af-
termath – his actions in office
and his perpetuation of the lie
that the 2020 election was rife
with fraud and therefore sto-
len – have left many Americans
without the ability to be shocked
or surprised, whether through
fatigue or mere disinterest. In
measured and careful language,
Hutchinson has exposed that in-
difference for what it is.
She explained that she literally
cleaned up after Trump by help-
ing a White House valet scrub
ketchup off the wall after Trump
7
OPINION
micfal45@gmail.com
threw a plate in fury over his at-
torney general’s conclusion that
voter fraud had not caused his
election loss.
From her courageous testimo-
ny, it was confirmed that Trump
knew – or refused to hear – that
he did not win in November
Assuming that 2020; that he had directed his
loyalists to launch a barrage of
the latest blunder schemes to invalidate the vote
by the Attorney in several states and had tried to
capture the Justice Department
General was as part of his plan to overturn
the election. It also resulted that
another naive Trump on January 6 aimed a vi-
olent crowd at his own vice pres-
blunder, there is ident and the members of the
no doubt that the US Congress, and that he knew
that this crowd was armed and
present incumbent dangerous. He even wanted to
personally lead the mob to stop
of this very Congress from meeting and end
the threat to his continued rule
important office as president.
in our judicial Hutchinson told the House
select committee investigating
system is not fit for the January 6 incidents: “As an
American, I was disgusted. It was
purpose unpatriotic. It was un-American.
We were watching the Capitol
building get defaced over a lie.”
Trump dismissed Hutchinson
as a ‘phony’ – someone whom he
hardly knew, though he has done
that frequently with people he
knows well but whose words he
did not like.
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

INTERVIEW

How can it make sense to kill s

Raphael Vassallo
rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt

Veganism is a growing trend. But environmentalist,

vegan and End The Slaughter campaigner DARRYL
GRIMA argues that this may well be a reaction to the
sheer ‘insanity’ of today’s global food industry

According to yesterday’s head-
lines: ‘Veganism on the rise in
the EU’. That seems to be true
of Malta [we met for this in-
terview at a vegan restaurant,
for instance]. Yet it was only a
few years ago, that vegetari-
anism – let alone veganism –
was more or less unheard of,
locally. You were one of only a
handful of pioneers (including
the late Julian Manduca), back
in the 1980s: and let’s face it,
you were all widely regarded as
‘extremists’, at the time. Not so
much today, however. So first
of all: how do you account for
this change?
Let me start with this: I be-
came a vegetarian when I was
18. At the time, I was a member
of ‘Zaghzagh Ghall-Ambjent’:
along with Julian Manduca –
that treasured soul - and the rest
of the ‘gang’. We weren’t all veg-
etarians: some of us switched;
others – like myself – hadn’t
taken the plunge, yet.
But we were all environmen-
talists; which basically meant we
were all hunting abolitionists. As
such, we used to have these reg-
ular conversations (or ‘discus-
sions’, or ‘arguments’: call them
what you will) with hunters…
And time and time again, I
found myself confronted with
the same old question: “If it’s
OK for you to eat chicken… why
can’t I eat quail (or turtle dove,
etc.)?’ This went on, and on…
and on, and on… until eventual-
ly, I said to myself: ‘Right! Now
is the time to cut this argument
out, once and for all. I already
believe in it anyway; I don’t
WANT to kill animals…’
So today, I actually feel the
need – and I always say this – to
thank the hunters, for giving me
that last little push I needed, to
finally go vegetarian.
But like you said, it was a dif-
ferent time, back then…
… and not exactly an easy one
to be a Vegan, either: when
most people’s idea of vegetar-
ianism, was straight out of ‘My
Big Fat Greek Wedding’ (‘Don’t
eat no meat? Ok, I make lamb!’)
[Laughing] It was impossible,
quite frankly! I would go out to
restaurants with friends: and the
only thing available for me on the
menu, was the side-salad. And
that’s just when it came to food.
At the time, you couldn’t ask for
‘plant-based milk’ at a café… and
still less, would you find super-
market shelves stacked with dif-
ferent varieties of it.
No: to get Soy Milk, back then,
you had to first buy the soy
chunks from the only place that
provided them - ‘Good Earth’
- then leave them to soak over-
night, and cook them the follow-
ing morning. And it tasted really
bad, too: nothing like the ready-
made milks you can buy from
any supermarket today…
So yes: it is a totally different
situation, now. But as for what
actually brought about all these
changes: I’m not so certain, an-
ymore.
At first, I used to think that,
when Malta became more ‘Eu-
ropean’ – and more Europeans
started coming to Malta – that
was what mainly drove the
change. But I’m beginning to re-
alise that there are also a lot of
‘silent Maltese’, out there, who
have undergone that change for
themselves. Or who are in the
process of doing so, anyway.
Because just as in the rest of
Europe, the data tells us that the
number of ‘flexitarians’ here is
also on the increase, big-time…
‘Flexitarians’…?
Flexitarians are those indi-
viduals who haven’t chosen to
become vegetarian, or vegan…
but have said: “I am going to re-
duce [my meat intake]’ So rather
than cooking their Spaghetti Bo-
lognese with the usual minced-
meat, they will buy a packet of
vegan, plant-based mince in-
stead.
And when it comes to plant-
based milk, alone: the data also
shows - and this is why the dairy
industry is so scared right now,
in fact – that the major battle in
supermarkets is no longer be-
tween ‘long-life’ and ‘fresh’ milk,
as it was until recently… it’s now
‘plant-based’ versus ‘dairy’.
And it’s a direct confrontation:
which I believe that plant-based
will eventually win, in the end.
Already, plant-based milks are
replacing long-life, on super-
market shelves; and in fact, the
only reason why plant-based
hasn’t already won the battle al-
together, is…
I think I can guess: ‘price’, per-
haps? After all, they are around
three times more expensive,
than regular cow’s milk…
Yes, the price-difference is un-
doubtedly what’s holding people
back. But it doesn’t have to be
that way.
If you look at the situation in
the Netherlands, for instance
– and I mention the Nether-
lands, because like most north-
ern European countries, it has
a strong local ‘dairy tradition’ –
plant-based milk is now actually
around one cent cheaper than
cow’s milk. Why? Because the
demand has grown so high, that
they are actually positioning
those products even cheaper…
But the demand has clearly
grown here, too: so why isn’t
the same thing happening lo-
cally?
Ah. That brings us to the big
irony in all this. Apart from
the fact that the supermarkets
themselves claim a massive
mark-up, on imported plant-
based products… Benna [thanks
to its market-strength] muscles
a much lower mark-up. So if,
for every one euro the consumer
spends on milk, the supermarket
will take 10-20c for Benna prod-
ucts… it will take 20-40c, for
plant-based milk.
If, on the other hand, the mark-
ups were the same: I can assure
you that the price of plant-based
milk would come down. So
that’s already one thing that’s
unfair: not just on vegans, but on
consumers in general. They all
end up paying a lot more money,
than they really should…
But on top of that: Benna al-
so receives government subsi-
dies, far in excess of other sec-
tors of the food-market. And
while some plant-based milks
are subject to 18% VAT – if I’m
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
six million animals an hour?
not mistaken: the ‘unsweetened’
versions, too; not even, as one
might expect, the ones ‘with
added sugar’ - Benna products
are VAT-exempt.
So it’s all nonsensical, if you
ask me. Even looking at it from a
purely health perspective: Malta
is known to have high levels of
cholesterol, for instance. You do
not get cholesterol from drink-
ing almond, or soy milk; but you
can get it from drinking cow’s
milk – or goat’s milk, or any
other dairy product. What sense
does it make, then, to subsidise
the less healthy of those two
options… while slapping extra
charges, on the healthier one?
Even health-wise, then: we
are simply not putting the right
prices, on the right products…
But there’s more to it than
health, isn’t there? You are al-
so a member of the ‘End The
Slaughter-Age’ Campaign,
which argues that all ani-
mal-based food industries –
meat, fish, dairy, eggs, etc. –
have a devastating impact on
the environment. How much
of this recent veganism trend,
would you say, is down to that
sort of concern?
Let me put it this way:
everything I just said about the
price of milk-products in Mal-
ta, applies just as much to how
Europe approaches the same is-
sues.
Right now, for instance, Europe
is consistently talking about the
need to ‘Go Green’: ‘Green Ener-
gy’… the ‘Green Deal’… ‘Green
everything’, basically. And yet,
the greenest thing there is, is a
plant-based diet. There is noth-
ing greener than that. Because
we know that the meat industry,
for example – and cows, in par-
ticular – generates more than
15% of greenhouse gases, glob-
ally.
So what we are saying, with the
‘End the Slaughter Age’, is that
there are two options that we
can take. We can either go along
with a situation whereby Eu-
rope remains utterly dominated
by these strong lobbies – the
meat lobby; the dairy lobby; the
fisheries lobby, etc. – that are
basically contributing to (and
profiteering from) the global en-
vironmental problem…
Or else, we can explore other,
greener options…
Such as what, though? Leav-
ing aside that any individual
always has the option to ‘go
vegetarian’ – as you did, when
you were 18 - the reality is that
most of Europe will remain, to
some degree, ‘meat-eating’: at
least, for the foreseeable fu-
ture. What are you actually pro-
posing, then?
Well, a little more fairness in
the distribution of public funds
would be a good start. If I’m
not mistaken, last year’s budget
for the Common Agricultural
Policy was around E55 billion.
How much of that ended up
funding the meat, fish and dairy
industries? How much of it was
invested in more environmen-
tally-friendly technologies, that
do not involve the killing of any
animals?
That’s precisely what I mean,
though: if you remove ‘killing
animals’ from the equation al-
together, the only remaining
solution is for everyone to sim-
ply ‘stop eating meat’. I know
that’s your ultimate goal, as a
Vegan, but… how realistic is
that, in practice?
No, there are other options.
In Israel, for example, there are
already shops selling ‘chicken’,
made out of lab-meat. No chick-
ens need to be killed in the pro-
cess: it involves simply ‘growing’
the meat, in a controlled envi-
ronment, from a few cells. And
no antibiotics or steroids are
needed, either.
As for the end product itself:
it is identical to chicken-tissue.
It’s basically the same meat,
produced in a more environ-
mentally-friendly way. And the
same technology is already be-
ing used to make burgers, sau-
sages, and so on, in America,
and other parts of the world.
Another technology we could
be talking about more, is hy-
droponics. In a very small, very
hot island like ours: wouldn’t
that be a practical solution to
our food-supply problems? A
closed hydroponics system, that
is designed to waste as little wa-
INTERVIEW
ter as possible?
There are even supermarkets,
elsewhere, that have started hy-
droponically growing their own
vegetables, and selling them
at the same site: removing the
need for any form of transpor-
tation whatsoever…
Now: if you take all that as an
example of what we COULD be
doing – not just for the sake of
‘not killing animals’; but also for
the sake of the environment,
as a whole – and compare it to
what we actually ARE doing…
it’s insane, quite frankly.
Let me put it to you in anoth-
er way. According to official
data, we, as human beings, kill
around six million animals… an
hour. In the EU alone, nearly
360 million pigs, sheep, goats
and cattle - as well as several
billion poultry - are killed in
slaughterhouses, every year.
And that’s excluding fish, by
the way. Because if we also in-
clude fish, it becomes almost
impossible to even quantify.
The official measurement used
is ‘tonnage’; and according to
some equations – because it’s
very difficult to equate, precise-
ly – we could be killing as many
as 2 trillion fish, annually…
And that’s just… absurd. It’s
not just ‘wrong’, or ‘bad’: it’s
totally illogical. Totally insane.
We are depleting our natural
environment, on such an in-
dustrial scale, that… just to give
one example: our own Mediter-
ranean Sea is now so severely
over-fished, that local fisheries
are extending their operations
to the Pacific (having already
depleted the Atlantic, in be-
tween…)
If I’m understanding correctly:
you seem to be implying that
this same environmental deg-
radation, has now grown so
alarmingly visible – and yes:
so ‘totally insane’, as you put
it – that people are beginning
to change their own eating
habits, as a way of protesting
against it?
Perhaps, in a sense. But it’s not
just about eating habits. I be-
lieve there are a number of pil-
lars behind veganism. It’s more
than just ‘the food you eat’… or
even the ‘clothes you wear’, or
the ‘cosmetics you use’, and so
on. It’s a complete lifestyle.
In fact, there was even a legal
case, in the UK, because some-
9
one wanted to grant veganism
the status of a ‘religion’. Now:
I don’t agree with that, myself.
Certainly, I don’t believe in
any God shaped like a ‘Brussels
Sprout in the Sky’…
… but I would say that it does
have the same sort of holistic
vision. One ‘leg of the chair’, so
to speak, is Animal Rights; and
justice for animals in general.
Another is ‘environmental jus-
tice’; the next one is ‘health’ – in
other words, justice for humans
– and finally, there is ‘social jus-
tice’.
This is why I find it difficult to
accept that there are so many
different labels, to describe the
same thing. ‘Veganism’ is one
label; ‘Fair Trade’ is another…
but me, there is no difference
between those two, whatsoev-
er. If I feel bad about buying
clothes, when I know that they
were produced using child-la-
bour in some factory, God-
knows-where… it’s because
there’s a social justice perspec-
tive to veganism, too.
For the same reason: as a Ve-
gan, I feel that the food that I
eat, should not just conform to
the same principle of ‘respect
for animals’… it should also be
sourced locally, as much as pos-
sible. Because there’s an envi-
ronmental perspective to that
as well. Apart from the cost,
in terms of carbon-footprint,
of food transportation… at a
time of food shortages, should
I not support local farmers? Of
course, I should! 100%...
Because they’re all intercon-
nected: environmentalism, an-
imal welfare, health, social jus-
tice… if you help one, you help
them all; and if you help them
all, you help everything.
If, for instance, we take care
of the local farmers; the local
farmers will take care of the en-
vironment. But what is happen-
ing instead? The moment agri-
cultural land falls into disuse,
because it’s been neglected: you
know how it goes. Some devel-
oper from Gozo comes along,
and turns it into a block of flats.
Or it gets requisitioned, to build
a road-network… [shakes his
head in despair]
But like I said, earlier: it doesn’t
have to be this way. And I think
that more and more people
are beginning to see, for them-
selves, that… it SHOULDN’T
have to be this way, either.
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

OPINION

Raphael Vassallo

‘Bouncers can’t police Paceville’; but nor

can imaginary policemen…
IN case you were wondering, that’s a ref-
erence to a particular news headline this
week: ‘Bouncers can’t keep policing the
streets of Paceville, says club owner’ (sub-
heading: ‘Only stronger police presence
will be able to control situation’)…
The quote itself is attributed to Jona-
than Grima – owner of Club Havana,
among other Paceville establishments –
who also said: “We’ve seen an improve-
ment because whereas, before, there
were none at least now we have four
or five extra officers. […] But that’s not
enough. We need a proper squad of po-
lice officers who are crowd controllers.
Paceville cannot continue being policed
by our bouncers whom we employ to en-
sure order inside the clubs.”
Which brings us to the ‘situation’ he’s
talking about: described in the article
as “the apparent upsurge of violence in
the Paceville entertainment hub in St Ju-
lian’s over the past few weeks.”
Right: at this point I have to concede
that none of what follows is based on any
personal experience (my own days as a
regular Paceville-prowler are at least a
couple of decades behind me, by now):
even though, on the rare occasions when
I do venture through those once-familiar
streets… I notice certain little ‘changes’,
here and there.
Like, for instance, the fact that a night-
life zone which was once limited to the
immediate environs of only two streets,
to speak of – ‘Ball’, and ‘Wilga’ - has now
spawled out unevenly in all directions:
spilling into (and across) St George’s Bay
to the north; seamlessly merging with
Spinola to the south… not to mention recent walks through Paceville (but then 25 cases…” Paceville in recent weeks, they do not
upwards, too: with a mad scramble for again: I’m not exactly ‘a young French Now: on the assumption that those follow a pattern. Recent fights were iso-
new high-rise developments, from Mer- woman with disabilities’, am I?); and b) ‘400 fights’ represent only a tiny frac- lated occurrences motivated by instanta-
cury House on St George’s Road, all the the Paceville I remember as a teenager tion, of all the other incidents that do neous incidents where perpetrators had
way up to the DB project in Pembroke. was not exactly a ‘haven of safety and NOT cause either light, or grievous, no relationship with their victims.”
And it says something about the corre- tranquillity’, either. (Truth be told, I injuries – and bearing in mind also the Naturally, it would be unwise to read
sponding population explosion, that ALL have distinct memories of both Ball and sheer severity of some of the recent vio- too much into that: but when you com-
this much-larger territory now feels just Wilga Streets literally flowing with urine lence – it quickly becomes apparent that bine it with the nature of some of these
as stiflingly crowded, as the core of Pace- and vomit… and yes: occasionally, blood the crime-rate in Paceville (which, let’s ‘random acts of violence’ – in Paceville,
ville used to feel 20 years ago, or more: and broken glass, too)… face it, was never all that ‘low’ to begin and elsewhere (it was only last month,
when the action was limited mostly to So make no mistake: there was always with) has evolved in perfect step with its for instance, that the police started reg-
just those couple of blocks, between two a certain vaguely ‘Wild West’ feel to the recent transformation. ularly patrolling the Sliema Seafront)
nearby street corners (with, admittedly, place, even in those earlier, more inno- That is to say: not just ‘quantitatively’, - it does appear as though Malta has
a couple of far-flung ‘outposts’ here and cent times. But still: there can be no de- but also ‘qualitatively’. On top of an in- acquired the same sort of urban crimi-
there: like Styx, Saddles, Raffles, etc...) nying statistics, can there? crease in the sort of street-violence we nality that traditionally goes with ‘enter-
But it’s not just that Paceville itself has And according to recent press reports, were all already used to – mostly brawls tainment hotspots’ in rapidly-growing,
expanded beyond all reasonable propor- there have been “400 fights leading to between rival gangs of alcohol- (and tes- vibrant economies (whether or not they
tion, in recent years: it’s that the flavour injuries, over the past four years”; and tosterone-) fuelled teenagers – we are choose to consciously model themselves
of the place has (predictably enough) “the highest number of fights resulting now witnessing the sort of criminality on Las Vegas: like Paceville seems to be
changed in the meantime, too. in bodily harm took place in 2019, when that we are clearly not accustomed to at unaccountably doing…).
Once again, a couple of small disclaim- the police reported 135. In 41 of those all. And this shouldn’t exactly surprise us,
ers: a) it’s not as though I’ve ever felt cases, grievous injuries were reported, As a police spokesman put it: “Al- either: because it has all along been the
physically ‘threatened’, on any of those while weapons of some sort were used in though there was a spate of fights in government’s declared policy to ‘trans-
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
form the Maltese economy’ by ‘growing
its population’ – from the approximately
300,000 of 30 years ago, to roughly half-
a-million in 2022 (and which, by the
way, the Malta Employers Association
now predicts will increase by – wait for
it – another 200,000, over the next two
to three years!!)
Now: I can’t tell you exactly what per-
centage of this greatly-increased pop-
ulation will – somewhere between the
ages of roughly 14, and roughly 40 – all
converge upon the same nightlife Mec-
ca, in search of their own, wildly differ-
ent concepts of ‘entertainment’… there
to mingle with another, equally vague
percentage of the roughly 2 million tour-
ists who visit the islands each year… but
even without any personal experience to
back me up, I can safely assert that the
results will not be very pretty.
There will obviously be more mayhem;
more madness; and… yes, in the long
run, unfortunately also ‘more murder’.
(Or to be more statistically precise: a
much, MUCH greater chance that those
random acts of street violence may result
in more frequent, and more grievous,
‘bodily harm’.)
In any case: I think we can all safely
agree that Jonathan Grima certainly has
a point, when he argues that the job of
‘policing’ a place like Paceville should
ideally fall to… erm… ‘The Police’. Partly
because the situation very clearly DOES
warrant greater police-presence, in and
of itself; but partly also because the al-
ternative is for that same job to fall to
others…
… and no offence to Paceville club-own-
ers, or anything; but – even from my
own, limited experience with the private
security of certain nightclubs-that-shall-
not-be-named – the idea of ‘Bouncers
policing Paceville’ does not exactly fill
me with optimism, either…
But still: if a ‘Wild West’ is what Pace-
ville has so clearly remained… then it
is only fitting that its nightclubs would
subscribe to the philosophy of so many
classic Westerns: “A Man’s Gotta Do,
What A Man’s Gotta Do”…
And if there are no policemen actual-
ly available, to address that neighbour-
hood’s growing security needs: then –
unsavoury though the solution may be
– ‘private vigilantism’ becomes not only
inevitable, but necessary.
All the same, however: under the cir-
cumstances, we do have to ask ourselves
a few small questions. For instance:
WHY, exactly, are there not enough
policemen, to cater for an increase in
crime that was all along perfectly pre-
dictable? Why were only ‘four or five’
police officers assigned to Paceville, in
response to a situation that clearly de-
mands so much more? (And even then:
where were those ‘four or five officers’
reassigned from… if not another part of
Malta and Gozo, that now has no police
presence at all?)
Unfortunately, the answer to those
questions is not exactly ‘pretty’, either.
For it seems that – while Malta was busy
deliberately transforming itself into a
bustling metropolis (with all the asso-
ciated crime, etc.) – its Police Force has
not only failed to ‘evolve in step with the
changes’… but it has actually shrunk by
several hundred officers, in the past year
alone.
This week, for instance, the Malta Po-
lice Union warned of “a serious staff
shortage problem that has seen over 300
officers leave in the past 18 months.”
The same union has also just registered
an industrial dispute with Police Com-
missioner Angelo Gafà, “after he imple-
mented policies that limit the amount of
overtime and extra duty payments that
officers can receive.”
Naturally, I won’t enter into the mer-
its of the argument itself… except to say
that it more or less fits the same pattern,
to a T. If there are fewer police officers,
to cater for an exponentially-increasing
demand… it follows that the work-load
of those few officers will have to increase
dramatically.
And if the Police Force is reluctant to
pay any extra money, for the extra work-
hours it is now demanding from its own
staff… it can only mean one thing, real-
ly: that the annual budget allocated to
run the Malta Police Force, very clearly
hasn’t ‘evolved in step with the changes’,
either…
This, in turn, raises yet another ques-
tion: whose responsibility is it, anyway,
to ensure that this country benefits from
the sort of Police Force it so evidently
needs (i.e., one that is capable of actual-
ly policing its most troubled crime hot-
spots: ideally, without the need for any
‘private vigilantism’)? Is it:
a) the Government of Malta (and the
Home Affairs Ministry, in particular)?
Or
b) the private security of certain Pace-
ville establishments?
But then again, never mind: because
it seems that Jonathan Grima has an-
swered that one for us already…
OPINION
Putin single-handedly
revived NATO
TURKEY has lifted its veto on Swe-
den’s and Finland’s NATO mem-
bership. In return, the two Nordic
countries are expected to “support
Turkey against threats to its na-
tional security”.
This includes cracking down on
the P.K.K. which Turkey sees as a
threat to its national security. In so
doing, Vladimir Putin’s attempts
to weaken NATO seem to have
backfired.
Their NATO membership is
strategically important for the
Western military alliance. Swe-
den can control the entrance to
the Baltic Sea. Russia shares a
1,340-kilometre land border with
Finland.
Military analysts expect Russia’s
reaction to include more airspace
intrusions, cyber-attacks, or elec-
tronic jamming against both Nor-
dic countries.
A pariah on the world stage,
having painted himself into a tight
corner, Vladimir Putin is highly
unlikely to admit that his was a
huge strategic error
But as EU and NATO members
Sweden and Finland are expected
to rely on both the Union’s and
the Alliance’s support. Both coun-
tries also have substantial military
might.
The Russian President had
warned Sweden and Finland
against joining NATO. His threats
proved counterproductive.
A revived NATO
After being elected President of
the United States in 2017, Don-
ald Trump stated that NATO
had become “obsolete”. Shortly
afterwards, French President Em-
manuel Macron said that NATO
was ‘brain dead’. Following his
invasion of Ukraine, President
Vladimir Putin revived NATO,
single-handedly.
When faced by the Soviet threat,
Finland and Sweden considered
11
Frank Psaila
is a lawyer
specialising in
international relations
neutrality to be in their best inter-
ests.
More than three decades since
the end of the Cold War, both
Nordic countries, feeling threat-
ened by Putin’s Russia, following
the invasion of Ukraine, swept
aside their neutrality, and sought
NATO’s protection.
Article 5 of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation considers an
attack on one NATO member as
an attack on all members.
The Putin threat
Putin now faces a NATO that
is stronger and bigger. Yet, the
Kremlin is unlikely to reverse
course.
A pariah on the world stage, hav-
ing painted himself into a tight
corner, Vladimir Putin is highly
unlikely to admit that his was a
huge strategic error.
The Russian economy shall,
eventually, be brought down to its
knees – causing huge discontent
amongst the Russian population.
Yet, despots are rarely swayed by
public opinion.
And the nuclear threat, often cit-
ed by Putin, is of course real.
We can’t simply assume it’s a
bluff. He can always push the but-
ton – and that will have global cat-
astrophic effects.
A long war is also expected to
challenge Europe economically
– it already does, as prices of es-
sential items have increased expo-
nentially across the continent with
millions of consumers feeling the
pinch.
War fatigue shall eventually
set in and unless economic pain
is tackled, Western support for
Ukraine will wear out.
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

OPINION

Cyrus Engerer is a
Cyrus Engerer & Christine Deasey Labour MEP (S&D)

Minorities fighting for racial equality

GROWING up as part of a mi-

nority group is not easy, no mat-
ter where you live or where you
come from. Being part of a mi-
nority brings with it many obsta-
cles because the world we all live
in and share is one which does
not cater for the specific needs of
minorities. The policies in place
are made for able bodied, heter-
onormative individuals and an-
ything aimed at rectifying chal-
lenges faced by minorities are
added on but are rarely factored
into the baseline. And while, as
individuals, we come from two
completely different minority
backgrounds, with very differ-
ent needs and challenges, the
fact that we both face challenges
makes this a shared struggle.
Nevertheless, we are privileged.
It may be difficult for some to
identify with this, but as human
rights activists this is a natural
and logical conclusion. Over the
years both of us have taken the
time to understand the shared
challenges faced by different mi-
norities, recognising that it is a
shared fight. We are aware that fectively tackles the realities that with disability, LGBTIQ rights or start to see leaders from all walks
however hard the challenges we we are currently facing, as well as class inequality, people who find of life, especially other minorities,
face, they are nothing in compar- those which we may face in the themselves within one social cat- as it is impossible for the world
ison to other minorities, particu- future. egory can often find themselves a to see minorities as their equals
larly those who face systematic These plans should be based member of more than one. Thus if we are not seen or heard at all.
and institutional challenges due on the European Union’s stand- we need to arm ourselves with Earlier this year we met dur-
to their race and creed. ard for tackling discrimination as the right tools to create a socie- ing the Labour Party’s LEAD
Malta’s population is ev- defined in the EU’s Anti-racism ty which caters for all variations programme. This programme
er-changing and with these Action Plan 2020-2025, which within itself. To do this, we need worked towards encouraging Malta’s population
changes come not only new op- encourages active engagement to expand the Race Equality di- more women to enter the polit-
portunities, but also new respon- within marginalised communi- rective on the same lines as the ical arena because there was the is ever-changing and
sibilities. As a nation, we have a
responsibility to make sure that
ties. It also projects the strength-
ening of equality bodies and
Employment Equality directive,
which seeks to combat discrim-
recognition that the world’s par-
liaments, including the Maltese with these changes
we have the right structures in
place to deal with our new demo-
better transposition of the EU’s
equality framework. But even
ination on the grounds of age,
disability, religion and sexual
Parliament were too homogenous
and were not fully representative
come not only
graphics and our changing faces. here, these factors alone are not orientation at the workplace. By of Malta’s demographics. This new opportunities,
These structures must be put in enough to create the reparations adopting an intersectional ap- programme brought us together
place both at a local and Europe- needed to ensure an equal and proach towards the Race Equality as mentee and mentor – and we but also new
an level in order to ensure that
we have the best tools in place to
fair society for all.
We (both as Malta and as a Eu-
Directive and extending its scope
to cover the same grounds as we
believe that it should be the basis
for more programmes which en- responsibilities
strengthen our resolve. ropean Union) need to tackle ra- did with the Employment Equal- courage social minorities into the
At a local level, Malta’s 2020 cial equality in an intersectional ity Directive, we can ensure that forefront of politics and decision
Public Consultation on a Nation- way. It is imperative that we ex- vulnerable minorities who face making.
al Action Plan against Racism and pand Europe’s current tools to discrimination can find resolve in But above all initiatives and
Xenophobia was a good step in ensure that we take on an all-en- a way which is holistic. It is only frameworks and programmes,
identifying the available opportu- compassing approach to tackle by doing this that we can ensure what we really need is to get to
nities for effective change when it the discriminations faced by per- that equality in our European Un- the root of the debate and recog-
comes to tackling racial inequali- sons of colour and other ethnic ion is not a postcode lottery. nize that we are all equal on this
ty within society. Nonetheless, we minorities. There is much to be done when planet which we must share and
need to move forward. We need Race is an intersectional is- it comes to achieving racial equal- thus have a responsibility to cre-
to forge ahead and formulate a sue, just like any other minority ity for all ethnicities, which is also ate a world which works for all of
concrete action plan which ef- issue. Whether we are dealing why we believe that we need to us.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022 13

OPINION

Miriam Dalli
is Minister for the environment,
Miriam Dalli energy and enterprise

Values create value

IN a post-pandemic recovery
threatened by the disruptions
of the Russian war in Ukraine,
our economic operators need
to accelerate their efforts to
ensure the long-term competi-
tiveness of their enterprises.
This was my main message
during an ESG conference or- I am encouraged
ganised by the Malta Chamber.
An event which once again to see that more
highlighted how the collabora-
tion between a business-friend-
Maltese executives,
ly government and ethics-driv- business leaders
en industries can effectively
enable the transition towards and investors are
greener business models. An
indispensable element that will
realising that a
shape the future of the Maltese genuine commitment
economy.
Our corporate mindset needs to values such as
to be consistently anchored
around the creation of better
environmental
value in everything we pro- protection, the
duce, in every service or prod-
uct we propose to our domestic social progress and
and international customers.
This drive for higher added val-
corporate governance
ue will improve our competi- can translate into
tiveness as an agile economy in
the wider European and global monetary value
context.
It is very positive to see that
the pandemic itself accelerated
the global consumer attention
to the broader impact of com-
panies on the environment and
on the social development of Our corporate mindset needs to be consistently anchored around the creation of better value in everything we produce
the communities in which they
operate. This is being coupled
by our national ambition to This is what ESG is all about are becoming ever more sensi- el of employee commitment. financial results have an aver-
achieve a climate neutral econ- – investing in the future of our tive to their impact on climate This is indeed already hap- age pay differential of just 2%
omy in the next three decades. companies to ensure that they neutrality. Furthermore cost pening in our own business between their male and female
This will not happen on its own can do well for their sharehold- reductions through clean en- community: those companies workforce. This is also reflect-
steam. Yet the cost of doing ers whilst doing good for the ergy projects and other green that provided the best returns ed by a better representation of
nothing will be much heftier broader community. projects have a direct positive to their shareholders in the last women in the management po-
than the investment needed to I am indeed encouraged to see impact on profitability. three years generated a third sitions, which for these compa-
guarantee a viable financial fu- that more Maltese executives, These companies are also less carbon emissions com- nies stands at 37% - 3% higher
ture for our enterprises. business leaders and investors seen positively by banks and pared to a cohort of some of than the European average and
Our policy is to incentiv- are realising that a genuine financial intermediaries which the largest Maltese companies. almost 10% higher than other
ise and provide tangible sup- commitment to values such as are seeking to diversify their These companies also managed Maltese companies which par-
port for Maltese companies environmental protection, the loan and investment portfoli- to cut by half their water con- ticipated in the first phase of
to invest in their own com- social progress and corporate os into such companies as they sumption and generate 80% less our ESG initiative.
petitiveness. To embrace the governance can translate into get in line with ESG-related fi- waste compared to their peers. When corporate decisions are
notion that long-term value monetary value via improved nancial regulation. These businesses are return- embedded in values, financial
and growth can actually be competitiveness and sustaina- On top of all this, companies ing better returns to their objectives can still meet the
achieved through environ- ble growth for their companies. which embed such social and shareholders as they invest common good. Targeting pros-
ment-friendly investments and This is happening in practise governance practices in their in their workforce through perity through environmental
a genuine commitment to the as ESG committed companies decision making are register- upskilling and fairer oppor- and socially conscious business
quality of life of workers and are able to attract a virtually ing an uplift in productivity tunities for all. Compared to models is the model of the fu-
citizens underpinned by solid untapped market of consum- through a stronger employee a national gender-pay gap of ture, and this is the direction
corporate governance. ers and other businesses which retention rate and a higher lev- 10%, companies with better we will continue taking.
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

EYEWITNESS

10th anniversary
SOND performance
ON 30th June 2022 BLITZ Val-
letta joined the 10th anniversa-
ry celebration of The School of
Nar-rative Dance, presenting
the acclaimed public perfor-
mance by Marinella Senatore in
Malta.
The event featured over 100
participants from local groups
and communities, with ages
rang-ing 4 to 65, and a dance
movement in memory of the
murdered journalist Daphne
Caruana Galizia in Republic
Street, Valletta.
The ten-year survey exhibition
of Marinella Senatore’s ‘Some-
thing About You’, curated by
Sara Dolfi Agostini, is extended
until 23 July 2022.
The School of Narrative Dance
is a large-scale participatory
project experienced by over 6
mil-lion participants in 24 coun-
tries to date, and centered on
empowerment, inclusivity and
creativ-ity as social driving forc-
es.
SOND features participants of
every age and background, with
no previous artistic experience,
as well as artists from disciplines
as diverse as Capoeira, Hip Hop,
Breakdance, Tango, Fla-menco,
Ballet, Opera, Pop music, Gym-
nastics and much more. During
the event on 30 June 2022, Zeb-
bug B.P. Band (est. 2016) set the
rhythm as passers-by were invit-
ed to join the artist and the artis-
tic procession to re-activate our
shared public space, from the
street to the build-ings, in a one-
of-a-kind celebration of rebirth
and community-making.
A new artwork will be devel-
oped from the performance and
exhibited at Blitz as part of the
finissage celebration of this am-
bitious project on 23 July 2022.
Marinella Senatore is a multi-
disciplinary artist who delves in-
to practices of non-hierarchical
learning and participatory art.
Over the years she has explored
forms of resistance, vernacu-
lar and popular culture, dance,
music and activism, in order to
rethink the political nature of
com-munal action and reconcile
individuals and collective bod-
ies.
The exhibition ‘Something
About You’ is a ten-year sur-
vey bringing together paintings,
draw-ings, videos, a powerful
project with Russian protest
group Pussy Riot featuring a
new organic site-specific sculp-
ture, and a public artwork on
the historical façade of Valletta’s
Casino Mal-tese.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022 15

EYEWITNESS

PHOTOS: DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI

 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

OPINION

Prof. Alexiei Dingli

Alexiei Dingli
Department of Artifical Intelligence,
University of Malta

Are Maltese companies using Artificial

Intelligence?
IN 2019, while we were formu-
lating the Malta.AI national
strategy, one of the tasks was to
launch a survey amongst Mal-
tese companies. We wanted to
gauge awareness about their
knowledge of AI; we needed
to understand how they use it
and whether they are comfort-
able with it. Furthermore, since
the strategy was long-term, we
wanted to ascertain their plans
and challenges related to deploy-
ing AI solutions in businesses.
From that study, it became ev-
ident that we needed to build
awareness of what constitutes AI
and how it can be deployed, par-
ticularly amongst Small and Me-
dium Enterprises (SMEs), which
might find it harder to adopt
new technologies. At the time,
around 50% of respondents knew
what the term meant but did not
correctly understand the value
which AI can bring to their or-
ganisation. Of those, 50% claimed
that they had used some form of
AI in their life.
Surprisingly, this number shot
up to 95% when we gave them SMEs, both of which are pushing os to identify objects and people can now install smart meters, them freely. However, AI still
examples of AI applications. their members towards the digi- in various domains. Such algo- intelligent lighting, all sorts of comes at a price, and enterpris-
The reason for this is relatively tal transformation of their busi- rithms fall under the image pro- alarms, door locks, cameras and es need to invest first to benefit
simple. AI solutions don’t have nesses. cessing and recognition domain. various other devices. Sensors from these technological solu-
a label distinguishing them from • What’s also very encourag- • Perform machine learning like Radio-frequency identifiers tions. The positive part is that the
other software, so very few people ing is the result published by Eu- using powerful algorithms such (RFIDs) are standard nowadays return on investment (ROI) on AI
can understand the difference. rostat, whereby Malta ranks in as deep learning technologies to in any shop. And the prolifera- projects is usually relatively high.
According to the survey, one- 9th place on an EU level regard- analyse data. tion of these devices will keep on An AI business survey amongst
in-five businesses already use AI ing enterprises using AI. When • Automate different work- increasing. 1000 companies in the US con-
technologies. At the same time, a considering the EU’s entirety, flows which feed into the deci- These advancements make it ducted by PwC earlier this year
further quarter declared that they Malta is above the 8% average. In sion-making process using AI- possible for companies to keep found that organisations leading
would do so in the coming years. most cases, these companies used based software robotic process reducing their costs and environ- in AI see significant ROI. The
But the biggest stumbling block off-the-shelf systems, but 47% in- automation. mental impact. They help them most important thing is to go for
is that many professionals do not vested in the fusion of AI within • Physically move objects using reach their green targets at a rea- a comprehensive effort and not
have the appropriate knowledge their processes. These companies robots capable of observing their sonable price while significantly treat AI as some magical dust to
or skills required for AI adoption. used AI to: surroundings and taking autono- increasing their efficiencies. Ul- sprinkle on projects.
They are uncertain about AI, and • Explore and analyse large mous decisions. timately, it pushes them toward What’s sure is that Malta is
its benefits, thus holding them amounts of unstructured textual These are only a few of the cur- the creation of sustainable en- well-positioned in the use of AI
back from exploring new oppor- data aided by software that can rent applications. What’s for sure terprises which fuel better deci- and other emerging technologies
tunities. identify concepts, patterns, top- is that AI is developing quickly, sion-making. in business. However, we can al-
Fast forward to today, and ics, keywords and other attrib- and the number of benefits it can Of course, the challenges are ways do more to improve our ser-
keep in mind the changes we’ve utes. This technology is called bring is enormous. Companies various. The democratisation of vices.
been through! The pandemic, text mining. can now invest in safer technolo- AI is speeding up, and several Let’s not forget that we cannot
the world conflicts, the shortage • Convert spoken language into gies monitored by AI with cleaner solutions are available. Both soft- solve the challenges of today (like
in human capital and the lack a format that a machine can un- Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ware-based (e.g. virtual assistants, the shortage of human capital or
of raw materials all created new derstand, generally referred to as Even here, Malta ranks in 10th face recognition, etc.) AI systems raw materials) with yesterday’s
pressures on the global economy, speech recognition. position Europewide regarding or embedded devices (e.g. auton- thinking. We need to innovate, be
which accelerated the adoption of • Generate automatic replies, IoT use in industry, where one- omous robots, drones, etc.) are courageous and take the plunge.
AI technologies. Luckily we have summaries of texts and entire third of companies use these becoming the norm. Many AI It won’t be easy, but ultimately,
entities like the Malta Chamber documents automatically using technologies. algorithms and models are being only those who dare venture into
of Commerce, Enterprise and In- natural language generation. The IoTs are seeping through released as open-source, thus al- new uncertain territories manage
dustry or the Malta Chamber of • Processing of images or vide- every aspect of our lives. Anyone lowing the AI community to use to find new land!
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

Miggy
ARTS • TV • WHAT’S ON

DJ and
producer
CLASSIFIEDS & COMMERCIALS
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

2 THE Q&A

MIGGY
BY LAURA CALLEJA

suggestions by email
lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt

Miggy’s brand of commercial and electronic dance music, bolstered

through his unique mashups that he produces, always gets the crowd
going. Throughout the years developing into a known name on the
upcoming list of DJs, he has performed in Malta’s top clubs and
entertainment hubs including Tigullio, Havana Club, Gianpula
Village, Bora Bora Ibiza Malta, Café Del Mar as well as being resident
DJ of events carried out in Club H, Shadow Club and G7 Events. He
recently obtained a prime-time spot hosting Miggy’s Friday Essentials
with G7 on one of Malta’s leading music radio stations, 88.7 Vibe

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the What’s your worst habit?
morning? Overthinking.
Go through my mobile notifications, wash my face and
drink a cup of tea. What are you like when you’re drunk?
The most loving of persons!
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
To take everything step by step and you will achieve Who would you have play you in a film?
where you want to be. Leonardo Di Caprio.

What do you never leave the house without? What is the trait you most deplore in others?
My phone and wallet. Definitely people who do not give opportunities to others.

Pick three words that describe yourself What music would you have played at your funeral?
Creative, organised and humble. My liked songs on Spotify.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? What is your most treasured material possession?
That I will be performing at one of the biggest internation- An heirloom that was given to me from my great grandfa-
al festivals. ther.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? What is your earliest memory?

Just relaxing and listening to music and search for new Feeding an elephant, whilst being abroad.
upcoming artists.
When did you last cry, and why?
What is the most important lesson life has taught you? When an important person died in my life.
Respect and listen to everyone.
Who would you most like to meet?
Property and cars aside what’s the most expensive thing Mark Zuckerberg and Michiel Beers.
you’ve ever bought?
Studio equipment. What’s your favourite food?
Meat and pasta.
What is one thing you wish you knew when you were
younger? Who’s your favourite person on social media right now?
To not overthink about the future and do what your heart James Hype.
desires.
If you could travel in time, where would you go?
Who’s your inspiration? To the day I start working as a full time DJ and producer.
David Guetta and Tiesto.
What book are you reading right now?
What has been your biggest challenge? DJ Mag Magazines.
Having a balanced time management between education,
work and music. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Telepathy.
If you weren’t a DJ what would you be doing?
Marketing, events organiser. What’s one thing you want to do before you die?
Enjoy life to the fullest.
Do you believe in God?
Yes, I do. What music are you listening to at the moment?
Upcoming 2022 Summer Hits.
If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive,
who would it be? In the shower or when you’re working out, what do you
Avicii, since he upscaled the scene in Electronic Dance sing/listen to?
Music. Relaxing songs to heal your mind.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

THE Q&A 3
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

4 MUSIC
HISTORY

A celebration of peace featuring Ukrainian

Eurovision winner Jamala
SINGER-SONGWRITER Jamala will be
performing at a peace concert in Malta
on 8 July at Malta Enterprise grounds in
Pieta.
Since the war in Ukraine, the winner of
the Eurovision Song Contest Jamala has
been campaigning for her country and
has performed in peace concerts across
the world.
The One Love, Celebrating Peace event
will be held in aid of Ukrainian citizens
who fled to Malta because of the war. Ja-
mala will be joined by a strong line up of
Maltese singers for what is expected to
be a celebration of unity, solidarity and
peace. Funds will also be raised for the
building of ‘Becs’ Junior Secondary school
in Ethiopia, in memory of 15 year old Re-
becca Zammit Lupi who died in 2021
from a rare form of cancer.
The event is being organised as part of
Malta Enterprise Corporate Social Re-
sponsibility 2022 programme. Supporting
partners are the Malta Tourism Authori-
ty and Malta Development Bank.
Jamala brought her victory to Ukraine
with her song 1944 — a personal story
inspired by her great-grandmother, who
lost a child during the deportation of the
Crimean Tatars. Upon winning the con-
test, she was given the People’s Artist of
Ukraine award. Among the singer’s other
awards are the Ukrainian National Award
Person of the Year (2009), the ELLE
Style Award (2010, 2012) and numerous
awards for her music at YUNA Music
Award (2016, 2017, 2019).
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Jamala
became the voice of the Ukrainian people
outside her homeland. Once she evac-
uated her children, the singer started to
fight for victory on her own front. Day by
day, country by country, she takes part in
charity events, concerts and TV shows,
raising funds for refugees, children and
the Ukrainian army.
Her music blends soul, jazz, electronica
and pop genres beautifully and smoothly.
Her sound and her live performance are
the hallmark of Ukraine’s contemporary
music scene.
The singer started her career at the age
of nine, recording an album of songs for
children. She has graduated from the
National Music Academy named after
Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, majoring in opera
singing. Jamala was going to make a ca-
reer in classical music, however her stun-
ning victory at the International Contest
of young singers The New Wave festival
(2009), changed her path. Since her debut
album For Every Heart (2011), she has
never stopped experimenting with her
sound, opening herself up to the listener
anew each time.
So far, she has released seven studio
albums, a number of EPs and singles, all
of them inspired by her personal feelings
and experiences, whether it’s a song with
DakhaBrakha, a collaboration with Brian
Todd or a soundtrack to the movie Mr.
Jones.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased
from VisitMalta.

Heritage Malta’s harbour

cruises to focus on
effects of World War II
on environs
HERITAGE Malta’s harbour
cruises are back, as the focus this
summer shifts towards World
War II and its effects on the Grand
Harbour, Marsamxett Harbour
and their environs.
The World War II theme was
chosen for this year’s cruises since
2022 marks the 80th anniversary of
the awarding of the George Cross
to Malta by King George VI. With
plenty of fortifications, military in-
frastructure and other important
structures, the Harbour Area was
an obvious target for the Axis pow-
ers during the war. This year’s har-
bour cruises will therefore retrace
the historic events which occurred
between 1940 and 1943 and which
could be described as the Second
Great Siege of Malta.
Historical information during the
tours will be provided by Matthew
Balzan, Heritage Malta’s Principal
Curator – Fortifications.
There will be two harbour cruises
– one on Tuesday 19th July and
another on Thursday 21st July.
The cruise boat will set sail from
Sliema Ferries (Luzzu Cruises
Point) at 6.30pm. Ticket holders
are to be at the jetty half an hour
before. Both cruises will be 75
minutes long.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults – €17; senior citizens and
students – €15, children and Her-
itage Malta members – €10.
Tickets may be bought online
from https://heritagemalta.mt/
store/e1076/ and from https://
heritagemalta.mt/store/e1077/
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

THEATRE 5

Falstaff, foolishness and fun – the knight wooing

The Merry Wives of Windsor (Terrace)
After a three-year
COVID-induced
absence, the Malta
Amateur Dramatic
Club (MADC)
returns to the
idyllic San Anton
Gardens for its
annual Shakespeare
production,
presenting the
Bard’s comedic
The Merry Wives of
Windsor (Terrace).
Actor Edward
Thorpe gives
his take on the
legendary role of
Sir John Falstaff,
a buffoon as
obnoxious as he is
comical

Edward Thorpe and Gianluca Bianco (Photo: Justin Mamo)

SINCE his arrival in Malta in The Merry Wives of Windsor

2017, prolific actor Edward
Thorpe has ratcheted up quite a
few roles on the local stage, and
many of them with the MADC.
This season alone has seen him
take on the mantle of a 1950s
police detective in Breaking the
Code and a 1970s homicidal
criminal in Wait Until Dark for
the Club; he is now playing the
farcical buffoon, Sir John Falstaff
in The Merry Wives of Windsor
(Terrace).
Switching from one character
to the next must present its fair
share of challenges – a notion
Thorpe agrees with completely.
“It’s been quite a busy year,” he
acknowledges. “Usually, there
are a couple of weeks in between
the end of a show and the start
of rehearsals for the next one, so
my feet can touch the ground for
a short time. That said, playing
Roat in Wait Until Dark in May
was quite intense as I had to find
a murderous instinct in a very
dramatic play, so moving from
that to what is almost French
Farce in Merry Wives has been
quite a leap!”
Yet he wouldn’t have it any oth-
er way.
(Terrace) boasts a wonderful cre-
ative team headed up by director
Chris Gatt. “Chris and the rest
of the cast are really good fun to
work with, which makes the pro-
cess to produce characterisation
a lot easier,” continues Thorpe.
“The production is set in Sliema
circa 1979-1981, so the whole
cast can draw on local experience
and characters to flesh out the
play and the farcical elements be-
hind it. As for Falstaff himself, he
is quite the buffoon, so I have had
to find my inner child and there is
lots of playing going on!”
John Falstaff has appeared in
other Shakespeare plays – and in
Merry Wives he is probably at his
most foolish and obnoxious, with
a fascinating mix of endearing and Left to right: Kim Dalli, Edward Thorpe and Antonella Axisa (Photo Justin Mamo)
annoying qualities. “Falstaff is out
for himself and, when he finds he transaction to fill his wallet!” Thorpe has no doubt that the MADC’s The Merry Wives of
is running out of money, he hatch- Yet the actor does appreci- superb cast and behind-the- Windsor will be performed daily
es various plans to obtain funds ate the character’s better quali- scenes team coupled with the at San Anton Gardens, Attard,
through the wooing of the two ties. “He is also very lovable,” he idyllic setting of San Anton Gar- from 16 to 24 July, with all per-
Merry Wives,” explains Thorpe. confides with a smile. “He is so dens will all come together for formances starting at 8.30pm.
“I would say his most annoying caught up in his own devices that a fabulous night out. “The play This production is supported
quality is that he is not bothered he cannot see how comical and itself is a pure farce, so the au- by Arts Council Malta and is
at all by stepping on people to get how much of a buffoon he really dience should look forward to a suitable for audiences aged 8
his way, and he likes to be devious is. So, although he can be a bully, night of unadulterated fun and, and over. Tickets and further in-
and cheat his way through life. a cheat, and a devious devil, we dare I say it, some interesting in- formation are available at www.
He is always hunting for the next do side with him in the end.” teraction!” madc.com.mt.
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

6 ART

Anthony Spagnol’s seventh solo exhibition

Joseph Paul Cassar
Curator of the exhibition

AT the Galleries of the Mal-

ta Society of Arts, Anthony
Spagnol is exhibiting a collec-
tion of 20 recent paintings. The
context of the works, although
abstract in nature, remains the
here and now, the current state
of affairs in the world we live in,
where, whether we like it or not,
we have to entertain the idea of
permanent uncertainty.
More than ever imagined,
these works speak of our anx-
ieties, loss, the exploration of
the power of the unknown, the
realisation of how little we truly
know of what’s to come, and the
illusion and unrealistic expecta-
tion that we are in control over
our future.
Anthony Spagnol presents
to us his intimate endeavours
of how he forged his journey
through these canvases, which
oftentimes was not made up
of looking for clear short-cuts,
but rather by meandering about
with a feeling of a wanderer. His
terrifying embrace of uncertain-
ty made him flourish in the end.
The artist realised, while work-
ing on this collection, that per-
sonal growth lies in the wisdom
of not knowing what is to come,
and the ability to embrace unex-
pected opportunities.
These paintings reveal how the
artist opted to take a few steps,
one at a time, which gradually
implied a relatively increased ve-
locity, until suddenly ambiguity
presented itself as an opportu-
nity. Anthony Spagnol realised
that these unforeseen forces are
necessary in the creative process,
and he made it his prerogative to
investigate these invisible forc-
es. Spagnol believes that art has
the ability to reveal that which
is hidden, rather than simply
rendering the visible. Form in
these works comes to be when
least coherent, most expressive
when outwardly most imperfect.
The result is a sense of awe and
wonder.
This collection speaks of the
encounter between the artist
and his materials, the nothing-
ness of the initial blank raw can-
vas from where all started, and
the decisions and revisions that
took place with every gesture,
drip, scratch and brush stroke,
while keeping reason in check so
that the unconscious could run
free.
A perennial factor in the paint-
ings is the theme of light and
darkness. The artist sees his role
as the one to illuminate in the
dark, to ensure that we do not
lose sight of purpose in making
this world more human and a
better dwelling place. The artist
is the peace bearer or perhaps
the warrior, the challenger who
carries these ideas into action,
knowing well that there is noth-
ing stable or secure under the
heavenly skies. His work ranges
from the initial chaotic dabs of
colour to more calculated strokes
and other experimental process-
es, seeking a deeper meaning in
bringing the entire composition
to a coherent whole. Each paint-
ing in this collection offers an in-
timate encounter, and when ex-
perienced together they compile
a whole lifetime of fears, doubts,
hopes and joys.
His artistic commitment cou-
pled with an internal meditative
silence, comes perhaps from his
long professional years in the
discipline of conservation and
restoration where in scrutinising
old paintings, he developed a di-
alogue with the sanctity of paint,
the careful approach of cleaning
away layers of old debris, remov-
ing surface grime, dealing with
the fragile, flaking painted sur-
faces, following the hidden hu-
man hand that produced them,
and revealing in the end the au-
thenticity of the painting, elimi-
nating the superfluous to arrive
to the very core in bringing it
back to life. Such encounters
became almost meditative even
spiritual to Spagnol, a kind of
ritual in a careful process of se-
lection and elimination.
It is the artist’s wish that the
viewer who comes to this exhibi-
tion experiences in each canvas
different perspectives of the cos-
mos, fragmentary as these may
be, but as a unity nonetheless in
their versatility.
The artist’s harkening need to-
wards a spiritual awakening and
transcendence is revealed in his
zeal to discover the vocabulary
of this mysterious painterly lan-
guage.
The paintings address today’s
tragedy where on one hand we
know so much, and on the oth-
er hand humanity risks keeping
sliding backwards. Art has al-
ways reflected mankind’s great
intellectual and spiritual quest.
Mystery and Process by Anthony
Spagnol and curated by Profs.
Joseph P. Cassar is on until 14
July 2022 at the Art Galleries
of the Malta Society of Arts, Re-
public Street, Valletta. Entrance
is free. For opening hours and
more details please visit www.
artsmalta.org or www.facebook.
com/maltasocietyofarts.t
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

MUSIC 7

A brilliant final awaits

AFTER a gruelling contest, five
finalists will go head-to-head on
Friday in Malta’s first TV talent
show for musicians, Brillanti.
Produced and presented by vet-
eran TV personality and violinist
Joseph Chetcuti, the first season
of Brillanti draws to a close with
a breath-taking final that will
see the winner take home a cash
prize of €10,000 and the chance
to play as a soloist with an in-
ternally renowned orchestra, all
expenses paid by the European
Foundation for Support of Cul-
ture.
Brillanti airs on ONE TV and
was intended as a platform for
musicians striving for success,
popularity and recognition and
giving them the opportunity to
display their talent.
Initially, musicians from all
walks of life flocked to audi-
tion and from more than 200
applicants, 50 were shortlisted
for the initial auditions. These
were shortlisted to 20, who pro-
gressed to the Bravura round. At
this point, 12 semi-finalists were
chosen, until these were whittled
down to five finalists.
And who will the winner be?
For sure they must be the one
that will impress most the pan-
el of judges: The chairman of
the jury, Wayne Marshall, who
in the year 2021 was awarded
the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II,
Nicolà Said a soprano diva with
immense talent, Albert Storace a
music reviewer for more than 40
years, Mro. Guilio Mazzocante
an internationally renowned
Italian pianist and Maestro and
Mro. Alan Chircop, a Maltese
conductor.
For Joseph Chetcuti, Brillan-
ti has been a dream come true.
“We have created a Made in
Malta competition of the high-
est and most respected calibre
with top notch participants and
excellent production! We have
shown everybody that we have
the talent and soul to produce a stunned all viewers with his and sheer excitement”. Classical
series that respects the name it wonderful and emotional inter- music will be fused with elec-
proudly bears – and we have and pretations week in week out? Or tronic music thanks to the guest
shall continue to strive for noth- possibly could Samuel Cutajar – appearance of Carl Bee and the
ing but Brillanti.” the young lad whose violin play- priceless musical contribution of
And who are the five finalists? ing leaves everyone in awe – that Kevin Abela, the musical direc-
Will the winner be Georg Zam- will snatch the very first victory. tor of Brillanti’s first edition.
mit – an officer in the Armed Unless the only female of the “We shall present to you a fi-
Forces of Malta whose voice has five finalists, Kristy Spiteri – de- nale to remember – a night that
graced many concert halls – or scribed as a true rough diamond, will embrace nothing but the
the shy but determined Julian unique and special – will be the best – indeed more, much more
Azzopardi who exhibited talent one to beat the other four male than the best – nothing less than
in the mastery of clarinet play- finalists. Brillanti,” Chetcuti said.
ing? All of this will be revealed on
Could the winner possibly Friday with a finale that Chetcu- The final of the first edition
be the talented and romantic ti promises will go down in his- of Brillanti airs on Friday at
pianist Daniel Caruana who tory with its “versatility, polish 8:30pm on ONE TV.
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

8 FOOD

Penne with salmon,

apple and walnuts

Pasta and salmon is a firm favourite among the

Maltese. Michael Diacono gives this dish his
own twist. He ditches the cream and uses apple
and walnut for an interesting pasta dish that
will get your friends talking

INGREDIENTS METHOD

• 200g walnuts, roasted 1. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on

and finely chopped
• 1 leek, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely
chopped
• 1 apple, peeled, cored
and finely sliced
• 200g salmon
• Handful parsley
the packet.
2. Fry the leek in a little olive oil for a few minutes
until soft with the garlic.
3. Add the apples and the salmon and season with
salt and pepper.
4. Add the walnuts and stir.
5. Add a little bit of water from the pasta pot and
allow to simmer for a few mins.
6. Add the parsley.
7. Add the penne to the sauce just before the pasta
is ready and allow to finish cooking for approx 1
minute in the pan.
8. Serve with a few walnuts and some more parsley
as a garnish.

Thursdays at 6:30pm
on TVM
gourmettoday.recipes
This recipe first appeared on Facebook
Gourmet Today TV, aired on TVM @gourmetchallenge
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

9
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

10 ALMANAC

My essentials
I graduated in photography and design via an Italian Scholarship
PATRICK and later on obtained an MFA in Digital Arts. Ran my own design
studio for 20 years servicing the advertising and publishing
FENECH industry and now mainly concentrate on my own artistic vision.
I am also a visiting lecturer of photography at the University of
Visual artist, photographer Malta and served on the board of governors of Spazju Kreattiv
and educator for seven years.

4
1

3
5

1. Book 2. Film 3. Internet/TV 4. Music 5. Place

JAMES Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’. I love
books that elide short peri-
ods of time. It takes place in
a single 24-hour period and
depicts a day in the life of an
ordinary man of Jewish origin
in Dublin city. The book has
reverberations to the sections
of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ but
this time it concerns Dub-
lin in detailed and intimate
ways. His use of the ‘stream of
consciousness’ in this literary
work is perhaps what makes
this book a great novel.
I watched The Revenant,
(2015) again recently on home
movie screen and it really
stands out as one of the best
films ever produced. It’s excep-
tional use of tonal and intel-
lectual montage and long se-
quence shots without breaks,
shows the combined talent of
director Inarritu and the capa-
bility of Lubezki’s cinematog-
raphy that make it a master-
piece film. Dress in layers as
the visual impact of the harsh
reality of nature will chill you
to the bone. Next on the list is
Birdman.
TWO years of COVID an-
chored me to my screen more
than ever before. I love TED
Talks, BBC documentaries,
David Attenborough Life on
Earth series, the Waldemar
Januszczak art documenta-
ries and anything to do with
astronomy. I love the Rick
Beato blog for guitar playing
and his analysis of rock mu-
sic.
AS for TV, nothing beats the
British sitcoms, especial-
ly the ones produced in the
70s and 80s: Only Fools and
Horses, Blackadder, Fawlty
Towers, etc… great laughs…
even when you review them
time and again.
AT the moment I’m into Trom-
bone Shorty, an American
musician from New Orleans,
nice mix of R&B/Soul and psy-
chedelic funk. Albums: defi-
nitely Sergeant Peppers’ Lone-
ly Hearts Club Band by The
Beatles and Electric Ladyland
by Jimi Hendrix. The experi-
mentation and innovation that
was going on in pop music
in the 60s and 70s is all their
combined with the mastery
of sound engineers like Eddie
Kramer, Geoff Emerick etc.
Then there is Mozart’s Req-
uiem in D minor… makes my
hairs stand on end.
I think from all the places
I’ve been to, and so far, I’ve
touched all the continents, I
still find the British country-
side the idyllic place for my
holidays. Perhaps it’s the lack
of countryside in Malta. I find
great solace and respite when
I’m out in that rolling green
landscape, especially in the
long summer days and WH
Davies’ poem ‘Leisure’ always
comes to mind. Windermere
in the Lake District is magi-
cal, so is my in-law’s extensive
back garden in Kent.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

ALMANAC 11

Don’t miss this Nature Notebook

Immaculate Conception 821. Grand Statice
feast in Hamrun
Victor Falzon, Edwin Lanfranco
6 July www.birdlifemalta.org
Place: Around Hamrun
Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member

A typical Maltese ‘festa’ lasts three

days or longer. On any one of these
evenings, you are bound to see
hundreds of people in festive mood.
Traditional and fast food stands vie
with each other to sell their wares to
the crowds of merry-makers. Typical
products are Maltese type nougat
and other sweet delicacies.
Homes are looking their absolute
best, often benefitting from a fresh
coat of paint a few weeks before, in
preparation for the feast.
The evenings often end with
spectacular ground and aerial
fireworks displays in an explosion of
colour, firecrackers and loud petards.

The grand statice (M. mielħa) is one of those uncommon plants that
flower in summer, which is good news for many insects that crave
nectar and pollen. With its profusion of pink-lilac-white flowers,
Valletta Food Tour this beautiful salt-tolerant shrub (hence its Maltese name) thrives in
coastal saltmarshes, today a rare habitat in Malta. The species was
Running until: 28 September possibly native to Malta once, but if so it has been locally extinct for
Place: Around Valletta some time as it is absent from Maltese botanical literature. It occurs in
many lands around the Mediterranean, including nearby Sicily – even
Built by the Knights of St. John in the on tiny Lampedusa. In recent decades the species has been locally
mid-16th century on the strategically
located island of Malta, Valletta
grown in botanical gardens, from where it has apparently escaped and
quickly became a very important (re?)established itself in suitable habitat, such as Salina nature reserve.
and cosmopolitan harbour city and a
perfect place through which foreign
culinary practices and new exciting
Green idea of the week 709:
ingredients would have been able Order your copy of the Foraging Guide
to enter the island. This tour is full www.foemalta.org/foraging-guide
of fascinating historical anecdotes
specifically related to food, providing
a fascinating insight into the lesser-
known details of Malta’s history and
culture. In addition, you will get to
sample authentic traditional Maltese
food and drinks in a number of stops
during the tour. The guide will also
provide tips on where and what to
eat during your stay in Malta, as
well as the best places to shop for
authentic Maltese food.

Good Week/Bad Week

A GOOD WEEK A BAD WEEK

A hamster has successfully returned Disgraced singer R Kelly is set to

to Earth after being launched into remain in jail for decades after being Foraging Booklet
the stratosphere on a flying balloon. sentenced to 30 years in prison for The importance of wild plants is regrettably often overlooked with a
The spaceham reached a maximum sex trafficking. The court heard victim
altitude of 14 miles (23km) - and is impact statements from seven women,
diverse array of plant life frequently dismissed as just weeds, or ħaxix
in good health after being safely presented anonymously as “Jane ħażin. Malta has a range of wild edible flora that are excellent for use in
recovered from the sea off Japan’s Does”, who told how he used “fame the kitchen. Wild edible plants are healthy because they are full of vita-
Miyako Island. and power” to entice his victims. mins, minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and phytochemicals which protect
one’s body from ageing and pollutants.
Our booklet also illustrates how edible plants are beautiful in and
A giant step for of themselves, providing a sign of life. They play a fundamental role
hamkind: The R Kelly has been
sentenced to 30 years in wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Read more about this and other
spaceham reached plants to forage by ordering our Foraging Guide on our website!
a maximum altitude in prison for using
of 23km and is in his fame to sexually
good health abuse young fans Visit Friends of the Earth’s website for more information about our work,
as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by
sending us a donation – www.foemalta.org/donate
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

COMMERCIAL 13

BikeWorld offers a new solution for urban mobility

BIKEWORLD is a new outlet in Zeb-
bug offering high quality products for
bikes and commuters alike. Its objec-
tive is to keep clients mobile with as
minimal an environmental impact as
possible.
And the company has made it its
mission to raise awareness and to
promote the adoption of new electric
transport for a better Malta.
Imagine the time commuters could
save on their daily journeys if they had
to switch to a motorbike, or scooter,
and zip through traffic. BikeWorld ap-
preciates that change is not easy, and
there are many questions, especially
by those who never rode a two-wheel
vehicle before.
“At Bikeworld we want to give the
best product to our customers and
with this philosophy in mind we have
ventured to promote only the best and
renowned brands,” Etienne Attard,
General Manager of BikeWorld, said.
“Our team is dedicated to offer servic-
es and support to help you make the
right choice.”
The outlet features two leading
electric scooter brands: Silence and
TiSTO. These are the optimal solu-
tion for individuals and companies
seeking a practical, low running cost,
high-quality mode of transport.
The scooters are powered by a port-
able lithium-ion battery, which can be
charged via any 240-volt socket (be-
ing a 3-pin socket at home or at the
office).
These modern electric scooters offer
a new, emission-free, driving experi-
ence.
Silence is a specialist in the produc-
tion of electric vehicles in Europe and
the only one to manufacture its own
batteries. Their e-scooters driving ex-
perience is just like any regular scoot-
er: simple twist-and- go throttle, and
front and rear brake levers.
TiSTO offers a range of electric
scooters equipped with many modern
features such as Bluetooth and an op-
tional keyless start. They offer scoot-
ers in a variety of colours and can be
further customised to our clients’
wants.
Focusing on safety, quality, value,
and sustainability, the new Bikeworld
showroom is committed to delivering
the latest innovations from leading
brands worldwide.
“Our products are designed to meet
the uncompromising demands for the
highest standard of protection and
comfort on any trip you take,” Attard
said. “We have selected a range of hel-
mets and apparel to make riding a mo-
torbike safer and more secure.”
The outlet also stocks SMK and
SPIDI apparel, including superior
quality helmets, clothing, and acces-
sories for all bikers.
To learn more about Bikeworld, visit
the showroom in Mdina Road, Zebbug
or www.bikeworld.com.mt

Calamatta Cuschieri
celebrates 50th anniversary
MALTA’S largest inde-
pendent financial services
group is celebrating its fif-
tieth anniversary.
Calamatta Cuschieri pi-
oneered the Maltese fi-
nancial services industry
as early as 1971 and was a
founding member of the
Malta Stock Exchange,
which today offers a wide
range of financial services.
Set up in 1971 by Alfred
Calamatta under the name
of A. Calamatta & Partners,
Calamatta Cuschieri was
born in 1992 following Alex
Cuschieri’s official partner-
ship after several years of
collaboration. This would
eventually become CC Fi-
nance Group.
Since its inception as
a stockbroking firm, the
company has continued to
evolve and modernise over
the years, building on its
strong heritage. While it
continues to offer clients
advice on investments in
bonds, funds and shares, it
has also diversified its busi-
ness to include fund ad-
ministration, wealth man-
agement, life insurance and
pensions services.
The company’s first inroad
into financial technology
came in 2004 when it started
developing the proprietary
software for what would
become its award-winning
proprietary trading plat-
form, CC Trader, which
went online in 2011, and has
been recently rebranded as
Moneybase Invest.
This April, CC Group
launched Moneybase, Mal-
ta’s first digital payments
platform. The result of a
€10 million investment
which further consolidates
CC Group’s reputation in
financial services and fin-
tech innovation. Money-
base users can benefit from
an integrated app that offers
investments, SEPA and per-
son-to-person payments, as
well as cards more informa-
tion is available on www.
moneybase.com
From its humble begin-
nings, Calamatta Cuschie-
ri now employs 200 staff
members, manages and
administers more than €2
billion in assets, and serves
over 30 thousand clients.
This year, CC Group will
continue working on its
consolidation phase while
still delivering on its com-
mitment to provide its cli-
ents with a personalised,
high-value and comprehen-
sive service.
More information is availa-
ble on Calamatta Cuschie-
ri’s website: www.cc.com.mt.
Clients are also welcome
to get in touch on +356 25
688 688, via email at info@
cc.com.mt, or by visiting one
of the branches located in
Birkirkara, Sliema, Fgura,
and Mosta.
Paragon,
single
botanical
cordials for
bartenders
now available
in Malta
PARAGON, a range of single botanic
cordials created for bartenders, which
was launched by Monin in collabora-
tion with Alex Kratena, internation-
ally renowned bartender and P(OUR)
co-founder is now available in Malta.
Paragon seeks to protect and pro-
mote rare botanical varieties from
remote areas around the world, high-
lighting unknown aromatic essences
and making them available for those
who appreciate exceptional flavours
for use in cocktails.
Created as a series of ‘botan-
ical chapters’ which will become an
encyclopedic collection of ingredients
for bartenders, the first chapter focuses
on pepper and pepper berries. Paragon
explored every continent and encoun-
tered remote populations cultivating
species for generations to source origi-
nal varieties with distinctive flavours.
The result is the Pepper Collection,
comprising three variants: White Penja
Pepper from Cameroon; Ru Berry from
Ethiopia; and Timur Berry from Nepal,
each presented in a 48.5cl bottle as a
single botanic cordial.
To extract the complex flavours of
each pepper ingredient Paragon uses
a mix of technologies, including the
unique use of supercritical CO2, along
with infusion and alcoholate (distilla-
tion).
Each technique extracts a particular
element of the ingredients’ flavour pro-
file, allowing for the recreation of the
complete flavour spectrum. To create
the cordials, naturally occurring and
previously undiscovered gluconic acid
which is found in Cameroonian Oku
honey is used as a base, and has been
chosen for its property of enhancing
long lasting flavours without adding
any additional tasting notes.
Alex Kratena, who travelled with the
Paragon team to source ingredients in
Cameroon before consulting on the
production of the cordials comments,
“Paragron is a new generation of cor-
dials and they bring a range of rare and
daring new flavours to the repertoire of
any bartender.”
Paragon is imported, marketed and
distributed by Farsons Beverage Im-
ports Company (FBIC) Limited. www.
paragoncordial.com

14
Frank Salt Real Estate launches malta’s
latest property portal
FRANK Salt Real Estate has
announced the launch of its
brand-new website, franksalt.
com.mt.
The site comes with a fresh
and dynamic look together with
an array of new functionalities,
which makes it extremely us-
er-friendly and resourceful to
anyone looking at buying or
renting a property, or who is
looking for information on the
property market or the process
involved.
Built using the latest web
functionalities and technology,
the site showcases the compa-
ny’s property listings at the best,
a big plus for potential buyers or
tenants who nowadays prefer to
shortlist their preferred proper-
ties prior to arrange viewings.
One also has the option to
save searches for ease of refer-
ence, which the client can rerun
each time he/she visits the web-
Encouraging participation
at MCAST Open Day
THE Malta College for Arts,
Science, and Technology
(MCAST) successfully host-
ed prospective students and
their families at the College’s
Main Campus in Paola during
an open day event held on 24
June 2022. Over 3,000 visitors
attended the open day enthu-
siastically seeking information
about education and training
opportunities.
Aspiring students had the
opportunity to witness first-
hand the MCAST campus and
explore the college facilities,
including labs, workshops, and
simulators. This experience
helped visitors discover the dy-
namic learning environment
that awaits them next October.
The college prides itself in of-
fering a truly inclusive and sup-
portive environment and this
was reflected in the open day
activities.
All MCAST Institutes held in-
formation talks at the College’s
new Resource Centre. Attend-
ees enthusiastically participat-
ed by asking questions about
various courses, the teaching
approaches, and potential ca-
reers they could land within the
industry. Tours were organised
COMMERCIAL
site. There is the added possi-
bility of creating bespoke prop-
erty alerts that will match your
specific criteria: an email will be
sent to you every time a prop-
erty that matches your require-
ments, goes live on the website.
The Frank Salt website also al-
lows one to create an alert for
at the new library with its im-
pressive collaborative learning
spaces.
Together with their lecturers,
current MCAST students fol-
lowing different courses within
all six Institutes also showcased
their work and projects. This
allowed prospective students to
understand what they would be
doing when following vocation-
al courses at the College. The
programme included drone
swarm demonstrations, science
experiments, Virtual Reality ac-
tivity in Agribusiness, hair and
beauty shows and student pro-
ject exhibitions.
any specific property you may
choose. The client will then be
notified by email if there is a
change in price, or if the prop-
erty is sold. This is possible by
creating a personal profile, of-
fering this functionality and
much more.
“We want to give our clients
MCAST’s career guidance ad-
visors also explained and pro-
vided individual guidance. By
brainstorming potential work
roles and jobs, advisors could
guide the various suitable learn-
ing paths available at MCAST.
Moreover, information about
application procedures and sti-
pends was also offered.
MCAST currently has a full-
time student population of over
7,000 individuals and offers 190
in diverse areas, spanning from
level 1 certificates to Bachelor’s
Degrees, Master’s Degrees and a
Doctorate.
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022
a unique online experience
when searching for property or
looking into anything which is
property related”, said Director
Grahame Salt. “We have also
revamped our navigation sys-
tem to make it more intuitive.
We wanted to make it as simple
as possible for all our clients to
The zero-waste future
programme
THE Zero Waste Future program
launched in 2018 aims to address
the serious issue of land and ma-
rine litter and was coordinated
by the international NGO AKTI
Project and Research Centre in
partnership with GSD Marketing
Ltd (local bottlers and distribu-
tors of the Coca-Cola Company
in Malta); Vittoriosa local coun-
cil and MHRA. The program
was funded by The Coca-Cola
Foundation and is aligned with
the Coca-Cola Company’s global
commitment for “A World With-
out Waste”.
Through this programme, 50
HoReCa establishments were
enrolled in the Responsible
Coastal Business Network where
they were trained to implement
practices to minimize their
waste production and thus min-
imize the potential for marine
pollution from their operations
and their customers’ activities.
Local authorities were also en-
gaged and on-the-go recycling
bins in Vittoriosa were installed
resulting in the collection for re-
cycling of over 40 tons of PMD
(Plastic packaging, Metal pack-
aging, Drinks cartons).
The programme also raised
awareness amongst the local
population and tourists on re-
get what they want from our
website, within a few clicks,” he
added.
“Franksalt.com.mt also offers
an endless source of articles,
blogs and guidebooks on prop-
erty and relocation subjects –
making it a go-to-portal for an-
yone interested in the subject.”
says Director Darren De Do-
menico. “You will also find our
latest blogs, special offers and
incentives, information about
Malta and Gozo, as well as all up
to date info for foreign nation-
als wishing to obtain residency.
“As over 60% of clients use their
phones to browse nowadays, we
wanted our website to be mo-
bile and tablet adaptive for ease
of use.”
Further information about the
services offered by Frank Salt
Real Estate Ltd may be viewed
at www.franksalt.com.mt
cycling and circular economy
principles reaching over 1 mil-
lion interactions through social
and traditional media. This was
achieved through an innovative
Decalogue and the Guide of
Good Practices. Several beach
and seabed cleanups were or-
ganized that saw the partici-
pation of 500 individuals that
collected 1.6 tons of waste from
various localities.
For the first time in Malta a
waste characterisation study
was carried out in cooperation
with the Vittoriosa Municipal-
ity. This included 30 sampling
points over 5 sampling periods!
and categorized the black bag
contents for household, offices,
and catering establishments.
Following the completion of the
first phase in June, the program
is being extended and will run up
till July 2023. The local councils
of Cospicua and Senglea will be
participating in a waste charac-
terization in their areas as well
as support the enrollment of new
members to the Network.
Interested establishments that
wish to join the Responsible
Coastal Business Network are
kindly requested to send an email
on rcbn@gsd.mizzi.com.mt
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

LAW 15
CLASSIFIEDS

LAW Contempt of court proceedings

REPORT
are criminal proceedings

MALCOLM
CONTEMPT of court proceed-
MIFSUD ings in civil cases are in fact
criminal proceedings to ensure
Mifsud &
Mifsud that there is public order in
Advocates court.
This was held in the First Hall
of the Civil Courts in Id-Di-
rettur Qrati Civili u Tribunali
bhala Registratur, Qrati Civili
u Tribunali -v- Theresa Grima.
The Court presided by Judge
Joanne Vella Cuschieri and de-
livered on 28 June 2022.
The Director of Courts filed
presented an application and
explained that a warrant of sei-
zure was filed in a case Marco
Muscat et -v- Clafen Limited.
The Court Marshal in January
2018 went to execute the war-
rant at a particular address.
At the address the Court
Marshal found Theresa Grima,
who did not allow the former
to execute the warrant.
The same Court Marshall
visited a second time and the
same thing took place.
The Director asked the Court
to find Grima guilty of con-
tempt of court in terms of Ar-
ticle 997 and 1003 of the Code
of Organisation and Civil Pro-
cedure.
The Director asked that the
Court fines Grima.
Grima failed to reply to this
action.
The Court quoted from a
number of judgements such
as Ir-Registratur, Qrati Civili
u Tribunali -v- Mario Caruana
et of 20 April 2007, which held
that the Courts are empowered
to issue orders for people ei-
ther to do something or not.
If these orders are not fol-
lowed, then this would consti-
tute a contempt of court.
Lord Denning has explained
that “this kind of contempt has
the characteristics which are
common to all contempt’s of
court. It is a criminal offence.
It must be proved beyond
reasonable doubt”. This was
the same position in Avukat
Irene Bonello -v- L-Onorevoli
Prim Ministru decided on 28
February 1997 and Registratur
tal-Qrati Superjuri -v- Salvu
Bellotti decided on 10 Deceber
2003.
The Court analysed the evi-
dence produced.
The copy of the warrant of
seizure did not mention Gri- of the person who stopped the
ma and indicated an address in Court Marshall in sufficient.
Msida. There are doubts of the ad-
On the Court Marshall’s first dress the Court Marshalls vis-
visit nobody had opened for ited.
him. The warrant mentioned and
On the second visit, the Court number of addresses that the
Marshall had spoken to Grima warrant had to be executed.
who explaine5 d that the prem- There is no evidence to show
ises has nothing to do Calfen where this incident occurred.
Limited, Footloose Catering As a result the Court had se-
Limited and Fabio Grima. rious doubts on the evidence
The Court then ordered that produced and ruled that the
the contempt of court proceed- request for contempt of court
ings commence against Grima. was turned down.
The Court Marshall testified
and explained that the address
was a burger place and accord-
ing to the Court Marshall Gri-
ma did not allow him to do his
job.
The Court commented that
the Court Marshall who testi-
fied did not remember precise-
ly what took place.
There is no evidence on the
identity of the person who
spoke to the Court Marshalls.
The Court Marshall who vis-
ited the second time was not
certain whether the person
concerned was Grima.
This evidence on the identity

HOLIDAY
ACCOMMODATION MASSAGE
MARSALFORN, Gozo - holiday apart-
ments for short or long lets with mag-
nificent sea-views. Call 21556021,
CLASSIFIEDS 27556021, 79426883
PROPERTY TO LET
XLENDI - catering premises in prime
site to let. Can be used for other com-
mercial purposes. Phone 79493021,
79426883, 77481592 or 77484029
INFO
@MEDIATODAY.COM.MT
PROPERTY FOR SALE
SAN GWANN - Close to all amenities
and located in the commercial district
is this 3 storey OFFICE BUILD-ING.
Presently arranged in open plan layout
on each floor, complimenting this there
are a number meeting rooms. Each floor
has a balcony and toilet facilities, with
the 3rd floor having a front terrace over-
looking the main street and the back bal-
cony with country views. Although the
property is currently being used as offic-
es, there is the possibility of converting
to two apartments and a penthouse with
terrace. The proper-ty is being offered
freehold. Asking price: €760,000. Call
on:79899838.
SAN GWANN- Open plan 190sqm,
ready to move into designer finished
second floor apartment in a cen-tral
quiet street forming part of a block of
5 apartments. Two double A/C bed-
rooms and 1 single A/C bed-room, two
bathrooms, lift, double glazing doors
and windows. Direct from owner €350k
inquire on 79402244.
TARXIEN - Larger than usual first floor
duplex maisonette. Three bedrooms;
double glazed windows; in-verter air
conditioners including solar water heat-
er. Being sold furnished. Own airspace
with possibility of further development.
Contact owner on 99912005/99450639.
SERVICES
COLLECTIBLE items such panini
albums and loose stickers, old postcards
and posted envelopes, medals, militar-
ia, coins and paper money, books, toys,
stamps, badges, paintings, gold & silver
items etc. Call on 21310238, 99246632.
NEWSPAPER adverts - Book & pay
on-line on www.perfecta.com.mt - no
extra charges. Call on 21322452
SITUATIONS VACANT
BARTENDER/CASHIER - Asian Palace
Catering Ltd has vacancies for a bar-
tender & a cashier on a full-time basis
to work from Monday to Sunday with
one day off. This will include public hol-
idays with a wage of €1000 gross month-
ly. Please phone 27811888 Email: info@
asianpalacemalta.com
DELIVERY DRIVER - required to
work Full Time, flexible hours, fluent
in English and holder of a full driver’s
license. Interested please call LOGIC
International Ltd 21245982
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST - we require
a full -time hotel receptionist for a busy
boutique & spa in Naxxar. Ap-plicant
must speak fluent English and have
experience in a similar role and be able
to work shifts. Call The Village Hotel Ltd
on 27988357 to apply
AND BEAUT Y
THERAPIST- we require a Massage and
Beauty Therapist on a full-time basis
with at least 10 years’ experience. Must
speak english, qualification in Cidesco
diploma and qualified in Thai tradi-
tional medicine society. €1000 - €1500
monthly. Windsor Beauty Clinic, San
Gwann. Send email to: mam2002059@
gmail.com. Tel: 99596359
SPA THERAPIST - required for a busy
spa within a hotel in Naxxar. Must be
flexible with hours on a rota full time and
fluent in English. Experience required.
Please contact The Village Boutique &
Spa on 27988357 for more info.
VACANCY - we are looking for a
hard-working person to work in an ICE
Factory in temperatures of -30 de-grees
Celsius. Minimum wage from Monday
to Sunday with 2 days off. If you are
interested, please con-tact owner on:
sales@godwinsdiamondice.com
 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JULY 2022

16 CROSSWORD
INFO
TODAY’S WEATHER

330 / 25 0 DOWN
1) Stares open-mouthed
FEELS LIKE 360
HOT & SUNNY 2) Solitarily
3) Well-plumed bird
Weather Fine
Visibility Good 4) There are only five great
Wind North to Northeast force 3 or ones
4 becoming Northerly force 2 or 3.
5) “Ain’t Too Proud to ___“
Sea Slight locally sligh
6) “Give ___ break!”
TOMORROW 7) Hair removal brand
8) Prepare to make music
350 / 24 0 9) Soul ___ (facial hair)
10) Stone paving block
FEELS LIKE 37 0

HOT & SUNNY 11) Song sung solo

12) Depict artistically
13) Track competition
18) By way of
GOZO CHANNEL FERRY SERVICE 19) Starch from a palm
Crossing time: Approx 25 mins 23) “___ have to do”
MON - THUR FRI & SAT SUN 24) Jeans purveyor Strauss
EXC. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS EXC. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS INC. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 27) Complicated, as a divorce
DEPART DEPART DEPART DEPART DEPART DEPART 28) Fuzzy fruit
MGARR CIRKEWWA MGARR CIRKEWWA MGARR CIRKEWWA
GOZO MALTA GOZO MALTA GOZO MALTA
29) Las Vegas illumination
00.45 01.15 00.45 01.15 00.45 01.15 30) Folklore monster
01.30 02.15 01.30 02.15 01.30 02.15
02.15 02.45
02.15 02.45 02.15 02.45 3I) Asian cooking pans
03.00 03.45
03.00 03.45 03.30 04.00 03.00 03.45 32) Two-person bands
04.15 04.45 03.30 04.00
03.30 04.00 04.15 04.45
04.15 04.45
04.45
05.30
05.30
06.00 05.00 05.45
33) Peruvian native
04.45 05.30 06.00 06.45 06.00 06.45 34) Twirled like a top
05.30 06.00 06.30 07.15 06.45 07.30
06.45 07.30 35) Be a poor loser
06.00 06.45 07.30 08.00
07.30 08.15
06.30 07.15 07.45 08.20 08.00 08.30
06.45 07.30 08.00 08.30 08.15 09.00 36) Geisha’s wrap
07.30 08.00 08.30 09.00 09.00 09.15
08.50 09.15 09.15 09.45 37) Banned bug spray
08.15 08.15 09.00 09.30 09.45 10.00
09.00 09.00 09.30 09.45 10.00 10.15 39) Leftovers dish
10.00 10.15
09.45 09.45 10.10 10.45 10.30 10.45 ACROSS 38) What a typical wannabe 40) “So what ___ is new?”
10.30 10.30 10.30 11.00 10.45 11.15
11.15 11.15 11.00 11.15 11.00 11.30 1) Man from the Isle of Man writer has? 44) Initial murder victim
12.00 12.00 11.30 11.45 11.30 11.45 Solution to last week’s crossword
12.45 12.45 11.40 12.15 12.00 12.15 5) Baseball sacrifice 41) Windows in domes 45) Ho-hum
12.00 12.30 12.15 12.45
13.30 13.30 12.30 12.45 12.30 13.00 9) Biblical hymn 42) Classic crackers 46) Orbital extreme
13.45 14.00 13.00 13.15 13.00 13.15
14.15 14.30 13.10 13.45
13.30 13.45 14) Unwanted aquarium 43) “Sighted sub, ___ same” 48) Pendulum’s path
13.30 14.00
14.30 15.00 14.00 14.15 13.45 14.15 organism 44) Bottomless chasm
15.00 15.15 14.30 14.45 14.00 14.30 49) Betty Ford Center activity,
15.30 15.45 14.40 15.15 14.30 14.45 15) Jacob’s twin 46) Blood classification letters
15.00 15.30 15.00 15.15 briefly
16.00 16.10 15.30 15.45
16.30 16.45 16.00 16.15
15.15 15.45 16) Whence eagle eyes may 47) Grapevine tidbit 50) Like an old bagel
16.10 16.45 15.30 16.00
16.45 17.15 16.00 16.15 watch 53) Nosy Parkers
17.30 17.30
16.30
17.00
17.00
17.15 16.30 16.45
51) Broadcaster
18.15 18.15 17.30 17.45 16.45 17.15 17) Be on a strict deadline 58) Bind again 52) Aden’s land
18.30 19.00 17.45 18.15 17.00 17.30
19.00 19.45 18.00 18.30 17.30 17.45 20) Demonstrate subservience 59) Really does the trick 53) Did laps in a pool
18.30 18.45 18.00 18.15
19.30 20.15 19.00 19.15 21) Catalyst’s counterpart 62) Gestation stations
20.15 21.00 19.15 19.45 18.15 18.45 54) A, in music
19.30 20.00 18.30 19.00 22) Head out on the briny 63) ___ and void
21.00 21.45 20.00 20.15 19.00 19.15 55) Valuable deposits
21.45 22.30 20.30 20.45 19.30 19.45 25) Kin of “yuck” 64) Toward the windless side
22.30 23.15 20.45 21.30 19.45 20.00 56) Cajun cooking pod
23.15 23.45 21.00 21.45 20.00 20.30
21.45 22.30 26) Adagio or allegro 65) Butte relatives 57) Gull-like predator
00.00 00.45 20.30 20.45 Answers to the MaltaToday
22.30 23.15
23.15 23.45 21.00 21.45 28) Understand, as a language 66) Very strong wind 60) Building wing
00.00 00.45 21.45 22.30 crossword will be
22.30 23.15
published next Sunday 32) Break up 67) Capital city on the Aare 61) Ginger___
(i) Fridays Only 23.15 23.45
00.00 00.45 37) San___, Calif. river
(ii) Saturdays Only
PHARMACIES OPEN TODAY
MALTA & GOZO • 9AM – NOON USEFUL TELEPHONE
Chemimart Pharmacy Republic Street, Valletta NUMBERS
Remedies Pharmacy, Hamrun
Emergency,Police,
Pinto Pharmacy, Qormi
Fire, Ambulance...................... 112
Marrit Pharmacy, Fleur De Lys
Appogg 24hrs Supportline....... 179
St. Matthew’s Pharmacy, Gzira
Sedqa 24hrs Helpline...............151
St. Julians Pharmacy, St Julians
Social policy info centre.......... 159
Remedies Pharmacy, Sliema
Malta Red Cross ............ 21922645
Brown’s Pharmacy, Naxxar
St John Ambulance....... 21945740
M4 Pharmacy, Attard
Maltacom enquiries...............1182
Promenade Pharmacy, Bugibba
Go Mobile enquiries...............1187
Tarxien Pharmacy, Tarxien
Vodafone enquiries................1189
Brown’s Pharmacy, Kalkara
Government Info service.......... 153
Polymer Zabbar Pharmacy, Zabbar
Telephone faults..................... 133
Health Junction Pharmacy, Zejtun
Gozo ferry schedule........ 21915111
Safi Pharmacy, Safi
PA................................22900000
Charing Pharmacy, Pieta
MIA flight enquiries........21697800
Ideal Pharmacy, Rabat
MIA Weather forecast..... 50043333
Batu Pharmacy, Victoria (Gozo)
Enemalta faults report... 80072224
Laurentana Pharmacy, Ghajnsielem (Gozo)
WSC Freephone............ 80072222
Airport Pharmacy, Luqa