Donation given to families of Simshar tragedy victims
Family members of the Simshar tragedy victims were yesterday presented with cheques totalling €37,000 by Fisheries Minister George Pullicino.
The Simshar fishing boat exploded and sank in July and three men and an 11-year-old boy, Theo Bugeja, perished. The boat’s owner, Simon Bugeja, who was the boy’s father, was rescued, barely alive, after seven days in the sea.
Mr Bugeja was present for the ceremony together with his mother Carmen. Besides his son, Simon also lost his father Karmenu in the tragedy. Also present were Stephania Carabott, the widow of Noel and Mgr Philip Calleja on behalf of Somali victim Gedi Abdulrahman Abdala and his cousin. Mgr Calleja said that the money will be sent to Mr Abdala’s wife in Somalia.
The money was collected through public donations in the HSBC and BOV accounts opened by the government, a government contribution, a donation by the Koperattiva Sajd and the proceeds of a fundraising campaign on Family TV.
Mr Pullicino said that the government was working to improve health and safety at sea with the cooperation of the Armed Forces of Malta and the cooperative.
He said that in agreement with the cooperative the embellishment of the Marsaxlokk promenade will include a monument dedicated to all fishermen who lost their life at sea.
Photo: DOI, Clodagh Farrugia O’Neill
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Gerard Cassar
Jan 16th 2009, 21:07
"The money was collected through public donations in the HSBC and BOV accounts opened by the government, a government contribution, a donation by the Koperattiva Sajd and the proceeds of a fundraising campaign on Family TV. " Extract from the report.
So what has Mr G.Pullicino to do with the fund raising. The bank's representative ought to have handed the money. As the photo appears it nearly says that the money was donated by Pullicino because he is the fishing(sic) minister.
It is being noted that Perit Pullicino is having a lot of photo sessions particuilarly on TV.
Charles Sammut
Jan 16th 2009, 19:40
There is a small, easy to use gadget called a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) which is worn on a lanyard round the neck. It is equpped with a GPS receiver and a transmitter which operates on 406MHz to communicate with the COSPAS/SARSAT satellites. Each unit has its own 15 character unique ID code and can transmit for 48 hours.
National authorities maintain a database of these codes. Information such as the name of the person who registers the PLB, his next of kin and contact numbers, vessel or aircraft callsign/reg, usual area of operation and any other data which the registrant deems fit.
Once activated, the ID of the unit and the GPS coordinates are transmitted to the satellite and relayed to Rescue Coordination Centre. The information is verified on the database, the next of kin is contacted to confirm the possibility of a distress situation and a rescue launched within the hour. GPS is accurate to 50 metres saving time and money.
Cost is about €500. It could be the best €500 you ever spent.
One catch though - they cannot be imported into Malta!!!! They are legal everywhere else.