Wagging tales

My heartfelt thanks are due to all the employees forming part of the Animal Welfare Department. Their enthusiasm and determination should serve as an example to all. I recently informally met these employees, led by their director, Mario Spiteri; a team of seven individuals who tirelessly try to keep up with the ever-increasing numbers of reports and inspections about dogs and other animals that are allegedly being mistreated. Apparently, their telephones never stop ringing!!

Ironically enough, the department is becoming a victim of its own success. Their hard work has raised their public profile and, as a result, they are now receiving more reports, sometimes from individuals who, until recently, would have shied away from filing a report. Yet today, because the public has faith in the team's effectiveness, the number of callers is on the increase. These employees come from different backgrounds but they have one common aim - they are committed to safeguarding animals' rights.

It was also gratifying to hear that many individuals are also phoning in to show their appreciation towards the Animal Welfare Department. This gesture means a lot to the department's employees. I therefore join the general public in thanking them for their sterling work and I also salute all the volunteers working with animal welfare NGOs. Mahatma Gandhi was right: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". August14.

A Fountain of Fun

Yesterday evening, a fountain dedicated to the memory of Johnny Navarro was inaugurated during a brief ceremony held to mark the occasion.

The new fountain, erected in the open space at the top of Tower Road, forms part of the embellishment works being carried out in Sliema's commercial zone.

Some 50 years ago, Sliema could boast of four theatres and the Gaiety Theatre, sited in this very same area, was one of the most patronised.

I felt that it was fitting and appropriate to name the fountain after one of Sliema's well-loved actors. Johnny Navarro's name came to mind; from the little I knew of him, (in fact it's Johnny's grandson, John, whom I know well) I was aware that he was very fond of fountains.

Johnny Navarro was a household name locally and brings back fond memories. When I was young, I often used to listen to him on the Rediffusion or watch his antics on black-and-white television. In her short address yesterday, Terry L. Bencini, who had worked closely with Johnny, related some of the pranks he had got up to, to the delight of the gathering. August 13.

A Fishy Matter

Officials from the Fisheries Control Department forming part of my ministry yesterday carried out enforcement action at a particular fish farm. After frequent inspections confirmed that a Moroccan fishing boat had exceeded its quota, a quantity of tuna, weighing a total of 2.5 tonnes with a market value of around €50,000, which had been deposited in a local fish farm, was released.

The tuna fishing industry is an important one, and not just for our country. Tuna is a sought- after fish, especially in Asiatic markets, and therefore overfishing can take place, jeopardising the sustainability of the species. In fact, scientific reports have shown that this particular species is already facing a crisis unless immediate intervention strategies are enacted.

Malta is an active member of the International Commission - ICCAT - that safeguards tuna and we are committed to observing the regulations.

The government believes in a sense of balance and sustainability and we have always submitted proposals in this regard. In these last months, we have strengthened the administrative arm of the Fisheries Control Department, a fact also acknowledged by the European Commission, to ensure that our country is honouring its obligations. Safeguarding regulations is the best guarantee for a sustainable future in this sector. August 7.

Hardly Thelma and Louise

This weekend I met two women who seriously made me think. On Friday, I met Ursula Caruana while I was visiting a group of farmers harvesting tomatoes in Gozo. Ursula, who hails from a family of tomato-growers, and who is also bringing up a family, is currently reading for a BSc in Mediterranean Agro-Ecosystems. Her thesis is about the promotion of local products and she is keen to further her studies at Masters level too.

Yesterday evening during the Tomato Festival I met another determined woman - Josephine Xuereb. Josephine is the daughter of Leli Cini, who has been producing salt from the salt pans in Żebbug in Gozo for about 60 years. Josephine will be taking over her father's business and is determined to continue making these salt pans an agro-tourism attraction.

The milestones in these two women's lives highlighted the fact that investment in the agricultural sector was also serving to entice more women to play an active part in our country's agro-industry. These two women are a clear example of the transformation that we are witnessing in this sector. The programme of financial investment on the government's part, as well as the investment in education such as that of the Institute of Agriculture, are ensuring that the agro-industrial sector can now compete with quality products that are marketed in a more eye-catching way. August 2.

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