Dazzling fireworks display

Fireworks lit up the Valletta skies late on Tuesday during the International Fireworks Festival. The festival came to a close last night at the Floriana Granaries.

What made the headlines

Evidence of crime could exist in Panama Papers – court: A court upheld a request by former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil for evidence in the Panama Papers scandal to be preserved, in the process acknowledging that a crime could have taken place. In a decree by Magistrate Doreen Clarke, the court said the documents presented by Dr Busuttil and NGO Repubblika gave credence to the request for an inquiry to preserve evidence. The magistrate said a series of facts were presented that could indicate a crime took place. This decree came over three years since the Panama Papers scandal first broke in Malta. The court said the list of potential crimes presented to it were not fully covered by another inquiry being led by Magistrate Charmaine Galea. For this purpose, the court ordered that the evidence presented to it form part of the inquiry being led by Dr Galea. The inquiry by Dr Galea is looking into the ownership of the Dubai company17 Black. Evidence implicating Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri, Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna and Karl Cini as well as LNG tanker agent Mario Pullicino, will now form part of this inquiry. A joint investigation by the Times of Malta and Reuters last year revealed that 17 Black is owned by Tumas Group CEO Yorgen Fenech, who forms part of the Electrogas power station consortium. A previous request for a broad inquiry into the Panama Papers filed in 2017 was turned down on appeal in January. In a tweet, Dr Busuttil said the decision was “one small step for justice but one giant leap for Malta”.

AG to handle prosecutions in Magistrates’ Court, not police: Prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Court will no longer be led by the police but by the Attorney General’s Office, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici told a press conference. This radical change is part of a Bill that seeks to address a series of shortcomings in Malta’s judicial setup, which were flagged last year by a group of Council of Europe experts known as the Venice Commission. Dr Bonnici said the reform would lead to the setting up of the Office of State Advocate, who would take over the Attorney General’s function as the government’s chief legal adviser.

Fuel used in Floriana arch arson: Investigators concluded that fuel was used to burn down Floriana’s historic arch last week, in a case that was ‘definitely arson’, sources said. The 120-year-old wooden arch, which dated back to 1899, was brought out to celebrate the feast of St Publius this weekend. It was destroyed in a fire that raged for 90 minutes and also extensively damaged four cars parked nearby.

Some ODZ sites may be suitable for fuel station relocation: Some outside development zone (ODZ) sites that do not host agriculture or animal husbandry could be considered for the relocation of fuel stations, according to a proposed policy launched for public consultation. The new policy will guide the future evaluation of applications related only to the relocation of existing fuel stations.

Maltapost asks for 10c rise in tariffs: Maltapost is asking for a 10-cent tariff increase for single-piece mail items over a three-year period on grounds it has been delivering the service at a loss for a number of years. In the case of single-piece mail items weighing under 50 grams, Maltapost is proposing to increase the existing tariff of 26c per item by 4c this year, 3c next year and 3c in 2021. Increases are also being proposed for other mail items.

‘Whistleblowers still face challenges’: Whistleblowers continue to face significant challenges when coming forward with information, a report by the Council of Europe concluded. It mentioned how in January 2018, Cyprus issued a European arrest warrant against Maria Efimova, a former employee of a Cypriot bank who had provided information to Daphne Caruana Galizia, the late Maltese journalist who was killed in a car bomb attack in 2017. “Ms Efimova left Malta in August 2017, reportedly fearing for her life after giving evidence on allegations involving supposed business dealings of the Maltese Prime Minister’s wife. Ms Efimova has applied for asylum in Greece, where courts have so far denied Malta’s extradition requests,” the report said.

Physiotherapy department ‘in shambles’: Physiotherapists working at the old hospital are struggling to treat patients as a result of sub-standard facilities, forcing their union to threaten “serious action”, the Times of Malta reported. Situated at St Luke’s Hospital and run by Steward Health Care, the US company that took over the 30-year government concession to manage three hospitals, the physiotherapy department is the only one of its kind on the island.

What trended

The artful dodger

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s refusal to say if he had ever asked his top aide and close friend Keith Schembri what his plans were for the Dubai-based company 17 Black not surprisingly led to quite an uproar online.

Dr Muscat was questioned by the media after a court on Monday ordered evidence from the Panama Papers scandal to be preserved, saying that a crime may have been committed by Mr Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi.

“Isn’t it funny that whenever a serious question comes up, the Prime Minister seems in a hurry to leave? Artful dodger indeed,” Dylan said.

“So basically we can do whatever we want, no questions asked, until an inquiry is scheduled,” Aron said.

Evarist concurred: “According to the Prime Minister’s reasoning we should not be curious and ask questions, not even when an inquiry is scheduled. We should just wait....and wait.....and wait.”

To which Michel responded: “Indeed so they can fill their pockets!”

Denis commented that this was yet another example of Joseph Muscat’s mastery “in the art of slippery and evasive politics” where he never gives a straight answer and which has earned him the title of ‘The artful dodger of Europe’.

A perhaps summed up the thoughts of many: “I don’t believe him. He never asked Keith, his right-hand man?”

“It probably slipped his mind,” Iain said, tongue in cheek.

‘Only in Malta’

There was plenty of online sympathy for restaurateur Claude Camilleri who decided to pack up his business and consider leaving Malta after years of having to put up with parked caravans outside his terraced restaurant in Mistra.

“Join the queue Claude and it is a long queue of both locals and foreign that are packing up and leaving this jungle!” Joe said.

“Reading this article was simply heartbreaking. So you have a legitimate businessman, trying to make money in an honest way, only to be discouraged and deterred by a bunch of hamalli that this country simply does not need,” remarked J.

According to Charles under this government everyone is free to do as they want as law and order doesn’t exist in our country “which is being run by crooks”.

“Enforcement is nowhere. This attitude is not going to make us the best in Europe Mr Prime Minister,” V said.

BJ said he wasn’t surprised by what he read. “The selfish few ruining the livelihood of hard working people for their own gain and contributing nothing to the local economy. The well-used ‘only in Malta’ phrase comes to mind.”

What they said

“If possible, I would not want the Maltese to be picking up rubbish from the streets. Every job should be dignified but I do not want a situation where the foreigner is comfortable and the Maltese breaking their backs.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat speaking during a debate on TVM weekly show Extra with PN leader Adrian Delia.

“The European way of life is what we Europeans have in common, what defines us. It is our common values of democracy, freedom, freedom of the press, and the respect of the rule of law. We are seeing with concern the developments in Malta. This is damaging the image of the country European-wide.”

European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber speaking at the Nationalist Party’s General Council.

“I am not willing to discuss or compromise on this point.”

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Carmel Cacopardo insisting that spring hunting was by definition unsustainable, during a debate organised by Birdlife for MEP candidates.

 “I try to defend my country as much as I can but there are some questions that are impossible to answer.”

Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi speaking on Times Talk about how, when he travels abroad, he is questioned about Malta’s international reputation since the Panama Papers scandal.

“Malta can show how big a small country can be when it comes to fundamental values.”

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, the European Socialists’ candidate for the post of European Commission president, addressing a Labour Party May Day mass meeting in Valletta.