Silent strength
A silent walk was held in Valletta on Thursday to mark one month passing since Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated with a car bomb. Candles, flowers and bay leaves, which have come to symbolise the journalist’s strength and courage, were laid at a makeshift memorial. Marchers called for justice and the rule of law to prevail.
What made the headlines
Professionals call for new mental health hospital: In a Talking Point on Monday, professionals from four associations in the field of mental health called for a new hospital and for an end to what they called an unacceptable state of affairs in the provision of services. They took a stand after the Times of Malta reported that architects had declared wards at Mount Carmel Hospital unsafe and patients had been relocated. The professionals said mental health services were crumbling both physically, given outdated facilities and institutionalised patients, and functionally, given surging demand and woeful staffing levels.
Cabinet approves medicinal cannabis: The Prime Minister announced that the Cabinet had approved new legislation to improve access to medicinal cannabis and unveiled his dream that Malta become a production centre for the medicinals. Several cannabis derivatives are still considered illegal, making it difficult for patients with chronic illnesses to get their hands on them.
Malta firms counter sue Vatican Bank for €24 million: Two Malta-registered investment companies have countersued the Vatican Bank for €24 million, claiming the bank breached contractual obligations that led to the postponement of work on a property in Hungary. The firms are Futura Investment Management Limited and Futura Funds SICAV plc. The bank is seeking damages of over €17 million in investments made by the Optimum Ad Maoira fund in Luxembourg, where money was reportedly invested through the Malta-based Futura Funds.
MEPs told not to jump to conclusions on murder: European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans warned MEPs debating the rule of law in Malta not to make assumptions on the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia before investigations were completed. During the debate, MEPs questioned whether the Maltese government was doing everything in its power to ensure that the rule of law was functioning properly.
Majority of MEPs back rule of law resolution: An overwhelming majority – 466 MEPs, with 49 against and 167 abstaining – voted in favour of a European Parliament resolution calling on the European Commission to start a dialogue with the Maltese government on the state of the rule of law in Malta. Among others things, the resolution calls on the Commission to investigate whether the island observes anti-money-laundering rules.
Antibiotics use in Malta hospitals tops Europe list: Antibiotic consumption in Malta’s hospitals last year was at 2.9 doses per 1,000 patients, the highest in Europe, according to figures published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. However, the use of antibiotics in the general community has fallen and is below the European average.
Auditors clear all EU agencies except Malta’s: The European Court of Auditors gave a clean bill of health to 40 of the 41 EU agencies but singled out the Malta-based European Asylum Support Office for non-compliance with public procurement principles. The Office was found to have shortcomings in two of the five significant procurement procedures in 2016.
What trended
Off the record
You would think that having a monopoly on ferry trips between Malta and Gozo would be a licence to print money. Gozo Channel are proof that ineptitude can trump even that sort of massive advantage.
A National Audit Office report published this week found many shortcomings in the company’s operations – too many to mention – but most stunning of all was the fact that 600 vehicles and 13,000 passengers had somehow eluded the company’s electronic ticketing system.
“Gozo has become the new Bermuda triangle,” one reader joked as one expat asked “is there no area of the Maltese economy that isn’t rife with corruption?”
“Well, the top brass can do it, so can we,” wrote another, neatly summing up what appears to be the national psyche.
Rich and even richer
The Prime Minister spent most of his week wooing wealthy Asians in the Orient, telling a conference in Hong Kong that Malta wasn’t in the business of selling passports for the money and that a “more exclusive” scheme was in the pipeline.
“So now this programme that’s totally not aimed at the rich will require people to be even richer?” one reader asked.
Another slammed “a European prime minister acting like a used car salesman.”
The criticism came in fast and furious.
“Selling citizenship is intrinsically wrong. No matter the nice words... no matter the money,” another wrote.
The scheme had its defenders, though. “It’s an EU-approved scheme, keep up the good work Prime Minister,” one reader wrote, leaping to Joseph Muscat’s defence. “It’s not MEP votes which count, but those of the Maltese people.”
Some readers took exception at the ‘cash-for-passports’ description used for the IIP scheme.
“You do not buy the passport, you get the passport for investing in Malta,” one reader explained. “The concept is totally different.”
“Tomatoe, tomato,” another reader replied. That’s a little closer to the truth.
What they said
“Daphne never grew cynical; she grew outraged and appalled by the increasingly sordid and frightening facts that emerged from her work.”
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s husband, Peter, speaking at the inauguration of an EU Parliament press room dedicated to the slain journalist.
“In a country that was once deemed the safest, we now have old people who are terrified of being alone.”
Opposition leader Adrian Delia comments on the results of police not doing their work.
“The government’s aim is prosperity with a purpose.”
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on his trip to Asia to promote investment and job creation in Malta.
“Silence is neither fear nor shame. Silence is respect and wisdom, till the opportune moment.”
Former Public Broadcasting Ser-vices CEO John Bundy on his dismissal.
“We’re ready to listen to civil society and see how we will be moving forward.”
Equality Minister Helena Dalli expresses her opennenss to a public debate on abortion.
“Were it for me to decide, though I can only give advice, the AUM should first make sure to utilise all their campus in Cospicua before moving on with their plans on Żonqor.”
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo on the American University of Malta’s difficulties in recruiting students.
“From the doom and gloom attitude of the previous minister, we now have some hope.”
An unnamed senior Air Malta official on the negotiations taking place with the unions.