‘Daphne’s murder overshadows achievements’

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca addressed members of the diplomatic corps during the exchange of New Year’s greetings at the Palace in Valletta. She said the “dark cloud” brought about by Daphne Caruana Galizia’s killing overshadowed last year’s economic and civil liberties achievements. Dr Coleiro Preca welcomed the defeat in 2017 of populist parties and candidates in the EU and expressed her deep regret at the humanitarian crisis in Syria. She also expressed concern at the escalation of tensions between the US and North Korea.

What made the headlines

Government doubles VGH payments days before hospitals sale announcement: Days before the surprise announcement that Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH) were about to sell their multi-million, 30-year government concession on three public hospitals, the Health Ministry obtained parliamentary approval to pay VGH an extra €18 million for 2017 over and above the €16.5 million already paid during the year, the Times of Malta revealed. The payment was approved on December18, as part of the Budget appropriation Bill requested by the government for additional costs not budgeted for the year.

Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri.Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri.

MEPs say suspect politicians ‘must be removed and swiftly probed’: A European Parliament report called on politicians perceived to be implicated in “serious acts of corruption and money laundering” linked to the Panama Papers to be removed from public office and swiftly investigated. Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, were both found in the Panama Papers to have secretly opened identical structures in Panama, a jurisdiction synonymous with money laundering. In its recommendations, the report said keeping suspect politicians in office affected the credibility of the government, fuelled perception of impunity and could result in further damage to State interests by enabling the continuation of criminal activity. The report was compiled after a cross-party delegation of MEPs carried out a two-day fact-finding mission about the rule of law in Malta last year.

Six Malta U-21 players banned for match-fixing: Maltese football suffered another damaging blow after UEFA announced that six U-21 national team players were banned for match-fixing offences. Emanuel Briffa, who was on the books of Floriana, and Pietà Hotspurs player Kyle Cesare were both handed a life ban from all football-related activity. Birkirkara had three players suspended: Ryan Camenzuli for a year-and-a-half, while midfielder Llewelyn Cremona and striker Luke Montebello were suspended for a year. Balzan’s Samir Arab received a two-year suspension.

Busuttil must produce evidence of judge in Panama appeals: Former Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil must bring forward documentary evidence proving that Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi’s decision to continue to preside over the Panama appeals, would render him a “victim” by violating his right to a fair hearing, a court, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon, said.

Ferris now carrying gun ‘after being followed’: Former FIAU investigator Jonathan Ferris decided to carry a gun after he was followed while walking his dog early in the morning last month, he told the Times of Malta. Mr Ferris said he informed the Police Commissioner about the incident and was offered protection for the night. In an interview on BBC Newsnight on Monday, he said he took to carrying the gun because he feared for his life as a result of looking into claims made against top political figures by assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Doctors demand freeze of ‘fake’ Vitals agreement: The doctors’ union urged the government to immediately withdraw its consent for the transfer to an American company of a 30-year, multi-million-euro concession for the running of three public hospitals. The Medical Association of Malta also questioned where the millions of euros paid by the government to Vitals Global Healthcare over the past two years ended up, saying “there is nothing to show for this money”. MAM general secretary Martin Balzan said the transfer should be put on hold until the NAO conducts a proper investigation.

MEPs move to stop lawsuits bullying media: A cross-party group of MEPs proposed new EU laws aimed at addressing court cases intended to intimidate investigative journalists and independent media through exorbitant legal expenses. MEPs David Casa, Ana Gomes, Monica Macovei, Maite Pagazaurtundúa, Stelios Kouloglou and Benedek Jávor said the practice was abusive, posed a threat to media freedom and had no place in the EU. The MEPs said the practice – known as SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) – was used against slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and local media houses by firms “associated with government corruption and the Panama Papers scandal”.

What trended

Old tropes and clichés

A survey which found that three out of every four women experienced sexual harassment at their workplace was the perfect opportunity for some to revive old tropes and clichés.

“Many women dress to attract, just like hunters preparing a bait,” went one pearl of wisdom. “In my days one could tell a prostitute by the clothes she wore,” wrote another. “Now... they all dress the same.”

A comment board Adonis told the world that he used to be harassed by women “everywhere I went when I was in my 20s”. “They’d touch me here and there but for me it was fun, so how can I complain?” he added for good measure.

One exasperated woman reader used sarcasm to vent. “Why do women expect to be respected at work? That’s too much to ask for!” she wrote.

But it wasn’t all incredulity and straw men: one reader noted that the article did not explain how surveyors had defined ‘sexual harassment’, and highlighted that the findings could have been skewed. Victims of harassment, he pointed out, were more likely to answer a survey about it than those that weren’t.

Cheaper to buy clothes abroad

Speaking of what women wear: Maltese men and women spend less money on clothes than citizens of any other EU Member State, a study found this week.

We asked readers why they thought that was, and a consensus quickly emerged.

“It’s three times more expensive to buy clothes in Malta,” wrote one woman, as another listed garments which cost far less in UK stores.

“It’s cheaper to fly to Newcastle and do my shopping from there.”  

Another reader had multiple bones to pick with local retailers, from the lack of variety on their clothes racks to restricted opening hours.

“In other countries stores open till 10pm and on Sundays all year round,” they wrote.

What they said

“If anyone thinks he can make millions from people’s assets and get away with it, he is seriously mistaken.” 

Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia criticising Vitals Global Healthcare, which recently sold its 30-year concession to run three hospitals to an American healthcare company.

“People have felt the strength of the economy and the economic activity over the festive season: it was visible, palpable.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat speaking on One Radio.

“Peace is the acceptance of Jewish sovereignty and the Jewish State in this part of the world.”

Israeli Ambassador to Malta Eyal Sela speaking to the Times of Malta where he insisted that there can be no compromise regarding Israel’s insistence  on having Jerusalem as its undivided capital.

“If someone wants to seek shelter in Hungary we are open. But let us not mix definitions. Economic migrants are not refugees.”

Kristof Altusz, Hungary’s Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, defending his country’s tough migration policy while speaking to the Times of Malta.

“If I have stepped out of line, give me a slap on the wrist, don’t knock me out.”

Hunters’ Federation president Joe Perici Calascione arguing that bird trapping in Malta should not be abolished by the European Court of Justice because of the bending of rules that took place in the past.

“This is a lack of respect for the justice system.”

Mr Justice Silvio Meli reacting to the fact that Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta, who did not turn up for a constitutional case instituted against him by the Caruana Galizia family because he was unwell, did not file an application informing the court in advance.

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