Party leaders clash over Budget

The Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister gave contrasting opinions of the Budget while speaking in Parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Adrian Delia said the country was crumbling under the pressure of the government’s plan to grow the economy at all costs and the lack of long-term planning was starting to show. Joseph Muscat rejected Dr Delia’s criticism, saying the Budget was the biggest financial package in the country’s history, giving €142 million to the people. He also rebuffed the PN leader’s claim that the economy grew because of an influx of foreigners.

What made the headlines

Judge Antonio Mizzi to hear Panama Papers appeal case: Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi can hear a case involving the Panama Papers, an Appeals Court said as it upheld an appeal filed by the Attorney General. The Constitutional Court found that while Nationalist Party MP Simon Busuttil was justified in highlighting concerns about a right to a fair trial, he had no right to ask for the judge to be recused, as he could not be considered a victim in the case. Dr Busuttil said he would be taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Despite the ruling, Dr Mizzi could end up never hearing the case as he is due to retire on November 16. Dr Busuttil has battled for Dr Mizzi to be taken off a case concerning the Panama Papers, saying his marriage to Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi casts a shadow over his impartiality.

Magistrate lambasts Education Minister, top officials, over bribery claims: A magistrate expressed dismay that neither the Education Minister nor his top officials thought it fit to call in the police when faced with corruption allegations. The court also noted it failed to understand why, once informed, the police charged the person making the claims with defamation rather than probe the bribery claims. Finding contractor Giovann Vella not guilty of defaming Edward Caruana, a former senior official at the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools who is facing corruption charges, Magistrate Ian Farrugia said he could not understand why serious claims of wrongdoing made by Mr Vella were not communicated to the police to be investigated.

Malta must again pay for emission failings: Malta will again have to dig into its pockets to make good for not reaching EU-wide emission targets, according to a new report. A European Commission progress report found that Malta had failed to reach its emissions reduction target “every year since 2013” and would again need to buy emission reduction credits from other countries that had exceeded theirs.

€300,000 monthly direct order keeps being renewed: A €300,000 monthly contract awarded to a cleaning company via direct order keeps being renewed and the government has so far failed to say why, the Times of Malta reported. X-Clean Ltd, a company with an address in Floriana, was awarded the contract for cleaning service at St Vincent De Paul Residence in Luqa just weeks after it was formed in 2015. When the term of the contract expired more than two years ago, a new competitive tender was not issued and, instead, the authorities kept issuing a monthly direct order to the same company, industry sources said.

Busuttil tables report on Mizzi, Schembri in Parliament: Former PN leader Simon Busuttil tabled a report in Parliament which had concluded that Cabinet Minister Konrad Mizzi should be investigated by the police for money laundering. Speaking during the Budget 2019 debate Dr Busuttil said the report noted that 17 Black, from which Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri were planning to net $150,000 a month, received funds from the LNG tanker company. Dr Mizzi meanwhile signed the LNG contract personally, when usually it was government officials who did so.

Rough sea claims hero amateur fisherman’s life: An 85-year-old hobby fisherman, Rokku Bonnici, drowned in Wied iż-Żurrieq after a large wave dragged him out to sea while he was fishing close to the water’s edge at his favourite spot. Ironically, last June he received an award, Ġieħ iż-Żurrieq, for saving a person’s life two years ago at exactly the same spot where he drowned early on Tuesday morning. In another tragedy shortly afterwards, a 55-year-old German woman drowned while diving at Il-Kantra, off Mġarr ix-Xini.

National alcohol policy introduces new responsibilities: A review of the penalties for driving under the influence and the introduction of new responsibilities for alcohol-serving venues are among the measures that will soon be introduced to tackle excessive drinking. Speaking during the launch of the government’s new national alcohol policy, Family Minister Michael Falzon said around 20 action measures would be translated into law or new standards over the coming months. The national alcohol policy also calls for the reduction of the blood alcohol content limit from 0.8g of alcohol per litre of blood to 0.5g for all drivers.

What trended

‘Nobody should be above the law’

It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission, rule-breakers the world over have been known to argue. It’s the sort of reasoning Malta has embraced, if readers’ reaction to news that authorities rebuilt a road in Luqa without bothering to get a permit is to be believed.

“Better done without permission than being left as it was before,” reasoned Clint, using an argument plenty of other readers put forward.

“Why does the government need permission to arrange the horrible state of the roads,” asked Elle, prompting a reply from Neil.

“Because nobody should be above the law – no matter how necessary,” he wrote. 

An exasperated Victor threw his hands up in the air.

“And then we’re surprised at the free-for-all,” he wrote. “The government is setting an example... that is the mentality that has become prevalent. As long as it’s convenient, it doesn’t matter if the law was broken”.

‘The lost generation’

Matsec students were asked to rate their examination conditions, and their replies – tables wobbled, fans didn’t work – did not go down too well with many readers.

“Wobbly tables? Invigilators who can’t speak English? No wonder it’s the lost generation,” huffed Vince.

Steve reckoned kids these days were being spoilt.

Grow up and roll up your sleeves and get rid of your spoilt childhood

“Soon we’ll be blaming education problems on these tables. What’s next? A barista preparing tall lattes and frapucchinos before English literature exams?”

“They should have experienced sitting for exams in the 70s,” Joe reminisced. “We didn’t even have fans!”

Patrick’s examination memories were similarly Spartan.

“We sat for exams in the famous St Elmo Hall with frozen marble and uneven floor in winter,” he growled. 

“These kids are to be tomorrow’s men and women with no idea of endurance and some resilience. Grow up and roll up your sleeves and get rid of your spoilt childhood”.

The task of restoring some perspective fell to Sandy.

“You’re lambasting students for giving their opinion when asked!” she exclaimed. “If they hadn’t answered the questionnaire there would have been comments lambasting them for their lack of participation”.

What they said

“It is very easy for a place like that [Comino] to become a shanty town.”

Birdlife’s CEO Mark Sultana talking about the large number of semi-permanent tents and camping equipment at the Santa Marija campsite on Comino.

“This policy needs a long-term plan. We can’t simply go on like this without thinking about the future.”

Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia speaking in Parliament about the Budget and the fact that the government had brought 47,000 foreign workers into Malta since 2013.

“Let me tell you what we took from people. Did you hear that? I didn’t say anything because we took nothing from the people.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat responding to PN leader Adrian Delia’s reaction to the Budget in Parliament.

“I choose not to answer.”

Policeman Simon Schembri replying to a question in court whether he had forgiven the underage driver who had mowed him down with his Mercedes last May.

“Do not open the doors to our children’s ruin.”

Nationalist Party home affairs spokesman Beppe Fenech Adami, speaking in Parliament where he urged the government not to legalise recreational drugs.

“We still need to see how it will work.”

Wayne Grixti, the head of the Artificial Intelligence task force, speaking during the launch of the National AI Strategy where it was announced that Malta was considering citizenship for robots.