Malta remembers

Malta joined the rest of the world to pay tribute to the fallen servicemen and civilians of the two world wars, with particular emphasis on World War One, which ended 100 years ago on November 11, 1918. Archbishop Charles Scicluna led a Pontifical Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral while President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca led a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the War Memorial in Floriana.

What made the headlines

‘Satabank has funds to pay depositors’: Satabank has enough funds to pay back depositors, however, experts would have to finish combing through the bank’s 12,000 accounts first, MFSA sources told the Times of Malta. Accounts at Satabank, a small international bank, were effectively frozen by the MFSA last month, with EY appointed to administer the bank’s assets in “the best interests of depositors”. The move came after a joint inspection and audit by the MFSA and Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit had found shortcomings in the bank’s anti-money laundering procedures. Meanwhile, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi said in Parliament that no proper due diligence on the owner of Satabank had been carried out by the MFSA, even though it had been given a report on him by the authorities in Luxembourg. Dr Azzopardi said Bulgarian Cristo Georgiev had been investigated in Luxembourg, where he operated before moving to Malta in 2013, over money-laundering allegations.

Archbishop Charles SciclunaArchbishop Charles Scicluna

Pope gives Archbishop top Vatican job: Archbishop Charles Scicluna was given another major role by Pope Francis, this time as Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is responsible for promulgating and defending Catholic doctrine. Archbishop Scicluna, who now occupies the number three spot within the Congregation (together with another Adjunct Secretary, Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia) was already a member of the Congregation and also president of the Special College within the same Congregation, which deals with certain canonical processes. Mgr Scicluna is also the Vatican’s top investigator on child abuse, having previously served as Promoter of Justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

17 Black revelations debated in Parliament: Parliament discussed the 17 Black revelations following a request by the Opposition. Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, speaking in the absence of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, accepted the request but said Parliament should also debate allegations against members on the Opposition benches. The debate was largely characterised by Opposition members calling for accountability on the 17 Black matter, and members of the government benches saying the matter would be decided by the courts. PN leader Adrian Delia said the latest 17 Black report was not a claim on Facebook or a rumour. It was a fact. He said chief of staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, who were both linked to 17 Black through companies of their own, should have both resigned long ago. No country in the democratic western world, Dr Delia said, would allow any of this to happen without a shred of political responsibility shown.  

Commissioner for Standards in Public Life sworn in: George Hyzler, the first-ever Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, took his oath of office. Dr Hyzler, a former PN parliamentary secretary, played down expectations when speaking to the press, saying his office needed time to find its feet. The law empowers the commissioner to investigate breaches of an ethical nature committed by MPs and civil servants engaged on a position-of-trust basis. Asked if he would be looking into the 17 Black reports, he pointed out that the law precluded him from looking into allegations of misconduct predating its establishment date of October 30, this year.

UN urges Malta to better protect journalists: Malta must work harder to better protect journalists, the government was told at the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Country delegations used their allotted time at the UN in Geneva to insist that cases of violence against journalists were prosecuted and called on the government to ensure that freedom of expression was safeguarded. The Maltese delegation, headed by Equality Minister Helena Dalli, faced calls for an independent inquiry into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, with a number of delegates saying the killing brought to the surface shortcomings in the state of the island’s rule of law.

Chief Justice says Attorney General has too many powers: Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi told MEPs that the Attorney General has “too many powers”. In a newly released mission report based on a September visit to Malta by MEPs, Dr Azzopardi said the multitude of powers created a difficult situation for any person holding that office. Dr Azzopardi said that the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner had the power to initiate an investigation into corruption cases raised in the press.

What trended

‘By 2030, 50 per cent of cars should be electric’

Studies into when and how Malta could feasibly end the importation of petrol and diesel cars are under way, readers were told this week.

Unsurprisingly, the news – which comes around 14 months after the Prime Minister first pledged a consultation into the matter –  drew mixed reactions.

Stephen, for instance, toasted the announcement. “Burning fossil fuels for transport in high density areas is crazy. In the future it will be seen the same way we consider medieval cities with a lack of proper sanitation”.

John was itching to get started – and he had a clear idea of how to go about it.

“Lead by example. All government and MP cars electric by 2020. No exceptions. By 2025, all buses and taxis should be electric, no exceptions. Then by 2030, 50 per cent of all other vehicles should be electric”.

His enthusiasm was by no means universal.

“Imagine people living in giant blocks of flats,” snorted Matt. “Where would they charge their cars?”

A jaded Maria Anna reckoned it was all hot air.

“It will happen in 500 years maybe. Stopping importation of petrol and diesel cars when permits for fuel stations are being issued like pastizzi? Pull the other one”.

Clint, meanwhile, was the resident contrarian.

“We stop polluting the air with fumes and start polluting the ground with acid. What do you think happens to lithium batteries after they’re gone?”

‘Gudja does not belong to the locals’

From one motoring quandary to another, with Gudja councillors battling over a proposal to ban all non-residents from parking in the locality for stretches longer than 24 hours.

Councillors say people are taking advantage of free on-street parking when going abroad by parking in the town and then crossing the road to the airport.

The proposal inflamed passions.

“Roads are public. So everyone is entitled to park and use them as they need to,” argued Rosario.

Maria argued that the problem was not specific to Gudja.

“It is a widespread practice to leave the car on the street for days on end,” she wrote. “Gudja does not belong to the locals but to us all”.

Perhaps the solution lay in good old capitalism, suggested John.

“It only takes an enterprising person to develop one of the many open spaces near the airport into a car park and include a decent drop-off and pick-up service,” he mused.

What they said

“So when you are going to the bank to cash your €40 cheque from Joseph [Muscat], remember that they are cashing in €5,000 daily.”

Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi speaking during a parliamentary debate on the 17 Black revelations. 

“This is an important moment in our country: 25 years of good reputation are being destroyed for the financial gains of a few people.”

Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia speaking during a question and answer session with youths about the 17 Black allegations.

“People are sick and tired of the abuse of power.”

European People’s Party chairman Manfred Weber speaking at a press conference in Brussels in the aftermath of the 17 Black press reports.

“I’m not even a member of a political party. So, to answer your question, I’ll tell you straight away: I said what I had to say five years ago.”

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia, a former Labour deputy leader who in 2012 had warned that big businessmen were getting to close to the party, replying, in the aftermath of the 17 Black disclosures, to a question by the Times of Malta about whether Labour was approached by businessmen involved in the power station deal prior to the March 2013 poll.

“Mindful of your client’s fundamental rights and freedoms, the MFSA has decided not to proceed further on this matter.”

The Malta Financial Services Authority informing the Times of Malta’s legal adviser that it had dropped its request for the newspaper to reveal its source behind a news report on October 9 about the Manoel Island project.

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