Number 61 Email us: Lawrence Dimech – lawdimech@optusnet.com.au

Tuesday, 8 October 2013 Emanuel Grima – appleli@optusnet.com.au

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News from the Maltese community in AustraliaMETD functionLast Wednesday The Voice spent a beautiful few hours at the Maltese Elderly Thanksgiving Day at Plumpton, which was organised by a committee bearing the same name. The committee has been going on and doing this function for the last twenty odd years. That committee is based around Sydney’s West and Northwest precinct and they seek help from various businesses based in those areas. As we mentioned, this function has been going for some years and it began by Sister Mary Ann Grima. But although this year she could not attend, as some months ago she suffered a stroke, the committee made sure that this year’s event went on as usual. And they intend to continue with it in the years to come. It was well-attended and the elderly present had a great time. We have got a pictorial report, as well as text in Maltese, on the inside pages. The function started with a Mass said by Fr Robert Galea, the young charismatic Malta-born priest/singer from Melbourne and co-celebrated by Fr Benedict Sant MSSP. Various other activities were organised during the day and Fr Galea sang a few of the songs that he wrote. Apart from Fr Galea, the elderly were also entertained by Mr Ħelu Kangaroo himself Joe Apap. Tony Fenech and Joe Xuereb kept the audience, at least those that could, on their feet

for the latter part of the afternoon. A conga line got started by the younger committee members and it snaked its way around the tables to everyone’s delight.

The METD committee and volunteers together with their Patron Dr George Boffa and Fr Robert Galea

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Dar tal-Providenza fund-raiser at La Valette

Sunday afternoon was spent at the La Valette Social Centre attending the fund-raiser of the Friends of Providence House NSW who are the official ambassadors representing Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Malta. This institution provides shelter to Malta’s severely disabled persons. Id-Dar tal-Providenza is always in need of funds as it does rely heavily on donations and sponsorships. Fr Micallef’s trip here was to raise awareness regarding the house. The structure of Friends of Providence House NSW is Jim Borg, founder and Co-ordinator and Mrs Marisa Previtera, Secretary and Mrs Rita Kassas, Treasurer. Fr Martin Micallef’s visit to Australia was organised by the Friends of Providence House NSW, with the aim of raising the profile of Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Australia. This visit was fully sponsored and funded by Breakaway Travel, Blacktown and special thanks from the organisers go to George Vella.

Prior to his visit to Sydney, Fr Martin met the Maltese community of Melbourne and Adelaide where he got a very warm welcome and attended several fund raising functions which showed the great generosity of the Maltese in both States. Also, Fr Martin will be the Special Guest at the Concert next Sunday, 13 October at Wenty Leagues Club, which has been organised by Maltese Cultural Association of NSW (MCA). All funds raised from this concert will go straight to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta. Although it was a long-weekend in NSW and a few sports minded people had their minds on what was going to happen at Homebush later in the afternoon, this function at La Valette was well attended. Unfortunately,

Jim Borg could not attend as he was unwell and that kept him indoors, but Marisa Previtera kept the afternoon going smoothly with entertainment by the choir of the MCA.

After lunch was consumed by those that attended, Fr Micallef, together Fr Benedict Sant and Fr James Bonello concelebrated a Mass which was accompanied by the La Valette Choir.

Various Għannejja accompanied by guitarists gave a rendition of Maltese folkloric Għana after the MCA Choir sang various songs from their repertoire. It included a rendition by one of the female choristers, resplendent in hat and a flute of champers, of Dean Martin’s That’s Amore. It was fun! The afternoon ended a trifle late but it seemed that

Fr Martin Micallef during homily

La Valette Choir

The MCA Choir

Marisa Previtera thanks all those that attended

The Għannejja

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everyone who attended enjoyed the occasion. The Group hopes that they will have a big audience come next Sunday afternoon at Wenty Leagues which will showcase some of the Maltese young talent we have in Australia. James Cassar as well as Stacy Saliba from Adelaide are just two of the young artists that will entertain next Sunday. So if you want to enjoy a Sunday afternoon and at the same time help some people in real need of help back in our homeland this is an occasion you shouldn’t miss. For any enquiries call the Co-ordinator Jim Borg on 9636 7767.

Concerning the non delivery of The VoiceLast week for some reason some bigpond subscribers failed to get The Voice, or if they did, they couldn’t open it. I do not exactly know why but maybe it had something to do with the laying of the NBN cables that are going on in earnest around the country. That stuff cannot come soon enough. We did our best to resend it to everyone that holds a bigpond account and the second time it seemed to have worked a cinch. It gives me a reason to appeal to our other subscribers who, like us, hold an Optus account. Optus, like some other carriers, limit their incoming mail to a 10megs tops, and many a time I have to remove a subscriber from the mail out as the person’s mailbag had reached its quota and I have remove the email from the batch as it wouldn’t proceed. So please all you Optus customers, do clean your webmail (not just your incoming mail) regularly. It will save a lot of hassles every Tuesday for us.

A new twist to an old taleThey truly do try everything to lighten you of your dough. The so-called Nigerian Chain Letter, where it asks for your bank details so they can deposit their ‘filthy lucre’ into your bank account has found a new twist. Their latest ploy is that instead of just using bad English they now learn what is the person’s ethnic origin and try the language he or she understands. Or they might understand. It is not just bad Maltese; it is broken Maltese with a bulldozer. I give you an example of what I received in the mail this week: jgħin fit-trasferiment wirt tard tiegħi fil-kont bankarju tiegħek bonjouram speaking kemm bl-Ingliż u bil-FranċiżJisimni Miss roseline sarah mpele I am biss bint ġenituri tard tiegħi Mr.and Mrs David mpele rispettabbli missier negozjant ( ħanut ċikkulata ) li jaħdmu fil-kapital ta Ivory Coast -ġurnata : Huwa imdejjaq jiġifieri , miet f’ċirkostanzi misterjuża fil Franza matul vjaġġ għal negozji barranin 9 Settembru tagħhom , 2008. Għalkemm mewt f’daqqa tiegħu kienet marbuta jew issuspettat li huwa talab ziju

tiegħu jivvjaġġaw miegħu fil-ħin , iżda Alla jaf il-verità .Ommi mietet meta kelli biss 11 sena u missier tiegħi ħa me hekk speċjali . Cry Disa qabel ma miet f’Settembru 2008 , qal segretarju tiegħu , li kien miegħu fl-isptar, u magħmula $ 5,500,000 ( 5,500,000 $ ) fil-bank, u jmorru għal belt reali magħluqa Abidjan , Ivory Coast . And on and on it went. Although they call these chain-letters Nigerian, they do not necessarily emanate from that country. This particular one had the hotmail.it in the address. Needless to say, one has to be so careful with these letters. The pity of it all is that some people still fall for these schemes. Do not, for your sakes, take them seriously.

The crazy world we live inWhat a crazy world we live in. A Spanish young guy in his mid-twenties posted a message on facebook and twitter bemoaning the fact that with his three degrees – gained with distinction – he could only find work as a cleaner in a London coffee house chain. Nothing in his own country. Yet last month Spanish football giants, Real Madrid, paid a record transfer fee of some $A150million for Welsh wizard Gareth Bale from London club Tottenham Hotspurs. These last few years, other European Union members, Malta included, had to fork out some of their hard earned cash to help right Spain’s, and other bad debtors, economy.

Author Juliet Sampson Juliet Sampson (pictured) is the author of best-seller, Behind the Mask. Her second novel, Bon Voyage! is going to be released in November. Sampson, 32 was born in Melbourne, Australia. Her father was born in Malta and his brother, sisters and their families still live there. Sampson has visited Malta a number of times to appreciate its history and culture, as well as visit family. From a young age, Sampson was enthusiastic and passionate about writing. During her school days, she won a major award with the Science Talent Search for creative writing. She also was an active member of the school magazine committee. Sampson completed a double degree at Deakin University, Melbourne obtaining a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology). After finishing university she spent several years as a primary school teacher. As well as being a classroom teacher, she coordinated programmes that helped reduce bullying. Her first novel Behind the Mask was published in 2011. The book deals with many themes such as love, betrayal, abuse and freedom. Also during 2011, Sampson was inspired to write

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her second novel Bon Voyage! as she travelled the world visiting many countries in Europe. Amanda, the main character in the novel, is a quiet, slightly nervous young woman who is trying to get on with her life after a failed relationship. She has always dreamed of going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower and decides to join a coach tour of young travellers across Europe. The group seems friendly and there are plenty of fun times but who is that shadowy figure in the background? Could someone be stalking Amanda? This travel escapade has adventure, mystery and romance, as well as allowing the reader to discover new places and culture. In 2012, Sampson was a Friend of the National Year of Reading in Australia. During that time, she met and took part in Bryce Courtenay’s final Master Class. Bryce was a passionate advocate of keeping the art of storytelling alive and Sampson is endeavouring to do this as she is currently working on her third novel inspired by another of her passions, dance. For further information on Juliet M Sampson visit her website, www.julietmsampson.com. If you are interested in attending the launch of Bon Voyage! on Friday evening, 8th November 2013, please email julietmsampson@gmail.com. for further information.

Feast needs your help

One of our readers, Frances, has received this email from Eloise at Pacific Magazines, which publishes the SBS cooking magazine Feast, and asks us we can mention something about it on the Voice perhaps a Maltese family will volunteer for the project: Hi Frances, we’re interested in doing a Maltese Easter story for our Celebrate section of our magazine and I was just wondering whether you’d be able to put us in touch with a willing Maltese family who puts on a traditional Easter feast each year, and is willing to be photographed? We’re after a celebration with 10-20 people that’s not a staged event with traditional food and customs celebrated at someone’s home. We’d take the story from a food angle so we’d like to publish 6 recipes as well. I’ve attached an example of a prior Easter feature we ran in April 2012 on Greek Easter. Please let me know if you know of anyone or if you’ll be able to point us in the right direction.

Maltese for Foreigners

Charles Daniel Saliba has published a Maltese/English book series entitled Maltese for Foreigners. This series, which is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), consists of three levels. Level A1 (Beginners–Elementary) includes three books: My First 750 Words in Maltese, Maltese Grammar Essentials in Context and Speaking Maltese. These three books are perfect for beginners and are suitable for use by individuals, by groups or in a school setting. Level A2 (Elementary–Pre-Intermediate) includes the book Speaking Maltese 2. Saliba has plans to publish Maltese Grammar Essentials in Context 2to further the lessons taught at this level. Level B1 (Intermediate) includes two bilingual readers: Reality and Rocco Learns Karate. In the future, Saliba will publish Maltese Grammar Essentials in Context 3 to complete this level. Saliba has also produced a CD containing the audio files linked to the books so learners can listen to native Maltese speakers reading the text and acting out the dialogues. In addition, Saliba has also devised a syllabus for each level based on the CEFR, which can be downloaded for free from his website under the heading Maltese for Foreigners. The bilingual series, featuring the latest developments in Maltese orthography, is aimed at beginners who want to learn Maltese and advance to the intermediate level. This series is based on a needs analysis Saliba conducted with foreigners learning Maltese and instructors teaching Maltese to foreigners. Maltese for Foreigners is a by-product of Saliba’s PhD research, undertaken at the University of Sheffield, focusing on teaching Maltese as a foreign language and sponsored by a Malta Government Scholarship Scheme Grant. For more information about each book, please visit www.charlesdanielsaliba.com

Hey all you Masterxeffs, go for it, and don’t expect any help from me. Ma nafx ngħalli bajda. Here’s Eloise’s email address: Basuki, Eloise [mailto:Eloise.Basuki@pacificmags.com.au]

Calling all Former MalteseChild Migrants

A Survey is currently being conducted which will help evaluate the effectiveness of existing support services for former child migrants. The survey is being directed by Dr Trish OʼConnor, from Australian Healthcare Associates. Responses to this survey we help in identifying areas of support that may need to be improved.

The research team have difficulties reaching all former child migrants, particularly the Maltese. Of the 310 former Maltese Child migrants only 1 has responded to the survey.

Dr OʼConnor, says itʼs important that as many Former Child Migrants as possible get in touch and complete this Survey. By taking part in this Survey, they can play a real part in helping to inform how services are delivered.

Maltese former Child Migrants are urged to take part in this survey

HOWOptions 1. Access the Survey on-line http://aha.bradallica.com/FaC_Survey.php

OR

2. Over the phone 1300 788 667 (cost of a local call).

The Survey, which should take less than 10 minutes to answer, will be conducted from now until the end of December 2013. All responses are voluntary, all information will be kept strictly confidential and no individuals will be identified.

Find and Connect (http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/), one of the key support services funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), helps Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants to trace and access their records and reconnect with their families where possible, access specialist and mainstream support services, and build a positive future.

Dr Patricia OʼConnor PhD | Senior Consultant Australian Healthcare Associates Level 6, 140 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Locked Bag 32005, Collins Street East, VIC 8003 Tel: 03 9663 1950 Fax: 03 9639 4459 Email: trish.o'connor@ahaconsulting.com.au Web: www.ahaconsulting.com.au

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Mix-xena tal-ħajja Maltijaminn Ġużè Camilleri

Il-FaqarFtit huma dawk il-Maltin u l-Għawdxin, u anke barranin li jżuru l-Gżejjer Maltin, li jgħaddilhom minn moħħhom li taħt il-qoxra ta’ prosperità li jaraw fil-Gżejjer Maltin, hemm moħbija irqajja kbar mhux ħażin ta’ faqar. Iżda l-fatti juru xort’oħra. Skond Fr Saviour Grima, li jmexxi l-Kappella tal-Millennju (Tal-Agostinjani) f’Paceville, f’Malta u f’Għawdex għandna familji li qed jgħixu fil-faqar. Qal li hawn missirijiet li jaqilgħu €1,000 fix-xahar u l-ispiża tal-uniformijiet waħedha f’Settembru kienet ta’ €1,700; familji b’paga minima li jridu jonfqu ammonti kbar għall-mediċini; tfal li jintbagħtu l-iskola mingħajr lunch għax huma foqra wisq u li jbatu minn bullying minħabba f’hekk; tfal li kull ftit xhur ikollhom ibiddlu r-raħal fejn jgħixu għax il-ġenituri tagħhom ma jifilħux iħallsu l-kera; nisa li jirrikorru għall-prostituzzjoni minħabba l-faqar; u familji li jaqilgħu bejn €400 u €500 fix-xahar f’benefiċċji soċjali u jridu jħallsu €300 kera kull xahar. Saħansitra hawn familji li ma jistgħux jixtru laħam, ħut u frott imma jieklu biss għaġin u ross. Sadanitant sar magħruf ukoll li fil-Gżejjer Maltin hawn 32,000 persuna jaqgħu taħt il-linja tal-faqar, li jfisser li jaqilgħu inqas minn €5,709 fis-sena. Minn dawn 3,147 persuna jgħixu waħidhom b’inqas minn €420 fix-xahar. Hemm imbagħad ukoll 26% tat-tfal Maltin u Għawdxin li jinsabu f’riskju ta’ faqar u esklużjoni soċjali. Altru li l-faqar m’huwiex xi ħaġa tal-passat.

… u anke djunU l-faqar kultant iwassal ukoll għal self – self mhux mill-banek imma mill-idejn li jwassal għal dik li hija magħrufa bħala użura fejn min jislef jitlob imgħaxijiet esaġerati li kultant maż-żmien (għax min jissellef ma jkunx jista’ jħallas) iwassal biex l-imgħax ikun daqs jew mhux aktar mis-somma mislufa. U kawża tal-użura mhux darba u tnejn wasslet għal atti vjolenti, fosthom anke qtil. Skont Fr Saviour Grima, minn stħarriġ li sar fost 300 familja, irriżulta li 14% minn dawn il-familji għandhom problema ta’ użura. Dawn il-familji għandhom djun li jvarjaw minn €500 sa €500,000 Ewro. Sintendi mhux id-djun kollha huma riżultat tal-faqar, għax hemm djun ieħor li ġej minħabba ċerti vizzji, fosthom dak tal-logħob tal-flus.

TV XejkDan mhu xejn ħlief l-isem ta’ stazzjon tat-TV ġdid li għadu kif beda jxandar f’Malta dan l-aħħar. Il-Kap tal-Programmi, David Azzopardi, li ħafna minna nafuh bħala kantant u li qatta’ xi żmien fl-Awstralja, qal li dan

l-istazzjon se jkollu programmi varjati. Dawn jinkludu programmi ta’ ġrajjiet kurrenti, edukattivi u spettaklu. Il-maġġoranza tal-programmi jkunu dawk mużikali.

Iż-Żewġ MichellesMichelle tal-Istati Uniti stiednet lil Michelle ta’ Malta għall-ikla u sintendi, ta’ nisa li huma, t-tnejn marru liebsa mill-aħjar li setgħu. Iżda filwaqt li Michelle Obama, il-mara tal-President tal-Istati Uniti, kienet liebsa libsa tad-designer Carolina Herrera, Michelle Muscat, il-mara tal-

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Prim Ministru Malti, ħatfet l-opportunità biex tesebixxi l-kapaċitajiet artistiċi tal-Maltin billi libset libsa stampata tas-satin tad-designers Charles u Ron, fejn jidher is-salib Malti tat-tmien ponot. Michelle Obama qalet li din l-ikla saret fl-Istudio Museum f’Harlem, fl-Istati Uniti, bl-iskop li tingħata l-importanza xierqa li dan il-post għandu fl-istorja Amerikana.

Sant (PL) €1000 – Borg (PN) €5000Hekk iddeċidew il-Qrati Maltin dwar żewġ libelli li saru fl-2007. Lil Austin Gatt, li għalkemm ma semmiex ismu, ta x’jifhem li Dr Alfred Sant, dak inhar mexxej tal-Partit Laburista, kellu problemi ta’ xorb u ta’ drogi, il-Qorti kkundanatu biex iħallas lil Sant €1000. Min-naħa l-oħra l-Qorti ddeċidiet li l-Partit Laburista u l-Editur ta’ l-orizzont kellhom jagħtu €5000 lil Dr Tonio Borg, dak inhar inkarigat mill-Ministeru tal-Artijiet, għax il-Qorti sostniet li Avviz tal-Partit Laburista f’l-orizzont bit-titlu Kumpens ta’ kwazi Lm70,000 kien libelluż billi ma kienx minnu li kienu saru xi preferenzi mas-Sur Ninu Zammit, li dak inhar kien segretarju parlamentari, meta dan ingħata kumpens għall-art li kien ħadlu l-Gvern. Tistaqsuniex dwar id-differenza fis-somma, għax bħal ħafna Maltin u Għawdxin li ma jifhmux fil-liġi, ma nistax nispjegalkom.

Mix-Xena PolitikaL-aktar avveniment li ġibed l-attenzjoni tal-poplu Malti u Għawdxi u sintendi tal-media lokali kien bla dubju ta’ xejn it-tluq bi protesta mill-Parlament tal-Oppożizzjoni Huwa diffiċli li fi spazju limitat wieħed jagħti stampa sħiħa ta’ dak li ġara u dak kollu li deher fil-media dwar dan l-avveniment. Imma nipprova. Il-kwistjoni kollha qamet meta l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni, Simon Busuttil, allega fil-Parlament li l-Prim Ministru ndaħal fl-investigazzjonijiet tal-pulizija rigward l-eks Kummissarju Ewropew John Dalli. Il-Prim Ministru, filwaqt li ċaħad li huwa għamel xi ndħil, talab lill-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni biex jissustanza dak li qed jgħid jew inkella jirtira kliemu. Busuttil wieġeb li huwa qed jagħmel ġudizzju politiku mibni fost kollox fuq dak li qal l-ex-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija, li fix-xhieda tiegħu qal li kellu bażi biex iressaq lil Dalli l-Qorti, biex imbagħad meta l-Gvern preżenti bidel il-Kummissarju tal-Pulizja, inbidlet id-deciżjoni dwar dan. Għalhekk huwa ma kienx lest li jirtira dak li qal u kien se jżomm mal-ġudizzju politiku tiegħu. Hawnhekk Muscat talab l-Ispeaker biex jagħti ruling dwar jekk Busuttil bl-aġir tiegħu kienx qed jikser il-privileġġ tal-Kamra. L-għada, fil-bidu tas-Seduta tal-Parlament, l-Ispeaker tal-Parlament, Anġlu Farrugia, ta ruling fejn iddeskriva l-kummenti li għadda l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Simon Busuttil fis-seduta tat-Tnejn bħala tali li jikkostitwixxu prima facie ksur ta’ privileġġ.

Dan ir-ruling wassal biex il-Kap u l-membri tal-Oppożizzjoni jitlqu mill-Kamra tal-Parlament bi protesta. F’konferenza Stampa, Simon Busuttil qal li huma kienu ħadu dan il-pass għax “Il-Prim Ministru uża standing order biex jipprova jagħmel sarima ma’ ħalqi”. Dwar il-kumment tal-Ispeaker li huwa la ssostanzja u lanqas irtira l-allegazzjonijiet tiegħu, Busuttil sostna li huwa kellu dritt jasal għall-ġudizzju tiegħu. Huwa ħabbar ukoll li l-Oppożizzjoni kienet ser tikkontesta r-ruling tal-Ispeaker u kienet anke lesta li tieħu l-każ fil-Qorti Kostituzzjonali u jekk ikun hemm bżonn fil-Qorti Ewropea. Min-naħa tiegħu l-Prim Ministru qal li l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni, bid-deċiżjoni tiegħu li jirtira d-deputati tiegħu mill-Parlament, ġab lill-Partit tiegħu f’pożizzjoni mill-aktar imbarazzanti tant li lanqas qablu miegħu l-membri kollha tal-Grupp Parlamentari Nazzjonalista. Il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni qed ikompli jiżola ruħu u qed idaħħal lill-PN f’kantuniera tant li n-nies ma sarux jifhmu d-deċiżjonijiet mgħaġġla li qed jieħu. Sintendi l-media kellha festa sħiħa tirraporta u tikkumenta dwar dan l-avveniment. Ma naqsux il-mijiet ta’ kummenti fil-ġurnali li tista’ tgħid kienu maqsuma ndaqs bejn dawk li appoġġjaw il-pass tal-Oppożizzjoni u dawk li ħarġu kontra. U fil-kwistjoni ndaħal ukoll il-Europeans Peoples Party, li tagħha l-Partit Nazzjonalista huwa membru, li qal li numru ta’ deċiżjoni li ttieħdu mill-Gvern Soċjalista Malti huma ta’ theddida għad-demokrazija. Fost dawn, issemma’ r-ruling tal-Ispeaker li skont l-EPP ma kienx iħalli lill-Oppożizzjoni titkellem bil-libertà dwar allegazzjonijiet ta’ indħil politiku fl-investigazzjonijiet tal-pulizija.

“The EPP reiterates that freedom of expression is essential in a democracy and the national Parliament, as the highest institution of the land, should allow for such freedom to be exercised. To do otherwise is to undermine the foundations of a system of checks and balances in an EU member state and the erosion of the rule of law,” qal Mr Manfred Weber.

Sadanitant fil-laqgħa ta’ wara, il-membri tal-Oppożizzjoni daħlu mill-ġdid fil-Parlament. Sadanitant l-Oppożizzjoni Nazzjonalista ressqet mozzjoni biex titlob li r-ruling tal-Ispeaker jiġi rivedut u jsir rapport fuqu mill-Kamra u li dan ir-rapport jitniżżel fil-minuti tal-proċeduri tal-Kamra. Il-mozzjoni tal-Oppożizzjoni tgħid li l-kummenti ta’ Simon Busuttil kienu bbażati fuq id-dritt fundamentali tiegħu ta’ libertà tal-espressjoni. U kif nikteb is-soltu dan għadu biss il-bidu, għax fadlilna x’nisimgħu u naqraw dwar din il-kwistjoni. L-Oppożizzjoni Nazzjonalista ressqet mozzjoni biex titlob li r-ruling tal-Ispeaker li ngħata fis-seduta ta’ nhar it-Tlieta jiġi rivedut u jsir rapport fuqu mill-Kamra u li dan ir-rapport jitniżżel fil-minuti tal-proċeduri tal-Kamra. Ir-ruling li ngħata mill-Ispeaker tal-Kamra kien jgħid li l-mistoqsija li għamel il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni kienet prima facie ksur ta’ privileġġ.

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Nhar l-Erbgħa 2 ta’ Ottubru, saret il-funzjoni magħrufa bħala l-Maltese Elderly Thanksgiving Day, ġurnata iddedikata bħala ringrazzjament lill-anzjani Maltin fil-komunita tagħna. Din saret fis-sala ta’ St Stefan Serbian Church fi Plumpton li kienet iddekorata sabiħa bl-abjad u l-aħmar għall-okkażjoni. Din hi ġurnata fejn jingħata ġieħ u ħajr lil bosta anzjani għall-kontribut ta’ ħajjithom biex rabbew il-familji tagħhom u tal-valuri nsara li huma għaddew lill-uliedhom u wlied uliedhom hawn fl-Awstralja. Dan kien l-għoxrin anniversarju minn mindu bdiet issir din l-okkażjoni li kienet ingħatat bidu minn Sr Mary Ann Grima li sfortunatament għall-ewwel darba din is-sena ma setgħetx tattendi minħabba mard. Wara li ġie servut il-morning tea u pastizzi mid-9.30am, Maria Mercieca li kienet waħda minn tal-bidu li waqqfu dan il-grupp organizzativ, fetħet din l-okkażjoni bi kliem ta’ merħba f’isem Sr Mary Ann u l-kumitat tal-Maltese Elderly Thanksgiving Day. Immedjatament wara, bdiet il-quddiesa bil-Malti ikkonċelebrata minn Fr Robert Galea, qassis żagħżugħ minn Melbourne, flimkien ma’ Fr Benedict Sant MSSP. Fi tmiem l-omelija sabiħa li għamel bil-Malti, Fr Robert qabad il-kitarra u kanta innu spiritwali li kiteb hu stess. Joe Apap kanta wkoll l-Innijiet tradizzjonali tal-quddiesa li huwa stess addatta għall-kitarra tant tajjeb. Il-qarrejja kienu Nancy Serg OAM, Rose Cato u Marianne Sabouhi. Kienet verament Quddiesa speċjali li ħalliet lill dawk preżenti mimlija paċi u ferħ. Wara kien hemm diskors mill-patrun ta’ din l-okkażjoni, it-Tabib George Boffa OAM li faħħar il-ħidma tal-kumitat organizzativ u ħeġġeġ lill-anzjani biex ikomplu jqawwu qalbhom. Imbagħad saret is-soltu sejħa għall-aktar persuna anzjana fis-sala dak in-nhar. Din kienet Mrs Agnes Borg (omm Nancy Serg) ta’ 95 sena li imbagħad qasmet il-kejk tal-okkażjoni. L-ikel kien imħejji u servut mill-Mandevilla Function Centre Catering. Fost il-varjetà ta’ ikel, kien hemm

braġjoli, kif ukoll kannoli bl-irkotta. Dawk kollha li ġew mid-djar residenzjali tal-anzjani jew li jgħixu waħedhom ingħataw rigal ta’ tifkira fi tmiem ta’ din l-okkażjoni. Kull min kien preżenti ġie mogħti pinna speċjali u ktejjeb tal-okkażjoni bħala tifkira tal-20 anniversarju li fih hemm tagħrif dwar dan l-avveniment u kitbiet mill-member tal-kumitat preżenti u ta’ qabel. Dan kien miġbur bil-għajnuna ta’ Frank Zammit u Emanuel Grima. Kien hemm divertiment brijuż sat-3pm minn Joe Apap, Tony Fenech u Joe Xuereb. Fr Robert Galea ukoll kanta żewġ kanzunetti oħra minn tiegħu li ġew milqugħa tant tajjeb minn kulħadd. Il-kumitat organizzattiv u l-voluntieri kollha li ħadmu bis-sħieħ biex din l-okkażjoni tkun ta’ suċċess, jistħoqqilhom ħajr għall-ħidma u d-dedikazzjoni tagħhom. Min ikun jixtieq jingħaqad ma dan il-grupp organizzativ jista’ jċempel lil Lina Magro fuq 9629 4046. Għoxrin sena ilu Sr Mary Ann Grima tas-Sorijiet Franġiskani tal-Qalb ta’ Gesù ġabret grupp żgħir ta’ voluntieri bil-ħsieb li tiġbor għadd ta’ anzjani Maltin biex tagħtihom l-opportunità li jipparteċipaw fiċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tas-Sena tal-Familja fl-1994. Tant intgħoġbot din l-idea li l-laqgħa divertenti ta’ ħajr lill-anzjani baqgħet issir sal-lum. Dis-sena l-funzjoni saret taħt il-patroċinju ta’ Dr Ġorġ Boffa. Bdiet b’kikkra te u żewġ pastizzi, u wara li tkantaw l-innijiet ta’ Malta u tal-Awstralja bdiet il-Quddiesa bil-Malti ċċelebrata mis-saċerdot żagħżugħ Robert Galea, li għamel omelija mill-isbaħ bil-Malti u miegħu ikkonċelebra Fr Benedict Sant MSSP. Dawk aktar ixxurtjati rebħu premjijiet sbieħ kemm mil-lotterija u bħala lucky door prizes. Kulħadd ħa pjaċir, speċjalment għall-opportunità li jiltaqa’ ma’ tant ħbieb qodma u ġodda u li jisma’ Quddiesa bil-Malti. Ringrazzjament imur lill-Kumitat, lill-voluntieri u lil kull min ħa sehem f’din il-funzjoni memorabbli.

Rapport minn Maria De Carlo u Frank Zammit

Għoxrin Sena ta’ Ħajr lill-Anzjani Tagħna

Fr Robert Galea jindirizza l-miġemgħa waqt il-Quddiesa. Aktar ritratti f’paġni 11 u 12

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Tagħrif u Nostalġija – Il-GżiraIl-Gżira hija subborg fil-kosta tal-grigal ta’ Malta (pop. appross. 8,000), bejn l-Imsida u Tas-Sliema, u fil-limiti ta’ Ta’ Xbiex, din ta’ l-aħħar popolari għall-jott marina u għan-numru ta’ Ambaxxati li jinsabu fiha. Isimha jfisser gżira bil-Malti, u l-post hu msemmi għal Manoel Island li tinsab maġenb il-belt. Ix-xatt tal-Gżira hu famuż għall-veduti spettakulari tal-Belt Valletta li tkun mixgħula filgħaxija u tifforma sfond pittoresk għal Manoel Island, il-jott marina u l-ġnien pubbliku fejn il-baħar. Manoel Island hi msemmija wara l-Granmastru Manoel de Vilhena li kien bena forti tas-seklu tmintax. Din il-blata prattikalment ċatta u forma ta’ werqa, kienet magħrufa bħala l-gżira tal-Isqof għax dak iż-żmien kienet ġiet mogħtija lilu mill-Kapitlu tal-Imdina fl-1570. Fl-1643 Manoel Island ġiet mogħtija lill-Ordni tal-Kavallieri bi tpartit ma’ biċċa art magħrufa bħala tal-Fidden fil-viċinanzi tar-Rabat biex il-Kavallieri setgħu jibnu Lazzarett (sptar kwarantina) f’Marsammett. Is-sbuħija ta’ Manoel Island wieħed jista’ japprezzaha meta jħares lejha minn fuq is-swar tal-Belt Valletta (in-naħa tal-Punent). Il-Forti Manoel tokkupa l-parti l-kbira tal-gżejra u n-naħa li tħares lejn il-Belt tiddomina l-port ta’ Marsamxett, tant li ġiet imsejħa waħda mill-isbaħ fortizzi tal-Ewropa. Il-Granmastru Antonio Manoel De Vilhena li ha ħsieb jibniha fl-1726 kien qabbad lil De Tigne u lil De Mondion biex jieħdu ħsieb ix-xogħol. Għall-ewwel kien maħsub li l-gżejra kollha ssir fortizza iżda x-xogħol ġie restritt għall-fortizza li tinsab illum. Il-Granmastru Manoel De Vilhena kien stabbillixxa fond speċjali biex jipprovdi għall-manutenzjoni li kien magħruf bħala The Manoel Foundation li kellha dħul annwali ta’ 10,000 skud li kien jgħin biex jinxtara kanun ġdid kull tlett snin apparti minn affarijiet oħra. L-ewwel ġebla tqegħdet mill-Granmastru fl-14 ta’ Settembru 1723 fil-preżenza tal-Kavallieri. Fl-1732, il-kanal ta’ l-ilma kien ġie skavat u d-data mnaqxa fuq il-plakka ta’ l-irħam li tpoġġiet fuq il-faċċata tal-bieb prinċipali taqra 1726. Il-pjanta tal-forti hi pjazza kwadrata b’erba’ swar f’kull kantuniera. L-iswar ta’ wara li jħarsu lejn l-art ġew imsaħħa b’cavaliers baxxi maqgħudin b’ħajt li kien fih akkommodazzjoni bombproof għat-truppi. Iż-żewġ swar li jħarsu lejn il-baħar, dak ta’ Sant’Antnin u dak ta’ Sant’Elena, kienu mgħammra bi mħażen fejn jaħżnu l-porvli. Il-pjazza tal-forti jew il-ground tal-parati, kienet imdawwra b’bini rettangolari fejn kien hemm il-kwartieri tal-Uffiċjali, barracks, l-armerija, ħabs, u kappella dedikata lil Sant’ Antnin ta’ Padova, protettur tal-Granmastru. L-entrata prinċipali mżejna b’kanċell stil barok, kienet faċċata tal-baħar tħares lejn il-Belt li kienet protetta b’gandott ta’ l-ilma u pont li jista’ jintrafa’ u sur triangolari

magħruf bħala couvre porte. Statwa kbira tal-bronż tal-Granmastru de Vilhena, kumissjunata mill-Kavallier Savasse, ġiet imqegħda f’nofs il-pjazza iżda fis-seklu dsatax din ġiet meħudha l-Belt Valletta u wara l-Furjana fi Pjazza Sant’ Anna. Fil-fortizza kien hemm ma’ l-erbgħin kanun iżda fl-aħħar żmien tal-Kavallieri, kellha ftit wisq biex tiddefendi

ruħha u għalhekk, fit-12 ta’ Ġunju 1798, il-bibien infetħu għall-Franċiżi u l-Ġeneral

Vaubois ha pussess tagħha u għadda l-kmand tal-gżejra lill-Ammiral Decrez.

Mal-miġja tal-Ingliżi, ħaduha f’idejhom u fl-aħħar twaqqfet hemm it-10th Submarine Flotilla Malta Force u billi libset libsa navali, ġiet imsejħa HMS Tabot u aktar tard HMS Pheonicia. Ħdejn il-fortizza u Lazzarett ġew ibbażati ħmistax–il sottomarine magħrufa bħala l-U-Force. Għal din ir-raġuni, l-fortizza ġiet ibbumbardjata bl-aħrax u ġiet milquta aktar minn 400 darba. L-agħar attakki saru bejn Frar u Marzu tal-1942. Struttura oħra mibnija fuq din il-gżejra hi Lazzarett li nbena mal-kosta direzzjoni nofs in-nhar tal-forti. L-ewwel Lazzarett kien wieħed temporanju li kien jikkonsisti f’huts tal-injam li nbnew matul il-pesta fl-1592. Dawn twaqqgħu fl-1593 meta kienet għaddiet il-pesta. Fl-1643, meta l-gżejra ġiet mogħtija lill-Kavallieri, ġie stabbilit li jinbena Lazzarett permanenti. Maż-żmien dan tkabbar u nbnew mħażen biex tinżamm il-merkanzija wara l-pesta ta’ 1675-76 mill-Granmastru Nicolò Cottoner u aktar tard mill-Granmastru Caraffa u De Vilhena. Mill-ħafna ċimiterji li kien hemm f’Manoel Island, li kienu jservu Lazzarett, illum baqa’ biss kappella żgħira. Saru diversi modifiki, matul is-seklu dsatax partikularment matul it-tmexxija ta’ Sir Henry Bouverie. Il-Lazzarett ġie mkabbar bejn 1837-1838 u matul dawn ix-xogħlijiet, ittieħdet l-opportunità biex jinbena sptar ġdid. Fis-subborg proprju tal-Gżira, f’nofs is-seklu 19 l-ewwel djar bdew jinbnew mill-Kavallier Jacob Tagliaferro. Matul l-aħħar għaxar snin, biċċa l-kbira ta’ dawn id-djar antiki ġew imwaqqa’ u issa flokhom inbnew blokok lussużi ta’ appartamenti. Ħafna mill-karattru u mill-faxxinu tad-djar tax-xatt tal-Gżira intilef minħabba dan, għalkemm fit-toroq dojoq tal-villaġġ fil-qalba tal-Gżira wieħed għadu jista’ jsib eżempji ta’ faċċati Maltin, bil-gallariji ta’ l-injam u tal-ħadid maħdum. Il-proliferazzjoni ta’ appartamenti fil-Gżira wasslet għall-żieda fil-prezzijiet tad-djar, hekk kif il-belt saret imfittxija minn kemm Maltin kif ukoll barranin. Ir-raġuni l-għala il-post huwa daqstant popolari hija li huwa jinsab fl-inħawi taċ-ċentru ta’ Malta, viċin kemm l-Universita’ ta’ Malta kif ukoll il-Belt Valletta. Industriji tas-servizz, prinċipalment mekkaniks tal-karozzi, ħwienet kummerċjali u servizzi edukattivi huma l-attivitajiet ewlenin tal-belt, iżda l-Gżira ser wisq probabbli tibqa’ l-gateway għal Tas-Sliema, l-eqreb belt tagħha.

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Veduti ħelwin tas-subborg tal-Gżira li hu msemmi għal gżira ta’ Manoel Island li fuqha kienet inbniet fortizza mill-Kavallieri biex issaħħaħ id-difiża ta’ Malta. Fuq il-Knisja tal-Parroċċa ddedikata lil Madonna tal-Karmnu; maġemb is-subborg u l-gżira mill-ajru; il-pont li jieħdok Manoel Island mix-xatt; u taħt nett il-Lazzaret bil-lejl. Ix-xatt tal-Gżira mimli appartamentu u lukandi lussużi.

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Maria Grima

Dr George Boffa

Maria Mercieca

Fr Robert Galea

Waqt it-Tqarbin

Qsim tal-kejk

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Tony Fenech u Joe Xuereb

Joe Apap Frank Zammit

Divertiment f’nofs is-Sala

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Latest news from Malta …Parliament to move to City Gate next year

Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia flat-out refuses to comment on last week’s ruling, but does not rule out

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has a case to present to Parliament’s Privileges’ Committee following a motion on the ruling presented by the Opposition. Dr Farrugia also confirms that parliament will be moving to City Gate next

year following a decision taken by the House Business Committee. He also pressed the point that parliamentary privileges should be controlled through the setting up of an ethics’ committee based on a New South Wales model.

Interview by Duncan BarryDespite repeated attempts for his personal opinion on the John Dalli revelations or the ruling he gave last week, President of the House of Representatives Anglu Farrugia steered away from political controversy. But he also said that his ruling does not mean Dr Busuttil had done wrong in giving his political opinion on what he claimed was “interference in the Dalli investigation. My duty was to decide whether this issue was prima facie or not,” Dr Farrugia says. In common parlance the term prima facie is used to describe the apparent nature of something upon initial observation. Referring to allegations made by the Opposition leader last week in parliament towards the Prime Minister, claiming that he interfered in the newly appointed Commissioner of Police’s decision tied to the investigation of former EU Commissioner Dalli, Dr Farrugia said that following his prima facie ruling, the next thing in line is for the Opposition to prove if it was a prima facie case. This can only be done if the Opposition is able to substantiate its claims. “Dr Busuttil may be right, or he may be wrong; time will tell,” Dr Farrugia says. Last week, former police commissioner John Rizzo said in court that he had wanted to press charges against Mr Dalli. During a debate held at the Mosta PN club last

Ex NSW Parliament Speaker, Mt John Aquilina, meets the Maltese Parliament Speaker, Mr Anglu Tarrugia, last week in Malta

Sunday, the Opposition claimed that Mr Dalli had returned to Malta from Brussels on the same day the newly appointed police commissioner took office saying that there was no case against Mr Dalli, implying that the newly appointed police commissioner was pressured to say there was no case against Mr Dalli. Mr Dalli has categorically denied that he returned to Malta from Brussels on the same day the police commissioner made the public announcement. The Opposition’s claims were repeated in parliament the next day which saw Prime Minister Joseph Muscat calling for a standing order. The Speaker said that he would give a ruling during another sitting. The next day, when the Speaker asked Dr Busuttil if he still insisted Dr Muscat interfered in the Dalli investigation, Dr Busuttil said that his statement still holds, which led to a ruling. The Speaker said that prima facie, the Opposition’s claims constituted a breach of privilege. This saw the Opposition walk out of the House and immediately call a news conference where it stated that the prime minister used a standing order in an attempt to gag the Opposition. The Opposition said that Dr Muscat hadn’t reacted when the claims were made outside parliament a few days before parliament reconvened and waited for the right moment to use a standing order. Dr Farrugia says that commenting on the ruling may prejudice the discussion related to the motion for a review to be conducted on the ruling presented by the Opposition. “Having given the ruling in no way means that Dr Busuttil is guilty of something,” Dr Farrugia points out, adding that the case will eventually be dealt with by the privileges committee within the House unless the matter is resolved before the second motion is presented. “Dr Busuttil will have every right to prove his case once it’s presented in front of the committee,” he says. He further explained that when he used the term prima facie he meant that the case will be decided by the privileges committee. Dr Farrugia is adamant in being neutral “to facilitate a healthy discussion” among the two parliamentary groups. Asked if a part of him is still attached to Labour, the Speaker insists that he has put aside his past political leanings to see that democracy is being exercised while stressing that each and every decision he takes is impartial. Despite having held his party dear to his heart, Dr Farrugia says that he resigned from his post of Labour Party deputy leader last year to serve the country’s highest institution. “I don’t have any inhibitions to accommodate excuses of any sort since I don’t belong to a political party any longer; I am the president of the highest institution of the land and am proud of it,” he says. “Although I form part of Labour’s history, my thoughts today are impartial; I feel comfortable exercising my moral authority without any inhibitions,” he said. Although one

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may, at times, find it hard to believe that this is the case considering the fact that Dr Farrugia spent a great portion of his life militating for the Labour Party, throughout the interview I could feel that the man genuinely believes in political correctness. Turning to parliamentary privileges, Dr Farrugia says he is working hard to develop a mechanism whereby individuals who may feel aggrieved by any allegations made by parliamentarians could fight their innocence. “As things stand, an MP can say what his/her heart desires about an individual without facing any legal consequences; this could easily tarnish one’s image, the injured party being unable to proceed in court to prove his or her innocence. The setting up of an ethics’ committee would regulate such privileges, protecting Joe citizen in the process,” he says. He points out that the purpose of his visit to Australia last month was to review a new and effective model being used by the New South Wales parliament related to citizens’ rights. “I was invited by the NSW parliament to conduct workshops tied to this model along with the NSW Speaker; it is high time Malta follows suit,” he says, adding that he will eventually draw up a report and present it to both sides of the House to review. Further pressed on the setting up of an ethics’ committee, he says the committee would be a good tool to scrutinise the behaviour of MPs, be it investigating the slightest suspicion of corruption, or monitoring the wealth of ministers and ensuring they declare everything they own to the last cent. “It is at the discretion of ministers to ensure they disclose their assets as things stand today, therefore an ethics’ committee, once set up, should be empowered to investigate any minister whose assets far outstrip his/her earnings or ministers who fail to complete their declaration of assets form,” Dr Farrugia says. He says that he agrees with the PN’s formal proposal for a parliamentary commissioner for standards to be set up within the House. Last week the PN presented a proposal calling for the appointment of a Parliamentary Standards’ Commissioner. With regards to the Opposition motion related to the setting up of the new committee on standards to be presided by Dr Farrugia, the Speaker expressed satisfaction that Dr Muscat is also in agreement “since he had endorsed it in the electoral programme”. Asked if a decision has been taken for parliament to move to Renzo Piano’s parliament building, Dr Farrugia said that parliament’s move to City Gate is expected to happen in mid-2014. He said that the decision was taken by the House Business Committee, represented by both party whips, David Agius (PN) and Carmelo Abela (PL). He thanked both the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader for coming to an agreement on the much publicised issue. He also thanked the clerk of the House, Ray Scicluna, for his support, adding that most of the problems that ensued were seen to and solved. Dr Farrugia highlights that he has met a total 135 delegations to date, comprising ambassadors, NGOs, among others in Malta and during his trips overseas. He says that the House is open to everyone these days, pointing

out that currently the building is playing host to a variety of activities including ‘Science on the House’, as part of Science in the City’s events, among others. Asked if he considers that his political career would be over once his term as Speaker expires, in the same way former Speaker Michael Frendo’s long political career came to an end, he says: “I had taken a decision to resign from the Labour Party in December last year; my decision still holds.” Questioned over the proposal to change the parliamentary sittings’ meeting times, Dr Farrugia says that he has no problem if times are changed to accommodate MPs, adding that flexible hours are important, particularly for women MPs who have children to look after. He says that the House Business Committee has discussed the issue and a trial is planned to take place after both groups reach an agreement. Asked if MPs should be full-time, he says that it’s rather impossible in Malta for MPs to be full-timers. “Parliament has always functioned well with part-time MPs; most MPs are hard- working and attend the sittings extremely well prepared.” Asked what disciplinary measures MPs who fail to turn up for sittings regularly could possibly face, he said that they could end up losing a portion of the sum they receive to attend parliament. He takes the opportunity to point out that he is watching every MP closely to ensure that they don’t turn up for sittings for the sake of being there but they do so willingly and are prepared at all times. Dr Farrugia adds that the leaders of both groups should push for their MPs to be prepared at all times and attend regularly parliamentary sittings, especially certain backbenchers. He says that parliament should not simply serve as a meeting place for MPs but both groups should work together for a unified House in the interest of a nation. Dr Farrugia says that his main aim is to further strengthen parliamentary democracy. A case in point is that after he gave the ruling earlier this week, he still gave the opportunity to PN deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Mario de Marco to express himself on the issue. He says that Malta is a role model for other countries due to the credibility it enjoys with other nations, including the Arab world, Jews and those who practice our same religion. He adds that Malta has a role in diplomacy to play in the EU. “The EU has a problem when it comes to moral decision-making,” Dr Farrugia claims, “and this mostly emerged during the eurozone crisis where leaders of certain countries acted in an immoral way and took the wrong decisions”. He highlighted that in order to see the EU move forward, one cannot play games with values such as transparency and good governance, he insists. “The EU is still lacking certain values,” he says, adding that my life was always based on political correctness and always fought against injustices and corruption practices and I will continue to do so. “Today, my role as President of the House is a national one and therefore I am making sure that every delegation accompanying me during my overseas trips comprises members from both groups,” he says. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, who once said that ‘when a politician starts to feel

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comfortable, this is when corruption starts’, Dr Farrugia reiterates that a political correctness formula should be sought, a system whereby checks and balances are conducted on all politicians. “Citizens work and pay taxes and politicians should use citizens’ taxes in a meaningful and transparent manner. My role as Speaker is to promote transparency,” he says. “If there’s anything politicians should agree on, despite their political divergence, it should be that of political correctness,” Dr Farrugia adds. Dr Farrugia says that he views the House as one collective assembly while adding that he fully respects the rights of every MP since members of the House were elected by the people to represent the nation. This, he said, is irrespective whether the MP is the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition or a backbencher. “I said the same words during my opening speech when I was appointed Speaker and I mean it,” he says. Asked which were the most difficult of decisions he has had to execute since appointed Speaker, Dr Farrugia, who has given 14 rulings since his April appointment, said that there were two particular tough decisions: last week’s ruling and the ruling he gave following the kind of language that had been used by the Prime Minister towards PN MP Tonio Fenech. In May, Dr Farrugia had upheld a complaint by Mr Fenech following an exchange with the prime minister, saying that Dr Muscat could have made a better choice of words. He had delivered his ruling two-and-a-half hours after the sitting was suspended, with Mr Fenech demanding a retraction or apology from Dr Muscat. The exchange took place when Dr Muscat referred to a meeting which Mr Fenech had had with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund, speaking of ‘incitement’ by the Nationalist MP. Mr Fenech had denied any wrongdoing and demanded an apology. Questioned if he would admit fault in the event he would execute a wrong decision in terms of rulings, Dr Farrugia says that he has no problem in doing so. He points out that he is extremely cautious in every decision he takes, adding that it’s not always easy to take a decision when you have nobody to turn to for advice. “The decisions are based on my conscience; I know the expressions of my conscience come from an honest place within me,” he says. On the recently enacted Whistleblower Act, Dr Farrugia said that the debate leading to the enactment of the law was “healthy” and said that both sides of the House were well prepared for the debate, adding value to the discussion. Dr Farrugia was replying to question made by this newspaper on what successes parliament has achieved so far, at least since he has been appointed to oversee parliament. He described the Private Members’ Bill presented by PN MP Claudette Buttigieg recently as “positive”. The aim of the bill is to amend the provision of protection from discrimination provided for in the Constitution, adding protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Asked if he misses his legal profession, Dr Farrugia

said that he couldn’t mix the two roles “in order to be able to exercise democracy to the full and dedicate his services to the one role, that of House President”. When asked which was the darkest patch he went throughout his political career, Dr Farrugia says: “Everyone knows which were my darkest days,” adding that he has listened to the advice of his wife Carmen who told him that there are three main issues one should forget about and move on: forget the past, the shady people you may have come across, and the amount of money you may have lost. Explaining further, Dr Farrugia says that “it’s useless dwelling on issues related to money, in my case for instance, how much money I may have lost dedicating my life to a party I was so attached to, hardly giving any importance to my profession”. Questioned whether he feels the Opposition has come to terms over the fact that he was appointed Speaker considering the fact that he formed part of Labour for such a long time, Dr Farrugia says: “The PN never objected to the appointment of my role; what it objected to is the way I was appointed.” The PN had expressed its dismay over how Dr Farrugia was appointed, slamming the government for having failed to consult with the Opposition before appointing him Speaker. Giving a walk-through of his overseas trips, he said that he was one of four speakers, along with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, to address the EU Speakers’ Conference held in April. He had called on the EU to urgently tackle the possibility of an uprising in Egypt. He points out that up to this day, nothing has been done at EU parliamentary level, despite his call, adding that I have not heard a word from Mr Schultz, an issue I raised with European Council President Herman van Rompuy while on his visit to Malta. “I had told Mr Van Rompuy that the EU shouldn’t turn its back on a credible country like Malta.”

Government plans to shift taxation from direct to indirectOn 1 October, the Finance Ministry formally submitted to the European Commission an Economic Partnership Programme (EPP), together with a Report on Effective Action, which outline the Government’s plan to close 2013 with a general government deficit below 3%. In its report, the government speaks of plans to continue shifting taxation from direct to indirect over the medium term. The report says that further to the revisions in the income tax regime in recent years, the 2013 Budget provided for the widening of the income tax bands for single and joint tax computations, and for parents supporting minors who are not gainfully employed. However, this will be implemented gradually in a manner that will limit the expansionary impact on public finances which will amount to 0.17 per cent of GDP in 2014. For the period 2013 to 2016, the gradual losses from the revision in the income tax regime affecting direct taxation will be offset by similar gradual revisions in

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indirect taxation planned in the context of the budgetary exercise for the upcoming year. Moreover, revisions to the VAT legislation are currently ongoing, the report says. These will empower the minister responsible for finance to revise as necessary the penalties and interest payable on taxation due in order to increase tax compliance and ease the recovery of amounts due. The Economic Partnership Programme (EPP) is divided in two main chapters. The first chapter presents the Government’s key policy planks which represent the crux of the Government’s fiscal and economic strategy and which also correspond to the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs). Furthermore, the fiscal framework underpinning the overall strategy is laid forward. This fiscal framework will ensure that Malta moves towards fiscal consolidation and achieves fiscal sustainability. The second chapter lays forward the necessary measures and reforms taken by the Malta Government in all sectors of the economy to ensure that Malta will exit the excessive deficit procedure permanently. The main economic and fiscal measures proposed include: the diversification of energy sources and the restructuring of the energy corporation (Enemalta); the restructuring of Air Malta; the Pension reform process including the proposed introduction of the third pillar pensions; reforms underway in the health sector; further investment in education; as well as measures to reduce the poverty trap and therefore encourage people to get into employment rather than stay dependent on social benefits. Other important measures included under the EPP are measures to increase competitiveness through diversification, through incentives and programmes aimed at SMEs and other businesses and through various other reforms, including the holistic Justice reform. The Report on Effective Action focuses on providing a quantitative analysis on how the Government will reduce the deficit-to-GDP ratio below the 3% threshold.

PN suggests health standing committeeThe PN spokesperson for Health, Claudio Grech, suggested a Parliamentary standing committee for health on which MPs from both sides of the House sit to discuss the necessary reforms. This allows for more cross-party ownership, he said. The committee would help identify priorities and the issues on which consensus must be reached. He insisted health should not end up being a political ball. During the continuation of the debate on the Health Bill, Mr Grech said this establishes three directorates but does not mention the elderly sector. While elderly patients were the cause of problems in terms of long term beds, it was unacceptable for him to have the sector left out. He remarked on the lack of action being taken in terms of elderly care and said the only related reform was about outsourcing of beds in the community.

The duties and functions of the three directorates are not well explained in the Bill and detailed definitions must be given when the directorate covers 11,000 employees, he said. Meanwhile, he pointed out that recent appointments in the directorate for nursing and at Mount Carmel Hospital, among others, were of a political nature. The committee being proposed should therefore also look into the manner appointment are made, he believes. Discussing decentralisation and the simplification of processes, he said the proposed law totally ignores such principles. It will be giving more powers to the ministry rather than anything else. The minister can also change the composition of the Health Council – something which in the opposition’s opinion does not make sense. Moreover, unions, which he described as principal stakeholders, were being excluded from the council. He criticised the government for suggesting the Bill without proper prior consultation and information. “I cannot understand how a law that changes things of fundamental importance is introduced without any explanation. The EU gives clear information on cross border directives and similar matters,” he stated. Robert Cutajar (PN), discussed obesity, highlighting the need for action. He also pointed out that European ‘Move’ week is being marked. He stressed young Maltese people are among the most obese in Europe. The problem, which costs the island millions, must be addressed by means of inter-ministerial action, he added referring to a statement by Education minister Evarist Bartolo that certain schools do not conduct physical activity lessons. He went on to point out that a third of students attending a particular school failed to attend the sport’s day. He also urged the government to work with the opposition to tackle the problem effectively.

‘Busuttil will not turn me into political football’ – John DalliFormer EU Commissioner John Dalli said that he will not allow Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil to turn him into a political football. In a statement, Mr Dalli said that according to newspaper reports former police commissioner John Rizzo testified that there was great pressure on him from the media and from Parliament. During the election campaign there was a great effort to put him (Mr Dalli) on trial in the media without any respect for his presumption of innocence. This strategy continues, he said. It all started when Giovanni Kessler, on behalf of the EU anti-fraud wing Olaf, held a press conference the day after EU Commission President Juan Barroso “forced my resignation”, and it continued in the local media, the same media that had “attacked me when I was forced to resign by (former Prime Minister) Gonzi on a false report in 2004. Unbalanced reports continue to sustain that the police was “to proceed against me”, Mr Dalli said. “We can therefore understand who is behind such pressure. This fact uncovers that Simon Busuttil is not saying the

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truth when he says that before Rizzo testified he did not know the police wanted to charge me.” It is clear that there was political pressure on my case, “not by this government not to be charged but by the previous government to be charged even when there is no case against me,” he said. “Simon Busuttil is basing his accusations on a lie. It is a lie to say that I came back to Malta after there were changes to the police force.” He is basing his argument on the front page of the Times of Malta on 12 April which reported the appointment of a new police commissioner and “my return to Malta. I have already said that I was in Malta before these changes. Today I ask whether these two reports appeared simultaneously by coincidence or were planned so.” “In another statement I said I did I do not know whether Simon Busuttil is pushing this lie with superficiality or malice. Today, seeing Simon Busuttil is challenging facts, I say that he is doing this maliciously.” Mr Dalli said he always cooperated with the police. “I gave John Rizzo information on attacks that were being made against me on the internet in Malta and contacts that were being made between Malta and other people such as Dr GK. What did he do with this information?” Mr Dalli said. It is worth to know if this pressure in Parliament was made on 10 December when the government collapsed at a time when there was an obsession that “I was pushing Franco Debono to vote against the government. I have denied this many times and do so again,” Mr Dalli said. Reports on 16 December in the local media show that there was political pressure at the time. “More recently I received more information on the pressure that was being made at the time – and names have been mentioned,” Mr Dalli said. Mr Dalli said that he came back to Malta on 6 April when Rizzo was still a commissioner, and Rizzo had the chance to take steps as he had before 10 December. “I will not allow Simon Busuttil to slander me and turn me into a political football. I gave many years of service to the Nationalist Party and the country and nobody will use me to cover his failures. I have chosen to give service to my country above partisan politics and that is why I offered my services to everyone.” Mr Dalli said he hoped Dr Busuttil will not hide behind the party. “I am challenging him not the party. Only he knows why he is on this campaign. What is sure is that his arguments are supporting Barroso in the case I have against the commission in the European Court of Justice.”

Diver’s new world record in MaltaWorld Record Diving Malta’s lead diver Sean McGahern set a new world record for the Longest Warm Water Scuba Dive by spending 49 hours and 56 minutes underwater last weekend, in aid of local charity Inspire. Sean was accompanied and assisted by the World Record Diving Malta team and the St John’s Rescue Corps who both performed outstandingly throughout the entire event. Despite suddenly being hit by strong winds, currents,

surge and one metre waves only five hours into the dive, Sean and the team were not at all downhearted and accepted this as an even bigger challenge, working strongly together to get safety divers in and out of the water safely. Perhaps hard to believe, Sean did in fact eat, drink and sleep during his time underwater. Moreover, he also spent most of his time keeping busy by clearing the seabed of any debris he could find, which was collected and brought up to the surface by the dive team. Sean was also surprised by the number of visitors who turned up to surprise him on the seabed including his sponsors, his DiveMaster instructor and renowned sidemount instructor Garry Dallas. As the sun rose on Saturday morning in St.George’s Bay, so did the new world record holder, exhausted but ecstatic. Sean joked and smiled as he was assisted by the dive team and St John’s rescue corps out of the water and accompanied to hospital for routine checks, following which Sean spent the day celebrating! Sean would like to say a massive thank you to all those involved in the event for helping him accomplish his goal and would like to encourage everyone to contribute by donating to Inspire www.inspire.org.mt

Illegal bullets made in Gozo, sent to Rabat, shipped to LibyaThousands of illegally-manufactured bullets were being manufactured in a Gozo gun shop, delivered to another gun shop in Rabat and shipped to Libya via Sa Maison, a court was told today. A Libyan national and two gun shop owners have been charged so far over what is believed to be a ring exporting bullets to Libyan organisations, and accused of being aware that the bullets being sold could end up used against civilians. The compilation of evidence against two of them, 31-year-old Tripoli native Feraj Issa Ali Yacoub and 53-year-old Rabat resident Michael Azzopardi, began today. The third man, 41-year-old Xagħra resident Mario Farrugia, is facing separate procedures at the Gozo court over his involvement in the case. Prosecuting inspectors Michael Mallia and Keith Arnaud testified in today’s sitting, and they explained that following a tip-off, they

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were ordered to keep the Tal-Margu Gun Shop in Rabat, which is owned by Mr Azzopardi, under watch. Mr Yacoub, a Tarxien resident who is married to a Maltese woman, was observed leaving the shop in Triq ir-Rgħajja, and was subsequently stopped by the police while driving through Mdina Road, Attard. Eleven boxes containing some 23,000 bullets were found in his car, concealed beneath plastic chairs and a sun visor. Mr Azzopardi’s arrest soon followed, and €14,590 in cash, some 14kg of gunpowder and two sticky notes on which “€15,400” had been scribbled. Mr Yacoub opted to cooperate with the police, and told them that his role was simply that of a courier, responsible for picking up the ammunition in Rabat and delivering it to a third party in Sa Maison, who would then load it to Libya. He would be paid €300-400 for every delivery. According to Insp. Arnaud, three or four consignments to Libya had already taken place. Mr Yacoub said that he was not responsible for paying Mr Azzopardi, and that he did not know how – or how much – the gun shop owner was being paid. At first, Mr Azzopardi denied ever supplying bullets to Mr Yacoub, but later admitted to doing so. He insisted that the cash the police had found was not related to the case, and that he had not yet been paid for the bullets. He also explained that while he himself procured the necessary components and material, the bullets themselves were being manufactured at Mr Farrugia’s own gun shop in Gozo. Mr Farrugia corroborated this version of events, but also alleged that Mr Azzopardi was also involved in deals with other Libyan clients. He said that Mr Azzopardi had ordered thousands of bullets from him on various occasions. Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit put off the case for 18 November. Both men had been granted bail when they were arraigned last month.

Man jailed for organising migrants’ tragic escape attemptA man was today jailed for five years and six months while his daughter was fined after both admitted to their involvement in a human smuggling plot which ended in tragedy in 3 March, 2006. Fourteen men are believed to have left Malta for Sicily on a 14-foot Yamaha boat with two outboard engines on that day. But the boat, which left from Ċirkewwa, soon started taking in water and sank around three nautical miles northeast of Aħrax Point. Four of them either managed to swim back to the shore or were rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta. But others were recovered dead, while most remain officially missing. The survivors had informed the police that they had agreed to pay Anthony Abdilla LM200 each to help them reach Sicily. Mr Abdilla was accompanied by one of them, Jaser Selman ad-Daghman, when he purchased the boat for Lm825 a few months before the fateful journey. At first, the group stayed at an apartment in Qajjenza, which was rented out by Mr Abdilla. They decided to set

out on 3 March on the basis of forecasts suggesting fine weather. When they informed Mr Abdilla, he suggested that they should depart from Ċirkewwa since it was closer to Sicily. He said that he would take the boat using his van, and that his daughter Dorianne could drive them to Ċirkewwa – but only for an additional Lm25 per person. Ms Abdilla ended up driving a number of the immigrants to Ċirkewwa in her Toyota. Both father and daughter faced the same human trafficking charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 years’ imprisonment and/or a €23,293.73 fine. While they were set to face a trial by jury, they opted to file a guilty plea after plea agreements were reached between the defence and prosecution. Judge Michael Mallia thus jailed Mr Abdilla for five years and six months, while his daughter was spared a prison term for her lesser role in the plot, and was fined the maximum amount possible instead.

Alfred Sant casts doubts over new EC budget procedureAlfred Sant has cast doubts over the procedure being used by the European Commission related to the EC’s budgets of eurozone countries for 2014, currently being discussed by the commission’s officials, the estimates of which will be presented in national parliaments. Writing in his Inews blog today, Dr Sant highlighted that the Commission won’t be deciding for members of the eurozone on the distribution of such funds but will be giving its members “advice” on the allocation of their budgets. In fact, Dr Sant pointed out that the Commission’s officials will be deciding the financial estimates before the eurozone governments. “There’s something strange in this procedure,” he lamented, “despite the fact that many argue that the procedure is much needed. “This year, such a procedure is being given more importance in eurozone countries so that their debts won’t escalate. But this system is restraining leaders of eurozone countries from executing their own decisions related to their budgetary financial estimates, reducing flexibility,” Dr Sant argued. He also cast doubts over whether the “new surveillance controls” will be effective, the intention of which is to give the euro a boost. Dr Sant added that it is highly likely that eurozone countries won’t all be treated the same. He pointed out that the EC uses other criteria when dealing with large economies, opposed to smaller ones. On a separate note, Dr Sant pointed out that the Lampedusa tragedy has raised the problem of migration once again, this time on a wider context. He said that despite Malta having a problem of accommodating irregular immigrants, it couldn’t turn its back on them if “we really want to adopt our values”.

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Wednesday

27° – 20°Partly Cloudy

Thursday

27° – 23°Partly Cloudy

Friday

29° – 23°Partly Cloudy

Saturday

30° – 23°Partly Cloudy

Sunday

29° – 22°Partly Cloudy

Weather forecast for Malta for the next five days

“The tragedy of Lampedusa should stimulate the EU to contribute to finding a solution to the problem,” he concluded.

Brussels sends experts to assess Malta’s request for additional migration fundsEuropean Commission experts were dispatched to Malta, Bulgaria and Greece this week to assess the countries’ requests for additional funding for them to cope with irregular migrant influxes, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday in Sofia where she was visiting refugee shelters and the Bulgarian Red Cross headquarters. Back in July, Malta had said it would request additional funding from Brussels to cope with irregular migration as well as tangible cooperation from other EU member states to relocate migrants from Malta. Malta can make immediate requests to the Commission for additional financial assistance in order to respond to emergency situation, which it has done. Now, at least the wheel appear to have begun rolling on the funding request, although there has been little good news lately as far as burden sharing is concerned. Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström had recently confirmed that Malta has received €84.96 million, an average of €12.1 million a year, from European Union funds since 2007 to help it deal with migrant influxes. Commissioner Malmström said that the Commission “is fully aware of the particular pressures facing Malta’s immigration system with the arrival of a high number of migrants on Maltese shores. The Commission also recognises that Malta receives the largest number of asylum applicants as a percentage of the population of any member state within the EU”. As such, she said, Malta has been the focus of the European Commission’s efforts to assist member states in dealing with migratory pressures. As a result, she explained, Malta received €84.9 million from 2007-13 SOLID programme funds, which together comprises External Borders Fund, the European Return Fund, the European Refugee Fund, and the European Integration Fund. The European Refugee Fund, she added, funded

actions focus on increasing capacity of reception centres, the provision of material aid and medical care in the centres and measures to streamline the treatment of asylum applications. With the support of the Return Fund and the External Borders Fund, Malta has also been able to carry out voluntary return programmes, forced return activities and investments in infrastructure and equipment ensuring efficient and secure management of the flow at the external borders, she explained.

Scottish MEP takes aim at turtledove hunting in MaltaScottish MEP Alyn Smith has taken aim at the hunting of one of the two legally hunted birds in Malta, the turtledove. Along with the quail, the turtledove is one of the only two bird species that it is legally permissible to hunt. In a European Parliamentary question tabled this week, Smith observed how turtledoves, which have often been used as symbols of love and devotion in literature, are in rapid decline across the UK, citing the UK Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) report earlier this year that turtledove numbers had declined by 93 per cent since 1970. “In Malta, although there are laws in place to govern when shooting can be carried out, a huge number of protected birds are believed to be illegally killed,” he observed. “One of the most common birds targeted by hunters is the turtledove, a species on the verge of extinction in the UK. “The opening of a spring hunting season in 2013 again disregards the fact that hunting during spring goes against the Commission’s own Hunting Guide.” He asked the European Commission to confirm what, if any, action is planned to stop the shooting of turtledoves in Malta during their migration and whether the Commission is planning to verify the Maltese government’s ability to enforce, properly control and limit the spring hunting season in accordance with its derogation under the EU Birds Directive. Over a five-year period, Britain has lost six out of 10 turtledoves, with just 14,000 pairs now left in Britain, the RSPB reported earlier this year. It estimated that by the middle of the next decade, fewer than 1,000 pairs may remain in the UK, putting the bird in danger of extinction. RSPB scientist Dr Mark Eaton had described the drastic decline in bird numbers as an “unsustainable wildlife disaster”.

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Classified Community Notice BoardEvents NSW

St Nicholas Festa Committee (NSW)Calendar of Events for 2013October 27th – Spring Fiera

November 23rd – Rock n’ Roll NightDecember 1st – Festa ta’ San Nikola

Holy Trinity Association (NSW)19th October – Mission Night Dinner Dance

24th November – Bus TripContact: Rita Vella 9820 9379 or

Cindy Oliver 9824 7916 after 4pm

The Australian Genies and Merrylands RSL present

New Year’s EveRock ’n’ Roll ExtravaganzaFeaturing the Popular ROC A TAC

with DJ Albert.Doors open at 6.30pm and close at 1pm.$40 a Head, includes a 2 Course Meal.

Maltese Past Pupilsof Don Bosco (NSW)

javżaw illi se jkollhomid-Dinner Dance annwali tagħhom

is-Sibt 19 ta’ Ottubru 2013mis-7pm

fil-Mandavilla Centre, Horsley Park.Guest artist: Joe (Kangaroo) Apap

Id-dħul hu ta’ $55U l-qligħ imur għat-tfal u żagħżagħ fil-bżonn

fil-missjoni mmexija mis-Sależjani.Aħsbu kmieni għall-biljetti, ċemplu lil

Christine Sapienza fuq 9822 7540jew lil Marlene Dimech fuq 9631 9295

Central Coast MalteseSocial & Recreation ClubChicken and Prawn Night

on Saturday the 12th Octoberat Wyong Youth and Community Hall, Kanwal

– next to Wyong Leagues ClubEntertainment by The Black Nights

For tickets please contact: Censina 4390 0012, Carmen 4385 5665, Loraine 4393 1721

Join Monica Ledger on a 10 day Tour of Tasmania – The Island of untamed beauty! Date: 16 to 25 February 2014. It is value for money. All inclusive Tour – flight, hotel, breakfast and dinner daily, transfers in Sydney and comprehensive insurance. This is a very popular tour! Some 18 clients already joined the group! Be quick and call Monica on 9896 0712 or 0414 859 386.

"Voice of the Maltese in Australia">Voice of the Maltese in Australia</a><br/><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VoiceOfTheMalteseInAustralia" target="_TOP" title="Voice of the Maltese in Australia">

The Sutherland & St George Maltese GroupOngoing every 1st Wednesday of the Month

(Sponsored by The MCC of NSW)We meet every First Wednesday of the Month

from 10:00am. to 1:00pmOur Meetings / Get Together are interesting, informative & entertaining. We have regular Outings. Come Join us and make new Friends

For more information please contact our Coordinator – CHARLES N. MIFSUD J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298

Books for sale

Telqu għal Għonq it-Triq – Book Twoby Lawrence Dimech

Call: Malta – 356 2144 1545Australia – 61 2 9631 9295

Ikla għar-Rabtin u l-Ħbieb TagħhomOn Sunday 24th November 2013 at La Valette

from 1pm to 5pmDonation $45, includes three course meal, and

Entertainment by Charlie Camilleri and The Rockin Mustangs

Bring on your Dancing shoes For bookings ring Charlie on 0410523476 or

La Valette Social Centre 9622 5847

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This publication is designed by: email: [Emanuel Grima] appleli@optusnet.com.au

Maltese Language Schools

Maltese Programs – Radio

Maltese Language & Cultural SchoolsIf you wish to learn Maltesein Sydney call: 0402 002 454

malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.comIn Melbourne, contact:

Edwidge Borg, MCCV Maltese Language Classeshttp://www.mccv.org.au/index.php/language

http://federationofmalteselanguageschoolsaustralia.com edwidgeborg@excite.com

Also in Melbourne, contact Emma Navarroon 0406 215 990 or learnmaltesevic@gmail.com

Maltese Radio ProgramsIn Melbourne, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on

www.3zzz.com.au Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.

Last Wednesday each month at 1pm.

In Sydney, listen to the MCC radio program on Sunday 11 am 2GLF FM89.3

In Brisbane listen to the Maltese Program on 4EBTuesday 6.00am to 8.15amSunday 4.15pm to 5.15pm

To listen to the Maltese Radio ofUncle Sam DJ from Australia

go on link : www.unclesamdj.com

Maltese Radio Program on SBS RadioNew schedule

Day Time Analogue DigitalTuesday 12:00 - 13:00 SBS Radio 3 Thursday 12:00 - 13:00 SBS Radio 3 Friday 12:00 - 13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday 14:00 - 15:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2To tune into digital radio you will need a new receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard on digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38 and SBS Radio 3 is on Channel 39. Analogue is the present FM wavelength. Digital radio can also be accessed by a smart phone and/or by going online at www.sbs.com.au

Maltese Community Council of NSWWelfare Services

Contact: Marisa Previtera JP Tel: 0414 863 123

Services NSW

Take advantage of this free service to the Maltese in Australia. Brief notices for the Community Notice Board a week before date of publication.

Viva Malta on Central Coast Radio NSW

Radio program on Thursday – 10 and 24 October – from 6pm to 7pm on

Coast FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford NSW. Presenter – Nathalie Gatt. Program can

be heard via internet, click on www.coastfm.org.au

The Maltese Guild of SA Inc. The Maltese Cultural Centre

6 Jeans Street Beverly, South Australia Phone office: 8243 0868. Tuesday’s Only

THE NEW YEAR’S EVEDINNER DANCE 2013

To be held at the Maltese Cultural Centre on Tuesday Evening 31st December 2013

Start at 7. 30pm-til 12.30am Enterainment: By Eric the Disc Jockey and Singer

of “MUSIC TO YOUR EARS”Surprise Courses: Antipasto with Prawns, Main

Course, Desert, Fruits, Coffee, Drinks included: Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks from

the Bar. Price Members $30 Non Members $35Bookings are available from:

The Guild office in Person or phone the office only on Tuesday’s only from 8.30am to 3pm; the Sec-

retary, Joe Briffa 8254 6988 or 0421 791 327; The President Nina Abela 8340 0345

 

Santa Marija Assunta Association Victoria Inc

Are holding a Family NightOn Saturday 19th October 2013

at Karmel Hall – St Peter Chanel Parish848 Ballarat Rd, Deer Park, Vic.

from 6:30pm to 11:30pmMusic Entertainment By: The DJ & Magician

The Amazing DavidTickets: Adults $10 Children (under 12) $5

BYO food and drink or it can be bought from the venue at reasonable prices

For enquiries call: Bill 9366 9956, Frank9363 5325, Joe 9361 139, Frank 9314 4231

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Maltese Programs – TV, Web

The Gday Maltaussie Showon TVS is broadcast in Sydney

Every Saturday at 2pm Repeats on Mondays 5 pm

and Tuesday 7.30 amWatch direct via http://ww.tvs.org.au

The Maltese News – L-Aħbarijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide

Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Channel 32) andThursdays at 8.05 am on SBS2

For all the news from Malta and Gozo go towww.gozotv.com – the website of Citadel Video Communications of Victoria, Gozo – where you’ll find the programsGħawdex Illum andMalta u Lil Hinn MinnhaThe latter concerns Maltese living abroad. Alvin Scicluna was in Australia recently filming segments for the program.

Maltese Community Council of NSWFairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month from 10:00am to 12 noon. The group meets in the Parish Hall, Cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevarde, Fairfield Heights. Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of the month and meet in the Youth Room of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10am to 12 noon. Llandillo Maltese SeniorsMeets on the first Wednesday of the month and meets in the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, Llandilo from 11am to 1pm.Daceyville Maltese SeniorsMeets on the last Wednesday of the month and meets in Meeting Room One, No 3 General Bridges Cresent, Daceyville;

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips. Come and join us and make new friends. For more information on any of the Groups please contact the Maltese Welfare Officer, Marisa Previtera, JP, on 0414 863 123*(All Groups Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council, NSW)

George Cross Falcons Club Inc25-27 Lake Avenue, Cringila NSW 2502

(02) 4273 0906

by request: Alvaro & MundoSaturday 9th November 2013

Show to start at 6.30 pm$20 – including 2 Course Meal, Tea & CoffeeRing Polly 4295 7824 or Annie 4274 4881

La Valette Social CentreMelbourne Cup Lunch

Tuesday 5 Nov 2013Centre opens at 10am – Morning Tea and

2 Course Lunch with orange juice Tickets $30 each

Hat Competition • Sweeps • Lucky Door Prizes

Music Sam Mifsud and Tony Book early for the best seat – For booking

ring or see Frances 0412 320 432 or Antoinette 9671 2992

or the Centre 9622 5847

Hamrun Association Incare organising a Bus Trip to Shellharbour

on Saturday 26 October 2013The trip includes sight-seeing around

Shellharbour, Morning Tea, Lunch not provided

Dinner At Illawarra Masters Club that includes: Seafood, Carvery Asian, Salad

and Deserts Buffett, All You Can EatOn the way back home we will stop at the

Campbelltown Catholic ClubDonation: $55

We leave the club premises at 100 Jackson Street Marsden Park.

at 11am and pick up from Greystanes for those that are from that area.

For more information ring:Tony Borg (Toni tad-Deheb) 0437 441 557Eddie Ellul (the President) 0410 407 423 .

Events SA The Maltese Guild of SA Inc

The Maltese Cultural Centre 6 Jeans Street Beverly, SA

Phone office: 8243 0868. Tuesday’s Only from 9am to 2.45pm

The Maltese Guild of SA Inc. wishes to announce the new committee that has been elected on Sunday 22nd September at the AGM of 2013, according of the Guild’s constitution, of ten committee members no more or less, members elected in position are as follows.

President: Mrs Nina Abela Vice President: Mr Vince Abela General Secretary: Mr Joseph Briffa Assistant Secretary: Mr Joe VellaGeneral Treasurer: Mr George CrausAssistant Treasurer: Mrs Guza Vella Mrs Carmen Briffa Mrs Maria Saad Mrs Mary Ciantar Mrs Rena Mifsud Public Officer Mr Joseph BriffaReligious Director Fr Gabriel Micallef OFMAuditor Mr Malcolm ReadEditor Mr Dione Busuttil

Note! All Correspondence is to be sent to the General Secretary Joseph Briffa by post: The Maltese Cultural Centre 6, Jeans Street Beverley or via email: of malguild@adam.com.au or Ph: After 6pm on 08 8254 6988 or any time on 0421 791 327. For more information log onto the Maltese Guild Website of: www.malteseguild.webs.com

Coming up: Four-day Coach Trip to Mildura and Wentworth, the 8th, 19th, 10th & 11th of November 2012. Price $290. All Included.

See the President, Nina Abela on 8340 0345,Secretary, Joe Briffa on 8254 6988 or 0421

791 327, or anyone from the committee

 

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The Friends ofProvidence House (NSW) (Official Ambassadors for Id-Dar tal-Providenza) announces the following

fundraising activities:

21 Day Fly/Cruise/tour commencing mid May 2014, Visiting Athens, cruising the Greek Islands, then to London touring England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, back to London and then on to Malta.

A Concert at Wenty Leagues Club this Sunday 13 October 2013 (Supported by the Maltese Cultural Association of NSW)

Please note that Fr Martin Micallef, Director, Dar tal-Providenza, Malta, will be in Australia from 19th September to 17th October 2013.

For all enquiries or to make donations please contact the Co-ordinator, Jim Borg on (02) 9636 7767 / Mb: 0418 82 5591 and email foph@bigpond.com

The official bank details for donations are:Commonwealth Bank of AustraliaName of Account: Friends of Providence House (NSW) – Ac No: 1019 9448 – BSB: 062 416

Kuncert b’risq id-Dar Tal-ProvidenzaNhar Il-Ħadd, 13 ta’ Ottubru

f’Wenty Leagues Club, fis-2pmOrganizzat mill-Għaqda Kulturali Maltija ta’ NSW biex jinġabru fondi għad-Dar tal-Providenza Malta. Fl-istess ħin inkunu nistgħu niltaqgħu ma’ Fr Martin Micallef, id-Direttur ta’ dan iċ-Ċentru. Sa jiehdu sehem talent Malti bħal: Stacey Saliba, minn Adelaide, kantanta magħrufa kemm Malta kif ukoll l-Awstralja; James Cassar, li qed jispikka fil-qasam tal-kant u mużika; Emmanuel Friggieri, żagħżugħ ta’ talent immens; Martin u Natasha, b’vuċi tant sabiħa; Alee, tfajla veru simpatika; Cassie u Ben, żeffiena li titgħaxxaq bihom. Jiehdu sehem ukoll il-grupp teatrali taċ-Ċittadini.

Il qliegħ imur kollu għad-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta.Donazzjoni ta’ $12 kbar u $8 tfal taħt l-14-il sena.

Għal biljetti ċemplu lil Jim Borg fuq 9636 7767jew Doris Caruana fuq 9636 2295

Maltese Welfare NSW Incqed torganizza lejla ta’ tagħrif dwar

Is-Sistema tal-Kura għall-Anzjani fl-Awstralja u Kif Qiegħda Tinbidel.

Din se ssir nhar l-Erbgħa 30 ta’ Ottubru 2013 fis 7.30pm, f’Our Lady Queen of Peace, Parish

Centre, Old Prospect Rd, Greystanes.

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Football f’MaltaAvveniment speċjali hekk kif Michael Mifsud se jilgħab il-100 logħba għat-team nazzjonali

minn Jesmond MooreIl-partita internazzjonali li Malta se tilgħab mir-round ta’ kwalifikazzjoni tat-Tazza tad-Dinja, 2014, kontra r-Repub -blika Ċeka, fl-Istadium Naz zjonali, fil-11 ta’ Ottubru li ġej, għandha tkun immarkata b’sinjifikat speċjali hekk kif l-at-takkant, Michael Mifsud, mistenni li jilgħab il-100 logħba tiegħu bil-flokk nazzjonali. Hekk sostna l-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-MFA, Bjorn Vassallo, f’kon ferenza tal-aħbarijiet li saret fis-sala tal-konferenzi tal-Istadium Nazzjonali fejn ingħataw ukoll dettalji dwar dan il-konfront li se jkun l-aħħar wieħed f’darna f’dan ir-round preliminari qabel ma erbat ijiem wara niffaċċjaw lid-Danimarka, f’Copenhagen. Is-Sur Vassallo beda d-diskors tiegħu billi qal li llum Michael Mifsud huwa meqjus bħala wieħed mill-players leġ ġendarji tal-logħba domestika: “Jekk Michael Mifsud jin tgħażel mill-coach nazzjonali, Pietro Ghedin, biex jilgħab kontra r-Repubblika Ċeka, huwa jkun qed jilgħab il-100 partita bil-flokk nazzjonali biex saħansitra jidħol ukoll fil-Club Ċentinarju tal-UEFA. “Din il-logħba hija meqjusa bħala “festa” hekk kif se tintlagħab quddiem il-pubbliku tagħna stess biex inkunu nistgħu wkoll niċċelebraw dan l-avveniment. B’hekk, Mifsud se jkun qed jissieħeb ma’ players oħ rajn ta’ fama kbira fil-kamp lokali bħal Joe Brincat, Gilbert Agius, Car-mel Busuttil u David Carabott, li dejjem għamlu ġieħ lill-flokk tat-team nazzjonali Malti ... u għaldaqstant Michael se jkun il-ħames player li jilħaq dan it-tragward. “Dan huwa sodisfazzjon kbir għall-Assoċjazzjoni meta wie ħed iħares lejn il-karriera ta’ Mifsud mat-team naz zjonali wa ra li ddebutta nhar l-10 ta’ Frar, 2000, fit-telfa ta’ 1-0 kontra l-Albanija, fir-Rothmans Tournament. Barra minn hekk, fid-99 partita li lagħab s’issa, huwa skorja xejn inqas minn 37 goal biex huwa wkoll l-aqwa skorer ta’ kull żmien. “Għaldaqstant dan il-festeġ ġa -ment għandu jkun doppju għal dan il-player li tant paxxa partitarji u li permezz tie għu esperjenzaw ukoll bosta mumenti sbieħ. Qed nagħmel appell lill-pubbliku sportiv Malti biex jattendi għal din il-partita biex bil-preżenza ta’ kulħadd ngħidu “grazzi” lil dan il-pla yer leġ-ġendar-ju ... kif ukoll nagħtu l-appoġġ u s-sostenn massimu lit-team nazzjon-ali.”Imbagħad is-Sur Vassallo dawwar l-attenzjoni tad-diskors tiegħu fuq dawk players li lagħbu barra minn xtutna matul dawn l-aħħar għaxar snin. Bħal Mifsud, dawn il-pla yers

għexu l-ħajja ta’ players pro fessjonali għal diversi snin. Bħalissa huma ħamsa biss il-players li qed jilagħbu bar-ra l-pajjiż - Michael Mifsud (Melbourne Hearts), Andrè Schembri (Omonia Nicosia), Andrei Agius (CEF Torres), Etienne Barbara (Tampa Bay Rowdies) u Andrew Hogg (Kal loni): “L-Assoċjazzjoni hija favur li aktar players im-orru jilagħbu barra minn xtutna għax dawn iġibu magħhom esperjenza kbi ra.

Jibda l-A-LeagueIssa li l-codes tal-football l-oħra spiċċalhom l-istaġun tagħhom, id-dilettanti tal-logħba tal-football li jint-lagħab b’ballun tond minflok żenguli, jkollhom biex jitpaxxew. Ħabibna Emanuel Camilleri (Wanderer tragic bħalna) nhar it-Tnejn li għadda wasal sa Wan-derland fejn kien hemm family meet the players day u ħadilna ftit ritratti. Il-Wanderers jiltaqgħu mal-Mar-iners nhar il-Sibt li ġej f’Gosford u Melbourne Heart mingħajr Michael Mifsud jieħdu sehem fid-derby ta’ Melbourne.