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Government planning to double libel penalties

February 14, 2017, 8:40 am
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The government said today that it plans to double the maximum penalty which a court may impose for libel to €20,000 while removing criminal libel and the imposition of garnishee orders freezing the bank accounts of journalists during libel cases. The fine for slander will be raised to €10,000. Education Minister Evarist Bartolo and Justice Minister Owen Bonnici told a press conference this afternoon that the government is also considering the appointment of a press complaints council or ombudsman to consider complaints regarding unfair reporting. “We will be looking at what is done in other countries and we might consider appointing a press ombudsman where those who feel unjustly treated by media can seek assistance through these channels,” Mr Bartolo said. A public consultation will be held on what is expected of modern-day journalistic ethics, the minister said, adding that this will serve to protect journalists too.Mediation processes will also be introduced in an attempt to cut down waiting times for those involved in libel cases. Asked whether the ministers disagreed with Economy Minister Chris Cardona slapping blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia with a €47,460 garnishee order,...
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Worrying relationship messages contributing to domestic violence

February 14, 2017, 10:01 pm
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The One Billion Rising flash mob. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Young people continue to receive “worrying” messages about relationships which could contribute to normalising domestic violence, workers in the field have said. “When we hold workshops at school we see that among young girls and boys, they still think that jealousy is a sign of love,” said Elaine Compagno from the St Jean Antide Foundation, which also operates a support group for victims of domestic violence. “When young girls feel that what they should aspire to is to be desired by someone else, it makes you think about the messages they’re receiving about relationships and about their own self-worth,” she said, noting that many popular films still romanticised unhealthy or controlling relationships. Speaking to the Times of Malta during an event marking One Billion Rising, a global movement to end rape and violence against women, Ms Compagno said that greater education was needed to ensure young people in dangerous relationships were aware of the support services available to them. She also called for young people to involve themselves further in advocacy and activism, helping to raise awareness among their own peers and push for change. The One Billion Rising event held at...
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Newlyweds to shun romance for honeymoon of voluntary work

February 14, 2017, 10:04 am
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Catherine Aquilina and Albert Sciberras, who are getting married in June, will be spending their honeymoon doing voluntary work in Kenya. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Like most couples busy planning a wedding, Catherine Aquilina and Albert Sciberras are eager to mark their special day by going away on honeymoon. But while many opt for romantic vacations, this couple have decided to go on a trip far removed from the Valentine image of secluded intimacy. They will do voluntary work in Kenya for a poor community. The pair met six years ago when they both became involved in youth organisations in their hometown of Qormi. They have remained heavily involved in volunteer work. “It’s something that has always been part of our relationship, and so it was only natural that we should celebrate such an important event in our lives in this way,” Ms Aquilina, 29, told The Sunday Times of Malta as the two prepared for a car boot sale to raise funds to take to Africa. Originally, they saved for a more “traditional” honeymoon, planning a trip to Sardinia and looking forward to long, lazy days on the beach. However, as they continued to make their holiday plans, both realised they wanted to do something more meaningful. “I’m not one who enjoys sunbathing on the sand all day so we started thinking about the possibility of going to Kenya to do voluntary...
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Fine dining or a 'crude affront' to Valletta's iconic shoreline?

February 15, 2017, 12:51 am
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All eyes are on Valletta as it prepares to assume the European Capital of Culture crown next year. But judging by the above photo, anyone eyeing the capital city from across the water in Sliema might find themselves squinting.  Recently-opened restaurant Capo Crudo offers diners fresh fish and seafood with views across Marsamxett harbour, with its bright lights and prominent sign meaning it has little trouble getting noticed.  The structure stands in stark contrast to the 500-year old bastions it sits beneath, and its brightly-lit presence has alarmed architects, angered heritage activists and upset Valletta's mayor.  But restaurant owners have insisted that their new venture is in line with all planning regulations. "These things should not happen," one prominent architect who spoke on condition of anonymity said. "This sort of brightly-lit structure completely dominates Valletta's coastal profile." While the structure would not look out of place on the Sliema coastline, another architect said, "there's nothing white about the Valletta side."  Din L-Art Ħelwa executive president Maria Grazia Cassar was even more damning, calling the redeveloped restaurant "a crude affront to...
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Man, 27, grievously injured in accident

February 14, 2017, 11:13 pm
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A biker was grievously injured last night following a collision with a car in San Ġwann. The police said the accident happened in Triq Birkirkara at 8.45pm. The 27-year-old biker from Birkirkara was riding a Honda CB600 that collided with a Toyota IQ2 that was being driven by a 20-year-old woman from San Ġwann. 
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Nexia bosses turn down invitation to meet Panama committee

February 14, 2017, 11:00 pm
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Nexia BT managing partner Brian Tonna. Right: Karl Cini, Nexia BT partner.

Updated with PN statement at 10.30am The financial advisers who opened secret companies for Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri have turned down an invitation to meet a delegation from the European Parliament’s Panama committee. European Parliament officials confirmed yesterday that both Brian Tonna, the managing partner at Nexia BT, and Karl Cini, a partner at the firm, would not be meeting the 16-strong delegation during its visit to Malta next week. “We wanted both Mr Tonna and Mr Cini to answer various questions on the whole affair and to explain to us their involvement and why they suggested to their clients to open companies in Panama. Unfortunately, both refused our invitation to meet,” a European Parliament official said. Asked to explain why they had refused the invitation to meet the visiting MEPs, both Mr Tonna and Mr Cini would only say they had replied to the invitation but declined to state their position. “It is for the committee to decide whether and at what stage to divulge the content of our reply,” they said. In a Facebook post yesterday, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola said Mr Tonna and Mr Cini had told the committee they would only be able to...
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Parliament remembers Joe Grima as free thinker and strong communicator

February 15, 2017, 9:32 am
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Parliament this evening expressed its condolences to the family of former Labour Minister of Industry and Tourism Joe Grima, who passed away on February 3, one day short of his 81st birthday. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Mr Grima would be remembered most for being a good communicator in politics and broadcasting.   Mr Grima would be remembered for his hard work and fierce speeches as a politician as well as for having shaped the broadcasting landscape in the 1970s when he was CEO of the Broadcasting Authority. He was a free thinker who never shirked from expressing his views and opinions and was one of a few people who was active in broadcasting across the spectrum of political broadcasting.   As tourism minister he assumed the mantle of salesman and was among the first to realise the potential of Berlusconi TV stations to promote Malta. Malta was, as a result, among the first institutional sponsors of those stations.  Dr Muscat recalled how four years ago he appointed Mr Grima as envoy to the World Tourism Organisation, a role which Mr Grima took very seriously. But this adventure ended prematurely because Mr Grima could not hold back from expressing his controversial...
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Malta faces scepticism during ECJ bird trapping hearing - source

February 15, 2017, 3:24 am
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Maltese government lawyers arguing in favour of a derogation on finch trapping faced multiple questions at a European Court of Justice hearing this morning, sources close to the court said.  ECJ Advocate General Eleonor Sharpston expressed scepticism about the government's arguments, reportedly telling government lawyers "I'm sorry, but I don't seem to be able to follow your line of reasoning". Sources said that the Maltese government, represented by the lawyers from the Attorney General's office and law firms CCX Advocates and Stibbe, argued that the derogation was justified because the European Union's Birds Directive sought to strike a balance between conservation and leisure activities. READ: BirdLife, government face off over Attorney General claims  Lawyers for the European Commission contested that line of argument, insisting that finches were a protected species under EU law and that Malta's application of a derogation was not judicious or applied proportionally.  Malta was "trapping for the sake of trapping", EC lawyers Christoph Hermes and Ken Mifsud Bonnici insisted, arguing that EU law only permitted trapping if there was a good reason to allow it, such as expanding...
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Father says he does not know where his son is being brought up

February 15, 2017, 3:18 am
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The father of a four-year-old boy currently locked in a separation battle against his Filipino wife has filed a judicial protest claiming that various shortcomings in the proceedings before the Family Court were jeopardising his right to family life. The 55-year-old man, who allegedly suffers from a medical condition which bars him from having a regular job, claimed he was ordered by the Family Court to pay €450 monthly in maintenance to his wife and son. After contesting this excessive amount in view of the fact that his estranged wife was earning a living, the sum was reduced to €300 which was still above the €250 rate normally granted in favour of each child. In his judicial act, filed before the First Hall of the Civil Court, the man also claimed that following an incident with his wife, the Appoġġ social agency was called in and he was granted a once-weekly access to his son under supervision. The plaintiff claimed that once Appoġġ was called into a case, the parties were subjected to exaggerated delays and unnecessary expenses which resulted in greater hardship for the parties involved. In this particular case, the court was told that social workers' failure to report to...
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Opposition leader testifies in libel proceedings against the Prime Minister

February 16, 2017, 3:18 am
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The leader of the Opposition this morning took the witness stand to answer questions in the libel proceedings he instituted against the Prime Minister and Lydia Abela over claims that he had been caught in a serious fraud case involving taxpayers’ money. The claims came after Dr Busuttil’s driver was investigated on suspicion of misusing the fuel allocation for the Opposition leader’s official car, financed by Parliament. Dr Busuttil said in court that he had chosen his own driver after he was appointed Opposition leader and had learnt of the fuel irregularities through a document he had been shown by the clerk of the House. He said his office immediately registered disagreement with the document but he suspended his driver since the case was referred to the police and a police inquiry had been initiated. The magistrate eventually found his driver to be innocent and he immediately reinstated him, he said pointing out that the fact he had suspended him did not mean that he had agreed with the allegations. The inquiry, he pointed out, confirmed that there was something wrong with the fuel meter. In court, Dr Busuttil was accompanied by deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami.
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EP's Panama Papers inquiry to question Manfred Galdes

February 15, 2017, 10:12 am
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Manfred Galdes, former director of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit, has been invited to give evidence before the European Parliament’s committee of inquiry into money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion (PANA) on Monday. Dr Galdes controversially stepped down at the height of the Panama Papers scandal. The committee agreed to invite him to give evidence at the request of Nationalist MEP David Casa. “I’m satisfied that my proposal was accepted as it would have been unacceptable not including him in our programme. I really hope that Dr Galdes accepts the invitation contrary to what Minister Konrad Mizzi and Chief of Staff Keith Schembri have done until now," Mr Casa said.  
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Opposition leader to receive speech in which he allegedly libelled Keith Schembri

February 16, 2017, 3:33 am
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A court today accepted a request by the Opposition leader for him to be provided with the speech in which he had allegedly libelled the chief of staff at the Office of the Prime Minister Keith Schembri. Mr Schembri had filed his libel over comments made by Dr Busuttil in relation to his secret company in Panama. Lawyers Pawlu Lia and Peter Fenech embarked on a heated exchange on procedural issues with Dr Fenech, Dr Busuttil’s lawyer, insisting that Dr Busuttil should be presented with a copy of the speech in which he had supposedly libelled Mr Schembri. He needed this to able to prepare himself to answer the questions put. This, he pointed out, was normal in proceedings. Dr Lia replied that Dr Busuttil was present as a witness and could answer questions put. He said Dr Busuttil was not credible when he stated that he did not recall the merits of the case and that he needed time to prepare himself. Dr Fenech objected to this statement since it contained personal references to Dr Busuttil. The court called on the parties to maintain good behaviour and decorum band ordered that Dr Busuttil is given a copy of the relevant speech. The case was deferred to April 27.
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Large white birds presumed to be Marsalforn's swans seen close to San Blas

February 15, 2017, 4:23 am
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A flock of large white birds presumed to be the 12 mute swans that had stayed in Marsalforn valley since January 1 appeared briefly in San Blas today, before continuing on their way. Their departure yesterday was observed by members of the Facebook group Birds in the Maltese Islands after 7am. The volunteers had been monitoring the swans since their arrival. Posting on the same group today, member Kevin Dimech, the hunter who was feeding the swans in Marsalforn, said he had been informed they were now in San Blas. Ornithologist Natalino Fenech said that over the past few days the swans were seen taking wing regularly and returning to the same spot shortly afterwards. Over the past few days, however, they were taking longer to return, which was a clear indication they were preparing to leave.  READ: Nine swans leave Marsalforn valley... and then promptly return The swans had been feeding on grass found in the water and food provided by both hunters and BirdLife volunteers. "This was the first time in ornithological history that swans came, stayed so long and left unharmed.  It was another example of the changes that have taken place over the past few years. The shooting of such...
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Unlawful power station aid given to Electrogas in line with EU rules

February 15, 2017, 11:04 pm
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“Unlawful” state aid offered to the new power station consortium without prior notification to the European Commission was still in line with EU rules, a Commission spokesman told this paper. The Commission last month gave its approval for State aid to be given to the Electrogas consortium, though it said that Malta had breached EU rules by failing to notify it about the intention to do so. A Commission spokesman told the Times of Malta that, in view of this, “unlawful” state aid was a technical term referring to assistance that had been paid though Brussels had not approved it. A spokesman for Minister Within the Office of the Prime Minister Konrad Mizzi, who handles the government’s energy projects, said to date, no state aid payments had been made to Electrogas. Dr Mizzi said in mid-2015 that the government had been advised from day one to seek approval from the European Commission about the security of supply agreement instead of going ahead and signing it. The Commission, in its decision letter, expressed regret that Malta had put the aid in question into effect in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The provision says that the...
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Documents on operation of former BWSC plant published, with blanked out clauses

February 15, 2017, 5:36 am
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The government has published the agreements made in 2014 with D3 Power Generation Ltd, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, for the sale of the former BWSC power station and its conversion to use gas. The documents can be seen here. They consists of the Electricity Connection agreement, the Fuel Supply agreement, the Operation, Maintenance and Management agreement, the Power Purchase Agreement, Site Services Agreement and Subscription Agreement. Some parts, ranging from definitions to power purchase rates, have been blanketed out by the Office of the Prime Minister. The OPM yesterday published contracts with Electrogas for the building of the new power station. Documents on bank guarantees for the projects are due to be published with a few hours. Parliament will debate the contracts tomorrow morning.  
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Minister Anton Refalo calls for special status for Gozo, possibly with fiscal, legislative powers

February 15, 2017, 10:59 am
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Gozo Minister Anton Refalo has called on the Government and the Opposition to come together to see how Gozo, which he said was giving added value to Malta’s economy, could be given the special status it deserved. Speaking in parliament this evening during the debate on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill, Dr Refalo said that Gozo could never have autonomy or a special status if it did not have any fiscal powers. Also, he said, there could never be devolution of legislative powers if laws directly relevant to Gozo were not passed by a Gozo Council or the Gozo region, even if ultimately, they would have to be rubber-stamped by parliament in Malta. Dr Refalo said that the concept of regionality was started by former Gozo Minister Anton Tabone and this meant Gozo had the qualities and features which made it distinctly different from the main island. These were sound foundations but since then nothing had been done. He recalled that the 1996 PL government had put forward the idea of a regional council for Gozo but this did not materialise because the Opposition was against such a council. The minister said that Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, who had conducted the Malta-EU...
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Man injured in eight-car crash

February 15, 2017, 10:05 pm
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Updated at 11am A 41-year-old man from Marsascala was grievously injured this morning in an eight-car crash near the Addolorata Cemetery. The police said the accident happened at 6.15am in Vjal Santa Lucia. All the cars involved were headed towards Valletta. They said the accident happened when a 22-year-old man from Pembroke lost control of the car he was driving and hit a number of others, overturning in the process. The 41-year-old was trapped inside his car as a result. Members of the Civil Protection Department were on site to help the man out. Part of the road is closed to traffic.
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Joseph Gaffarena testifies in Opposition's libel case against GWU newspapers

February 16, 2017, 5:07 am
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The man at the centre of two libel suits filed by the leader of the Opposition against GWU-owned newspapers l-Orizzont and it-Torċa, this morning took the witness stand to face questions by the plaintiff's lawyer. The cases revolve around allegations made by the newspapers that Simon Busuttil had met Joseph Gaffarena before the last general election and demanded Daewoo papers in return for the granting of a petrol station permit, which the Gaffarena family had long been struggling to obtain. Questioned about the meeting which allegedly took place between the witness, the Opposition leader and then minister Joseph Cassar at the PN headquarters, Mr Gaffarena gruffly remarked that he had already given his version in an affidavit before notary Mario Bugeja in August 2015. Asked whether he recalled who was at the meeting, the witness replied “I forgot”. When it was suggested that the witness ought to be shown his own affidavit, Mr Gaffarena remarked that he could not read. Asked whether the affidavit had been written in his presence, Mr Gaffarena replied in the affirmative adding that it had been drawn up at the notary's office. However, the witness could not recall the exact...
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Dying man's signature forged in property transfer document

February 16, 2017, 6:13 am
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A document purporting to show a dying man's donation of a bar to his son was invalidated by a court today after it established that the signature was forged.  The Civil Court however refused to annul the dying man's will after an expert witness concluded that the signature on the will was genuine. Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti delivered the judgments following applications filed by Mary Louise Briffa against Mario Bartolo, his son Clayton and the Director of Public Registry. Ms Briffa told the court that she was the sister of Mario Bartolo, who died on May 16, 2009 after a serious illness. She explained that for a long time she had managed her brother's bar (known as "Lyons's Bar" in Cospicua) after he fell ill. She had never been paid for her work and all the profits were handed over to her brother. Mr Bartolo had promised her that, by way of compensation, he would leave her the bar in his will. In fact, by means of a will of November 10, 2008 drawn up by Notary Rosella Sciberras, Mr Bartolo had bequeathed the bar to her while at the same time nominating his wife and children as his sole heirs. After Mr Bartolo's death it resulted that he had drawn up another will on January 20,...
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Enemalta imposes €10m penalty on Electrogas for power station delays - Busuttil tears up blacked out contracts

February 16, 2017, 5:21 am
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Enemalta has imposed a €10 million penalty on Electrogas for late delivery of the new power station, minister Konrad Mizzi told parliament this afternoon. Dr Mizzi was the last speaker from the government side in a six-hour debate on an opposition motion presented some 18 months ago calling for publication of the power station contracts. The contracts were published over the past two days but parts of them were blacked out. Dr Mizzi spoke on the process leading to the building of the new power station by Electrogas and said the conversion to gas meant cleaner power, lower emissions, cheaper electricity and an adequate and diversified supply of power, such that the Marsa power station and the oldest part of Delimara power station would be closed down. It also meant security of supply, in a deal approved by the European Commission after detailed scrutiny of all the project contracts. The EU approval belied Opposition claims that there was corruption in this project. Dr Mizzi said there was no illegal state aid in the project, and the price being paid by Enemalta for gas and power was reasonable with a fair return. It compared with prices in Europe. Dr Mizzi said removal of the...
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