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Delivery men facing deteriorating situation - GRTU

September 14, 2017, 1:53 am
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Delivery men are facing ever-increasing problems trying to do their work, as traffic and parking make their lives a misery, according to the GRTU. The chamber, which represents small businesses, said: “Imagine the stress they must face on a daily basis, spending the entire time stuck in traffic, trying to find somewhere to park where they will not be fined, and at the same time being within a reasonable distance from where they need to deliver or collect merchandise. It is excessive and it is costing companies both time and money.” It welcomed the recent story in the Times of Malta on the success of the system introduced by the Local Enforcement System Agency for wardens to give warnings, rather than contraventions, for particular infringements, but said that more needed to be done. Read: 5,400 warden warnings to drivers in three months The GRTU, following talks with Lesa, will be organising meetings with individual councils to seek local solutions. “The solutions are not easy, especially when one takes into account the limitations imposed by the road infrastructure, but compromises need to be found,” it said.
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Mother critical, child in hospital after washroom fire

September 14, 2017, 4:43 am
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A 37-year-old woman is in critical condition and her eight-year-old daughter is being treated for smoke inhalation following a fire in a residence at Żurrieq. Police said the incident was sparked in a washroom of the residence located in Vjal Blue Grotto around 11.30am. Police could not confirm whether a fire in the tumble drier caused the incident. According to the police, the two managed to get out of the house by the time the police arrived on scene. Civil Protection Department were quick on the scene to put out the flames.  The police said the woman was in a serious condition but details about the girl's condition are still sparse. She had no visible injuries but is being treated for smoke inhalation.  Police are investigating.    
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Two Maltese arrested for flying drone over the Colosseum

September 14, 2017, 5:31 am
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Two young Maltese were arrested by Italian police after flying a drone over the Colosseum in the heart of Rome.  The incident happened on Monday and sparked a security alert, forcing the closure of a road as police were deployed around the area. The two, aged 17, were released on Tuesday and have returned to Malta but proceedings against them are continuing.  For reasons of privacy and safety, flying a drone over many areas is also illegal in Malta, unless a permit is obtained, although the law is rarely observed. READ: Are you flying your drone illegally? Foreign capitals take a stricter view because of security implications.   Italian media reported last year that a French tourist was arrested for also flying a drone over the Colosseum, to take a picture. He faced a potential fine of  €113,000. Two Israeli tourists were arrested for flying a drone over the Vatican in December 2015.  Five Dutch men were in the same month also arrested for flying a drone near the Colosseum.
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Woman weeps as she is jailed eight years for rental homes fraud

September 14, 2017, 5:31 am
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The mastermind behind a fraudulent scheme designed to con victims out of rental money for leases which never materialised, will be spending the next eight years behind bars after admitting to the scam. Weeping in the dock, 38-year old Alexia Micallef, of Msida, admitted to the charges of fraud and nodded her head in resignation as defence lawyer Noel Bartolo explained how the former cleaner had become entangled in a vicious circle which made her a “victim” twice over. Finding herself in the grip of loan sharks, the woman sought to settle her spiralling debts and save her own life by devising the scheme, the court was told. Using house keys entrusted to her for cleaning services, she lured prospective tenants to sign lease agreements and hand over some €800 by way of a deposit. Once the money was pocketed, the woman would inform her victims that the rented property was being repaired. The scam eventually came to light when a number of frustrated tenants vented their anger on Facebook, calling upon the authorities to take action. “My client was the victim of usury. She did wrong but these circumstances ought to be considered by the court” the lawyer observed. Fully agreeing with...
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Transport Malta deadline on impounded vehicles

September 14, 2017, 6:52 am
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Transport Malta has given a two-week deadline for the owners of 20 vehicles removed from the roads to claim them and pay the relevant fees. The cars will be auctioned or destroyed after the September 27 deadline.  The vehicles were impounded after being found in breach of the Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and Encumbering Objects Regulations.  Such vehicles would usually have been abandoned in the streets, with no licence discs and foreign number plates.  Owners need to submit proof of ownership and pay registration tax, licences, contraventions and other administration fees that may be due. https://news.transport.gov.mt/impounded-vehicles/
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Man caught red handed trafficking drugs

September 13, 2017, 5:37 am
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A Somali national residing at the Hal Far Open Centre was marched to court and remanded in custody today, just hours after having been allegedly caught red-handed trying to sell cannabis resin. Abdi Ali Jama, 29, was sighted by police patrolling the St Julian's area trying to strike a deal with another person. Upon closer inspection, the object of the intended sale turned out to be cannabis resin. He was arrested and charged with cannabis trafficking, possession of the drug that was not for personal use as well as with having committed such offences within 100 metres from a location attended by young people. His request for bail was objected to by the prosecution, which insisted that not only was there a witness who was still to testify but, moreover, the accused had no fixed address and no personal documents. The defence countered that the amount of cannabis involved was merely 6.09 grams, but prosecution pointed out that this was “still drug trafficking, not just possession for personal use.” Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, upheld the objections by the prosecution and turned down the request for bail.
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Motorcyclist seriously hurt in Mosta

September 13, 2017, 11:04 pm
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A 27-year-old man from Lija was seriously injured following a traffic accident in Mosta this morning.  The Yamaha motorcycle driver crashed into a Renault Kadjar on Triq l-Aħwa Galea at 6am. The 54-year-old man who was driving the car, who comes from Mosta, was not hurt. Police are investigating.   
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22-year-old commits 36 offences - court offers a lifeline after hearing his story

September 14, 2017, 9:13 am
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A young man who admitted 36 offences related to 22 car thefts over a span of two months, gave a lengthy speech in court today during which he voiced frustration at society, which appeared to have let him down. Shaun Caruana, 22, who has been living rough since having recently left prison, spoke out in his own defence. “You’re so young. Thirty-six offences and you're just 22. How can you explain this mare magnum of crimes?” the court asked. In reply, the young man broke out into an impassioned speech, declaring that he was “fed up of this life.” Finding himself homeless and jobless after a life spent being juggled from one institution to another,  he said he had resorted to theft. “I have no drug problem now. But finding myself desperate for food and drink and with no money in my pocket, I had to steal.” He said he even sought refuge at the YMCA where he found some shelter but no food. “Since I am over 18, I was told that I was not entitled to receive food at the shelter,” he explained. During his stint in jail, he never received any help to prepare himself for a job which could save him from his misery, he added. Legal aid lawyer Noel Bartolo stated that in his experience in...
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Impassioned call for national burden sharing of migrants

September 13, 2017, 10:01 pm
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Simon Busuttil yesterday called for national burden sharing, dismissing the proposal to close the Marsa open centre and move migrants to Ħal Far. “The European Court last week gave credence to arguments made by Malta and other European countries when it refused Slovakia and Hungary’s case against solidarity. However, are we embracing the concept of solidarity in Malta?” he said. “The people of Marsa have been suffering for years. We are no longer in a crisis situation, receiving one boat after another, so there should be burden sharing within Malta itself.” Moving the Marsa open centre to Ħal Far was no solution, he added. Dr Busuttil’s comments follow an appeal by migrant-led NGOs and councils for urgent action to address issues fuelling tension and concern among the residents in localities hosting migrant open centres. The Times of Malta reported last week that the government planned to close the Marsa open centre and transfer its 160 residents to Ħal Far. However, the plan was put on hold in the wake of complaints by Birżebbuġa residents. Dr Busuttil, the outgoing PN leader, was addressing the National Youth Parliament, which offered the opportunity to young people aged 19...
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Updated - 15,000 collect voting documents for PN leadership election

September 14, 2017, 10:55 am
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Updated 7.55pm - Just over 15,000 members of the Nationalist Party have collected their voting documents for Saturday's leadership election. The documents had to be collected by 6pm today. The Nationalist Party said 18,000 members had been eligible to vote in the contest between Adrian Delia and Chris Said. The PN has around 22,000 members but around 4,000 are not fully paid-up. This is the first time that the party membership of any major political party in Malta has a direct say in the election of the leader. Dr Delia and Dr Said were shortlisted from a field of four candidates in the first phase of the election, where the party councillors were eligible to vote. Alex Perici Calascione and Frank Portelli were eliminated after obtaining the lowest number of votes in the secret ballot. READ Adrian Delia leads, Chris Said second, as PN councillors vote for new leader Dr Delia, a political rookie, got the highest number of votes, while Dr Said, a former minister and PN general secretary, placed second.   Final debate this evening The two candidates square off in a final debate this evening at 9pm. The hour-long debate will be broadcast on Net TV. The national convention, which...
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Watch – Adrian Delia appears conciliatory, Chris Said combative, in last debate

September 14, 2017, 11:48 am
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Watch the debate above. Please allow some time for the video to load. Click on bottom right of picture for audio. PN leadership contenders Adrian Delia and Chris Said this evening faced off in the last debate before the PN leadership election on Saturday. Both stressed party unity, while taking digs at each other. Dr Delia appeared to project a conciliatory tone during the hour-long discussion while Dr Said projected himself as combative, particularly as he insisted that Dr Delia should name people whom he had described as ‘the establishment’ within the PN. Dr Delia said the establishment included the person who, from PN headquarters, had phoned people asking them not to vote for him. Dr Said retorted by saying that the person in charge of the party machine was backing Dr Delia. Dr Delia said he had lodged his protests before the party electoral commission for such matters to be investigated ‘quietly’ because these matters were not helpful to party unity. The two contenders promised to reform the PN, making it more efficient and inclusive and regularly consulting the grassroots. An early flashpoint came when Chris Said said the ‘right way’ he was promising was a throwback to...
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Training aircraft crash lands after undercarriage fault

September 14, 2017, 10:06 am
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A training aircraft made a crash landing on the old runway of Malta International Airport this afternoon after its landing gear did not deploy. The instructor and student on board were unhurt but the plane suffered damage to its fuselage and wings. Airport fire engines were quickly on site but the plane did not catch fire. Airport operations were not affected.   
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Burmarrad fuel station works begin, despite pending appeals

September 14, 2017, 10:06 pm
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Heavy machinery at the new fuel station site in Burmarrad. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Works on a controversial fuel station outside the development zone in Burmarrad have started despite two pending appeals seeking to revoke a permit granted in July. Enquiries by this newspaper established that the developer is acting within the parameters of the law, albeit at his own risk. This was confirmed by a Planning Authority spokeswoman, who said in such cases, the developer had to restore the site to its original condition at his own expense if the permit was revoked. Located on agricultural land, opposite the Kiabi complex on Burmarrad Road, the site has a footprint of about 3,000 square metres. Apart from fuel pumps, the project will comprise other facilities like a car wash, a tyre service station and an automated teller machine. READ: PA approves plans to build a fuel station on virgin land The application immediately attracted objections from NGOs, the St Paul’s Bay local council and even the Environment Resources Authority. Apart from the siting itself, they argued the project went against the existing policy, because the new facility would be less than 500 metres from an existing servicing station. However, the Planning Directorate argued that the two stations...
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Delia to publish statement of assets, liabilities a day before leadership election

September 14, 2017, 5:59 am
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PN leadership contender Adrian Delia said today that he will publish an account of his assets and liabilities tomorrow after his auditors completed an exercise requested of them 'on time'. He said the statement will also include details on his financial interests.  Dr Delia faces Chris Said in the election for PN leader on Saturday. Dr Delia was speaking at a press conference outside PN headquarters, where he thanked party volunteers for their work. He said the organisation of the election was a mammoth task, but he was pleased with the enthusiasm, shown by the party members. The ultimate beneficiary from this exercise was the PN, which would emerge stronger, he said. This, he said, was like a town which celebrated two feasts. It was divided, but quickly united after the feasts were over.   He said the past weeks had been fruitful for him as he met the party members and was impressed by the enthusiasm shown.  Asked a question related to his former lawyer, who was struck off the PN membership list for having been a freemason, Dr Delia said his lawyer's business was not his own and in the same way as he did not comment on his clients, he would not comment on the lawyer he...
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'Why do I have to pay this money?': Man granted bail gets himself sent to prison

September 15, 2017, 4:45 am
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An everyday argument between a couple has landed a man behind bars after he refused to fork out €1,000 for bail and got into an argument with the court.  Italian national Salvatore Agata, 25, residing at Rabat, had first got into trouble after police visited his residence in April after receiving an anonymous call reporting a loud shouting match at the house. “We had an argument and someone called the police. It was a normal argument,” the man’s girlfriend testified today. “The police arrived and I handed them my ID card but Salvatore had refused.” The man, who claimed to have studied law, had told the police that they had no right to ask for his personal documents. The man had told police that they had no right to ask for his personal documents. The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, heard the prosecution explain how Mr Agata had refused to go to the Rabat police station when summoned, telling the officer that “it was up to him to decide whether to attend or not.” Police returned with an arrest warrant yesterday evening and marched him to the police station, where he turned aggressive and reportedly repped an officer's uniform. Mr Agata today told the...
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Delia's audit promise reminds me of Konrad Mizzi - Chris Said

September 15, 2017, 2:06 am
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PN leadership hopeful Chris Said hit out at his fellow contestant Adrian Delia, who has promised to publish an “audit” of his financial affairs today. Replying to questions by The Times of Malta, Dr Said quipped that the last-minute publication of a financial audit reminded him of Konrad Mizzi, who did the same thing when the Pana committee visited Malta back in February. He argued that all candidates should have been transparent about their financial affairs from day one. Dr Delia has faced numerous allegations about his financial dealings and debts. READ: Delia pledges to publish asset and liability statement today Addressing a press conference, Dr Said argued that it made no sense to publish the audit the day before the leadership election. Doing so gave PN members no time to go over this audit, he said. Dr Said was also critical of the lack of vetting of the leadership candidates done by the party. He said the only vetting done by the party was carried out by the ethics committee, days before the first round of voting. READ: 'I'm the victim of fake news,' Konrad Mizzi tells Pana Committee WATCH: Delia and Said face off in leadership debate The committee only had a...
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Delia has ‘no savings in local or foreign banks’

September 15, 2017, 6:24 am
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Nationalist Party leadership hopeful Adrian Delia today said he had no savings in either local or foreign banks. Addressing a press conference during which he published a statement of affairs, Dr Delia told Times of Malta if he had any cash balances with any banks, they would have been inserted in the statement. Asked how he planned to finance his debts on an Opposition leader’s salary, Dr Delia said he has sought the advice of a financial expert in order to shore up his financial position. Questioned how much the company shares were worth, Dr Delia could not give a precise figure. Asked to react to comments by rival Chris Said that the last-minute publication of the audit was "too little, too late", Dr Delia said if the PN MP thought such financial statements should be published at an earlier stage, he should have sought amendments to the PN’s statute during his many years in the party. He dismissed as fiction claims that BOV had closed his accounts. Dr Delia brandished a cheque book as well as a letter from the bank as evidence to the contrary. According to Dr Delia’s statement of affairs, which was audited independently, the commercial lawyer’s net financial position is...
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Delia to publish statement of assets, liabilities a day before leadership election

September 14, 2017, 5:59 am
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PN leadership contender Adrian Delia said today that he will publish an account of his assets and liabilities tomorrow after his auditors completed an exercise requested of them 'on time'. He said the statement will also include details on his financial interests.  Dr Delia faces Chris Said in the election for PN leader on Saturday. Dr Delia was speaking at a press conference outside PN headquarters, where he thanked party volunteers for their work. He said the organisation of the election was a mammoth task, but he was pleased with the enthusiasm, shown by the party members. The ultimate beneficiary from this exercise was the PN, which would emerge stronger, he said. This, he said, was like a town which celebrated two feasts. It was divided, but quickly united after the feasts were over.   He said the past weeks had been fruitful for him as he met the party members and was impressed by the enthusiasm shown.  Asked a question related to his former lawyer, who was struck off the PN membership list for having been a freemason, Dr Delia said his lawyer's business was not his own and in the same way as he did not comment on his clients, he would not comment on the lawyer he...
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Busuttil bows out as PN leader

September 15, 2017, 1:27 pm
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Video: Chris Sant Fournier

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil today gave his final speech as PN leader, during a rousing send-off at the party’s headquarters. Speaking during the opening of a general convention paving the way for the election of a new leader, Dr Busuttil proudly recounted how he had worked towards opening up the party to new people and ideas. He said the PN may have lost the general election, but had managed to win a moral victory by seeking the truth. Dr Busuttil said he was proud to be leaving behind a properly functioning party, which had recovered financially and broken even during the 2017 election campaign. The Opposition leader insisted that he was not stepping down because he had given up, but because he believed in shouldering political responsibility for the party’s election result. Despite starting a new life on Monday, Dr Busuttil vowed to stay on as an MP and keep up his fight against corruption. He said the PN had failed to win against populism, which had seen the corruption of truth and the country’s systems. The election to replace him is taking place tomorrow, with PN MP Chris Said and lawyer Adrian Delia vying for the post. Echoing the PN’s catchphrase during the election...
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Watch: Pack of dogs terrorising neighbourhoods

September 15, 2017, 8:14 am
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A pack of dogs belonging to a farm is terrifying residents of Msida, Ħamrun, Marsa and even St Venera, having first savaged stray cats but now also threatening people, residents have claimed. One of the residents said they have filed several reports both with the Animal Welfare Department and the police over the past few months, but although the owner was approached, the dogs continue to roam freely at night. The owner of the Msida farm apparently claimed that the dogs were on the road because they manage to escape, the resident said. The dogs were captured on video jumping on car bonnets and one of the volunteers who feeds the stray cats was cornered by the dogs during one of their attacks. "The dogs are in good condition and are not out in search of food. They are killing machines, both a detriment to stray cat communities and are a danger to the public because anybody decent would do their utmost to try tosave an animal in obvious distress," they said. "We are dismayed that the torture and death of the stray cat community seems to be of no consequence to the authorities concerned and that the dogs are allowed by the farmer to roam and kill at leisure and nothing happens."
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