Tas-Sliema Local Council | Autumn Magazine

Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Autumn 2012

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Tas-Sliema

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Messa©© mis-Sindku

Kunsill LOKALI SLIEMA INDIRIZZ Triq Depiro, Sliema SLM 2037 NUMRU TAT-TELEFON (+356) 21 33 76 33 NUMRU TAL-FAX (+356) 21 34 53 33 E-MAIL sliema.lc@gov.mt WEBSITE www.sliema-malta.com FACEBOOK Tas-Sliema Local Council BORD EDITORJALI Pierre Paul Portelli (Editur) Daniel Micallef (Membru) DISINN U STAMPAR Veritas Press – Ûabbar Front Cover Photo Courtesy of Jean Marc Chapelle | www.jmchapelle.com DISTRIBUZZJONI Premier Post SINDKU Anthony Chircop VIÇI-SINDKU Silvio Zammit SEGRETARJU EÛEKUTTIV Matthew Dimech Kunsilliera Marianne Aquilina Vivianne Galea Pace Paul Radmilli Kristian Busietta Michael Briguglio Pierre Paul Portelli Nicolai Gauci Mary Camilleri John Pillow ÓINIJIET GÓALL-PUBBLIKU 16 ta’ Ìunju – 30 ta’ Settembru Mit-Tnejn sal-Ìimg˙a: 08:00 – 13:00 Is-Sibt: 08:00 – 11:30 1 ta’ Ottubru – 15 ta’ Ìunju 08:00 – 13:00, 14:15 – 17:00 ÓLAS TA’ ÇITAZZJONIJIET, LIÇENZJI u PERMESSI OÓRA 16 ta’ Ìunju – 30 ta’ Settembru Mit-Tnejn sal-Ìimg˙a: 08:00 – 13:00 Is-Sibt: 08:00 – 11:30 1 ta’ Ottubru – 15 ta’ Ìunju Mit-Tnejn sal-Ìimg˙a: 08:00 – 13:00 Is-Sibt: 08:00 – 11:30

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n my brief message I wish to guide you through and update all on progress so far achieved by your Council in tackling the major priorities mapped out at the beginning of our term.

Our main aim and most important task was to steady the boat and give our residents renewed trust and confidence in their Council. On this we seem to have scored well; more and more residents are either making their way to the Council, phoning or emailing us with their concerns and complaints, I can assure all these that our well trained and always very cooperative staff notwithstanding the pressure these work under do their utmost to handle these attentively and immediately; if matter is within Council`s competence this will be easily seen to and hopefully sorted, otherwise referred to the appropriate source for their attention and action.

Though a system is now also in place where complaints lodged are regularly monitored for progress.

Not all systems whether manual or IT based are perfect, so we invite residents that are not happy and have after a fair period of time not seen any remedy to their grievance to refer this shortcoming. I am sure that our Staff will be most willing to oblige. The Council`s Administrative hierarchy is now in place, this following the official appointment of Mr. Matthew Dimech as our new full time Executive Secretary, reliving Mr. Paul Gatt, a person who proved most useful and beneficial to our Council during the Councils very difficult period and at the transition of power as interim Executive Secretary, albeit whilst still having to attend full time to the Naxxar Council`s responsibilities. We thank Paul for all the hard work and dedication put in during his

time and for all his well guided advice. On the other hand my congratulations go to Matthew whom on behalf of the whole Coun- Anthony Chircop cil I welcome Sindku on board and wish him the best of luck and a long stay loaded with success.

In my first message I had highlighted the unity, verve and dedication that was so much evident in our Council, I can assure you we have not lost one little quota of this enthusiasm and though the Council`s Offices were working on shorter time during the summer months, meetings of all sorts, be these full Councils, sub committees or other were held at pretty regular intervals, attendance and participation was in all situation at its best.

These meetings served the purpose to set out and define in detail requirements for drafting and finalising tender documentation for the various very important services notably amongst which for street cleaning / garbage collection, more and newer litter bins; that for maintenance of plants, shrubs, trees and general up-keep of all gardens abounding our locality, on top of these also others for civil works much needed such as for major road patching, resurfacing works and re-paving of pavements or their proper repair, as well as road signage and markings. No way forgetting one for the establishment of our Council`s new website. Dates for submission of these tenders have now elapsed and are in the process of adjudication by a special unit 1

Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

formed from within Council ranks, whose duty is solely for these to establish their recommendations and then present to the Council for approval and endorsement.

Not having all these important tools properly in place, rendered our task much more difficult, and through our planned programme of works slightly off track! However once the appropriate contractors are decide on then work can start and continue at a pretty regular pace, in a way the locality would notice and understand that whilst for most the summer season is a period of relaxation your Council

was busy preparing the spadework necessary to truly start making a difference that all Slimizi very much deserve.

Just a few words from me on the intended new traffic arrangements being proposed, and the very close to finalization of the long awaited Residents Parking scheme, the sub-committee which our Deputy Mayor chairs, which includes persons from outside the Council but comprising experts and other persons knowledgeable in this sphere. Have worked hard, and we are now in the process of consultation with all those

BERÌA Il-Kunsill jixtieq jinforma li l-˙inijiet tal-ftu˙ tal-Ber©a li tinsab ©ewwa Triq Depiro, ma ©enb il-Kunsill Lokali tas-Sliema huma:

It-Tnejn, l-Erbg˙a, l-Óamis u il-Ìimg˙a Mit-8.00a.m. sa 12.00p.m.

concerned and that could effected one way or another by such changes.

However on this and other topics I leave it for the respective Councillors to be able to expand on improvements planned for in their particular area of responsibility.

I am sure that provided we are efficient and most of all diligent in our approach we shall soon start to witness notable progress in the areas of works targeted.

My thanks and sincerest greetings Mayor Anthony Chircop

Responsabbiltajiet tal-Membri tal-Kunsill Anthony Chircop • Ûvilupp, MEPA u Pjan Lokali, Toroq, Finanzi u budget • Ordni Pubblika u Infurzar Lokali • RappreΩentant fir-Re©jun

Silvio Zammit • Immani©©jar tat-traffiku • Parke©©i • Marki u sinjali tat-toroq • Relazzjonijiet mas-settur tan-negozju

Marianne Aquilina • Affarijiet tal-familja • Ugwaljanza • Persuni bi bΩonnijiet speçjali • Aççessibbiltà madwar il-lokalità

Vivianne Galea Pace

• Trasport Pubbliku • Sa˙˙a, anzjani u attivitajiet relatati mag˙hom • Attivitajiet fil-Kunsill • Bankini, patching ta’ toroq • Pro©etti ta’ embellishment fuq skala Ωg˙ira fil-qalba tal-lokal

Paul Radmilli

• Siti ta’ Ωvilupp u kostruzzjoni, sa˙˙a, sigurtà u infurzar ta’ li©ijiet applikabbli, inkluΩ kontrol fuq permessi ta’ krejns, scaffolding, hoarding u l-protezzjoni me˙tie©a minn dawn l-istrutturi • Immani©©jar tal-iskart • Progetti tal-UE relatati mal-oqsma msemmija

Nicolai Gauci

• Attivitajiet Sportivi • Attivitajiet g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ • Talent ©did

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Tas-Sliema Local Council

Kristian Busietta • K omunikazzjoni mal-MEUSAC u informazzjoni relatata mal-programmi tal-UE • TuriΩmu u l-impatt tieg˙u • Bye Laws • Involviment fl-abbozzar tal-kuntratti flimkien mall-avukat tal-Kunsill • Sehem fir-responsabbiltà, flimkien ma’ Kunsillieri o˙ra, g˙all-kampanja estensiva fuq tindif fid-diversi Ωoni • Siti storiçi

Michael Briguglio • Attività Marittima • Responsabbiltà tal-kosta u t-tindif ©enerali tag˙ha • S igurtà u kumdità f’uΩu g˙arrikreazjoni u aççessibiltà tal-kosta • Ûoni tal-g˙awm • Il-kwalità tal-ilma ba˙ar u l-arja • Kontroll fuq it-tni©©is minn ˙sejjes u trab • Edukazzjoni

Pierre Paul Portelli • R elazzjonijiet Publiçi inkluΩ ilpubblikazzjonijiet tal-Kunsill • Informatika (kemm fl-uffiççju kif ukoll b’mod ©enerali li jista’ jibbenefika l-lokali u r-residenti) • R elazzjoni mal-g˙aqdiet lokali u kordinament ta’ attivitajiet flimkien • Ìemella©©i u kuntatti internazzjonali

Mary Camilleri • Animal Welfare • Kontrolli kontra l-˙mie© tal-klieb u ˙mie© ©enerat mill-ikel lill-qtates • Façilitajiet g˙ar-rimi ta’ ˙mie© talklieb u façilitajiet g˙aΩ-Ωamma ta’ qtates (Cat’s cafè) • Sehem fir-responsabbiltà, flimkien ma’ Kunsillieri o˙ra, g˙all-kampanja estensiva fuq tindif fid-diversi Ωoni John Pillow • Ìonna • Playing fields • M anutenzjoni u Ωamma tal- public toilets • S a˙˙a u sigurtà fil-lokal b’mod ©enerali • Ûamma u manutenzjoni tal-Promenades

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Editorjal

Volume 7 No 2

Dearest Residents,

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t has now been 6 months since we have been elected in the Sliema Council and although undoubtedly there is a lot left to do until the next elections are upon us, this Council has certainly shown that as one dedicated and focused team we can definitely reach our goals and targets by the end of our legislature.

A number of embellishment projects are going to be announced shortly and the Official Tas-Sliema Local Council website will also be launched within the coming weeks, since the tender adjudication process has now been completed. As I mentioned in my first article, we are encouraging residents to fill in the e-newsletter form and hand it over to a member of the Council’s staff, so as to create a database of residents. This database will help us reduce the number of printed magazine copies, thus contributing to our environment.

I would also like to take this opportunity, to thank my fellow Council members for voting in favour of a proposal which I put forward during the Council meeting held at the end of August. This proposal called for an increase in budget towards funds given to band clubs in support of cultural events they organise on a yearly basis. The funds have been increased from €1,164.50 to €1,500 per year.

We encourage everyone to come forward with ideas, suggestions and most of all positiveness, so that together we can truly find solutions to problems we may have in our locality.

As from this magazine’s issue you will notice that we have added a number of new sections. The purpose of this, is for the magazine to be a show case, for the work the Council is carrying out, but most of all, a showcase for our local organisations and residents.

During the past Summer months the Sliema Events Sub Committee (SESC) has been very busy with a number of events that took place in many venues that our town has to offer. Although, we cannot hide the fact that a number of complaints did reach our office, especially for excessive noise created by events held in the Independence Gardens, however, on the whole we have had positive feedback. The SESC has presented a number of proposals which will help set guidelines for all events across the board that will take place in any venue in Sliema. The guidelines also include parameters for all permits involving sound levels, food and drink stands. Any organisation or person willing to organise an event in Sliema will be given a copy of these guidelines and must present a full program of the event at least two weeks prior to the event commencement. These guidelines have been set so that all event organisers will be accountable for their own actions.

The sub committee is now working on a number of events, which will be directed to all the charitable institutions we have in Sliema and also on a long term plan for an Arts & Culture Fest which will take place during the last weekend of June 2013 !

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Pierre Paul Portelli Kunsillier

Librerija Pubblika Tas-Sliema Óinijiet tal-ftu˙ tal-Librerija Margaret Mortimer li tinsab ©ewwa Triq Blanche Huber, Tas-Sliema huma kif ©ej: Xitwa It-Tlieta bejn 8am u 12pm Il-Óamis bejn 2pm u 6pm Is-Sibt bejn 8am u 12pm

ÓU L-EÛEMPJU ÛOMM NADIF Sajf It-Tlieta bejn 8am uFL-ART 12pm TITFAX SKART Il-Óamis bejn 8am u 12pm Is-Sibt bejn 8am u 12pm

Hemm ukoll servizz ta’ internet.

Ir-residenti kollha huma m˙e©©a biex juΩaw dan is-servizz

Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Dak li nwieg˙du...Inwetquh. F’sitt xhur biss...

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43 Kaxxa g˙all-parke©©i ©odda 12-il parke©© g˙all-muturi 55 Triq miΩbug˙a mill-©did 21 Ωebra crossing miΩbug˙a mill-©did Tabelli ©odda b’direzzjoni Tabelli ©odda ta’ informazzjoni Qed isir review fuq kull parke©© riservat li g˙andna 4 parke©©i riservati nstabu abbuΩivi s’issa u li re©g˙u ng˙ataw lura lir-residenti Talbiet minn tal-˙wienet g˙al tabelli jew xog˙lijiet o˙ra Diversi talbiet biex niffriskaw iΩ-Ωebg˙a f’ toroq differenti KaΩini tal-Baned Sagro Cour u Stella Maris saritilhom kaxxa safra quddiem il-bieb g˙allemer©enza Proposta g˙al-One Ways fi Triq Ìorg Borg Olivier u Triq Amery Introduzzjoni tas-Sliema Residents Parking Scheme li ©ejja fis-se˙˙ fil-©img˙at li ©ejjien.

G˙ad fadal xi jsir.....

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Aktar parke©©i ©odda Id-dwal taΩ-Ωebra crossings kollha Bdil ta’ tabelli eΩistenti qodma Aktar tabelli ta’ direzzjoni Aktar tabelli ta’ informazzjoni 65 Triq li fiha hemm bΩonn ta’ Ωebg˙a ma’ l-art Drop off / Pick up zone fejn Triq Bisazza Ji©u rran©ati il-Pelican Lights ta’ ˙dejn ex-Toarmina min˙abba il-kon©estjoni tat-traffiku li jo˙olqu • Ûebra crossings minn bankina g˙all-bankina

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˙dejn l-ex-Taormina u anke Triq it-Torri fejn il-bandli u l-Fortizza Ta˙t it-Taormina reorganizazzjoni ta’ tabelli u parke©© Is-sistema tal- One Ways ©ewwa Qui-Si-Sana u Tigne’ Reorganizazzjoni ta’ tabelli ©ewwa l-Ferries u x-Xatt Reorganizazzjoni tal-linji ˙dejn l-G˙assa tal-Pulizija

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THE WATER SERVICES CORPORATION is launching its NEW Freephone Service on

Silvio Zammit Viçi-Sindku

hux daqshekk façli li f’qasir Ωmien tag˙mel dan ix- xog˙ol kollu, pero’ jekk ikollok il˙e©©a u l-fiduçja ta’ dawk ta’ madwarek u dawk li ja˙dmu mall-Kunsill, il-fraΩi ta’ FLIMKIEN KOLLOX POSSIBLI ti©i mwettqa.

Kunsill b’ma©©oranza Nazzjonalista wettaq xog˙lijiet kbar f’qasir Ωmien , u l-weg˙da tag˙na li nkomplu nag˙tu dak li jixraq lis-SlimiΩi se inkomplu nwettquha, bl-akbar sfida li g˙andi quddiemi li nintroduçi r-RESIDENTS PARKING SCHEME. Dettalji ta’ kif ser ti©i ma˙duma s-Sliema residents parking scheme ˙a jsiru fil-jiem li ©ejjien, u ji©u mqassma fuq fuljett dettaljat pprovdu mill-kunsill.

Ma nistax ma nag˙tix ˙ajr lill-˙addiema kollha tal-kunsill li b’impenn s˙i˙ middew idejhom g˙attalbiet tag˙na u tag˙kom ir-residenti. Kif ukoll nirringrazzja li s-sotto-kumitat tal-immani©jar tattraffiku li jaqa’ ta˙t ir-responsabilita’ tieg˙i li qed jag˙mel xog˙ol kbir g˙al ©id ta’ Tas-Sliema.

Nag˙ti l-Awguri tal-festi li ©ejjien lil kull familja SlimiΩa u nitlobkom biex t˙arsu lejn il-©miel li g˙andna ©ewwa tas-Sliema, li hi l-g˙ejra ta’ kull belt jew ra˙al f’pajjiΩna.

To report technical issues ONLY such as water problems, sewage problems, leakages, etc

Consumers may still use the ARMS Ltd. freephone 8007 2222 for billing purposes.

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Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema

Dear Residents,

very popular, first and second Beading Courses with a suggestion to have more, due to their popularity, an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and a Children’s Computer Course. In the coming months it is envisaged that we will be having talks in collaboration with the Red Cross, a Computer Course for Adults, Pilates Course, Health Course, Breast Cancer Awareness, Health talks, Bereavement Courses and Child Upbringing Courses, discussions

by Sedqa and Caritas and any Course that the Council feels will be of interest to our residents will be held in our premises for the benefit of all.

To celebrate the 100 Anniversary of the Sliema Water

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nce again I am communicating with you by means of our periodical newsletter.

In my last message I remember writing that if we all work together, Council, residents and visitors alike, we can make Sliema the place that we are all so proud of. Unfortunately our work this summer was marred by SOME residents and visitors who seemed to refuse to co-operate vis a vis the garbage collection requirements. There is the Bulky service collection which comes to collect any bulky refuse from our own homes, so WHY, WHY WHY do SOME people persist in taking out their garbage whenever it suits them, thereby littering our town’s streets with unsightly stinking bags which lay in our streets from one day to the next? Or why do SOME people put their garbage bags in the various litter bins so that these bins are always overflowing? Is this respect for one’s neighbours, environment and town? Even if one misses the scammel or does not agree with not taking out their garbage (black bag) on Tuesday or Friday, does this give them the right to plonk their garbage in our roads or wherever suits them? I, myself, follow the times and days as I should because I respect my neighbours and the town where I live, and believe me I do not have a smelly apartment.

Unfortunately we have had to resort to fining people, which are quite hefty, so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE abide by the rules so that we can live together in a clean Sliema, the Sliema we all claim to love.

Now that is enough of the gloomy stuff! Part of my responsibilities are the pavements. Unfortunately not much could be done till now in that field since we were waiting for the opportune time to issue a tender for a new contractor. Now the Tenders have been issued and it is only a matter of a short time before the new contractor can start working. There is a lot to be done in this sector and I am sure that you realize that through limited funds and time we will have to prioritize the work that needs to be done. I have been going round Sliema’s streets to draw up a list of the state of Sliema’s pavements. As I said before, there is a lot to be done but we will get there with perseverance and patience from all concerned.

Re embellishment.... another of my duties. A subcommittee has been formed to identify certain nodes and alleys around Sliema to create niches where people can relax, enjoy the atmosphere and have places which beautify the area which previously could have been a dull and insignificant place. A small but pretty spot of colour by means of two flower pots has been given to the roundabout, at the bottom of Dingli Street, where our flag pole fly’s a flag with Sliema’s emblem. More to come!

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Another of my responsibilities is the elderly. It is such a joy for me to visit our senior citizens in the Day Care Centre in Sliema and see them enjoy the different daily activities that they enjoy there. From time to time, I, on behalf of the Council, organize a talk or a different activity to their usual ones. A few weeks ago the Vivienne Galea Pace Mayor and I went to visit the Kunsilliera Centre where we introduced ourselves and explained the Council’s functions.

Dr Alex Cachia Zammit, who this year was chosen to be the Ambassador to represent the Elderly in collaboration with Youth in a EU programme, was our guest speaker where he gave a very interesting talk about his connections with Sliema from his younger days, through to his days in the Army, his political career and his life today. This activity was greatly appreciated.

Every week people can come to the ‘Berga’ next door to our offices so that they can have their blood pressure checked and to apply for their required pills on the yellow card. Other requirements for the elderly can also be acquired from this very central and useful place.

As regards Activities in the Council, as well as Cultural Outings, the Council had and will have a vast programme. In June our sub-committee for outings organized a visit to Gozo. We heard a Mass at Ta Pinu, and then we visited Victoria and the newly embellished Villa Rundle. Lunch was in Marsalforn after which we visited the very interesting Museum of old Toys before returning to Malta. Last Thursday 27th September, we visited the newly opened Bird Park. Another Outing is already being planned for October/November as well as a Christmas Activity.

Transport is also part of my portfolio. I feel so satisfied that the much talked about 21 and 110 routes have been a success except for one or two teething problems. Our residents can travel around and beyond Sliema at various times with no hardship at all. A meeting was recently set up with an official of Transport Malta to improve the service, especially where we found it lacking in some places. Your suggestions are always most welcome.

The Council lived up to its purpose of being the place where residents can come and meet, socialize and learn. During the short span of time that this Council has been functioning there have been Health talks over a number of weeks which were

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Polo Club, a club which has brought to Sliema many honours and has trained many of our youth in Sport and discipline, the Council published a book to commemorate this unique occasion.

Dear residents, we have a town that we really should be proud of. Let us ALL look after it so that no one else will feel that they have to write in the Local papers to criticize us. Sliema deserves praise not criticism. So let us ALL do our bit to make us feel proud to say ‘” “We live in Tas-Sliema, We are Slimizi and proud of it’” and as they chant in Football and Water Polo games “Mill-Lazy Corner sas-Chalet kulhadd i˙ossu Re”

We encourage Tas-Sliema residents to kindly refrain from throwing cigarette butts in flower pots 9

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Volume 7 No 2

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Tas-Sliema Local Council

Cranes are not Forever

hile development in Sliema has to take place once permits are issued, as I pointed out in our last article we have a subcommittee dealing with construction which ensures that construction which takes place is more respectful to our residents. Some of the action we took in the past three months in the constant meetings we have with developers is as follows: 1) We refused an extension for a permit for the crane in Old College Street.

2) We refused an extension for a permit for the crane in Sir Arturo Mercieca Street.

3) We refused an application for a second permanent crane to be erected in Don Rua Street and have informed the developer that the crane can only be erected once the other crane is dismantled.

You may have realised that works not usually allowed in the summer months took place on the sites in Dingli Street and Sir Arturo Mercieca. In consultation with Transport Malta these works were allowed in view that the work consisted of remedial

work related to the danger posed to adjacent buildings.

Other action we took was to insist that the gate in Sir Arturo Mercieca is replaced with a more secure boundary wall. It took weeks for this matter to be resolved and once the developers were not at all cooperative we had no choice but to insist that Paul Radmilli if the boundary wall is not Kunsillier erected we will withdraw the bank guarantee. Needless to add that the wall appeared a few hours before the deadline we gave on withdrawing the bank guarantee.

A new policy which we have just introduced is to have better signage whenever streets are closed and to place such signage well in advance of the road closure. Lack of cooperation in this regard will result in fines.

Days of collection and time in Winter (16th September to 14th June) Monday - (Start time:19.00; End time: 23.00) Wednesday - (Start time:19.00; End time: 23.00) Thursday - (Start time:19.00; End time: 23.00) Saturday - (Start time:12.00; End time: 15.30)

Days of collection and time in Summer (15th June to 15th September) Monday - (Start time:19.00; End time: 23.00) Wednesday - (Start time:19.00; End time: 23.00) Thursday - (Start time:19.00; End time: 23.00)

Waste Matters

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e have noticed that in Tas-Sliema a number of residents put out their garbage bags the night before collection time with the result that garbage bags are strewn all over our pavements for the entire night. In order to address this situation and to have a collection when most people are at home and not at work we will be changing the collection time to an early evening collection. I have conducted a detailed study on the other localities in Malta which have introduced an evening collection and their experience was positive. This change will take place on the 1st of November. By doing so we also intend to alleviate the traffic congestion during the morning traffic. We are fully aware that such a change will initially require people to change their habits, however we intend to monitor the situation and we will have a thorough review of the system after six months.

We are also addressing the issue of large blocks of apartments not having a system in place of skips within their premises. We are holding a number

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of meetings on site with developers and will ensure that for large blocks of apartments this system will be mandatory and put in place in the coming weeks.

Our collector has agreed to collect garbage bags from skips within blocks of apartments.

We are also going to reform the system of the cleaning of bins from the inner streets of Tas-Sliema as this duty will be taken on with increased frequency by our garbage collector rather than by the contractor responsible for the sweeping of Tas-Sliema as is the system at present.

Another reform that we have agreed upon is to collect garbage on Sundays during the summer months between the 15th of June and the 15th of September.

Waste matters to the new Tas-Sliema Council and we are giving these issues priority. We are committed to find solutions to all the problems we are facing in TasSliema.

For any suggestions you may contact me on paul.radmilli@gov.mt.

Saturday - (Start time:12.00; End time: 15.30) Sunday - (Start time:12.00; End time: 15.30)

The Tas-Sliema Local Council would like to welcome the Tas-Sliema residents over 55 years to apply for the Influence Vaccine for the 2012.

Anyone interested can visit our offices during office hours (0800-1300 and 1415-1700) or call on 21337633 or send us an email on sliema.lc@gov.mt by not later than 22nd October 2012

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Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

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Beaches and Education

n this article I would like to highlight some of the work done by Sliema Local Council in areas under my responsibility as local Councilor, namely maritime affairs and education respectively.

One of the main challenges faced by the Sliema local Council this year was beach cleaning. For this purpose, and for other matters related to beaches, a subcommittee chaired by myself was formed.

We highlighted main challenges to the Cleansing Department and to the Malta Tourism Authority, and various improvements were made, such as placing of practical bins and increased cleaning efforts. However, various challenges remain. We should avoid having our beaches littered with dog pooh, plastic bottles, cigarette butts and other waste!

Suffice to say that a civic-minded NGO, ‘That’s Rubbish’, carried out two beach clean-ups from Fortizza to the area past Surfside lido, in collaboration with Sliema Local Council – and a total of 65 Kg of cigarette butts and other waste were collected in one instance and 40kg in the other.

Another challenge relates to accessibility in beaches. In this regard, I am pleased to report that following the local Council’s collaboration with Malta Tourism Authority, various ramps and ladders have helped increase accessibility in our beaches. The increase in swimmers’ zones also helped increase safety. I am pleased to announce that Sliema Local Council has applied with Transport Malta for two new swimmers’ zones next year, namely another one at Exiles (under the Taormina area, to the left of the pier) and one at Qui-si-sana.

Sliema Local Council is also considering introducing a bye-law to regulate Bar-B-Ques, in order that people may recreate themselves responsibly, thus ensuring that beaches are left clean. I invite those interested in sending suggestions in this regard to email me with your feedback.

In order to promote green mobility in Sliema, we have also installed four new bicycle racks along the Sliema promenade, from Exiles to Ghar id-Dud, and near the pedestrianized Bisazza Street. This will make life easier for cyclists, and will hopefully help contribute to the greening of Sliema.

Enforcement by wardens has also been increased at Sliema’s beaches, particularly with regards to cars parked on the rocks under it-Torri and to those who litter our beaches with dog pooh.

Such enforcement will remain in place until such problems are done away with.

Sliema Local Council has also approved plans for better management of parking, berthing of boats 12

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Flimkien insolvu l-problemi

and swimming in the area under Taormina. Following consultation with fishermen, garage owners and others, the Beaches and Transport subcommittees proposed a plan which was approved by the Local Council and which will hopefully increase safety and accessibility in the area. It was very difficult to Michael Briguglio please everyone to the full, Kunsillier but the approved plans take into consideration the different interests and needs of the area.

An exciting project supported by Sliema Local Council is the Putting Colour Into the Streets Project by the ‘Troglodyte’ artists, which in the case of Sliema includes the painting of murals at Qui-sisana beach. This is surely a breath of fresh air when compared to the drab grey cement walls which were previously in place!

As regards education, one of the successes of the local Council was its lifelong learning programme, in collaboration with the Lifelong Learning Directorate and the Department for Local Government. Various courses were held, and participation was very good. Another series of courses will take place between October and May. The areas under consideration, depending on demand from prospective applicants, including the following: Litterizmu fil-Malti; English Literacy; Maths/Numeracy; Maltese as a foreign language; English as a foreign language; French; German; Spanish; Italian; Russian; Arabic; Lace-making and Energy-saving initiatives at home.

The Sliema Local Council is also actively supporting its library, and a new service was introduced, namely story telling for children, which is carried out by librarian Ms Therese Attard Previ. These sessions are held on Saturday mornings between 9am and 10am. Even though turnout in the Summer months was rather low, one expects a higher turnout in the coming months. Those interested in registering their children for this educational opportunity are kindly requested to contact me with their details.

Last but not least, I welcome feedback on matters related to Sliema in general and maritime affairs and education in particular. mbrig@hotmail.com

G˙eΩieΩ SlimiΩi,

G

˙addew ˙ames xhur minn meta ©ie ffurmat il-kunsill il-©did u nista’ nassiggurakom li g˙addew b˙al ˙olma bil-kwantita’ kbira ta’ xog˙ol li g˙andna u li qed nag˙mlu b˙ala team wie˙ed barra x-xog˙ol tieg˙i ta’ ˙arsien ta’ l-annimali u tindif qieg˙da wkoll fis-sotto-kumitat li g˙andu x’jaqsam mat-traffiku li hemm ˙afna xi tg˙id fuqu iΩda dak se n˙allih g˙al Silvio il-ViçiSindku biex jghidilkom hu.

Issa g˙ax-xoghol tieg˙i fuq l-annimali u nibda fuq il-qtates li hemm jg˙ixu fil-Ìnien Indipendenza hawn xi nies li ilmentaw li n-na˙a ta’ Dixie’s kien qed ikun hemm il-˙mieg ta˙t ilbankijiet u g˙alhekk bil-g˙ajnuna tal-˙addiema tal-kunsill ressaqna l-cat’s cafe u g˙amilnihom ta˙t is-si©ar u nista’ nassiggurakom li tqal mhux ˙azin. Minn hawnhekk nixtieq nirringrazzja lil min qed jitma˙hom mhux se noqg˙od insemmihom b’isimhom imma g˙alija qed jag˙mlu missjoni biex jitimg˙u dawk il-qtates kollha u jaraw li g˙andhom x’jixorbu speçjalment fis-s˙ana tas-sajf.

Nixtieq ninfurmakom ukoll li dawk il-qtates kollha msewwijin u jie˙du ˙sieb ukoll li meta xi wie˙ed minnhom jimrad jie˙duh g˙and il-veterenarju u tridu tqisu wkoll kemm in-nies i˙allu fdalijiet ta’ ikel warajhom kemm fil-©nien u anke fuq il-blat wara li jag˙mlu xi BBQ. kieku m’hemmx dawk il-qtates hemm isfel mimli ©rieden. G˙alhekk irridu nag˙Ωlu bejn il-qtates u l-©rieden.

Issa nibda fuq dawk l-imberkin ta’ klieb jew a˙jar sidhom g˙ax jo˙or©uhom skond kif jg˙idu huma biex i˙amm©u barra u meta l-kelb ilesti minn xog˙lu, sidu li suppost ji©bor il-˙mie© tal-kelb tieg˙u tara ˙afna li ji©bruh ©o borΩa tal-plastik u flok jiddisponu minnu ©o kontenitur g˙all-˙mie© tal-klieb li wa˙˙alna ma’ ˙afna toroq u jekk ma ssibx xi wa˙da fejn tkun Ωgur li ssib xi tip ta’ kontenitur ghall-iskart ie˙or fejn tista’ tarmi. M’g˙andekx g˙alfejn t˙alli l-borΩa tal-plastik bil-˙mie© tal-kelb fuq xi tar©a tan-nies jew ta˙t xi rota ta’ karrozza biex x’˙in jitlaq ix-xuffier je˙odha mieg˙u mg˙aff©a mat-tajer.

X’g˙arukaΩa tal-mist˙ija…MIN HU L-MAHMUÌ IL-KELB JEW SIDU? Fuq il-kwistjoni tal-˙amiem li qed tkun persistenti mill-in˙awi kollha jien flimkien mas-Sindku, g˙amilna l-investigazzjoni dwar mezzi permessibbli biex ne˙ilsu minn din il-problema. Tkellimna

anke ma’ Kunsilli o˙ra biex naraw kif din ©iet solvuta, pero’ jidher li dawn g˙adhom ibatu minn din il-problema.

L-a˙˙ar li nafu huwa li twaqqaf kumitat interministerjali biex jirrakomanda soluzzjoni g˙al din il-problema. Nisperaw li jkollna informazzjoni fuq ilkonkluΩΩjonijiet tag˙hom.

Se nikkwota siltiet prinçipali tal-Bye-laws li titratta dwar dan is-su©©ett.

Mary Camilleri Kunsilliera

1. F’kull parti tal-lokalita’ hu pprojbit li persuna titma ˙amiem selva©©.

2. Hu pprojbit ukoll li persuna t˙alli b’mod volontarju ikel f’postijiet aççessibli g˙all-˙amiem selva©©.

3. Id-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-ordiment ma japplikawx g˙al dawk il-persuni li jrabbu jew jiehdu ˙sieb ˙amiem domestiku.

4. Il-Propjetarju ta’ propjeta’ immobbli ©ewwa l-lokalita’ li ma tkunx abitata, g˙andhom jiΩguraw li l-imsemmija propjeta’ tkun imbarrata b’tali mod li ma jkunux jistg˙u jid˙lu jew ibejjet ˙amiem selva©© ©ewwa fiha.

5. Kull persuna li tikser xi disposizzjonijiet ta’ dawn il-Bye-laws tkun ˙atja ta’ kontravenzjoni u te˙el meta tinstab ˙atja, sakemm ma tkunx applikabbli piena og˙la ta˙t xi li©i o˙ra.

5.1 G˙all-ewwel kontravenzzjoni ammenda ta’ ewro 46.58 5.2 G˙at-tieni kontravenzzjoni jew g˙al kull kontravenzzjoni o˙ra li ti©i wara ammenda ta’ ewro 69.88 5.3 Fil-kaΩ ta’ kontravenzzjoni kontinwa ammenda ta’ ewro 11.65 g˙al kull jum li matulu tkompli l-kontravenzzjoni.

Nispera li min qed jitma’ l-˙amiem isir konxju li qed jikser il-li©i.

Grazzi ˙afna u nsellmilkom, Mary Camilleri

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Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Pro©etti g˙al tisbi˙ f’Tas-Sliema

Il-Óajja Maltija tal-Img˙oddi Il-Mog˙Ωa ttina l-˙alib – Nru 8

Dearest residents,

A

fter six months working on a daily basis for the benefit of all Sliema residents it has always been my dream of giving a service to this Council. I believe that I have achieved a lot of the things that I wanted to see being done in SLIEMA. One main problem that I keep mentioning over and over again is litter; unfortunately this is not an issue that only SLIEMA faces. So I think it would be a good idea for the Council along with the government to keep on insisting on an educational campaign. As a Council we spend hundreds of thousands of euros to clean our streets and we still get people who just throw their litter on the floor. We also have people that just take out their rubbish any time of the day, also black bags being taken out on Tuesday and Fridays not as scheduled. Something that I really enjoyed doing in the past months was participating in all the clean up campaigns LET’S BE SMART....TAS -SLIEMA BLA SKART. Here I want to show my appreciation to the Cleansing Services Department who fully contributed in this campaign. Also I would like to thank all those individuals who participated including Councillors, Council Staff and NGO’s.

My main objective behind all this is that I want to give SLIEMA and the entire environment a pleasant look. But sometimes people seem not to appreciate it as they still leave their dog run and litter all over the place.

Maintenance on the lamp posts is being done as half of them were not functioning because there was some kind of John Pillow wiring problems. Another project Kunsillier which I intend implementing in the coming weeks is that with the lamp posts along The Strand from Square Deal to Pjazza Sant Anna new flower baskets will be fixed with them so as to give the ferries some more colour and also cheerful look.

As regards to the tickets booths at The Strand on the promenade I think that it is time that we start tackling the problem of having a lot different looking shabby booths and having a lot of sandwich boards along the promenade which often impede passersby to use the benches for their own purpose.

PROMENADE Along the promenade all lamp posts, benches, handrails including sottobank, were refreshed, as for the shrubs there are some places where new ones have to be planted but this could not be done in the summer season, however they will be done in October.

Regarding the Surf Side area, seasonal flowers are being planted and many times new ones are re planted after just seven weeks, I also made sure that they are watered three times a week. Near the shadow monument, the square full of pebbles was refurbished and was planted full of flowers. Apart of improving the environment we also solved the continuous problem of children/ youngsters throwing stones. As to the slope next to the tower, this is going to be cleaned and some kind of cactus will be planted. Along the promenade it is my intention to fix ashtrays, hopefully we will not see any more cigarettes butts on the floor. During the summer the promenade was also washed every week

INDEPENDENCE GARDEN The pond and fountain in the garden is regularly cleaned from stones that the children throw in them, this was also painted to have a fresh look. As for the bridge over pond it’s has been painted with non slip paint as it was very slippery. All the benches were also painted. Regarding the litter bins as I had promised before in my last write up, it is still on my schedule and a tender for new bins and down lighters in some parts of the garden will be issued in the coming weeks as there’s the need of some lights as it is too dark mostly in the middle part.

THE STRAND SLIEMA FERRY From The Point up to the Water Front Hotel, 25 tamarisk trees were newly planted. How many of you may noticed the centre strip at The Strand. This was face lifted and a lot of colourful flowers where planted.

Also in the garden at The Strand, flowers were planted.

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Tas-Sliema Local Council

PLAYING FIELDS Maintenance is being done on both playing fields and in the coming weeks a tender will be issued for the upgrading of new swings and especially will be taking care of the safety mats under the playing areas.

In future I also would like to extend the playing field beneath the Tower, and the area closed with netting above the diving centre, will be used to add more playing equipment and also adding more equipment for kids with special needs.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any complaints or suggestions.

Best regards John Pillow

S

a nofs is-seklu g˙oxrin kif jisba˙ il-jum, tisma’ l-˙sejjes tal-qniepen Ωg˙ar mhemuΩa mall˙annieqa ta’ kull mog˙Ωa. Mer˙la mog˙oΩ kienu jfer˙u lil kul˙add b’ din il-mota ta’ qniepen.

Sew f’ g˙odwa Sajfija jew Xitwija, ir-ra©el, il-mara jew it-tfal jo˙or©u ji©ru fil-bieb ta’ barra b’ xi tazza, buqar, skutella jew bott g˙ax wasal tal-˙alib. ˙afna drabi il-bott kien ikun tal-landa li l-landier fil-kantuniera tat-triq ikun wa˙˙allu manku b’ xi biçça landa o˙ra.

Ir-ra˙˙al bil-mer˙la tal-mog˙oΩ kien jaf fejn g˙andu jieqaf, jg˙addi mit-toroq, jg˙ajjat “˙alib” jew “tal-abjad” fil-jiem tar-randan. Il-mara taddar kienet to˙rog fil-bieb bi skutella f’idejha, irra˙˙al jinΩel g˙arkubtejh u ja˙leb il-moghΩa dritt ©ol-kontenitur. Il-mer˙la tal-mog˙oΩ kienet tkun biΩΩejjed biex ir-ra˙˙al jaqdi n-nies fid-dawra tieg˙u, ©ieli kien jg˙addi wkoll wara nofsinhar. G˙al dak iΩ-Ωmien kien servizz li jwassal il-˙alib sal-bieb bla ˙tie©a g˙al mara tad-dar li tmur g˙and tal-˙anut daqshekk kmieni.

Il-˙alib kien hemm min jixorbu dak il-˙in stess mit-tazza jew mill-bott s˙un kollu rag˙wa, o˙rajn jerfg˙uh g˙al matul il-jum, xi w˙ud jg˙idulu lirra˙˙al “a˙libuli bil-qawwi biex titla dik ir-rag˙wa ghax hekk in˙obbu...”. O˙rajn jg˙idulu “ta˙libulix bir-rag˙wa g˙ax ikolli ftit”. Il-prezz tal-˙alib kien sold jew Ωew© soldi. B˙ala tog˙ma ,il-˙alib kien bnin u sustanjuΩ, g˙alkemm il-mog˙oΩ kienu jieklu kull ma jsibu fit-toroq b˙al karti, çraret u ikel ie˙or. ©ieli l-mog˙oΩ jduru ma xi karrettun mimli ˙axix g˙all-minestra, jisirqulu kemm jesa’ ˙alqhom b’ikel tajjeb. Hawn ir-ra˙˙al kien isib ru˙u fl-inkwiet ma’ tal-˙axix. G˙alhekk, kien illibbes sarima tax-xibka tal-fildiferru biex ma jieklu xejn mill-art. L-a˙jar ikel g˙al mog˙oΩ biex tipprovdi ˙alib tajjeb huwa il-ful.

It-tfal meta kienu jaraw dawn il-praspar talmog˙oΩ speçjalment meta kienu j˙abtu ras ma’ ras, aktarx ©lied bejniethom, ikantaw l-g˙anja tradizzjonali dwar il-mog˙oΩ fi Ω-Ωmien tax-xita: “Ag˙mel xita ag˙mel, ˙alli jikber il-˙axix, il-˙axix intuh lill-mog˙Ωa, ˙alli ttina l-˙alib” Meta ng˙idu ra˙˙al ifisser ra©el mir-ra˙al li jrabbi l-bhejjem g˙all-˙alib. Dan jaqdi l-ibliet u l-r˙ula g˙ax belt bla ˙alib, b˙al bir bla ilma. Il-mog˙oΩ ©eneralment huma ubbidjenti u jg˙arrfu l-kmand ta’ sidhom. F’ dawk iΩ-Ωmienijiet, it-tfal kien jsej˙u

l-mog˙Ωa geduda, bl-akbar pjaçir tag˙hom meta jaraw ilmog˙oΩ jilg˙abu bejniethom jew ji©©ieldu.

Fost il-bejjieg˙a tal-˙alib li jifrekwentaw Tas-Sliema, konna niltaqghu ma’ Kalanç, ra©el mill-antiki, jilbes kappell kbir iswed mg˙addas f’ rasu, ˙or©a kollha kuluri fuq spalltu, ter˙a ˙amra mdawra ma’ George Cilia Ωaqqu ˙oxna. B’ qorq fix-Xitwa u ˙afi fis-Sajf, xag˙ru abjad, mda˙˙al fiΩ-Ωmien, imma kburi b’ xog˙lu.

L-AvviΩi tal-Gvern Kien hemm Ωmien, meta d-deni rqiq kien qed jinxterred ma’ Malta kollha. Is-suspett ta’ dan ilmard mill-ewwel waqa’ fuq mog˙oΩ li jkunu morda.

G˙alhekk id-Dipartiment tas-Sanita’ kemm –il darba ˙areg karti jwissu lill-poplu biex jg˙alli l-˙alib talmog˙Ωa qabel ji©i kkunsmat. G˙aliex kien instab li fih il-mikrobu tad-deni rqiq. F’Tas-Sliema mhux kul˙add ta kas ta’ dawn it-twissijiet u baqg˙u jixorbu l-˙alib kollu rag˙wa fl-istess skutelli jew bottijiet. O˙rajn dejjem suspetuΩi kienu xerduha li dawn huma ˙merijiet ta’ l-IngliΩi, li riedu je˙ilsu mill-mog˙oΩ. Dawk li webbsu rashom u baqg˙u ma g˙allewx il-˙alib, id-deni rqiq baqa’ ja˙sad ilvittmi tieg˙u. Sadanitant il-Knisja f’ Malta ˙asset il-˙tiega li dawn l-avviΩi jinqraw fil-knejjes kollha.

Kien hemm familji li bdew jistaqsu lill-bejjieg˙ jekk kellux xi mog˙Ωa marida bil-mikrobu min˙abba l-biΩa tad-deni rqiq. Ir-ra˙˙al tag˙na kien jaççerta lill-klijenti li l-mog˙oΩ tieg˙u kollha nodfa.

F’ Mejju ta’ l-1899, Sir Temi Ωammit flimkien ma’ Surgeon Major David Bruce, wara ˙afna esperimenti u ta˙bil il-mohh ie˙or iddikjaraw li l-mog˙Ωa hija l-ka©un ta’ din l-epidemija. Il-mog˙oΩ morda inqattlu u beda x-xog˙ol fuq Çentru ta’ pasterizzazjoni tal-˙alib imsejja˙ il-Milk Marketing Undertaking.

Dan iç-Çentru kien inawgurat fil-11 ta’ Mejju ta l-1938, fis-sena ta’ wara l-annimali ma t˙allewx jid˙lu il-Belt Valletta filwaqt li bil-mod il-mod sparixxew mit-toroq ta’ Malta.

F’ Tas-Sliema niltaqaw mas-Sinjura Maris, armla bla tfal kienet toqg˙od fl-Isqaq tal-Patrunat, imda˙˙la fiΩ-Ωmien, iffissata fl-indafa ta’ darha.

Mara sabi˙a tant li f’ Ωog˙Ωita kienet qisha an©lu 15

Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

nieΩel mis-sema dejjem issostni l is-sbu˙ija u lanzjaneta’ jirriΩultaw mix-xorb ta’ kull filg˙odu tal-˙alib tal-mog˙oΩ ta’ Kalanç. B’ dana kollu wara l-stqarrija tal-kappillan fuq il-˙alib tal-mog˙oΩ u g˙ajdut ie˙or fuq il-mikrobu, Maris, kontra qalbha iddeççidiet li tieqaf tixrob ˙alib minn ta’ Kalanç u tibda tixtri dak lest ©ol-flixkun ming˙and tal-˙anut bis-si©ill ta’ L-M.M.U. Dan id-dudu li jinsab f’ sider il-mog˙Ωa ˙add ma kien rah, bdew jg˙idu l-g˙orrief daqs Salamun, iΩda Maris wa˙let f’ rasha li d-dudu jinsab fil-˙mie© li j˙allu warajhom l-annimali minn kull fejn jg˙addu, dak il-˙mie© iswed qisu Ωibe© irqiq. Minn dakinhar ‘il quddiem tlewmet ma’ Kalanç mhux darba fuq id-drawwa li g˙andom l-annimali tieg˙u jid˙lu bejn il-bieb u l-antiporta tad-dar tag˙ha. Residenti o˙ra wissewh li se jirrappurtawh lill-Puluzija fuq il-brixx u likwidu li j˙allu l-annimali mall-faççata ta’ djarhom.

It-tmiem tal-mog˙oΩ fit-toroq Meta faqg˙et il-gwerra fl-1940, beda jin˙ass in-nuqqas ta’ ikel b’ konsegwenza li kollox ©ie

razzjonat. Il-gvern feta˙ il-Victroy Kitchens biex jikkomplimentaw ir-razzjon ta’ l-ikel. ˙afna mog˙oΩ waslu g˙at-tmiem ta’ ˙ajjithom billi nqattlu g˙al la˙amhom biex jitqassam ma’ l-ikel tal-Victory Kitchens. La˙am aktarx bla gost ta’ xejn u xieref biex jittiekel. Is-sinjura Maris ma fel˙itx tieklu ilporzjon tal-la˙am tal-mog˙Ωa, il-kupuni ta’ l-ikel tal-gvern qattathom kollha. Kien dehrilha li dik il-biçça mog˙Ωa hija l-istess wa˙da li kienet ta’ kull filg˙odu tmantnijha bil-˙alib sustanzjuΩ.

Kalanç le˙aq miet qabel ma ra l-qerda tal-mer˙la tieg˙u . Minn Alla li ©ara hekk g˙ax Ωgur li kien jispiçça jmut fit-triq. Maris aktarx li n©abret mallfamiljari tag˙ha ftit qabel tmiem hajjitha g˙ax ma dehritx iktar tixtri il-˙alib fil-flixkun. It-tobba, Bruce u Ωammit ˙allew warajhom dinja a˙jar milli sabuha. Isimhom baqa’ mnaqqax fl-istorja medika ta’ pajjiΩna.

Illum issib tixtri kemm trid ˙alib frisk ppasturizzat tal-mog˙oΩ f’ pakkett kbir jew Ωg˙ir, xkumat jew mxa˙˙am, bnin, apetituΩ, sustanzjuΩ, abjad jew tal-kulur. Il-˙ajja Maltija ta’ l-img˙oddi i©©ibli memorji kemm sbie˙ kif ukoll koroh ta’ tfuliti li ma nistax ninsa.

Din hija pittura tal-mer˙la mog˙oΩ fl-imma©inazzjoni tas-Sur Guido Lanfranco.

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Mill-Kollezzjoni ta’ Wilfred Pirotta 0)

(Çirka 1955/6

Wilfred Pirotta

ti. goli differen n a n in m a taxSliem Ix-Xatt Tas- naraw dehra mill-isba˙ ra ie tt ll ra fi it w -r ra F’ Dan ir ix-xellug na q Fu . fila i m in ie b Sl u Xatt Tasjew tal-Kafe’ t li fuq rb o -x x ta et ri. Filwaq ta’ ˙wien ta’ Ωew© sula trini ma©©oranza it-tinda tal-karrozzini, l-la er h d il-lemin ti l-stage. tal-linja fuq a zz o rr a k lu

(Çirka 1890/1900)

(Çirka 1945/50)

Hawnhekk ukoll naraw xe na o˙ra sabi˙a taxXatt. IΩ-Ωewg pontijiet tal -laneç, lança ©ejja w o˙ra sejra kif ukoll fill iera o˙ra ta’ bini ta’ Ωewg sulari.

(Çirka 1925/30)

Dehra o˙ra ta’ l-ewwel po nt tal-laneç mibni fl-1882. Kif ukoll fuq il-lem in il-binja li kienet mag˙rufa b˙ala d-dwana li g˙al xi Ωmien kie ne t tin tu Ωa b˙ ala l-G ˙a ssa t’i sfe l tal Pulizija. Naraw ukoll fuq ix-xellug Triq Prince of Wales li llum saret Tri q Manwel Dimech.

Tidher ukoll parti tal-Kn isja tas-Sagro Cuor f’nofs ir-ritratt.

16

Hawnh ekk naraw il-vend a tal-kar ozzini qabel ma nbniet it-tinda il-kbira flimkien mal-latrini. IΩ-Ωew© pontijiet tal-laneç wa˙da mall-pont u l-o˙ra sejra lejn il-belt. Fuq nett fl-isfond jidher ukoll l-officers quarters tasservizzi ingliΩi.

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Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Summer Fun with the Sliema Scouts

T

he 1st Sliema Scout Groupís Summer programme is jam packed with varied activities enjoyed by the respective age groups.

Our younger members (Cubs aged 7 - 11) started off summer early with a nature hike along the Dwejra Lines in which their mothers also had an opportunity to join in.

Euro 2012 created the opportunity for an exciting craft and the fun did not stop with the football as water activities were held with our friends, the Naxxar Cubs. With water activities being the main part of Summer, the cubs were in weekly use of our own Kayaks as they ventured around the Exiles area.

A Father & Son Camp will be held mid-September at Mellieha Fort which the majority of members will be participating and all are looking forward to the fun and games which are in store for them.

The Scouts (aged 11 to 14.5) have also been very busy this summer, besides our normal Friday meetings, our programme was packed with games and scouting skills and numerous outdoor activities.

At our weekly boathouse meetings, we used our new kayaks, surfboards and had beach BBQs. These meetings are always popular and loads of fun but don’t take our word for it, check out our Youtube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/SLMSCTS) for videos of the events.

Opn.Stealth Night 3 consisted of various wide games in the Buskett woods under the cover of darkness and the morning consisted of navigation skills training. The week long Summer Camp was held at Ghajn Tuffieha and we were unfortunate to be under canvas when the September storms hit the island. Notwithstanding the poor weather

conditions, the programme still continued which included fishing, swimming, diving, sculpting watermelons and waterlympics..

Towards the end of the season, the members themselves will be organising their own patrol activities and the Troop will also be attending National Scout Camp where all other Maltese Groups will be in attendance.

The Sliema Venture Unit (aged 14.5 - 18) have undertaken training new members in basic and advanced skills such as navigation, knotting, and first aid whilst also learned climbing and abseiling skills at Wied Babu, Zurrieq, and Wied Xaqqa, Ghar Lapsi. During the annual summer camp, all the ventures got to take part in exciting activities such as kayaking around the Blue Grotto as well as various team building challenges.

A highlight for summer is regular kayak training throughout September which will culminate in a weekend expedition where they will be kayaking round Gozo and Comino.

Should you wish more information on how to join check out www.sliemascouts.net or email on info@ sliemascouts.net .

Written by Cub Scout Leader Michael Debono, Scout Leader James Attard Kingswell and Venture Scout Kyle Ferriggi

ATHLETA BASKETBALL CLUB EST. 1962

ATHLETA BASKETBALL CLUB Tas-Sliema EST. 1962 Local Council

ATHLETA BASKETBALL CLUB (Sliema) celebrate 50 years 1962 - 2012

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The Senior Mens thleta Basketball Club was set up as Athleta Juvenis Sports Centre in 1962 and was team roll of honour ATHLETA ATHLETA housed at Il-Piazzetta, Ghar-id-Dud , Sliema now includes 9 League BASKETBALL BASKETBALL CLUB thanks to kind hearted Mr. Joe Gasan seniorCLUB who Championships, 8 EST. 1962 EST. 1962 Knock-Outs, 7 Louis rented out these premises for free.

Ten years on, The Club moved to more spacious Borg Cup, 6 Shield facilities in Cathdedral Street, Sliema formerly and 9 Super Cups in housing the St. Anthony Catholic Action and today the past ten years, a a Civic Centre. It was during this second ten year total of 25 honours from a possible 43, indeed an period that The Club established itself as one of impressive array. It was also the first club to win the biggest Sports Club in Malta. Regretfully, after the Gozo Cup last season.

Another success story was that Athleta B.C. were investing heavily to renovate the premises and also turn the jungle garden into an outdoor five-a-side/ also the pioneer of the game in Malta having played basketball court, The Club was evicted by the then friendly matches in 1962 and two years later, in Stella Maris Parish Priest without any compensation. 1964, was also instrumental in the setting up of the It then spent a couple of years homeless except for Malta Basketball Association.

Athleta Basketball Club still believes that one day a room in Swieqi. they will have their own premises and their own However in 1990, the government provided The Club with its own premises in Pembroke, a former indoor court to satisfy the demand that their many English army chapel, which following much hard different age categories require. At present the club work and considerable investment, the dilapidated boasts of 13 teams, namely the Mens Seniors, Wombuilding was transformed into a modern clubhouse en Seniors, Young Men (Under 20), Young Women, with various amenities.

At this stage the club ap- Junior Men (Under 17), Unior Women, Men Cadets propriately changed its name to “Pembroke Athleta (Under 15), Women Cadettes, Boys Under 13, Girls Under 13, Boys Under 11, Girls Under 11 and Mixed Sports Club”.

The Club thought it finally found its base in Under 9. These Nursery/Youth teams are run by a Pembroke but when the then President of Sliema very dedicated committee and coaches.

Parents who would like their children to start Wanderers Mr. Robert Arrigo decided to sponsor the Basketball team way back in season 1966-67, this playing basketball with this Sliema club should irked the committee of Pembroke Athleta Football contact Joe Miceli on mobile 79486464 for more Club who kicked the basketball section out. Not- information.

The club has its own website: withstanding this set-back, it turned out to be the start of the most successful period of the basketball www.pembrokeathleta.com The website has proved to be very popular with squad as it became the top club on the Island, capover 10,000 hits since its inception in June 2003. turing one honour after another.

Il-Kunsill Lokali Tas-Sliema jixtieq jinforma lir-residenti ta’ Tas-Sliema, li fil-festi pubbliċi mhux se jinġabar l-iskart riċiklat.

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Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema

Pa�na Letterarja

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Ix-Xatt Ta’ Kususana (Qui-Si-Sana)

Dehra tat-VIII ta’ Settembru 1565

Óalli˙ ir-ri˙ jibg˙at fwie© il-majistral fuq xattek bil-blajjet puntati Ωonqrin; ˙alli˙ jonfo˙ iΩ-Ωiffa ˙elwa w friska fl-g˙odwiet xemxija u fl-iljieli qamrin.

Sidru ta’ ljun, ˙arstu bin-nar mimlija, bix-xabla f’ idu li ma tafx mistrie˙, hemm rajtu, fuq il-Prexxa, fl-ewwel dija lill-qawwi La Vallette; ma’ dwaru sbie˙

Óalli˙ jilg˙ab il-ba˙ar ta’ G˙ar id-Dud ma’ plajjtek mimlija merrie˙a fil-ftu˙. ˙alli˙ jirkbek il-mew© rag˙wi-bewwiesi li jΩurek kmieni-kmieni jg˙annqek ifu˙.

fil-˙erba tag˙hom siekta qalb id-dmija rajt ida˙˙nu l-iswar; u smajt ferrie˙ lehen ta’ qniepen f’mota dewwemija jag˙ti l-a˙bar tar-reb˙ ma’ l-erba’ rjie˙;

Lili ˙allini niftakar f’Ωog˙Ωiti li telqet tittajjar g˙al dejjem mar-ri˙.

Kemm lag˙bna fil-hena fuq ramlek qamie˙ g˙awmejna w stadejna tal-wiçç u tal-qie˙!

imbag˙’d kotra ta’ nies hienja fil-˙sara t˙ares mix-xtut, u qlug˙ donnhom ma˙ruba jitbieg˙du fuq il-mew© biex jie˙du l-bxara.

Oh dehra kbira ta’ Settembru! Ejja ©dida kull sena fuq din l-art ma˙buba, u feh’mha kif g˙ar-reb˙ g˙andha tit˙ejja.

L-istorja tan-nazzjon, il-karattru tal-poplu, il˙ajja tal-kotra, il-progress mil˙uq matul is-sekli img˙oddija u l-©rajjiet ta’ m˙abba, ta’ ferh u niket taw karattru lill-istorja. Ismijiet b˙al La Vallete, Toni Bajjada, Dun Mikiel Xerri jafu jkebbsu nar qawwi ta’ m˙abba lejn pajjiΩna b˙al ma hi t-tmienja ta’ Settembru 1565 fejn inΩommu dejjem ˙aj dak ixxrar.

George Cilia

Stadejna bil-qasba llixkata bid-dud g˙al-ka˙li w g˙aΩ-Ωabri, muletti w bobin.

Fil-˙ofra w fix-Xifer g˙alifna bil-˙obΩ, fil-galbu w fir-rima taslilna fil-˙in.

InΩilna f’qieg˙ ©mielek bil-foxxna w l-ganç g˙al-brieqex, murlini, g˙as-siçç u l-qarnit.

Tg˙axxaqna b’˙utitek iΩi©©u g˙ad-dud f’qieg˙ ramlek u blati u l-˙xejjex tapit.

Kemm ©rejna ma’ tulek SlimiΩi mqarrbin, kemm qbiΩna g˙al rasna mil-G˙olja b’tellieq, u d˙alna lkoll nog˙odsu fil-Banju il-Fond u mxejna fuq l-arblu mimdud u Ωellieq.

Kemm drabi lkoll qsamna faççata x-Xalè u qbieΩna min fuqu u d˙alna fl-g˙erien, u lura lejk qsamna bil-qadfa jew mixja taΩ-Ωwiemel jistenna jilqana ˙osbien. Ûog˙oriti hennejta fil-Banju it-Twil, Ωog˙oΩiti mal-Ponta il-wieqfa x-xabbat. ‘˙awnhekk Tie˙u s-Sa˙˙a’, r©uliti seddaqt hekk nibqa’ niftakar ©miel xattek tal-blat.

Ibq’o˙lom ˙abibi w fakkarni fiΩ-Ωmien ˙allini niftakar kull roqg˙a tax-xatt.

Kullmeta inΩurek jaqbΩuli d-demg˙at… ilqag˙ani w fissidni, g˙annaqni w tluq qatt.

Raymond Grech, Tas-Sliema.

“Ix-Xatt ta’ Kususana”. PoeΩija SlimiΩa; il-kliem ‘bold type’ huma postijiet ©o Qui-Si-Sana mag˙rufa missajjieda u l-g˙awwiema SlimiΩi tas-sittinijiet. Qed nuΩa l-klema Kususana ˙a nΩomm mat-tlissin tan-nies. Din il-poeΩija g˙andha ©©ib ˙afna memorji u nostal©ija u fl-istess ˙in turi parti o˙ra mis-sbu˙ija ta’ Tas-Sliema.

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Xog˙olijiet tal-Kunsill

Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Kursari u Torok F’Marsamxett fi Ûmien l-Ordni Mi©bura minn Guido Lanfranco

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l-Port il-Kbir u l-Port ta’Marsamxett flimkien raw ˙afna ©rajjiet mill-istorja importanti tal-gΩejjer tag˙na. G˙alkemm Marsamxett aktar jissemma’ meta nitkellmu dwar il-Belt Valletta, huwa wkoll daqstant ie˙or imiss ma’ Tas-Sliema, l-GΩira, l-Imsida u l-Pjetà. Fl-1526 Masamxett ©a kien issemma firrapport li sar dwar Malta, qabel il-kavallieri aççettawha b˙ala baΩi permanenti tag˙hom u ©ew fl1530. Fi Ωmien l-Ordni tal-Kavallieri, meta l-bçejjeç tal-ba˙ar kienu kollha bil-qlugh, min jaf kemm kienu jid˙lu bastimenti li setg˙u jidhru sewwa minn Tas-Sliema, imma Tas-Sliema ma kellhiex residenti permanenti.

Kwarantina f’Marsamxett - Kienu jid˙lu g˙add kbir ta’ bastimenti f’Marsamxett biex in-nies ta’ fuqhom jg˙addu l-kwarantina fil-Lazzarett tal-GΩira (fejn kienu jdumu sa erbg˙in jum) qabel ma jo˙ro© permess uffiçjali biex jistg˙u jinΩlu mill-bastiment jew jersqu lejhom o˙rajn. Dan kien japplika wkoll g˙allgaleri tal-Ordni, l-aktar jekk ikunu ©ejjin mill-lvant u l-Afrika ta’ Fuq fejn spiss kien ikun hemm il-pesta u l-kolera. Setg˙u jinΩlu biss fil-Lazzarett u fuq il-GΩira (GΩira ta’ Manoel, fl-antik GΩira tal-Isqof). G˙add kbir ta’ vja©©aturi, nies prominenti, artisti, kittieba u nies o˙ra ta’ kull xorta g˙addew Ωmien kwarantina u bosta minnhom kitbu dwar l-esperjenzi tag˙hom hemmhekk u f’Malta kollha. Fl-1562 xi galeri talOrdni ©ejjin lura lejn Malta, instab li fuqhom kien hemm deni jittie˙ed li kien mag˙ruf ˙afna b˙ala ‘deni tal-qaddiefa’ min˙abba li dawn kienu ja˙dmu f’kundizzjonijiet ta’ ˙mie© u mill-aktar moqΩieΩa.

Gew ordnati mis-sanità biex jid˙lu Marsamxett u jankraw ˙dejn il-Lazzarett.

Kursari jew pirati f’Marsamxett - Fi Ωmien l-Ordni kienet drawwa mifruxa li fil-Mediterran issir il-korsa. Xi kaptani normali (u briganti) ta’ bçejjeç tal-ba˙ar kienu jinnegozjaw billi ja˙tfu bastimenti ta’ kull xorta, j©ibuhom lejn Malta u jbieg˙u ilmerkanzija u jitolbu fidwa g˙an-nies ta’ fuqhom jew ibieg˙uhom b˙ala skjavi. Sa˙ansitra l-kavallieri kienu jeΩerçitaw il-korsa u jo˙or©u liçenzji u permessi lil min i˙allas biex jaqbad il-linja tal-piraterija.

Lorenzo Stafrace minn Bormla da˙al f’Marsamxett fl-1765 bil-galjott tieg˙u ji©bed warajh bastiment merkantili Tripolitan li fuqu kellu148 maqbudin skjavi inkluΩi 74 mara ta’ kull età. Kellu wkoll fuqu i©mla, ˙mir, mog˙oΩ, eçç. Innegozja kollox wara l24

kwarantina. Fl-1661 xini Tork inqabad fit-tramuntana ta’ Malta mill-Ordni. Kellu fuqu passi©©ieri dinjitarji, Torok maqbudin skjavi, merkanzija, kollox lest biex ji©i mifdi jew mibjug˙ ghal xi 200,000 skud.

Imma xorta wa˙da kellhom jg˙addu 40 jum kwarantina f’Marsamxett. Fl-1759 it-tliet galjotti tal-Gran Mastru PinGuido Lanfranco tu da˙lu Marsamxett g˙allkwarantina u mag˙hom da˙˙lu bastiment mislem mimli merkanzija ta’ kull xorta u 38 skjavi wkoll misilmin. Wara l-kwarantina bieg˙u kollox b’irkant.

Galjotti tal-pirati kienu da˙lu wkoll f’Marsamxett g˙all-kwarantina f’nhar Santa Marija tal-1764 wara taqtieg˙a f’Cagliari kontra galjotti misilmin. Fl-1693 l-iskwadra ta’ seba’ galeri tal-Ordni irritornat Malta wara li assistiet il-forzi Venezjani. Ukoll kellhom jg˙addu kwarantina f’Marsamxett.

Tas-Sliema Local Council

mimlijin Torok, qadfu minn Marsamxett lejn il-Pjetà u Sa Maison (kif nafuhom issa) ©arrew id-dg˙ajes fuq l-g˙olja tal-Furjana biex waslu l-Marsa tal-Port il-Kbir. Fil-11 ta’ Lulju 50 galera Torka ˙ar©u minn Marsamxett u marru lejn l-in˙awi tar-Rinella biex jistg˙u jinΩlu l-art g˙all-attakki fuq il-Fortizza San Mikiel tal-Isla. Fit-3 ta’ Settembru Minn Marsamxett ˙ar©u 40 galera Torok u marru lejn Kemmuna minn fejn irritornaw bil-lejl mg˙obbijin Ωkuk li kienu juΩaw

biex i˙alltuhom mal-©ebel fil-bini ta’ pjattaformi g˙all-kanuni bi t˙ejjiha g˙all-attakki fuq il-fortizzi ta’ San Mikiwel u Sant Anglu. Imma fis-7 ta’ Settembru 35 galeri tat-Torok ˙allew Marsamxett u marru lejn id-da˙liet tal-portijiet biex ji©bru s-suldati tag˙hom.

Dan g˙ax bdew ja˙sbulu biex jabbandunaw l-assedju min˙abba li waslet l-g˙ajnuna g˙all-Ordni mill-flotta tar-re ta’ Spanja.

Marsamxett fl-assedju tal-1551 - Sinan Pasha u Dragut Rais b’xi 145 galeri b’9,000 suldat da˙lu Marsamxett fit-18 ta’ Lulju u tista’ tg˙id li Ωbarkaw ming˙ajr oppoΩizzjoni. Wara li ssakke©©aw diversi r˙ula l-flotta ˙ar©et u marret lejn il-bajja ta’ San Pawl il-Ba˙ar minn fejn telg˙u biex jassedjaw l-Imdina fejn kien hemm xi 13,000 ru˙ jistkennu wara s-swar.

Billi sabu reΩistnza l-flotta Torka telqet lejn G˙awdex.

Hemm it-Torok ˙adu kulma kien jg˙odd g˙alihom u telqu bil-popolazzjoni kollha t’G˙adex g˙all-jasar.

Marsamxett fl-Assedju l-Kbir tal-1565 - ItTorok tfaççaw fuq l-orizzont tax-xlokk fit-18 ta’ Mejju 1565 u fl-20 da˙lu Marsaxlokk b’130 galeri u 120 bçejjeç o˙ra b’armata ta’ bejn 30,000 u 40,000 suldat.

Id-da˙la tal-Port il-Kbir kellha katina bil-gwardjani, g˙alhekk it-Torok attakkaw l-ewwel Sant Jiermu u lflotta da˙let f’Marsamxett b˙ala l-port l-aktar addattat g˙alihom u bosta mis-suldati miΩlu wkoll fuq l-art ta’ Tas-Sliema. Mill-ponta ta’ Tigne t-Torok attakkaw Sant Jiermu u sa˙ansitra Dragut spiçça miet fil-ponta ta’Tignè (Ponta ta’ Dragut) fit-18 ta’ ©unju meta biçça blata taret fuq rasu wara li tkissret b’xi balla ta’ kanun. Imma fit-23 ta’ ©unju, meta waqg˙et ilfortizza ta’ Sant Jiermu, il-kumplament tal bastimenti Torok da˙lu Marsamxett kollha bnadar, trumbetti u g˙ajjat rebbie˙. Fis-7 ta’ Lulju tnax-il dg˙ajsa kbar

Storytelling for children The public library in Blanche Street, Tas-Sliema, is introducing storytelling sessions for kids. Parents who would like to send their children to the sessions are invited to write for further details to Councillor responsible for education, Michael Briguglio at mbrig@hotmail.com or cotact Tas-Sliema Local Council on sliema.lc@gov.mt or 2133 7633

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Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Patri ÌuΩepp Vella OFM (1933-2012) minn Winston L. Zammit BA (Hons) P. G. C. E. M. A.

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2292 1345

2219 2302

2294 2431

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har il-Erbg˙a, 11 ta’ Lulju, il-Komunita SlimiΩa tilfet wie˙ed minn uliedha saçerdoti, bil-mewt ta’ Patri ÌuΩepp Vella OFM, li ©rat fil-kunvent tal-Patrijiet Fran©iskani Minuri ta’ TasSliema fl-eta’ ta’ 79 sena.

Iben ÌuΩeppi Vella u Karmena xebba Calleja, ÌuΩepp Vella, twieled f’ tas-Sliema fis-7 ta’ Lulju 1933. Trabba fl-in˙awi viçin il-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor, fejn kien ukoll wie˙ed mill-abbatini.

Fl-eta’ ta’ sittax-il sena, fil-25 ta’ Settembru 1949, ing˙aqad ma’ l-ordni tal-Fran©iskani Minuri, u nhar l-14 ta’ Novembru 1954, g˙amel il-professjoni solenni. ©ie ordnat saçerdot fl-14 ta’ Marzu 1959, u nhar it-22 ta’ Marzu 1959 iççelebra l-ewwel quddiesa solenni tieg˙u fil-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Madonna tasSacro Cuor. Saçerdot Ωag˙Ωug˙ mimli ener©ija, ta is-servizzi tieg˙u fil-kunventi tal-˙amrun u tarRabat.

F’ Tas-Sliema Fl-1969, Patri ÌuΩepp ©ie filKunvent ta’ TasSliema fejn kellu ilkarigi ta’ Sagristan Ma©©ur u ViçiParroku. G˙al Patri ÌuΩepp kienu se jibdew 15-il sena li matulhom ˙adem bla heda g˙allParroçça u g˙allKnisja Parrokkjali.

Kien iwettaq ilMinisteru Pastorali biç-çellebrazzjoni talquddies, it-tqarbin tal-morda u l-qrar.

B˙ala Sagristan Ma©©ur ˙adem bla heda fil-knisja. Kien imidd idejh g˙axxog˙ol u kien ta’ g˙ajnuna kbira g˙all-pittur Pawlu

Camilleri Cauchi meta kien qed ja˙dem fuq il-pittura talknisja.

Kellu devozzjoni kbira lejn Il-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor.

Kien fuq inizjattiva tieg˙u li fi Frar 1971 bdiet issir kull nhar t’ Erbg˙a, in-Novena Perpetwa tas-Sinjura Tag˙na tal-Qalb ta’ Gesu’, li g˙ada ssir regolarment sal-llum. Kien ukoll bit-t˙abrik Winston L. Zammit tieg˙u u tal-Patri Gwardjan Camillo Aquilina OFM, li fit-8 ta’ Mejju 1971, re©g˙et twaqqfet il-Fratellanza tal-Madonna tasSacro Cuor.

25 sena saçerdot (1984) Wara l-kapitlu provinçjali tal-1979, ©ie ma˙tur gwardjan tal-fraternita’ ta’ Tas-Sliema, kariga li huwa Ωamm sa Mejju 1982. F’ Marzu 1984 huwa fakkar il-©ublew tal-Fidda ta’ l-ordinazzjoni saçerdotali (1959-1984), b’konçelebrazzjoni solenni.

IΩda, f’Ottubru 1984 kellu attakk qawwi tal-qalb u ©ie rikoverat fl-isptar. Wara li rpilja fl-a˙˙ar ta’ l-istess sena re©a’ ©ie rikoverat fl-isptar.

Wara li ˙are© mill-isptar, minn˙abba ç-çirkostanzi ta’ sa˙˙tu, ma setax jibqa ja˙dem b˙al qabel. Bejn Lulju 1993 u Lulju 1996 kien jifforma parti millfraternita’ tal-˙amrun, iΩda fl-1996 re©a’ ©ie lura fil-kunvent ta’ Tas-Sliema fejn baqa’ sakemm miet.

Nhar it-Tlieta 10 ta’ Lulju 2012, Patri ÌuΩepp qaddes il-quddiesa tas-7.30 filknisja parrokkjali. Din kellha tkun l-a˙˙ar quddiesa tieg˙u.

L-g˙ada filg˙odu il-Mulej sejja˙lu fi ˙danu. Il-funerali tieg˙u saru nhar il˙amis 12 ta’ Lulju filKnisja parrokkjali talMadonna tas-Sacro Cuor, fejn il-Ministru Provinçjal mexxa konçelebrazzjoni solenni g˙al ru˙u.

Wara ©ie midfun fiç-Çimiterju ta’ l-Addolorata.

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Volume 7 No 2

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Tas-Sliema

Tas-Sliema Local Council

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Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Architects who built Sliema Perit Albert La Ferla (1898 - 1942) The mention of the words ‘modern architecture’ and ‘Sliema’ in the same sentence are today rarely uttered without angry or wistful grimaces. Creativity and harmony hardly describe what has since the 1960s risen in this town as far as new buildings are concerned. Yet the original Sliema was synonymous with innovative expressions in construction design. In this series, Edward Said, an architect by profession and founder of the Sliema Heritage Society will introduce readers to those protagonists and their creations which gave this town its distinct character.

Whether still standing or long-demolished, heavily modified or even never built, these intermittent articles will attempt at identifying the buildings legacy of these men in Sliema.

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ithout doubt, the inter-war years of the last century were the most interesting as far as architecture goes in Sliema. These were dynamic times both locally and abroad, a time during which the careers of a generation of Maltese architects peaked. It is fascinating to study the way they portrayed their ideologies and sometimes the socio-political situation of Malta at the time in what they designed. Some made bold statements challenging traditionalism whilst others negated new styles altogether, adopting instead their own distinctive eclectic concepts based on the vernacular.

Gustavo Vincenti (1888-1974) experimented with Arts Nouveau and Deco, Silvio Mercieca (18881954) reflected his staunch political beliefs in the countenance of the stately homes he created and Joseph Cachia Caruana (1894-1981) practically disregarded Art Nouveau, preferring to use vernacular classicism in his many residential projects.

What is particularly interesting about some of these personalities, besides their intriguing biographies, is how their clearly most coveted canvas, the new town of Sliema became a battleground in which they crossed stylistic swords. This pique can be savoured whilst strolling down Amery Street which has thankfully so far largely escaped the axe of ‘greedevelopment’. Here some of Vincenti’s most iconic creations stand, hallmarked with the ubiquitous tassels and buckles of Art Nouveau. Yet in this street another architect was strongly repudiating this new style, designing instead according to a chiefly classical school embellished with his own idiosyncrasies. This was Alberto La Ferla.

Born in Valletta in 1898, he graduated in the early 1920s, coming first in the course which won

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him a scholarship to Turin. He later went on to Rome where he worked in the studio of Enrico Del Debbio, then busily designing Mussolini’s grand schemes for the city. In Italy, La Ferla acquired a fondness for the works of Manneristi Giulio Romano and Andrea Palladio from which he borrowed certain traits in the residential Edward Said commissions he attained soon after his return to Malta.

It is clear that the young architect was not happy with the situation here where Art Nouveau was slowly distorting the classical idiom. His earlier buildings are purely traditionalist creations, taking inspiration from Valletta’s Hospitaller architecture together with some of the subtler Mannerisms of Palladio and Romano, because La Ferla was indeed a Mannerist struggling to detach himself from the norm. Rusticated masonry, guttae, large windows sitting on elongated scrolls, Palladian porticoes, bold panelling and breaking up of facades and rooflines are some of his preferred inclusions. Many of these elements are found in the exquisite ‘Beatrice’ on the corner of Amery and Milner Streets, named after the Dantesque character and commissioned by Mons. Giuseppe Psayla-Cumbo.

Indeed this is one of Sliema’s landmark buildings.

He also paid special attention to the design of the apertures and wrought iron fittings employing motifs such as the shield-panels on doors and balconies, as well as railings with basic spiralling, features one would normally associate with the 1960s and 70s.

These can be seen on a number of his facades along Amery, Milner and Howard Streets.

Soon enough he became a fervent rationalist, simplifying his designs further, retaining however the monumentalism he had acquired from his time in Italy. He cleverly succeeded in striking symmetry to single-fronted houses as can be seen in his Milner Street and Prince of Wales Road (today Manwel Dimech Street) terraced residences. ‘Warrior’ built for a Maltese Royal Navy seaman who served on a ship by that name in Old College Street is typical of his passion for the monumental. Incidentally, La Ferla was affectionately known by many as IlWarrior himself due to his persevering personality, and one likes to think that in this facade he took the opportunity to display his architectural prowess complete with signature.

Further along in the same street, just before it-Telgha tal-Kirxa La Ferla designed a row of houses for which he stripped away practically all ornamentation from the facades, even the railings are of the most basic form. These modest homes are undoubtedly one of Malta’s earliest and best examples of civil architecture expressing a fair balance between traditionalism and modernism.

Walking up Prince of Wales Road from Balluta, past Psaila’s towering Balluta Buildings, just before the Old College Street bridge stands a house which despite its standard three-cane frontage, evokes a unique sense of grandeur. Alberto La Ferla designed ‘Cactus House’ for his client and friend Frederick Gollcher. Everything is rectilinear, the only curved element in the facades being the backs of the pair of square-headed niches at first floor, something never seen before in Malta. The simple yet symbolic design of the balcony railing and main door fanlight coolly portraying Saharian cactus and palm tree motifs screams in contrast with the Art Nouveau floral lusciousness down the road. Again the oversized window at ground floor stands out, sitting now on angular brackets, an echo of the earlier rolling scrolls La Ferla liked so much. The proportions of the openings, panelling and crowning cornice are superb. Once more he has wittily given a modestly-sized, single-fronted dwelling a majestic symmetrical facade. This building was finished in 1931.

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Besides residences, La Ferla was commissioned with a number of commercial and institutional schemes.

By the end of the 1930s, he had turned totally to rationalism. At the office block called Walvicfra in Prince of Wales Road corner with St Mary Street (today replaced by the Prince of Wales Home) he projected an extension to an existing building by introducing a ‘square-arched’ screen-portico carrying an upper floor with broad fenestration and cubic panelling. At this time La Ferla also contributed designs for schools characterised by modernist architecture which were indeed forerunners to the national school-building programme carried out in the 50s and 60s.

When war broke out in 1940, Alberto La Ferla was interned. He was one of the few to remain in Malta rather than being deported to Uganda and was kept at the St Agatha Camp in Rabat. On the 21st March 1942 he was killed during an air raid after the compound received a direct hit.

His progressive strive for architectural modernity Malta was carried on by his son Renato whom I would like to thank for readily providing me with facts and insights about his father’s career.

Parts of this article appeared in ‘the Architect’, published by the Malta Chamber of Architects, also by the same author.

Edward Said Sliema 14-ix-12 Selected bibliography Said, Edward, The Art Nouveau Movement in Maltese Architecture, in Art Nouveau and Malta: An Introduction, Midsea Books Ltd, Malta 2011.

Said, Edward, Perit Alberto La Ferla (1898-1942) - Striving towards Modernism, in the Architect, Malta Chamber of Architects, Malta 2011, Issue 56, 20-21.

Tonna, Jo, L-Arkitettura F’Malta, PIN, Malta 2004.

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Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Beach Clean Up

D

uring the past Summer months the Sliema Events Sub Committee (SESC) had a number of meetings with NGOs and local sport clubs so as to work on various initiatives in our locality. Some of these initiatives included the Beach clean up, which took place over 4 Saturdays. More than 60 volunteers from all over Europe helped by collecting rubbish and cigarette butts from the beaches around the Sliema coastline. During these clean up more than 200kgs of rubbish was collected.

During 4 beach cle an ups, more than 200kgs of rubbish was co llected

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Tas-Sliema

Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema Local Council

Car Free Day

T

he SESC also assisted the NGO Inspire during the Car Free Day, which was held around many localities in Malta. We helped out with logistical support, printing of marketing material and also road closure and parking permits. This event took place on Sunday 16th September. Over 100 runners and cyclists took part in a walk/cycle which began in Mdina and saw its finishing line in St Anne’s Square, at the Sliema ferries.

# E-Newsletter The Tas-Sliema Local Council would like to inform the residents of Tas-Sliema that in order to reduce the number of printed material and also to reduce the mail one may receive in their post, we are hereby encouraging you to fill in this form so as to begin receiving the newsletter in an Electronic format (as from the next issue). You are encouraged to subscribe to the new E-newsletter by filling this form and by sending it to the Tas-Sliema Local Council, at your earliest convenience.

This database will also be used by the Tas-Sliema Local Council to circulate important notices and information via email and sms.

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Should you wish to receive the E-Newsletter and other notifications via sms please mark the spaces below with an (X)

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Data Protection: By signing the above you are allowing the Tas-Sliema Local Council to use and store this information in its databse and therefore use this for the purposes stated above.

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Volume 7 No 2

Tas-Sliema

I

started the Sliema Beach Clean-up in June 2012 with 10 volunteers. At that time, the adverts were hand-made and I used Facebook as a tool to inform people. Then the Council generously donated plastic bags and gloves. It was great to see that there were more of us that shared the same idea about having a safer place for children and making everyone’s beach experience more enjoyable as well as making a positive change to the environment. With everyoneís help, we managed to gather 23kg of cigarettes butts between Fortizza and Surfside.

After this experience, I decided to forward some ideas to the Sliema Council members who were very receptive to the whole idea. Within a few days the number of rubbish bins was increased and other measures were being projected.

The second clean-up was to be a greater challenge as it was high season, days were getting hotter and the number of people on the beach increased by three or four times. I decided to talk to one of the renowned beverage companies in Malta who sponsored the Save the Beach campaign in 2011. This campaign invited the public to nominate and eventually vote for beaches they felt needed most cleaning. ‘Corona Malta Save the Beach’ encourages such events and is proud to be helping such causes says Ms Yanika Mattei brand executive for Corona Malta.

We used Facebook again to promote the drive and the result was amazing, three times the amount of people joined us and 66 kg of butts

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Tas-Sliema Local Council

were removed from the beach. We also picked-up other unusual items such as bottles with different kinds of oil, forks and even pieces of paper with phone numbers.

I guess people see the cigarette butts as something really small and insignificant, but the reality is totally different... each one of them could pollute 500 litres of water. Putting that in perspective, the last haul of cigarette ends collected would be sufficient to pollute around 190 domestic swimming pools.

Our next and last event for the summer will be held on Saturday 15th September at 5pm. We will start from Exiles beach and move towards Surfside.

In both clean ups, the majority of volunteers were surprisingly foreigners and we were hoping that the last drive would get more locals involved.

This last clean up of the year will be one of the most important, as all the litter not removed will be washed away by the waves and deposited into the sea, making it more difficult to extract in the future and ultimately increasing pollution.

We are currently in the process of creating small leaflets to hand out to people on the beach; we are also briefing the local boy scouts and finally doing as much networking as we can. We are especially sure that we can count on the people of Sliema, we need your help this time, block that day in your diary, join us on Facebook ‘Sliema Clean up the beach day’ and be the change you want to see!

Erich Bühler

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