The Voice of the Maltese No. 184

Issue 184

The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers )

Fortnightly magazine for the ora t he Diasp Diaspora

Who would have thought?

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he Upper Barrakka Gardens in Malta’s capital, Valletta, with the spectacular view of the Grand Harbour is perhaps the island’s most popular sites. The view from up there is magical.

No wonder locals and tourists flock to watch the unique site.

Visiting Valletta to relax, a walk up to the Upper Barrakka to watch the breathtaking view that is alive with history of the Grand Harbour is a must.

In recent years, the Upper Barrakka, and in particular the Saluting Battery perched on the bastions just below it have become most popular for staging popular celebrations. Who would have thought it could also become the perfect venue for wedding receptions to celebrate with friends their most important day of their life?

(See also page 13)

July 24, 2018

The Saluting Battery at the upper Barrakka is all set to receive guests to a seated wedding reception, and (below) the Gardens decorated for such an occasion

High Commissioner Hince visits Maltese communities in Australia

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Tuesday July 24, 2018

n a visit to the MalThe High Commissioner of Australia to Malta, H.E. Ms Julienne tese Community ReHince (centre second row) flanked by Malta’s Consul-General source Centre, the Mr. Lawrence Buhagiar (on her right) and MCC NSW President head office of the Maltese Mr Emanuel Camilleri (on her left) during her visit to Sydney Community Council of NSW at Parramatta West, H.E. Ms Julienne Hince the High Commissioner of Australia in Malta and non-resident Ambassador to Tunisia, pointed out that she was on her mid-term consultation back home, therefore took the opportunity to get to know better the Maltese community in Australia.

In Parramatta Ms Hince was accompanied by the Consul-General of Malta in NSW, Mr Lawrence Buhagiar.

Issues discussed during this session were, the Council of Maltese Living Abroad, the Anzac Memorial at the Argotti Gardens in Malta, the Australian Bungalow at Għammieri and the future of Illawarra, deputising for Chairperson Mr Ken Habak, Mr Australia Hall at Pembroke.

Chris Lacey Chief Executive Officer of MCCI and the cenAddressing the Maltese community representatives at tre’s spiritual director Fr. Leonard Testa Ofm. Parramatta West, Ms Hince praised the Malta government Mr Louis Parnis, President of the centre welcomed Her for its support to Australia on a trade agreement with the Excellency and invited the Lord Mayor and Mr Scully to European Union and emphasised the warm and lasting address the meeting. people to people relationship between our two countries.

In her response the HC briefed the meeting about her Speaking after the meeting, Lawrence Dimech, co-editor work in Malta. She mingled well with those present and in of The Voice said that relations between Australia and conversation with the members she showed she is well Malta have gone from strength to strength. Political rela- versed about the Maltese towns and villages. tions between the two countries are excellent as the two The committee later provided a typical Maltese lunch. countries share a common heritage and vision.

Ms Hince seemed to enjoy her time at the centre and those H.E had previously also visited Melbourne, Latrobe Valley present enjoyed conversing with her. and Brisbane. Prior to her posting in Malta in 2017, she had It is estimated that some 30,000 Australians visit Malta visited other locations. each year.

The next day MS Hince paid a visit to Wollongong, and The Malta Government has had representatives in Ausspecifically the George Cross Falcon Maltese Centre where tralia since 1929. The first High Commissioners’ exchange she was received by the committee and about sixty mem- between the two island states began after Malta’s Indebers of the Maltese Community from the Illawarra area. pendence in 1964. They were Dr Anthony Pullicino for Also present were Mr Paul Scully MP member for Wol- Malta and Sir Hubert Opperman for Australia. longong, the Lord Mayor of Wollongong councillor Gordon Maltese first arrived in Australia in the 1830’s. In 1883 Bradbury AM, Mr George Bartolo OAM, Senior V/Chair- Maltese Nationals started to arrive in Australia in organperson of the Multicultural Communities Council of ised groups. Initially many built their lives around the sugar cane industry of North Queensland.

Ms Hince is a career officer with the DepartMs Julienne Hince in Wollongong ment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) with, (from left): GCFMC President and was most recently Director, South AmerLouis Parnis, Paul Scully MP, and ica and Council on Australia-Latin America Chris Lacey, CEO of MCCI Relations Section, DFAT. She had previously also been Deputy Director of the DFAT Victorian State Office and Director of the DFAT Northern Territory Office.

Ms Hince who holds a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne has served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission, Athens, with earlier postings in Bangladesh and Germany.

(Photos courtesy of Patrick Bartolo)

Tuesday July 24, 2018

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The Voice of the Maltese 3

Q. I have just won a large sum of money and have lost his is a monthly service offered by The Voice of the Maltese the age pension completely. I have three children and in which Marie Louise Muscat from the Fiducian Finanwas planning to give them $20,000 each from my win- cial Services helps our readers understand the complexities nings. Do I still need to notify Centrelink that I am doing associated with financial planning. If you need more advice this? Now that I am no longer a pensioner am I still send an email to Marie Louise via: maltesevoice@gmail.com. bound by this rule?

A. Congratulations on your win. Invest it wisely. It is very good of you to wish to share this good fortune with your three children. Now that you are no longer a pensioner you can gift any amount of money that you wish.

However, if in a few years’ time your assets will be below the maximum asset test limit and you are again going to qualify for a part age pension, the gifted amount will count for the next five years as your assets.

After five years they will not be treated as your funds anymore.

Q. I am in my 90s and have one daughter who is a pensioner and one granddaughter who is a single mother. I am about to update my Will and was contemplating bypassing my daughter completely and leaving everything to my granddaughter. I was planning to do this in order for my daughter not to miss out on the age pension or a reduction in her age pension. Is this wise?

A. I believe that if you bypassed your daughter completely without her knowing she would be very upset. She has probably always expected to be your beneficiary and thus would be unpleasantly surprised if this happened.

I think you should voice your concerns to

your daughter and get her views. She may be happy for you to make both her and her daughter as your beneficiaries and thus avoid hurting anyone.

She may not be upset to have a reduction in her age pension if she was going to receive a lump sum that she may need to use in the future.

Q&A

Q. I have just turned 65 and plan to work until September this year. I will then be downsizing and selling my home and wish to invest the surplus funds from the sale of this property into superannuation. What is the maximum amount that I will be able to invest in superannuation now that I am 65?

A. As you are planning to continue to work until September you would have passed the work test and thus able to make a superannuation contribution. The maximum you can invest as non-concessional contributions would be $100,000 as you are over 65 and cannot

use the “Bring forward� cap.

However, if the surplus funds are from the downsizing of your home, then you are able to make a non-concessional contribution of up to $300,000.

If you do not sell the property this financial year, you are still able to contribute $100,000 and then if you sell next financial year you will be able to do a further $300,000 contributions from the sale of your property using the downsizing rule.

Q. I have inherited some shares that were pre September 1985 i.e. pre capital gains tax. I plan to hold them for a while as they are very good stocks. Would these securities continue to be treated as pre capital gains tax or does the cost base change?

A. If you sold them as soon as you inherited them they would have been capital gains taxfree. However as you are planning to hold onto them for a while the cost base would be the value of the shares at the time of death of the person that left you these securities.

Q. We are a retired couple in our 70s and our daughter has passed away. She was a single mum and has left her seven year-old son with us to look after. I was planning to include him with my wife as a beneficiary on my account based pension. Am I able to do this, as he is my grandson and not my son?

A. This grandson can most definitely be included as one of the beneficiaries for your account based pension. He is completely dependent upon you and being a dependent he qualifies to be a beneficiary of your superannuation fund. But once he becomes an adult and moves out of your home he will no longer qualify on the SIS rules, as he will no longer be treated as a dependent.

This document contains factual information only and is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion in relation to the topic/s discussed.

Fiducian recommends that you seek advice from a professional to address any issues that may be raised by this article.

Fiducian accepts no liability for any loss suffered by anyone who has acted on any information in this document

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The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Something magical happens each time you enter these city walls. Architectural excellence captivates your visual senses, as every step leads to a landmark of historical value. Walls and pavements that line the grid of narrow streets whisper secrets and mystics to passersby, whilst the air fills up with modern art, live music, and an array of celebrations. The Unesco World Heritage Site could perhaps best be described as a place where history meets the present; where every explorer can find something they love. How will your Valletta story unfold?

An ambassador par excellence

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday July 24, 2018

uly’s Personality of the Month is Victor J. Gauci, an Jhighest ambassador extraordinaire who served Malta at the level with distinction. He also has a close association with Australia.

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Victor J. Gauci

ictor J Gauci served in Australia on two occasions - first in Melbourne from 1960 to 1964 as Counselor and Consul and later in Canberra from 1997 to 1999 as High Commissioner for Malta. He then returned to Malta and served as Head of the Foreign Office. He retired from the service in 2001 but was subsequently, appointed Ambassador to China in 2002 where he established the Malta Embassy in Beijing. He retired once again in 2004.

After graduating from St. Michael’s Teachers Training College at Ta’ Giorni in 1947, at age 16 Victor Gauci joined the Government service in Malta as a schoolteacher, first in Naxxar and then Gzira. After three years he joined the higher grades of the Civil Service, where he worked in the Inland Revenue, the Medical and Health and the Water and Electricity Departments. In the last post he introduced for the first time in Malta a mechanized system of working out the charges for water and electricity usage .

He served for two years in London and for four years in Melbourne, Australia, mainly looking after migrants and promoting trade and tourism. At that time, and until gaining Independence in September 1964, Malta was still a colony under the British Government.

Victor decided to join Malta’s Foreign Service and was successful in the entrance examination. Then after a year of studies in diplomacy at the Columbia University in New York, he started his working career as a diplomat at the Maltese Mission to the United Nations, where he worked for 15 years, in two periods of five

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

Victor J. Gauci (left) with Profs Guido Demarco (now deceased) when he served as President of the UN Security Council

and ten years respectively.

Malta was very active in that organiation. It made proposals for rationalising the various economic activities in the organisation, made suggestions on disarmament, and also on strengthening the Security Council.

However, three initiatives in particular stand out.

Malta launched the idea of a Treaty to regulate the activities of nations on the bottom of seas and oceans of the world, covering five sevenths of the total land surface in the world, and containing immensely valuable resources. These were to be considered as “the common heritage of all mankind”, and the proceeds from the extraction of these resources were to be equitably distributed to all countries, particularly developing countries.

Additionally, the land area under the oceans was to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. A universal treaty was adopted for this purpose in 1984.

The second major task taken up by Malta was to gather maximum support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent country in territories lost to Israel in the 1967 war. Over 170 countries support the Palestinian cause, but Israel continues to defy international agreement. Victor Gauci was appointed ‘rapporteur” on both committees set up to discuss these issues.

Mr. Gauci told The Voice of the Maltese that the crowning glory for Malta was when, for the first time in its history, Malta was elected to become a member of the UN Security Council, and to assume its presidency in October 1984.

He is now retired, and living in Killara, NSW in Australia.

his is the fifth article in the series exT plaining the set of fourteen Tapestries at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Malta’s capital,

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Valletta, in which we try to grasp the message each representation wants to convey.

Today the spotlight is turned on the tapestry of:

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t is quite evident that the tapestry of The Last Supper is stressing the validity and importance of the Institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It presents a vital moment in the last few hours of the life of Jesus when, through the miracle and mystery of the Eucharist, Christ is leaving Himself to remain with man till the end of time.

In the tapestry Jesus stands ready to serve both the bread and the wine to the apostles.

However, after partaking of the dipped bread Judas is seen leaving the room to execute the treacherous deed of betrayal. The expression on Judas’s face is witnessing his internal conflict.

Designed by Poussin the tapestry depicts a typical Roman setting with the guests at table reclining on couches, and not sitting on stools – a perfect Roman Triclinium. Besides the apostles are three other persons, two of which at the right side are youths waiting in attendance.

In the foreground in the centre is a man pouring out wine from an amphora into a pitcher. It is very vivid and brings to mind another feast that, according to John is the first miracle performed by Jesus, while here one witnesses the last feast and the last miracle.

Just below the table, at the right corner there’s also the basin that Jesus used for the washing of the apostles’ feet, and close to it hangs the apron used to wipe their feet. This is quite prominent in the scene to remind us of the humility and love that Jesus wished to instill in his apostles.

At the back of the table that is a wide stretch of drapery that one can speculate about. It could be to remind us of the Tent of the Covenant in the Old Testament that foreshadowed the fulfillment of the New Covenant in the Holy Eucharist.

Another hypothesis can be postu-

Tuesday July 24, 2018

The Flemish Tapestries in the Conventional Church of the Order of St John in Valletta

The Last Supper

lated – to remind the viewer of the Shroud in which Jesus was to be buried within a few hours. A third possibility is that this same curtain is an allusion to the curtain of the Temple that was about to be rent at the moment when Jesus gave up his Spirit.

The four columns holding the hanging could stand for the four Evangelists, while the expression on the face of the apostles expresses the same emotion of bewilderment, awe and lack of understanding at what was actually happening, while their hands all in different positions express anxiety.

In contrast, the look on Jesus’ face expresses sadness but serenity. While his left hand is holding the cup, his right hand is above the cup and turned towards his chest, a gesture suggesting that He is giving himself.

Christ is ready to serve his First Communion.

Jesus had longed for this occasion because it would be the last time He and his disciples were together before he would offer himself up as the perfect offering, the perfect Passover lamb (1 Co 5,7).

At the Last Supper, the Eucharist was instituted – but as yet was a mys-

Dr. DorisCannataci

tery since the cross and resurrection had not occurred. The Eucharist is not simply a historical commemoration or mere remembrance – through it the cross and resurrection are made to present to us. When we look at the cross we see God’s love: when we receive the Eucharist we receive God’s love.

This tapestry also shows the unlimited love of the Redeemer in giving himself up as Food and Drink to man (Mt 26, 26-28), and the ingratitude of the man who leaves the room, and goes to betray his Divine Master (Jhn 13, 30).

This is a case in point where the viewer can reflect on human ingratitude exemplified! It shows Jesus’ passionate love for the Church in establishing the Sacrament of love, personified from the beginning by the apostle who betrayed him.

There is a great resemblance between this tapestry and the world-renowned painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

References

1. HANNIBAL P. SCICLUNA, The Church of St John in Valletta, 193.

EMMANUELE VITALE – nutar u mexxej tul il-ħakma Franċiża The Voice of the Maltese 7

Tuesday July 24, 2018

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uma ħafna dawk li jistħoqqilhom ġieħ kbir għall-ħidma tagħhom f’Malta. Fost dawn insemmi lil Emmanuele Vitale, nutar li fi żmienu gawda rispett kbir, tant li kellu pożizzjonijiet għolja f’diversi amministrazzjonijiet. Għalkemm fir-Rabat Malta fejn twieled hemm xi affarijiet li jfakkru fih, x’aktarx li mhemmx biżejjed. Il-ħidma ta’ Vitale kienet mifruxa ma’ Malta kollha u ħadem ħafna fi żmien ilħakma Franċiża f’Malta bejn l-1798 u l-1800.

Emmanuele Vitale twieled ir-Rabat Malta fit-3 ta’ April tal-1759. Missieru kien jismu Saviour u ommu Rosa, imwielda Caruana.

Fil-ktejjeb ta’ Anthony Casha ‘Nutar Emmanuele Vitale’ nsibu li l-familja tiegħu kienet tgħix fid-dar Numru 9 fi ‘Strada di Vitale’ li tinsab fejn illum insibu Triq Vitale. Naturalment fi żmienu din it-triq kellha dehra differenti.

Jingħad li f’din id-dar tiegħu (jew l-uffiċċju nutarili tiegħu), Vitale kien ħeba l-fided tal-Knisja Ta’ Ġieżu għax li kieku m’għamilx hekk, kienu jisparixx mal-Franċiżi.

Missier Emmanuel ukoll kien nutar u Kanċillier tal-Università ta’ Malta. Listess Emmanuel, li baqa’ f’din il-ħatra tal-Universita`sa ma kellu 37 sena. Sena qabel kien ukoll inħatar Rettur talArċikonfraternità ta’ San Ġużepp tar-Rabat.

Matul il-ħakma tal-Franċiżi f’Malta, minħabba s-sens qawwi ta’ ġustizzja u integrità li kien igawdi Vitale ġie maħtur imħallef

PeterPaulCiantar għall-paċi għall-muniċipalità taż-Żurrieq. Iżda meta ra li l-affarijiet ma kienux sejrin sewwa, qabad u rriżenja.

Hawn Vitale flimkien ma’ għadd ġmielu ta’ bdiewa, attakkaw il-gwarniġjon (suldati) tal-Imdina u rnexxielhom jieħdu kontroll sħiħ tagħha u anke l-madwar, l-aktar tal-kampanja li ddawwar dan il-lokal. B’din il-ħidma hu kien sar qisu l-Kmandant Ġenerali kważi tal-Maltin kollha.

Jumejn wara, l-Assemblea Ġenerali li ltaqgħet l-Imdina, ħatritu, flimkien mal-Konti Salvatore Manduca, il-Markiż Vincenzo De Piro u l-Konti Ferdinando Theuma Castelletti bħala r-rappreżentant tal-Imdina.

Imbagħad fl-1799, meta ġie ffurmat il-Kungress Nazzjonali Malti, in-Nutar, dakinhar ta’ xi 40 sena ingħażel ukoll biex jirrappreżenta l-Imdina, ir-Rabat u Ħad-Dingli. Ħiemietu ma waqfitx hawn u wara lħakma tal-Franċiżi, il-Kaptan Alexander Ball, l-ewwel kummissarju ċivili għal Malta nnominah Logotenent tal-Isla, kariga li dam iżomm biss għal sena minħabba li l- Kummissarju Charles Cameron ħatru wkoll Gvernatur ta’ Għawdex.

L-Għawdxin laqgħuh b’entużjażmu liema bħalu u meta wasal Għawdex organizzawlu merħba kbira. In-Nutar Vitale kien maħtur ukoll Supretendent u Direttur tasSaħħa f’Għawdex, imma żamm il-kariga biss għal ftit xhur.

In-nutar Emmanuele Vitale miet f’Għawdex stess fit-8 ta’ Ottubru, 1802 meta kien għad kellu biss 43 sena. Kien ilu marid iżda fl-aħħar iggrava. Huwa jinsab midfun fil-Knisja Katidrali ta’ Għawdex, għalkemm Carmelo Testa f’Vol 2 ‘MażŻewġ Naħat tas-Swar’ jgħid li Vitale ġie midfun fil-knisja ta’ San Ġorġ ftit ilbogħod fl-istess belt Għawdxija.

d Lapida fir-Rabat li tfakkar lil Emmamanuele Vitale (is-sena ta’ mewtu zbaljata)

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Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 124 2018

Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ...

The Voice of the Maltese for fortnightly tnightly magazine magazine

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly magazine that specifically targets all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian and Maltese scenes. e magazine can also be read in flipbook format online. A pdf copy is also sent via email on request.

If you require a printed copy we can also oblige.

Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice magazine, either in Maltese or English should include name and e-mail address of the writer and be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese

Good on Malta for its blockchain initiative

Charles Mangion from St Albans, Victoria writes: feel I must thank The Voice of the Maltese magazine for updating the readers with the latest initiatives and efforts by the Maltese Government about the technology of Blockchain and how best to embrace it.

For many people this is something new, but in the coming months it will become as popular as Internet. Many are raising their hats to Malta for being the first country in the world to understand the concept and the potential of Blockchain technology, The recent bills introduced by Malta will certainly help it achieve its aim of becoming a hotspot for crypto and blockchain businesses, so the next stage is for Malta to become known as Blockchain Island Blockchain is indeed an ingenious invention, but perhaps few people as yet have grasped what it is all about. So I think it

would help if in the future The Voice magazine would find a way to explain to the readers in simple terms its workings.

I for one am very interested to learn more about this new technology and what the new companies that are deciding to make their base in Malta have to offer to people like us.

Therefore along with a friend of mine from Victoria, in a few weeks we will embark on this fact-finding trip to Malta.

Hopefully, with the help of this magazine we could also meet the right people to answer out queries.

I am also inviting three more people who like us are interested, to embark on this “adventure”. Anybody interested (need only three) please email: maltesevoice @gmail.com and ask about our contact details. We have given permission to The Voice editorial to give them.

Frank Mallia from Clapham, London UK writes: am in full agreement with Josh Caruana (The Voice No. 182) about what I consider to be “the New Malta” that from what I could gather in discussion and comments with a number of people currently visiting, are very impressed with the progress made in a great number of sectors.

During my current visit I have met with many Maltese people, including busnessmen. I also met visitors the island, either for work or holidays. Most of them are

very impressed with the progress Malta has made in a great number of sectors.

Due to my profession and business interests I visit the island quite frequently at least once a year, sometimes even more, therefore I believe I am in a position to be able to pass judgement about the island’s achievements in a short span of years, especially following years of stagnation.

I wish I could return home to stay after 27 years in the UK, but due to work commitments I cannot just up and go. However, when it is time for me to quit my interests in the UK, I wish to at least retire there with my wife, who is a Londoner.

She is crazy about Malta.

I don’t really know what Britain post Brexit holds for people like me. At the moment it is just a wait and see situation. If things change for the worse, we might even return home years before we planned.

One of my sons is already in Malta and doing nicely in the iGaming industry. He has settled well on the island and believes his future has been secured. He has bought an apartment and is getting married to a lovely Maltese girl. This would create an even easier bridge for us to cross, particularly if, and when they decide have kids.

It would be so nice to enjoy their company in a relaxed atmosphere, which Malta seems to have created.

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Malta has created a relaxed atmosphere

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Tuesday July 24, 2018

The Voice of the Maltese 9

L-istampi juru parti mill-attivita’ li kien hemm fi Plumpton NSW fejn dis-sena ġiet iċċelebrata lImnarja. Fuq: dehra panoramika tal-attivita` organizzata mill-Festa San Nikola. Lemin: membri tal-kumitat u l-voluntiera li tellgħu l-attivita`

L-Imnarja ‘18 fi Plumpton NSW

l-kumitat ħabrieki tal-festa San Nikola bħal Itradizzjonali ħafna oħrajn kull sena wkoll jiċċellebraw il-festa ta’ San Pietru u San Pawl (l-Imnarja) b’lejla fil-Buskett fil-lokal spazjuż fil-parroċċa talGood Shepherd fi Plumpton NSW. Dis-sena għadd kbir ta’ Maltin attendew għal wirja ta’ ħxejjex, frott, fjuri, prodotti oħra agrikoli kif ukoll arti and snajja. Imma l-aktar li spikka kienet il-wirja ta’ diversi nġenji agrikoli u l-ikel Malti ta’ kull xorta.

Tul il-jum kien hemm ukoll mużika u kant millHeartbeats u skeċċ komiku.

Għan-nom tal-kumitat il-President ta’ St Nicholas Festa Committee, Emmanuel Vella ta’ ħajr lil dawk kollha li offrew xi għajnuna u wkoll lil dawk li attendew.

Parti mill-esebiti waqt il-festa tal-Imnarja fi Plumpton

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday July 24, 2018

A version of this series in English may be found in kitba ta’ IVAN the author's blog at: CAUCHI https://ivancauchi. blogspot.com

L-Arċisqof Wilson u l-Knisja Kattolika

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aħseb li ma kontx waħdi li nisma b’diżgust, imma mhux daqshekk b’sorpriża, li l-Arċisqof Philip Wilson tal-Knisja Kattolika Rumana f’Adelaide kien misjub ħati f’Mejju ta’ din is-sena f’qorti ta’ NSW li ħeba l-abbuż sesswali tat-tfal li kien seħħ mill-qassis Fr Jim Fletcher fir-reġjun Hunter ta’ NSW fissnin sebgħin.1 Ma kinetx daqshekk sorpriża, mhux għax kont naf bid-dettalji tal-każ, imma ilna nisimgħu għal ħafna snin b’akkużi mhux biss tal-abbuż imma wkoll, u agħar, ta’ nuqqas ta’ azzjoni serja jew ħabi mill-Knisja Kattolika, tant li f’moħħi kien kważi inevitabbli li xi darba, x’imkien, xi ħadd mill-kbarat kien se jlaqqatha.

Kif jgħid il-Malti, il-qasba ma ċċaqċaqx għalxejn.

Il-każ għadu ma spiċċax, għax l-Arċisqof appella mis-sentenza ta’ tnax il-xahar detenzjoni li ngħata mill-maġistrat, li kien ikkummenta wkoll li l-akkużat ma weriex indiema għall-azzjoni tiegħu.

Sadanittant, l-Arċisqof warrab fil-ġenb mill-pożizzjoni tiegħu li bħalissa qiegħda titħaddem minn amministratur, imma ma rriżenjax mill-pożizzjoni.

Kienu ħafna personaġġi magħrufa fix-xena Awstraljana, inkluż il-Prim Ministru Turnbull u l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Shorten li stqarrew li l-Arċisqof għandu jirriżenja minnufih.

Min-naħa tiegħu, l-Arċisqof Wilson irrimarka li kien konxju talgħajta ta’ ħafna biex jirriżenja, madankollu huwa għamilha ċara li se jistenna li jispiċċa l-proċess legali kollu, u jekk ma jingħatax raġun, joffri r-riżenja tiegħu dakinhar.

Jien se ngħid mingħajr tlaqliq li l-Arċisqof għandu kull dritt legali li jagħmel dan. It-tiċpisa ta’ tajn fuq il-karattru tiegħu issa saret, minkejja x-xogħol siewi mat-tfal vittmi tal-abbuż sesswali fid-djoċesi ta’ Wollongong.2 Il-kwistjoni għalija hija oħra, u din hi kif din l-istorja tirrifletti fuq il-Knisja Kattolika nnifisha u fuq il-proċessi tagħha.

Naturalment, l-appell jista’ jinqata’ favurih bħal ma jixtieq hu u bla dubju ħafna oħrajn fil-Knisja, u f’dak il-każ iħossu vvindikat.

Però hemm ilpossibiltà reali li l-appell jista’ wkoll jinqata’ kontrih u ssentenza tiġi kkonfermata.

U din talaħħar kif se tirrifletti fuq il-Knisja Kattolika, li ma jidhirx li qiegħda tħoss il-bżonn li titlob hija stess ir-riżenja tiegħu?

Fil-każ li lappell jinqata’ kontra lFr. Jim Fletcher...ħati ta’ Arċisqof, ikun abbużi sesswali tat-tfal diffiċli li ma

L-Arċisqof Philip Wilson ... mixli li ħeba l-abbużi sesswali fuq it-tfal

tasalx għall-konklużjoni li l-Knisja Kattolika anke llum, fl-2018, għad m’għandhiex il-proċessi interni adekwati biex jittrattaw każijiet simili, u lanqas proċeduri koerenti mal-liġijiet tal-pajjiż li l-amministraturi jistgħu jsegwu.

Ikun diffiċli ma tasalx għall-konklużjoni li l-Knisja mhux dejjem tieħu l-passi neċessarji skont is-sewwa, iwasslu sa fejn iwasslu, sakemm ma tiġix imġiegħla tagħmel dan minn awtorità esterna, lajka.

Dawn il-passi neċessarji jsiru, basta ma jwasslux għal min huwa meqjus wieħed mill-prinċpijiet tal-knisja.

Ikun diffiċli, anke għal min huwa Kattoliku, li ma tasalx għallkonklużjoni li l-proċessi tal-istat huma superjuri għal dawk talKnisja.

Jiddispjaċini ħafna li r-reputazzjoni tal-Knisja Kattolika, ilknisja tiegħi u ta’ ħafna mill-qarrejja ta’ din il-paġna, kull ma jmur qiegħda tinżel iktar l-isfel fil-ħama. Jiddispjaċini iktar li anke llum, il-Knisja jidher li għadha ma tgħallmitx għal kollox il-lezzjoni.

Qiegħda tieħu riskju kbir tħalli lil dan l-akkużat, l-Arċisqof Wilson, bit-titlu tiegħu, jirrappreżenta formalment lill-knisja ta’ Kristu anke jekk xogħlu bħalissa qiegħed iwettqu ħaddieħor, sakemm jinqata’ l-appell f’nofs Awwissu ta’ din is-sena.

Għalija, il-konsegwenzi ta’ tnaqqis aħħari tal-kreddibiltà talKnisja Kattolika, jekk l-appell jintilef meta Wilson ikun għadu bit-titlu formali tiegħu ta’ Arċisqof, huma kbar u koroh wisq.

Referenzi 1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-22/adelaide-archbishop-philipwilson-guilty-concealing-child-abuse/9783612, retrieved 17/7/2018 2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-03/who-is-archbishop-philip-wilson/9883638, retrieve 17/7/2018

Għajdut, drawwiet u twemmin fil-Gżejjer Maltin (3)

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday July 24, 2018

M

Alfred E.Baldacchino

inbarra dawk li diġa’ semmejt fl-artikli ta’ qabel, fost rettili oħra li wieħed isib filGżejjer Maltin hemm ukoll il-gremxul.

U bħar-rettili l-oħra f’pajjiżna hemm ukoll qlajjiet u twemmin dwarhom.

Il-gremxul

Ħafna huma tal-fehma li l-gremxula ta’ Filfla għandha żewġt idnub [1][8].

Hawnhekk ta’ min jgħid li l-gremxul u l-wiżgħa meta jkunu mhedda jew jiġu attakkati minn xi għadu jistgħu jwaqqgħu denbhom. Meta denbhom jinqata’ mill-parti tal-ġisem, dan jibqa’ jitkagħweġ.

Hemm min

jgħid li dan Gremxula ikun qed jidgħi, imma d-denb jibqa’ jiċċaqlaq biex lgħadu, waqt li jkun qed iħares lejn iddenb maqtugħ jitkagħweġ, jagħti ħin biżżejjed biex il-gremxula jew il- wiżgħa tkun tista’ taħrab.

Id-denb jista’ jinqata’ ukoll waqt xi ġlied li jkun hemm bejn il-gremxul dwar it-territorju jew għal xi sieħba. Ilgremxula jew il-wiżgħa terġa’ ttella denb ġdid, imma jista’ jiġri li d-denb mhux dejjem jinqata’ barra sħiħ u ġieli jibqa’ mdendel jew imwaħħal bi ftit mal-ġisem. Hekk meta jitla’ d-denb ilġdid il-gremxula tista’ tagħti ’l wieħed x’jifhem li għandha żewġt idnub.

Fuq il-gżira ta’ Filfla hemm gremxula, bħal dik ta’ Malta imma tant ilha maqtugħa minn dawk li jgħixu fuq ilGżejjer Maltin l-oħra li hija meqjusa bħala razza għaliha.

Kif nafu, il-gżira ta’ Filfla kienet tintuża mill-Ingliżi biex jisparaw fuqha ħalli jitħarrġu. Għalhekk ma kinetx tkun xi ħaġa stramba li xi gremxul kienu jitilfu denbhom f’dak it-tifrik.

Xi studjuż li kien mar jistudja dawn il-gremxul ra xi waħda b’żewgt idnub u ġriet il-kelma u ssaħħaħ it-twemmin li l-gremxul ta’ Filfla għandu żewġt idnub.

Tant issaħħaħ dan l-għajdut li niftakar darba, madwar 35 sena ilu, kont qed nara programm fuq l-istazzjon nazzjonali tat-TV; kien programm ta’ kwiżż, fejn skola kienet teħodha kontra oħra dwar tagħrif ġenerali. Ilpreżentatur, li kien għalliem, staqsa lil wieħed mill-kompetituri x’kellha speċjali lgremxula ta’ Filfla.

L-istudent fil-pront qal li lgremxula ta’ Filfla hija endemika għall-Filfla, tweġiba li ma setgħetx tkun aħjar. Imma l-preżentatur ma kienx kuntent u reġa’ staqsa lill-istudent: “imma din x’għandha speċjali?” L-istudent baqa’ mbellaħ u ma kellux tweġiba.

Skont l-għalliem preżentatur, ittweġiba kellha tkun li l-grexmula ta’ Filfla għandha żewġt idnub! Minkejja r-rabja li nibtet fija, indunajt li kien hemm xaqq dawl għall-edukazzjoni xjentifika f’dan il-pajjiż.

Il-kamaleonte

Ir-rettili tal-art tal-Gżejjer Maltin kollha għandhom xi qlajja fuqhom jew xi twemmin, jew kienu jintużaw b’xi mod, ħlief wieħed: il-kamaleonte.

Hemm raġuni għal dan, għaliex il-kamaleonte nġab hawn Malta fis-seklu dsatax, bejn l-1846 u l-1865,[1] u mhux bħar-rettili l-oħra indiġeni Maltin li kienu jgħammru fuq dawn il-gżejjer minn qabel rifes il-bniedem fuq din lart.

Ix-xaħmet l-art

Rettilu ieħor li jinstab fil-Gżejjer Maltin huwa x-xaħmet l-art.

Dwar dan jgħidu li għandu kimika naturali li tfejjaq.

Minħabba f’hekk ix-xaħmet kien jinxtara mill-ispiżjara li kienu jieħdu xxaħam minnu biex jużawh għall-fejqan tan-nies[3][5].

F’Malta kien maħsub li x-xaħam meħud mix-xaħmet l-art kien tajjeb biex jerġa’ jtella’ x-xaħar ta’ dawk li jkunu qriegħu[3].

Kamaleonte

Soppa magħmula miż-żrinġijiet kienet tingħata lit-tfal morda.[3] Il-fkieren tal-art

Illum il-ġurnata wieħed m’għadux isib fkieren tal-art indiġeni fil-Ġżejjer Maltin. Dawk li naraw huma kollha miġjubin minn barra minn Malta.

Imma fdalijiet tal-qoxra tad-dahar ta’ dawn il-fkieren tal-art instabu ma’ fdalijiet tal-bniedem, kemm f’Għar Dalam, kif ukoll f’għar ieħor f’Għawdex[3].

Dawn il-fdalijiet huma ta’ żmien Neolitiku, żminijiet ta’ madwar 9000 sa 8000 qabel Kristu, meta huwa maħsub li l-bniedem beda jkabbar l-annimali slavaġ miegħu. (aktar dwar dawn il-fkieren u fawna oħra fil-ħarġa li jmis)

Referenzi 1. Baldacchino, A.E., Schembri, P.J. (2002) Amfibji, rettili u mammiferi fil-gżejjer Maltin.

Malta: (Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza Pin) 3. Savona Ventura, C. (1990) Maltese Medical Folklore – Man and the Herpetofauna in Malta: a reiew. In: Maltese Medical Journal. II: 41 1990.

4. Savona Ventura, C. (2004) Ancient and medieval medicine in Malta (before 1600 AD), Malta Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd. 5. Lanfranco, G. (1957) The Skink. Fis-Sunday Times tal-24 ta’ Novembru 1957.

6. Azzopardi, A.E. (1985) The Maltese Shooter’s handbook, Malta: Midsea Books Ltd. 8. Sciberras, A (2006) Għajdut, Qlajjiet u Folklor fuq il-Gremxula ta’ Malta. L-imnara 1pt 8 no 30:108-112

Iż-żrinġ tal-gżejjer Maltin

Saħansitra ż-żrinġ, l-amfibju indiġenu ewlieni tal-Gżejjer Maltin, kien ukoll jintuża bħala mediċina tradizzjonali.

Fekruna tal-art

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Roundup of News About Malta

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat vindicated as Magisterial inquiry clears him of all allegations by DCG, former PN leader and current PN’s head of communications

Nothing short of a frame-up

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t the end of a magisterial inquiry into allegations against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle, in a 1,500-page report that took 15 months to compile, the verdict of inquiring Magistrate Aaron Bugeja seemed appears to be loud and clear, that the allegations made in April 2017 first published by dead blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia, which Opposition leader Dr Simon Busuttil later made his own, were nothing short of a frame-up.

The inquiry found falsified signatures, differing testimonies and no proof to the allegations made by Caruana Galizia’s “source”, former Pilatus Bank employee, Russian Maria Efimova - who later fled from Malta - linking Joseph Muscat, his wife Michelle or their family to Panama company Egrant Inc. The inquiry found that documents had been fabricated, signatures falsified, testimonies by the journalists and whistleblowers unreliable, and that suspicions that evidence had been whisked away in the dead of the night, was totally untrue.

The inquiry also established that there was no truth whatsoever that the Prime Minister’s wife had received $1 million from a company owned by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s daughter.

It was not established that the Muscats, the PM’s chief of staff Keith Schembri, Minister Konrad Mizzi as well as former EU commissioner John Dalli “could be involved in corruption or money laundering or suspicious financial transactions” from accounts of Azerbaijani politically exposed persons, using the Pilatus banking system as Caruana Galizia had alleged on her blog on April 20, 2017.

The magisterial inquiry also discredited former Malta Independent director Pierre Portelli, currently occupying the role of the PNs head of communications, after experts found that the only declarations of trust he presented were copies that experts found to have been falsified.

“A hundred suspicions do not amount to a single piece of evidence,” the magistrate concluded in his report.

As a result, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who at the time of the allegations had described them as the biggest political lie in the country’s history, and also called a general election to stand for the people’s verdict, was vindicated.

No wonder therefore that he has called for the resignation of Simon Busuttil from a representative of the people in Parliament.

After accepting the conclusions of the magisterial inquiry, the current Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia repeated Joseph Muscat’s earlier call and requested Simon to suspend himself from the party's parliamentary group. He also stripped his colleague in the PN from his good governance portfolio, a role that he will be assuming himself.

Delia further said that “It’s time to move forward,” and that “The Simon Busuttil... refuses to PN's credibility in the fight heed calls for his resignaagainst corruption must remain tion from Parliament intact."

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat sheds a tear in a rare moment of intense emotion at the press conference

During the inquiry Magistrate Bugeja heard the testimony of 477 witnesses, requested information or assistance from authorities in five countries, namely, Panama, Belgium, the UAE, Germany and the USA, and engaged various IT experts and firms.

Forged signatures were verified by a British forensic accounting firm, with the person whose signature was on the declarations. Whoever falsified the declarations of trust, the inquiry found, made use of information that was publicly available online.

Meanwhile, Simon Busuttil, who had earlier described the Prime Minister’s call to resign as “ridiculous” has also refused his leader’s request to suspend himself, as he saw “no reason to accede to the request He even went on to accuse Delia of "siding with Joseph Muscat."

Meanwhile, after Simon Busuttil rebuffed his invitation to suspend himself from the party, Delia has now called an emergency meeting of the PN administrative council.

It is worth recalling that on the same night, that the allegations had been made, Joseph Muscat requested for the magisterial inquiry. From the outset, he and his wife strenuously denied any wrongdoing .

In a rare moment of intense emotion towards the end of a press conference he was addressing in order to give his reaction to the report, Joseph Muscat shed tears of relief as he pointed out in a broken voice, the pain that he, his wife and two children had to endure for the past 15 months since the allegations.

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday July 24 2018

Roundup of News About Malta Malta firm believer EU Commission gives in multilateralism Malta vote of confidence

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alta firmly believes in mulhe European Union Commis- underpinned by an expansion in pubtilateralism as has given Malta what can lic and private consumption. sion it considers it as a key interpreted as a vote of conbe It observed that investment is exfor countries and refidence after it revealed that the pected to recover strongly in 2019, gions to identify synersmallest member state has registered supported by projects in the health, gies, cooperate on one of the highest growth rates technology and telecoms sectors. common interests, and within the EU. It also follows the The European Commission concapitalise on each Commission’s Summer 2018 Eco- cluded its findings by stating that other’s comparative adnomic Forecast that the Malta’s real regulated prices in the electricity vantage, Minister for Gross Domestic Product is set to in- market and moderate wage dynamics Foreign Affairs and crease by 5.4% in 2018 and 5% in have helped keep inflation slightly Trade Promotion Car2019. below the euro area average. melo Abela told the 2nd CELAC-EU Foreign MinThe Commission further stated that In his reaction Finance Minister Edisters’ two-day meeting held in Brussels last week the fact that Malta is registering this ward Scicluna said he was pleased to themed ‘Building bridges and strengthening our high growth rate, reflects the country’s note that Malta has continued to be partnership to face global challenges’. economic momentum, record-low un- one of the EU’s top performers in Addressing the participants Minister Abela said: employment, increasing labour supply terms of growth and is expected to “No matter what a country’s geographical size is, and the rising participation of women remain so in the coming year. it is through our unity that change can truly be in the labour market.

While referring to the report, Minachieved.”

In its analysis of Malta’s economy, ister Cardona, the Minister for the He went on to say that as a platform representing the European Commission noted Economy, Investment and Small 61 countries, it is imperative that the European how domestic demand is set to be- Businesses said that the Economic Union and the Community of Latin American and come the main driver of economic prospects are positive. He added that Caribbean States (CELAC) harness cooperation in growth in the second half of 2018, this is a vote of confidence in Malta. areas of common interest, and in so doing reinforce and defend the work and integrity of multilateral institutions.

“At a time when alliances of multiple countries pursuing a common goal are under increasing t a meeting in the French capital, Paris with Foreign strain, “it has become ever more Minister Carmelo Abela, representatives of the Malimportant to reaffirm the funda- tese diaspora, Maltese migrants and French citizens of mentals of multilateralism and the Maltese descent, spoke to him about issues ranging from importance of a rules-based set of the preservation of Maltese heritage in France to reconinternational relations in accor- necting with Malta through the acquisition of citizenship, dance with the UN Charter”, he the contribution of newly-arrived Maltese immigrants, misaid. gration as a cultural asset, and doing business with Malta. Minister Abela,addressing the Minister Abela also spoke about The event, organised by Malta’s embassy in com- Maltese diaspora in France.

Malta’s full support for the imple- France themed, ‘Connecting People: Les Maltais munity in the world after Australia, Canada, the mentation of the United Nations’ en France, was held on the margins of Minister USA, the United Kingdom, and the United 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustain- Abela’s meeting with the French Minister for Arab Emirates, it follows, therefore, that this able Development Goals, which Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian. sizeable diaspora community deserves to be Minister Abela pointed out that France and its represented on the Council for the Maltese Livwould translate into the well being territories are home to the sixth largest Maltese ing Abroad (CMLA). of people today and tomorrow.

‘French diaspora deserves representation on CMLA’

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A pioneering initiative: Malta soon to host world’s first decentralised and community-owned bank alta is due to host the world’s first Malta is already implementing its projects the vibrant blockchain opportunities in M decentralised and community- for the creation of this new economic sec- Malta.” He said they look forward to owned bank once Binance is licensed to tor. launching more partnerships in the re-

establish the Malta-based Founders Bank, the newest addition to the rapidly growing, full-value blockchain ecosystem on “BlockchainIsland”.

Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri welcomed this pioneering initiative that would be signalling the possible future of the banking industry. He said that just a few days after enacting the three laws, the blockchain community in

He hopes that Binance’s fintech solutions would attract even more world-class companies to Malta and contribute to its ecosystem. He went on to say that the decision by the companies involved in Founders Bank is a result of the legal certainty Malta now offers.

The founder & CEO at Binance Changpeng Zhao said they are looking forward to explore the full range of its banking services, and “continue to be delighted by

gion”.

Founders Bank will focus on serving tech and crypto businesses and offer top-tier banking solutions. Users will be able to access their accounts from both mobile phone and desktop web application and use them directly with credit cards issued by the Bank.

The aim of the bank is to bridge the gap between the traditional financial world and innovative crypto companies.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Roundup of News About Malta Air Malta improves standing among world’s best

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alta’s national carrier, Air Malta has improved its position by nine places in the list of the world’s top 100 airlines just announced at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Malta has placed 84th from last year’s placing of 93rd.

Over 100 customer nationalities participated in the survey with 335 airlines featured in the survey results. Singapore Airlines has placed first followed by last year’s winners, Qatar Airways.

Lufthansa placed first in the European region and seventh overall.

Meanwhile, compared to June last year, last month Air Malta registered a 42% increase in the amount of passengers it carried. It also registered a 38% increase in May compared to May 2017. During May and June it carried 386,504 passengers, an

€628.3m from tourism in 5 months

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n the first five months of this year – January to May - almost 905,000 tourists (262,205 in May) visited Malta, an increase of 18.5% compared to the corresponding month in 2017, while total tourism expenditure was estimated at €628.3 million, 12.2% higher than that recorded for 2017.

amount that includes those carried on flights not operating from or to Malta.

In a statement Air Malta said it has contributed 50% of the growth registered by Malta International Airport movements during May and June as 89,918 passengers

Tourists enjoying the site and the firing of the guns at the Saluting Battery

The Saluting Battery: Who would have thought? (from front page)

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he Saluting Battery at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta that is being used for popular and wedding receptions

Speaker Farrugia attends Poland Summit

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peaker Dr Anġlu Farrugia told the 3rd Summit of Speakers of Central and Eastern European Parliaments in the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, titled ‘Parliaments in international politics’, that “while inter-parliamentary assemblies are crucial to promote an environment of mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace, regional parliamentary assemblies are even more important as they are more conscious to the daily challenges faced by countries in the region and are also in tune with opportunities and joint ventures in the economic, social, and cultural fields”.

He elaborated on the role, structure, and activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) whose secretariat has been hosted in Malta since 2007 following

out of 178,976 additional passengers used Air Malta.

The national carrier, that has opened 21 new markets, recently added an Airbus A320neo aircraft to its fleet, and is in the process of soon renovating its fleet.

a unanimous decision taken during its first meeting in Amman, Jordan (2006). He noted that throughout the years PAM has been transformed into a centre of excellence for regional parliamentary diplomacy and a unique forum where members are represented and participate on equal footing.

Aside of the summit, the Speaker also had a bilateral meeting with Talat Xhaferi, Speaker of the Assembly of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. They spoke about issues of mutual interest particularly the importance of enhancing the parliamentary relationship between the two countries.

The speakers of Albania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovenia, and the FYRO Macedonia also attended the 3rd Summit.

Speaker Dr Anġlu Farrugia (second left) at the Summit in Poland

has been carefully restored by a leading heritage trust, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust, in conjunction with the Malta Tourism Authority. It forms part of the city’s old fortifications the building of which started in 1566, just one year after the Great Siege.

The venue that occupies one of the most strategic positions in the Grand Harbour, the Saluting Battery is one of Malta's most vibrant visitor attractions where history is brought to life daily.

Located high along Valletta's eastern historic ramparts, it enjoys unrivalled spectacular views of the Grand Harbour and its surrounding fortified towns. It is also perhaps the oldest saluting battery still in operation anywhere in the world.

For almost 500 years, its guns protected the harbour against naval assault. Its prominent position also ensured it becoming the island's principal saluting platform. From here, gun salutes were fired on occasions of state, to mark anniversaries and religious feasts, and to greet visiting dignitaries and vessels.

From the 1820's a gun was also fired at mid-day to signal out the exact hour of the day by which Ship Masters would calibrate their chronographs on board. These timepieces were used up to the early part of the 20th century to find the longitude at sea.

Once again, its guns resonate daily in the same way of old to herald the passage of mid-day and to add to the festive mood that marks important anniversaries in the history of the island.

Like many other locations around the island, the Battery has become a most unusual and dramatic location for wedding receptions, and forms part of the gorgeous scenery, towns and villages steeped in history, along with some of the islands’ most picturesque seascapes that are not just there to be admired, but also to be made full use of.

Tuesday July 24, 2018

L-Immigranti M

hux soltu nitratta l-istess suġġett fi tliet artikli wara xulxin, iżda din tal-immigranti li qed jippruvaw jidħlu fil-portijiet Maltin qiegħda tinkwieta, u nistgħu ngħidu li tinsab fuq fomm ħafna .

Il-kummenti u l-istqarrijiet dwar il-kwistjoni ma jieqfux. Filwaqt li jidher li hemm qbil dwar ir-rabja tal-Maltin għall-viċi-Prim Ministru Taljan, Matteo Salvini, li b’kull mod irid ifarfar l-immigranti fuq Malta, imbagħad hemm konflitt sħiħ dwar kif jidher li taħsibha l-maġġoranza tal-poplu, l-Isqfijiet u oħrajn li jaħsbuha bħalhom.

Tal-ewwel qed jinsistu li l-Gvern Malti għandu jagħlaq il-portijiet għall-immiil-kenn ta’ xi granti, waqt li l-Isqfijiet pajjiż, iżda ma jinsistu li bħala nsara jistax ikun li għandna nħennu għal dawn Malta taċċetta in-nies, bl-Isqof ta’ Għawaktar immidex, Mons Mario Grech, granti, l-aktar filwaqt li jikundanna l-atmeta issa ltitudni tal-Ewropa quddiem Italja għalqet din il-kriżi u jsemmi l-fatt il-portijiet li pajjiżi fil-Mediterran fostagħha u għalthom Malta, ma jistgħux hekk l-għadd jitħallew jerfgħu waħidta’ immigranti hom il-piż tal-immigranti li li jfittxu l-porjaslu l-art, jissokta jgħid: tijiet tagħna “Imma dan l-atteġġjaL-Isqof ta’ Għawdex jistgħu jitilgħu ment kriminali tal-Ewropa Mons. Mario Grech għal eluf kbar. ma għandu qatt jiġġustifika Ma jistax ikun li Malta terfa’ l-piż li pajjiżi li aħna l-Maltin nagħmlu għażliet li bihom nipperikolaw il-ħajja ta’ dawn l-immi- tal-Unjoni Ewropea qed ifarfru minn fuq granti. Qatt ma nistgħu nużaw mezzi li spallejhom.

Ix-xejra kontra d-dħul ta’ immigranti tant huma moralment ħżiena biex nilħqu għanijiet tajba. Is-salvagwardja tal-ħajja umana qed tikber li kien hemm ħafna, u dan minn tiġi qabel kull kalkolu ekonomiku u poli- kull partit politiku, li saħansitra ħaduha kontra l-Gvern għax aċċetta li jilqa’ 50 mill-450 tiku.

“L-appell tiegħi huwa lill-Gvern u lill-Op- immigrant li tniżżlu dan l-aħħar fl-Italja.

Dan saħansitra wassal lill-Prim Ministru pożizzjoni biex ma jċedux għall-populiżmu, u filwaqt li jfittxu li jagħmlu front Joseph Muscat li jideddika kważi l-interwieħed quddiem l-Ewropa, flok ma jużaw vista’ li jkollu fuq ir-radju nhar ta’ Ħadd, lil il-muskoli, bil-konsegwenza tal-imwiet fil- din il-materja. Hu spjega li ħa dan il-pass għax hu l-aħjar mod kif Malta tħares l-inbaħar, ikunu solidali maż-żgħir....”

Iżda li qalu l-Isqfijiet ma tantx ġie teressi tagħha.

Fil-fatt il-qagħda ta’ Malta fil-Mediterran milqugħ tajjeb minn kummentaturi fil-ġurnali, b’ħafna jsostnu li filwaqt li hu minnu li Malta għandha tħenn għal min qed ifittex

Konċessjoni ta’ darba għal pensjonanti mill-Awstralja

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l-Kummissarju tat-Taxxi f’Malta se jkun qed jeżenta lill-pensjonanti li għandhom pensjoni tal-Awstralja milli jħallsu taxxa addizzjonali u interessi dovuti, u jħallsu biss €20 ta’ darba bħala multa.

Fil-fatt, il-ministeru tal-finanzi qal fi stqarrija li l-pensjonanti li diġà ħallsu lmulta se jirċievu ċekk ta’ rifużjoni (refund).

Pensjonanti li diġà bagħtu l-formola se ikollhom il-kont aġġustat u jingħataw sa sena ċans biex bi ftehim mad-Dipartiment tat-Taxxi jallsu t-taxxa dovuta.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Immigranti salvati fil-Mediterran. Min se jeħodhom?

tpoġġi lill-Gvern Malti f’pożizzjoni iebsa, għax filwaqt li pajjiżi oħra bħall-Awstrija u l-Ungerija jistgħu jagħlqu l-fruntieri tagħhom għall-immigranti, billi ħadd ma jasal pajjiżhom bil-baħar, f’ċerti ċirkustanzi Malta, ma tistax tagħmel hekk.

Dan għax il-liġijiet internazzjonali jsostnu li nies li jiġu salvati mill-għarqa għandhom jiddaħħlu fl-eqreb port ...u dan anke jista’ jkun Malta.

Anzi, it-Taljani jmorru oltre minnhekk, għax isostnu li skont il-liġi dawk salvati jridu jiddaħħlu fil-port ta’ dak il-pajjiż li jkun responsabbli minn dik iż-żona tas-Safe and Rescue (SAR) fejn ikunu salvati.

Sintendi, dan jaqbel għat-Taljani għax kif spjegajt fl-aħħar kitba tiegħi, is-SAR ta’ Malta huwa vast, u ħafna mis-salvataġġi li jsiru jkunu qrib il-gżira Taljana ta’ Lampedusa, u allura suppost jidħlu hemm jew f’xi port Taljan. Bl-interpretazzjoni żbaljata tatTaljani dawn suppost jispiċċaw Malta.

Imsomma l-kobba mħabbla sewwa u m’hemmx dubju li din qed ikollha effett, mhux biss fl-isfera soċjali, edukattiva, ekonomika u kulturali tal-ħajja, imma wkoll fuq ix-xena politika, għax jaf li f’Malta jista’ jiġri bħal pajjiżi oħra fejn din is-sitwazzjoni wasslet li hemm partiti politiċi li huma kontra l-immigrazzjoni u li minħabba f’hekk kisbu vantaġġ politiku.

... u dawk li jiġu bl-ajru?

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eta jissemmew l-immigranti illegali, l-ewwel li jiġi f’moħħ xi Maltin imur għal dawk il-persuni x’aktarx ta’ karnaġġon, li jaslu Malta fuq xi dgħajsa jew wara li jiġu salvati minn xi vapur.

Iżda fil-fatt kif jiġri wkoll f’pajjiżi oħra, f’Malta jaslu wkoll għadd ta’ immigranti illegali permezz tal-ajru jew bil-kattamaran fis-servizz ta’ trasport bejn Malta u Sqallija.

Bejn l-2013 u l-2017 f’Malta nstabu 4,980 persuna li kienu fil-pajjiż b’mod illegali, blgħadd jinżel minn 2,435 fl-2013 għal 530 s-sena li għaddiet.

Dawn kienu mqassmin hekk: 545 Libjani, 425 Serbi u 330 Sirjan. Apparti dawn kien hemm 460 persuna oħra li twaqqfu f-Ajruport qabel irnexxielhom jidħlu Malta.

Matul is-sena li għaddiet kien hemm 140 Serb li daħlu f’Malta b’mod illegali. Kien hemmm wkoll 25 Libjan, 20 Filippin, 15il Indjan u ħames Sirjani.

Dawn ilkoll, meta nstabu, telqu lura minn jeddhom jew ġew deportati.

U sintendi, dawn huma biss dawk li nqabdu, għax bi-ftehim ta’ Schengen, ċittadini Ewropej bilkemm tkun taf li daħħlu filpajjiż.

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Niddependu mill-Barranin?

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ilwaqt li f’Malta hawn l-agħagħa kollha dwar d-dħul ta’ immigranti illegali, kif għedt f’paġna 14, grazzi għall-ekonomija qawwija li qed igawdi lpajjiż u tkabbir bla waqfien tal-postijiet tax-xogħol, id-dħul ta’ barranin f’Malta, laktar tal-ħaddiema, kulma jmur qed jiżdied.

Hu propju minħabba l-għadd ta’ barranin li l-popolazzjoni Maltija qed tikber filwaqt li t-twelid iżomm stabbli.

Kif ġie rrappurtat f’paġna 5 tal-aħħar ħarġa ta’ The Voice, rapport li ġie kkonfermat mill-estimi reċenti tal-Ġnus Magħquda, bħalissa l-popolazzjoni ta’ Malta hija ta’ ftit aktar minn 432,000. Dan ifisser li jekk ngħoddu l-ħaddiema biss li jinsabu f’pajjiżna u neskludu l-probabbilità li għadd minnhom fil-fatt għandhom tfal jew qraba magħhom, sa Diċembru tal-2017, 10% talpopolazzjoni Maltija, kienet barranija.

Sa tmiem is-sena li għaddiet f’Malta kien hawn 30,564 ħaddiem ġejjin minn pajjiż ieħor membru fl-Unjoni Ewropea (UE), filwaqt li 12,407 ħaddiema kienu ġejjin minn pajjiż terz, jiġifieri minn barra millUnjoni Ewropeja. Dawn f’daqqa jammontaw għal kważi 43,000 ħaddiem, preċiżament 42,971 ħaddiem barrani f’pa-

jjiżna.

F’dawn l-aħħar seba’ snin kien hemm madwar 23,000 persuni barranijn li ġew f’pajjiżna biex jaħdmu. Ma dawn iridu jiżdiedu dawk li ġew jgħixu f’pajjiżna, fosthom it-tfal ta’ dawn l-istess ħaddiema.

Ta’ min jgħid li l-akbar komunita` barranija f’Malta hija dik Taljana b’7,778 persuna, filwaqt li l-Fillippini huma l-akbar kommunita’ f’Malta li mhumiex ġejjin minn pajjiż tal-EU. Sal-aħħar tal-2017 Malta kellha 2,413-il ħaddiem minn dan il-pajjiż. Warajhom jiġu s-Serbi. il-Professur Godfrey Baldacchino sostna li, “Ir-rata tar-riproduzzjoni f’Malta hi baxxa u dan wassal għal tnaqqis fl-ammont ta’ wlied. Abbażi ta’ dan, il-popolazzjoni Maltija laħqet ċertu peak. Biex inżommu l-popolazzjoni stabbli qed niddependu fuq l-immigranti li qed joħolqu żieda netta fuq il-popolazzjoni. Dan hu lfenomenu li qed ngħixu bih illum.”

Jidher li donnu spiċċajna niddependu mill-barranin kemm minħabba l-ekonomija kif ukoll biex il-popolazzjoni ma tiċkienx minflok tikber.

Aktar minn €5m minfuqa f’kura għall-Maltin barra

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Il-barranin l-aktar li jħallu flus f’Għawdex?!

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kont statistika dwar l-infieq ta’ dawk li żaru Għawdex is-sena l-oħra, l-2017, minkejja li aktar Matin iżuru din il-gżira, huma t-turisti barranin li jħallu l-aktar flus hemmhekk. Dan minħabba li l-Maltin idumu inqas iljieli f’Għawdex mill-barranin.

Skont l-istess statistika s-sena l-oħra lMaltin ħallew €40 miljun f’Għawdex – żieda ta’ 9% fuq is-sena ta’ qabel.

Dawn il-figuri jieħdu in kunsiderazzjoni l-infieq ta’ flus fil-lukandi u stabbilimenti oħra, imma ma jinkludux infieq ieħor, fosthom f’xiri ta’ ħwejjeġ u oġġetti oħra li jsir mill-ħwienet Għawdxin. Fil-biċċa l-kbira ta’ dan ix-xiri jsir mill-Maltin u mhux millbarranin. Ħafna ftit jistgħu jniżżlu din l-istatistika minħabba li matul is-sena ftit huma ilMaltin li jitilgħu Għawdex biss għal-lejl, kif intqal fl-isttistika, anzi ġeneralment iqattgħu xi jumejn jew tlieta matul tmiem il-ġimgħa. Għalhekk jista jkun li attwalment huma l-Maltin li jħallu l-aktar flus f’Għawdex.

Sadanittant, skont ċifri maħruġa mill-Ufficju Nazzjonali tal-Istatistika, fit-tieni tlett xhur ta’ din is-sena, bejn April u Ġunju ftit iktar minn 1,535,000 passiġġier qasmu lfliegu bejn Malta u Għawdex, li jfisser żieda ta’ 8.5% fuq l-istess żmien tas-sena loħra. L-aktar xhur popolari jirriżulta li kien Mejju, li fih il-Gozo Channel ġarret 513,000 passiġġier.

Fl-istess tliet xhur, il-vapuri tal-Gozo Channel ġarrew ‘l fuq minn 400,000 vettura, żieda ta’ 7.4% fuq it-tieni kwart tal-2017 u fl-aħħar sitt xhur, f’5,776 vjaġġ ġarrew aktar minn 2,656,000 passiġġier, żieda ta’ 8.2%.

’Malta mat-800 każ fis-sena jkun jinħtieġ li l-pazjent jingħata kura barra mill-pajjiż.

Minn dawn, terz tal-pazjenti, fosthom 150 tfal, ikunu għal kura ta’ mard relatat ma’ kanċer. Terz ieħor minħabba hu mard tal-għajnejn, u xi oħrajn minħabba f’kundizzjonijiet tal-qalb u għal operazzjonijiet fil-moħħ.

Meta spjega li l-pazjenti jintbagħtu barra minn Malta għal kura fl-aktar ċentri speċjalizzati, id-Deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru tas-Saħħa Chris Fearne qal li s-sena l-oħra l-baġit għal trattamenti barra minn Malta, minn €1.5m fl-2013, żdied għal €5m is-sena.

Issa minn Ġunju li għadda l-Gvern beda jħallas l-ispejjeż għall-ivjaġġar tal-pazjenti kollha li jkollhom bżonn il-kura barra l-pajjiż. Din l-miżura li kienet wegħda elettorali tal-Partit Laburista hu stmat li se tiswa lill-gvern mal-kwart ta’ miljun ewro fis-sena.

Ministru qal li l-Gvern dejjem ħallas l-ispejjeż għall-kura, li jistgħu jkunu sostanzjali, anke f’kollaborazzjoni ma’ għadd ta’ NGOs. Kien ukoll jgħin biex jitħallsu lispejjeż tal-akkomodazzjoni. Imm’issa nħass li bħala Gvern jikkontribwixxu u jħallas kompletament l-ispejjeż tal-vjaġġi State Member for Prospect tal-ajru minn u lejn il-pajjiż fejn ikunu nbagħtu l-pazjent għall-kura.

For issues concerning: Qabel il-Gvern kien ikopri biss l-ispejjeż Ageing and disability - community għall-ivjaġġar tat-tfal u żewġ ġenituri u tal-pazjenti adulti skont il-mezzi; issa qed services -education - environment jagħmel tajjeb għall-pazjenti kollha. health - housing - planning - Police Din is-sena l-ispiża mistennija tiżdied transport - water minħabba, fost oħrajn li qed togħla lispiża għal trattamenti tal-ogħla kwalità.

P: (02) 9756 4766 Barraminhekk il-Ministru semma li E: prospect@parliament.nsw.gov.au minn żmien għal żmien jinġiebu Malta speċjalisti barranin ħalli jikkuraw lill-paz2/679 The Horsley Dr, Smithfield NSW 2164 jenti Maltin f’Malta stess.

Dr Hugh McDermott MP

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Vinnie chief sets sights on Parliament

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t Vincent de Paul national boss, Dr John Falzon (right) has announced he will join the race for Labor’s preselection for the seat of Canberra that is expected to take place in August.

However, Dr Falzon must first seek the endorsement of the party’s left faction.

Dr Falzon has dedicated his working life battling social exclusion, economic insecurity, inequality, housing, health, workers’ rights, and employment and welfare reform.

He has worked in academia, community development, research, advocacy, and served on a number of boards, including the Australian Council of Social Services, and Australian Social Inclusion Board.

His work has been recognised through a number of awards, including an Order of Australia Medal in 2015, and as an Australian Human Rights Medal finalist in 2014.

He has been national chief executive of the St Vincent de Paul Society since 2006.

Dr Falzon said he wanted to enter Parliament, as he believed in the “collective project to bring about a more just society”.

“It can’t be a pipe dream, it is only something governments can deliver, you need legislation to ensure that change,” he said.

“The kind of society Australians want to live in is a fair one. Opportunities shouldn’t depend on the size of your wallet; society should look out for everyone.

“It is important to have legislators in parliament who stand in solidarity with those seeking social change.”

To win preselection for Canberra’s third seat he will compete with an adviser to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Jacob Ingram, and greyhound lobbyist Kel Watt.

Australia’s part in Thai Cave rescue

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he efforts by 20 Australians who took part in the Thai Cave rescue, in particular Dr Richard “Harry” Harris, have received particular praise from acting Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotanakorn who described them as “The very best.”

Dr Harris, a 53-year-old Adelaide anaesthetist, swam 4km through cold, submerged tunnels to make contact with the stranded team and provide medical aid. It is understood he was the last person to come out of the cave after assisting the remaining four boys and their coach.

The Australian government singled him out, with a joint statement from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Defence Minister Marise Payne and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton praising him.

Call for inquiry into Australia’s population policy

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rominent Liberal backbencher Dean Smith is urging the Coalition government to establish an inquiry to evaluate immigration policy and its impact on Australia’s population.

The senator’s calls for a parliamentary inquiry or audit come after new Home Affairs data revealed Australia’s intake of permanent migrants fell short, and in fact it was its lowest level in 10 years under the Turnbull government.

Senator Smith said hitting the 25 million population mark this year was a “cause for celebration” because of the “modernity … cultures and practices” that came with a bigger country but the fact the country reached the milestone nine years earlier than predicted by the Howard government he Maltese-Australian priest Fr Rob Galea has modelling was a cause recorded the official English-language version of the for concern. theme song for next year's World Youth Day in Panama.

Labor leader Bill ShorThe song, Here I am, Servant of the Lord, was translated ten said the government from the original Spanish version and is sung by Fr Galea had been "asleep at the whose journey from troubled teen to Catholic priest has wheel" in allowing an become part of his distinctive evangelisation style. Also "explosion" in temporary singing on the video are Australian singers, Natasha and working visas, even Gary Pinto.

The anthem opens: “As your pilgrim people we are gaththough the permanent ered here today, from every continent and city, longing to migration rate had be true servants of the Lord, proclaiming your word to dropped. every nation. Teach us to say Yes, as Mary did that day, Australia took in 20,000 that you will be done as in heaven.” fewer permanent miFr Galea’s video shows scenes of Pope Emeritus Benedict grants in the financial XVI as well as Pope Francis at previous World Youth Days. year just passed than in Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann, head of the music and art the previous year, mostly department of World Youth Day, said: “World Youth Day thanks to a 12,000 cut in is an international and multilingual event. We must not forskilled visa places and an get that even if half of the participants will speak Spanish, 8,000 cut in family visas. the other half understand English, French, Italian or PorTotal permanent migratuguese.” tion in Australia fell to The different national language versions of the anthems around 163,000 – well are on the official YouTube channel for Panama 2019. below the cap of The 34th World Youth Day takes place from January 22 190,000, which has not to 27 January next year in Panama. been changed.

Fr Robert again in the news

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While visiting Malta Stay at: The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema

Email: sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) 23497000

18 The Voice of the Maltese

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Tuesday July 24, 2018

he National Council of Priests of Australia, with 1700 members, rejects new laws announced in South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and Western Australia – which would require priests to break the seal of confession in cases relating to child abuse.

NCPA chairman Fr Jim Clarke, a canon lawyer and parish priest of St Mary of the Angels in Geelong, said his members stood firmly behind the practice and tradition of the Church.

“The sacramental seal is inviolable. No priest can break that sacred trust,” he said. “When priests sit and hear the confessions of parishioners they are sitting as the Lord, through the ministry of the Church.

“We hold that to be a sacred trust as part of our ordination commitments. “So we are against any movement by any civil authority to expect priests to divulge anything from a penitent.”

Brisbane parish priest Fr Scot Armstrong, who chairs the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, representing 600 priests, said the new laws would not help protect children.

He said his organisation’s executive regarded the new laws as impractical as well as unacceptable in principle. They attempted, erroneously, to link confession with a culture of concealment.

“If, for example, the penitent confesses from behind a screen, how can the confessor know for certain who is confessing? Or, how can the penitent be certain the confessing priest is who he or she thinks he is? Or, how will a conviction beyond reasonable doubt be secured except by police entrapment?” he said.

“Priests cannot and will not follow such a law. The intention to protect children and vulnerable adults is thwarted by the ill-judged nature of the legislation which indicates a radically inadequate understanding of the sacrament.’’

Fr Clarke agreed, noting that the psychological profile of a child

‘No priest can break the sacred trust of the confessional’

sex abuser meant they would be highly unlikely to confess their sin before a priest, “because a bona fide sexual abuser does not believe they are doing anything wrong”.

Ordination of Charles Gauci

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he episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Charles Gauci as the Bishop of Darwin will take place at St Mary's Cathedral, Darwin, on September 26.

Pope Francis appointed Bishopelect Gauci the next Bishop of Darwin on June 27. Up until this appointment, he was the administrator of Adelaide's St Francis X a v i e r ’s Cathedral.

The Diocese announced that Bishop-elect Gauci had asked retiring Darwin Bishop Euservice to the broadcast media and multi- gene Hurley to be Principal Consecrator, with cultural affairs as an executive, innovator Adelaide Apostolic Administrator and Port and business leader".

Pirie Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ and Perth AuxIn 2017, he won The CEO Magazine's iliary Bishop Donald Sproxton (Auxiliary for CEO of the Year award. the Perth Archdiocese), as co-consecrators.

"Serving as the SBS Managing Director The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Adolfo has been a real honour and privilege and I Tito Yllana will preside. depart feeling confident that this is the Maltese Gauci was born in Floriana; his right time for a new managing director to father is from Ħamrun and his mother from take the organisation forward."

Paola. He came to Australia when he was Mr Ebeid will depart SBS on 1 October. 13. He is the first Adelaide diocesan priest His successor is yet to be announced. to be ordained a bishop in 45 years, Under his leadership the Maltese commuHe will return to Adelaide to celebrate a nity did not fare that well especially in Mass of Thanksgiving at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on Sunday, October 7.

SBS radio.

SBS top gun steps down BS's ManS aging Director Michael

Ebeid (left) is stepping down after seven years at the helm. He has worked in the role since June 2011.

He said that his decision to step down has been one of the most difficult decisions he has hade to make. “I absolutely love this place and what it stands for… SBS is very much a family,” he said.

Under Mr Ebeid's leadership, SBS launched On Demand, along with the Food Network and NITV free-to-air. He also struck an exclusive content deal with VICE as well as securing rights agreements for the FIFA World Cup and Tour de France and deals for the English Premier League and A-League.

Mr Ebeid told staff: "What we do makes a difference to people's lives and helps shapes the society in which we live. SBS is the strongest it has been in over 40 years.

He went on to say, “We are more relevant than ever and we are ready for the future. Considering the struggle of societies globally to integrate diverse communities harmoniously, SBS today performs a critical role in the Australian community.”

Mr Ebeid was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours for "significant

Tagħrif dwar il-kitba Maltija The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday July 24, 2018

ktar regoli u tagħrif uffiċjali dwar kif wieħed għandu jikteb il-Malti. Dan skont Akif maħruġ mill-Kummissjoni fi ħdan l-Akkademja tal-ilsien Malti f’Malta.

Il-PARTIĊELLI

W jew u, imma, jew, ma, inkella (= sa-in-kien-iltilâ), 67. Il-Partiċelli, fil-Malti, jitqassmu fi prepożizzjonijiet, li, likien (Għarbija lûkân), konġunzjonijiet, avverbji u oħrajn, fosthom interjezzjonijiet. jekk, li kieku li, li ma u Dawn jistgħu jkunu magħżulin u magħqudin. oħrajn.

Prepożizzjonijiet – Il-prepożizzjonijiet huma: Avverbji – L-avverbji Bi, fi, ’l jew lil (’il), xi (x), ax, xin, minn, għal, fuq, isfel, taħt, huma: qabel, għand, għajr, ma(għ), ta(għ), sa, ħlief, kif, għand, bla, qudFejn (minn fi ajn jew ejn), diem, bejn, wara, barra, ġewwa, lemin (minn il-jemin), ħdej jew haw, hawn, hawna, hawnħdejn, lejn u oħrajn. hekk, hinn, minn, mbagħad, Biċċa minnhom jingħaqdu ma’ partiċelli oħrajn jew ma’ qabel ma, mindu, qatt, meta, pronomi u jsiru kelma waħda jew jidhru f’qawl ta’ żewġ il-bieraħ jew ilbieraħ, kemm, le, la, leqq, iva, kelmiet magħżulin: Għajr li (flok għajr illi), minflok (flok minn f’lok), għalhekk, iwa (minn aj = ajja), ma, fl-aħħar jew għaldaqstant, fost (flok fi wast), ilu, ilha, ilhom, ilna, ilkom, għáda, għadilli, mingħajr, mintaħt, bih, bihom, lilu, lilek, fih, fik, fiha, flaħħar, kif ma u oħrajn, xinhu, minnu, minnha, għalik, għalihom, fuqek, fuqkom, taħtu, fosthom xejn (minn xitaħthom, qabilna, qabilkom, għandu, għandha, għajru, qud- ejn), bejn (minn bi-ejn). diemhom, minfloku, bejnu, bejniet (flok bejnât), bejnietkom (u Partiċelli oħra – Aktar jew mhux bejnitkom), warajh (jew wrajh), fostkom, fostna (bil- iktar, anqas jew inqas, għála, pronom fil-plural), ħdejh, lejh, ħliefu, ħliefha, għâdu, għadha, għax, bosta, biss, darba, mingħajru u oħrajn. dlonk, ewwilla, ftit, hekk, hemm, jaqaw, isa, kieku, mêla jew méla Konġunzjonijiet – Il-konġunzjonijiet magħżulin, magħqudin (minn imma lâ), immêla jew imméla, minn mindu, mqâr, ukoll, u mħalltin huma: wisq, issa, iżda, iżjed, ja, saħansitra (minn ħatta ħin satra), għalli, għaliex, billi, flimkien, kallajamar (flok jekk Alla jamar), jista’ jkun, kollu wieħed, ilbiraħtlula (flok il-bieraħt l-ula minn el-bariħât el-ula, Hava), pitgħada (minn bagħad għada), għamnewwel (minn għâm l-ewwel), l-ewl iemes (minn ewl-âmes jew ewwel âmes), mta (flok minn ta’).

Printed copies of The Voice of the Maltese available at your home by mail

Aktar regoli u tifsir fil-ħarġa li jmiss.

MCCV celebrates 60 years of service to the community

L

W

e are now in a position to arrange for you to receive a printed full-colour hard copy of The Voice of the Maltese at home every fortnight (24 publications) at the low cost of $120.

(Australia only, other countries by request).

A printed copy would be an ideal present for mum, dad or a relative who either do not have Internet access or are not computer literate.

If interested, contact us on: maltesevoice@gmail.com for further information.

We are not only an online publication, but also print on demand.

ast Saturday (July 21), the Maltese Community Council of Victoria celebrated 60 years of service to the Maltese community with a Cocktail Party at the Maltese Community Centre in Parkville, during which, it also presented the Maltese Community Awards for 2017.

Members of the Maltese community along with their families and friends attended the event tat started with a Mass at St Paul’s Chapel, Parkville.

The MCCV was founded on July 6 1958 on the initiative of the Austral-Malta Association. Initially, the council was composed of one or two delegates from the following organisations: Austral-Malta Association, Maltese Settlers Association, Malta Migrants Catholic Association, Melita Social Club, Melfare Club, George Cross Soccer Club, Melita Soccer Club, St. Fidelis Soccer Club, Ex-service Association, 17th Melbourne 1st Malta Boys Scouts Group, Star of the Sea Dramatic Company, and the monthly publication “Malta”.

The officials chosen to form the first Executive Committee of the MCCV were: President: Mr. Paul Paris, V/Presidents: Major J.M. Vella and Mr. J. Galea; Secretary: Mr. F. St. Angelo; Ass. Secretary: Mr. J. Zammit; Treasurer: Mr. D. Puli; Ass. Treasurer: Mr. P. Madiona; PRO: Mr. J. Zammit; Ass. PRO: Mr. J. Briffa. Messrs B. Busuttil and G. Deguara were declared Auditors (Full report in the next issue)

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 24, 2018

The members of the Central Coast club at the general meeting

Central Coast Maltese Social & Recreational Club holds its AGM

he Annual General Meeting of the Central Coast MalT tese Social & Recreation Club expressed its trust in the previous committee and re-elected its members unopposed for 2018/19. The committee will therefore be composed of: President: Joe Vassallo, Secretary: Censina Cefai, Ass/Secretary: Lorraine Vassallo, Treasurer: Spiro Galea, and mem-

bers E. Refalo, C.Galea, and P.Refalo.

Emanuel Pisani, who also acted as returning officer, chaired the meeting at the Wyong Youth & Community Hall.

Any new Maltese residents to the Central Coast interested in joining the club are being requested to get in touch with the secretary on 0414 267 652.

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

he Australian High Commission’s in Malta has its own Facebook page, while T the High Commissioner has a Twitter account. Both be accessed by the readers.

Community Wheels Inc.

The High Commission’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AusHCMalta/ The Commissioner’s Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/AusHCMalta

Connecting you with your community

Community Wheels is your local community organisation that provides door-to-door transport services to eligible people (+65 years old etc.) to: * attend medical appointments * go shopping (including assisting clients with their shopping bags) * meet a friend for a chat or coffee, and *go on bus tours etc. Available in the Parramatta City Council and parts of Cumberland Council areas. For information call 88681400

GRUPP FESTA SANTA MARIJA

Sydney: 2018 ANNUAL DINNER DANCE

SATURDAY AUGUST 4 at the Balmoral Centre BLACKTOWN: 6.20p.m. With a four-course meal.

ENTERTAINMENT to be provided by CHARLIE MUSCAT and THE BRANDY BAND. SPECIAL GUEST: KATLYN VELLA, and introducing young NATASHA TATARINOFF. In attendance: OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE band.

SUNDAY AUGUST 5: The FESTA at La VALETTE Social Centre. 2.00 pm: Mass with the MCA CHOIR A variety show by Charles Muscat, Wayne Place and Natasha Tartarinoff. Club opens at 1.00 p.m.

Maltese food and drinks served at the restaurant and bar.

For more information and tickets: AGNES: 029626 6753 Mobile: 0432 714 735; GREF: 0411 517 187

L-MCCV qed jilqa’ applikazzjonijiet għal għalliem/a tal-ilsien Malti

Min japplika jrid ikollu għarfien sew tal-Malti, miktub u mitkellem.

Dan hu xogħol volontarju, bla ħlas.

Min hu interessat jibgħat l-applikazzjoni bid-dettalji akkademiċi lil: edwigeborg@hotmail.com Għal tagħrif ieħor ċempel fuq 0412 115 919. Ħalli nnumru tattelefon u nċemplulek lura

Be better informed and prepare for your future Another information session on Wednesday August 15 at La Valette Social Centre

175 Walters Road Blacktown NSW at 7.30 pm

(after the mass at the Chapel) Subject: Highlight of the Federal Budget 2018

Downsizing your Home: Is this the right move for you?

Guest speaker:

Ms Marie-Louise Muscat

(Fiducian Financial Services Tel: 9231 213)

Free entrance

Organised by the Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday July 24, 2018

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

The Ċittadini

present direct from Malta:

Malta’s Queen of Country Music

Also brilliant comedy by The Cittadini: Is-Senduq in Sydney on October 14 at 2pm at the Wentworthville League Club

For tickets phone: Monica Ledger: 9896 0712 or 0414 859386; Joe Borg: 96 242280; Julie Farrugia: 96 367679; Dorothy Gatt: 96 361834.

Donation of $20. Kids: $12

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2018

Sunday October 14 : Fete Saturday Nov. 10: Dinner Dance Sunday Dec. 2: St Nicholas Feast

Events are held at the Good Shepherd parish hall, 130-136 Hyatts Road, Plumpton NSW

Xagħra Association of NSW Annual Tal-Vitorja Dinner Dance on Saturday, September 15

Guest of Honour: Fr Anthony Bajada

Come and join us at Balmoral Function Centre, 47-49 Balmoral Rd, BLACKTOWN from 6:30pm onwards 5-Course Meal, beer, wine & soft drinks, tea/coffee Entertainment by Roc-A-Tac & Giuseppe Verdi Brass Band

Contact: Josephine/Ray: 9627 4182 or 0439 974 182; Vicki Micallef: 0425 210 436

L-aħbarijiet PBS (Malta)

Il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tagħha, imma l-qarrejja xorta mħeġġa biex jidħlu fil-website tal-istazzjon Malti: www.tvm.com.mt. għall-aħbarijiet kemm bil-Malti u bl-Ingliż

Il-website hi aġġornata tul il-jum kollu għalhekk wieħed jista’ jieħu stampa ta’ li jkun qed iseħħ

Ħamrun Club

(100 Jackson Street, Marsden Park NSW 2765)

San Gejtanu Festa DINNER DANCE

Saturday August 11 at 6.p.m.

3-course meal, drinks included.

TICKETS: Members $55; Guests $60

Sunday 12: FIREWORKS (Free event)

For tickets, and more details contact: Joe Borg 0414 429 391; or Rita (0409 640 164)

Xagħra Assoc of NSW Inc: Fr Anthony Bajada NSW Programme

Sept 13: 7:30pm: Celebrates welcome Mass @ St John the Evangelist Riverstone Sept 14: 7:00pm Concelebrates mass @ Horsley Park Church Sept 14: 7:00pm: Guest of Honour @ Annual tal-Vitorja Dinner Dance, Balmoral Function Centre, 49 Balmoral Road, Blacktown. Tickets refer to contacts below Sept 16: 2.00 pm: Horsley Park Festa: Procession with Statue of Our Lady of Victories.

3:00pm: Concelebrates Mass @ Horsley Park Church - Our Lady of Victories.

Sept 18: 7:00am: Outing to Wollongong – Bus will be organised, refer to contacts below Sept 20: 10:15am: Mass for the Elderly who meet weekly for respite @ La Valette SC Sept 21: 7:30pm: Mass @ St John the Evangelist Riverstone Sept 22 6:00pm: Celebrates Vigil Mass @ Our Lady Queen of Peace - Greystanes 7:20 pm: La Valette SC to meet the Maltese community who socialize there Sept 23: 7:00 pm: Ħamrun Club to meet the Maltese community who socialize there Sept 28: 7:30 pm: Celebrates Farewell Mass @ St John the Evangelist – Riverstone Sept 30: 7:00 am: Outing for the day, Bundeena Ray/Josephine Bigeni: 9627 4182 or 0439 974 182 Vicki Micallef: 0425 210 436

La Valette Social Centre

La Valette Social Centre Inc. 175 Walters Road, Blacktown Tel. 96225847’ Email: lavalette@bigpond.net.au

The La Valette Social Centre is organising two special bus trips

Sunday August 12: Bus for the Festa ta’ Santa Marija at the Central Coast Cost $30 includes coach & morning tea. Bus leaves Greystanes 8 am and at 8.30 am from the Centre.

Sunday September 9: Bus to St Mary’s Cathedral for the Festa tal- Bambina. Bus leaves the Centre at 12pm and Old Prospect Rd Greystanes at 12.30 pm.

Cost $20Everybody is wlecome Contact Frances 0412320432 or the Centre 9622 5847

Stedina...

Il-Fathers Maltin tal-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Sydney jistiednu lill-Komunita` Maltija, u l-familji għall-festa tradizzjonali fid-9 ta’ Settembru:

tal-Vitorja

Fis-2.30 pm: Il-purcissjoni fejn jingħad ir-Ruzarju, u wara tibda l-quddiesa fil-Katidral ta’ St Mary’s College Street Sydney.

Dawk li għandhom xi għaqda, mistiedna jieħdu magħhom ilbnadar jew standardi tal-għaqda.

Familji li għandhom xi tfal jew żgħazagħ li jkunu jridu jilbsu xi kostum Malti jew tal-preċett, u jimxu fil-purcissjoni, iċemplu lil: Antoinette Mascari 9899 1938.

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday July 24, 2018

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

Tu n e i n t o Ra d i o a n d Te l e v i s i o n

MELBOURNE: on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5-6 pm, Fridays 5-6 pm and Saturdays 10-11am.

MELBOURNE: on 98.9 North West FM, every Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. and Mondays 7.00 to 8.00pm. Presenter: Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Merħba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Tuesdays and Fridays: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS 2.

On Demand: Ethnic Maltese Council 11am)

Il-Ħadd 11.00 am: l-aħħar aħbarijiet minn Malta, mużika, tagħrif, kultura, avviżi u suġġetti ta’ interess.

UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com

To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip.

Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV.

SBS MALTESE NEWS: L-Aħbarijiet on SBSTV twice a week nationwide; Sunday 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32) Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBSTV32.

SYDNEY: listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3.

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bil-Malti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq listazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. (Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet: www.893fm.com.au)

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors

month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Meets on the last Tuesday of the Month. Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

Group meets in Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights at Maltese of Bankstown 10 am.

Group meets 3rd Wednesday of month in the Bank-stown CBD area.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast Every other 3rd Thursday an outing.

Have to contact our Welfare Officer for Enquiries call: Sam 9534 2357 an appointment. For all information and referral matters call Censina Cefai: 02 Greystanes Maltese Seniors 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652 Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of Daceyville Maltese Seniors OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Meets the last Wednesday of the mon- Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon th in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 GenThe Sutherland & St George eral Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips

Join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors

Maltese Group

Meets every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm.

Meetings/Get Togethers are interestMeets every second Friday of the ing, informative & entertaining, so month: Miller Room, Memorial Av- come Join us and make new Friends enue Merrylands from 10.30am to For more information contact our Co12.30 am ordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

*(All Groups are co-ordinated by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with a sponsorship from Multicultural NSW. Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863 123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School).

SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38.

Programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at: sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app.

For television news from Malta SBS2 TV 32 ( (Viceland) on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired on Thursdays every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm.

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Web streaming: www.coastfm.org.au BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm

Central Coast

Santa Maria Festa Day

Celebrated at St Mary MacKillop Church Warnevale (Cn Minnesota & Sparks Road Woongarrah).

Friday August 10: 11 am: the new statue will be placed next to the sanctuary.

Sunday August 12: 3 pm: Solemn Mass and blessing of the new statue of Santa Maria.

4pm: Procession with the statue in the parish grounds followed by the congregation.

Tuggerah Lakes Show Band will entertain until the fireworks display at 6 pm.

Tea, coffee and drinks sold.

Sunny Confectionery in attendance.

The Santa Maria Festa Committee welcomes you all.

For more information contact Charlie on: O404 194020

The Voice of the Maltese 23

S po r ts.. on 2 pages

Tuesday July 24, 2018

A World Cup full of surprises and underdogs J ust over a week since France won the 21st FIFA World Cup in Russia, the tournament that was full of surprises, is already history. However, France will keep on celebrating their second world title for a while. The win at the Luzhniki Stadium arrived 20 years after their first at home in 1998. The latest success on July 15 came at the end of a breathless final in Moscow that ended battling Croatia's dream of a first title with a 4-2 victory.

Every football fan knows how it all happened, therefore, for records’ sake, here’s just a short account of how the final turned out. France led 2-1 at halftime after a Mario Mandzukic own goal and an Antoine Griezmann VAR penalty. Ivan Perisic briefly brought first-time finalists Croatia level.

Quickfire strikes by Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe midway through the second half put France on course for the title but Mandzukic was gifted a goal by French keeper Hugo Lloris to set up a nervous last 20 minutes.

A look back to the 2018 edition that Russia hosted to the highest standard, hailed as a stupendous occasion and the best thus far, gives the impression that it was a competition of the underdogs, with the defeat of former Champions Germany by South Korea getting the nod as the most surprising of results. It was also the third edition in a row that the reigning champions, this time Germany, had failed to qualify from the group stage.

Russia, the lowest ranked team in the competition defeating Spain, and Croatia beating Argentina on their way to the final were also results that few could have envisaged.

Iran were a late goal way from knocking out Portugal, Mexico sprang an early surprise before their customary last-16 exit, and Poland, ranked eighth in the world, were

comfortably the worst team in their group.

If the most recent FIFA rankings before the competition started are used to ascribe a favourite to each match, of the 64 games in the tournament, 21 have been won by the underdog - a staggering 34 per cent. Add to that 10 draws, and the favourites have only prevailed 50 per cent of the time.

The most startling of these losses was Russia's Round of 16 victory over 10thplaced Spain. Russia, at 70th in the world, saw off a side 60 places above them in the rankings, but thanks to Spain's impotence that disparity mattered little.

What's more, these figures are significantly higher than in previous tournaments. Brazil 2014 saw only half the amount of underdog wins at 17 per cent, while South Africa 2010 was only slightly higher at 20 per cent.

But where World Cup 2018 truly excels itself is in the unpredictability of the knockout stage, where the lower-ranked team won 57 per cent matches, including five of the eight second-round games and both semi-finals. In comparison, 2014 and 2010 saw only 19 per cent and 13 per cent of knockout games go against the rankings.

Is it because smaller teams might just be more motivated than the larger footballing nations, or that the gap in quality between the top international teams has narrowed?

Didier Deschamps becomes the third coach in history to have won the title as a player and coach. Mario Zagalo (Brazil) and Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) are the others. *2018 shattered records for penalties and own goals at a World Cup. There were 29

French team captain, Hugo Lloris (holding World Cup trophy) and team-mates celebrate win with French President Emmanuel Macron

A look back

Luka Modric (left) and Kylian Mbappe

penalties awarded and 22 scored. When it comes to own goals there were 12, including the one in the final by Mario Mandzukic (Croatia). It was the only own goal scored in a final since the birth of the competition in 1930. *The 64 matches produced 169 goals, an average of 2.6 goals per match. Belgium were the highest scorers with 16. *The introduction of VAR was a success.

It also meant that red cards were rarer than expected, as only four were shown. There were also 219 yellow cards shown. *Despite playing 545 minutes for France, Olivier Giroud did not have a single shot on target at this World Cup. That is a record. Since 1966, no player has had more attempts in a single tournament without getting one on target *The French goalkeeper’s blunder in Croatia’s second goal is added to another three made earlier in the tournament by David De Gea (Spain), Willy Caballero (Argentina), and Fernando Musiera (Uruguay).

Croatia’s Luka Modric was named for the Golden Ball Award, while France’s Kylian Mbappe got the Young Player Award. It means that at the end of the competition, the great Brazilian Pele now has an heir, as Mbappe became the second teenager to score in a World Cup final. Pele became the first in Brazil’s 5-2 win over Sweden in 1958.

England’s Harry Kane with six goals topped the scorers’ list to win the Golden Boot Award, while Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois won the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

Russia have now handed over the role of World Cup hosts to Qatar, therefore now it is Qatar’s turn to organise it in 2022. The next World Cup will be held in Qatar from 21 November 21 December 18 2022.

24 The Voice of the Maltese

S po r t s.. on 2 pages

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Maltese clubs in UEFA competitions

Balzan keep Malta’s flag flying in Europe

B

alzan managed to keep the Maltese flag flying in the UEFA club competitions on Thursday when they managed a historical 5-3 aggregate goals victory in Azerbaijan against Kesla that put them through to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League where they now meet Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava.

UEFA Europa League

BALZAN v Kesla (Azerbaijan) 4-1, 1-2 (agg. 5-3)

Balzan suffered a lot of pressure in the return leg in Azerbaijan, and their boat really rocked when Cesar Meza Colli scored from a penalty (10 mins.) to put Kesla ahead.

Kesla came within one goal away from qualification when they doubled their lead through Slavik Alkhasov a minute into added time, but with goalkeeper Sultana at his best, deep into stoppage time Andrija Majdevac made doubly sure of qualification with Balzan’s only goal. He also received a second yellow card and was red carted for excessive jubilation.

Balzan had already put themselves in pole position at the end of the first leg in Malta when they won beat Kesla 4-1 with goals

by Alfred Effiong (12 mins.), Alex Alves (21), Bojan Kaljevic (33rd) and Kadu (56th). Kesla had pulled a goal back from a Cesar Colli penalty (27th minute).

F

GŻIRA UTD v Radnicki NIS (Serbia) v 0-4, 0-1 (agg. 0-5)

ollowing their qualification from the first qualifying round, Gzira came a cropper in the second in the Europa League as they were eliminated with a 5-0 aggregate score by Serbia’s Radnicki NIS. Gzira had already lost the first leg 4-0.

In the return in Malta Radnički took the lead inside four minutes from a Radovan

Balzan as they lined up in their return game in Azerbaijan against Kesla

Pankov header and dominated the match for a deserved win.

In the first leg Radnicki won 4-0 with goals

by Radovan Pankov (24th), Nerim Haskic (53 and 85 mins), and Marko Mrkic (62).

UEFA Champions League: Valletta knocked out on away goals rule

M

VALLETTA v Kukes (Albania) 0-0, 1-1 (agg.1-1)

alta Champions Valletta’s participation in this season’s UEFA Champions League ended in failure when Kukes of

Malta no match for Europe’s top teams at European Waterpolo Championships

F

or the second successive edition, as a top 16 team in Europe, Malta are once again participating in the LEN European Waterpolo Championships being held in Barcelona. But as expected, particularly in the group stage the players were found wanting against the game’s top teams and could not avoid overwhelming defeats.

As such they finished the Group B fixtures with three defeats, against Spain (21-4), Montenegro 17-3) and France (12-6), for an overall total of 50 goals conceded and only 15 scored.

Then on Sunday Malta played for placing 13-14 but again lost to a superior outfit in Slovakia who won 11-6. In the final match on Tuesday Malta will take on Turkey in the 15th-16th-place match a bid to avoid bottom place, 16th.

Sunshine George Cross get a point at the death

A

NPL Vic: Green Gully v Melbourne K. 0-1 Green Gully v Northcote City 0-1 gainst Melbourne Knights Green Gully failed to score for the third successive match. This inability is causing major concern. It was a very open game with both sides having their chances, with Gully going down to an 18th minute goal from a penalty. *Green Gully were made to rue for their missed opportunities, as Northcote's Gerrie Sylaidos cut in from the right to score what proved to be the winning goal (51 minutes).

It was a blow Gully could not recover from after controlling the match for long periods

Albania eliminated them in the first qualifying round with the away goals rule after the return match in Malta ended 1-1.

Following their scoreless draw in the away first leg, in Malta Valletta missed qualification to an 82nd goal Irakli Dzaria who levelled Valletta’s tally scored by Malano (67 mins.)

Valletta now switch competitions to play in the 2nd qualifying round of the Europa League against HSK Zrinjski (BIH) with the first leg in Boznia Herz. on July 27.

S

NPL 2 West: Werribee C v SGC 3-3 S George Cross v St Albans SSC 0-1 unshine George Cross grabbed an 89th minute equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 encounter at Werribee City. They led from a Ben Marrone goal (7th). Werribee retaliated with two goals, but David Younan made it 2-2 at the break. Werribee regained the lead (71) but the Georgies under new coach Vaughn Coveny got a deserved point again through Marrone. *George Cross had to play with only 10 men after Brandon Scerri’s dismissal when St Albans’ scored their goal (40th). SGC’s David Younan missed a penalty 86th).

NPL 2 NSW

An eight-goal thriller

P

arramatta’s away game against GHFA Spirit last Saturday produced eight goals with the two sides shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw. After last weeks’ defeat that arrived after a two-match unbeaten sequence, Parrramatta again avoided defeat that however did them little good in the classification. Each team had a player sent off; Parramatta’s was Jack Musgrove.

Hussein Jasli, Matthew Lecce with 2, and Neram Yalda were Parramatta’s scorers In the previous match at the Melita Stadium Parramatta lost 3-0 to high-flying Central Coast Mariners.