The Voice of the Maltese No. 116

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

Issue 116

o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e

in 5 1 0 2 C H O G M v i s i te d M alt a re

Part of the spectacular show by Maltese artists at the official opening of CHOGM

December 8, 2015

HM Queen Elizabeth II and heads of government pose for a group picture during the opening of the CHOGM 2015 in Malta

Maltese Prime Minster Joseph Muscat attentively listening to the Queen as she addressed the CHOGM participants at the official dinner.

LEFT: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (on right) facing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at an official dinner on the sideline of the Heads of State Conference, CHOGM in Malta.

Both also had a special meeting with the Queen who wanted to make acquaintance of the new Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth whom she had never met before.

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Changing regulations about property in Malta D

o you own property in Malta?

If so, according to some reports in the newspapers in Malta, there seems to be some risk that someone might build on your property without your permission.

A few weeks ago the Times of Malta (October 5) published an article stating that: “As part of the changes to planning legislation, government is proposing to remove the requirement for developers to obtain the landowner’s consent when applying to develop land which is not theirs, leaving only the obligation for the owner to be notified.”

Along the same lines, Malta Today (November 25) under the heading: "New law would allow development applications on someone else’s land, said: “If approved as it is, the new planning law resurrects the prospect of people applying for development on other people’s property without seeking their consent.”

No doubt such information can lead to a considerable amount of anxiety among property owners. In particular, this is of interest to many of us migrants who have some difficulty in keeping up with what is going on in Malta. The last thing we want is to find, on one of our occasional visits to Malta, that someone has actually built a villa on our plot of land without we knowing about it!

But what is the fuss all about? If one looks at the proposed Bill, Development Planning Bill 107) which is currently being discussed in Parliament in Malta we read (Article 71(4): When the applicant is not the owner of the site,...... the applicant must still notify the owner of his intention to apply by means of a registered letter, a notified copy of which must also be sent to the Planning Board.

It would appear from the wording of this Bill that, as long as the applicant provides evidence that s/he had sent a registered letter to the owner, that is sufficient for a permit to be issued. One would have expected that

MauriceCauchi what is required is that evidence is presented to the Planning Board that a permit has actually be granted by the owner before the applicant is given permission to go ahead.

It is obvious that stricter criteria must be applied to ensure that an owner is not deprived of his land through lack of communication. This is particularly the case for those of us living overseas where it could be quite difficult to be aware that such applications have been made with the Planning Board. It would appear that the Board has no obligation to inform the owner that such applications had been made.

Related to this we find restrictions of time available to make objections to any decisions made by the Board. It is obvious that it might take a considerable time to correspond from Australia and from other places around the world, the time allowed for objections, and this is also something which the Board must take into consideration.

More and more we find that postal services especially from Australia to Malta are being delayed, and it is not the first time that a letter, even a registered letter, has taken a couple of weeks to reach us. This could make it more difficult for an adequate response, including objections to be made in time.

It is therefore important for those owning property in Malta to be aware of these suggested changes, if they are eventually approved by Parliament.

In particular, if you receive registered letters from Malta, you should make sure to take advice and deal with them promptly.

We shall make it a point to follow this issue over the next months and bring you up-to-date with decisions that have been taken regarding this problem.

Editorial comment: he Voice has asked for further clarification on this matter and therefore TWhen adds the following: an application for development is initially submitted to MEPA, appli-

cants need to list their personal details.

Applicant also sign a declaration stating his/her legal right and true ownership of the property. If the applicant is not the owner or only part owner, he/she needs to declare that the true owner or co-owners have been informed by registered mail and a consent has been granted. At this stage of the application process, MEPA fails to verify the veracity of the information provided.

Basically, an application for development could potentially be submitted without verifiable proof of property ownership. However such cases are almost non-existent or extremely rare.

The disconnect takes place when ownership is contested. MEPA still takes the position that legal verification of ownership is not in MEPA's remit but it belongs in a Court Of Law. This is where the bone of contention lies.

Proof of ownership to support the declaration has to be part of the initial application process. If resolution on legal property ownership cannot be agreed to or achieved, the case would then and not before, be referred to the Courts of Law. Furthermore if property ownership is being contested, MEPA should not accept an application until property ownership is resolved.

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Malta still far from being a multicultural society A

study suggests that Malta still has some way to go before becoming a multicultural society.

The study was conducted by Dr Gordon Sammut, a lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Malta and presented at the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, titled, ‘Multicultural Matters: Diversity, Policy and Ideology’.

The lecture that was delivered by Professor Colleen Ward a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Applied Crosscultural Research, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand was organised by the Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at the University of Malta, Dr Sammut’s research shows, that although Maltese endorse the princi-

Dr Gordon Sammut

ples of multiculturalism, they have few friends from different cultural backgrounds.

It further indicates that diversity is not generally seen as an asset; negative perceptions of Arabs are widespread, and that two-thirds of Maltese agree that immigration threatens Maltese culture.

Meanwhile, during her lecture, Professor Ward noted, “multiculturalism has not failed in Europe because true multiculturalism has never been achieved.”

Whilst some world leaders have decried the failure of multiculturalism, Professor Ward maintained, “Multiculturalism is not just about having a diverse population. Rather, a multicultural society is one where diversity is valued and seen as enriching and where diversity is supported by policies and programmes that ensure equity across all cultural groups.”

Professor Ward also noted that many European societies have not achieved multiculturalism but have instead managed cultural diversity through a framework of strong assimilationist policies. She added that multiculturalism is typically blamed for the shortcomings of efforts at assimilating minority groups.

She said that assimilation is,

Professor Colleen Ward

in its turn, typically misconstrued as integration, requesting minority groups to change their cultural customs and practices to those that suit the dominant population.

Professor Ward’s research, conducted in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, shows that the experiences of “everyday multiculturalism,” particularly contact and equity across ethnic and cultural groups and a general appreciation of diversity, are linked to positive outcomes for both individuals and society – greater wellbeing and greater social cohesion.

She suggested that multiculturalism can be promoted by programmes that encourage intercultural contact and dialogue, policies that support cultural diversity, equitable participation, public education to inform citizens about the complex nature of multiculturalism, and positive portrayals of multiculturalism in the media.

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4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

The introduction of Ration Cards D

MALTA: Echoes from the past DorisCannataci

ue to the fact that there was a great shortage of food on the island during World War II, some of it caused by people hoarding away large stocks of goods, , the Maltese Government introduced the socalled ration cards which were also used in connection with Victory Kitchens.

It was in February 1941 that the Government decided to start a ration system on a national scale in order to ensure that food was distributed to everyone and also to conserve the supply. The ration cards by which one could get basic food commodities such as tea, coffee, butter, corned beef, oil, tinned food, kerosene etc., were issued to everybody. Fresh vegetables were also scarce and meat was as rare as caviar! Milk was only available for babies and young children, hospitals and pregnant women.

A Rationing Office was established; and rationing regulations were implemented on November 13, 1942. Every family was entitled to a ration card that was issued under the name of the head of the family, usually the father.

It showed the number of persons in each family. Ration was available every 15 days.

But what was the connection between the ration card and the Victory Kitchens one might ask?

The Control Food Department issued tickets for every meal according to the number of persons listed on the Basic needs were issued according to family ration card. Every family had to forfeit part of the ration that was the ration card. Some of the items marked on the card. There was no listed on the card included, that a famhope of getting any meal from any ily of five persons was entitled to four Victory Kitchen without such match boxes, while larger families were entitled to six. coupons.

A ration card (or book) that was used to buy food from the VKs

Shortage of food and scarcity of commodities gave rise to black market with unscrupulous business people building a fortune out of famished people

Rationing of soap and coffee were more complicatted. A single person was entitled to one bar of soap (rations were issued on the 6th and 21st of each month). A family of four or less got two bars; families made up of 5-8 persons got three. With regards to coffee, families of three or less had a ration of a quarter of a rotolo (200gr).

From May 1941, kerosene, which was a commodity used for cooking and lighting, was rationed on a weekly basis. Kerosene was supplied to the towns and villages on horse driven carts and distribution was under the supervision of the police.

The kerosene problem became very acute and used to cause a lot of disputes. Together with tinned tuna fish and sardines it became increasingly scarce, giving rise to black market with a number of unscrupulous souls finding it a goldmine by which they could make lots of money.

These people really made a fortune out of famished people!

I can give a couple of examples among the hundreds or even thousands of such “business” people. I knew a person who owned a single field that yielded crops throughout the whole year. After the war this person deposited the profits in a commercial bank. She carried the notes she accrued in a huge sack; and that’s beside the great amount of gold she made by exchanging it for various food items.

One other example involved my aunt. At one time she paid 40 pounds sterling (a terrible high price at the time) for a sack of flour on black market.

The agreement was, that the sack was to be delivered to her in pitch darkness.

The following morning, when she inspected the sack and its contents in broad daylight, she discovered that

*Continued on page 5

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday December 8, 2015

“We had to do without the bare necessities” *from page 4 halfway down, instead of flour, the white powder in the sack was lime!!!

Flour was a very important commodity particularly to make bread, which was a staple food for the Maltese. The quality of bread was getting worse by the minute.

Since July 1941, 20% of the bread mixture was made of potato. The quality of bread deteriorated even further in 1942 when maize and barley were added to the mixture resulting in a dark coloured loaf. In May 1942 the ration of bread per person, per day, went down to 300 grammes.

We used to make spaghetti with a

What if people could not afford to pay for their food from the VKs?

ome of the readers of these articles S were surprise to learn that during the war, people had to pay for their

food when making use of the Victory Kitchens. They also asked what happened if there were people who could not afford it.

We put the question to Doris Cannataci, who was a young girl aged 8-11 during those years says: “The price we paid for every meal was 6 pence. It was very expensive at the time, when one considers that the cost of 12 eggs before the war was only two-and-a-half pence and that two pence worth of vegetables was the standard price for a vegetable soup to feed a whole family.

“Those people who could not afford to pay, as far as I remember could not get any food from Victory Kitchens.

Perhaps they were given a special ticket. I also remember poor people going to some religious convents at lunch time every day where they could get a bowl of soup from the friars.”

mixture of flour and semolina and let it dry on ropes or wires in the draught or close to the open-door leading to the rooftop.

Prices of certain items rocketed skyhigh. The cost of a wizna (5 kilos) of potatoes went up to one pound sterling. For one egg one had to pay twoshillings-and-sixpence when the price for a dozen eggs was supposed to bejust two and a half pence! The price for half a pint of goat’s milk went up to 15 shillings.

A loaf of bread made from a certain type of wheat and barley, (when available) was priced at half a pound (50 shillings). The price of sugar was at par with gold.

During the war years, these items and many similar ones, when found, could only be enjoyed by the very rich people on the island.

The introduction of the ration cards allowed the families to obtain the minimum of the bare essentials to survive.

One could only obtain a certain amount of powdered milk and egg

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE by The Hon. Bill SHorten MP Leader of the Opposition and Member for Maribyrnong On behalf of the Federal Labor Party I’d like to wish all the readers of the Voice of the Maltese a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Christmas is a time for celebration. A time when we give thanks for the love and support of our friends and family.

It’s also a time when we should spare a thought for people doing it tough and find it in our hearts to bring some cheer and comfort into their lives.

Many Australians will be working through this holiday period: the courageous men and women of our defence force, our tireless emergency services personnel and everyday heroes, Australians putting in extra hours away from the people they love to help make ends meet.

However you celebrate Christmas, and whoever you are celebrating with, I hope that you have a safe and restful holiday.

With my very best wishes

Bill Shorten Leader of the Opposition

powder through ration cards.

Later on during the siege, other necessities besides food were also rationed. They included clothes, shoes, crockery etc. People used to barter certain commodities according to their preference.

Ration cards were still in use for a number of years after the end of the war. There was a time when the ration card became more precious than one’s bankbook.

As a result of lack of vitamins and malnutrition there were outbreaks of disease such as Polio, Scabies and Typhoid, and due to the shortage of food an increased death rate was registered among babies and vulnerable persons.

How thankful we should be today when we talk about bread or any other type of food! Today we are spoiled for choice.

It is inconceivable to think how we managed to survive those war years, when we were deprived not only of luxury but even had to do without the bare necessities!

A kerosene seller. Many like him used to supply the commodity to the towns and villages during World War II

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6 The Voice of the Maltese Euromed Y Young oung Sailors Challenge

Tuesday December 8, 2015

C CALENDAR ALEND AR OF OF E EVENTS V E N T S 2015/16

C Cribs ribs & Christmas Ar Artt e exhibition xhibition

W WWW.VISITMALTA.COM/EN/EVENTS W W.VISITMAL VISITMALT TA . C OM / EN / EVENTS 06/12-03/01 08/12 13/12 19/12-21/12 19/12-06/01 21/12 25/12 31/12 03/01 16/01-30/01 23/01 Feb 05/02-09/02 10/02 28/02 17-20/03 17 -20/03 19/03 20-21/03 25/03-27/03

Bethlehem ff’Ghajnsielem ’Ghajnsielem off the Immaculat Immaculate Conception Feast o eC onception Republic R epublic Day oung Sailors Challenge Young Euromed Y Cribs Artt Exhibition C ribs & Christmas Ar e, Mnajdra Temples Temples Winter Solstice, Wint er Solstic Christmas Day New Y Year’ ear’s Ev e New Year’s Eve

2016

New New Year’s Year’s C Concert MCC, oncert at MC C, Valletta Valletta Valletta Valletta International International Baroque Festival wY ear Celebrations, Celebrations, Valletta Valletta New Year Chinese Ne eaders Malta Business LLeaders elebrations in V alletta, Carnival Valletta, C arnival ccelebrations zo Gozo Floriana & Nadur Go Paul’s Shipwreck Shipwreck off St St.. Paul’s Feast o Vodafone V odafone Malta Marathon T our ta Tour ta’’ Malta of St Joseph Feast of Spring Equino x, Mnajdra T emples Equinox, Temples Good Friday & East er Sunday Easter

28/03-02/04 31/03 31/03-03/04 01-09/04 02-03/04 03/04 15/04 16/04, 23/04 & 30/04 18/04 22-24/04 24/04 27/04-10/05 01/05 June 07/06 28/06 29/06

W orld ISF Badmint World Badminton on Championships ffor or Schools Freedom Regatta Fre edom Day; R egatta in the Grand Harbour Lost ost & Found Malta Annie Mac presents L International Int ernational Spring Orchestra Festival Karate Competitions Malta K arate Federation C ompetitions X Terra T XTerra Triathlon riathlon Ge orge C George Cross Commemoration ross C ommemoration Malta Int International Fireworks ernational Fire works Festival Malta Me Mechanised Fireworks chanised Fire works Festival Opera+ W eekend Weekend Gozo Go zo Half Marathon Malta Int ernational Music International Festival & C ompetition Competition Labour Labour Day erranean Ghanafest Mediterranean Ghanafest – Malta Medit Folk Music Festival Sett e Giugno Sette Isle o cial off MTV Malta Spe Special eter & St aul; of St Feast of St.. P Peter St.. P Paul; Updated Events L-Imnarja Summer Folk Festival L-Imnarja Calendar

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Tuesday December 8, 2015

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Proud legacy of a dying daughter’s hunt for dad R

aymondo greater right of the Tonna did not child to know their know he even biological heritage, had a biological and that is why he daughter, but the would like to see moment he set his the removal of the eyes on Narelle anonymity clause.

Grech, he fell in love When he donated with her.

30 years ago, he The tireless 30-yearwas told that most old daughter, who of his donations campaigned for the would be used for right of donor-conexperimental reaceived people to acsons, and he was cess information also asked to sign about their biologian anonymity cal heritage, passed agreement. away five weeks “I have spoken to later, but her legacy fellow donors, and lives on through an none of us did this Australian private for the money. We members’ Bill called were students, and Narelle’s Law. it was something Ms Grech spent 15 we did in an altruyears searching for istic manner... her biological father. there was this feelBorn in Australia to ing that you’re Maltese parents with doing something to the help of a sperm help someone else. donor, Ms Grech We were not given spoke to the Times of any counselling, Malta in 2011 after and at the time you being diagnosed don’t think of the with advanced bowel future ramificacancer. tions.”

She was determined Along the years, to find the man who however, there were could shed light on days when he did her genetic and med- From right: Narelle, Raymondo, his wife Sue, his son Zak and Zak’s wonder whether girlfriend Cassie, and the family dogs (photo provided by Raymondo) ical history. there were any chilMs Grech was one of the donor-con- the Bill aims to open the door for both dren of his out there. ceived Australians born before 1988 parties to make contact.

Unfortunately, he noted, donor conAlthough donors would not be forced ception was a worldwide multimillion with no legal right of access to their to see their offspring, their identifying industry where doctors still wanted to biological father’s details.

But when in 2013 then Premier of information could still be released to assure the legal parents of Victoria Ted Baillieu was made aware help people understand where they anonymity. of Ms Grech’s condition, he asked the came from. The changes are based on Ideally, donors were introduced to records department to track down Mr a private members’ Bill that MPs Jane the parents from the very beginning Garrett and Anthony Carbines intro- and they keep some sort of contact, Tonna.

The two met on February 17 of that duced in opposition.

Mr Tonna said.

Ms Grech knew of six others conyear. “Realising there was a person “Keeping in touch is also medically out there who was my biological ceived through Mr Tonna and had important, as in our case, Narelle had daughter was overwhelming. The mo- two full biological siblings. However, stage four cancer and she wanted to ment I set eyes on her was love at first no one has yet contacted Mr Tonna. inform close relatives.

He is on a voluntary donor register, sight.”

“Together with my son, we were Even though he did not know she ex- meaning he made his personal and tested and I want to contact the other isted and he had never seen her be- contact details available to those eight siblings, as it’s my duty as a parfore, he describes the meeting as a looking for their biological father. ent to inform them of a possible risk, “Unfortunately, unless legal parents however small. “profoundly beautiful experience” inform the children that they were and one that is hard to describe.

“All they need to do is to take a sim“I have pure unconditional love for donor conceived, they will not take ple test just to clear the air. If you’re her as a parent and I think of her the first steps to find me. In this day not told about it early, when it could and age, I believe that if you truly still be treated, you might be diagevery day,” Mr Tonna, born in Paola and raised love someone, you don’t keep secrets nosed when it’s too late, just like what from them, and the longer a secret is happened to Narelle.” in Australia, told The Times.

Ms Grech passed away on March 26, kept, the harder it is to tell the truth.”

While he respects people’s right to 2013. But she will live on through (This article, by Sarah Carabott was Narelle’s Law. Still under discussion, privacy, Mr Tonna believes there is a first published in The Times of Malta)

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

Malta made me so proud to be Maltese during CHOGM The Voice of the Maltese on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e o

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request.

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

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Mario Cassar from Newport, Victoria, writes:

I

agree completely with all that Paul Mercieca said in his letter on these pages in the last issue of The Voice with regard to the emotions created by the articles by Doris Cannataci and Andy Busuttil, the MalteseAustralian musician whose contribution he and his musical group, Skorba I closely follow out here in Australia. But now, after watching on TV the transmissions from Malta and the reports carried in newspapers about the CHOGM 2015, like most of the MalteseAustralians I know, I feel so proud of my country of birth for the way it has hosted this event.

I spent hours glued to the TV set to follow the transmissions and what the Commonwealth Heads of States were up to in Malta, perhaps even more so, the opening ceremony, in which Maltese artists gave a stunning performance of their skills, performing and producing such a spectacular show.

One could recognise and acknowledge the progress Malta has made in all spheres of life, but honestly, I never thought it had the people who could organise such a spectacle.

During CHOGM I did not only watch, but also logged on to various news websites about the event and found nothing but praise for tiny Malta from the international media.

Malta’s contribution in the international fora is being recognised by much larger countries and rightly so as the decisions being taken by its leaders have given it the stature normally

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associated by much bigger nations. The past few years, it has made great strides forward.

To hear the Queen and other Commonwealth leaders praising Malta for its initiatives that could even affect the world, or at least, in this instance, the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth was so emotional.

November has been good for Malta not only politically, with two very important Summits, but also as we have seen, also culturally with the victory by Destiny in the Junior Eurovision. I am sure all that it has achieved during this month will increase the good feel factor among the Maltese people, and even us who live in other countries, as despite the distance between us, our hearts are still, and would never stop beating for Malta.

Congratulations to Malta for CHOGM Frank Borg from Sunshine Victoria writes: e Maltese, living at this end of the world feel so proud to see our little island welcoming the royal family and the 53 heads of the Commonwealth during the CHOGM 2015 Summit, which Malta hosted.

Yes we are small but by the grace of God we can rise up to the occasion.

We watched every TV channel beaming our Malta, huge publicity that cannot be estimated. From this end, we saw a very well organised event. The organisers should be proud; Malta can match it with any country.

We may not have the size but we have the brains.

Not only CHOGM, but the Valletta Summit that brought together about 63 other European and African heads of State at the beginning of November. Organising two very important international conferences in the space of few weeks is really something.

Well done Malta. So proud to be Maltese.

W

Malta, you made us proud!

Albert Mallia from Missisagua, Ontario Canada writes: ust a few lines to express my delight over the past weeks at watching so much TV footage on Malta, all positive, particularly by watching and hearing so many foreign leaders, including our newly elected PM, Justin Trudeau singing the praises for Malta’s hosting of the two summits, the Valletta Summit and CHOGM 2015.

J

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Malta Ωg˙ira biss fil-kobor - fil-˙ila tan-nies tag˙ha hi ©gant Alfred Cremona minn Bargo, New South Wales, jikteb:

K

emm ilni ng˙ix fl-Awstralja qatt ma niftakar lill-midja, it-televiΩjoni u lgazzetti Awstraljani jag˙tu daqstant pubbliçita` lil Malta daqs fl-a˙˙ar jiem, u çert li l-mod li bih il-Gvern Malti organizza u ospita lil tant mexxejja barranin g˙allaqg˙a taç-CHOGM iΩid jag˙ti spinta wkoll lilna l-Maltin fl-Awstralja.

Jien g˙andi ˙bieb li jappo©©jaw liΩ-Ωew© partiti l-kbar f’Malta, imma meta kienet qed issir il-laqg˙a taç-GHOGM f’Malta kollha kemm a˙na qbilna li kellna g˙ax inkunu kburin b’dak li wettqet gΩiritna.

Imbag˙ad smajna u qrajna wkoll dak li kellu xi jg˙id il-Prim Ministru Awstraljan Malcolm Turnbull dwar l-laqg˙a, fejn qal li kienet ta’ suççess, dwar Malta nnifisha u ssbu˙ija tag˙ha, u dwar il-Prim Ministru zag˙Ωug˙ Malti. Fa˙˙ar mhux ftit l-organizzazzjoni minn dan il-pajjiΩ çkejken.

Ninsab çert li b’dak li wettqet Malta, kemm bl-organizzar ta’ din l-laqg˙a, u wkoll dik ta’ qabilha, il-Valletta Summit dwar il-Migrazzjoni iΩidu jg˙ollu l-presti©ju ta’ Malta g˙all-˙ila tan-nies tag˙ha

Biometric passports

Sam Bugeja, from Toronto, Canada writes:

alta granted us dual citizenship but M made it impossible for most of us to be issued with a Maltese passport. Since the introduction of the biometric passport one has to go personally to the Malta representative’s offices to be finger printed, etc.

In vast continents like the US, Canada and

Ûgur li l-istatura tag˙ha fid-dinja kibret.

G˙andi wkoll ˙bieb o˙ra Maltin flAmerika li huma mda˙˙lin fil-klabbs talMaltin fi bliet differenti li mag˙hom inΩomm kuntatt bl-Internet, li wkoll esprimew dawn il-˙sibijiet mieg˙i. Barra minhekk ikkonfermawli li meta ftit taxxhur ilu kellhom iΩ-Ωjara tal-Prim Ministru

Malti fosthom impressjonaw ru˙hom bih.

Personalment, ix-xewqa tieg˙i b˙alissa hi li nara lill-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat, inkella lill-President Coleiro Preca, jew littnejn, li jΩuru lilna l-Maltin li ninsabu flAwstralja. Jibqg˙u Ωguri li jekk jaslu jag˙mlu dan ikollhom laqg˙at mill-isba˙ g˙ax ninsabu kburin bihom.

Nag˙tu widen ta’ dak li qal Waleed Frank Camilleri minn Cairs, Queensland jikteb: rrid nirreferi g˙al dak li ©ie rrappurtat li qal Waleed Aly (pa©na tal-a˙barijiet milIAwstralja fl-a˙˙ar ˙ar©a ta’ The Voice tal-

24 ta’ Novembru) dwar l-appell li g˙amel g˙all-g˙aqda wara l-©rajjiet ta’ Pari©i fejn f’att terroristiku ©ew maqtula 130 ru˙.

Nifhem is-sej˙a tieg˙u u nittama li kemm dawk li huma Musulmani u wkoll mhumiex tal-istess reli©jon tieg˙u jag˙tuh widen. Óafna minn dawk li jg˙ixu fl-Awstralja, u jiddispjaçini ng˙id anke w˙ud ta’ nisel Malti, i˙obbu jpo©©u lil kul˙add li g˙ax ikun ta’ kulur ta’ xi ˙add li jkun wettaq ilelsewhere this is not always possible, most times impossible. It has taken more than 15years for the Maltese Government to find a solution to this intricate problem. Up till now we are not much wiser although they said they have some machines that can be carried from one place to another.

Obviously they still do not understand the tyranny of distances in such countires. They placed Hon Consuls in strategic positions why not use them? Stop being so bureaucratic.

˙sara jpo©©uh fl-istess keffa.

Naqbel ukoll ma’ Ivan Cauchi fejn qal li ˙afna jg˙a©©lu li jikkundannaw bla tant ˙sieb. Dan ˙afna forsi jag˙mluh g˙ax ikollhom mo˙˙hom mag˙luq u jimpressjonaw ru˙hom mix-xejn.

Veru li min jag˙mel hekk ikun qed jaqa’ finnassa tat-terroristi g˙aliex ikun qed jifred lil wie˙ed mill-ie˙or g˙al ra©uni bla sens. Kif qal Waleed, min jimxi b’dan il-mod ikun qed jaqa’ g˙an-nasba tat-terroristi.

Fl-Awstralja g˙andna ˙afna ta’ reli©jon Musulmana u g˙alkemm mhumiex a˙jar, imma Ωgur li mhumiex ag˙ar minn nies o˙ra li j˙addnu reli©jonijiet differenti. Imma min˙abba li l-midja l-˙in kollu donnu tag˙ti l-impressjoni li l-atti terroristi jsiru g˙al ra©unijiet ta’ reli©jon, hemm min jibla’ l-lixka u jibda j˙ares bl-ikrah lejn xi ˙add li tant ikun ilu jaf b˙ala twajjeb, u daqs nies o˙ra. Óadd m’g˙andu mqar ji©ih dubju li t-terroristi m’g˙andhom rispett lejn ˙add, lanqas lejn nieshom stess, kif rajna ˙afna drabi.

Min i˙obbok jew jirrispettak ma jwe©©eg˙kx kif jag˙mlu dawn it-talin. G˙alhekk ejja ma nkunux razzisti u ma n˙arsux lejn kuluri jew reli©jonijiet differenti bi stmerrija.

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday December 8, 2015 A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: http://ivancauchi.blogs pot.com

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

‘Ni©erjana’ trebba˙ lil Malta Q

ed nirreferi naturalment g˙aΩ-Ωag˙Ωug˙a Destiny Chukunyere, li g˙andha missierha Ni©erjan u ommha Maltija, li g˙adha kif reb˙et il-Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 li bil-kanzunetta tag˙ha Not My Soul (Mhux Ru˙i), re©g˙et rebb˙et dan it-titlu lil Malta g˙at-tieni darba fi tliet snin.

Kemm tpaxxejna jien u lmara, msammrin quddiem it-televiΩjoni b˙al ma nag˙mlu kull sena g˙al dan ilfestival u dak tal-adulti, nisimg˙u dan il-le˙en favoluΩ tal-katanta li spikkat mill-kantanti l-o˙ra. Fakkritni ˙afna fi Chiara li wkoll kienet sa˙˙ret lil tant nies b’le˙inha u l-preΩenza tag˙ha.

Kemm ilna l-Awstralja, Ωammejna dan l-appuntament annwali li jipprovdilna l-SBS, wara li konna skoprejnih b'kumbinazzjoni.

Hawnhekk, l-ammont kbir ta' immigranti mill-Ewropa jfisser li hawn interess kbir f'dan il-festival, mhux mill-Maltin biss.

Madankollu, g˙alina l-Maltin, dan il-festival jirrappreΩenta wie˙ed mill-ftit aspetti fejn pajjiΩ missirijietna i˙abbatha sew ma' pajjiΩi o˙ra bil-wisq ikbar, u jag˙mel isem g˙alih innifsu, u jag˙mel lilna kburin li Maltin!

Apparti dawn il-˙sibijiet ta' fer˙, waqt li kont qed nara l-festival, irriflettejt ukoll fuq kemm hi kumplessa d-dinja.

Lil missier Destiny, Ndubisi Chukunyere, niftakru meta kont g˙adni Malta. Kien ©ie min-Ni©erja jilg˙ab il-futbol mal-Hibernians ta' Ra˙al Ìdid. Kien ukoll jilg˙ab mat-tim nazzjonali Ni©erjan. Ndubisi Chukunyere spiçça baqa' Malta, sar çittadin Malti, iΩΩewwe© lil Maltija, u kellhom lil Destiny li g˙alhekk hija Maltija daqsi.

X'dinja din, fejn tant nies jitilqu minn pajjiΩhom u jmorru jg˙ixu f'pajjiΩ ie˙or u, kif ng˙idu a˙na, isiru tal-post, waqt li jibqg˙u etnikament u kulturalment marbutin mal-ori©ini tag˙hom, b˙ali u d-dijaspora Maltija.

Imma, ter©a u tg˙id, din hi l-istorja ta' tant miljuni ta' nies. U din mhix storja riçenti.

L-istorja tal-migrazzjoni hija antika. Fl-Awstralja kellna lmew©iet tal-migrazzjoni ta' wara t-tieni gwerra dinjija u ta' qabilha, tal-IngliΩi u l-˙absin li ©abu mag˙hom, u tal-Ewropej l-o˙ra li ©ew qabilhom. Qabilhom kien hawn l-abori©ini li kienu ilhom hawn mal-40 elf sena, li qabel dan iΩ-Ωmien kienu fi triqithom tul l-Asja fil-migrazzjoni tal-ispeçje tag˙na l-bned-

Ritratt li Destiny Chukunyere Ωgur se tibqa’ tg˙oΩΩ, fil-laqg˙a tag˙ha mal-President Louise Coleiro Coleiro-Preca wara ssuççess tag˙ha fil-Bulgarija

min, il-homo sapiens.

Fl-istess Ωmien, din l-ispeçje kienet da˙let fl-Ewropa millAfrika u ftit ftit iddominat fuq l-ispeçje ta' bnedmin li kienet hemm qabel, l-homo neanderthalensis. Nistg˙u nibqg˙u nduru l-kontinenti, u nsibu storja simili, interessanti ferm, u kumplessa, li g˙adha mhix mag˙rufa g˙al kollox.

Li huwa çar huwa li l-istorja tal-bniedem hija wa˙da ta' migrazzjoni kontinwa. Il-fruntieri politiçi tal-pajjiΩi huma g˙al kollox artifiçjali, u ma jirriflettux il-©eografija kulturali, u l-bΩonn tal-bniedem, u tal-˙lejjaq l-o˙rajn, li jfittxu l-g˙ajxien tag˙hom.

A˙na qeg˙din nokkupaw, u niddominaw din il-pjaneta, li ddur ma stilla li hi biss wa˙da minn 100 biljun fil-galassja tag˙ha, galassja li hi biss wa˙da minn 100 biljun galassja fl-univers ming˙alina li tant a˙na bravi u fil-fatt qed neqirdu din il-farka tal-univers, bit-tni©©iΩ tal-arja, tal-art u tal-ba˙ar, bil-konsum bla raΩan. Il-˙dura li nuru ma' bnedmin o˙ra, in-nuqqas ta' karità, il-kefrija u r-rg˙iba bla qies huma tal-wa˙x.

Meta se n˙arsu lejn id-dinja b˙ala rigal li g˙andna ng˙oΩΩu, minflok g˙ajn ta' riΩorsi li rridu nisfruttaw qabel ma jag˙mel dan ˙addie˙or?

Meta se n©ibu ru˙na ta' a˙wa minflok ta' ˙allelin fis-sakra?

Meta se nieqfu nippretendu li r-reli©jon tag˙na g˙andha t-twe©ibiet kollha u tal-o˙rajn m'g˙andha l-ebda valur?

Meta se nieqfu nittrattaw b˙ala ˙bieb dawk biss li g˙andhom l-istess kulur tal-©ilda tag˙na?

Tg˙id, ninnotaha xi darba f'˙ajti?

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday December 8, 2015

How Maltese Anzacs will be remembered

The plaque honouring the Maltese ANZACs Andrew Magro, the project manager of the ANZAC plaque

A

ndrew Magro, project manager of the ANZAC plaque, an initiative of the Maltese RSL sub-branch, was asked to provide readers of The Voice with some background information on how the plaque came about.

Andrew told The Voice of the Maltese that his involvement with the RSL plaque started when he was informed

by Julie Owens, the Federal Member for Parramatta, at last year’s Sette Giugno ceremony at Pendle Hill that funding was available for the 100 years of ANZACs (1915-2015). The MP was impressed by Andrew’s wearing his grandfather’s WW1 medal at the time.

He initially thought there would only be a handful of Maltese names from the ANZAC period that may have joined the Australian Imperial Forces. “At our RSL meeting, when I told them of my ideas about a plaque, I was introduced to Mark Caruana who had a list of around 40 names, of which I was much amazed”.

“I then submitted an application to the Federal Government for a grant to cover a plaque in Civic Park, Pendle Hill and also a replica Honour Board for the MCC at Parramatta” Andrew said.

At the Australian Archives at Villawood Andrew was given the names of approximately 100 men who stated on their enlistment papers that they were born in Malta. At this point in time, Marianne Potts, who is an affiliated member of the RSL group, was involved as a researcher as well.

They were both given a jointly produced document with names and background information on MalteseAustralian ANZACS researched ear-

lier by Mark Caruana and Carmen Baxter, the daughter of Nick Bonello OAM, who initiated the ANZAC Memorial in Malta.

Marianne Potts, Mark Caruana and Andrew had to check all of these digitised men’s enlistment papers (which averaged looking at 30 pages of information per person) to see if, though born in Malta, they were in fact Maltese by nationality, as a good number of them were Malta-born children of British service men.

“The other criteria that we looked at was the length of service, service medals received, correct spelling of names as a few of the enlistment papers were miss-spelt, etc. This research, although necessary, was also exhaustive and emotional, perusing such service details, correspondence from them to their families, army correspondence, and others” Andrew said In the end, the names were narrowed down to 48 Maltese who joined the Australian Imperial Forces 19141918 and the same with New Zealand, and narrowed the names down from fourteen men to five who had joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces.

These Maltese men, who had migrated to Australia, came from all the States of Australia and the North Island and South Island of NZ, all with different trades, professions and backgrounds.

A request was made to both the Department of Veterans Affairs and also the RSLs of Australia to use the 100 years of ANZACs logo and also the RSL logo, which was approved.

The Maltese Ex- Servicemen’s Association of NSW and Mark Caruana formulated the format of the Plaque.

“The grant from the Federal Government was crucial for this to happen as the Maltese Ex-Servicemen’s Association is a small association with little funding and unable to purchase these plaques ($3,500) from its own funds. All the members of our group are very grateful that this funding became available”.

Maltese Australians are to be proud of these 53 brave men who are part of our ANZAC history, 100 years ago. A few of these men were even in our Colonial Forces pre- Federation 1900, such as Dr Charles Mattei MD, which impressed the researchers immensely.

If readers get a chance, they are asked to take an interest in these men from Malta who fought for our freedom, with seven paying the supreme sacrifice, especially on that first landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 and those who fought and died in the horrors of the Western Front 1915 to 1918.

Their history is our Maltese-Australians history. Such information can be sought from the Australian Archives (War Memorial Canberra) and the website called Mapping our ANZACs. In conclusion, Andrew said “I am proud to have led this project for the Maltese Ex-Servicemen’s Association of NSW (sub-branch RSL of Australia) for the Maltese community. Hopefully, people will come from afar to visit the Bi-Centennial Memorial at Civic Park, Pendle Hill to experience an important chapter of our Maltese-Australian history.

“Our president Mr Charles Mifsud is looking into the possibility of having a replica plaque erected at the Anzac Memorial in the Argotti Botanical Gardens, Floriana on behalf of our group” concluded Andrew Magro.

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Roundup of News About Malta Queen Elizabeth II flanked by Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during the opening of the CHOGM in Valletta, Malta. Others in picture are, then Commonwealth Chair-in-Office Maithripala Sirisena (on left), and Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary General

“CHOGM 2015 in Malta reaches the strategic goals”- Kamalesh Sharma

,

T

he three eventful days of the CHOGM Malta 2015 Summit (Nov. 27-29) considered as a truly memorable and successful event, wrapped up at a press conference with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat as leader of the host country expressing his satisfaction at how Commonwealth leaders had managed to converge and agree almost unanimously on the issue of climate change as well as migration.

He also stated that despite the differences between Commonwealth countries’ points of view, CHOGM Malta 2015 was evidence of how constructive conversations can occur.

“Silence has never helped anyone in changing and getting things to change”, he remarked.

He also thanked all those involved in the organisation of the event. Heads of government, representatives of the regions of the Commonwealth, also addressed the conference and gave an overview of what was discussed during it.

This was Malta’s second important meeting of world leaders in a few days. CHOGM attracted to Malta around 3,000 guests that included 53 Heads of states with their delegations, and others who took part in the four Forums aside of the Summit, namely the Women’s Forum, that was held for the first time, the Peoples Forum, the Youths Forum and the Business Forum.

At the same time, Malta hosted a State visit

by HM Queen Elizabeth II with three other members of the Royal family, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the French President Francois Hollande.

At the end of the high-profile event and the discussions that evolved, the participating

Heads of Government issued a statement tries, continue to join terrorist about their conclusions. They also expressed and other extremist groups. their deep gratitude for the warm and gener- They also agreed that it is imous hospitality. perative to counter the use of Kamalesh Sharma, the Commonwealth Sec- the Internet by extremist retary General said that CHOGM 2015 in groups to radicalise and recruit.

Malta reached the strategic goals.

The leaders said these threats In their final communiqué, on behalf of the should not be associated with any particular people of the Commonwealth the leaders reaf- religion, race, nationality or ethnicity, and firmed their shared and enduring commitment agreed that such threats must be countered to the values and principles of the Common- through strong national, regional and internawealth Charter and addressed issues such as tional action and co-operation, and renewed climate change, sustainable development, their commitment to implement national trade and investment, migration, and counter- strategies to counter threats and to support ing violent extremism and radicalisation. each other.

They also deliberated on safeguarding the inThey undertook to promote youth participaterests of Commonwealth small states and em- tion in national development and peace buildphasised that the unique nature of the ing, and to encourage partnership activity with Commonwealth adds value in responding to Commonwealth youth networks to help contemporary global challenges. counter the appeal of violent extremism, and The Heads affirmed that radicalisation, vio- further acknowledged the entry into force of lent extremism and terrorism in all its forms the Arms Trade Treaty, and the signing and and ramifications are serious threats to the ratification of the Treaty by many Commonwhole world, including the Commonwealth wealth member states. and its peoples, undermining its values and aspirations; international peace and security; so*Continued on page 13 cial harmony; and economic and social development.

They condemned terrorism and abhorrent violence by extremist groups, including in many Commonwealth countries, which often or the first time, Commonwealth leaders selected target vulnerable groups as well as a woman as the organisation's next secretarywomen and children, and also noted general. She is Baroness Patricia Scotland who was with deep concern the growing trend born in the Caribbean nation of Dominica, and was of extremism and radicalisation attorney general under Gordon Brown. She is now a globally and that foreign fighters, inmember of the House of Lords. cluding from Commonwealth coun-

Woman chosen as new CHOGM Secretary

F

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Roundup of News About Malta Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Malta 41 years D CHOGM 2015, Malta the II delivering her address at opening of CHOGM 2015 also hosted a state visit from the a Republic Royal family headed by Queen

O

n December 13 Malta will be celebrating the 41st Anniversary of Jum ir-Repubblika (Republic Day) the annual day of remembrance when in 1974 the Maltese Constitution was amended and Malta became a Republic, and no longer had the Queen as its head of state and instead nominated Sir Anthony Mamo as its first President.

The day marking this historic date is celebrated with activities mostly in Valletta organised by the National Festivities Committee, that include the Award Ceremony where the President of Malta bestows awards on those deserving individuals for meritorious service or for having garnered personal success that brings fame and honour to Malta The island’s leaders and the dignitaries will also take part in the wreath laying ceremonies at all notable monuments, such as the Republic Day monument in Marsa, while military parades are held.

Previous to December 13, 1974, the Maltese people were part of the British Empire after the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the island eventually became extremely important to the British.

In World War II, Malta again proved its importance for its proximity to Axis territory and shipping lanes around Italy.

After successfully negotiating for independence from the British Empire in 1964, Malta evolved into a Commonwealth realm, with the British monarch remaining as head of state.

As a result of the Malta Labour Party victory in 1971 the status quo changed and the government started pushing the concept of turning Malta into a republic with its own President. After Republic Day the constitution drastically altered on December 13, 1974 and Malta made its last change of status into a Republic in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Elizabeth II, that also included her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, her son and heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

For the Queen, the visit to Malta, her seventh, was a nostalgic one. She had last visited in 2007 on her 60th wedding anniversary to the Duke of Edinburgh. The couple also lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951 when the Duke was stationed on

“Malta’s size is no measure of the moral strength of its people”

the island as a naval officer.

She said that visiting Malta had always been a special pleasure to her and praised the Maltese people for their warmth and generosity.

The 89-year-old Monarch said: “With its long history of resilience and courage in the face of adversity, Malta is a reminder that the nation’s size is no measure of the moral strength of its people.”

On her last day the Queen visited Heritage Malta in Kalkara to unveil a commemorative plaque of her visit. She said that with each visit she makes to the island, she is “reminded why Malta was awarded the George Cross in 1942 by my father, King George VI, for her valour – the first and only time it has been awarded to a country rather than an individual.”

She added that the visit to Heritage Malta, had imbued in her “a sense of certainty that Malta would continue to thrive over years to come.”

Her Majesty thanked the country and its people for being such obliging and pleasant

- Queen Elizabeth says hosts and spoke of the way she had seen the country progress over the years.

“Since my first experience of Malta in 1949 as a young woman, I have seen this country evolve into a strong nation which plays an important role on the world stage.

When Prince Philip and I returned in November 2007 at the time of our Diamond Wedding Anniversary, we could not help but be impressed by the progress and the sense of optimism.”

“I remember happy days here with Prince Philip when we were first married, and the wonderful official visits over the past sixty years,” she said.

The Queen and the Duke then crossed to the Valletta Customs Wharf on a luzzu. At the end of the crossing they were given a royal salute by HMS Bulwark that was moored at the Customs House.

Earlier in the day the Queen planted a tree at San Anton gardens, next to the one she had planted during her last visit in 2007.

CHOGM Leaders urge members to protect all human rights *Continued from page 12 The Heads of Government acknowledged that all human rights are equal, indivisible, interdependent, interrelated and universal; and urged members to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

They recognised that freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of religion or belief are cornerstones of democratic societies, and important for the enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to de-

velopment, and are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

About Migration they observed that if properly harnessed and managed, it can deliver economic and social benefits that improve the resilience and prosper- ity of Commonwealth states.

They agreed to enhance national and international efforts to address the causes of irregular migration.

They noted the outcomes of the Valletta Summit on Migration held at earlier and called on all concerned to work towards en-

during solutions.

As CHOGM was taking place on the eve of the 21st session of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Paris, climate change featured high on the agenda. They adopted the Commonwealth Leaders’ Statement on Climate Action, which they undertook to highlight and advance during the conference.

They also recognised the importance of tackling communicable and noncommunicable diseases, including malaria, and underlined the importance of routine immunisation programmes, reaffirming

their commitment towards making the complete eradication of polio a global priority.

Theytook note of the reports of the four pre-CHOGM Forums, and thanked all concerned for their contribution to the summit.

They said they recognised the valuable role civil society organvalues and principles.

As the host chairperson of the CHOGM 2015, Joseph Muscat now occupies the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office (CIO), that he maintains until the next CHOGM in the UK in 2018.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Tg˙id il-Óolma ssir realta’? Û

mien il ilu negozjant Malti kien ˙are© blidea ta’ ‘causeway’ li kellha tg˙aqqad lillG˙awdex ma’ Malta. Dan il-pro©ett kien qajjem diskussjoni s˙i˙a, iΩda wara ftit, kif jg˙idu, miet fuq ommu.

Biss il-˙olma ta’ xi mezz li jg˙aqqad liΩ-Ωew© GΩejjer flimkien baqg˙et kultant Ωmien titfaçça u d-diskussjoni tirrepeti ru˙ha.... isiru mistoqsijiet dwar minn fejn se jin©abu l-finanzi me˙tie©a g˙al pro©ett hekk kbir. IΩda l-akbar polemika hija kemm dan il-pro©ett jaqbel g˙al G˙awdex u g˙allG˙awdxin.

Hemm dawk li huma favur b’ru˙hom u ©isimhom.

Fost dawn hemm il-ma©©oranza tal-G˙awdxin li ja˙dmu Malta, g˙add kbir ta’ studenti G˙awdxin li jirçievu l-edukazzjoni f’Malta u l-ma©©oranza ta’ dawk li ja˙dmu fil-qasam turistiku.

G˙alkemm hawnhekk hemm dawk il-lukandiera Chris Said Franco Mercieca li jid˙lilhom id-dubju jekk b’komunikazzjoni b˙al din bejn Malta u G˙awdex ikunx ifisser li G˙awdex jispiçça b’- mezz fattili biex jing˙aqdu l-GΩejjer Maltin hija mina ta˙t il-ba˙ar.

Issa sa˙ansitra twaqqaf front – Front favur il-Mina- li g˙andu ldawk li jisejj˙u ‘day tourists’, ji©ifieri dawk li jΩuru G˙awdex g˙al jum wie˙ed u allura ma jkollhomx g˙alfejn jorqdu fil-lukandi. Min- appo©© tad-deputat Laburista Franco Mercieca u d-deputat Nazna˙a l-o˙ra hemm g˙add ta’ G˙awdxin u Maltin li jemmnu li zjonalista Chris Said.

Is-sehem ta’ Mercieca u Said f’dan il-Front ©ie kkritikat mill-Alb’g˙aqda b˙al din G˙awdex jitlef mill-insularita’ tieg˙u, li ma jibqax gΩira ekolo©ika, tid˙ol il-˙ajja mg˙a©©la, titnaqqas l’arja ternattiva Demokratika li sostniet li ma kiex sewwa li dawn pjuttost nadifa... u allura jbati l-poplu G˙awdxi bl-g˙add kbir ta’ appo©©jaw dan il-pro©ett meta g˙adhom saru l-istudji dwar l-impatt ambentjali, ©oelo©iku u kummerçjali ta’ pro©ett b˙al dan. traffiku, bl-arja mniddsa.

Issa tg˙id se jie˙u ra©un min sostna li "G˙awdex hu gΩira IΩda jidher li dak li g˙al ˙afna Ωmien kien biss ˙olma, issa jista’ jsir realta’. Dan meta wie˙ed iqis li Ω-Ωew© partiti politiçi taw importanza ekolo©ika. Imma G˙awdex hu gΩira li g˙andu r-residenti. Dawn lil dan il-pro©ett, u sa˙ansitra, issa qed jaqblu bejniethom li l-aktar iridu jg˙ixu ukoll"? U allura je˙tie©u l-mina?

Nonfqu ferm anqas Id-Divorzju fl-akkomodazzjoni W

ejnietna sikwit nilmentaw kemm qed B in˙allsu spejjeΩ biex inΩommu djarna bil-kumditajiet kollha li nin˙tie©u, fosthom dawl, ilma, gass eçç. Imma l-fatti juru li ma tantx g˙andna biex ingergru.

Minn st˙arri© mill-Uffiççju tal-Istatistika tal-Unjoni Ewropea (Eurostat) nstab li lMaltin kellhom l-inqas rati ta’ ˙las relatati mal-akkomodazzjoni, inkluΩ kontijiet taddawl u l-ilma, gass u biex issa˙˙an il-post.

Dan l-ist˙arri© ˙a b˙ala medja 40% tadd˙ul ta’ dak li jkun b˙ala s-somma li fuqha xebbah il-pajjiΩi.

Instab li f’Malta kienu biss 1.6% li kienu qed i˙allsu aktar minn 40% tad-d˙ul tag˙hom biex iΩommu djarhom. Dan jikkuntrasta bi kbir mal-Greçja fejn aktar minn 40% tal-popolazzjoni t˙allas aktar minn 40% tad-d˙ul tag˙ha biex iΩomm djarha.

L-aktar qrib tal-Griegi huma l-ÌermaniΩi (15.9%), id-DaniΩi (15.6%), l-OlandiΩi (15.4%) u r-Rumeni (14.9%). Il-medja Ewropeja hija ta’ 11.4%.

L-ist˙arri© jirrifletti wkoll dak li se˙˙ f’dawn l-a˙˙ar snin, meta inqas u inqas Maltin bdew joqog˙du fi djar, u bdew jg˙ixu f’appartamenti (flats). Infatti, fl2014, 47.1% tal-popolazzjoni Maltija

g˙exet fi djar u 52.6% fi flettijiet filwaqt li fl-Ewropa l-ma©©oranza ta’ 59.3% g˙exet fi djar u 40% fi flettijiet. Ir-Renju Unit tinsab minn ta’ quddiem f’dan is-settur billi 84.7% tal-popoazzjoni tg˙ixfi djar.

Min-na˙a l-o˙ra l-Maltin qeg˙din fuq ta’ quddiem b˙ala sidien ta’ fejn joqog˙du billi 20% biss qeg˙din f’xi kera, meta fl-Ewropa 29.9 jg˙ixu f’post mikri. Ir-Rumanija (96.1%) hija l-aktar pajjiΩ tal-Unjoni Ewropeja li kellha çittadini li g˙exu f’post li huwa tag˙hom. Isegwu l-Islovakkja (90.3%), il-Litwanja (89.9%), il-Kroazja (89.7%) u l-Ungerija (89.1%).

ara l-˙afna storbju dwar id-d˙ul tad-divorzju, u wara l-ispiΩa biex sar ir-referendum dwar id-divorzju, u wara li kien hemm min bassar li d-divorzju kien se jeqred is-soçjeta` Maltija, issa kollox ikkwieta.

Minn dakinhar ‘l hawn kellna 1117 divorzju bl-ikbar g˙add ikun fl-2013 -391 u l-inqas g˙add din is-sena 347 (sa Ottubru). Fl-2014 kellna 379. Fil-fatt jidher li ta’ kull sena dawk li jiksbu d-divorzju qed jonqos.

Min-na˙a l-o˙ra jidher li Ω-Ωwie© tradizzjonali aktar qed ji©i effettwat miΩΩwie© çivili milli mid-divorzju, g˙ax filwaqt li fi tliet snin kellna 1117-il divorzju, fl-ewwel g˙axar xhur ta’ din issena biss kellna 1162 Ωwie© biç-çivil.

Ma kienx monument! e©a’ qam mill-©did il-kaΩ tal-Monument tar-roundR about ta’ Óal-Luqa li dwaru kienu saru ˙afna protesti minnies ta’ Óal-Luqa, u anke o˙rajn li fih raw dak li s-soltu l-ir©iel iΩommu mistur. Issa din il-kwestjoni spiççat filParlament, fejn id-Deputat Laburista Silvio Schembri –

wild Óal-Luqa - staqsa lillPrim Ministru Joseph Muscat dwar il-possibilta’ tat-tne˙˙ija ta’ dan il-monument.

S’issa g˙adha ma ng˙atax twe©iba.

Tg˙id ta’ min se tg˙addi, ta’ dawk li jqisu li dan il-monument b˙ala skandlu jew min iqisu b˙ala arti presti©©juΩa?

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Mix-xena tal-˙ajja Maltija 2

Il-qag˙ad: minn 7.3% g˙al 5% l-2010 il-qag˙ad f’Malta kien la˙aq ilF figura alarmanti ta’ 7.3%, iΩda llum dan niΩel g˙al 5.1%, li jppo©©i li Malta fit-tielet Il-mexxejja flimkien mal-Prim Ministru Malti Joseph Muscat, (it-tieni xellug quddiem) ˙dejn ir-Re©ina fil-ftu˙ taç-CHOGM

Iç-CHOGM 2015: Ìie u mar ming˙ajr intoppi

K

ienu ˙afna l-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin li ˙adu nifs qawwi meta spiççaw illaqg˙at tal-Kapijiet tal-Commonwealth f’Malta. Dan billi, sfortunatament, min˙abba ç-çirkustanzi li g˙addejja minnhom id-dinja b˙alissa kien hemm çertu biΩa’ li seta’ jsir xi attentat mit-terroristi waqt din il-konferenza.

Il-biΩa’ kiber mhux biss g˙ax propju ftit qabel din il-Konferenza se˙˙ dak li se˙˙ f’Pari©i, iΩda g˙ax sfortunatament f’Malta kien hemm min - inkluΩa parti mill-midja - li beda ˙iere© bi stejjer minn ©urnali Taljani li qalu li Malta kienet saret bejta’ ta’ terroristi u nef˙u kemm fel˙u l-arrest ta’ diveri Sirjani u o˙rajn li ppruvaw jid˙lu f’Malta b’passaport falz.

Filwaqt li l-Gvern insista li w˙ud minn dawn kienu qed jippruvaw jid˙lu Malta biex jiksbu x-xog˙ol u status ta’ refu©jati, il-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni qal li ma kienx qed jemmen dan.

Fortunatament il-CHOGM ©iet u marret u minkejja d-diffikultajiet kollha, fosthom ilmaltemp kbir li g˙amel matul it-tlett ijiem tallaqg˙at, dan kien suççess kbir bil-Prim Ministru IngliΩ jirringrazzja lill-Gvern u lpoplu Malti “for the brilliant organisation of a very successful CHOGM summit, which was extremely well-chaired by Maltese PM Joseph Muscat.” Bil-©urnal The Malta Independent on Sunday fl-editorjal tieg˙u jg˙id “ CHOGHM 2015 - a job well done

WANTS TO BUY ORIGINAL MALTESE GEORGE CROSS MEDAL Member of RSL Maltese Ex-Serviceman’s Association wants to buy an original Maltese George Cross medal to to wear with other World War II medals during commemorations such as Anzac Day and Sette Giugno.

Contact Patrick Bartolo: Tel.:02 96319394; Mob.: 0424641543 Email: patrick0403@optusnet.com.au

Tmiem iç-CHOGM ukoll ©ab polemika politika, meta l-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni stqarr li kien lest li jikkopera mal-Gvern dwar is-sigurta’ ta’ Malta, iΩda dan ma jistax jag˙mlu bl-attitudni li g˙andu l-Gvern li qed ikun aggressiv ma’ kull min jikkritikah. Sostna li s-sospensjoni tar-regolamenti tax-Shengen ma tag˙mlix sens meta l-Gvern f’sena ˙are© 7000 visa lillAl©erini.

Busuttil sostna li dan kien inkwetanti g˙ax ˙add ma jaf x’sar minn dawn in-nies. Semma wkoll il-fatt li l-Gvern f’dawn l-a˙˙ar snin kien ta 14,000 permess ta’ residenza lil nies li ©ejjin minn pajjiΩi barra l-Unjoni Ewropeja, u li dwarhom tressqu wkoll nies il-qorti. “Anke dwar dawn ma nafux x’sar minnhom. Dan huwa ta’ thedida g˙as-sigurta’ tal-pajjiΩ,” qal.

Biss il-Gvern ma tantx laqa’ tajjeb l-offerta ta’ Busuttil g˙ax fi stqarrija tal-uffiççju talPrim Ministru ntqal li “wara li b'mod irresponsabbli pprova jiΩra' l-biΩa' dwar is-sigurtà f'Malta qabel Ωew© summits dinjin li saru b'suççess f'pajjiΩna, l-OppoΩizzjoni issa qed issejja˙ g˙all-g˙aqda dwar kwestjonijiet ta' sigurtà.” L-Uffiççju tal-Prim Ministru qal li, “l-g˙aqda fejn tid˙ol is-sigurtà hi me˙tie©a dejjem u mhix xi ˙a©a ‘a la carte’.

Sa˙ansitra ©ie allegat li,“Sakemm kienu g˙addejjin l-avvenimenti, l-OppoΩizzjoni kompliet tbeΩΩa' permezz tal-mezzi tax-xandir tag˙ha. Issa li Malta, permezz tal-˙idma professjonali tal-Forzi tag˙ha, g˙amlet suççess, l-OppoΩizzjoni qed issejja˙ g˙all-g˙aqda.”

post fl-Ewropa.Fil-fatt l-uniçi Ωew© pajjiΩi li g˙andhom qag˙ad inqas minn Malta huma l-Germanja (4.5%) u r-Reppublika Çeka (4.7%).

Hija ˙asra li meta t˙abbru figuri hekk tajba, waslet l-a˙bar li wa˙da mill-akbar fabbriki Maltin, id-De La Rue,qalet li fissentejn u nofs li ©ejjin se tati s-sensja lil madwar 300 ˙addiem billi kienet se tag˙laq is-sezzjoni tal-istampar tal-karti talflus.

Fl-istess ˙in id-diri©enti ˙abbru li attwalment ma kienux se jag˙lqu l-fabbrika tag˙hom, anzi se jag˙mlu investiment ta’ €21 miljun fil-fabbrika biex din issir çentru ta’ eççellenza fil-produzzjoni ta’ prodotti ta’ Identità u Sigurtà.

Il-Gvern di©a` wieg˙ed li se jag˙mel minn kollox biex il-˙addiema ssensjati jsibu mpjieg ©did.

... u fit-TurΩmu: zieda ta’ 10.7%

˙bar tajba o˙ra g˙al Malta l-fatt li tA turiΩmu issa qabad rittmu tajjeb anke fix-xhur tax-Xitwa. Infatti f'Ottubru li g˙adda ©ew Malta 199,937 turist, li jfisser Ωieda ta' 10.7% fuq Ottubru tas-sena ta' qabel.

It-total ta' ljieli li t-turisti qag˙du f'Malta f'Ottubru Ωdied b'10.3% u la˙aq iç-çifra ta' 1.5 miljun. Hu stmat li fix-xahar imsemmi t-turistu nefqu €182.1 miljun f'pajjiΩna, ji©ifieri 13.9% aktar milli nefqu f'Ottubru tal-2014.

Jekk wie˙ed jag˙ti ˙arsa lejn il-perijodu minn Jannar sa Ottubru ta' din is-sena, jara li l-g˙add totali ta' turisti kien ta' 1,605,811, ji©ifieri Ωieda ta' 5.6% fuq l-ewwel g˙axar xhur tas-sena li g˙addiet. Kien hemm ukoll Ωieda ta' 5% fl-g˙add ta' ljieli li qattg˙u f’Malta, g˙al total ta' 12.8 miljun lejl.

In-nefqa tat-turisti f'Malta minn Jannar sa Ottubru tal-2015 hi stmata li tla˙˙aq g˙al €1,500.1 miljun, ji©ifieri 7.4% aktar millewwel g˙axar xhur tl-2014.

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

A quick glimpse at Australia

Military led regime

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n a statement issued by the world’s top diplomat, United Nations secretary-general, Ban Kimoon expressed “concern over the detention in Australia’s offshore processing centres and encouraged Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider Operation Sovereign Borders, Australia’s military led regime to combat people smuggling and overseas borders.

This extraordinary plea came while the secretarygeneral acknowledged Australia’s long standing commitment to refugee resettlements, but appealed to Mr. Turnbull to “share responsibilities”.

The pair reportedly discussed problems in Syria and Iran and exchanged views on preventing violent extremism.

Mr. Turnbull who has visited so many countries in the month of November including Malta for the Commonwealth Leaders’ Summit, CHOGM 2015, said that sharing intelligence, of course, is of critical importance and countering terrorist messages on social media was also a high priority.

United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon at COP21

Gift of freedom ustralia continues to A hold in closed detention about 2044 people, including 113 children. There are 934 males on Manus Island (right), including 92 children. Most have been held for well over a year in conditions that have been criticised by the UN Rapporteurs as breaching the Torture Convention and constituting “calibrated cruelty”.

Meanwhile, a cross-section of Australia’s most prominent Christian leaders is imploring politicians to “do the right thing” and release asylum seeker children from detention before Christ-

mas.

After lobbying MPs, they have published a half page open letter in the SMH calling for children and their families to be given “the gift of freedom”.

According to the Australian Human Rights Commission over 167 babies have been born in detention within the last 24 months

2015 climate change conference e are reading a lot on climate change W and as we go to print the Paris (France) grand conference will be close to being

wrapped up (on December 11). This was a major UN summit at which more than 190 nations are making another attempt to agree to prevent the temperature raising by more than 2 degrees above pre-industrial level this century.

The 1992 Rio Earth Summit established the UN framework Convention on Climate Change while the 1997 summit resulted in the Kyoto Protocol, a legally binding deal to cut emissions by 2008-12. The Copenhagen summit in 2009 ended in acrimony. What is needed is an agreement that all countries can stomach as fair – despite their very different national circumstances.

More than 40 world leaders, including Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, David Cameron, Joseph Muscat and Malcolm Turnbull attended.

High prices for Houses

ydney houses now cost 12 times the annual inS come, up four times to when the then PM Gough Whitlam was dismissed from office in 1975.

Australian house prices in Melbourne and Sydney are very high both historical and international standards and that they are very high in part because of the willingness of Australian households to borrow very large amounts of money from the banks.

In 1976, the median Sydney house price was $33,960, compared with median household income of $8,273 – a multiple of 4.1. Prices remained fairly constant as a multiple of incomes until 1966, when lower interest rates sparked a big rise in home prices.

As of the middle of this year the median Sydney house price was $1,004,767 with a median household income of $85,067 according to data from the Real Estate Institute of Australia.

Though demand is still rising, some critics believe that Australia's housing market is severely overvalued.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday December 8, 2015

A quick glimpse at Australia

Australian recession?

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rofessor Yanis Varoufakis (left), a one-time Sydney University economics lecturer who as Greece finance minister battled Europe’s financial elite over the harsh terms of a bailout before falling out with Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, told Fairfax media that Australia is headed towards recession as a result of the weak domestic investment and the slowdown in China. This will put a break on growth.

“The recession itself would not be a problem because some recessions are necessary”.

The economist said that after nearly 25 years

without a recession, Australia was caught up in the same global pattern of weak aggregate demand and excessive corporate savings.

Yanis Varoufakis said the fear would be that this is something more secular, something more like stagnation, and a systemic crisis. “I am not saying that is going to happen, but if I were a politician in Australia, this is what I would be worried about.”

He also warned that the Eurozone faces a rapid Soviet-style break-up unless it fixes fundamental flaws in the system “If we continue in Europe the way we are going, the Eurozone is simply not viable,” Varoufakis said.

Less jobs more consultants The state of Victoria’s growth SW has become Australia’s half-trillion dolN lar economy, for the first time producing more than $500 billion in a calendar year. Although NSW economy is leading the nation, figures show NSW is less important to the rest of Australia than ever before.

Twenty years ago NSW accounted for more than a third of Australian economy - 36 per cent. Now it accounts for less than a third, 31.3 per cent, an all-time low. Western Australia, which 20 years ago accounted for 12.6 per cent of the national economy, now accounts for 17.1 per cent.

When it comes to Queensland it accounts for 18.5 per cent, up from 16 per cent, Victoria accounts for 21.9 per cent, down from 22.7 per cent.

The state accounts show Victoria growing faster than NSW for the first time since 2008. Victoria’s performance is all-remarkable because a year ago it replaced anaemic economic growth of just 1 per cent. The biggest contributor to Victoria’s economic growth was population. In the past year Victoria’s population has swelled by 1.7 per cent, more than any other state.

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY Proudly serving the areas of: Acacia Gardens, Blacktown*, Girraween, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, Pendle Hill, Prospect*, Quakers Hill*, Riverstone, Rouse Hill*, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie*, Vineyard *Parts of

230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147 Ph: 9671 4780 Email:

Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au

www.facebook.com/mrowlandmp Twitter: @mrowlandmp

According to an analysis report by Fairfax Media the federal government departments are saving through job cuts but it is being cancelled out by a massive increase in the cost of high paid consultants and contractors.

The 28 major Commonwealth departments reduced their wages bill by $108 million last financial year. But contractors and consultants costs increased by $205 million almost double the money

saved. The increase took the departments’ total consultants and contractors bills for 2014-15 to a little over $1 billion.

Five departments, including Immigration saved on wages but spent an extra $81 million on consultants and contractors. About 15,000 public servants lost their jobs under Tony Abbott’s Government; the figure did not necessary help the budget bottom line.

Australia 'confident' in search site for MH370

Almost 21 months since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, the Australian authorities are still searching for the wreck and focusing on a shortened but slightly widened section of ocean. They are confident they are searching the right area.

The Australian-led search has been combA new analysis of data shows the plane that disappeared in March 2014, ing a 120,000 sq km area of seabed about is probably in the southern end of the 2,000km off the coast of Perth, using unIndian Ocean search zone, where the derwater drones and sonar equipment deployed from specialist ships. More than operation will now be focused.

75,000 sq km have been searched so far with no trace seen of the plane.

Part of an aircraft wing, known as a flaperon, was found on Reunion Island in July, roughly 4,000km from the search zone, and although tests in France confirmed it had come from MH370, officials said it had been carried there by the ocean currents so did not affect their search plans.

In its technical report just issued, the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group said a "comprehensive analysis of the available data" showed that as previously thought, MH370 had almost certainly gone down in the southern stretch of the existing search area.

The report has given the searchers “real encouragement”. They are "hopeful, indeed optimistic” that they will locate the aircraft.

The entire search operation, that is expected to cost approximately A$180m ($131m; £88m) is likely to end by June 2016.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

VictorV.Vella ... jag˙ti ˙arsa wara l-kwinti tal-kriΩi tar-refu©jati

Il-500,000 tinda vojta tal-G˙arabja Sawdija

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al-120,000 refu©jat mis-Sirja, mill-Iraq, mit-Turkija, milLibja u minn xi o˙rajn, kollha jridu jibdew ˙ajja ©dida f'pajjiz ie˙or. Imma aktar importanti minhekk, g˙aliex qeg˙din ja˙arbu minn pajjiΩhom?

Fis-Sirja u l-Iraq hemm il-gwerra talIslamisti estremisti l-ISIS. Imma fitTurkija x'hemm? Hemm fuq iΩ-Ωew© miljun refu©jat mis-Sirja li qed jo˙or©u mit-Turkija bl-eluf biex imorru filgΩejjer Ωg˙ar ta’ Laros, Kalymnos u Lesbos, li huma parti mill-Greçja.

Imbag˙ad xi ng˙idu g˙al dawk li jaqsmu l-ba˙ar Mediterran mil-Libja g˙all-Italja, Malta u Franza? …

Veru li fis-Sirja hemm il-gwerra, imma fil-pajjizi l-o˙ra minn fejn gej dan l-esodu ta’ refu©jati m'hemmx gwerer fuq dik l-iskala. Mit-Turkija dawk li qed jitilqu huma refu©jati li da˙lu hemm mill-pajjiΩ ©ar is-Sirja.

G˙aliex allura dawn l-eluf li qeg˙din ja˙arbu minn dawn il-pajjizi? Óadd ma tant jissogra jitkellem fuq l-g˙aliex g˙ax x'aktarx li l-verita` mhix politikament korretta, g˙ax malajr inwe©©g˙u lil xi ˙add li jista’ jkun sensittiv!

Din is-sitwazzjoni qajjmet mistoqsijiet o˙ra li jistg˙u jkunu mbarazzanti, b˙al ng˙idu a˙na x'parti qed jilag˙bu u x'g˙ajnuna qed joffru lpajjiΩi Musulmani stess tal-qrib li jistg˙u u li g˙andhom il-mezzi biex itaffu xi ftit u jilqg˙u xi ftit eluf minn ˙uthom li ˙afna minnhom huma tal-istess fidi?

U˙ud mill-500,000 tinda li ji©u wΩati fl-G˙arabja Sawdija u li ˙afna Ωmien mis-sena jkunu vojti

(Il-kriΩi tar-refu©jati qeg˙dha tittestja l-˙niena ta’ ˙afna pajjiΩi l-aktar tal-Ewropa u talAwstralja. Hi ˙a©a sabi˙a li saret moda li tifta˙ il-bibien ming˙ajr ma tqis il-konsegwenzi g˙al dawk li jift˙uhom.

L-Ewropa fet˙et il-bibien: imma xi pajjizi o˙ra li suppost li g˙andhom izjed skop, skuΩa u riΩorsi biex jg˙inu, donnhom qeg˙din ja˙slu idejhom!)

Waqt li d-dinja, l-izjed fin-na˙a talPunent stess qed tisma’ ˙afna priedki ta’ ˙niena, biex naççettawhom, biex insibulhom fejn joqog˙du u biex insibulhom ix-xoghol, g˙ax dawn bnedmin b˙alna, il-pajjizi sinjuri tal-Punent Nofsani, qeg˙din b'idejhom marbuta, donnhom jie˙du pjaçir jaraw lill-pajjizi tal-Ewropa juΩaw il-˙niena u r-riΩorsi tag˙hom biex jilqg˙u lil dawn ir-refu©jati.

Jekk nie˙du pajjiΩ wie˙ed, l-G˙arabja Sawdija, li tajjeb li nsemmi hawn, li ma ˙aditx refu©jat wie˙ed, g˙andha mitt elf tinda bl-arja kkundizzjonata vojta li jistg˙u jakkomodaw popolazzjoni ta’ tlett miljuni.

Qeg˙din f’ra˙al li jinfirex f'wied ta 20 kilometru kubu u jintuzaw biss g˙al ˙amest ijiem fis-sena: g˙all-pellegrini tal-Óa©©.

Dawn it-tined ta’ kwalita` lussuza jinsabu ˙dejn il-belt ta’ Mina. Skont

il-website 'AmusingPlanet reports, g˙all-bqija tas-sena r-ra˙al ta Mina hu deΩert g˙ax fih ma joqg˙od ˙add.

Dawn it-tined li gew modernizzati fl-1997 biex jipprote©uhom min-nar, g˙andhom ukoll façilitajiet tal-kçina u tal-˙asil u toilets. Nofshom huma biΩΩejjed biex jakkomodaw ir-refu©jati Sirjani li qeg˙din ja˙arbu min˙abba l-gwerra li hi mg˙ejjuna ftit jew wisq mill-flus u mill-armi li l-Gvern tal-G˙arabja Sawdija qed jipprovdi lil gruppi Ìi˙adisti.

Imma skont il-gazzetta Amerikana Washington Post, il-pajjiΩi sinjuri G˙arab b˙as-Sawdi, il-Qatar, il-kuwajet u xi o˙rajn, ma ˙adux imqar refu©jat wie˙ed.

Skont xi rapporti, l-G˙arabja Sawdija, li tg˙um fid-dollari taΩ-Ωejt, tg˙id li mill-2011 ospitat 500,000 Sirjan. Fil-fatt dawn kienu nies li rrre©istraw b˙ala emigranti ˙alli ja˙dmu fil-pajjiΩ. Imbag˙ad b˙ala kuntrast il-Libanu, li mhux sinjur, aççetta 1.3 miljun refu©jat, li ji©u kwart tal-popolazzjjoni tal-Libanu.

Filwaqt li s-Sultan tal-G˙arabja Sawdija ma jridx jaççetta refu©jati, offra li jibni 200 moskea g˙an-nofs miljun refu©jat Musulman li hu ikkalkulat li se jmorru l-Ìermanja.

L-iskuΩa tas-Sawdi hi li t-tined ta’ Mina qeg˙din g˙all-uΩu tal-pellegrini. Allura ta min jistaqsi, x'gara mill-Ummah, dak it-twemmin li suppost li joffri protezzjoni u g˙ajnuna lil ˙uthom stess, Musulmani b˙alhom?

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Il-Maltin bi ˙©arhom g˙al-laqg˙a ta’ I tag˙rif mill-Maltese Welfare)

l-Maltese Welfare (NSW) komplew bis-sensiela ta’ laqg˙at ta’ tag˙rif meta g˙al darb’o˙ra fis-sala San Gorg Preca fi Greystanes NSW stiednu lil Marie Louise Muscat millFiducian Financial Services biex tispjega kif l-a˙˙ar tibdil tal-Gvern federali fejn jid˙lu l-pensjonijiet, ilkura tal-anzjani u s-superannuation jistg˙u jaffettwaw lill-Maltin fl-Awstralja.

B˙al dejjem meta jsiru dawn illaqg˙at tant importanti, is-sala kienet mimlija. Nathalie Gatt, il-viçipresident tal-Maltese Welfare qalet li dejjem ikun hemm talba g˙al laqghat ta’ informazzjoni b˙al dawn u l-g˙aqda tag˙hom hija ddedikata li tissokta tag˙ti tag˙rif lill-komunita` kull meta jkun hemm il-˙tie©a.

Sadanittant, il-Maltese Welfare ifakkru lil dawk li jridu jinnominaw lil xi anzjani g˙all-Quite Achievers Night of Recognition li ssir kull sena f’Seniors’ Week biex icemplu 02 9631 9295 ˙alli jiksbu l-applikazzjoni.

Ritratt: Nathalie Gatt (lemin), il-v/president tal-Maltese Welfare flimkien ma’ Marie Louise Muscat mill-Fiducian li ng˙atat bukkett b˙ala apprezzament

Presepju Malti f’Ruma Wara bejn il-Gvern, il-Knisja Maltija u l-Vatikan, il-Presepju li tradizzjonalment Malta ©abet mill-Italja se nibag˙tuh b’libsa Maltija lura l-Italja.

Bejn Diçembru 2016 u Frar 2017, g˙all-ewwel darba, stat barrani, Malta, se jesebixxi presepju fil-Vatikan.

Bi qbil mal-Kurja ta’ Malta l-Gvern jinsab ukoll f’diskussjonijiet masSanta Sede biex din l-inizjattiva tkun

ikkumplimentata b’kunçert ta’ muΩika sagra mill-Orkestra Filarmonika ta’ Malta ta˙t it-tmexxija tas-Surmast Brian Schembri.

Inizjattiva li barra mill-presti©ju mistennija, sservi Ωgur ukoll b˙ala reklam turistiku tajjeb g˙all-GΩejjer Maltin meta wie˙ed iqis l-g˙add ta’ turisti li jΩuru l-Vatikan, l-aktar u l-aktar filfesti tal-Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena.

Il-Voice of the Maltese ipprintjata Jekk trid tixtri kopja ipprintjata bil-kulur ta’ kull ˙ar©a tal-magaΩin The Voice of the Maltese, g˙andek tmur persunalment filMaltese Resource Centre f’59b Franklin & Young Street Parramatta NSW (˙dejn Parramatta West Primary School) nhar ta’ Erbg˙a u nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a mid-9 am sa nofsinhar.

Whom will you nominate this year?

Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc.

The 16th Annual - Quiet Achievers Night of Recognition (To be held during Seniors’ Week 2016)

The Maltese community extends recognition and gives thanks to our seniors once a year.

Ask for a nomination form. Tel 02 9631.9295.

This event is being sponsord by

Çempel 0409 744 376

Readers can also request a printed copy of The Voice by post

In response to a number of inquiries, The Voice of the Maltese wishes to advice that we can now supply hard copies in colour of our magazine to our readers at a price. So anybody interested in acquiring copies of the magazine can communicate with us personally or by email to: maltesevoice@gmail.com. The magazine can also be delivered by post. As the cost of postage varies one is kindly requested to get in touch with us to work out the details.

VOM Readers please note If you are not receiving the Voice of the Maltese regularly you are kindly requested to let us know. Do the same if you have changed your email address. Keeping your addresses updated is very important to us.

E-mail us with the details at: maltesevoice@gmail.com

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015 Uhud mill-istudenti li jattendu f’Horsley Park flimkien mal-President talMCC Emanuel Camilleri (quddiem) martu Theresa (lemin tieg˙u) u ˙dejha Mary Pace Feraud

IppreΩentati ç-çertitikati mill-iskola tal-Malti ta’ Horsley Park -iSkola tal-Malti ta’ NSW, li hi L ferg˙a tal-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW, kellhom il-preΩentazzjoni

taç-çertifikati g˙al din is-sena skolastika li g˙adha kemm intemmet fl-iskola ta’ Horsley Park, f’Sydney nhar is-Sibt 28 ta’ Novembru.

G˙all-okkaΩjoni, ©ew mistiedna lPresident tal-Kunsill tal-Komunita` Maltija ta’ NSW, is-Sur Emanuel Camilleri u martu, li flimkien malprinçipal tal-iskola, Mary Pace-Feraud qassmu ç-çertifikati lill-istudenti Ω-Ωg˙ar li huma mg˙allma min Ivan Borg u lill-kbar mg˙allma min Mary Pace-Feraud stess.

Is-sur Camilleri ˙e©©eg lill-istudenti biex ikomplu fittag˙lim tag˙hom u spjegalhom, kemm hu mportanti li tkun taf lingwi differenti u semmielhom il-vanta©©i.

PreΩenti wkoll g˙all-okkaΩjoni kien hemm il-biçça ‘lkbira tal-istudenti li attendew g˙at-tag˙lim tal-Malti matul is-sena f’ din l-iskola.

Wara l-g˙oti taç-çertifikati l-istudenti ©ew mistiedna g˙al festin.

Din iç-çelebrazzjoni g˙andha ssir ukoll fiΩ-Ωewg skejjel l-o˙ra li l-iSkola tal- Malti ta’ NSW g˙andha f’Luddenham u Seven Hills.

Dawk li jixtiequ jitg˙allmu l-Malti g˙andhom jikkuntatjaw lil Mary billijçemplu: 96012189. \ Wa˙da mill-istudenti Ωg˙ar, Yasmin Sherry biç-çertifikat ippreΩentat minn Mary Pace-Feraud u Em. Camilleri

Biex tikteb Malti tajjeb Aktar dwar il-Verb: forom, modi u tempijiet (2) jiet tal-Indikativ.

EΩ.: Ósibt li ni©i mieg˙ek.

8. L-Imperativ juri kmand jew talba; jitnissel mill-Mamma u jibda b’: a) Vokali meta l-verb ikun Trilitteru ta’

10. Il-Kondizzjonali jsir biΩ-Ωieda tal-partiçeli jekk, kieku mat-Tempijiet tal-Indikativ.

EΩ.: Kieku ©ejt mieg˙i kont tara lpresepju.

9. Is-So©©untiv isir biΩ-Ωieda ta’ li, biex, illi, sabiex, wara, mat-Tempi-

11. It-Tempijiet tal-verbi huma: a) l-Imperfett (Present-futur) li juri g˙emil li g˙adu ma twettaqx. Dan isir biΩ-Ωieda ta’ n, t. j, quddiem lImperativ.

EΩ.: ikteb - iktbu (Imperativ) mela nikteb, tikteb, jikteb, (tikteb), niktbu, tiktbu, jiktbu. b) Il-Perfett (Passat) juri g˙emil li

Ωew© sillabi.

EΩ.: a˙dem minn ˙adem (3); imxi minn mexa (j) b) Konsonanti meta l-verb ikun Trux, Mo˙fi, Imnissel jew Kwadrilitteru.

EΩ.: rodd (Trux), mur (Mo˙fi), fixkel (Kwad), ©erra (I)

twettaq. Dan isir biΩ-Ωieda ta’ t, t, et, na, tu, u, wara l-Mamma.

EΩ.: kiteb (Mamma), mela ktibt, ktibt, (kiteb), kitbet, ktibna, ktibtu, kitbu.

12. Fil-Malti mhemmx Futur g˙alih ˙lief fil-Verbi AwΩiljari Kien u Kellu; iΩda wie˙ed jista’ jfisser il-Futur billi jinqeda bil-kelmiet g˙ad, sa, ser, g˙ada, ©img˙a o˙ra eçç. quddiem l-Imperfett.

EΩ.: Ìanni sejjer jikteb ittra. G˙ada no˙ro© mieg˙ek.

(Fil-˙ar©a li jmiss inΩidu nittrattaw il-VERB, li kif di©a` g˙edna huwa ferm importanti, u nid˙lu wkoll fl-irqaqat

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday December 8, 2015

It’s ‘Gatt’ time of year again!

- Helpline to open all year round

M

other Theresa once said that loneliness is the poverty of the western world and Perth priest, Father Michael Gatt is in full agreement, which is why he will be extending Christmas annual his Helpline to run yearlong.

The “Gattline”, as it has become known, is a free and counselling confidential and referral service, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week from December 1 to 31, which Fr Gatt began in 1991.

The service continued throughout his time as parish priest of St Kieran’s in Osborne Park from 2000 until his retirement in June this year, and he has no intention of stopping the Helpline which has supported so many over the past 24 years.

This is because “retirement” is not a word in the vocabulary of this effervescent cleric, and he is now more passionate than ever to provide a listening ear to those who are lonely and isolated.

“The number of callers

over the Christmas period has grown steadily over the years,” Fr Gatt told The eRecord. “I think this is because we are living in a society that is expanding, but support for individuals within it is not.”

Fr Gatt is no longer associated with a particular parish, but has come to recognise the impact the Helpline has had for so many and has decided to not only continue the service this Christmas, but to provide it all year around.

“The month of December has always been the focus of the Helpline, because this can be a particularly difficult period for people without family or support”, he reflected. “But I also realise that many people are also looking for someone to listen and talk to all year round.”

Fr Gatt, along with his team of helpers, has dealt with many difficult issues over the years, ranging from loneliness to domestic violence to threats of suicide and, with 110 calls during the Christmas period last

St Helena Maltese Australia SC SATURDAT DECEMBER 19: Xmas function at Melrose Receptions, Tullamarine.

For more information: Phone Victor: 0412 99 13 25 or Mary Abdilla: 03 (9370 51 64)

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta) G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, il-qarrejja huma m˙e©©a biex x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website: www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijiet ta’ Malta minn hemmhekk.

Il-website tkun a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bi stejjer li jkunu qed ise˙˙u.

Mhux biss, imma min irid isegwi dak li jkun g˙addej, kull filg˙odu ˙in ta' Malta fuq il-website jittellg˙u wkoll l-a˙barijiet tal-jum ta' qabel.

year, he is once again preparing for a month of continuous ringing, both during the day and night.

Calls usually come from people living locally, but have also been received from interstate and even overseas. Fr Gatt will often follow up with callers and, when necessary, will refer them to other services that can provide professional and ongo- Fr Michael Gatt ing assistance.

“Many people were con- “People need to know that cerned that the Helpline there is always someone to would stop once I finished turn to in times of difficulty, at St Kieran’s, but I know it crisis or despair.” is something I must conMarkReidy (The eRecord) tinue to do,” Fr Gatt shared.

The Helpline is open December 1-31 and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact number is (08) 9440 5379. People can also seek support by emailing Fr Gatt at gattline@bigpond.com More information can be found at www.michaelgatt.net

The Xag˙ra Association of NSW Inc. INVITES YOU TO COME & CELEBRATE:

Australia Day

at a Dinner Dance on January 23, 2016

Venue: Mandavilla Function Centre1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park Food: 3-Course Meal, beer, wine, soft drinks, tea, coffee, pastizzi; also antipasti plus fruit platters Entertainment: provided by Joe Apap Contact: Josephine/Ray: 9627 4182, Mob: 0439 974 182; M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641

IL-ÓAMRUN ASSOCIATION Inc. qed jorganizzaw

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT: Il-Óadd 13 ta’ Dicembru fis-6.00 p.m. Ikun hemm innijiet, il-Priedka tal-Milied u pageant (Nativity Scene) minn Vicky Vella. Santa Claus se jqassam ir-rigali, g˙alhekk min jattendi j©ib ir-rigali tat-tfal mieg˙u.

DIVERTIMENT ipprovdut minn DJ Uncle Sam. IL-KLABB TAL-ÓAMRUN qed jorganizza l-Ballu Annwali tal-Ewwel tas-Sena (The New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance) fil-klabb DATA: Il-Hamis 31 ta’Dicembru bejn is-7 p.m u s-1.00 a.m.

Ikun hemm ikla 3-course flimkien ma’ flixkun inbid u Jug orange juice f’kull mejda.

DIVERTIMENT minn Charlie Muscat u Vince Bezzina.

Donazzjoni ta’ $45 dollaru kull persuna.

G˙al tag˙rif u biljetti g˙aΩ-Ωewg attivitajiet çemplu lil: George Zahra - mobile: 0407 434 651 jew il-klabb 9838 1111

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Community News Tune In to Radio and Television

Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm.

MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, each Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Saturdays 6 to 8 a.m. Martese Caruana presents Nostalgia Music; Sundays from 10.00 - 11.00 am: Il˙na Maltin. Both available on demand. Follow same procedure as for MCC programmes, except select programe in reference.

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Program on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bil-Malti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq l-istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet www.893fm.com.au (On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am) Il-programm ta’ sieg˙a nhar ta’ Óadd fil11.00 a.m. ikun fih l-a˙˙ar a˙barijiet minn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura, avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess g˙all-Maltin

Listen to John Borg & Glenn Cassar every Saturday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM or on the Internet - www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 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 Radio 2 is on Channel 38.

The radio 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 - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

Maltese Programmes on TV and Web VIVA MALTA The GDAY MALTAUSSIE SHOW VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 on TVS is broadcast in Sydney Community Radio in Gosford Central Every Saturday at 2pm. Repeats on NSW. Aired every fortnight from Mondays 5 pm and Tuesdays 7.30 am 6 pm -7 pm (Next is December 7).

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Watch direct via HYPERLINK: Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au. http://ww.tvs.org.au; http://ww.tvs.org.au L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2

The SBS MALTESE NEWS

Meetings of Day Care Maltese Groups in NSW Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month from10:00am to 12 noon.

The group meets in the Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights.

Daceyville Maltese Seniors Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Come and join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month; Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am

Llandillo Maltese Seniors

Friendship Group Men and Women 45 and Older Single The Friendship Group is a social goup for people who would like more friends at times.

We arrange activities that suit our needs and likes.

For more information ring Wendy on 9809 3957 or 0415 946 296

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Events in 2016 Sunday March 13 Fete Sunday July 3 Lejla Fil-Buskett Sunday October 16 Fete Sunday December 4 Festa

Join us on The Voice of the Maltese facebook page: https://www.facebook.co m/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon

The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Ongoing: We meet every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm Our Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining.

Come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast

Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Llandillo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

You need to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment.

For all information and referral matters one should call Censina Cefai: Tel: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

*(All Groups are Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council of 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)

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Community News FRIENDS OF PROVIDENCE HOUSE NSW

CHRISTMAS 2015 FUND RAISING APPEAL Id-Dar Tal-Providenza Malta, looks after over 100 residents with disability and requires over $4 million annually which is raised through sponsors, activities and public donations.

The Friends Of Providence House NSW was founded in October 2011 and have so far raised over $46,000.

We are the official Ambassadors in Australia.

Donations can be made at any Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY – donations are acknowledged A/C Name : Friends Of Providence House NSW BSB: 062-416 A/C No. 10199448 or contact the CoOrdinator: Jim Borg (02) 9636 7767

Proudly supported by: Cnr Main & Campbell Sts, Blacktown.

Contact George Vella Tel (02) 9622 7799

The Maltese Community Council of NSW is conducting a computer class at Maltese Resource Centre 59b Franklin Street, Mays Hill 2145 NSW every Friday between 10.00 am-12.00 For more information contact Em. Camilleri: 0409 744 376

Maltese RSL (sub Branch) calling for SERVICE/EX-SERVICE MEN/WOMEN to join the Maltese RSL sub Branch The Maltese RSL sub-Branch need more Service/Ex-Service members to continue as a sub-Branch.

If we don’t have enough Service members we will not be allowed to march on ANZAC Day as a subBranch under our own banners.

If you are interested in joining, you can write, call or email Doris Pocock (details below) who will send out the application form to you and the additional information required for joining.

Maltese RSL sub Branch PO Box 8280 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Mobile: 0419 420 915 Email: maltesersl@live.com.au

Tint e re ssa k il-kit ba?

Id-direzzjoni ta’ The Voice t˙e©©e© lill-qarrejja li j˙ossu li, jew g˙andhom talent g˙all-kitba, l-aktar bl-Ilsien Malti, imma mhux biss, inkella li ja˙sbu li bi ftit g˙ajnuna jistg˙u jrabbu l-kunfidenza g˙all-kitba, biex jekk u meta iridu, jew jitolbu l-g˙ajnuna tag˙na, inkella sempliçement jibag˙tu x-xog˙ol tag˙hom lil: The Voice of the Maltese biex narawh.

Email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Jekk tkunu tridu wara nippublikaw il-kitbiet tag˙kom.

The Maltese Language School of NSW The Maltese Language School of NSW invites applications for Maltese language classes at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre located at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young Street) Mays Hill (next to Parramatta West Public School).

Both young and adult students may apply.

For more information contact Mary Pace-Feraud on 9601 2189

or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com

La Valette Social Centre Christmas Programme

THURSDAY December 24: 11.30 p.m.: Procession with baby Jesus; Carols by La Valette choir under the direction

by Mro. Victor Flordia. Mass sermon by Natasha Tatarinoff followed by Midnight Mass.

SATURDAY December 26: The Centre opens at 5pm.with normal trading. 8.p.m.Ghana (folk singing).

Everyone is welcome. . THURSDAY December 31: New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance. $55 adults, $30 for children. Entertainment by The Falcons. All welcome..

For more information: phone: La Valette: 9622 5847; Frances 0412 320 4320 or Antoinette: 9671 2992

Cherry Picking Weekend Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 December $150/pp twin share, $175 single Saturday December 12 Leave Blacktown Workers Club at 9:15am and travel to Greystanes for the second pick up at 9.30am. We then head to Bathurst and stop for morning tea at about 11am (included).

Visit Abercrombie House and later in the day go to a local winery for wine tasting and Lunch (at your own expense). After lunch we check in to the Motel. The evening is your free time.

Sunday December 13 Start the morning with Breakfast (included). After breakfast, travel to Raglan Farm for Cherry Picking at 11:30 and pick cherries to our hearts content. We will leave the farm around 1:00pm and go to Bathurst for lunch (at your own expense) and look around the town.

3:00pm: We board the coach and head back home.

For bookings call: Maria on 0431 800 720 or Doris on 0419 420 915 email: metd@live.com.au

Trip organised by Maltese Elderly Thanksgiving Day

MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW

A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

Learn Maltese!

Classes are available for students from 6 years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials. Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island.

Classes at: HORSLEY PARK - SEVEN HILLS - LUDDENHAM For more information and enquiries Call Mary on 9601 2189 Or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme.

Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation.

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday December 8, 2015

Sports Football (the world Game) in Australia

F

or at least the last 60 years in Australia there persisted this strong wave of coordinated vengeance to eradicate the world’s most beautiful game of football.

Every conceivable attempt was tried. They branded the game as soccer played by the wogs, dagoes and by sissies.

This vengeance has been going on unabated for a long time in Asutralia. The latest outburst by Alan Jones (doesn’t he sound like Donald Trump lately?) comparing football crowds at the A-League with the Paris terrorists is nothing new.

Rebecca Wilson of The Daily Telegraph joined in as well with further verbal vile.

What a pair! Yes, we live in a country of free speech but those using our media/airwaves need to be responsible, not pushing hateful narratives.

The game of Rugby League in Australia is big business controlled by the News Corp.

The World Game therefore, is a huge threat to their money-making and they have no space for any opposition.

The Sydney Cricket Ground was mentioned recently as one of the state’s most violent

Malta’s Premier League Football

venues. Football, known as “The Beautiful game”, is not played on the SCG. We have, practically on a weekly basis, a conga-line of rugby players accused of domestic violence or/and drug related crimes.

Rugby League is a game based mostly on sheer brutality and violence on the field of play. On the other hand, Football is a game of passion. There will always be a few hotheads on the terraces.

Rugby League, Australia’s popular, money-making but violent sport

Football, the beautiful World game

Fans behaving badly should never be tolerated at any sporting venue but the FFA must not fall into the trap set about by the Murdock press and the wheeler-dealers of TV networks. Fans must be given protection. If they break the law they must be prosecuted but only after due process.

This cycle of hate for the World Game must stop once and for all.

LD

Valletta, Hibs open five-point gap on top

T

hanks to most comfortable victories on Day 14 of the Premier, Valletta and Hibernians not only maintained their billng at the top of the league ladder, but also opened a fivepoint gap over their nearest challengers, Birkirkara, BalRESULTS:

Round 14 Valletta v Birkirkara 4-0 Hibernians v Naxxar L. 7-0 Tarxien R. v Balzan 3-0 Floriana v Qormi 1-0 Sliema W v Pembroke 2-0 Mosta v St. Andrews 3-1 Round 13 4-2 Valletta v Sliema W. 1-0 Birkirkara v Tarxien R. 4-2 Hibernians v Floriana 4-2 Balzan v Naxxar L. 3-1 Mosta v Qormi 4-0 Pembroke v St. Andrews

zan, and now also Floriana.

The leaders were both on top of their form as they inflicted crushing defeats on Birkirkara (4-0) and Naxxar (7-0) respectively.

For Birkirkara, the loss in the weekend’s top match halted Standing Valletta Hibernians Birkirkara Balzan Floriana Tarxien R. Mosta Pembroke Sliema W Naxxar L Qormi St Andrews

P 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14

W 10 9 7 8 8 7 7 5 5 2 1 0

D 1 4 5 2 2 4 3 2 2 2 3 0

L 3 1 2 4 4 3 4 7 7 10 10 14

F 31 33 29 23 22 24 23 22 15 13 10 6

A Pts 13 31 16 31 16 26 17 26 15 26 12 25 15 24 24 17 21 17 41 8 21 6 40 0

their run of 10 matches without defeat and after the disappointment left their supporters wondering what happened.

Valletta were the better side throughout and were rarely troubled on their way to making their top position a permanent one with Hibernains at least till the end of the year.

Hibernains had no mercy onNaxxar and they scored at will to ahieve a 7-0 victory with their biggest margin so far this term.

Balzan must be disappointed with their lack of fight in one of the worst losses this season, getting beaten 3-0 by Tarxien who now join them on 26 points. For Balzan it was the fourth defeat in their last

Unexpected loss for Victory at Wellington Australia A-League

A

fter some bad publicity and days of turmoil and fan boycotts of A-League games, comes the surprise defeat of defending champions Melbourne Victory who went down 2-0 on a poor pitch at the North Harbour Stadium where the game was marred by a ridiculous colour clash with the similarity of the teams’ playing strips.

As it turned out, Victory’s Rpund 10 loss was Western Sydney Wanderers’ gain as

their 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar catapulted them into the top position where they now enjoy a threepoint lead over joint second RESULTS: Day 9 Wellington Ph v Melbourne V. West. Sydney W v Brisbane R. Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets Central Coast v Melbourne C. Adelaide v Perth Glory Day 8 Melbourne V. v Adelaide Central Coast v West. Sydney W Newcastle Jets v Brisbane R. Sydney FC v v Wellington Ph Melbourne C. v Perth Glory

2-0 2-1 1-0 1-5 1-0 2-1 0-2 1-1 0-0 5-1

Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC who returned to winning ways by beating Newcastle Jets at home 10. Brisbane Roar slipped to fourth a further point behind.

Next come Melbourne City who heaped more misery on Central Coast Mariners, by scoring five goals (5-1) for the second week in a row to register their first win in Gosford.

Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory have a game in hand. They play their postponed clash on December 16.

six matches.

The same round saw Sliema return to winning ways by beating Pembroke in a dismal season that has seen them sack coach Stephen Azzopardi.

Former Melita Eagles director dies aged 70

I

t is with deep sadness to announce the death of Frank Sant a very active member of the NSW sporting community and for many years the treasurer, also served as secretary and director, of the Parramatta Melita Eagles Football Club.

Frank, aged 70yrs was born in St Vennra (Malta) and has lived most of his life in Mascot NSW. The funeral service was held at St Theresa Mascot and Botany Crematorium. RIP