CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Melbourne Australia. Fundraising luncheon.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Chapter of Portugal 25 July 2024
I have the pleasure to announce the appointment of Baron Chevalier, Professor Dr. José António Cunha Coutinho as Prior of the Chapter of Portugal, effective from today. On behalf of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul, I congratulate Baron Chevalier, Professor Dr. José António Cunha Coutinho on his appointment. Thank you Baron Chevalier, Professor Dr. José António Cunha Coutinho for accepting the role of Prior for Portugal. God bless. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP Melbourne Australia.
Feast sin Malta and Gozo this weekend
28th - St. Margaret, Sannat, Gozo
28th - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Balluta
28th - St. Anne, Marsascala
28th - Christ the King, Paola
28th - Santa Venera, Santa Venera
28th - Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Paul's Bay
28th - St. Joseph, Zebbug
Robert Abela in Paris ahead of Olympic games opening ceremony Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife met with French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the athletes representing Malta in this year's Olympic games
26 July 2024, 7:28pm by Matthew Farrugia
Prime Minister Robert Abela is currently in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony of this year’s Olympic games. Abela is joined by his wife Lydia Abela, as the pair were welcomed to the Élysée Palace by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigette Macron. In Paris, Abela also met with the Maltese delegation of athletes and Olympic officials. This year, Malta is being represented by Katryna Esposito, Beppe Grillo, Kyle Micallef, Sasha Gatt and Gianluca Chetcuti. Gatt and Chetcuti will be carrying Malta’s flag during the opening ceremony. MaltaToday wishes the Maltese delegation the best of luck. www.maltatoday.com.mt/sports/olympics/130432/robert_abela_in_paris_ahead_of_olympic_games_opening_ceremony
New applications for Y plates workers and food couriers will be refused By Massimo Axisa July 26, 2024
Aqra bil- Malti An evaluation carried out by JobsPlus found there are enough Y-plates workers and food couriers in the country, and all applications for work permits, including from individuals still abroad and those wishing to change their employer, are accordingly to be refused. A statement by the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Labour points out that this decision is based on an extensive revision of the labour market, including analysis of unemployment registers and vacancies registered by employers. It was stated that a Single Permit, allowing third country nationals to reside and work in Malta, goes through a rigorous process of evaluation, and includes verifications that ensure the labour market truly needs these jobs. The availability of local workers for these positions, adequacy of applicants and legitimacy of prospective employers are also evaluated. The Ministry added in the statement that this measure does not affect actual workers in these sectors, and applications for renewal will continue to be processed without interruption, in order to ensure actual employees are not affected by these measures, the aim being to ensure stability and continuity of work for those already occupying these positions. The Ministry further stated that together with JobsPlus, it is committed to ensure that third country nationals working in Malta are protected from every form of abuse by their employers, adding that the authorities take immediate action whenever cases of abuse are identified. Minister Byron Camilleri emphasised in Parliament that entities under investigation for exploitation of their employees would not be allowed to recruit additional foreign workers until such investigations are concluded, and this measure strengthens the Government’s commitment regarding the rights and wellbeing of workers. tvmnews.mt/en/news/new-applications-for-y-plates-workers-and-food-couriers-will-be-refused/
Edward Scicluna to be removed from MFSA board Prime Minister says decision will be published in the Government Gazette on Friday
25 July 2024, by Nicole Meilak
Edward Scicluna will be removed from the Malta Financial Services Authority’s board of directors, the Prime Minister announced on Thursday, after a court confirmed that there is enough evidence against him for the Vitals fraud case to continue. “Scicluna will no longer serve as a director of the MFSA,” Robert Abela announced in an interview with Newsbook’s chief editor Matthew Xuereb. “It’s a decision that was taken today and will be published in the Government Gazette tomorrow.” Scicluna is facing new pressure to resign as both the Governor of the Central Bank of Malta and as a member of the MFSA’s board of directors, where he serves as deputy chairperson. The latter role is at the discretion of the prime minister, Only he can relieve a board member on the grounds of inability to perform duties due to infirmity or misbehaviour. Abela said he believes Scicluna will take the right decision with regard to his role as Central Bank governor, suggesting that he will step down from the post eventually. He said that he hopes Scicluna will take this decision before cabinet convenes next Tuesday. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/130414/edward_scicluna_to_be_removed_from_mfsa_board
Updated | Opposition leader requests urgent parliamentary discussion on Edward Scicluna PN leader Bernard Grech requests urgent parliamentary session to discuss Edward Scicluna choice to remain Central Bank governor
25 July 2024, 3:16pm by Juliana Zammit
PN leader Bernard Grech
Updated at 3:37pm with request for parliamentary session Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech has requested an urgent parliamentary session to discuss Edward Scicluna's refusal to step down as Governor of the Central Bank of Malta. In a letter to the Speaker of the House, Grech said it is the parliament's duty to ensure that the national interest triumphs over an individual's personal interests. "Despite 24 hours passing since the court's decree, [Scicluna] has not only remained in his post but informed Labour Party delegates that he will remain in the role for political reasons," Grech said in his letter. "Scicluna is refusing to do what is expected of him in these circumstances and even ignoring the Prime Minister. This is unacceptable for the Opposition and shows a lack of serious and strong national leadership." Parliament can only convene urgent sessions if the two sides of the House agree to do so. Grech asked the Speaker to notify the Leader of the House, Owen Bonnici, so that the request is passed on to the government. Earlier on Thursday, Nationalist Party MPs Graham Bencini and Jerome Caruana Cilia said Prime Minister Robert Abela should remove Edward Scicluna from his governorship at the Central Bank of Malta. During a press conference on Thursday, the two MPs said Abela has failed to act against Edward Scicluna and remove him from his position after being placed under indictment in relation to the Vitals Saga. "Edward Scicluna has no respect for the Maltese people or the institution he represents. The only thing he respects is his salary,” Bencini said. The Nationalist Party urged Abela to do all he can to convince Edward Scicluna to step down as Central Bank governor after the court said there is enough evidence to for him and others to stand trial. The prime minister should start by officially asking for Scicluna's resignation, shadow finance minister Graham Bencini said. They also recalled how back in 2020, Scicluna had written an article in the newspaper 'It-Torca' about the ethics of politicians. The Nationalist MPs claimed that Scicluna is going against his own words today. Since being charged in court last May in connection with the hospitals scandal, Scicluna has maintained his innocence and insisted that neither the government nor the opposition can convince him to resign. "I will abide by the EU treaties. The Central Bank is an independent institution. We have our own rules,” he said on Thursday. Economy shadow minister Jerome Caruana Cilia said Scicluna's decision to stay on as governor while facing trial is harming Malta’s name in international banking and financial services. "Every day that he [Robert Abela] continues to drag his feet, the more damage to Malta’s international reputation,” Economy shadow minister Jerome Caruana Cilia warned. Scicluna, along with former deputy prime minister Chris Fearne and 12 others, face charges of fraud, misappropriation, and fraudulent gain over the Gozo, Karin Grech, and St Luke's hospitals. tvmnews.mt/news/il-kap-tal-pn-jitlob-li-l-parlament-jiddiskuti-burgenza-l-pozizzjoni-ta-edward-scicluna/
Enough evidence for Chris Fearne, Edward Scicluna and others to stand trial in Vitals case Court finds enough prima facie evidence for Chris Fearne, Edward Scicluna and others to stand trial
24 July 2024, by Nicole Meilak
There is enough evidence for former deputy prime minister Chris Fearne and 14 others, to stand trial in relation to the Vitals hospitals scandal. Magistrate Leonard Caruana decided there is a case to be heard against the accused in a decree on Wednesday. All eyes were on Chris Fearne. Months ago, the former deputy prime minister was the Labour government’s nominee for European Commissioner. But the criminal charges saw him resign from the government’s cabinet while withdrawing his nomination. Prime Minister Robert Abela had said that he would re-nominate Fearne for the commissionership if there is no prima facie evidence. Among the others charged is Central Bank governor Edward Scicluna, who has resisted calls for his resignation by civil society groups. He has Abela’s backing here – the prime minister has said that he will not request Scicluna’s resignation despite the criminal charges. Read more: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/130385/decision_day_for_chris_fearne_and_others_as_court_determines_whether_to_indict_vitals_accused11
Fearne to step down from Labour deputy leadership Chris Fearne will not contest the Labour Party deputy leadership in September after court finds enough prima facie evidence for him to stand trial in Vitals fraud case
24 July 2024, by Nicole Meilak
Former health minister and deputy prime minister Chris Fearne
Former deputy prime minister Chris Fearne will not recontest the Labour Party’s deputy leadership in September after a court find enough prima facie evidence for him to stand trial in the Vitals fraud case. In a statement on Facebook, Fearne said he will not contest the role so as to “protect the national interest”. “It was this principle that led me to resign from deputy prime minister and a government minister, and for me to withdraw my nomination for the European Commission role.” Malta has been left without a deputy prime minister ever since Fearne’s resignation from cabinet in the wake of criminal charges filed against him. The role is traditionally filled by the deputy leader of the party in government. Fearne is choosing not to recontest the deputy leadership in order to make way for a new deputy leader in the party, and in turn a new deputy prime minister. In his statement, Fearne also said that he will continue to maintain his innocence in court. “I am certain the court will determine the truth, particularly my full innocence.” On Wednesday, Magistrate Leonard Caruana decided there is a case to be heard against Fearne and 14 others charged in relation to the Vitals hospitals scandal. The criminal charges were filed last May, after which Fearne stepped down as a minister and deputy prime minister, and withdrew his European Commissioner nomination. Prime Minister Robert Abela later said that he would re-nominate Fearne for the commissionership if no prima facie evidence is found against him. However, Wednesday’s decree means that his chances of securing the nomination again are scuppered. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/130397/fearne_will_not_contest_labour_deputy_leadership_after_court_says_he_can_stand_trial
Police arrest 11 illegally residing in Malta In a press release, police said that they found 11 individuals from Bangladesh, Gambia and Senega living in a Birgu residence
24 July 2024, by Matthew Farrugia
Police have arrested 11 people who were caught living in Malta illegally after they were discovered residing in a Birgu residence. In a press release, police said that they found individuals from Bangladesh, Gambia and Senegal. They were all taken to a detention centre until they can be taken back to their country of origin, or the country where they have permission to reside in. Police said that its immigration enforcement is a continuous process which will continue with the help of other entities. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/130394/police_arrest_11_illegally_residing_in_malta
Man lands two years in prison for trafficking Indian nationals “to work in his restaurants” July 24, 2024
Aqra bil- Malti An elderly man who lives in Dingli has been sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to trafficking persons from India and making false declarations, among other charges. The man, whose name cannot be published by court order, has been found guilty of illegally bringing into Malta a number of Indians to work at three restaurants which his company was supposedly operating. Before Duty Magistrate Monica Vella, the Police arraigned the 67-year-old man from Dingli under arrest and charged him with human trafficking, false declarations and human exploitation. The man admitted to the charges. In Court, the Police explained that early this month they received a report from Jobsplus and Identità that a company owned by the accused had on its books an amount of people which is much more than it can employ or require. It added that it sent for a substantial number of these Indian workers, who said they saw adverts in their country that this company needs waiters and cleaners, among other works. It resulted that the man’s company owns 3 restaurants, and from investigations carried out it emerged that one of them was in the process of closing down and another had not yet opened. The Police added that it resulted that many of these workers had a residence permit in Malta, but were not working with this company. The police said that from a survey carried out together with other government entities it was also found that the man smuggled the Indians into Malta illegally and made false declarations to the authorities. At the beginning of the sitting the court upheld a defence request and ordered a ban on the man’s name and his company. The prosecution did not object to this request because there is an active investigation into third country nationals who are in Malta illegally who have yet to be found and spoken to by the Police. The defence said that the accused has a clean criminal record, had cooperated with the authorities and admitted at an early stage. It also requested that in prison he is not left in high temperatures and that he is followed because he is diabetic. The Magistrate sentenced him to two years imprisonment. tvmnews.mt/en/news/man-lands-two-years-in-prison-for-trafficking-indian-nationals-to-work-in-his-restaurants/
Pete Buttigieg jissemma’ li jista’ jkun l-id il-leminija ta’ Harris Minn Alvin Vassallo 22 ta' Lulju 2024
Minn xħin il-President Amerikan Joe Biden ħabbar li mhux se jkun qed jikkontesta għall-elezzjoni presidenzjali f’isem id-Demokratiċi diversi ġurnali internazzjonali bdew jaraw min jista’ jeħodlu postu. Għall-ewwel, meta ħabbar li mhux se jkun qed jikkontesta, Biden ma ta ebda appoġġ pubbliku. Kien ftit wara li ħareġ jgħid li qed jappoġġja lil Kamala Harris sabiex tieħu postu. Bħalissa Harris qed isservi bħala Viċi President. Fuq X huwa kiteb li qed jagħti l-appoġġ kollu tiegħu lil Kamala Harris sabiex tkun il-kandidata għall-Partit Demokratiku. Madankollu, minkejja li jidher li għandha appoġġ ta’ bosta, Kamala Harris ma tistax tagħmilha fatta. Anke jekk Kamala Harris tkun il-persuna li ttellaq kontra Donald Trump ikun jeħtieġ persuna oħra magħha. Ix-xahar li ġej id-delegati jridu jivvotaw min se jieħu post Biden u għall-kandidat għal Viċi President. Fost dawn qed jissemmew il-Gvernatur ta’ Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, il-Gvernatur ta’ Kalifornja, Gavin Newsom, is-Segretarju għat-Trasport, Pete Buttigieg, il-Gvernatur ta’ Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro u l-Gvernatur ta’ Illinois, JB Pritzker. Pete Buttigieg jitqies bħala pedina importanti għat-tmexxija ta’ Biden. Bħala Segretarju għat-Trasport, Buttigieg mexxa diversi kriżijiet li kien hemm f’dan il-qasam u serva ta’ bastun tajjeb għal Biden. Fuq X, Buttigieg, faħħar ħidmet Biden u qal li f’ħidmietu mmarka l-istorja tal-Amerka. Qal li se jkun qed jagħti kull appoġġ lil Harris sabiex tkun il-President li jmiss.
Roberta Metsola’s finest hour I am sure Roberta will not just rest on her laurels. Who knows what her next move will be two and a half years from now!
Michael Falzon23 July 2024,
Roberta Metsola won the election for the post of President of the EU Parliament on the first round of voting. She will continue to lead the European Parliament for the next two and a half years. The resounding absolute majority - 562 votes out of 699 - with which Roberta Metsola was again elected speaks for itself. Metsola was first elected as president of the European Parliament on 18 January 2022, becoming the youngest ever president, the first Maltese to hold the office, and the first female president since 2002.
The President of the European Parliament - who is elected by MEPS from among EP Members - enjoys a broad range of executive and representative powers set out in the Rules of Procedure. Other than these duties, the President’s authority extends to ‘all powers that are necessary to preside over the proceedings of Parliament and to ensure that they are properly conducted.’ Each President is in office for a renewable period of two and a half years. The large majority that voted for her the second time around reflects the positive opinion of all the MEPs on how she carried out her duties since she was chosen as president of the European Parliament following the death of the incumbent president David Sassoli in 2022. In attempting to justify their abstention from the vote, Labour MEPs Alex Agius Saliba and Daniel Attard said they disagreed with Metsola on particular issues. Do they think that the 562 MEPs who voted for Metsola agree with her views on everything? The resoning that led to their abstention is obviously flawed. The other Labour MEP, Thomas Bajada, voted in favour of Roberta Metsola becoming European Parliament President. Bajada explained that he believes that the Maltese people have the responsibility to push one another to high positions, helping the island remain at the forefront. Wise words of a mature man. More so when they are compared with the puerile reasoning that led to the other two Maltese Labour MEPs to abstain from the vote. The choice of a Maltese President when Malta has just six MEPs is already a big honour for our country. To discard this fact and abstain because one disagrees with what the candidate said - or did - is short-sighted. Not to take part in the standing ovation after the result of the vote was announced is worse: it is simply rude. On her part, Metsola thanked Europe and her collegues for their trust and committed herself to continue working for Europe. Addressing the House after she was elected, Metsola said: “Together, we must stand up for the politics of hope, for the dream that is Europe. I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our project. A belief to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just and more equal. A belief that together we are stronger and we are better. A belief that ours is a Europe for all.” I am sure Roberta will not just rest on her laurels. Who knows what her next move will be two and a half years from now! www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/blogs/130354/metsolas_finest_hour
Gozitan costume designer nominated for an Emmy award: 'winning would be a plus' Ernest Camilleri nominated for Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his work on the series Ripley Emma Borg
Ernest Camilleri Photo: Ernest CamilleriGozitan Ernest Camilleri has just been nominated for an Emmy for his design of period costumes for the series Ripley, which is streaming on Netflix. Camilleri expressed his excitement with Times of Malta ahead of the ceremony in September, saying that bagging the award would be a "plus". "I am very happy about the nomination as it is a recognition of all the work that has been done. "We worked on this series for almost a year and a half," he said about news that he is one of the nominees vying for the Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award.
Ripley, directed by Stephen Zaillan, follows the story of a grifter living in New York during the 1960s, who is hired by a wealthy man to bring his vagabond son home from Italy. Camilleri, born in Sannat, secured the job of wardrobe supervisor thanks to his long-standing relationship with costume designers Maurizio Millenotti and Gianni Casalnuovo, with whom he has worked for years. Working on Ripley presented Camilleri with unique challenges, particularly in creating costumes for a black-and-white production. "The director wanted a very clean look, so to achieve that effect, the designers were asked to eliminate all colours from costumes and use only black, white, and shades of grey. "This meant sourcing and making costumes with texture while limiting ourselves to these colours," Camilleri told Times of Malta.
Camilleri's interest in costumes started at a young age when, alongside his mother and sister, he used to help create costumes for his local carnival dance company and theatre. This early experience laid the foundation for his later work in major film and television productions, including Game of Thrones, Ben Hur and Captain Phillips. He has also contributed to the London Olympics flag handover and helped coordinate costume workshops for the Russian Winter Olympics and Paralympics ceremonies, and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympics ceremonies. Camilleri however emphasised that working in the film industry was not as glamorous as it seems. "In truth, it is a lot of hard work, involving 12 to 15-hour days for long periods. We all put our personal lives on hold to make a project happen," he said. He acknowledged the rewards of his efforts, saying he was "already very happy to be nominated as it is a recognition for all the hard work. timesofmalta.com/article/gozitan-costume-designer-nominated-emmy-award-winning-plus.1095673
Defiance, frustration and the battle for the Labour Party’s soul Alex Agius Saliba and Daniel Attard abstained in the vote to elect Roberta Metsola president of the European Parliament but beyond their public utterances their action is symbolic of the growing division within the Labour Party
21 July 2024, by Kurt Sansone
Alex Agius Saliba remained seated as other MEPs congratulated Roberta Metsola for her election to EP president (left). The decision to abstain defied party leader Robert Abela seen here shaking hands with Joseph Muscat in January 2024 at an exhibition held at the Labour Party headquarters
Alex Agius Saliba and Daniel Attard abstained from voting for Roberta Metsola when MEPs re-elected her president of the European Parliament last week. Agius Saliba and Attard justified their vote by citing a difference in principles with Metsola, claiming they were consistent with what they had said during the election campaign. But back in Malta their decision to abstain did not go unnoticed among senior Labour Party functionaries, who interpreted it as an act of defiance to the party leader. Last month, Prime Minister Robert Abela said he will support Metsola as a Maltese national despite having differences with her. Only Labour MEP Thomas Bajada followed his lead. Robert Abela congratulated Roberta Metsola for her election as EP president but side-stepped questions on the abstention of Alex Agius Saliba and Daniel Attard“Alex and Daniel had every right to vote as they please, but their action is symbolic of the growing rift within the Labour Party that sees the Joseph Muscat faction manoeuvring to weaken Robert Abela,” a source in the party’s executive, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about internal matters, told MaltaToday. Alex Agius Saliba had been the first PL MEP candidate to invite Joseph Muscat to address supporters at the launch of his election campaign in March, giving the former disgraced prime minister a platform at a time when speculation was rife, he could be a candidate. The same source said Muscat never had the intention of running but the enthusiasm created around a potential bid was intentioned to take the wind out of Abela’s sails. “Joseph and his clique were supporting Alex Agius Saliba all the way because they see him as a potential leader after Robert Abela and someone who could be sympathetic to their cause,” the source said. A September showdown Another source said Abela’s leadership is not at stake but confirmed there was a lot of “manoeuvring” underway to weaken his position. The source said the PL will be heading for a showdown of sorts in September when the party elects its executive and administration and a new deputy leader to replace the outgoing Daniel Micallef. “People close to Joseph Muscat have been using social media to target people in the current administration in what is a clear attempt to lay the groundwork for a possible takeover by individuals who could be more sympathetic to the former leader,” the source said. Labour Party deputy leader for party affairs Daniel Micallef will be stepping down and an election to replace him will be held sometime in SeptemberSo far, no challengers have come forward in a game described by another source as a “tragic soap opera”. “What is leaving me bewildered is Robert Abela’s apparent inability to defend people in the administration from these attacks, even though he knows he is the ultimate target,” the third source told MaltaToday. “There is an internal fight that is brewing for the soul of the Labour Party.” But the battle lines are anything but clear with Abela caught in a state of paralysis in the aftermath of the local and European elections. Militants vs moderates The Prime Minister has failed to take any meaningful action in public to signal some form of change in direction after the election results. In the absence of a clear roadmap different people and different factions are pulling in every direction. “There are those who feel the Labour Party must get closer to its grassroots and appear more militant, while others feel it must reach out again to the moderate middle ground, which was put off by the shenanigans outside the courthouse when Joseph Muscat was arraigned,” another source said. Read more here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/130331/defiance_frustration_and_the_battle_for_the_labour_partys_soul
Electricity grid failures isolate Gzira, St Julian’s and Gharb as thousands swelter in heat Enemalta says overnight power outages in parts of St Julian’s, Gzira, Ghasri and Gharb caused by faults on high voltage network
20 July 2024, by Kurt Sansone
Enemalta is carrying out emergency repairs on cable faults that developed in Gżira and Għarb that have left thousands of people without electricit (Photo: Enemalta)
Electricity outages overnight caused by faults on high voltage cables have left thousands of people in parts of St Julian’s, Gzira, San Gwann, Għasri, Għarb, San Lawrenz and Kercem sweltering in the heat. These areas are still without electricity on Saturday morning. Enemalta said in a statement that cable faults isolated these areas from the national grid. Screen shot of Enemalta's live outage map, showing the area in the north harbour impacted by faults on the gridThis means that alternative supply routes cannot be used to power up these areas and supply can only be restored once repairs are completed. “Repair works started immediately on high voltage cable faults detected last night,” Enemalta said. Ghasri, Gharb and their surrounding areas were hit by a power outage after three faults occurred on the grid in the areaIt added that in Gzira two faults developed on 33kv cables (high voltage network) that are “an integral part” of the distribution network in the area. Enemalta said that in Gozo, three 11kV cable faults occurred in Għasri affecting the supply of electricity to nearby areas. “Where technically possible, Enemalta is using alternative sources of energy until repairs on these faults are addressed,” the company said. The company is deploying mobile generators in several localities as a stop gap measure to power up households and businesses. This is the second consecutive summer in which the Maltese islands are being blighted by regular and prolonged power outages. Although less severe than last year, the current spate of abnormally high temperatures is causing parts of the electricity grid to buckle. A review of last year’s power outages carried out by the National Audit Office, which was published earlier this week, found that although the July 2023 heatwave was an abnormal event that triggered faults on the grid, the lack of investment over the past 10 years in the high voltage network was a contributing factor. Enemalta dismissed the NAO’s findings as “an opinion”, insisting the cause of the power outages was the prolonged heatwave. Nonetheless, the company spent a whole year ripping up roads and laying new cables to bolster the network. However, key weaknesses are still apparent. In Gozo, the whole island was plunged into darkness earlier in the week after a fire destroyed cables supplying electricity to the island. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/130327/electricity_grid_failures_isolate_gzira_st_julians_and_gharb_as_thousands_swelter_in_heat
Updated | Munxar rockfall victim identified asMirabelle Falzon Mirabelle Falzon is the 22-year-old woman who was killed by falling rocks along the Munxar cliffside
19 July 2024, by Nicole Meilak
Mirabelle Falzon, 22 from Siġġiewi, has been identified as the person who died in a rockfall at Marsaskala
Mirabelle Falzon is the 22-year-old woman from Siġġiewi who was killed by falling rocks along the cliffside of Munxar on Friday afternoon. According to police, the incident happened at around 3pm near St Thomas Bay in Marsaskala. A medical team and Civil Protection Department officials went on site to help the woman and take her to Mater Dei Hospital. However, she was pronounced dead soon after reaching the hospital. Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici has appointed an inquiry into the case. Police investigations are ongoing. A video uploaded to Talk.mt shows a stretcher being carried into an ambulance, surrounded by police and CPD officials. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/130326/woman_dies_after_rockfall_in_marsaskala
PL and PN mayors blame Gozo blackout on poor infrastructure As Gozo grows, investment in public infrastructure, including the power grid, has lagged behind
19 July 2024, by Paul Cocks
There is no plan to upgrade Gozo’s ageing infrastructure, especially with regards to the power supply, despite the increasing load brought about by unfettered property development on the island, a number of Gozo mayors have lamented. Most of Gozo lost electricity on Monday evening and for most of Tuesday this week, leading to widespread frustration and condemnation by residents left to cope without electricity in the midst of a heatwave that saw temperatures soar to close to 38 degrees celcius.
Enemalta said the widespread power outage in Gozo was the result of a fire that developed on an electricity cable. It said the fire developed on one of the electricity cables, causing a supply disruption in Gozo. This fire then impacted another cable that provides electricity to Gozo. While members of the Civil Protection Department worked to repair the damage, Enemalta had to switch off all the cables within the culvert that provides electricity to Gozo. Qala PL mayor Paul Buttigieg told MaltaToday sister publication GozoToday that the load on the infrastructure in Gozo is increasing every day. “No one enjoys the situation we had this week where we had no power for hours on end,” he said. “It is clear that something needs to be done to ensure our infrastructure can stand up the ever-increasing load.” Qala mayor Paul ButtigiegButtigieg said that earlier this year the council had embarked on a project to upgrade all the infrastructure in the village main square. That project cost around €900,000 and everything was changed, especially old cables and wiring that had not been upgraded in years. “The cables were 50 and 60 years old and not made for today’s load,” Buttigieg said. “At least we found support from energy minister Miriam Dalli, whose ministry provided the new cabling, and the Gozo ministry, which provided the workforce and paid for the installation of the new cables.” He said such projects cost a lot of money and the local council can not be expected to shoulder the expenses brought about mostly by over-development. This was echoed by Kevin Cauchi, PN mayor of Ghajnsielem, who said that this week’s power cuts left many in the lurch. He said that the ones to suffer most were elderly people and others who were suffering from certain health conditions.
Ghajnsielem mayor Kevin Cauchi“I know for certain that many people who, for example, had appointments for MRI scans on Tuesday, saw their appointment cancelled and now have to wait for another appointment,” Cauchi said. “Others with respiratory problems also had to seek urgent care at the hospital.” He said that for the last couple of years the council had insisted on having a number of electricity sib-stations installed or upgraded. That resulted in the locality not suffering as many power outages as other localities in Gozo last year. But this week proved that even that was not enough. He said the fast rate of property developmemt in Gozo is leaving its mark on the infrastructure, and the problems are not solely limited to power supply. “The same development is having an issue on waste drainage, and a quick visit to Xatt L-Ahmar is enough to see that urgent action is needed across the board,” he said. Cauchi said that government needed to introduce regulation whereby development over a certain size contribute a sum or percentage towards upgrading and maintaining the electricity and drainage networks. Developers should also be made to pay a smaller contribution to the local council, for the upkeep of roads and pavements, he said. Cauchi insists such contributions would hardly make a dent in the profits developers make on large-scale projects. “Even a 10-unit development will return the developer a minimum of €1.5 million in profit,” he said. “Surely, €50,000 or €100,000 could be used to upgrade and maintain our infrastructure and for the local council to have funds to keep its roads and pavements safe, at least?” PL Ghasri mayor Daniel Attard said he, and the council, were very worried following this week’s power cuts. Għasri mayor Daniel Attard“And like us, our residents our worried too because - with the temperatures already at a high as we enter the summer months - they do not expect to have to spend hours in abject misery,” he told GozoToday. Attard said this is a major issue and a big problem for many, and that everyone expects the authorities to finally take some serious action. When asked if he had contacted said authorities during or following the power cuts earlier this week, Attard was dismissive of the idea. “It is of no use speaking to this minister or other, none of them can say they are doing something to effectively solve this problem.” In a statement on Thursday, the Nationalist Party called on Miriam Dalli to explain what led to the electricity cable fire which led to the widespread power outage in Gozo on Tuesday. “The Nationalist Party is calling on Minister Miriam Dalli to be transparent with the Maltese people and to state not only the specific point where this incident occurred but also what caused this fire,” Opposition spokesperson Ryan Callus said. “Fires do not start on their own but are a consequence of something.” www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/130314/pl_and_pn_mayors_blame_gozo_blackout_on_poor_infrastructure
‘Fires do not start on their own’: PN wants Dalli to explain what led to Gozo power outage Energy Minister Miriam Dalli should explain what led to the electricity cable fire which led to the widespread power outage in Gozo on Tuesday
18 July 2024, by Karl Azzopardi
In a statment on Tuesday night, Enemalta said a fire developed on one of the electricity cables, causing a supply disruption in Gozo (Photo: Enemalta)
Miriam Dalli has to explain what led to the electricity cable fire which led to the widespread power outage in Gozo on Tuesday, the Nationalist Party has said. “The Nationalist Party is calling on Minister Miriam Dalli to be transparent with the Maltese people and to state not only the specific point where this incident occurred but also what caused this fire. Fires do not start on their own but are a consequence of something,” Opposition spokesperson Ryan Callus said. In a statement on Tuesday night, Enemalta said a fire developed on one of the electricity cables, causing a supply disruption in Gozo. This fire then impacted another cable that provides electricity to Gozo. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called on site to control the situation. Until then, Enemalta had to switch off all the cables within the culvert that provides electricity to Gozo. Many in Gozo were frustrated by the power outage, as it took Enemalta hours to provide an explanation for the cut. Callus said it is unacceptable that information on Enemalta’s operations is being “hidden from the public.” “This week we saw how Enemalta was not reporting power cuts on its outage map, particularly when Gozo was in blackout. It is equally unacceptable that consumers are expected to accept a dry statement from Enemalta about what happened on Tuesday,” he said. Should the information not be provided, the Opposition MP said it will consider further steps. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/130306/fires_do_not_start_on_their_own_pn_wants_dalli_to_explain_what_led_to_gozo_power_outage_
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Nadur, Gozo Sunday 16th June: 5:30 pm Pontifical Mass at the Sacred Heart Church. With the participation of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul.
Mass for the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul 27 June, 2023 Basilica of St. Peter & St. Paul Nadur, Gozo. Malta.
Mass for the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul 27 June, 2023 Basilica of St. Peter & St. Paul Nadur, Gozo. Malta. Group photo: The Knights and Dames of the Confraternity with the Archpriest Mons. Jimmy Xerri and the Clergy of the parish.
l-ewwel jum tat -tridu
Quddiesa ta l-ewwel jum tat -tridu immexxija mis-Sacerdot novell Dun Mario Mercieca li fiha jiccelebra l-ewwel Quddiesa tieghu fil komunita taghna .Jippriedka .l- Arcipriet tax-Xaghra Mons Carmelo Refalo Ritratti minn Mario Muscathttps://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423540685283950/
The Basilica of Nadur Yesterday Photo by Mario Muscat
Jitnizzlu l-linef ghal festa
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Jibda jintrama l-Altar tal- kor ghal festa Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Il-villagg Tal-Hali fin-Nadur jizzejjen ghal festa Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Nadur in pictures Dahlet Qorrot Bay Photo by Mario Muscat
L' artal tas-Sagrament fin-Nadur Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Qala windmill and Nadur skyline under a misty sunset By Alessio Sultana
Fountain at Xandriku Street Photo by Mario Muscat
Il vara ta' San Pietru u San Pawl mahduma minn Galard f' Marseille
Il vara ta San Pietru u San Pawl tan Nadur Ghawdex ingibet min Franza fil 1882. F dan ir ritat narawa kif kienet meta waslet l Ispirtu Santu zdied xi snin wara . Dan ir ritrat grazzi lil Darren Vella
IL-KONSAGRAZZJONI TAL-KNISJA
Il-lum, 12 ta’ Mejju jaħbat il-153 sena mill-konsagrazzjoni tal-knisja. Il-Konsagrazzjoni ssir billi l-artal jindilek biż-żejt u jitwaħħlu dawk is-slaleb ta’ madwar il-knisja. Il-Konsagrazzjoni tfisser li dik l-art u l-binja tal-knisja ġew mogħtijin lil Alla. Bħalissa lanqas nistgħu nersqu wisq lejn il-knisja. Nistennew il-jum li nerġgħu niltaqgħu hemm. Sadanittant il-knisja kkonsagrata hija kull wieħed u waħda minna li qed nippruvaw inkunu Knisja fid-dar tagħna.
MOMORJI SBIEH TAL-HADD 25 GUNJU, 1967 Il-Parrocca tan-Nadur giet mgħollija ghad Dinjita ta' Bazilika Ritratt kortesija ta' Mario Muscat - Nadur
MEMORIES OF THE PAST IN NADUR Courtesy of Mario Muscat - Nadur
Mill lum c-centru tan-Nadur jerga jiehu ftit hajja meta mistennija jifthu certu hwienet. Dan wara li ghall-ahhar kwazi xahrejn kienu qed jifthu biss l-bank, spizeriji u hwienet tal-ikel, stationery u ironmongeries.
Nappellaw lil kulhadd biex xorta wahda jimxi mad-direttivi kollha tal-awtoritajiet tas-sahha u nirrispettaw lil xulxin.
The stripes flag to commemorate the Parish birthday in Nadur
Nadur invokes Our Lady’s intercession Photo: Charles Spiteri
A 1689 painting depicting Our Lady breastfeeding Jesus has been placed near the main altar at St Peter and St Paul Basilica in Nadur to invoke Our Lady’s intercession against the COVID-19 pandemic. The painting, donated to the church on the occasion of the inauguration of the new parish in 1688, must have been commissioned by someone who most probably ex-perienced the 1675-1676 plague which left around 11,300 persons dead. However, Gozo, Lija and Mdina recorded no fatalities. Besides Our Lady, the painting depicts St Michael Archangel, St Roque and St Sebastian, and a lady on the bottom left-hand side, reciting the rosary. Since the Middle Ages, St Sebastian and St Roque were regarded as protectors from various epidemics, including the bubonic plague.
Old farm house in Upper Ramla
Photo by Mario Muscat
THE SHIELD OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Made by Chevalier Chancellor Joe Louis Meilak of the Grand Chapter of Malta. The shield will form part of the furniture in the Office of the Confraternity in Nadur, Gozo. Well done Chancellor Joe Louis Meilak. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
San Koronatu fin-Nadur
Tissebbah in-nicca ta San Koronatu Martri li tinsab gewwa l-Bazilka tan-Nadur minn Mark Falzon.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Grand Chapter of Melbourne. Today, the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul organized its Annual BBQ to raise money for charity. As always, it was a very successful event and all the patrons were very happy. Thank you to all the volunteers who came to help yesterday and today. God bless you all. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master and the Supreme Council.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Our mission is to helping the poor in Peru. Medic by day, priest by night: a Gozitan missionary in the Amazon By John Paul Cordina.
Photo from left: Chevalier Joe Louis Meilak, Fr. Raymond Portelli and Chevalier Carmel Saliba presenting a donation to the mission in Peru.
What’s it like to be a doctor and a priest in one of the most remote cities on earth? Fr Raymond Portelli, a Gozitan priest who has called Peru his home for the past 26 years, recounted his experiences on 103 Malta’s Heart, on the programme Newsbook Hour presented by Fr Joe Borg. Fr Portelli is based in Iquitos, a city of around 400,000 people located in the Amazon basin. The city is the world’s largest city that cannot be reached by road: it is only accessible by river or air. Fr. Portelli is the parish priest of the St Martín de Porres parish, with a population of 18,000 people. Around a fifth of his parishioners are comfortably middle-class, but the vast majority are poor, with around a tenth living in extreme poverty. Households do have running water and electricity, but many live in simple wooden shacks on dirt roads. Due to the city’s isolation, job creation efforts are limited and unemployment is a significant problem. Many people try to eke out a living through fishing, agriculture or by selling trinkets on the streets of the city. Caring for the body and soul As the only priest in the parish – though a number of laypeople do help out – Fr Portelli seeks to look after his community’s pastoral needs. But he also identified another need: for healthcare. “I have always been interested in medicine, even before I joined the seminary,” he explains. Consequently, he obtained a dispensation from Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi to study medicine at Iquitos’ university part-time, and graduated as a medical doctor after nine years. He often sees patients at the parish, but notes that his parishioners clearly distinguish between his two roles. “They call me doctor by day, and father by night,” he notes. Helping out in the jungle Though he is based in the city, Fr Portelli regularly ventures outside the parish to provide religious and medical services to isolated communities along the Momón River, a small tributary of the Amazon. Travelling by speedboat to reach a series of tiny villages, with the most distant one 12 hours away, the priest encounters a completely different reality. These communities are virtually inaccessible most of the year, as a drop in water levels reduces the river to a muddy path, and are thus mostly self-reliant. People live in small huts with no doors – theft not being a concern in such an isolated place – in communities with no shops or facilities. Stocking up on medicines for the journey, Fr Portelli takes care of common ailments such as diabetes and malaria. If more serious health issues are identified, he offers to take patients to the city, but they often refuse, as they are unwilling to leave their families behind. Once all patients are treated, Fr Portelli holds a catechism session and celebrates mass, often illuminated by candlelight or kerosene lamps – electricity is unheard of so deep in the jungle. Though most are baptised Catholics, even non-Catholics attend mass out of respect. Living conditions may be harsh, but Fr Portelli also notes that there is a strong sense of community in these villages, with people helping each other out. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone helps out whenever a new house is built. But every so often, village inhabitants try their luck in the city, effectively severing their ties with the community they grew up in. And as a result, they often feel lost among the city’s 400,000 inhabitants, struggling to fit in.
FLAG OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL
The flag of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul created by the Grand Master Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli and put in details by Ross Sabatini.
The flag is now registered as a Trade Mark in the Australian Federal Government IP Australia. Our aim is that one day the flag will fly in St. Peter Paul Square in Nadur during the feast of Mnarja.
Nadurama Poezija ta' Peter Paul Vella
Ghana fic-Centru Kulturali Malti gewwa Melbourne, l' Awstralja
Gustav TonnaPROSET L-GHANNEJJA IL-KITARISTI U LODJENZA TA KULL NHAR HAMIS IMORRU ALBION JIEHDU PJACIR U NISA JITGHALMU IL BIZZILLA .GRAZZI IL BARMAN U NNISA TA TEA BAR U L-KOK +++
Giacinta GrechNice to keep the Maltese folk singing going on so far from Malta. Was nice to have met a few of you some weeks ago. Best Wishes to ALL, especially Peter Paul Portelli.
Kelinu Vella Haber (1913-2014) Imwieled fin-Nadur fl-1 ta’ Ottubru tal-1913, Kelinu, kif ħafna kienu jsibuh, kien wieħed mill-aktar Nadurin li taw sehem attiv fit-tiswir u t-tisħiħ tal-ilsien Malti matul is-seklu għoxrin. Kien edukat fisSeminarju t’Għawdex u wara filKulleġġ tal-Ġiżwiti f’Birkirkara. Għamel xi żmien novizz mas-Soċjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl u kien hemm li ltaqa’ mal-poeta Karmenu Vassallo. Fost il-ħafna inizzjattivi siewja tiegħu favur il-Malti, huwa waqqaf ‘ix-Xirka għat-Tixrid tal-Ilsien Malti’, u miegħu kien hemm Anton Buttigieg, Ġużè Bonnici, Ġużè Chetcuti u Ġorġ Pisani, li nislu wkoll huwa min-Nadur. L-ewwel laqgħa saret fil-15 ta’ Jannar 1939. Fl-1940 Vella Haber waqqaf din ix-Xirka wkoll ġewwa n-Nadur u din ħadmet bis-sħiħ favur aktar edukazzjoni u tixrid tal-lingwa Maltija kif ukoll biex jinxtered il-litteriżmu. Dan għen lil ħafna żgħażagħ kif ukoll lill-isforzi favur l-emanċipazzjoni tal-mara. Ħeġġeġ ħafna żgħażagħ jibdew jiktbu u mbagħad il-kitba tagħhom kienet tinqara fuq irrediffusion. Fost iż-żgħażagħ li kienu msieħba u ffurmata fl-għaqda li waqqaf Kelinu nsibu persunaġġi bħal Guido De Marco, Charles Camilleri u Frans Ebejer. Kien ukoll membru għal xi żmien fl-Assemblea Nazzjonali tal-Gvern. Miet nhar it-28 ta’ Jannar 2014, fl-età ta’ 100 sena.1 Bħala rikonoxximent tal-ħimda tiegħu kien ingħata Ġieħ irRepubblika fl-1997 mill-President tar-Repubblika l-Eċċ. T. Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.
Fost il-ħafna kitbiet tiegħu, in-Nadur kellu post prominenti. Forsi l-aktar li jispikkaw huma l-folkdrama ‘Nadurjana’ u l-poemett bl-istess isem: ‘Nadurjana’. Il-folkdrama ‘Nadurjana’ li huwa kiteb bħala rakkont f’650 vers joħroġ fil-beraħ il-karattru tan-Nadur u n-Nadurin, dejjem marbuta mal-baħar u mal-agrikultura. Dan kollu fl-isfond tal-istorja li tibda miż-żmien tal-qedem u li twaħħad fiha l-kult lejn San Pietru u San Pawl ma’ dak pagan. Dan irrakkont jimxi mbagħad maż-żmien tal-ħbit tal-furbani, tattwelid tal-parroċċa, taż-żmien li fih saru l-qniepen fl-1815, iċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Imnarja fil-Buskett, li inċidentalment qed tagħlaq tliet mitt sena (kien fl-1720, skont ma jikteb Giovanni Agius de Soldanis li l-Imnarja bdiet tiġi ċċelebrata b’dan il-mod fil-Buskett), għall-bini tal-knisja, it-tkabbir tagħha u l-leġġendi marbuta mar-raħal. Hawn se nagħti silta ċkejkna ħafna li anke toħroġ fil-beraħ il-kuntest li fiha nkitbet. Billi din il-folkdrama nkitbet għall-okkażjoni tal-festi triċentinarji mit-twaqqif tal-parroċċa fl-1688, u billi dak iż-żmien qamet il-kwistjoni pjuttost taħraq bejn in-Nadur u l-Qala dwar min minnhom kellu leġittimament jiċċelebra t-300 sena tiegħu, Vella Haber kiteb hekk:
‘In-Nadur kien sar parroċċa maqdes bnew in-Nadurin għax kien ġie Cocco Palmeri amar fis lil Bernardin knisja ibni mar amarlu f’dik il-wesgħa ta’ Nadur qim ġie’ fiha ’l Pietru u Pawlu sadattant aħraq il-bħur ġewwa l-Qala l-Kunċizzjoni fost il-poplu żomm l-unjoni.2
Fih ukoll dawn il-versi patrijottiċi: Jiddomina n-Nadur tagħna minn kull fejn tħares lejh kif mill-port ta’ Malta toħroġ dlonk jisraqlek dwal għajnejk!
Iktar ma qribu tersaq iktar ’il fuq jogħla u kien minħabba f’hekk li nħatar biex għall-Għawdxin ikun gardjola!
Il-widien u l-miġriet tiegħek il-għerien u l-bajjiet ismijiet ta’ nisel juru minn tal-eqdem żminijiet kif il-ġonna u l-kampanja it-triqat l-inħawi sbieħ ismijiet tal-qedem għandhom jixhdu nisel xiħ bis-sħiħ!
Għaċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tas-sena tal-Fidi u tal-1900 sena mill-martirju ta’ San Pietru u San Pawl kienu saru festi kbar fin-Nadur, li l-Knisja Kolleġġjata tiegħu kienet għadha 2 Duminku Camilleri, 125 Sena Kkonsagrata. 125 Sena Bażilika, Vigilat 4, (Nadur 1992), 86-98.
hemm ġiet mgħollija għad-dinjità ta’ Bażilika Minuri. Waqt Akkademja mużiko-letterarja nhar il-Ħamis 27 ta’ Ġunju 1968 kienet inqrat il-peożija ta’ Vella Haber li ġġib l-istess isem ‘Nadurjana’. Dan huwa wkoll xogħol patrijottiku fuq l-istess temi ta’ dak imsemmi aktar ’il fuq:
Wiret in-Nadur fuqani l-isbaħ u l-ogħla fost kull panorama li jiflaħ joffri l-arċipelagu tagħna ... ... In-Nadur kiseb foħrija kiseb ġmiel u dija kiseb ruħ Nadurija mill-erwieħ tal-Għawdxin l-oħra.
3 Fost diversi poeżiji oħrajn li huwa kiteb dwar in-Nadur insibu għadd fil-ktieb ta’ Karm Caruana In-Nadur u t-Tempju Tiegħu Monumentali. ‘Il-Bajja ta’ San Blas’ li hija ddedikata lil Girgor Buttigieg ‘Naduri li għex u miet ta’ qaddis,’ u fiha jiddeskrivi l-bajja bħala ‘s-sebħ u l-kobor tan-Nadur,’ blistess stil romantiku ta’ poeti oħrajn ta’ qablu: ‘San Blas nitgħaxxaq bik: / Seħer il-ħajja nsibu kollu fik!’4
Imbagħad insibu wkoll diversi poeżiji oħrajn b’laqta patrijottika. Vella Haber kiteb ‘Il-Kanuni tan-Nadur’ bħala ‘tifkira tal-Professur Lazzru Pisani li Pitter ilMaqdes tan-Nadur.’ Fiha l-kanuni li xi darba kienu jisparaw fuq ‘il-misħut Nofs Qamar’ sabiex jiddefendu lir-reliġjon Nisranija, issa jinsabu sektin. Kanuni oħrajn ‘qniepen saru,’ b’referenza għall-manuvra li kien għamel il-kappillan Dun Anton Scasciato (1772-1834) fl-18151816 meta rnexxielu jakkwista kanuni bil-permess tal Gvernatur Sir Thomas Maitland (1760-1824) sabiex jagħmilhom qniepen ġodda.5 F’ ‘Żernieq il-Maqdes tanNadur’ iddedikata bħala ‘Bukkett qronfol lill-Professur F.S. Sciortino’, il-poeta jibda mill-leġġenda tal-bini talKnisja meta Girgor għabba l-ħmara bil-ġebel u fejn din waqfet, allura nbniet din il-binja u jinfexx f’ħafna tifħir:
Maqdes gwapp ħafna n-Nadur inbena Nixxiegħa sar tal-ogħla sebħ u faħar; Ġieħ dan il-maqdes jiktor, le jinfena.
6 Fuq laqta reliġjuża, fil-poeżija ‘Luminaria Magna’, ‘B’tifkira u żżih il-ħajr lill-Artista Piju Cellini’, Vella Haber jeżalta lil San Pietru u San Pawl fil-ġrajjiet ta’ Attila s-Salvaġġ. Kienu huma li ‘ħarġu għalih bil-qilla, / ħanqu lill-għadu bir-rabtiet tal-lġiem.’ Hekk ukoll ‘aħna nirbħu żgur ... il-Kruċjata Mqaddsa ...’ Dan kollu bit-tarka tal-Imnarja, voldieri tażżewġt idwal li huma San Pietru u San Pawl.7
Anke fix-xogħol tiegħu ‘Quddiem San Koronatu Martri. Fit-Tempju Monumentali tan-Nadur,’ Kelinu jinseġ għanja ta’ tifħir lil dan il-bniedem li sa minn żmien ilu n-Nadurin qisuh bħala Kon-Patrun tagħhom flimkien ma’ San Pietru u San Pawl:
L-osservazzjoni li jagħmel meta jikteb li ‘mhux ta’ b’xejn b’ismek imgħammda / ħafna wlied minn tan-Nadur!’ kienet tapplika b’mod tajjeb għall-1953 meta dehret din il-poeżija ppubblikata, iżda llum iż-żminijiet inbidlu u huma ftit jekk xejn, dawk it-tfal Nadurin li jiġu msemmija għal San Koronatu. Jolqtok ukoll kif Vella Haber jitratta mal-fatt li ma nafu xejn dwar dan il-korp, iżda hu joħroġ b’dan: ‘Aktar m’Int mostur u moħbi, / aktar fostna sirt magħruf ...’ U tassew għaliex f’dawn iż-żminijiet li fih kien qed jikteb San Koronatu kien għad għandu ħafna popolarità fin-Nadur, xi ħaġa li bħal dik tal-ismijiet, illum ixxejnet ukoll.
3 Duminku Camilleri, 200 Sena mit-Twelid ta’ l-E.T. Mons. M. Buttigieg. 100 Sena Arċipretali, Vigilat 5, (Nadur 1993), 94-95. 4 Karm Caruana, In-Nadur u t-Tempju Tiegħu Monumentali, (Nadur 1953), 23.
5 Ibid., 120 6 Ibid., 125 7 Ibid., 133. Kelinu Vella Haber jingħata ġieħ mill-Akkademja tal-Malti f'għeluq il-mitt sena tiegħu - 2013 Storja, Kultura u Attwalità36
'In-Nadur' Poezija ta' Patri Mattew Sultana
Jekk f’sidri nħoss nifs qawwi, Jekk bqajt sal-lum bil-ferħ qalbi trid tfur, Ngħid li mill-arja, mid-dehriet ta’ seħer U l-ħlewwa tan-Nadur.
Fejn il-ħolqien jitbissem Kont nilmaħ qalb dawk l-oqsma, żara’ u ħdura; Widien, għoljiet, siġar tal-frott fejn tħares; Kemm xtaqtni ma ġejtx lura!
X’jiem hienja! X’jiem ta’ seħer, F’raħal sabiħ, f’ġenna tal-art qattajt! Sirt naf in-nies, tħabbibt, ħabbejt, ħabbewni; Nies bħalhom, ftit, jekk rajt! Sal-lum bqajt nistħajjilni
Inħoss il-fewġa tonfoħ f’dawk l-ibruħ, Tmelles fuq wiċċi u fuq uċuh ir-raba’ U nħossha ‘ttini r-ruħ. U għalkemm minkejja fija
Tlaqt f’qasir żmien u ’l min sirt naf ħallejt, Ġmiel in-natura mżiegħed f’dawk l-inħawi U r-raħal qatt ma nsejt. Għax dawn in-nies dħulija ...
Maqdes San Pietru Pawl, ġmiel kull fejn tmur, Ħallewni noħlom b’dawk il-jiem mgħoddija F’dil-‘Ġenna ta’ Nadur’.
Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi receives Gieh in-Nadur 23 November, 2019
Members of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul of the Grand Chapter of Malta, during the presentation of Gieh in Nadur to Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi Deputy Chancellor.
Photo from left: Chevalier Adonai Camilleri Cauchi, Dame Marlene Muscat, Chevalier Carmel Saliba, Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi, Chevalier Chancellor Joseph Louis Meilak, Brother Matthias Mercieca and Dame Veronica Camilleri Cauchi.
Message from the Grand Master H.E. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli
Photo: The Secretary Chevalier Carmel Saliba is reading the message from the Grand Master for the presentation of Gieh in Nadur to Chevalier Deputy Chancellor Michael Camilleri Cauchi.
The Grand Master His Excellency Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli and the Supreme Council of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul is very honoured to have Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi one of its own.
He has been a very dedicated and honourable member of our Confraternity. He is always ready to give advice to help our Confraternity to achieve more.
We are very happy to say that on Tuesday this week, we donated $10,000 to the Royal Women’s Hospital - Newborn Intensive Care Unit. The money was raised from a Fund Raising Lunch we had last month and some donations from individuals and sponsors.
This year we donated others sums of money to the Australian Farmers who were suffering from drought-ravaged part of the State of Victoria and to our missions in Peru.
Our Confraternity is still small but it’s making a big impact to help those in need.
We like to Congratulate Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi, on receiving the honour Gieh in-Nadur 2019.
God bless you.
H.E. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
Gozo Channel ship damaged after crashing into pier - MinisterMonday, 25 November 2019, Gozo Channel is operating with only two ships after one of the ferries was damaged today due to the strong winds and rough seas, Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana told Parliament. It had already been announced that the MV Nikolaus, which was leased by the company to operate as a fourth vessel, was to undergo repair work that will last till mid-December. The company was operating with three vessels until this morning when one of the remaining three ships was damaged and needs repair work.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Melbourne. Australia. By Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master
On Tuesday 19 November, 2019 the Members of the Supreme Council of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul made a generous donation of $10,000 to the Royal Women's Hospital - Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
Every year more than1,600 babies who are born sick or prematurely are cared for by the specialist NICU team at the Women's.
The money was raised from a Lunch organised by theGrand Chapter of Melbourne on the 13 of October, 2019.
The Supreme Council has agreed to donate money to the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital at the Good Friday Appeal.
Photo from left: Chevalier Saverio Greto, Dame Gail Vas, Dame Carmela Barbaro, Chevalier Vincenzo Galtieri. H.E. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master presenting the cheque to Sue Jacobs Deputy Clinical Director - Neonatal Paediatrician, Laura Bignell Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Dame Angela Greto and Dame Mimma Sabatini.
HELPING THE POOR IN PERU
Yesterday Bishop Giovanni Cefai a missionary priest in Peru celebrated Mass in the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Nadur. After the Mass the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter and St. Paul donated money to his mission. Thanks to the Supreme Council of the Confraternity in Melbourne and the Grand Chapter of Nadur for the money. Thanks also to Mons. Jimmy Xerri Parish Priest of Nadur for his support.
This was the second time that the Confraternity donated money to missions in Peru in the last couple of months.
God bless His Excellency Bishop Giovanni Cefai for his work to help the poor and the sick.
God bless the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter and St. Paul. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
Dahlet Qorrot Bay from Sopu Tower in San Blas Nadur, Gozo. Malta.
Nadur Bailica Church from San Blas
Sopu Tower built in 1667 by the Knights of Malta
Sopu Tower is situated on the cliffs between St. Blas and Dahlet Qorrot bays in Nadur.
Black statue of St. Peter on the throne
I saw this statue while visiting the church of St Anselm and St Cecilia Roman Catholic church in Kingsway, Holborn, London.
Just like the one in Rome and Nadur.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Nadur. Gozo. A meeting of the Confraternity was held in the Nadur Council Board Room on Monday 24th June where two newly Knights were appointed by Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP of the Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and Paul. These are Chev Joe M. Attard of Rabat Gozo and Chev Joe Meilaq. Congratulations. Photos Copyright Carmel Saliba 24.6.19.
After the meeting of the Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and Paul we attended for the 25th Anniversary Mass of Fr Raymond Portelli at Nadur Basilica. Donations to Fr Raymond were presented to be used in his mission in Peru. Congratulations to Fr Raymond. Photos Copyright Carmel Saliba 24.6.19.