‘New’ Air Malta set to be announced on Monday - report Saturday, 30 September 2023,
The government is expected to launch a new airline that will replace Air Malta on Monday, The Times report. The development comes at the end of years of discussions with the European Commission. The changes to Air Malta will appear “almost seamless” for passengers, with no disruption to flight schedules, the retention of the same number of aircraft and with the airline name remaining unchanged, sources told the newspaper. More details are to be given during a news conference by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana on Monday. Discussions with the EU came to an end with Brussels rejecting the government’s request for State aid to be given to the ailing national airline. Malta asked Brussels for permission to pump €290 million into the airline in a last-ditch attempt to save it, proposing a five-year State aid financing plan intended to help turn the company into a sustainable, profit-making enterprise. The company will be called KM Malta Airlines plc, with changes expected to Air Malta’s aircraft livery. www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-09-30/local-news/New-Air-Malta-set-to-be-announced-on-Monday-report-6736255226
Ursula von der Leyen żżur l-Iskola Primarja tan-Nadur f’Għawdex – Tfaħħar l-investiment fl-edukazzjoni u l-enerġija rinnovabbli Minn Owen Galea 29 ta' Settembru 2023 Read in English
Il-President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea Ursula von der Leyen esprimiet il-gratitudni tagħha waqt żjara fl-Iskola Primarja tan-Nadur f’Għawdex, u rringrazzjat lill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela u lill-gvern Malti għall-merħba li ngħatat f’Għawdex. Waqt li tkellmet fl-iskola, hija faħħret id-dedikazzjoni tal-għalliema, l-istaff, u l-istudenti, u rrikonoxxiet ix-xogħol eċċellenti li qed isir f’din l-iskola biex tħejji lit-tfal għall-futur. Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela fisser il-proġett tal-iskola tan-Nadur bħala eżempju konkret ta’ kif nibnu b’mod sod il-futur. Qal li l-iskola hi parti minn differenza tanġibbli li se tħalli l-ġid fil-komunità. “Dan huwa proġett li se jkun għodda għaċ-ċittadini biex ikollhom il-ħiliet tal-futur”, saħaq il-Prim Ministru Abela hu u jinnota kif il-futur huwa l-qalba l-ħadra. Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela rringrazzja lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea u lill-President tagħha dwar il-programm NextGenerationEU għaliex dan huwa mezz kif anki jixpruna l-ġid fost anki gżejjer reġjuni bħalma huwa Għawdex. Il-Prim Ministru saħaq li Malta u l-Unjoni Ewropea jistgħu jagħmlu differenza fil-ħajja tan-nies u jlestu lil Malta għal għada. Min-naħa tagħha, il-President von der Leyen qalet li kienet impressjonata bit-trasformazzjoni reċenti tal-iskola, iffinanzjata mill-programm Next Generation EU. Il-bini storiku ġie ppreservat b’mod metikoluż waqt li kien għaddej minn tisbieħ estensiv, li rriżulta f’faċilità effiċjenti ħafna fl-enerġija bi klassijiet spazjużi, kwalità tal-arja mtejba, u arja kkundizzjonata li taħdem bl-enerġija solari. L-iskola hija mgħammra wkoll b’tagħmir diġitali tal-aħħar teknoloġija, li jirrifletti ambjent ta’ tagħlim modern u diġitalizzat. Il-President saħqet fuq is-sinifikat ta’ dan l-investiment taħt Next Generation EU għal Malta u Għawdex, b’madwar €330 miljun allokati għal diversi proġetti. Hija faħħret lil Malta talli ddedikat kważi 70% ta’ dan l-investiment għall-għanijiet tal-klima, li qabżet il-medja Ewropea. L-impenn biex jiżdied is-sehem ta’ enerġiji rinnovabbli fit-taħlita tal-enerġija ġie enfasizzat b’mod partikolari, peress li mhux biss isaħħaħ il-grid tal-elettriku iżda jsaħħaħ ukoll l-indipendenza tal-enerġija. Il-President von der Leyen enfasizza l-importanza tat-tkabbir sostenibbli u l-użu responsabbli tar-riżorsi naturali għall-futur ta’ Malta. Hija rrikonoxxiet l-isfida iżda assigurat lill-poplu Malti li l-Ewropa tinsab magħhom f’dan il-vjaġġ. Filwaqt li fakkret fiż-żjara tagħha f’Malta sentejn ilu biex tniedi l-Pjan ta’ Rkupru u Reżiljenza, il-President innotat il-progress li sar u assigurat li dan kien biss il-bidu. Hija enfasizzat il-proġetti li għaddejjin u li ġejjin, u qalet li dan jindika futur sabiħ għar-reġjun. Il-President Von der Leyen iċċelebrat ukoll il-wirt kulturali uniku ta’ Malta u r-rwol tagħha fil-proġettazzjoni tal-valuri Ewropej fil-Mediterran. Faħħret il-post strateġiku ta’ Malta bħala salib it-toroq tal-Ewropa, l-Afrika, u l-Lvant Nofsani, filwaqt li enfasizzat il-potenzjal għall-kummerċ u l-investiment fl-enerġija rinnovabbli fir-reġjun. Iż-żjara tal-President von der Leyen f’Għawdex immarkat il-bidu tas-summit tal-MED9, fejn se jsiru diskussjonijiet kruċjali dwar il-futur tar-reġjun tal-Mediterran. Hija esprimiet il-gratitudni tagħha għall-istedina u kkonkludiet ir-rimarki tagħha billi rringrazzjat mill-ġdid lill-istaff tal-iskola, lill-għalliema u lill-istudenti tal-merħba sabiħa tagħhom u talli wrew il-progress tremend miksub f’Għawdex. tvmnews.mt/news/ursula-von-der-leyen-zzur-l-iskola-primarja-ta-nadur-fghawdex-tfahhar-l-investiment-fl-edukazzjoni-u-l-energija-rinnovabbli/
Med9: Leaders put the onus on ‘co-legislators’ to step up talks on EU migration pact Mediterranean and Southern European leaders are calling on co-legislators to step up negotations on the EU’s migration pact
29 September 2023, by Nicole Meilak
Mediterranean and Southern European leaders gathered for a Med9 summit meeting at Castille (Photo: DOI)
Mediterranean and Southern European leaders have called on their co-legislators to step up negotiations on the Pact on Migration and Asylum and reach an agreement in all files before the end of the legislative term. Heads of State and Government from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, and the Secretary of State for European Affairs of Spain recently gathered for the Med9 summit in Valletta. In a joint declaration, they acknowledged the challenges posed by irregular migration and called for a sustained EU response. They put the onus on “co-legislators” to step up negotiations on the Pact on Migration and Asylum to reach an agreement in all files before the end of the current legislative term. “This agreement must provide the necessary assurances that the needs of frontline countries will be adequately met. In addition, we recall the need for a significant increase in the EU’s efforts on the external dimension front with a renewed approach to effectively reduce primary movements and prevent departures, improve the rate of returns of failed asylum seekers and other third country nationals who have no legal right to remain in the Union, address the root causes of irregular migration while respecting the protection of fundamental rights and international obligations.” Official family photo of the EU MED9 Summit in Valletta (Photo: DOI)The leaders expressed sorrow and solidarity for recent natural disasters in the region, and pledged continued support for affected areas. They also emphasised the increasing importance of cooperation among Southern EU countries, especially amid challenges like Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and economic pressures. The leaders stressed the importance of a stable Mediterranean for Europe, and welcomed efforts to strengthen EU relations with partners in the Southern Neighbourhood, focusing on comprehensive partnerships and increased engagement. With regard to Ukraine, the leaders condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and pledged support for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, including humanitarian efforts. They also noted that the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and North Africa is negatively impacting security in the Mediterranean and EU. Leaders also pointed to food insecurity issues, particularly with the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. “It is incumbent on us to adopt a stronger paradigm for Euro-African cooperation on matters of peace and security so that we can ensure that we effectively respond to the needs of our partners. Adopting a broader approach, encompassing the entire African continent, will also contribute to this endeavour. We welcome the fact that the African Union has become a permanent member of the G20. This is an acknowledgement of Africa’s role on the global stage,” the declaration reads. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in line with relevant UN resolutions and EU principles. They welcomed the EU’s readiness to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, including the appointment of an EU representative. Read more here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/125190/med9_leaders_put_the_onus_on_colegislators_to_step_up_talks_on_eu_migration_pact
Il-Kap tal-PN f’laqgħa mal-President tal-KE 29 ta' Settembru 2023
Il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni u tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, Bernard Grech, kellu taħditiet ma’ Ursula von der Leyen f’Dar l-Ewropa, fil-Belt. Stqarrija tal-Partit Nazzjonalista qalet li l-messaġġ ta’ Dr Grech f’din il-laqgħa kien appell biex nissieltu għal-libertà tal-espressjoni u għall-ħarsien tal-ġurnalisti u l-ġurnaliżmu f’kull pajjiż membru fi ħdan l-Unjoni Ewropea. Il-Kap tal-Partit Nazzjonalista flimkien mal-President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea tkellmu dwar l-impunità, l-immigrazzjoni, il-ġurnalizmu ħieles u l-kawżi kontroversjali tal-iSLAPP. Intqal li Dr Grech semma’ l-ħidma li qed jagħmel il-Partit Nazzjonalista biex il-Maltin u Għawdxin ikollhom tassew ħajja aħjar f’pajjiżhom.
Il-PM b’taħditiet bilaterali f’Kastilja mal-PM tal-Kroazja 28 ta' Settembru 2023
Malta u l-Kroazja għandhom potenzjal biex isaħħu l-kummerċ bejniethom. Dan kien sentiment importanti li qam f’laqgħa bilaterali li llejla kellu l-Prim Ministru Robert Abela mal-Prim Ministru Kroat Andrej Plenković fil-Berġa ta’ Kastilja lejliet is-summit tal-MED9. Fi stqarrija, l-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru qal li ż-żewġ mexxejja rrimarkaw għar-relazzjonijiet b’saħħithom li jeżistu mhux inqas fil-kummerċ. Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela nnota d-dħul tal-Kroazja fiż-Żona Ewro u fiż-Żona Schengen fil-bidu ta’ din is-sena u kif iż-żewġ pajjiżi għandhom għanijiet komuni favur aktar kooperazzjoni. Iż-żewġ naħat iddiskutew temi oħra li jinsabu fuq l-aġenda Ewropea fosthom l-ekonomija, l-enerġija, it-tibdil fil-klima u l-gwerra fl-Ukrajna. Fuq din l-aħħar tema, iż-żewġ mexxejja komplew jikkundannaw l-invażjoni mill-qawwiet Russi fl-Ukrajna. Il-Prim Ministru Abela tenna l-appell favur djalogu u taħditiet ta’ paċi. Jakkumpanjaw lill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela f’din il-laqgħa kien hemm il-Ministri Owen Bonnici, Ian Borg u Michael Falzon kif ukoll il-Kap tas-Segretarjat tal-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru Glenn Micallef u d-Direttur Ġenerali tad-Dipartiment ta’ Koordinazzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea Leandro Borg.
Il-President tal-PE żżur ċentru tal-MaltaPost fix-Xewkija Minn Glen Falzon 28 ta' Settembru 2023
Il-President tal-Parlament Ewropew, Roberta Metsola, żaret ċentru tal-MaltaPost fix-Xewkija. F’dan iċ-ċentru, il-kumpanija tħaddem iktar minn 60 persuna b’diżabilità b’kollaborazzjoni mal-aġenzija Jobsplus u l-Fondazzjoni Lino Spiteri. Dr Metsola qalet li x-xogħol jagħti dinjità lin-nies u ħeġġet biex iktar kumpaniji f’Malta u l-Unjoni Ewropea jieħdu l-eżempju tal-MaltaPost għal dinja tax-xogħol iktar aċċessibbli. Żiedet tgħid li fl-istess ħin, is-sistema edukattiva u l-programmi ta’ taħriġ għandhom ikunu mfassla għall-ħtiġijiet ta’ kulħadd. Dr Metsola rrimarkat li l-pajjiż għandu jkompli jagħraf juża l-fondi Ewropej f’din id-direzzjoni ta’ inklussività. Iċ-Chairman tal-MaltaPost, Joseph Said, qal li l-kumpanija qed tħabrek biex testendi dan il-proġett ta’ inklussività fid-dinja tax-xogħol anke f’Malta. Ara iktar ritratti hawn: /tvmnews.mt/news/il-president-tal-pe-zzur-centru-tal-maltapost-fix-xewkija/
Refurbishment of Primary School in Nadur Work on the refurbishment of the Primary School of Nadur was going full speed during the summer months.
Now the work seems to be completed in time for the school year.
Photo by Mark Azzopardi
Il-Kap tal-PN itenni li għandu jinbidel il-mudell ekonomiku ta’ Malta 27 ta' Settembru 2023
Il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni u tal-Partit Nazzjonalista Bernard Grech tenna l-ħtieġa li għandu jinbidel il-mudell ekonomiku ta’ Malta biex il-poplu jkollha ħajja aħjar u standards għoljin. Dr Grech mexxa delegazzjoni tal-Partit Nazzjonalista f’laqgħa mal-Malta Institute of Management bħala parti mill-ħidma konsultattiva li qed jagħmel il-Partit Nazzjonalista. Fi stqarrija tal-Partit Nazzjonalista intqal li matul din il-laqgħa ssemmew, fost l-oħrajn, it-tħassib li f’uħud mis-setturi l-kwalità għadha nieqsa, partikolarment fis-settur tal-catering, tal-kostruzzjoni u l-accounting. L-istqarrija qalet li kienu diskussi wkoll l-isfida tal-għoli tal-ħajja, kif ukoll il-bżonn tal-innovazzjoni u l-importanza li din ma titħalliex biss fl-aspett diġitali.
BIL-FILMAT: Investigazzjoni dwar ajruplan li nġarr bir-riħ fir-runway ewlenija Minn Ruth Amaira 27 ta' Settembru 2023
Read in English L-awtoritajiet tal-avjazzjoni qed jinvestigaw każ li seħħ dalgħodu, għall-ħabta tat-8am, fejn ajruplan inġarr mir-riħ fl-ajruport. Ħadd ma’ weġġa’ u ma jidher li ġiet irrappurtata ebda ħsara fl-ajruplan jew fl-infrastruttura fl-ajruport. Filmat fuq il-media soċjali juri l-ajruplan jinġarr mir-riħ fir-runway għal fuq il-ħaxix. L-ajruplan, tat-tip De Havilland-8, huwa tal-kumpanija Universal Air. Din il-kumpanija topera minn Malta l-aktar fil-ġarr ta’ passiġġieri lejn il-Libja. Minn informazzjoni li għandu TVMnews jirriżulta li l-ajruplan kien qed jiġi rmunkat għal post fejn kellu jinżamm. Waqt li kien qed jinħall minn mat-trakk li kien qed jiġbdu l-ajruplan jidher li nġarr mir-riħ li ħakem fl-inħawi. Dak il-ħin ma kien hemm ħadd fuq l-ajruplan. L-ajruplan qasam ir-runway ewlenija, magħrufa bħala l-1331, u spiċċa fil-ħaxix. Għal xi ħin ir-runway antika kienet magħluqa u ntużat ir-runway l-antika. TVMnews talab reazjoni mill-MIA plc dwar l-inċident. Kelliema għall-kumpanija kkonfermatilna li seħħ l-inċident u żiedet li ma jistgħux jagħtu aktar dettalji minħabba l-investigazzjoni. Hija qaltilna li infurmaw lill-Bureau li jinvestiga inċidenti tal-ajru (BAAI) u lid-Direttorat tal-Avjazzjoni Ċivili (TMCAD) tvmnews.mt/news/bil-filmat-investigazzjoni-dwar-ajruplan-li-ngarr-bir-rih-fir-runway-ewlenija/
Labour Party deputy leader, president refuse to answer questions on benefits fraud scandal Tuesday, 26 September 2023,
Two top Labour Party officials refused to answer questions on the benefits fraud scandal that has rocked the party after revelations made earlier this month. Both Labour Party president Ramona Attard and deputy leader Daniel Micallef repeatedly refused to answer questions about the position of former MP Silvio Grixti after the social benefits scandal. Attard and Micallef ignored journalists' questions on Grixti's place in the party during a press conference organised to present the party’s general conference. Earlier this month, the Times of Malta reported how Grixti allegedly provided false medical documentation to assist people to fraudulently obtain monthly social benefits meant for people with severe disabilities. Claimants received an average of €450 monthly. Some have been charged in court, but the police is still to proceed against people who are believed to have been the masterminds behind the scheme. Some individuals implicated in the scheme have told investigators that they were directed to Grixti by various individuals, including a Labour minister, a now-deceased PL MP, ministers' aides, and customer care officials from the Prime Minister's office. Asked whether the PL is conducting its own investigations, Attard said that investigations are solely being carried out by the police. *** “Insahhu Malta Tahgna” (Strengthening Our Malta) is the central theme of the Labour Party’s 2023 general conference, Attard said on Tuesday. The general conference will be held between 1 and 8 October. She explained that the conference will be happening throughout the whole country within all of the electoral districts. Attard said that the country has “moved forward significantly” during the past years under the Labour Party and that the PL is guaranteeing that it will continue moving forward to improve the lives of the Maltese and Gozitan workers. She said that the PL has continued to honours its promises and made reference to the recently agreed upon sectoral agreement for nurses and midwives. “We strengthen because we continue to enact changes which put Malta at the forefront of various sectors,” she said. The PL President said that Malta is a “champion of equality”, but that there is a need to continue strengthening our communities according to the wishes of the Maltese and Gozitan people. “We want a Malta in the way the people wish it to be.” Read more here: www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-09-26/local-news/Labour-Party-deputy-leader-president-refuse-to-answer-questions-on-benefits-fraud-scandal-6736255136
Updated: Muscat misled Public Accounts Committee – Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
Tuesday, 26 September 2023 Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat misled the Public Accounts Committee when he testified before it last month, the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation said Tuesday. When testifying before the PAC on 29 August 2023, Joseph Muscat was asked about the LNG Security of Supply Agreement that his energy minister, Konrad Mizzi, had signed with Azerbaijan’s state energy company, Socar, in favour of Electrogas Malta Limited. “When the PAC chair asked Muscat why his Government did not disclose the State guarantee to the European Commission, he cited our report that Muscat’s Government had kept it hidden from the European Commission,” the foundation said. Muscat said that the EU Commission had “full visibility of all the information”. The foundation said it immediately wrote to the European Commission to ask whether this is correct. The European Commission’s reply shows that while they were aware of the possibility of a Security of Supply Agreement, they were not notified of its existence or its content, as Muscat implied in his testimony. This is the reply which the foundation received from the DG Competition yesterday (emphasis added): “As regards DG Competition, Malta submitted a notification in June 2016 relating to the Malta Delimara Gas and Power Energy Project, under which Electrogas Malta Limited ("EGM") committed to supply electricity and gas to Enemalta (SA.45779). Part of the aid notified by the Maltese authorities had already been granted and therefore the case was registered by the Commission as relating to non-notified aid. “On 11 January 2017, the Commission adopted a decision approving the notified measure. More specifically, the contractual structure, as notified by the Maltese authorities for the development of the Project, involved: (i) a Security of Supply Agreement (“SSA”), (ii) an 18-year Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”), and (iii) an 18-year Gas Supply Agreement (“GSA”). “This was complemented by an Implementation Agreement (“IA”), whereby EGM agreed to finance, design construct, build, own, operate the LNG regasification facility and the new power plant Delimara 4, and to transfer these to Enemalta at the end of the term (see recitals 33 to 46 of the public version of the Commission decision). “The aid beneficiary was the developer of the Project, namely the company Electrogas Malta Limited ("EGM"), as specified in recital 47 of the Commission decision. A possible agreement between the Government of Malta and Socar was not part of the notification to the Commission and was therefore not assessed in the Commission’s decision.” During yesterday's Public Accounts Committee sitting, Joseph Muscat was asked about the Daphne Foundation statement, adding that that he intended to address this even regardless of the aforementioned statement, as he had checked after the question arose in the last sitting. He said he had made a mistake when he said that the Commission had visibility of the agreement between SOCAR and the government. He said that the government had sent everything needed and requested by the European Commission, and checked why the commission didn't have visibility of the SOCAR agreement with government. He said he found that "this was an agreement between the government and an Azerbaijan state company that was not part of the tender, had no direct or indirect impact on Electrogas, and Electrogas was not part of it." This agreement was practically an insurance policy that the government took, which said that if in some way Electrogas pulled out, SOCAR would not then say that they would no longer continue providing gas to Malta because of that, he said, but rather that the Maltese government would have the right to start buying the gas itself. "That is what this agreement was." He said the agreement never came into practice as Electrogas continued moving forward. He said that the government had taken advice from the firm Clifford Chance, which he described as "one of the go to international firms." He said the firm had given the government written advice, which he no longer has access to, which said that this agreement didn't need to be presented to the Commission, "as the standard for state aid notifications reads that if the government ties itself to mandatorily do something then it needs to notify, but the government in this agreement just had the option of the going into it." He also said that for it to be state aid there needs to be a commitment by the state, "which there wasn't as there was simply an option, and that this commitment must be firm and concrete, and this wasn't the case." He said the agreement was a bilateral one between the government and SOCAR, adding that Electrogas wasn't part of it, nor was it a witness to it. Clifford Chance, he said, had said that this agreement had no risk of state aid and that this agreement was not part of the project, but a standalone the government took as an insurance policy, concluding that this is why notification was not needed and that this is why it wasn't part of the documents presented to the EU Commission. He also said that after the agreement had become public, the Commission had also not asked for it. He said the agreement is today terminated as it wasn't needed and no payments were made as it wasn't used.
Consumers will receive one-time payment as compensation for July power cuts Consumers will receive a credit on their utility bills ranging between €60 and €110 depending on the total duration of the power interruption
26 September 2023, by Nicole Meilak
Households and businesses that experienced over six hours of power cuts last July will be entitled to a one-time payment as compensation for the inconvenience. The payment will be granted in the form of an automatic credit to their utility bills based on the average consumption of households during the corresponding three-month period of the previous year. For example, a residential account that had their supply interrupted for six to eight hours will receive a €60 credit.
Introdotta mill-ġdid ir-rotta bejn iċ-Ċirkewwa u l-Università Minn Owen Teuma
25 ta' Settembru 2023
GUG Ġiet introdotta mill-ġdid ir-rotta X300 li tieħdok bejn iċ-Ċirkewwa u l-Università ta’ Malta. Dan wara li r-rotta X300 kienet tneħħiet dakinhar li kien introdott il-fast ferry. Il-Grupp studentesk Għawdxi, il-GUG ilu minn dakinhar li twaqqfet ir-rotta jagħmlu pressjoni mal-Gvern u l-awtoritajiet konċernati biex terġa’ tiddaħħal lura din ir-rotta. Ir-rotta X300 tieħdok miċ-Ċirkewwa u tibqa’ sejra mingħajr waqfien lejn l-Università u l-Isptar Mater Dei. Din ir-rotta kienet ġiet introdotta wara ħafna insistenza tal-Grupp Universitarji Għawdxin lura f’Settembru tal-2020. Madanakollu tneħħiet sena wara propjament dakinhar li ġie introdott il-fast ferry. Fuq Facebook il-GUG qalu li l-iskeda l-ġdida se tkun qed topera bejn it-Tnejn u l-Ġimgħa wara li aktar kmieni llum saret konferenza tal-aħbarijiet fiċ-Ċirkewwa
GUGFi stqarrija li ħarġet dakinhar li twaqqfet l-X300 – jiġifieri dakinhar li beda l-fast ferry, l-organizzazzjoni studenteska Għawdxija GUG esprimiet rabja lejn id-deċiżjoni li titwaqqaf ir-rotta X300. “Wara li ddedikajna ħafna ħin biex naraw li din ir-rotta tkun possibbli, ninsabu ddiżappuntati li ħadd ma kkonsultana dwar din id-deċiżjoni” kienu qalu l-istudenti Għawdxin. Wara numru ta’ laqgħat bejn l-awtoritajiet u l-grupp ta’ studenti Għawdxin, l-X300 kienet bdiet topera meta l-fast ferry ma jkunx qiegħed jaħdem minħabba l-maltemp. Minkejja dan, l-X300 ta’ spiss ma kinitx topera u taqbeż xi vjaġġi minkejja li ma kienx jaħdem il-fast ferry. Fi Frar ta’ din is-sena l-Ministru għal Għawdex Clint Camilleri kien wiegħed li se jkun qiegħed idaħħal lura r-rotta X300. Dan waqt dibattitu li sar fuq l-istazzjon nazzjonali mad-Deputat Nazzjonalista Alex Borg. Matul l-aħħar snin il-GUG dejjem ħadem biex tkun introdotta mill-ġdid din ir-rotta biex ikun hemm alternattiva xierqa kemm għall-istudenti kif ukoll għall-ħaddiem Għawdxi li ta’ kuljum jaqsam lejn Malta għal xogħlu. Fl-aħħar snin numru ta’ vjaġġi tal-fast ferry spiċċaw tħassru fix-Xitwa minħabba r-riħ qawwi li jaħkem lill-gżejjer Maltin. newsbook.com.mt/introdotta-mill-gdid-ir-rotta-bejn-ic-cirkewwa-u-l-universita/
Il-Ministeru jitfa’ t-tort fuq Olvin Vella fil-kontro-protest dwar il-ħatra ta’ Norma Saliba Il-kontro-protest jgħid li l-Ministru Owen Bonnici ma jistax jingħata l-ħtija tan-nuqqas taċ-ċermen li jinforma lill-kunsill dwar l-entità l-ġdida mmexxija minn Saliba
Minn Staff Reporter
25 ta' Settembru 2023
Miguela Xuereb/ Facebook (Norma Saliba) Read in English. Il-ministeru tal-arti mmexxi minn Owen Bonnici ċaħad li l-ħolqien ta’ Ċentru ġdid għal-Lingwa Maltija huwa llegali u akkuża lill-Kunsill Nazzjonali għal-Lingwa Maltija b’negliġenza fil-kontro-protest imressaq it-Tnejn. Dan wasal wara li l-Kunsill Nazzjonali għal-Lingwa Maltija ippreżenta protest ġudizzjarju kontra l-ministru tal-arti u l-kultura, iċ-ċentru l-ġdid u l-Avukat tal-Istat, wara li tħalla fl-għama dwar il-ħolqien tal-entità l-ġdida mmexxija mill-eks-impjegata tal-midja tal-Partit Laburista Norma Saliba. Saliba – l-eks-kap tal-aħbarijiet tax-xandir pubbliku – inħatret bħala kap eżekuttiv taċ-ċentru l-ġdid li nħoloq ftit ġimgħat wara li rreżenjat mix-xandir pubbliku. The Shift żvela li Saliba rċeviet pakkett finanzjarju ta’ €73,000 fis-sena għar-rwol ġdid tagħha. Filwaqt li wissa lill-gvern li kien se jieħu iktar passi legali jekk id-deċiżjoni ma titħassarx, il-kunsill ressaqq protest ġudizzjarju kontra Bonnici talli naqas milli jikkonsulta lill-kunsill “kif titlob il-liġi,” u qal li sar jaf dwar l-entità l-ġdida u l-ħatra ta’ Saliba mill-midja. Iżda it-Tnejn, il-Ministeru ressaq kontro-protest fejn qal li ma jistax jinżamm responsabbli għan-nuqqasijiet tal-ċermen tal-kunsill Olvin Vella u qal li kemm iċ-ċentru l-ġdid u l-ħatra ta’ Saliba huma legali u għandhom jibqgħu fis-seħħ. Fil-kontro-protest, il-ministeru qal li ċ-ċentru l-ġdid huwa parti mill-istess kunsill, u l-kunsill ma jistax jieħu passi legali kontrih stess. newsbook.com.mt/il-ministeru-jitfa-t-tort-fuq-olvin-vella-fil-kontro-protest-dwar-il-hatra-ta-norma-saliba/
Malta Survey: PN marginally ahead of PL, but more people trust Robert Abela than Bernard Grech Kevin Schembri Orland Sunday, 24 September 2023, The Nationalist Party is marginally ahead of the Labour Party, the results of a survey show. If an election were to be held tomorrow, the PN would receive a marginal 0.4% more votes than the PL, the data, obtained via Malta Survey, shows. It would translate into a mere 1,500 votes, incidentally similar to the difference with which the PN won its last election in 2008. The survey indicated that both parties have also failed to retain a sizeable chunk of the people who voted for them in the last election, with one third of Labour Party voters saying they will not vote PL and one fifth of PN voters indicating they will not prefer the PN next time round. The survey also shows that the number of people who, if an election is held now, will not vote, is more or less the same as the number of voters who did not participate in the 2022 election - around one from every seven voters. Another 4.4% are undecided which, with a survey having a 2.5% margin of error, makes the situation fluid. With a sample size of 1,600, this is the first political survey to be carried out following an agreement signed by Standard Publications Limited and IDEA Intelligence, which administers maltasurvey.com. The agreement is for the development of periodic national surveys on politics, current affairs and other subjects of public interest. A first survey on public sentiment during summer was published in August. Read more here. www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-09-24/local-news/Malta-Survey-PN-marginally-ahead-of-PL-but-more-people-trust-Robert-Abela-than-Bernard-Grech-6736255045
Il-PM jiltaqa’ mal-Maltin fi New York Minn Owen Galea 24 ta' Settembru 2023
Fl-aħħar impenn tiegħu fi New York fejn attenda għall-Assemblea Ġenerali tal-Nazzjonijiet Magħquda, il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela ltaqa’ mal-komunità Maltija fiċ-ċentru tal-Maltin f’Astoria. Dr Abela faħħar is-sens ta’ attiviżmu tagħhom biex jgħożżu l-identità Maltija. Matul l-attività numru ta’ Għawdxin tkellmu ma’ TVMnews dwar l-imħabba kbira li għad għadhom lejn art twelidhom u l-ilsien Malti, anke jekk ilhom għexieren ta’ snin li emigraw lejn l-Amerika. Akkumpanjat minn martu Lydia u binthom Giorgia Mae, il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela kellu laqgħa ma’ bosta membri fi ħdan il-komunità Maltija u Għawdxija li għexieren ta’ snin ilu ħallew arthom lejn l-Istati Uniti biex isibu futur aħjar. Minkejja d-distanza ġeografika, l-imħabba tagħhom lejn dak kollu li hu Malti baqgħet mhix mittiefsa. F’kelmtejn tal-okkażjoni Dr Abela nnota li minkejja d-distanza kbira bejn Malta u New York, l-identità baqgħet ħajja u b’saħħitha. Huwa faħħar is-sens ta’ attiviżmu tal-Maltin li emigraw lejn New York u kif b’mod volontarju u bla ebda interessi jaħdmu bla qies biex iżommu b’saħħitha u magħquda l-komunità Għawdxija u Maltija. Il-Prim Ministru ħeġġiġhom biex fost oħrajn ikomplu jgħallmu u jgħaddu l-ilsien Malti lil uliedhom għax sostna li din hija fost l-isbaħ ħaġa li qed jagħmlu biex iżommu ħajja l-identità tagħna. Fost dawk li ħallew art twelidhom Joe Meilaq mir-Rabat Għawdex. Ma’ TVMnews, Joe irrakkontalna l-ħidma li wettaq flimkien ma’ Maltin oħrajn biex fl-1981 inawguraw iċ-ċentru Malti fi New York. Qalilna li permezz tiegħu qed iżommu ħajjin it-tradizzjonijiet Maltin. Bi kburija qalilna li baqa’ jgħożż l-ilsien li tatu ommu. Xorta bqajt nitkellem bil-Malti. Jien xħin ninżel Malta hekk jgħiduli – kemm ilek l-Amerka? Ngħidilhom 58 sena u l-Malti ma nsejtux u jitla’ xi ħadd jagħmel sentejn, tlieta jinżel jitħaddet bl-Ingliż. Joe MeilaqKatya Haber Grima mir-Rabat Għawdex ilha aktar minn għaxar snin li emigrat lejn New York. Hija esprimiet ukoll sodisfazzjon li ċ-ċentru qed joffri t-tagħlim tal-Malti lil uliedhom. Jien naħseb li hija importanti għax peress li qegħdin ‘il bogħod minn Malta hija xi ħaġa ta’ Malta hawnhekk. Jiena nibgħat lit-tifla tiegħi l-lezzjonijiet tal-Malti fil-klabb. Kuntenta ħafna. Għalkemm jien u r-raġel nitkellmu bil-Malti. L-iskola titkellem bl-Ingliż imma magħna tipprova titkellem bil-Malti. Katya Haber GrimaFost Għawdxin oħrajn li emigraw, tinħass sew is-sens ta’ nostalġija għal pajjiżhom, fosthom George Cremona li telaq minn Malta minħabba nuqqas ta’ xogħol u kif minn ħames snin spiċċa għamel 40 sena. Konna ilna tliet snin miżżewġin f’Malta u ma kellix x’nitlef u għedtilha jekk ma nidrawx nerġgħu ninżlu Malta. Lil ommi għedtilha nagħmlu ħames snin u minn ħames snin ġejna kważi 40 sena. George CremonaJoe Galea qalilna li telaq minn Malta b’ta’ fuqu senduqu u bħal bosta Maltin u Għawdxin oħrajn sab xortih fl-Amerika. Madankollu qalilna li dan ġie b’ħafna xogħol u tbatija. Bħal kulħadd tiġi biex tagħmel ħajja aħjar. 1971. Ix-xogħol kien u kelli ċans niġi hawn u dak iċ-ċans ma tarmihx. Kont ixxurtjat. Ħdimt ħafna. Joe Galea. tvmnews.mt/news/il-pm-jiltaqa-mal-maltin-fi-new-york/
Four police officers to be charged over odometer tampering racket The scam involved deceiving consumers by tampering the mileage gauge to show fewer kilometres
24 September 2023, by Karl Azzopardi
A MaltaToday exercise revealed discrepancies ranging between 30,000km and 130,000km between the original mileage and the one registered in Malta
Four police officers are to be charged in court on 3 October over involvement in the odometer tampering racket of imported cars, MaltaToday has learnt. The development comes after the police officers were suspended from the force last month, sources close to the investigation said. The officers’ suspension and eventual prosecution follows a year-long investigation into the scam operated by at least two second-hand Japanese car importers. The scam involved deceiving consumers by tampering the mileage gauge to show fewer kilometres. It is unclear what part the four police officers had in the scam but part of the racket involved police officers in the Grand Harbour failing to fill in the car mileage on official documents. MaltaToday exclusively revealed last year how hundreds of consumers were sold second-hand Japanese cars with tampered mileage gauges. Cars bought from Japanese bidding markets on the cheap because of their high mileage, would then be sold in Malta. However, upon arrival in Malta these cars had their odometers tampered to show low mileages. Two car dealerships, Rokku Autodealer of Ghaxaq and Tal-Qasab of Qormi were identified as the culprits in this scam. No criminal action has been taken yet against the two companies despite the owners being interrogated by the police. It is still unclear when, or if, they will be charged and both companies have continued to operate. Last June, MaltaToday reported that the police bail for the suspected dealers had been lifted. They had also been issued with an attachment order. Attachment orders are usually issued in money laundering cases. The court orders that all moneys and other movable property owed or pertaining or belonging to the suspect be taken out of suspect’s control and placed in the care of a third party. How did the racket operate? An exercise carried out by MaltaToday on a sample of 18 cars flagged by multiple industry sources, revealed discrepancies ranging between 30,000km and 130,000km between the original mileage and the one registered in Malta. Read more here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/125080/four_police_officers_to_be_charged_over_odometer_tampering_racket
It-Tieni Jum Tad-Tridu Minn Mario Muscat Quddiesa mmexxija mil-Kappillan ta Kercem Dun Brian Meylak
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.