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Sunday request program presented by Peter Paul Portelli, Pauline Zahra and George Sammut.
Sunday request program presented by Peter Paul Portelli, Pauline Zahra and George Sammut.
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Dawl mil-Kelma 1 Hadd ta' l Avvent: drive.google.com/file/d/15LN2hV0MaF5li8DgjCWQU-qon-_N2h3E/view
Toninu Jirrakkonta
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Programm imtella mill mibki Anthony Sultana
Isma taht.
Festa ta' San Koronatu Martri
Programm imtella mill mibki Anthony Sultana
Isma taht.
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NEWS FROM MALTA
Updated (6): 5 workers hurt, 20-year-old missing as building under construction collapses in Kordin
Saturday, 3 December 2022,
Five workers were injured when part of a construction site in Corradino Industrial Estate collapsed, while another man is still missing, the police said.
The accident happened at around 9.30am, with footage that emerged on the social media later showing that a corner of the building seemed to give way, pulling down the whole edifice which ended in a mound of debris.
Home Minister Byron Camilleri said the missing worker is a 20-year-old man, for whom a search is taking place. It is understood that the man who is still missing entered the building a few minutes before the collapse.
Addressing the media, Camilleri said that the CPD likely knows the location of the trapped person. Drones and police dogs are helping the CPD and police in the search operation.
Camilleri added that there is a possibility that there could be a controlled collapse of part of the building that has remained standing. This was being said upfront so as not to create unnecessary alarm, he said.
CPD director Peter Paul Coleiro said that through equipment used, the CPD has narrowed down the location of the person who is trapped to 10 metres. The steps that will be taken next is to remove, as delicately as possible, the rubble that is on top so as to be able to reach out to him.
He said some walls will need to be brought down with the possibility that other parts of the building will collapse.
Coleiro said that the intention is to push the rubble away from the location where it is thought that the trapped man is.
Camilleri added that from information gathered, including through the use of security cameras, there were six people on site at the time of the accident.
See more here: www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-12-03/local-news/Up-to-five-workers-feared-trapped-as-construction-site-collapses-6736247952
Former President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca flees journalists after abortion press conference
Former president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca joins pro-life coalition in stand against government's abortion amendment but refuses to answer journalists' questions after delivering press conference
2 December 2022, 1:55pm
by Marianna Calleja
President emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, second from the right, took no questions from journalists during a pro-life press conference
President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca fled journalists after addressing a pro-life press conference ahead of Sunday's demonstration in Valletta against government's abortion amendment.
“We need to listen to one another in a mature discussion,” Coleiro Preca said during the press conference in which she took no questions from journalists.
When approached afterwards for comment, she insisted that while she is usually eager to reply, her decision "to be ethical" now had to be respected.
“While typically I am willing to comment on anything asked of me, my decision to be ethical must now be respected,” she told journalists.
Accompanied by Life Network Chairperson Miriam Sciberras, the former president called for unity on a matter which she said is of concern to a lot of people.
"The government's proposed amendment worries me. Although it is necessary to have legal certainty, this should only be in matters of death and not health,” Coleiro Preca said in her address.
Sciberras noted how the addition of mental health to the list of factors that qualify for abortion, will invite abuse.
Instead, both women said they will be supporting the amendment put forward by more than 80 academics, which was also backed by Doctors for Life.
Parliament is currently debating an amendment put forward by government, which allows a pregnancy to be terminated if a woman's health or life is at risk. The amendment to the Criminal Code ensures that neither doctors nor women will guilty of a criminal act if an abortion is done in these two circumstances.
The Opposition has come out against the proposal and will be voting against.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120134/marielouise_coleiro_preca_flees_journalists_after_abortion_press_conference#.Y4psZXZBy3A
Maltese bishops tell MPs to be ‘in favour of life, not death’ in abortion amendment decision
Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma say mothers should be supported, but not at the expense of a human life
2 December 2022,
by Matthew Vella
From left to right: Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma
Malta’s Bishops have issued a missive expressing their preoccupation with an amendment to Malta’s total abortion ban, that is being debated in the House of Representatives.
The amendment allows doctors to carry out terminations in cases where pregnancy endangers the mother’s life or health.
The Bishops say that by referring to “health” the amendment will allow terminations in situations in which “it is not the mother’s life that is in danger, but her health, and proposes that health can be safeguarded by killing a new human life. This means abortion.”
The Catholic leaders – Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma, and Auxiliary Bishop, Joseph Galea Curmi – said mothers should be given all the support they need but not at the expense of a human life. “When respect for the dignity of the baby in the womb is denied, the foundation of respect for the dignity of each human being – including that of the woman and the professional – is destroyed,” they said.
“We also make a special appeal to those who bear the great responsibility of taking a decision regarding the amendment, so that their choice will be in favour of life and not in favour of death. We beseech our Mother Mary, Immaculate Conception, who always reminds us of life that starts from conception, to intercede for us and to help us always protect each human life with great care.”
A pro-life protest on Sunday will demonstrate against the proposed amendment, sparked from the case of an American woman denied a termination of an unviable pregnancy that risked her life, and being forced to procure the termination in an emergency evacuation to Spain.
But the Bishops claim Maltese doctors already try to save mother and baby, “and when they are not successful in saving both of them, they save the mother. Whenever this has happened over the years, legal problems were never created for the mothers or the doctors. There was no need for the law to be changed for the mother to be saved were she in danger of dying.”
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120132/maltese_bishops_tell_mps_to_be_in_favour_of_life_not_death_in_abortion_amendment_decision#.Y4ptVHZBy3A
“Mummy, grazzi ta’ kull ħaġa li għamilt magħna” – it-tifel ta’ Bernice
Minn Andrea Rossitto
2 ta' Diċembru 2022
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“Mulej, grazzi talli tajtna lill-mummy.” Hekk stqarr, fil-messaġġ tiegħu, iben Bernice Cassar waqt li kmieni waranofsinhar illum ommu ngħatat l-aħħar tislima fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Filep, f’Ħaż-Żebbuġ.
“Mummy, nirringrazzjak ta’ kull ħaġa li għamilt magħna u nitolbuk skuża ta’ meta m’obdejniekx,” jissokta kliem it-tifel ta’ Bernice. Il-messaġġ taċ-ċkejken, waqt it-talbiet tal-ġemgħa, jintemm hekk: “Inħobbuk ħafna għal dejjem. Ħarisna mis-sema,” waqt li l-knisja ngħaqdet f’ċapċipa waħda.
F’talba oħra tal-ġemgħa, spikka wkoll kliem oħt Bernice, Clarice Cilia. Hija talbet lill-Mulej biex isabbar lill-qraba ta’ Bernice u biex jgħinnhom jimxu fuq il-passi t’oħtha, b’mod speċjali fit-trobbija taż-żewġ uliedha.
Waqt l-omelija, l-Arċipriet tar-Rabat, Dun Joe Mizzi, iddeskriva l-qtil ta’ Bernice Cassar bħala “traġedja ta’ qsim il-qalb.” Irrimarka, li Cassar kellha valuri mill-isbaħ, kienet taf tħobb u qal li kienet mara b’bosta kwalitajiet sbieħ. Fost l-oħrajn, qal li Bernice kienet mara tal-familja u li dejjem tat l-aqwa trobbija lil uliedha. Żied jgħid, li koppja għandha dejjem tinbena fuq ir-rispett lejn xulxin. “Qatt, lok għall-vjolenza,” stqarr Dun Mizzi.
Għall-funeral, bosta libsu żigarella vjola bħala turija ta’ rispett għall-vittmi ta’ vjolenza domestika. Il-quddiesa tal-funeral ta’ Bernice Cassar ġiet iċċelebrata mill-Arċipriet ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Dun Albert Buhagiar.
Bernice Cassar, t’40 sena, inqatlet kiesaħ u biered fit-22 ta’ Novembru li għadda b’tir ta’ arma tan-nar f’wiċċha u ieħor f’sidirha. Dwar il-qtil tagħha, tressaq il-Qorti żewġha, Roderick Cassar ta’ 42 sena mill-Qrendi. Huwa qed iwieġeb mhux ħati tal-akkużi li nġiebu kontrih, fosthom li qatel lil omm iż-żewġ uliedu.
Segwi siltiet mill-funeral ta’ Bernice Cassar hawn taħt:
tvmnews.mt/news/mummy-grazzi-ta-kull-haga-li-ghamilt-maghna-it-tifel-ta-bernice/
Jixhdu li Dun Luke Seguna kien iħobb jgħin lill-batuti – iħallsilhom il-kontijiet tad-dawl u jeħdilhom ix-xirijiet
Minn Alvin Vassallo
2 ta' Diċembru 2022
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L-eks Kappillan Dun Luke Seguna ġie deskritt bħala qassis li kien iħobb jgħin in-nies batuti, fosthom billi jeħdilhom xirijiet u jħallas kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma lin-nies.
Dan intqal fil-Qorti waqt li kompliet il-kumpilazzjoni tax-xhieda fil-konfront tal-ex Kappillan ta’ Marsaxlokk. Dun Seguna jinsab mixli li ffroda madwar 150 parruċċan fuq medda ta’ 10 snin kif ukoll b’miżapproprjazzjoni ta’ fondi, ħasil ta’ flus u falsifikazzjoni ta’ dokumenti. Għal dawn l-akkużi huwa qed iwieġeb mhux ħati.
Is-Segretarja tal-Parroċċa, Moira Muscat, qalet li taf familji personalment u familji li lanqas kienu parroċċani li marru għall-għajnuna u jitolbuh flus għall-ikell jew biex ikopru l-kera tagħhom. Qalet li ġieli taha xirjiet biex jagħtihom lill-familji fil-bżonn anke fiż-żmien il-pandemija u wara.
Muscat spjegat li kien hemm żewġ tipi ta’ donazzjonijiet, il-ġbir tal-Lira, sistema antika li biha l-familji kienu jagħtu Lm 1 (€2.33) lill-knisja kull xahar u donazzjonijiet oħra. Is-sistema tal-Lira tinvolvi nies li kienu jmorru bieb bieb jiġbru €2.33 f’isem il-Knisja. Imbagħad kienu jagħtu l-flus miġbura lil Muscat.
Muscat kienet toħroġ riċevuta lin-nies li ġabru l-flus u riċevuti separati lid-donaturi fl-aħħar tas-sena. Spjegat li l-flus kienu jiġu depożitati l-bank fil-kont tal-parroċċa.
Dwar l-arbular, hija qalet li kien hemm min jagħti €10 kull xahar direttament lill-kappillan jew lilha u hi kienet tgħaddihomlu. Qalet li kien hemm madwar 70 familja li kkontribwew għal dan l-arbular.
Dwar ċekk ta’ €470 lil Dun Seguna hija qalet li kienu ġabru xi flus għal għeluq l-10 anniversarju mill-ordinazzjoni tiegħu.
Xehdet ukoll anzjana li organizzat coffee mornings b’risq il-Knisja. Josephine Sciberras qalet li mill-flus li tiġbor wara li taqta’ l-ispejjeż tal-ikel u trasport kien jibqa’ ewro li jmur għall-Knisja. Qalet li Dun Seguna dejjem informa lill-parroċċani għalxiex marru l-flus.
Qalet li Dun Seguna kien jgħin lil min hu fil-bżonn u kull meta xi ħadd kien jitlobha l-għajnuna kienet tirreferihom għandu.
Intant, il-Qorti aġġornat il-ħin li fih Dun Seguna jrid jinġabar f’daru u issa jrid jkun ġewwa sal-11.30pm minflok id-9.30pm.
Għal Dun Luke Seguna qed jidher l-avukat Matthew Xuereb.
tvmnews.mt/news/jixhdu-li-dun-luke-seguna-kien-ihobb-jghin-lill-batuti-ihallsilhom-il-kontijiet-tad-dawl-u-jehdilhom-ix-xirijiet/
Adrian Delia writes to President: do not resign and oppose abortion
Nationalist MP Adrian Delia has written to the President of the Republic calling him to resist the coming into force of a law amending the abortion ban in Malta
1 December 2022,
by Matthew Vella
Adrian Delia has personally called on George Vella not to sign the law into force
Nationalist MP Adrian Delia has written to the President of the Republic, George Vella, not to abdicate his responsibility as Head of State should he have to refuse to sign a law allowing abortion in the case that a woman’s health is endangered.
Delia, one of the major anti-choice voices in the Prudente law debate, called on Vella, a doctor by profession who is against abortion, not to resign his office should he have to sign into law the Criminal Code amendment.
“My heartfelt appeal to you as a person, a doctor who swore an oath to save life, as President of the Republic, custodian of the Constitution... fear not, be strong, and do not abdicate your noble responsibility,” Delia said in a letter he wrote to Vella, a former Labour minister.
Read more here:
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120124/adrian_delia_writes_to_president_do_not_resign_and_oppose_abortion#.Y4kTi3ZBy3A
Labour MPs meet to discuss possible tweaks to abortion amendment
The PL parliamentary group is meeting in the wake of information that President George Vella could resign if abortion exception amendment comes before him
1 December 2022,
by Kurt Sansone
The Labour Party parliamentary group is meeting in the wake of President George Vella's opposition to the abortion amendment proposal
The Labour Party parliamentary group is meeting to discuss the way forward on government’s proposal to introduce an abortion exception if a woman’s life or health is in danger.
Sources close to the party said the meeting is discussing the possibility of tweaking the proposed Bill, especially in the wake of President George Vella’s opposition to the proposal.
The President has not commented publicly on the amendment. But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Robert Abela hinted that Vella is uncomfortable with the proposal when asked about reports that the President would resign if the law came before him.
MaltaToday understands that not all Labour MPs are comfortable with the proposal and some are even facing backlash from conservative constituents.
The sources said most of the initial concerns expressed by MPs were allayed by Health Minister Chris Fearne.
“Being a trusted children’s doctor, Chris Fearne has been convincing in his arguments but there is also mounting external pressure on MPs, some of who fear that this could lead to abortion being legalised,” one MP, who chose to remain anonymous, told this news portal.
However, another MP told this portal on condition of anonymity that despite the concerns raised by some, there was no mutiny on the issue.
“However, things could change if George Vella resigns since that would cause backlash among some of our voter base,” the MP said.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister said government remained open to changing the wording of the law to clarify matters but insisted the principle focus of protecting a woman’s life and health should not be diluted.
It is unclear what changes, if at all, the parliamentary group is willing to consider and whether these will constitute a reversal of the position to protect a woman’s ‘health’ along with her ‘life’.
The Opposition is opposed to the amendment, insisting the law should be clear enough that termination is not deemed illegal only if it is needed to save a mother’s life.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120122/labour_mps_meet_to_discuss_possible_tweaks_to_abortion_amendment#.Y4kV1HZBy3A
Parti minn bankina f’San Pawl il-Baħar iċċedi f’bitħa ta’ dar
1 ta' Diċembru 2022
Read in English
Parti minn bankina f’San Pawl il-Baħar ċediet f’bitħa ta’ dar.
Il-każ seħħ għall-ħabta tas-7pm fi Triq ix-Xagħra Bandieri.
Kelliem għall-Pulizija qalilna li ma jidher li joqgħod ħadd fid-dar.
Fuq il-post hemm uffiċjali mid-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili.
Il-Ministru għall-Intern u s-Sigurtà Byron Camilleri rreaġixxa għal dan l-inċident.
Huwa qal li d-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili qed juża klieb u drones.
Dan biex jivverfikaw li ma hemm eba persuni mirdumin taħt il-ġebel.
Ara iktar hawn bir-ritratti: tvmnews.mt/news/parti-minn-bankina-fsan-pawl-il-bahar-iccedi-fbitha-ta-dar/
Tmut il-kantanta popolari Carmen Tanti tal-Greenfields
1 ta' Diċembru 2022
Read in English
Tħabbret il-mewt tal-kantanta popolari Maltija Carmen Tanti li flimkien ma’ żewġha kienet tagħmel parti mill-grupp mużikali Greenfields. Carmen mietet fl-età ta’ 75 sena.
Il-grupp Greenfields magħruf l-akbar għal bosta kanzunetti tradizzjonali Maltin, ġie ffurmat fl-1970. Fil-grupp kien hemm ukoll Charles Bajada.
Huma kienu jieħdu sehem f’bosta programmi mtellgħa fuq TVM fosthom il-programm Karusell, Għalenija u Meta l-Weraq Iħaddar.
tvmnews.mt/news/tmut-il-kantanta-carmen-tanti-tal-greenfields/
Azzopardi’s incredible claim: ‘Pregnant American woman feigned danger to fuel abortion controversy’
Andrea Prudente’s very real pregnancy medical complications put in doubt by former MP Jason Azzopardi, who claimed she was purposely brought over to Malta to instigate abortion debate
30 November 2022, 12:06pm
by Kurt Sansone
Former MP Jason Azzopardi
TWEET SHAREFormer MP Jason Azzopardi has claimed that American tourist Andrea Prudente was brought to Malta on purpose to instigate the abortion debate, earning him backlash from pro-choice activists.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, he even doubted whether Prudente’s very real medical complications were true.
“You have to be truly trash to connive with foreign third parties so that a pregnant woman is brought to Malta to instigate a controversy over the termination of a pregnancy by pretending she was in danger,” Azzopardi wrote on Wednesday.
Read full story here:
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120100/azzopardis_incredible_claim_pregnant_american_woman_feigned_danger_to_fuel_abortion_controversy#.Y4fC-XZBy3A
Bernard Grech insists government’s amendment is abortion through the back door
The Opposition leader says the termination of pregnancy should only happen if a woman’s life is in danger as he ridicules Andrea Prudente
30 November 2022, 7:35pm
by Kurt Sansone
Robert Abela is ‘gifting’ Malta abortion on the eve of Christmas, Bernard Grech said on Wednesday, accusing the government of lying and abusing people’s emotions.
In a speech delivered at the top of his voice, the Opposition leader said Abela wanted to introduce abortion without having an electoral mandate and “through the back door”.
He urged the Prime Minister to ditch the proposed amendment that ensures doctors will be able to terminate a pregnancy when the woman’s life or health is at risk, and legislate only when a woman’s life is in danger.
Grech said the amendment proposed by the Prime Minister was similar to what had been done in the UK and which ended up being used as a pretext for abortion on demand.
“Saving the woman’s life is not in contention. It is the health aspect in government’s amendment that opens the door wide open to abortion. Instead of giving the woman the necessary treatment while at the same time saving the baby, Robert Abela wants to kill the baby,” Grech said.
He insisted that nobody has ever been charged in court because the treatment used to save a woman’s life caused the termination of pregnancy. “But if there is this doubt, we should take up the proposal put forward by more than 80 academics to offer legal certainty only when a woman’s life is at stake,” the Opposition leader said.
'This pregnant American woman'
At one point, Grech ridiculed American woman Andrea Prudente, whose case kick-started the abortion debate earlier this year.
In a belittling tone and without even using her name, Grech said: “This pregnant American woman travelled more than 20 hours to celebrate her ‘baby moon’ in Malta. I never heard of this baby moon but she called it a baby as well. She wanted an abortion, despite our doctors treating her well and in a prudent way. Her baby moon ended when she went to Spain by air ambulance and then she sued the Maltese state.”
Grech played on her surname to insist it was Maltese doctors who were prudent, adding Prudente was never in danger of dying. “This was confirmed by the State Advocate in his reply to the constitutional case filed by the woman.”
“It is a lie to say she was in danger of dying. She was not removing the very premise on which government’s amendment was built,” he said.
READ ALSO: Azzopardi’s incredible claim - ‘Pregnant American woman feigned danger to fuel abortion controversy’
Making ample reference to the fact that this law was being introduced on the eve of Christmas, Grech urged the Prime Minister to take the “mature decision” and agree with the Opposition’s proposal based on what the academics said.
He accused Abela of rushing the amendment because it “earned him votes”. “Robert Abela is introducing this amendment because polls show that he has to gain. You are not a politician but a pollster.”
Grech insisted that it is only when a woman’s life is at risk, should the protection of her life override that of the baby’s.
Read the full story here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120108/bernard_grech_insists_governments_amendment_is_abortion_through_the_back_door#.Y4fEeHZBy3A
Guilty of frequently raping mother’s two boys at a time when she was undergoing chemotherapyBy Owen Galea November 30, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti
59-year-old Lawrence Micallef has been handed down a 12-year prison sentence after admitting yesterday instead of undergoing trial by jury to having, in January 2019 and in the preceding years, aggravatedly raped two boys, one of them nearly on a daily basis for about three years. The abuse used to be carried out at a time when the mother was receiving treatment for cancer.
Micallef was found guilty of seven charges including also raping their sister, a 13-year-old girl, in a deserted area of Ħal Far after picking her up from school as her mother felt unwell.
Micallef began abusing the children after starting a relationship with the mother of the two boys in 2009. The relationship ended in 2019 when her younger son, at the time 12 years old, spoke to her about the sexual abuse by the man he used to call papá.
The boy spoke with his mother after Micallef implicated the boy’s uncle when he asked the woman why the boy was frequently sleeping over at his uncle’s place. When the boy heard this, he told his mother that it was his “papá” who had been abusing him for three years, and not his uncle. The boy recounted that the abuse had started when he was just nine years old. He said everything started when he went into a room at home and saw his brother kneeling and performing oral sex on the accused. The boy added that he had been shocked and ran off. The boy said that when he spoke with his brother, the latter told him he could not do anything as their mother’s partner had threatened to throw him off Għar Ħasan if he spoke up. However, when the younger boy confronted the accused and asked what he was doing to his brother, the accused said he would show him and carried out oral sex with him. Micallef abused the boy when his mother was recovering in bed, being unable to go out or walk as a result of numerous serious operations she had undergone during those years. This also because she was receiving chemotherapy for cancer, among other health problems.
Accused used to threaten the boy with ending up in an institution and his mother in a grave
In fact, it was for this reason that during these three years the boy had never spoken with his mother, as Micallef used to threaten him that if he told her, Micallef would end up in prison, the boy in an institution and the mother in a grave.
It was stated in Court that the abuse was carried out through oral sex performed by Micallef on the boy and by forcing the boy to do the same to him. It also emerged that before abusing him, the accused would use the boy’s mobile to watch porno videos in front of him before performing sexual acts on him. All this was occurring very frequently in the mother’s home, sometimes on a daily basis within a week and at other times on alternate days.
It also emerged that the younger boy was not the only one to be raped, as this was also carried out on his brother. The case occurred when the boy was between 18 and 19 years old when he went to ask him for advice about how to behave with his girlfriend, as it was something he had not yet experienced. On that day Micallef had uncovered his genitals and had told him to perform oral sex on him to show him how things were done. On another occasion, he had taken him close to a factory in Ħal Far, stopped the van, asked him to get down and carried out the same abuse he had carried out on his brother.
Guilty of raping 13-year-old girl in a deserted area
Micallef was also found guilty of having, in December 2018, raped a 13-year-old girl when he had picked her up from school in his van, had taken her close to the Playmobil factory, asked her to do what adults did, and when she refused, had poked his fingers into her uncovered genital area.
In its decision, the Criminal Court – Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera presiding – noted that during yesterday’s sitting the accused had pleaded guilty to all the charges including aggravated rape, to taking part in sexual activities with violence with persons under the age of 16 and vulnerable persons, corrupting them, penetrating them and carrying out these acts even in front of children.
Whilst taking into account that the accused’s admission plea had been made before the formation of a jury, the Court declared that this, however, could not be considered an early admission as it had not been made during the accused’s presentation under arrest and not even during the compilation.
The Court sentenced Micallef to 12 years in prison whilst accepting the plea by the Attorney General and the accused that they were in agreement on the penalty in the event the accused admitted to all charges against him.
tvmnews.mt/en/news/guilty-of-frequently-raping-mothers-two-boys-and-daughter-at-a-time-when-she-was-undergoing-chemotherapy/
Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I to make historic visit to Malta
Tuesday, 29 November 2022,
His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, will make a historic visit to Malta next week during which he will meet refugees as well as the sizeable Orthodox Christian community on the island.
Patriarch Bartholomew I, who will visit between December 4 and 7 at the invitation of Archbishop Charles Scicluna, is also due to meet with the President of Malta, the Maltese Episcopal Conference and residents at the Corradino Correctional Facility.
The first ever Patriarch to visit the island will also be conferred with a Doctorate honoris causa by the University of Malta.
Given the significant Orthodox Christian presence on the island, the visit of the Patriarch – the most senior Orthodox figure – is viewed as having considerable ecumenical importance. During his stay he will encounter Christians from various Orthodox Churches in Malta as well as visiting St Paul’s Grotto in Rabat and other places of religious significance.
The public are encouraged to attend the two main events associated with the visit: Patriarchal Vespers at St Nicholas Church (Tal-Erwieħ) in Valletta on December 5 and an ecumenical service at St John’s Co-Cathedral on December 6, where he will also meet the heads of other churches as well as members of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commissions in Malta and Gozo.
The 82-year-old Patriarch, who was installed as Archbishop of Constantinople in 1991, has been working with Pope Francis on improving Catholic-Orthodox relations, and has been vociferous on migrant issues.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-29/local-news/Orthodox-Patriarch-Bartholomew-I-to-make-historic-visit-to-Malta-6736247843
Roderick Cassar said “he regretted what happened to her” when he was shown photo of his dead wife’s face
November 29, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti
This morning the criminal inquiry into Roderick Cassar, who is charged with the murder of his wife Bernice, will begin to be heard.
The murder took place on 22 November in the vicinity of the MCAST campus in Kordin, Paola.
The 40 year old victim who lived in Qrendi was killed by two gunshots, one in her face and the other in her chest.
Roderick Cassar, 42, is the first man to be charged with the crime of femicide since becoming part of our law.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded at Mount Carmel hospital.
Relatives of the victim and those of the accused, including his brother, are present for the hearing.
Cassar is being escorted by two prison wardens and a number of policemen.
The prosecution requested that the accused relatives leave the court hall because they may be requested to testify in the case. Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri did not object to the request.
Present in Court were lawyers Stefano Filletti, Marita Pace Dimech, Ann Marie Cutajar and Rodianne Sciberras acting on behalf of the victim’s family.
Inspector testifies how he found the victim on the roadFirst witness is Inspector Wayne Camilleri, from the Homicide Squad, who said that when he arrived on the crime scene he saw other police officers there and noted the victim’s car in the middle of the road in Kordin area. He recounted that there was an amount of blood on the ground, while the left doors on the driver’s side were open with the front door’s window smashed.
Inspector Camilleri said that he noticed the victim was face up with two shots in her face and chest. The shots were fired from a short distance and there were two shotgun cartridges on the ground, even if he was informed that more cartridges were found. He heard persons saying they were working colleagues of the victim and that they had identified her. They also indicated the victim’s husband as the person who might have been connected with what happened. The colleagues said that Bernice had told them that he was making life difficult after she left him.
Witnesses on site saw a man beating a woman in the car and that he fired three shots
Persons on site told Police that they thought that initially it was a traffic accident. These witnesses recounted to Police that they saw a car stopping beside another car, a man alighting and opening the other car’s door and starting beating the woman. Then he produced a weapon and shot her three times. Witnesses on site were foreigners and therefore they didn’t understand what he was telling her. One of the fired shots did not hit the victim.
Inspector Camilleri added that he left the crime site to Triq il-Kartaġiniżi in Qrendi, where he found various other members of RIU and SIU. The Police also started to look for the children because they suspected that they were with the accused. Shortly afterwards, they confirmed that they were at school.
When Police negotiations started, Cassar requested them to shoot himInspector Camilleri further stated that as the accused was armed, they tried to negotiate with Cassar who said he wished to commit suicide and requested the police to shoot him. He also insisted with them to leave the place, telling them he did not want to go to prison. The accused brother, who lived in the same building, gave the keys of the common area to the Police.
Inspector Camilleri added that officers entered the building however they found Cassar’s door closed.
When Police told him to leave the apartment, he went out holding the weapon upwardsThey attempted to open the door and fired some shots towards the door lock to open it. Officers told him to get out and Cassar came out holding the weapon upwards in his hand. He looked excited and frightened, was arrested and taken to an ambulance.
The victim’s car was transported to the Police headquarters for the necessary tests. Officers noted that the accused was dressed in the same clothes he had when the incident occurred. They ordered him to remove his clothes and brought him other ones from the apartment.
Cassar was admitted at Mater Dei hospital where he was certified to be conscious and in good health. He was then taken to the Depot where he was twice examined by a psychiatrist.
The autopsy, conducted the day after the murder, concluded that the victim was killed by a shot in her face and not with the shot in her chest.
During a prison identifying parade, four of five witnesses called to identify Cassar, immediately identified him while the other person showed uncertainty.
Cassar was twice interrogated and, although he did not speak much, he “regretted for what happened to her”. He also told them that he was tired and wanted to sleep. The interrogation resumed the following day.
The accused showed no reaction when Police showed him a photo of his dead wifeDuring interrogation, the accused said he wasn’t aware of the working times of his wife and that he did not wish to answer question on what happened on that day. When officers showed him a photo of his wife with the fatal wound, he did not react.
Police reports were exhibited in Court about the relationship between the couple. Some of the reports were made by working colleagues between May and November this year.
During counter-examination, the witness said the accused told them he did not know how much the incident lasted. Dr Debono asked who were the witnesses of the crime, with the Inspector replying that everything is found in the inquiry.
Asked how the front window of the victim’s car was smashed, Inspector Camilleri replied that it was broken by the shotgun and not with the shots. He added that Bernice Cassar did not appear to have had other injuries apart from the two shots and that the accused told them that he took hold of the shotgun after the argument escalated.
Next witness was Sergeant Miriam Lia who was on duty at the Paola station on the day of the murder. She recounted seeing the victim covered with a bed sheet and noted a great wound in her face and blood on the road. The witness also noted blood spots on the tyres and a smashed window on the driver’s side.
The sergeant added that the initial report received at the station was that of a traffic accident and that there was a heated argument between the persons involved.
The compilation of evidence resumes on 19 December at10am.
tvmnews.mt/en/news/court-of-criminal-inquiry-to-begin-hearing-evidence-in-connection-with-murder-of-bernice-cassar/
“Amendment with only one aim – that of safeguarding a woman in clear danger of death because of medical complications” – the Prime Minister
November 29, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti
Prime Minister Robert Abela has spoken in Parliament in connection with the proposed Amendment to safeguard pregnant mothers and the medical profession in cases where the mother’s health and death is clearly in danger
Dr Abela said that is as today’s process that medical professionals wait until the situation of the mother is between life and death before performing an abortion.
He said a Labour Government will not be a Government that will not face the realities that exist and will thus ensure this Amendment.
The PM maintained that the situation where a mother’s life is clearly in danger, the medical profession is covered to safeguard the mother but suffer the life of her offspring.
He added that now professionals can help the life of the woman without exposing themselves to facing many years of imprisonment.
Dr Abela continued by saying the illegality of abortion will remain as it has always been and will not be altered.
He explained the sole change is the legal position when a woman is clearly in a position of death and the medical professional can save her life without facing criminal proceedings.
Dr Abela spoke of the case causing the Amendment, that of Andrea Prudente who happened to be in Malta on holiday and experienced complications during her pregnancy.
He said it was evident the child in the womb was no longer visible but Maltese doctors did not want to breach the abortion law to extract the child from the womb to ensure the woman would not be in danger.
“Abortion is not a solution for pregnant women with health problems” – Dr Stephen Spiteri During the same debate the Shadow Minister for Health, Dr Stephen Spiteri, said abortion is not a solution for pregnant woman suffering problems of mental health because the solution is for the treatment of the mental problems.
The Nationalist Party MP said this Amendment should be legislated for the benefit of the people and to observe the country’s Constitution.
He continued the Law should be specific in hurried situations to safeguard lives and if possible to safeguard the two lives.
tvmnews.mt/en/news/amendment-with-only-one-aim-that-of-safeguarding-a-woman-in-clear-danger-of-death-because-of-medical-complications-the-prime-minister/
AFM soldier who died while diving might have been hit by a boat, police say
Monday, 28 November 2022,
An Armed Forces of Malta soldier who tragically died while out diving last summer might have been hit by a boat, police believe.
In a statement, the police said referred to an incident on 12 August, when the body of 35-year-old Christian Degabriele – who was reported missing after he failed to return home after going out diving – was lifted out of the sea in St. Paul’s Bay.
The Police Force issued an appeal for information, saying that investigations showed that there was the possibility that Degabriele died after he was hit by a boat.
Anybody with information about the case is asked to contact the Police, even anonymously, on 119 or 21224001 or by going to their closest police station.
Degabriele had been reported missing on 11 August, and a search was mounted throughout the night, which culminated in his body being found at 9am the following morning.
Even back then it was believed that Degabriele had been hit by a boat in the area, with the rope belonging to his diver’s buoy being found torn.
Degabriele was a sergeant within the AFM’s Maritime Squad, and was also an amateur football player.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech was tasked with leading the inquiry into the case.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-28/local-news/AFM-soldier-who-died-while-out-diving-might-have-been-hit-by-a-boat-police-say-6736247811
Enough evidence to indict MPO chief Sigmund Mifsud over alleged tampering in sexual harassment case
Monday, 28 November 2022,
There is enough prima facie evidence to indict the CEO of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) over allegations that he suborned witnesses from giving information on an alleged criminal act, a court declared on Monday.
Magistrate Gabriella Vella, who presided over Monday's case through a video conference link, declared that there is sufficient evidence to issue a bill of indictment against Sigmund Mifsud, the orchestra CEO.
Prosecuting inspector Gabriel Micallef testified in court on Monday, giving a timeline of events since a member of the orchestra accused a senior official of the MPO of sexually harassing her.
The victim filed a report in November at the Valletta police station, alleging sexual harassment in the workplace. She explained to police that the harassment started in the first weeks that she started working with the orchestra. The senior MPO official - a 31-year-old man from Gozo who cannot be named by court order - was earlier this month placed under a restraining order, as well as a suspended sentence, after admitting to having sexually harassed the former orchestra member.
The senior official would massage her shoulders and slowly move his hands down to her lower back, just above her bottom, the court heard."She told me that she wasn't comfortable with this," Micallef said. The first time it happened she said it was making her ticklish, while other times she would turn her body around as soon as he moves in for the massage.
The senior official would explain this behaviour by saying he was arranging her posture, he told the court.
In a separate incident, this official grabbed her bottom while she was talking to someone else, the court heard. He walked away after doing this.
During a separate farewell party, the senior official pulled her top down and exposed the top part of her chest, the court heard.
The victim went on to report these incidents to Mifsud as CEO of the orchestra, the officer said. She showed him messages that the senior official had sent her, including photos. However, Mifsud told her to delete these messages from her mobile, but told her that action will be taken, the officer said.
But the harassment didn't stop after she spoke with Mifsud.
On top of this, Mifsud started speaking to people working in the MPO about these allegations in a bid to stop her from filing a police report, the court heard.
When the victim submitted her letter of resignation, the orchestra's human resources chief had drafted an email to be sent to the permanent secretary. However, he wanted to speak with Mifsud before sending the email, the court heard. When they met, Mifsud instructed him not to send the email to the permanent secretary, and said that he would speak to the victim one-on-one, the court heard.
He held a meeting with several high-up officials to discuss this. "He said if there's a chance to speak to her and convince her not to file a report, it would be better."
Another meeting was held with musicians. Mifsud is alleged to have told them that anyone who speaks out about this case will be considered complicit.
While police were investigating the case, they found several Whatsapp chats between Mifsud and another high-up official in the orchestra. They sent lots of voice messages to each other, trying to prepare a contingency plan and make sure the harassment allegations do not become public, the court heard.
Police went on to arrest Mifsud on 4 November and took a statement from him. During questioning, Mifsud refused to answer to several questions. He was evasive on other questions.
After Micallef's testimony, the prosecution requested transcripts of Mifsud's police statement and of recordings taken by the victim, which she saved on a pen drive.
Lawyer Edward Gatt, representing Mifsud, insisted that the defence reserves its position on the admissibility of the recordings, and will tackle the validity of the recordings "at the opportune time".
The magistrate nominated Lennox Vella to draft the transcript of the police statements. She said she will nominate someone to draft transcripts on the recordings at the next sitting.
She also nominated court expert Keith Cutajar to carry out a complete data extraction on exhibited devices, as well as conducting a profile on the mobiles exhibited and a cross-match analysis.
Inspectors Gabriel Micallef and Kevin Pulis prosecuted. Lawyers Edward Gatt and Shaun Zammit were counsel to the defence. Lawyers Ilenia Agius and Joseph Gatt appeared parte civile.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-28/local-news/Enough-evidence-to-indict-orchestra-chief-Sigmund-Mifsud-with-suborning-sexual-harassment-victim-6736247812
“Dan it-temp hu normali bħalissa u għada qed nistennew oħra bir-ragħad”
Minn Antonia Micallef
28 ta' Novembru 2022
Il-bassar tat-temp fl-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta Brian Micallef qal lil TVM news li nhar il-Ġimgħa li għadda bdiet tifforma sistema ta’ maltemp fuq Korsika li bdiet riesqa lejn l-Italja u għaddiet minn fuq il-gżejjer Maltin. Qal li s-Sibt kien hemm front sħun u ieħor kiesaħ u għalhekk ikkawżat il-maltempa b’dulluvju ta’ xita u bis-silġ. Il-Ħadd imbagħad inħoloq riħ qawwi mill-Grigal, bl-aktar buffura qawwija mkejla mill-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku kienet ta’ 52 knot jiġifieri qawwa ta’ ftit aktar minn 96 kilometru fis-siegħa.
Aqra iktar. tvmnews.mt/news/dan-it-temp-hu-normali-bhalissa-u-ghada-qed-nistennew-ohra-bir-raghad/
Gozo ferry service suspended, as Maltese islands grapple with gale-force winds
Several pictures of fallen trees sprouted all over social media, including in Iklin, Msida, Qormi and Sliema
27 November 2022, 6:04pm
by Luke Vella
Gozo Channel said that its services were suspended until further notice (Photo: Gozo Channel)
After the heavy rainfall on Saturday, the Maltese islands were hit by gale-force winds that brought the Gozo ferry operations to halt.
The Meteorological Office had issued an orange warning over the gale-force winds in exposed areas and the moderate to heavy rain that fell over the islands throughout the day.
The office had issued a strong warning to mariners for Valletta and Marsamxett harbours adding that in the 50 nautical miles radius of Malta, northeast winds would reach gale to severe gale force at times.
Several pictures of fallen trees sprouted all over social media, including in Iklin, Msida, Qormi and Sliema.
A tree fell down in Iklin (Photo: Facebook)The road in Balluta was also closed off for traffic, after the winds pulled down scaffolding at a construction site.
Scaffolding in St Julian's was pulled down by the wind (Photo: Facebook)Gozo Channel suspended the ferry service throughout the day, leading to heavy traffic at Cirkewwa and Mgarr.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120044/gozo_ferry_service_suspended_as_maltese_islands_grapple_with_galeforce_winds#.Y4PNh3ZBy3A
Strong winds lash Malta, ferry operations halted
Met Office issues orange warning
Times of Malta
Photo: Matthew MirabelliThe bad weather over Malta continued on Sunday halting ferry operations with gale-force winds forecast.
The Meteorological Office issued an orange warning that the northeast wind will be very strong over the Maltese islands, reaching gale force over exposed areas.
It also warned that moderate to heavy rain or hail showers were also expected.
The office also issued a strong gregale warning to mariners for Valletta and Marsamxett harbours adding that at sea areas 50 nautical miles radius of Malta, the northeast wind will reach gale force and will at times reach severe gale.
The sea will be very rough to high during the day becoming very rough overnight.
The warnings were issued as an air of depression over the Maltese islands moved towards the gulf of Sirte.
The northeast force 8 wind, locally force 8 to 9 wind is overnight expected to go down to force 6, the Met Office said. The warning is up until 10pm.
Meanwhile, Gozo remains isolated as both fast and normal ferry trips are cancelled.
Along the Sliema promenade, civil protection officers were in the afternoon seen hacking off a tree which had fallen onto a passenger car.
An officer said they had been attending to similar calls all day.
Read and see pictures here: timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ferry-operations-halted-bad-weather-maltese-islands-continues.997782
PM warns abortion motion abusers will face legal proceedings
Protection orders not enough if human resources lacking: Robert Abela tribute to Bernice Cassar
NationalAbortionDomestic ViolenceMurderRobert Abela
By Sarah Carabott
Robert Abela has warned that whoever abused the legislative amendment allowing the termination of a pregnancy when a woman’s life or health is at risk, will have to face legal proceedings as abortion will remain illegal in Malta.
The prime minister was speaking on One Radio on Sunday morning, where he also paid tribute to Bernice Cassar, a woman who was shot dead on Tuesday, allegedly by her estranged husband.
Abela said state and society had failed to do enough to safeguard domestic victims of violence, noting that protection orders were not enough if there were not enough human resources to protect those at risk.
Cassar had told police a week before her murder that her husband had breached a court order designed to protect her from the man who allegedly once held a knife to her throat.
A timeline of the mother-of-two's calls for help, given to Times of Malta, shows how she faced court and police delays as she tried to protect herself.
“It is clear that the state, country and society didn’t do all that needed to be done. If we had done all that was needed to be done, we would not have had three murders of women this year.
Read more here: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/pm-warns-abortion-motion-abusers-face-legal-proceedings.997788
One man dead, two slightly injured in explosion at Kirkop St Joseph fireworks factory
In a Facebook post, the San Guzepp club said Leonard Camilleri died in the explosion at St Joseph fireworks factory in Kirkop • The blast occurred on Saturday shortly after 7am while people were working inside
26 November 2022, 7:25am
by Kurt Sansone
Nardu Camilleri (right) lost his life in a fireworks explosion in Kirkop
Updated at 1:39pm with medical condition of those hospitalised
One man has died and two sustained slight injuries in a large explosion at the St Joseph fireworks factory in Kirkop on Saturday morning.
In a post on Facebook, the San Gużepp club said that Leonard Camilleri, 64, who had previously served as the factory's licencee, had died in the explosion.
Camilleri had retired from making fireworks some years ago but had recently returned to his hobby.
The explosion sent a large plume of white smoke into the air that was visible from various parts of the islandNardu iż-Żurrieqi, as Camilleri was known by those closest to him, had previously injured his hand in another explosion at the same fireworks factory on 13 February 2012.
Saturday's blast happened shortly after 7am at the fireworks factory, which is situated near the airport.
At the time of the blast there were people working inside the building. Soon after the explosion it became apparent that one person remained unaccounted for, while others were injured in the blast.
The police later confirmed that Camilleri died on the spot, while another man who was inside the fireworks factory, aged 45, was slightly injured. Two other men aged 63 and 72 from Żurrieq who were tilling their fields in the vicinity were also hospitalised. The 72-year-old sustained no injuries while the 63-year-old was certified as suffering from slight injuries.
Read more: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120027/explosion_in_kirkop#.Y4J8rHZBy3A
Żewġt ibniet jakkużaw lil missierhom li messhom b’mod mhux xieraq
Minn Alvin Vassallo
26 ta' Novembru 2022
Żewġ tfajliet, waħda ta’ 14 u oħra ta’ 17-il sena akkużaw lil missierhom li abbużahom.
Ir-raġel ta’ 50 sena qed jiġi mixli li kkorompa minuri u wettaq atti sesswali mingħajr kunsens.
Huwa ġew ikun akkużat li allegatament mess sider bintu ta’ 14-il sena u prova jmiss t’oħtha.
Dawn l-allegazzjonijiet ħarġu meta l-Pulizija kienet qed tinvestiga każ separat ta’ vjolenza domestika li ressqu wliedu flimkien m’ommu. Huma kienu rrapportawh li refa’ idu fuqhom.
Waqt li d-difiża talbet għall-ħelsien mill-arrest, il-Prosekuzzjoni oġġezzjonat għax ix-xhieda għadhom ma telgħux il-Qorti.
Il-Maġistrat Victor Axiaq ordna li jinżamm arrestat. Huwa ordna divjett fuq l-ismijiet tal-akkużat u t-tfal sabiex tkun protetta l-identità tal-minuri.
tvmnews.mt/news/zewgt-ibniet-jakkuzaw-lil-missierhom-li-messhom-bmod-mhux-xieraq/
Żewġt aħwa jattakkaw raġel fil-Ħamrun u jweġġgħu pulizija
Minn Alvin Vassallo
26 ta' Novembru 2022
Żewġt aħwa ngħataw il-ħelsien mill-arrest wara li allegatament attakkaw raġel fil-Ħamrun.
Abd Uarahman Alghaze ta’ 41 sena, imwieled is-Sirja u jgħix in-Naxxar u Ahmad Alghazi ta’ 27 sena mis-Sirja u jgħix San Pawl il-Baħar dehru l-Qorti quddiem il-Maġistrat Victor Geroge Axiak.
Huma ġew mixlija li weġġgħu raġel gravi, insulentawh u heddew u attakkaw pulizija. Huma ġew akkużati li weġġgħu ħafif Pulizija u li kissru l-paċi pubblika.
L-aħwa wieġbu mhux ħatja u ngħataw il-ħelsien mill-arrest fuq depożitu ta’ €500 u garanzija personali ta’ €5,000. Huma jridu jiffirmaw l-għassa darbtejn fil-ġimgħa u jibqgħu ġewwa f’darhom bejn il-11pm u s-6.30am.
tvmnews.mt/news/zewgt-ahwa-jattakkaw-ragel-fil-hamrun-u-jweggghu-pulizija/
Protestors demand responsibility be shouldered for Bernice Cassar femicide
At a protest starting in front of the police headquarters and ending in front of the law courts, people demand answers for system failures that killed Bernice Cassar
25 November 2022, 6:25pm
by Kurt Sansone / Maya Dimitrijevic
Protestors gathered outside the police headquarters to protest against institutional failures that allowed Bernice Cassar to be murdered (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
TWEET SHAREPeople gathered in front of police headquarters and marched in protest to the law courts, demanding responsibility be shouldered for Bernice Cassar’s murder.
Scores of protestors called out the institutional failures that allowed the 40-year-old mother of two to be murdered by her husband, barely 24 hours after she filed a police report against him.
Cassar became Malta’s third femicide victim this year when she was shot by her husband, Roderick Cassar, while on her way to work. She died on the spot. Roderick Cassar was arrested after a 17-hour standoff and charged with femicide. He is pleading not guilty.
The protest was organised by Moviment Graffitti and supported by several organisations. Members of Bernice's family were also present.
Protestors shouted 'No more femicide', and 'We are tired and fed up', as they marched to the law courts.
Read more and see pictures here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120025/live_protestors_demand_responsibility_be_shouldered_for_bernice_cassar_femicide#.Y4Ev43ZBy3A
Ara: Fl-MCAST, żewġ minuti silenzju għal Bernice Cassar
25 ta' Novembru 2022
Dalgħodu, il-Kulleġġ Malti għall-Arti, ix-Xjenza u t-Teknoloġija, l-MCAST osserva żewġ minuti silenzju biex ifakkar il-memorja ta’ Bernice Cassar, l-omm ta’ żewġt itfal li nqatlet fit-triq biswit din l-istituzzjoni.
Studenti, għalliema u ħaddiema nġabru quddiem Dar l-Istudent fil-preżenza tal-qraba ta’ Bernice, f’ġest ta’ solidarjetà kontra l-vjolenza domestika.
Tul iċ-ċerimonja, il-komunità tal-Kulleġġ qalet li kienet tassew imnikkta bil-qtil li seħħ wara l-campus tagħha f’Kordin. Ingħad li t-tmexxija tal-kulleġġ ħeġġet lill-istaff u lill-istudenti biex ifittxu l-għajnuna u appoġġ. It-tmexxija tal-MCAST tkellmet dwar il-bżonn li l-kulleġġ jingħaqad biex iqajjem kuxjenza u jieħu azzjoni kontra l-vjolenza f’dan iż-żmien diffiċli.
F’nota ta’ riflessjoni li ngħatat lill-istaff u l-istudenti, il-lettur anzjan tal-MCAST Janice Fenech Scicluna saħqet, “Jekk qed tinnota mġiba fik innifsek jew oħrajn li ġġiegħlek tissuspetta li xi ħadd qed jesperjenza abbuż…. ħu azzjoni u fittex l-għajnuna. Kemm jekk int vittma jew tinnota li forsi qed ikollok kwistjonijiet ta’ rabja jew għira, sib il-qawwa fik innifsek u tkellem. Qatt mhu tard biex tikseb l-għajnuna.”
Intant dwar dan it-tielet femiċidju tas-sena, Roderick Cassar, ir-raġel ta’ Bernice tressaq il-Qorti akkużat bil-qtil makabru ta’ martu. Il-mara nqatlet b’żewġ tiri ta’ senter wieħed f’wiċċha u ieħor f’sidirha wara l-kampus tal-MCAST qrib iż-żona industrijali ta’ Kordin. L-imputat ġie arrestat wara 17-il siegħa ta’ negozjati delikati mill-Pulizija wara li kif żvela TVMnews, ir-raġel beda jhedded lill-uffiċjali li se jneħħi ħajtu bl-istess arma li biha allegatament qatel lil martu.
Quddiem il-Maġistrat Astrid May Grima, Cassar ta’ 42 sena hu l-ewwel persuna li qed li jiġi mixli b’femiċidju mindu daħlet fis-seħħ il-liġi iktar qabel din is-sena. F’awla ppakkjata bil-qraba tal-vittma, fosthom il-ġenituri u ħutha, assistiti mill-avukati tagħhom, id-difiża tal-akkużat ma kkontestatx l-arrest għax qalet li dan kien wieħed ġust u validu.
Liebes ġlekk u qalziet griż b’rasu baxxuta, Roderick Cassar qam bilwieqfa jwieġeb għall-mistoqsijiet tal-Maġistrat Grima/ Wara li kkonferma ismu u kunjomu, Cassar qal li jaħdem għal rasu u kkonferma li jgħix fi blokka appartamenti fi Triq il-Kartaġiniżi, il-Qrendi/ Meta mitlub iwieġeb jekk hux ħati jew le għall-akkużi, minnufih id-difiża qalet li l-imputat se jwieġeb mhux ħati għall-akkużi kollha miġjuba kontrih.
Cassar ġie mixli wkoll li kellu arma tan-nar bla permess, li seraq il-mobile u ċ-ċavetta tal-karozza tal-vittma, u li hedded raġel li allegatament ipprova jgħin lill-vittma qabel inqatlet minn żewġha. Kif żvela tvmnews.mt, fix-xena tad-delitt u bl-arma f’idejh, Cassar allegatament qal lil dan ir-raġel biex idabbar rasu lil hemm.
Id-difiża ma talbitx għall-ħelsien mill-arrest iżda talbet biex minflok il-ħabs, l-imputat jinżamm fit-Taqsima Forensika tal-Isptar Monte Karmeli. Il-prosekuzzjoni għarrfet lill-Qorti li ma kellhiex oġġezzjoni għal din it-talba.
Mal-għoti ta’ din l-ordni, Roderick Cassar inħareġ mill-ewwel minn awla 9 fost preżenza kbira ta’ Pulizija li skortaw lill-akkużat sakemm niżel fil-parti ta’ isfel tal-Qorti u b’rasu mgħottija fil-karozza tas-servizz, qabad triqtu għal barra lejn il-Faċilità Korrettiva ta’ Kordin.
See more here: tvmnews.mt/news/fl-mcast-zewg-minuti-silenzju-ghal-bernice-cassar/
Man charged with defiling five-year-old stepson despite social workers recommending no action
Friday, 25 November 2022,
A 42-year-old man has been granted bail after being charged with defiling his partner's five-year-old son.
The man, whose name is subject to a reporting ban, appeared in court before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, was charged with corruption of a minor aggravated by the fact that the alleged victim is under 12 years of age and due to his relationship with the victim.
He was additionally charged with repeatedly committing non-consensual acts of a sexual nature on a minor who resided with him and subjecting the child to unwanted acts of physical intimacy.
The man has denied the charges with his lawyers claiming the report filed against their client was done maliciously.
Inspector Kylie Borg said that charges had to be issued because the police report had been filed before the conclusion of a Foundation for Social Welfare Services report, which recommended no action.
The defendant's lawyer, Albert Zerafa, told the court that the allegations had been dreamt up by the defendant's partner's ex-husband, who he said, was jealous of the fact that the woman had moved on and his son had since established a good relationship with the accused.
Zerafa explained that the accused's partner and her ex-husband had been through a hostile divorce with their son being caught in the middle.
The accused also had children of his own, who had never given reason to suspect any impropriety on his part, the lawyer argued.
He added that the allegations had also been the subject of an investigation by social services, concluded in August, which had not recommended any action. Zerafa pointed out that the boy and his mother still lived with the accused.
The court upheld the defence's request for bail, against a €5,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee, also imposing the condition that the child resides with his biological father until the case is decided.
The court imposed a ban on the publication of the names of the involved parties.
Prosecutor Sean Azzopardi and Inspectors Kylie Borg and Brian Xuereb led the prosecution.
Lawyers Albert Zerafa and Joey Reno Vella were defence counsel.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-25/local-news/Man-charged-with-defiling-five-year-old-stepson-despite-social-workers-recommending-no-action-6736247733
[WATCH] Bernice Cassar murder: Husband Roderick Cassar charged with femicide
Roderick Cassar is the first person to be charged with femicide, an aggravated form of homicide, following the murder of his wife Bernice Cassar on Tuesday as she was driving to work
24 November 2022,
by Nicole Meilak
Roderick Cassar with his face covered by a jacket on the back seat of a police car as he was being driven away to prison (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
Play VideoThe husband of murder victim Bernice Cassar was charged on Thursday with wilful femicide, an aggravated form of homicide, and remanded in custody.
Roderick Cassar, 42, from Qrendi pleaded not guilty to the charges and no bail was requested.
The man was arrested at 2am on Wednesday after the Special Intervention Unit made a forced entry into his Qrendi house were he had been holed up for 17 hours. Police used flash-bangs to immobilise the murder suspect, and also seized the suspected murder weapon, a shotgun.
This is the first time that femicide is being used as an aggravating offence in a court of law after it was introduced in the Criminal Code earlier this year, following the New Year's Day murder of Paulina Dembska.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel. Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Marita Pace Dimech appeared parte civile for the victim's family.
Roderick Cassar was charged with wilful femicide, holding his victim against her will, using violence, including moral and psychological violence, using a firearm while committing a crime and possession of a firearm without permit. Other charges include stealing the victim's mobile phone and car key, and the wilful damage to her property.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/120004/live_roderick_cassar_to_be_arraigned_over_wifes_murder_charged_with_femicide#.Y3_c7HZBy3A
PM says not enough done to prevent femicide, court delays 'unacceptable'
Prime Minister Robert Abela reacts to the femicide of Bernice Cassar
23 November 2022, 8:53pm
by Nicole Meilak
File photo
The femicide of Bernice Cassar on Tuesday means that not enough work has been done to address gender-based violence, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Wednesday.
Fielding comments from journalists, Abela said that the court delays in domestic violence cases is unacceptable, referring to Cassar’s own case which was set to be heard in November 2023.
“For me, it is unacceptable to have a case appointed a year and a half later,” Abela said.
Abela opened up about feeling angry and scared over the murder, being the father of a 10-year-old girl.
"Despite strengthening the institutions, even if there's at least one death like this, then you haven't done enough," he stated.
He pointed out than an open call is underway to appoint two new magistrates to the judiciary bench, one of which will be assigned to hearing cases of domestic violence cases.
There is only one magistrate in Malta hearing thousands of domestic violence cases. This has led to a severe backlog in cases, with some hearings having to be postponed by years.
Abela added that a ministerial inquiry has been opened to identify what went wrong in Bernice Cassar’s case.
He explained that the inquiry will focus on identifying deficiencies and whether the case could have been avoided.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/119993/pm_says_not_enough_done_to_prevent_femicide_court_delays_unacceptable#.Y36GBnZBy3A
‘Stop killing women’: EP President Roberta Metsola pays tribute to femicide victim Bernice Cassar
'Bernice should have arrived to work yesterday': Metsola pays tribute to Bernice Cassar in European Parliament
23 November 2022,
by Nicole Meilak
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said there are no more excuses to gender-based violence, and that proper protection frameworks are needed to protect women,
Metsola delivered a brief statement on domestic violence during Wednesday’s plenary in the European Parliament. She mentioned Bernice Cassar, the 40-year-old woman who was shot dead by her estranged husband on her way to work.
“Bernice should have arrived to work yesterday. She should have been able to go home and play with her children. She should not have been forced to live in fear. She should have been safe. She should have been free from torment. She should not have been killed,” Metsola told the plenary.
She said that proper protection frameworks are needed, and people who prey on women should be conficted. “We need to end the remaining institutional blindness to the endemic violence against women.”
Metsola noted that Bernice Cassar spent months asking for help, even requesting protection. “Neither the help nor the protection ever arrived. She was left alone.”
“None of the horrific examples of violence against women we are forced to endure should take place in our Europe. We are not talking about victims. These are our fallen warriors.”
Police never arrested the husband of Bernice Cassar, now suspected of having shot his wife twice in cold blood, when he failed to turn up for an interview at the Floriana police headquarters on 20 November.
Cassar had suffered an altercation with Roderick Cassar, 40, outside the Floriana health centre on Sunday, 13 November, where she had been receiving medical attention.
Details published by The Times shows that Bernice Cassar immediately fled the health centre to the nearby police headquarters, where she waited seven hours, unsuccessfully, to file her report. She returned the next day, and waited another two hours to file her report.
When police called the husband, he failed to turn up for the interview.
Last Monday, on the eve of her murder, Bernice Cassar returned to the police to report a series of defamatory comments made against her by her husband
Updated (6): 5 workers hurt, 20-year-old missing as building under construction collapses in Kordin
Saturday, 3 December 2022,
Five workers were injured when part of a construction site in Corradino Industrial Estate collapsed, while another man is still missing, the police said.
The accident happened at around 9.30am, with footage that emerged on the social media later showing that a corner of the building seemed to give way, pulling down the whole edifice which ended in a mound of debris.
Home Minister Byron Camilleri said the missing worker is a 20-year-old man, for whom a search is taking place. It is understood that the man who is still missing entered the building a few minutes before the collapse.
Addressing the media, Camilleri said that the CPD likely knows the location of the trapped person. Drones and police dogs are helping the CPD and police in the search operation.
Camilleri added that there is a possibility that there could be a controlled collapse of part of the building that has remained standing. This was being said upfront so as not to create unnecessary alarm, he said.
CPD director Peter Paul Coleiro said that through equipment used, the CPD has narrowed down the location of the person who is trapped to 10 metres. The steps that will be taken next is to remove, as delicately as possible, the rubble that is on top so as to be able to reach out to him.
He said some walls will need to be brought down with the possibility that other parts of the building will collapse.
Coleiro said that the intention is to push the rubble away from the location where it is thought that the trapped man is.
Camilleri added that from information gathered, including through the use of security cameras, there were six people on site at the time of the accident.
See more here: www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-12-03/local-news/Up-to-five-workers-feared-trapped-as-construction-site-collapses-6736247952
Former President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca flees journalists after abortion press conference
Former president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca joins pro-life coalition in stand against government's abortion amendment but refuses to answer journalists' questions after delivering press conference
2 December 2022, 1:55pm
by Marianna Calleja
President emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, second from the right, took no questions from journalists during a pro-life press conference
President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca fled journalists after addressing a pro-life press conference ahead of Sunday's demonstration in Valletta against government's abortion amendment.
“We need to listen to one another in a mature discussion,” Coleiro Preca said during the press conference in which she took no questions from journalists.
When approached afterwards for comment, she insisted that while she is usually eager to reply, her decision "to be ethical" now had to be respected.
“While typically I am willing to comment on anything asked of me, my decision to be ethical must now be respected,” she told journalists.
Accompanied by Life Network Chairperson Miriam Sciberras, the former president called for unity on a matter which she said is of concern to a lot of people.
"The government's proposed amendment worries me. Although it is necessary to have legal certainty, this should only be in matters of death and not health,” Coleiro Preca said in her address.
Sciberras noted how the addition of mental health to the list of factors that qualify for abortion, will invite abuse.
Instead, both women said they will be supporting the amendment put forward by more than 80 academics, which was also backed by Doctors for Life.
Parliament is currently debating an amendment put forward by government, which allows a pregnancy to be terminated if a woman's health or life is at risk. The amendment to the Criminal Code ensures that neither doctors nor women will guilty of a criminal act if an abortion is done in these two circumstances.
The Opposition has come out against the proposal and will be voting against.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120134/marielouise_coleiro_preca_flees_journalists_after_abortion_press_conference#.Y4psZXZBy3A
Maltese bishops tell MPs to be ‘in favour of life, not death’ in abortion amendment decision
Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma say mothers should be supported, but not at the expense of a human life
2 December 2022,
by Matthew Vella
From left to right: Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma
Malta’s Bishops have issued a missive expressing their preoccupation with an amendment to Malta’s total abortion ban, that is being debated in the House of Representatives.
The amendment allows doctors to carry out terminations in cases where pregnancy endangers the mother’s life or health.
The Bishops say that by referring to “health” the amendment will allow terminations in situations in which “it is not the mother’s life that is in danger, but her health, and proposes that health can be safeguarded by killing a new human life. This means abortion.”
The Catholic leaders – Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma, and Auxiliary Bishop, Joseph Galea Curmi – said mothers should be given all the support they need but not at the expense of a human life. “When respect for the dignity of the baby in the womb is denied, the foundation of respect for the dignity of each human being – including that of the woman and the professional – is destroyed,” they said.
“We also make a special appeal to those who bear the great responsibility of taking a decision regarding the amendment, so that their choice will be in favour of life and not in favour of death. We beseech our Mother Mary, Immaculate Conception, who always reminds us of life that starts from conception, to intercede for us and to help us always protect each human life with great care.”
A pro-life protest on Sunday will demonstrate against the proposed amendment, sparked from the case of an American woman denied a termination of an unviable pregnancy that risked her life, and being forced to procure the termination in an emergency evacuation to Spain.
But the Bishops claim Maltese doctors already try to save mother and baby, “and when they are not successful in saving both of them, they save the mother. Whenever this has happened over the years, legal problems were never created for the mothers or the doctors. There was no need for the law to be changed for the mother to be saved were she in danger of dying.”
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120132/maltese_bishops_tell_mps_to_be_in_favour_of_life_not_death_in_abortion_amendment_decision#.Y4ptVHZBy3A
“Mummy, grazzi ta’ kull ħaġa li għamilt magħna” – it-tifel ta’ Bernice
Minn Andrea Rossitto
2 ta' Diċembru 2022
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“Mulej, grazzi talli tajtna lill-mummy.” Hekk stqarr, fil-messaġġ tiegħu, iben Bernice Cassar waqt li kmieni waranofsinhar illum ommu ngħatat l-aħħar tislima fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Filep, f’Ħaż-Żebbuġ.
“Mummy, nirringrazzjak ta’ kull ħaġa li għamilt magħna u nitolbuk skuża ta’ meta m’obdejniekx,” jissokta kliem it-tifel ta’ Bernice. Il-messaġġ taċ-ċkejken, waqt it-talbiet tal-ġemgħa, jintemm hekk: “Inħobbuk ħafna għal dejjem. Ħarisna mis-sema,” waqt li l-knisja ngħaqdet f’ċapċipa waħda.
F’talba oħra tal-ġemgħa, spikka wkoll kliem oħt Bernice, Clarice Cilia. Hija talbet lill-Mulej biex isabbar lill-qraba ta’ Bernice u biex jgħinnhom jimxu fuq il-passi t’oħtha, b’mod speċjali fit-trobbija taż-żewġ uliedha.
Waqt l-omelija, l-Arċipriet tar-Rabat, Dun Joe Mizzi, iddeskriva l-qtil ta’ Bernice Cassar bħala “traġedja ta’ qsim il-qalb.” Irrimarka, li Cassar kellha valuri mill-isbaħ, kienet taf tħobb u qal li kienet mara b’bosta kwalitajiet sbieħ. Fost l-oħrajn, qal li Bernice kienet mara tal-familja u li dejjem tat l-aqwa trobbija lil uliedha. Żied jgħid, li koppja għandha dejjem tinbena fuq ir-rispett lejn xulxin. “Qatt, lok għall-vjolenza,” stqarr Dun Mizzi.
Għall-funeral, bosta libsu żigarella vjola bħala turija ta’ rispett għall-vittmi ta’ vjolenza domestika. Il-quddiesa tal-funeral ta’ Bernice Cassar ġiet iċċelebrata mill-Arċipriet ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Dun Albert Buhagiar.
Bernice Cassar, t’40 sena, inqatlet kiesaħ u biered fit-22 ta’ Novembru li għadda b’tir ta’ arma tan-nar f’wiċċha u ieħor f’sidirha. Dwar il-qtil tagħha, tressaq il-Qorti żewġha, Roderick Cassar ta’ 42 sena mill-Qrendi. Huwa qed iwieġeb mhux ħati tal-akkużi li nġiebu kontrih, fosthom li qatel lil omm iż-żewġ uliedu.
Segwi siltiet mill-funeral ta’ Bernice Cassar hawn taħt:
tvmnews.mt/news/mummy-grazzi-ta-kull-haga-li-ghamilt-maghna-it-tifel-ta-bernice/
Jixhdu li Dun Luke Seguna kien iħobb jgħin lill-batuti – iħallsilhom il-kontijiet tad-dawl u jeħdilhom ix-xirijiet
Minn Alvin Vassallo
2 ta' Diċembru 2022
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L-eks Kappillan Dun Luke Seguna ġie deskritt bħala qassis li kien iħobb jgħin in-nies batuti, fosthom billi jeħdilhom xirijiet u jħallas kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma lin-nies.
Dan intqal fil-Qorti waqt li kompliet il-kumpilazzjoni tax-xhieda fil-konfront tal-ex Kappillan ta’ Marsaxlokk. Dun Seguna jinsab mixli li ffroda madwar 150 parruċċan fuq medda ta’ 10 snin kif ukoll b’miżapproprjazzjoni ta’ fondi, ħasil ta’ flus u falsifikazzjoni ta’ dokumenti. Għal dawn l-akkużi huwa qed iwieġeb mhux ħati.
Is-Segretarja tal-Parroċċa, Moira Muscat, qalet li taf familji personalment u familji li lanqas kienu parroċċani li marru għall-għajnuna u jitolbuh flus għall-ikell jew biex ikopru l-kera tagħhom. Qalet li ġieli taha xirjiet biex jagħtihom lill-familji fil-bżonn anke fiż-żmien il-pandemija u wara.
Muscat spjegat li kien hemm żewġ tipi ta’ donazzjonijiet, il-ġbir tal-Lira, sistema antika li biha l-familji kienu jagħtu Lm 1 (€2.33) lill-knisja kull xahar u donazzjonijiet oħra. Is-sistema tal-Lira tinvolvi nies li kienu jmorru bieb bieb jiġbru €2.33 f’isem il-Knisja. Imbagħad kienu jagħtu l-flus miġbura lil Muscat.
Muscat kienet toħroġ riċevuta lin-nies li ġabru l-flus u riċevuti separati lid-donaturi fl-aħħar tas-sena. Spjegat li l-flus kienu jiġu depożitati l-bank fil-kont tal-parroċċa.
Dwar l-arbular, hija qalet li kien hemm min jagħti €10 kull xahar direttament lill-kappillan jew lilha u hi kienet tgħaddihomlu. Qalet li kien hemm madwar 70 familja li kkontribwew għal dan l-arbular.
Dwar ċekk ta’ €470 lil Dun Seguna hija qalet li kienu ġabru xi flus għal għeluq l-10 anniversarju mill-ordinazzjoni tiegħu.
Xehdet ukoll anzjana li organizzat coffee mornings b’risq il-Knisja. Josephine Sciberras qalet li mill-flus li tiġbor wara li taqta’ l-ispejjeż tal-ikel u trasport kien jibqa’ ewro li jmur għall-Knisja. Qalet li Dun Seguna dejjem informa lill-parroċċani għalxiex marru l-flus.
Qalet li Dun Seguna kien jgħin lil min hu fil-bżonn u kull meta xi ħadd kien jitlobha l-għajnuna kienet tirreferihom għandu.
Intant, il-Qorti aġġornat il-ħin li fih Dun Seguna jrid jinġabar f’daru u issa jrid jkun ġewwa sal-11.30pm minflok id-9.30pm.
Għal Dun Luke Seguna qed jidher l-avukat Matthew Xuereb.
tvmnews.mt/news/jixhdu-li-dun-luke-seguna-kien-ihobb-jghin-lill-batuti-ihallsilhom-il-kontijiet-tad-dawl-u-jehdilhom-ix-xirijiet/
Adrian Delia writes to President: do not resign and oppose abortion
Nationalist MP Adrian Delia has written to the President of the Republic calling him to resist the coming into force of a law amending the abortion ban in Malta
1 December 2022,
by Matthew Vella
Adrian Delia has personally called on George Vella not to sign the law into force
Nationalist MP Adrian Delia has written to the President of the Republic, George Vella, not to abdicate his responsibility as Head of State should he have to refuse to sign a law allowing abortion in the case that a woman’s health is endangered.
Delia, one of the major anti-choice voices in the Prudente law debate, called on Vella, a doctor by profession who is against abortion, not to resign his office should he have to sign into law the Criminal Code amendment.
“My heartfelt appeal to you as a person, a doctor who swore an oath to save life, as President of the Republic, custodian of the Constitution... fear not, be strong, and do not abdicate your noble responsibility,” Delia said in a letter he wrote to Vella, a former Labour minister.
Read more here:
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120124/adrian_delia_writes_to_president_do_not_resign_and_oppose_abortion#.Y4kTi3ZBy3A
Labour MPs meet to discuss possible tweaks to abortion amendment
The PL parliamentary group is meeting in the wake of information that President George Vella could resign if abortion exception amendment comes before him
1 December 2022,
by Kurt Sansone
The Labour Party parliamentary group is meeting in the wake of President George Vella's opposition to the abortion amendment proposal
The Labour Party parliamentary group is meeting to discuss the way forward on government’s proposal to introduce an abortion exception if a woman’s life or health is in danger.
Sources close to the party said the meeting is discussing the possibility of tweaking the proposed Bill, especially in the wake of President George Vella’s opposition to the proposal.
The President has not commented publicly on the amendment. But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Robert Abela hinted that Vella is uncomfortable with the proposal when asked about reports that the President would resign if the law came before him.
MaltaToday understands that not all Labour MPs are comfortable with the proposal and some are even facing backlash from conservative constituents.
The sources said most of the initial concerns expressed by MPs were allayed by Health Minister Chris Fearne.
“Being a trusted children’s doctor, Chris Fearne has been convincing in his arguments but there is also mounting external pressure on MPs, some of who fear that this could lead to abortion being legalised,” one MP, who chose to remain anonymous, told this news portal.
However, another MP told this portal on condition of anonymity that despite the concerns raised by some, there was no mutiny on the issue.
“However, things could change if George Vella resigns since that would cause backlash among some of our voter base,” the MP said.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister said government remained open to changing the wording of the law to clarify matters but insisted the principle focus of protecting a woman’s life and health should not be diluted.
It is unclear what changes, if at all, the parliamentary group is willing to consider and whether these will constitute a reversal of the position to protect a woman’s ‘health’ along with her ‘life’.
The Opposition is opposed to the amendment, insisting the law should be clear enough that termination is not deemed illegal only if it is needed to save a mother’s life.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120122/labour_mps_meet_to_discuss_possible_tweaks_to_abortion_amendment#.Y4kV1HZBy3A
Parti minn bankina f’San Pawl il-Baħar iċċedi f’bitħa ta’ dar
1 ta' Diċembru 2022
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Parti minn bankina f’San Pawl il-Baħar ċediet f’bitħa ta’ dar.
Il-każ seħħ għall-ħabta tas-7pm fi Triq ix-Xagħra Bandieri.
Kelliem għall-Pulizija qalilna li ma jidher li joqgħod ħadd fid-dar.
Fuq il-post hemm uffiċjali mid-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili.
Il-Ministru għall-Intern u s-Sigurtà Byron Camilleri rreaġixxa għal dan l-inċident.
Huwa qal li d-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili qed juża klieb u drones.
Dan biex jivverfikaw li ma hemm eba persuni mirdumin taħt il-ġebel.
Ara iktar hawn bir-ritratti: tvmnews.mt/news/parti-minn-bankina-fsan-pawl-il-bahar-iccedi-fbitha-ta-dar/
Tmut il-kantanta popolari Carmen Tanti tal-Greenfields
1 ta' Diċembru 2022
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Tħabbret il-mewt tal-kantanta popolari Maltija Carmen Tanti li flimkien ma’ żewġha kienet tagħmel parti mill-grupp mużikali Greenfields. Carmen mietet fl-età ta’ 75 sena.
Il-grupp Greenfields magħruf l-akbar għal bosta kanzunetti tradizzjonali Maltin, ġie ffurmat fl-1970. Fil-grupp kien hemm ukoll Charles Bajada.
Huma kienu jieħdu sehem f’bosta programmi mtellgħa fuq TVM fosthom il-programm Karusell, Għalenija u Meta l-Weraq Iħaddar.
tvmnews.mt/news/tmut-il-kantanta-carmen-tanti-tal-greenfields/
Azzopardi’s incredible claim: ‘Pregnant American woman feigned danger to fuel abortion controversy’
Andrea Prudente’s very real pregnancy medical complications put in doubt by former MP Jason Azzopardi, who claimed she was purposely brought over to Malta to instigate abortion debate
30 November 2022, 12:06pm
by Kurt Sansone
Former MP Jason Azzopardi
TWEET SHAREFormer MP Jason Azzopardi has claimed that American tourist Andrea Prudente was brought to Malta on purpose to instigate the abortion debate, earning him backlash from pro-choice activists.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, he even doubted whether Prudente’s very real medical complications were true.
“You have to be truly trash to connive with foreign third parties so that a pregnant woman is brought to Malta to instigate a controversy over the termination of a pregnancy by pretending she was in danger,” Azzopardi wrote on Wednesday.
Read full story here:
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120100/azzopardis_incredible_claim_pregnant_american_woman_feigned_danger_to_fuel_abortion_controversy#.Y4fC-XZBy3A
Bernard Grech insists government’s amendment is abortion through the back door
The Opposition leader says the termination of pregnancy should only happen if a woman’s life is in danger as he ridicules Andrea Prudente
30 November 2022, 7:35pm
by Kurt Sansone
Robert Abela is ‘gifting’ Malta abortion on the eve of Christmas, Bernard Grech said on Wednesday, accusing the government of lying and abusing people’s emotions.
In a speech delivered at the top of his voice, the Opposition leader said Abela wanted to introduce abortion without having an electoral mandate and “through the back door”.
He urged the Prime Minister to ditch the proposed amendment that ensures doctors will be able to terminate a pregnancy when the woman’s life or health is at risk, and legislate only when a woman’s life is in danger.
Grech said the amendment proposed by the Prime Minister was similar to what had been done in the UK and which ended up being used as a pretext for abortion on demand.
“Saving the woman’s life is not in contention. It is the health aspect in government’s amendment that opens the door wide open to abortion. Instead of giving the woman the necessary treatment while at the same time saving the baby, Robert Abela wants to kill the baby,” Grech said.
He insisted that nobody has ever been charged in court because the treatment used to save a woman’s life caused the termination of pregnancy. “But if there is this doubt, we should take up the proposal put forward by more than 80 academics to offer legal certainty only when a woman’s life is at stake,” the Opposition leader said.
'This pregnant American woman'
At one point, Grech ridiculed American woman Andrea Prudente, whose case kick-started the abortion debate earlier this year.
In a belittling tone and without even using her name, Grech said: “This pregnant American woman travelled more than 20 hours to celebrate her ‘baby moon’ in Malta. I never heard of this baby moon but she called it a baby as well. She wanted an abortion, despite our doctors treating her well and in a prudent way. Her baby moon ended when she went to Spain by air ambulance and then she sued the Maltese state.”
Grech played on her surname to insist it was Maltese doctors who were prudent, adding Prudente was never in danger of dying. “This was confirmed by the State Advocate in his reply to the constitutional case filed by the woman.”
“It is a lie to say she was in danger of dying. She was not removing the very premise on which government’s amendment was built,” he said.
READ ALSO: Azzopardi’s incredible claim - ‘Pregnant American woman feigned danger to fuel abortion controversy’
Making ample reference to the fact that this law was being introduced on the eve of Christmas, Grech urged the Prime Minister to take the “mature decision” and agree with the Opposition’s proposal based on what the academics said.
He accused Abela of rushing the amendment because it “earned him votes”. “Robert Abela is introducing this amendment because polls show that he has to gain. You are not a politician but a pollster.”
Grech insisted that it is only when a woman’s life is at risk, should the protection of her life override that of the baby’s.
Read the full story here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120108/bernard_grech_insists_governments_amendment_is_abortion_through_the_back_door#.Y4fEeHZBy3A
Guilty of frequently raping mother’s two boys at a time when she was undergoing chemotherapyBy Owen Galea November 30, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti
59-year-old Lawrence Micallef has been handed down a 12-year prison sentence after admitting yesterday instead of undergoing trial by jury to having, in January 2019 and in the preceding years, aggravatedly raped two boys, one of them nearly on a daily basis for about three years. The abuse used to be carried out at a time when the mother was receiving treatment for cancer.
Micallef was found guilty of seven charges including also raping their sister, a 13-year-old girl, in a deserted area of Ħal Far after picking her up from school as her mother felt unwell.
Micallef began abusing the children after starting a relationship with the mother of the two boys in 2009. The relationship ended in 2019 when her younger son, at the time 12 years old, spoke to her about the sexual abuse by the man he used to call papá.
The boy spoke with his mother after Micallef implicated the boy’s uncle when he asked the woman why the boy was frequently sleeping over at his uncle’s place. When the boy heard this, he told his mother that it was his “papá” who had been abusing him for three years, and not his uncle. The boy recounted that the abuse had started when he was just nine years old. He said everything started when he went into a room at home and saw his brother kneeling and performing oral sex on the accused. The boy added that he had been shocked and ran off. The boy said that when he spoke with his brother, the latter told him he could not do anything as their mother’s partner had threatened to throw him off Għar Ħasan if he spoke up. However, when the younger boy confronted the accused and asked what he was doing to his brother, the accused said he would show him and carried out oral sex with him. Micallef abused the boy when his mother was recovering in bed, being unable to go out or walk as a result of numerous serious operations she had undergone during those years. This also because she was receiving chemotherapy for cancer, among other health problems.
Accused used to threaten the boy with ending up in an institution and his mother in a grave
In fact, it was for this reason that during these three years the boy had never spoken with his mother, as Micallef used to threaten him that if he told her, Micallef would end up in prison, the boy in an institution and the mother in a grave.
It was stated in Court that the abuse was carried out through oral sex performed by Micallef on the boy and by forcing the boy to do the same to him. It also emerged that before abusing him, the accused would use the boy’s mobile to watch porno videos in front of him before performing sexual acts on him. All this was occurring very frequently in the mother’s home, sometimes on a daily basis within a week and at other times on alternate days.
It also emerged that the younger boy was not the only one to be raped, as this was also carried out on his brother. The case occurred when the boy was between 18 and 19 years old when he went to ask him for advice about how to behave with his girlfriend, as it was something he had not yet experienced. On that day Micallef had uncovered his genitals and had told him to perform oral sex on him to show him how things were done. On another occasion, he had taken him close to a factory in Ħal Far, stopped the van, asked him to get down and carried out the same abuse he had carried out on his brother.
Guilty of raping 13-year-old girl in a deserted area
Micallef was also found guilty of having, in December 2018, raped a 13-year-old girl when he had picked her up from school in his van, had taken her close to the Playmobil factory, asked her to do what adults did, and when she refused, had poked his fingers into her uncovered genital area.
In its decision, the Criminal Court – Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera presiding – noted that during yesterday’s sitting the accused had pleaded guilty to all the charges including aggravated rape, to taking part in sexual activities with violence with persons under the age of 16 and vulnerable persons, corrupting them, penetrating them and carrying out these acts even in front of children.
Whilst taking into account that the accused’s admission plea had been made before the formation of a jury, the Court declared that this, however, could not be considered an early admission as it had not been made during the accused’s presentation under arrest and not even during the compilation.
The Court sentenced Micallef to 12 years in prison whilst accepting the plea by the Attorney General and the accused that they were in agreement on the penalty in the event the accused admitted to all charges against him.
tvmnews.mt/en/news/guilty-of-frequently-raping-mothers-two-boys-and-daughter-at-a-time-when-she-was-undergoing-chemotherapy/
Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I to make historic visit to Malta
Tuesday, 29 November 2022,
His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, will make a historic visit to Malta next week during which he will meet refugees as well as the sizeable Orthodox Christian community on the island.
Patriarch Bartholomew I, who will visit between December 4 and 7 at the invitation of Archbishop Charles Scicluna, is also due to meet with the President of Malta, the Maltese Episcopal Conference and residents at the Corradino Correctional Facility.
The first ever Patriarch to visit the island will also be conferred with a Doctorate honoris causa by the University of Malta.
Given the significant Orthodox Christian presence on the island, the visit of the Patriarch – the most senior Orthodox figure – is viewed as having considerable ecumenical importance. During his stay he will encounter Christians from various Orthodox Churches in Malta as well as visiting St Paul’s Grotto in Rabat and other places of religious significance.
The public are encouraged to attend the two main events associated with the visit: Patriarchal Vespers at St Nicholas Church (Tal-Erwieħ) in Valletta on December 5 and an ecumenical service at St John’s Co-Cathedral on December 6, where he will also meet the heads of other churches as well as members of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commissions in Malta and Gozo.
The 82-year-old Patriarch, who was installed as Archbishop of Constantinople in 1991, has been working with Pope Francis on improving Catholic-Orthodox relations, and has been vociferous on migrant issues.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-29/local-news/Orthodox-Patriarch-Bartholomew-I-to-make-historic-visit-to-Malta-6736247843
Roderick Cassar said “he regretted what happened to her” when he was shown photo of his dead wife’s face
November 29, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti
This morning the criminal inquiry into Roderick Cassar, who is charged with the murder of his wife Bernice, will begin to be heard.
The murder took place on 22 November in the vicinity of the MCAST campus in Kordin, Paola.
The 40 year old victim who lived in Qrendi was killed by two gunshots, one in her face and the other in her chest.
Roderick Cassar, 42, is the first man to be charged with the crime of femicide since becoming part of our law.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded at Mount Carmel hospital.
Relatives of the victim and those of the accused, including his brother, are present for the hearing.
Cassar is being escorted by two prison wardens and a number of policemen.
The prosecution requested that the accused relatives leave the court hall because they may be requested to testify in the case. Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri did not object to the request.
Present in Court were lawyers Stefano Filletti, Marita Pace Dimech, Ann Marie Cutajar and Rodianne Sciberras acting on behalf of the victim’s family.
Inspector testifies how he found the victim on the roadFirst witness is Inspector Wayne Camilleri, from the Homicide Squad, who said that when he arrived on the crime scene he saw other police officers there and noted the victim’s car in the middle of the road in Kordin area. He recounted that there was an amount of blood on the ground, while the left doors on the driver’s side were open with the front door’s window smashed.
Inspector Camilleri said that he noticed the victim was face up with two shots in her face and chest. The shots were fired from a short distance and there were two shotgun cartridges on the ground, even if he was informed that more cartridges were found. He heard persons saying they were working colleagues of the victim and that they had identified her. They also indicated the victim’s husband as the person who might have been connected with what happened. The colleagues said that Bernice had told them that he was making life difficult after she left him.
Witnesses on site saw a man beating a woman in the car and that he fired three shots
Persons on site told Police that they thought that initially it was a traffic accident. These witnesses recounted to Police that they saw a car stopping beside another car, a man alighting and opening the other car’s door and starting beating the woman. Then he produced a weapon and shot her three times. Witnesses on site were foreigners and therefore they didn’t understand what he was telling her. One of the fired shots did not hit the victim.
Inspector Camilleri added that he left the crime site to Triq il-Kartaġiniżi in Qrendi, where he found various other members of RIU and SIU. The Police also started to look for the children because they suspected that they were with the accused. Shortly afterwards, they confirmed that they were at school.
When Police negotiations started, Cassar requested them to shoot himInspector Camilleri further stated that as the accused was armed, they tried to negotiate with Cassar who said he wished to commit suicide and requested the police to shoot him. He also insisted with them to leave the place, telling them he did not want to go to prison. The accused brother, who lived in the same building, gave the keys of the common area to the Police.
Inspector Camilleri added that officers entered the building however they found Cassar’s door closed.
When Police told him to leave the apartment, he went out holding the weapon upwardsThey attempted to open the door and fired some shots towards the door lock to open it. Officers told him to get out and Cassar came out holding the weapon upwards in his hand. He looked excited and frightened, was arrested and taken to an ambulance.
The victim’s car was transported to the Police headquarters for the necessary tests. Officers noted that the accused was dressed in the same clothes he had when the incident occurred. They ordered him to remove his clothes and brought him other ones from the apartment.
Cassar was admitted at Mater Dei hospital where he was certified to be conscious and in good health. He was then taken to the Depot where he was twice examined by a psychiatrist.
The autopsy, conducted the day after the murder, concluded that the victim was killed by a shot in her face and not with the shot in her chest.
During a prison identifying parade, four of five witnesses called to identify Cassar, immediately identified him while the other person showed uncertainty.
Cassar was twice interrogated and, although he did not speak much, he “regretted for what happened to her”. He also told them that he was tired and wanted to sleep. The interrogation resumed the following day.
The accused showed no reaction when Police showed him a photo of his dead wifeDuring interrogation, the accused said he wasn’t aware of the working times of his wife and that he did not wish to answer question on what happened on that day. When officers showed him a photo of his wife with the fatal wound, he did not react.
Police reports were exhibited in Court about the relationship between the couple. Some of the reports were made by working colleagues between May and November this year.
During counter-examination, the witness said the accused told them he did not know how much the incident lasted. Dr Debono asked who were the witnesses of the crime, with the Inspector replying that everything is found in the inquiry.
Asked how the front window of the victim’s car was smashed, Inspector Camilleri replied that it was broken by the shotgun and not with the shots. He added that Bernice Cassar did not appear to have had other injuries apart from the two shots and that the accused told them that he took hold of the shotgun after the argument escalated.
Next witness was Sergeant Miriam Lia who was on duty at the Paola station on the day of the murder. She recounted seeing the victim covered with a bed sheet and noted a great wound in her face and blood on the road. The witness also noted blood spots on the tyres and a smashed window on the driver’s side.
The sergeant added that the initial report received at the station was that of a traffic accident and that there was a heated argument between the persons involved.
The compilation of evidence resumes on 19 December at10am.
tvmnews.mt/en/news/court-of-criminal-inquiry-to-begin-hearing-evidence-in-connection-with-murder-of-bernice-cassar/
“Amendment with only one aim – that of safeguarding a woman in clear danger of death because of medical complications” – the Prime Minister
November 29, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti
Prime Minister Robert Abela has spoken in Parliament in connection with the proposed Amendment to safeguard pregnant mothers and the medical profession in cases where the mother’s health and death is clearly in danger
Dr Abela said that is as today’s process that medical professionals wait until the situation of the mother is between life and death before performing an abortion.
He said a Labour Government will not be a Government that will not face the realities that exist and will thus ensure this Amendment.
The PM maintained that the situation where a mother’s life is clearly in danger, the medical profession is covered to safeguard the mother but suffer the life of her offspring.
He added that now professionals can help the life of the woman without exposing themselves to facing many years of imprisonment.
Dr Abela continued by saying the illegality of abortion will remain as it has always been and will not be altered.
He explained the sole change is the legal position when a woman is clearly in a position of death and the medical professional can save her life without facing criminal proceedings.
Dr Abela spoke of the case causing the Amendment, that of Andrea Prudente who happened to be in Malta on holiday and experienced complications during her pregnancy.
He said it was evident the child in the womb was no longer visible but Maltese doctors did not want to breach the abortion law to extract the child from the womb to ensure the woman would not be in danger.
“Abortion is not a solution for pregnant women with health problems” – Dr Stephen Spiteri During the same debate the Shadow Minister for Health, Dr Stephen Spiteri, said abortion is not a solution for pregnant woman suffering problems of mental health because the solution is for the treatment of the mental problems.
The Nationalist Party MP said this Amendment should be legislated for the benefit of the people and to observe the country’s Constitution.
He continued the Law should be specific in hurried situations to safeguard lives and if possible to safeguard the two lives.
tvmnews.mt/en/news/amendment-with-only-one-aim-that-of-safeguarding-a-woman-in-clear-danger-of-death-because-of-medical-complications-the-prime-minister/
AFM soldier who died while diving might have been hit by a boat, police say
Monday, 28 November 2022,
An Armed Forces of Malta soldier who tragically died while out diving last summer might have been hit by a boat, police believe.
In a statement, the police said referred to an incident on 12 August, when the body of 35-year-old Christian Degabriele – who was reported missing after he failed to return home after going out diving – was lifted out of the sea in St. Paul’s Bay.
The Police Force issued an appeal for information, saying that investigations showed that there was the possibility that Degabriele died after he was hit by a boat.
Anybody with information about the case is asked to contact the Police, even anonymously, on 119 or 21224001 or by going to their closest police station.
Degabriele had been reported missing on 11 August, and a search was mounted throughout the night, which culminated in his body being found at 9am the following morning.
Even back then it was believed that Degabriele had been hit by a boat in the area, with the rope belonging to his diver’s buoy being found torn.
Degabriele was a sergeant within the AFM’s Maritime Squad, and was also an amateur football player.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech was tasked with leading the inquiry into the case.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-28/local-news/AFM-soldier-who-died-while-out-diving-might-have-been-hit-by-a-boat-police-say-6736247811
Enough evidence to indict MPO chief Sigmund Mifsud over alleged tampering in sexual harassment case
Monday, 28 November 2022,
There is enough prima facie evidence to indict the CEO of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) over allegations that he suborned witnesses from giving information on an alleged criminal act, a court declared on Monday.
Magistrate Gabriella Vella, who presided over Monday's case through a video conference link, declared that there is sufficient evidence to issue a bill of indictment against Sigmund Mifsud, the orchestra CEO.
Prosecuting inspector Gabriel Micallef testified in court on Monday, giving a timeline of events since a member of the orchestra accused a senior official of the MPO of sexually harassing her.
The victim filed a report in November at the Valletta police station, alleging sexual harassment in the workplace. She explained to police that the harassment started in the first weeks that she started working with the orchestra. The senior MPO official - a 31-year-old man from Gozo who cannot be named by court order - was earlier this month placed under a restraining order, as well as a suspended sentence, after admitting to having sexually harassed the former orchestra member.
The senior official would massage her shoulders and slowly move his hands down to her lower back, just above her bottom, the court heard."She told me that she wasn't comfortable with this," Micallef said. The first time it happened she said it was making her ticklish, while other times she would turn her body around as soon as he moves in for the massage.
The senior official would explain this behaviour by saying he was arranging her posture, he told the court.
In a separate incident, this official grabbed her bottom while she was talking to someone else, the court heard. He walked away after doing this.
During a separate farewell party, the senior official pulled her top down and exposed the top part of her chest, the court heard.
The victim went on to report these incidents to Mifsud as CEO of the orchestra, the officer said. She showed him messages that the senior official had sent her, including photos. However, Mifsud told her to delete these messages from her mobile, but told her that action will be taken, the officer said.
But the harassment didn't stop after she spoke with Mifsud.
On top of this, Mifsud started speaking to people working in the MPO about these allegations in a bid to stop her from filing a police report, the court heard.
When the victim submitted her letter of resignation, the orchestra's human resources chief had drafted an email to be sent to the permanent secretary. However, he wanted to speak with Mifsud before sending the email, the court heard. When they met, Mifsud instructed him not to send the email to the permanent secretary, and said that he would speak to the victim one-on-one, the court heard.
He held a meeting with several high-up officials to discuss this. "He said if there's a chance to speak to her and convince her not to file a report, it would be better."
Another meeting was held with musicians. Mifsud is alleged to have told them that anyone who speaks out about this case will be considered complicit.
While police were investigating the case, they found several Whatsapp chats between Mifsud and another high-up official in the orchestra. They sent lots of voice messages to each other, trying to prepare a contingency plan and make sure the harassment allegations do not become public, the court heard.
Police went on to arrest Mifsud on 4 November and took a statement from him. During questioning, Mifsud refused to answer to several questions. He was evasive on other questions.
After Micallef's testimony, the prosecution requested transcripts of Mifsud's police statement and of recordings taken by the victim, which she saved on a pen drive.
Lawyer Edward Gatt, representing Mifsud, insisted that the defence reserves its position on the admissibility of the recordings, and will tackle the validity of the recordings "at the opportune time".
The magistrate nominated Lennox Vella to draft the transcript of the police statements. She said she will nominate someone to draft transcripts on the recordings at the next sitting.
She also nominated court expert Keith Cutajar to carry out a complete data extraction on exhibited devices, as well as conducting a profile on the mobiles exhibited and a cross-match analysis.
Inspectors Gabriel Micallef and Kevin Pulis prosecuted. Lawyers Edward Gatt and Shaun Zammit were counsel to the defence. Lawyers Ilenia Agius and Joseph Gatt appeared parte civile.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-28/local-news/Enough-evidence-to-indict-orchestra-chief-Sigmund-Mifsud-with-suborning-sexual-harassment-victim-6736247812
“Dan it-temp hu normali bħalissa u għada qed nistennew oħra bir-ragħad”
Minn Antonia Micallef
28 ta' Novembru 2022
Il-bassar tat-temp fl-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku tal-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta Brian Micallef qal lil TVM news li nhar il-Ġimgħa li għadda bdiet tifforma sistema ta’ maltemp fuq Korsika li bdiet riesqa lejn l-Italja u għaddiet minn fuq il-gżejjer Maltin. Qal li s-Sibt kien hemm front sħun u ieħor kiesaħ u għalhekk ikkawżat il-maltempa b’dulluvju ta’ xita u bis-silġ. Il-Ħadd imbagħad inħoloq riħ qawwi mill-Grigal, bl-aktar buffura qawwija mkejla mill-Uffiċċju Meteoroloġiku kienet ta’ 52 knot jiġifieri qawwa ta’ ftit aktar minn 96 kilometru fis-siegħa.
Aqra iktar. tvmnews.mt/news/dan-it-temp-hu-normali-bhalissa-u-ghada-qed-nistennew-ohra-bir-raghad/
Gozo ferry service suspended, as Maltese islands grapple with gale-force winds
Several pictures of fallen trees sprouted all over social media, including in Iklin, Msida, Qormi and Sliema
27 November 2022, 6:04pm
by Luke Vella
Gozo Channel said that its services were suspended until further notice (Photo: Gozo Channel)
After the heavy rainfall on Saturday, the Maltese islands were hit by gale-force winds that brought the Gozo ferry operations to halt.
The Meteorological Office had issued an orange warning over the gale-force winds in exposed areas and the moderate to heavy rain that fell over the islands throughout the day.
The office had issued a strong warning to mariners for Valletta and Marsamxett harbours adding that in the 50 nautical miles radius of Malta, northeast winds would reach gale to severe gale force at times.
Several pictures of fallen trees sprouted all over social media, including in Iklin, Msida, Qormi and Sliema.
A tree fell down in Iklin (Photo: Facebook)The road in Balluta was also closed off for traffic, after the winds pulled down scaffolding at a construction site.
Scaffolding in St Julian's was pulled down by the wind (Photo: Facebook)Gozo Channel suspended the ferry service throughout the day, leading to heavy traffic at Cirkewwa and Mgarr.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120044/gozo_ferry_service_suspended_as_maltese_islands_grapple_with_galeforce_winds#.Y4PNh3ZBy3A
Strong winds lash Malta, ferry operations halted
Met Office issues orange warning
Times of Malta
Photo: Matthew MirabelliThe bad weather over Malta continued on Sunday halting ferry operations with gale-force winds forecast.
The Meteorological Office issued an orange warning that the northeast wind will be very strong over the Maltese islands, reaching gale force over exposed areas.
It also warned that moderate to heavy rain or hail showers were also expected.
The office also issued a strong gregale warning to mariners for Valletta and Marsamxett harbours adding that at sea areas 50 nautical miles radius of Malta, the northeast wind will reach gale force and will at times reach severe gale.
The sea will be very rough to high during the day becoming very rough overnight.
The warnings were issued as an air of depression over the Maltese islands moved towards the gulf of Sirte.
The northeast force 8 wind, locally force 8 to 9 wind is overnight expected to go down to force 6, the Met Office said. The warning is up until 10pm.
Meanwhile, Gozo remains isolated as both fast and normal ferry trips are cancelled.
Along the Sliema promenade, civil protection officers were in the afternoon seen hacking off a tree which had fallen onto a passenger car.
An officer said they had been attending to similar calls all day.
Read and see pictures here: timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ferry-operations-halted-bad-weather-maltese-islands-continues.997782
PM warns abortion motion abusers will face legal proceedings
Protection orders not enough if human resources lacking: Robert Abela tribute to Bernice Cassar
NationalAbortionDomestic ViolenceMurderRobert Abela
By Sarah Carabott
Robert Abela has warned that whoever abused the legislative amendment allowing the termination of a pregnancy when a woman’s life or health is at risk, will have to face legal proceedings as abortion will remain illegal in Malta.
The prime minister was speaking on One Radio on Sunday morning, where he also paid tribute to Bernice Cassar, a woman who was shot dead on Tuesday, allegedly by her estranged husband.
Abela said state and society had failed to do enough to safeguard domestic victims of violence, noting that protection orders were not enough if there were not enough human resources to protect those at risk.
Cassar had told police a week before her murder that her husband had breached a court order designed to protect her from the man who allegedly once held a knife to her throat.
A timeline of the mother-of-two's calls for help, given to Times of Malta, shows how she faced court and police delays as she tried to protect herself.
“It is clear that the state, country and society didn’t do all that needed to be done. If we had done all that was needed to be done, we would not have had three murders of women this year.
Read more here: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/pm-warns-abortion-motion-abusers-face-legal-proceedings.997788
One man dead, two slightly injured in explosion at Kirkop St Joseph fireworks factory
In a Facebook post, the San Guzepp club said Leonard Camilleri died in the explosion at St Joseph fireworks factory in Kirkop • The blast occurred on Saturday shortly after 7am while people were working inside
26 November 2022, 7:25am
by Kurt Sansone
Nardu Camilleri (right) lost his life in a fireworks explosion in Kirkop
Updated at 1:39pm with medical condition of those hospitalised
One man has died and two sustained slight injuries in a large explosion at the St Joseph fireworks factory in Kirkop on Saturday morning.
In a post on Facebook, the San Gużepp club said that Leonard Camilleri, 64, who had previously served as the factory's licencee, had died in the explosion.
Camilleri had retired from making fireworks some years ago but had recently returned to his hobby.
The explosion sent a large plume of white smoke into the air that was visible from various parts of the islandNardu iż-Żurrieqi, as Camilleri was known by those closest to him, had previously injured his hand in another explosion at the same fireworks factory on 13 February 2012.
Saturday's blast happened shortly after 7am at the fireworks factory, which is situated near the airport.
At the time of the blast there were people working inside the building. Soon after the explosion it became apparent that one person remained unaccounted for, while others were injured in the blast.
The police later confirmed that Camilleri died on the spot, while another man who was inside the fireworks factory, aged 45, was slightly injured. Two other men aged 63 and 72 from Żurrieq who were tilling their fields in the vicinity were also hospitalised. The 72-year-old sustained no injuries while the 63-year-old was certified as suffering from slight injuries.
Read more: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120027/explosion_in_kirkop#.Y4J8rHZBy3A
Żewġt ibniet jakkużaw lil missierhom li messhom b’mod mhux xieraq
Minn Alvin Vassallo
26 ta' Novembru 2022
Żewġ tfajliet, waħda ta’ 14 u oħra ta’ 17-il sena akkużaw lil missierhom li abbużahom.
Ir-raġel ta’ 50 sena qed jiġi mixli li kkorompa minuri u wettaq atti sesswali mingħajr kunsens.
Huwa ġew ikun akkużat li allegatament mess sider bintu ta’ 14-il sena u prova jmiss t’oħtha.
Dawn l-allegazzjonijiet ħarġu meta l-Pulizija kienet qed tinvestiga każ separat ta’ vjolenza domestika li ressqu wliedu flimkien m’ommu. Huma kienu rrapportawh li refa’ idu fuqhom.
Waqt li d-difiża talbet għall-ħelsien mill-arrest, il-Prosekuzzjoni oġġezzjonat għax ix-xhieda għadhom ma telgħux il-Qorti.
Il-Maġistrat Victor Axiaq ordna li jinżamm arrestat. Huwa ordna divjett fuq l-ismijiet tal-akkużat u t-tfal sabiex tkun protetta l-identità tal-minuri.
tvmnews.mt/news/zewgt-ibniet-jakkuzaw-lil-missierhom-li-messhom-bmod-mhux-xieraq/
Żewġt aħwa jattakkaw raġel fil-Ħamrun u jweġġgħu pulizija
Minn Alvin Vassallo
26 ta' Novembru 2022
Żewġt aħwa ngħataw il-ħelsien mill-arrest wara li allegatament attakkaw raġel fil-Ħamrun.
Abd Uarahman Alghaze ta’ 41 sena, imwieled is-Sirja u jgħix in-Naxxar u Ahmad Alghazi ta’ 27 sena mis-Sirja u jgħix San Pawl il-Baħar dehru l-Qorti quddiem il-Maġistrat Victor Geroge Axiak.
Huma ġew mixlija li weġġgħu raġel gravi, insulentawh u heddew u attakkaw pulizija. Huma ġew akkużati li weġġgħu ħafif Pulizija u li kissru l-paċi pubblika.
L-aħwa wieġbu mhux ħatja u ngħataw il-ħelsien mill-arrest fuq depożitu ta’ €500 u garanzija personali ta’ €5,000. Huma jridu jiffirmaw l-għassa darbtejn fil-ġimgħa u jibqgħu ġewwa f’darhom bejn il-11pm u s-6.30am.
tvmnews.mt/news/zewgt-ahwa-jattakkaw-ragel-fil-hamrun-u-jweggghu-pulizija/
Protestors demand responsibility be shouldered for Bernice Cassar femicide
At a protest starting in front of the police headquarters and ending in front of the law courts, people demand answers for system failures that killed Bernice Cassar
25 November 2022, 6:25pm
by Kurt Sansone / Maya Dimitrijevic
Protestors gathered outside the police headquarters to protest against institutional failures that allowed Bernice Cassar to be murdered (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
TWEET SHAREPeople gathered in front of police headquarters and marched in protest to the law courts, demanding responsibility be shouldered for Bernice Cassar’s murder.
Scores of protestors called out the institutional failures that allowed the 40-year-old mother of two to be murdered by her husband, barely 24 hours after she filed a police report against him.
Cassar became Malta’s third femicide victim this year when she was shot by her husband, Roderick Cassar, while on her way to work. She died on the spot. Roderick Cassar was arrested after a 17-hour standoff and charged with femicide. He is pleading not guilty.
The protest was organised by Moviment Graffitti and supported by several organisations. Members of Bernice's family were also present.
Protestors shouted 'No more femicide', and 'We are tired and fed up', as they marched to the law courts.
Read more and see pictures here: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120025/live_protestors_demand_responsibility_be_shouldered_for_bernice_cassar_femicide#.Y4Ev43ZBy3A
Ara: Fl-MCAST, żewġ minuti silenzju għal Bernice Cassar
25 ta' Novembru 2022
Dalgħodu, il-Kulleġġ Malti għall-Arti, ix-Xjenza u t-Teknoloġija, l-MCAST osserva żewġ minuti silenzju biex ifakkar il-memorja ta’ Bernice Cassar, l-omm ta’ żewġt itfal li nqatlet fit-triq biswit din l-istituzzjoni.
Studenti, għalliema u ħaddiema nġabru quddiem Dar l-Istudent fil-preżenza tal-qraba ta’ Bernice, f’ġest ta’ solidarjetà kontra l-vjolenza domestika.
Tul iċ-ċerimonja, il-komunità tal-Kulleġġ qalet li kienet tassew imnikkta bil-qtil li seħħ wara l-campus tagħha f’Kordin. Ingħad li t-tmexxija tal-kulleġġ ħeġġet lill-istaff u lill-istudenti biex ifittxu l-għajnuna u appoġġ. It-tmexxija tal-MCAST tkellmet dwar il-bżonn li l-kulleġġ jingħaqad biex iqajjem kuxjenza u jieħu azzjoni kontra l-vjolenza f’dan iż-żmien diffiċli.
F’nota ta’ riflessjoni li ngħatat lill-istaff u l-istudenti, il-lettur anzjan tal-MCAST Janice Fenech Scicluna saħqet, “Jekk qed tinnota mġiba fik innifsek jew oħrajn li ġġiegħlek tissuspetta li xi ħadd qed jesperjenza abbuż…. ħu azzjoni u fittex l-għajnuna. Kemm jekk int vittma jew tinnota li forsi qed ikollok kwistjonijiet ta’ rabja jew għira, sib il-qawwa fik innifsek u tkellem. Qatt mhu tard biex tikseb l-għajnuna.”
Intant dwar dan it-tielet femiċidju tas-sena, Roderick Cassar, ir-raġel ta’ Bernice tressaq il-Qorti akkużat bil-qtil makabru ta’ martu. Il-mara nqatlet b’żewġ tiri ta’ senter wieħed f’wiċċha u ieħor f’sidirha wara l-kampus tal-MCAST qrib iż-żona industrijali ta’ Kordin. L-imputat ġie arrestat wara 17-il siegħa ta’ negozjati delikati mill-Pulizija wara li kif żvela TVMnews, ir-raġel beda jhedded lill-uffiċjali li se jneħħi ħajtu bl-istess arma li biha allegatament qatel lil martu.
Quddiem il-Maġistrat Astrid May Grima, Cassar ta’ 42 sena hu l-ewwel persuna li qed li jiġi mixli b’femiċidju mindu daħlet fis-seħħ il-liġi iktar qabel din is-sena. F’awla ppakkjata bil-qraba tal-vittma, fosthom il-ġenituri u ħutha, assistiti mill-avukati tagħhom, id-difiża tal-akkużat ma kkontestatx l-arrest għax qalet li dan kien wieħed ġust u validu.
Liebes ġlekk u qalziet griż b’rasu baxxuta, Roderick Cassar qam bilwieqfa jwieġeb għall-mistoqsijiet tal-Maġistrat Grima/ Wara li kkonferma ismu u kunjomu, Cassar qal li jaħdem għal rasu u kkonferma li jgħix fi blokka appartamenti fi Triq il-Kartaġiniżi, il-Qrendi/ Meta mitlub iwieġeb jekk hux ħati jew le għall-akkużi, minnufih id-difiża qalet li l-imputat se jwieġeb mhux ħati għall-akkużi kollha miġjuba kontrih.
Cassar ġie mixli wkoll li kellu arma tan-nar bla permess, li seraq il-mobile u ċ-ċavetta tal-karozza tal-vittma, u li hedded raġel li allegatament ipprova jgħin lill-vittma qabel inqatlet minn żewġha. Kif żvela tvmnews.mt, fix-xena tad-delitt u bl-arma f’idejh, Cassar allegatament qal lil dan ir-raġel biex idabbar rasu lil hemm.
Id-difiża ma talbitx għall-ħelsien mill-arrest iżda talbet biex minflok il-ħabs, l-imputat jinżamm fit-Taqsima Forensika tal-Isptar Monte Karmeli. Il-prosekuzzjoni għarrfet lill-Qorti li ma kellhiex oġġezzjoni għal din it-talba.
Mal-għoti ta’ din l-ordni, Roderick Cassar inħareġ mill-ewwel minn awla 9 fost preżenza kbira ta’ Pulizija li skortaw lill-akkużat sakemm niżel fil-parti ta’ isfel tal-Qorti u b’rasu mgħottija fil-karozza tas-servizz, qabad triqtu għal barra lejn il-Faċilità Korrettiva ta’ Kordin.
See more here: tvmnews.mt/news/fl-mcast-zewg-minuti-silenzju-ghal-bernice-cassar/
Man charged with defiling five-year-old stepson despite social workers recommending no action
Friday, 25 November 2022,
A 42-year-old man has been granted bail after being charged with defiling his partner's five-year-old son.
The man, whose name is subject to a reporting ban, appeared in court before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, was charged with corruption of a minor aggravated by the fact that the alleged victim is under 12 years of age and due to his relationship with the victim.
He was additionally charged with repeatedly committing non-consensual acts of a sexual nature on a minor who resided with him and subjecting the child to unwanted acts of physical intimacy.
The man has denied the charges with his lawyers claiming the report filed against their client was done maliciously.
Inspector Kylie Borg said that charges had to be issued because the police report had been filed before the conclusion of a Foundation for Social Welfare Services report, which recommended no action.
The defendant's lawyer, Albert Zerafa, told the court that the allegations had been dreamt up by the defendant's partner's ex-husband, who he said, was jealous of the fact that the woman had moved on and his son had since established a good relationship with the accused.
Zerafa explained that the accused's partner and her ex-husband had been through a hostile divorce with their son being caught in the middle.
The accused also had children of his own, who had never given reason to suspect any impropriety on his part, the lawyer argued.
He added that the allegations had also been the subject of an investigation by social services, concluded in August, which had not recommended any action. Zerafa pointed out that the boy and his mother still lived with the accused.
The court upheld the defence's request for bail, against a €5,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee, also imposing the condition that the child resides with his biological father until the case is decided.
The court imposed a ban on the publication of the names of the involved parties.
Prosecutor Sean Azzopardi and Inspectors Kylie Borg and Brian Xuereb led the prosecution.
Lawyers Albert Zerafa and Joey Reno Vella were defence counsel.
www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-11-25/local-news/Man-charged-with-defiling-five-year-old-stepson-despite-social-workers-recommending-no-action-6736247733
[WATCH] Bernice Cassar murder: Husband Roderick Cassar charged with femicide
Roderick Cassar is the first person to be charged with femicide, an aggravated form of homicide, following the murder of his wife Bernice Cassar on Tuesday as she was driving to work
24 November 2022,
by Nicole Meilak
Roderick Cassar with his face covered by a jacket on the back seat of a police car as he was being driven away to prison (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
Play VideoThe husband of murder victim Bernice Cassar was charged on Thursday with wilful femicide, an aggravated form of homicide, and remanded in custody.
Roderick Cassar, 42, from Qrendi pleaded not guilty to the charges and no bail was requested.
The man was arrested at 2am on Wednesday after the Special Intervention Unit made a forced entry into his Qrendi house were he had been holed up for 17 hours. Police used flash-bangs to immobilise the murder suspect, and also seized the suspected murder weapon, a shotgun.
This is the first time that femicide is being used as an aggravating offence in a court of law after it was introduced in the Criminal Code earlier this year, following the New Year's Day murder of Paulina Dembska.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel. Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Marita Pace Dimech appeared parte civile for the victim's family.
Roderick Cassar was charged with wilful femicide, holding his victim against her will, using violence, including moral and psychological violence, using a firearm while committing a crime and possession of a firearm without permit. Other charges include stealing the victim's mobile phone and car key, and the wilful damage to her property.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/120004/live_roderick_cassar_to_be_arraigned_over_wifes_murder_charged_with_femicide#.Y3_c7HZBy3A
PM says not enough done to prevent femicide, court delays 'unacceptable'
Prime Minister Robert Abela reacts to the femicide of Bernice Cassar
23 November 2022, 8:53pm
by Nicole Meilak
File photo
The femicide of Bernice Cassar on Tuesday means that not enough work has been done to address gender-based violence, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Wednesday.
Fielding comments from journalists, Abela said that the court delays in domestic violence cases is unacceptable, referring to Cassar’s own case which was set to be heard in November 2023.
“For me, it is unacceptable to have a case appointed a year and a half later,” Abela said.
Abela opened up about feeling angry and scared over the murder, being the father of a 10-year-old girl.
"Despite strengthening the institutions, even if there's at least one death like this, then you haven't done enough," he stated.
He pointed out than an open call is underway to appoint two new magistrates to the judiciary bench, one of which will be assigned to hearing cases of domestic violence cases.
There is only one magistrate in Malta hearing thousands of domestic violence cases. This has led to a severe backlog in cases, with some hearings having to be postponed by years.
Abela added that a ministerial inquiry has been opened to identify what went wrong in Bernice Cassar’s case.
He explained that the inquiry will focus on identifying deficiencies and whether the case could have been avoided.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/119993/pm_says_not_enough_done_to_prevent_femicide_court_delays_unacceptable#.Y36GBnZBy3A
‘Stop killing women’: EP President Roberta Metsola pays tribute to femicide victim Bernice Cassar
'Bernice should have arrived to work yesterday': Metsola pays tribute to Bernice Cassar in European Parliament
23 November 2022,
by Nicole Meilak
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said there are no more excuses to gender-based violence, and that proper protection frameworks are needed to protect women,
Metsola delivered a brief statement on domestic violence during Wednesday’s plenary in the European Parliament. She mentioned Bernice Cassar, the 40-year-old woman who was shot dead by her estranged husband on her way to work.
“Bernice should have arrived to work yesterday. She should have been able to go home and play with her children. She should not have been forced to live in fear. She should have been safe. She should have been free from torment. She should not have been killed,” Metsola told the plenary.
She said that proper protection frameworks are needed, and people who prey on women should be conficted. “We need to end the remaining institutional blindness to the endemic violence against women.”
Metsola noted that Bernice Cassar spent months asking for help, even requesting protection. “Neither the help nor the protection ever arrived. She was left alone.”
“None of the horrific examples of violence against women we are forced to endure should take place in our Europe. We are not talking about victims. These are our fallen warriors.”
Police never arrested the husband of Bernice Cassar, now suspected of having shot his wife twice in cold blood, when he failed to turn up for an interview at the Floriana police headquarters on 20 November.
Cassar had suffered an altercation with Roderick Cassar, 40, outside the Floriana health centre on Sunday, 13 November, where she had been receiving medical attention.
Details published by The Times shows that Bernice Cassar immediately fled the health centre to the nearby police headquarters, where she waited seven hours, unsuccessfully, to file her report. She returned the next day, and waited another two hours to file her report.
When police called the husband, he failed to turn up for the interview.
Last Monday, on the eve of her murder, Bernice Cassar returned to the police to report a series of defamatory comments made against her by her husband
It-Tieni Jum Tad-Tridu
Minn Mario Muscat
Quddiesa mmexxija mil-Kappillan ta Kercem Dun Brian Meylak
Ara il video hawn: https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423540685283950/
Jippriedka .l- Arcipriet tax-Xaghra Mons Carmelo Refalo: https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423538118617540/
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Minn Mario Muscat
Quddiesa mmexxija mil-Kappillan ta Kercem Dun Brian Meylak
Ara il video hawn: https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423540685283950/
Jippriedka .l- Arcipriet tax-Xaghra Mons Carmelo Refalo: https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423538118617540/
Click on photos below to enlarge
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/
Priedka mill Arcipriet Carmelo Refalo tax-Xaghra.
https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423538118617540/
Click on photos below to enlarge
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/
Priedka mill Arcipriet Carmelo Refalo tax-Xaghra.
https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423538118617540/
Click on photos below to enlarge
Tibda in Novena tal-Festa
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Ramla Valley Extra Virgin Olice Oil
By George Carl Camilleri
Waking up to great news😊 Proud to announce that our Evoo once again has been awarded a Silver medal 🥈 into the First Class Awards @ EVO IOOC international olive oil contest in Italy. A big honour to our brand and to our island. Would like to thank all especially our family members which are of continuous support to us 🥰🙏💪🌿🇲🇹 #ramlavalleyevoo #ramlavalley #nadur #lovegozo #evoolover #loveevoo #evoolovers #islandlife #oliveoillovers #simplelife #oliveoil #olive #olivegarden #gozoisland #visitgozo #insta_visitgozo #feelingproud #evoiooc www.ramlavalley.com
https://www.facebook.com/ramlavalley/posts/2606509042996839
By George Carl Camilleri
Waking up to great news😊 Proud to announce that our Evoo once again has been awarded a Silver medal 🥈 into the First Class Awards @ EVO IOOC international olive oil contest in Italy. A big honour to our brand and to our island. Would like to thank all especially our family members which are of continuous support to us 🥰🙏💪🌿🇲🇹 #ramlavalleyevoo #ramlavalley #nadur #lovegozo #evoolover #loveevoo #evoolovers #islandlife #oliveoillovers #simplelife #oliveoil #olive #olivegarden #gozoisland #visitgozo #insta_visitgozo #feelingproud #evoiooc www.ramlavalley.com
https://www.facebook.com/ramlavalley/posts/2606509042996839
Mt. Etna from beautiful Dahlet Qorrot Bay
By Alessio Sultana
By Alessio Sultana
The statue ready in the basilica
By Mario Muscat
By Mario Muscat
The Basilica of Nadur Yesterday
Photo by Mario Muscat
Photo by Mario Muscat
Jitnizzlu l-linef ghal festa
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Jibda jintrama l-Altar tal- kor ghal festa
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Il-villagg Tal-Hali fin-Nadur jizzejjen ghal festa
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Nadur in pictures
Dahlet Qorrot Bay
Photo by Mario Muscat
Dahlet Qorrot Bay
Photo by Mario Muscat
L' artal tas-Sagrament fin-Nadur
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Qala windmill and Nadur skyline under a misty sunset
By Alessio Sultana
By Alessio Sultana
Fountain at Xandriku Street
Photo by Mario Muscat
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 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.
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
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
Click on pictures below to enlarge.
Courtesy of Mario Muscat - Nadur
Click on pictures below to enlarge.
Interesting picture of Nadur from the air
Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/nadurghawdex/
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.
Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/nadurghawdex/
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
Beautiful San Blas
By Mario Muscat
By Mario Muscat
Canon Anton Meilaq passes away. Very much humble priest.
RIP.
http://www.nadurjana.com/in-memoriam.html
Għadu kemm ħalliena l-Kan. Anton Meilak, mill-Parroċċa ta' San Pietru u San Pawl, in-Nadur, fl-età ta' 89 sena, li dan l-aħħar kien residenti fid-Dar tal-Kleru, Malta.
Il-funeral tiegħu ser isir għada: l-Isqof Mario Grech ser jippresiedi waqt id-difna privata fiċ-Ċimiterju tan-Nadur.
Agħtih, o Mulej, il-mistrieħ ta' dejjem.
RIP.
http://www.nadurjana.com/in-memoriam.html
Għadu kemm ħalliena l-Kan. Anton Meilak, mill-Parroċċa ta' San Pietru u San Pawl, in-Nadur, fl-età ta' 89 sena, li dan l-aħħar kien residenti fid-Dar tal-Kleru, Malta.
Il-funeral tiegħu ser isir għada: l-Isqof Mario Grech ser jippresiedi waqt id-difna privata fiċ-Ċimiterju tan-Nadur.
Agħtih, o Mulej, il-mistrieħ ta' dejjem.
NADUR IN PICTURES
By Mario Muscat
Click on the pictures below to enlarge.
https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96
By Mario Muscat
Click on the pictures below to enlarge.
https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96
F' dan il-mument in-Nadurin huma mitluba jzommu fit-talb taghhom lill-Kan Dun Anton Meilaq
Dun Anton serva fil-parrocca tan-Nadur ghal snin twal u bhalissa jinsab fid-Dar tal-Kleru f' Birkirkara.
Ghandu bzonn it-talb taghna.
Dun Anton serva fil-parrocca tan-Nadur ghal snin twal u bhalissa jinsab fid-Dar tal-Kleru f' Birkirkara.
Ghandu bzonn it-talb taghna.
NADUR IN PICTURES
By Mario Muscat
https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96
Click on pictures below to enlarge.
By Mario Muscat
https://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96
Click on pictures below to enlarge.
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.
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
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
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL AND FRIENDS
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
By Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master
Greetings.
Messages and prayers from our Reverend Chaplains
Dear All:
What seems impossible to us Humans, prayers and supplications will rise like Incense before our merciful Father-God ,
because for God NOTHING is impossible.
May the Good Lord bless all Medical Teams to find a cure .
One of the best prayers I would like to suggest is the Litany of the Saints.
I will keep all in my daily prayers.
Fr Francis Xavier Buhagiar PE
Chaplain of the Confraternity St Peter and St. Paul
MELBOURNE
Covid-19
Prayer to ask for help, comfort and salvation
God the Father, Creator of the world, omnipotent and merciful,
that for our love you have sent your Son into the world as a doctor of bodies and souls,
look at your kids that at this difficult time of disorientation and consternation
in many regions of Europe and the world turn to You
in search of strength, salvation, and relief.
Deliver us from sickness and fear, heals our patients, comforts his family members,
gives wisdom to our rulers, energy and reward to doctors, nurses and volunteers,
eternal life to the deceased.
Don't abandon us in this time of trial, but deliver us from all evil.
All this we ask of you, O Father who, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign for centuries.
Amen.
Santa Maria, Mother of health and hope, pray for us!
Bishops of Europe
With friendship
Fr. Manuel Martins
Chaplain of the Confraternity of St. Peter & St. Paul
PORTUGAL
Litany of the Saints
Lord, have mercy on us.
CHRIST, have mercy on us.
LORD, have mercy on us.
CHRIST, hear us.
CHRIST, graciously hear us.
GOD, THE FATHER OF HEAVEN, have mercy on us.
GOD THE SON, REDEEMER OF THE WORLD, have mercy on us.
GOD THE HOLY GHOST, have mercy on us.
HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD, have mercy on us.
HOLY MARY, pray for us.
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, pray for us.
HOLY VIRGIN OF VIRGINS, pray for us.
ST. MICHAEL, pray for us.
ST. GABRIEL, pray for us.
ST. RAPHAEL, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY ANGELS AND ARCHANGELS, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY ORDERS OF BLESSED SPIRITS, pray for us.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, pray for us. ST. JOSEPH, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, pray for us.
ST. PETER, pray for us.
ST. PAUL, pray for us.
ST. ANDREW, pray for us.
ST. JAMES, pray for us.
ST. JOHN, pray for us.
ST. THOMAS, pray for us.
ST. JAMES, pray for us.
ST. PHILIP, pray for us.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, pray for us.
ST. MATTHEW, pray for us.
ST. SIMON, pray for us.
ST. THADDEUS, pray for us.
ST. BARNABAS, pray for us.
ST. LUKE, pray for us.
ST. MARK, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY APOSTLES AND EVANGELIST, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY INNOCENTS, pray for us.
ST. STEPHEN, pray for us.
ST. LAWRENCE, pray for us.
ST. VINCENT, pray for us.
SS. FABIAN AND SEBASTIAN, pray for us.
SS. JOHN AND PAUL, pray for us.
SS. COSMOS AND DAMIAN, pray for us.
SS. GERVASE AND PROTASE, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY MARTYRS, pray for us.
ST. SYLVESTER, pray for us.
ST. GREGORY, pray for us.
ST. AMBROSE, pray for us.
ST. AUGUSTINE, pray for us.
ST. JEROME, pray for us.
ST. MARTIN, pray for us.
ST. NICHOLAS, pray for us.
ST. ANTHONY, pray for us.
ST. BENEDICT, pray for us.
ST. BERNARD, pray for us.
ST. DOMINIC, pray for us.
ST. FRANCIS, pray for us.
ST. MARY MAGDALEN, pray for us.
ST. AGATHA, pray for us.
ST. LUCY, pray for us.
ST. AGNES, pray for us.
ST. CECILIA, pray for us.
ST. CATHERINE, pray for us.
ST. ANASTASIA, pray for us.
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
By Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master
Greetings.
Messages and prayers from our Reverend Chaplains
Dear All:
What seems impossible to us Humans, prayers and supplications will rise like Incense before our merciful Father-God ,
because for God NOTHING is impossible.
May the Good Lord bless all Medical Teams to find a cure .
One of the best prayers I would like to suggest is the Litany of the Saints.
I will keep all in my daily prayers.
Fr Francis Xavier Buhagiar PE
Chaplain of the Confraternity St Peter and St. Paul
MELBOURNE
Covid-19
Prayer to ask for help, comfort and salvation
God the Father, Creator of the world, omnipotent and merciful,
that for our love you have sent your Son into the world as a doctor of bodies and souls,
look at your kids that at this difficult time of disorientation and consternation
in many regions of Europe and the world turn to You
in search of strength, salvation, and relief.
Deliver us from sickness and fear, heals our patients, comforts his family members,
gives wisdom to our rulers, energy and reward to doctors, nurses and volunteers,
eternal life to the deceased.
Don't abandon us in this time of trial, but deliver us from all evil.
All this we ask of you, O Father who, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign for centuries.
Amen.
Santa Maria, Mother of health and hope, pray for us!
Bishops of Europe
With friendship
Fr. Manuel Martins
Chaplain of the Confraternity of St. Peter & St. Paul
PORTUGAL
Litany of the Saints
Lord, have mercy on us.
CHRIST, have mercy on us.
LORD, have mercy on us.
CHRIST, hear us.
CHRIST, graciously hear us.
GOD, THE FATHER OF HEAVEN, have mercy on us.
GOD THE SON, REDEEMER OF THE WORLD, have mercy on us.
GOD THE HOLY GHOST, have mercy on us.
HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD, have mercy on us.
HOLY MARY, pray for us.
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, pray for us.
HOLY VIRGIN OF VIRGINS, pray for us.
ST. MICHAEL, pray for us.
ST. GABRIEL, pray for us.
ST. RAPHAEL, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY ANGELS AND ARCHANGELS, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY ORDERS OF BLESSED SPIRITS, pray for us.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, pray for us. ST. JOSEPH, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, pray for us.
ST. PETER, pray for us.
ST. PAUL, pray for us.
ST. ANDREW, pray for us.
ST. JAMES, pray for us.
ST. JOHN, pray for us.
ST. THOMAS, pray for us.
ST. JAMES, pray for us.
ST. PHILIP, pray for us.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, pray for us.
ST. MATTHEW, pray for us.
ST. SIMON, pray for us.
ST. THADDEUS, pray for us.
ST. BARNABAS, pray for us.
ST. LUKE, pray for us.
ST. MARK, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY APOSTLES AND EVANGELIST, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY INNOCENTS, pray for us.
ST. STEPHEN, pray for us.
ST. LAWRENCE, pray for us.
ST. VINCENT, pray for us.
SS. FABIAN AND SEBASTIAN, pray for us.
SS. JOHN AND PAUL, pray for us.
SS. COSMOS AND DAMIAN, pray for us.
SS. GERVASE AND PROTASE, pray for us.
ALL YE HOLY MARTYRS, pray for us.
ST. SYLVESTER, pray for us.
ST. GREGORY, pray for us.
ST. AMBROSE, pray for us.
ST. AUGUSTINE, pray for us.
ST. JEROME, pray for us.
ST. MARTIN, pray for us.
ST. NICHOLAS, pray for us.
ST. ANTHONY, pray for us.
ST. BENEDICT, pray for us.
ST. BERNARD, pray for us.
ST. DOMINIC, pray for us.
ST. FRANCIS, pray for us.
ST. MARY MAGDALEN, pray for us.
ST. AGATHA, pray for us.
ST. LUCY, pray for us.
ST. AGNES, pray for us.
ST. CECILIA, pray for us.
ST. CATHERINE, pray for us.
ST. ANASTASIA, pray for us.
San Koronatu fin-Nadur
Tissebbah in-nicca ta San Koronatu Martri li tinsab gewwa l-Bazilka tan-Nadur minn Mark Falzon.
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.
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.
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.
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
Minn Peter Paul Portelli
President
Ara ftit film hawn: https://www.facebook.com/peter.paul.portelli.1/videos/3249314411749877/
Gustav Tonna PROSET 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 Grech Nice 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.
Minn Peter Paul Portelli
President
Ara ftit film hawn: https://www.facebook.com/peter.paul.portelli.1/videos/3249314411749877/
Gustav Tonna PROSET 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 Grech Nice 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.
In-Nadur fil-Letteratura Nazzjonali Maltija
Minn Daniel Meilak
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:
Koronatu! Insejħulek
aħna wliedek Nadurin:
iddew ilqa’ l-ħajr sħiħ tagħna;
żommna miegħek magħqudin.
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
Minn Daniel Meilak
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:
Koronatu! Insejħulek
aħna wliedek Nadurin:
iddew ilqa’ l-ħajr sħiħ tagħna;
żommna miegħek magħqudin.
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’.
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’.
Sopu Tower by Alessio Sultana
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
The Most Respected Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul.
Grand Chapter of Malta.
Address: December 13 Street. Nadur, Gozo.
22 September, 2019
Congratulations to our Members in Malta for doing such a great job in helping the poor in Peru.
Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli
Grand Master
CKSPP
The mission of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul is to help the poor and the sick
Grand Chapter of Malta.
Address: December 13 Street. Nadur, Gozo.
22 September, 2019
Congratulations to our Members in Malta for doing such a great job in helping the poor in Peru.
Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli
Grand Master
CKSPP
The mission of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul is to help the poor and the sick
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
