The Voic(edr iivoenf b yt thhe evo iicMe o f aiitsl retaedesrse ) Issue FFoorrttnniigghhttllyy mmaaggaazziinnee ffoorr tthhee DDiiaassppoorraa September 2 237 9, 2020

AA nneeww pprroojjeecctt

ffoorr MMssiiddaa CCrreeeekk The new project q is expected to Above is a computer-generated image of change this ....to this how the Msida Creek project recently an - nounced by Infrastructure Malta would look q once completed. A call for tenders has al - ready been issued. Through the creation of two 175-metre long flyovers the project is intended to erad - icate the traffic lights at the busy junction and immensely help the flow of traffic dur - ing peak hours. It should also improve air quality, extend the existing public garden and create a new storm water system. Msida connects the centre with the rest of the country. It is the most popular passage - way to places such as Sliema and G żira. 2 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 Kummentarju: Il-qawwa tal-istampa miktuba awn iż-żmenijiet tal-pandemija COVID-19 ġabu għal kopji ta’ The Voice. Sa anke kellna talbiet biex magħhom ħafna ċaqlieq u tibdil fil-ħajja, speċjal - imwasslulhom kopja d-dar għax ma jistgħux joħorġu. ment fost dawk vulnerabbl, li fost kollox sabu Kellna wkoll djar tal-anzjani li talbuna kopji. F’każ Dferm aktar ħin liberu. Imma aktar minhekk qed isibu minnhom wassalnielhom kull edizzjoni, u tant ħadu wkoll nuqqas ta’ liberta’. pjacir jaqraw The Voice li sa kien hemm min, fost l-anz - Minħabba r-restrizzjonijiet u għal aktar sigurtá biex jani li ċemplilna biex juri l-apprezzament tiegħu. Fost ibiegħdu l-imxija ftit li xejn jistgħu joħorgu. Hemm ukoll dawn kellna waħda li b’entużjażmu qaltilna, “meta waslu nuqqas ta’ komunikazzjoni ma’ dak li s-soltu kien jagħm - l-kopji qisna konna rbaħna l-lotterija”. lihom ħajjithom ħafna iktar interessanti. Il-ġemgħat li jiltaqgħu fix-shopping centres ukoll ikunu Aħna ta’ The Voice of the Maltese bqajna għaddejjin, qed jistennew il-kopji tal-magażin. Il-maġġoranza anke jekk taħt ċerti diffikultajiet. Aħna ma nippruduċux tagħhom jippreferu jaqraw il-verżjoni stampata ta’ The biss pubblikazzjoni digitali iżda wkoll immexxu l-uniku Voice. magażin stampat li jinbiegħ fl-Awstralja li hu indirizzat l- Nirringrazzjawkom u nittamaw li ma ndumux ma aktar lejn il-komunitá Maltija. nerġgħu lura għan-normal. Bqajna nistampaw b’ħafna tbatija, imma ċ-ċirkolazzjoni Nagħtu ħajr lil dawk li abbonaw għax zdiedu b’għaxra effettwatna xi ftit għax il-gruppi Maltin fejn is-soltu jiġi fil-mija. Inwiegħdu wkoll lil dawk li s-soltu jixtru The mqassam il-magażin jinsabu kollha magħluqin. Voice of the Maltese izda ma sabuhiex li jekk iridu kopji Iżda ħaġa tal-iskantament kemm għad għandna komu - b’lura (back copies) nistgħu nadduhomlhom meta nil - nitá li tiddependi fuq l-istampa miktuba. Dan nistgħu taqgħu mill-gdid. Il-kopji jmorru lura għall-ħarġa 224 nikkonfermawh għax qed nirċevu ħafna telefonati jitolbu (Marzu 24, 2020).

MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

High Commission & Consulates of Malta in Australia

High Commission of Malta - Canberra H.E. Mr. Charles Muscat (High Commissioner for Malta to Australia and non-resident High Commissioner to New Zealand) 38 Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT 2606

(02) 6290 1724 / 1426 / 1573 0433 799 947

www.foreignandeu.gov.mt [email protected]

Consulate General - Sydney Consulate General - Melbourne Mr. Lawrence Buhagiar (Consul General) Mr. Mario Farrugia Borg (Consul General) St. Martins Tower, Suite 10.04, Level 10, 31 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000 Suite 613, 6th Floor, 343 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

(02) 9262 9500 0430 402 177 (03) 9670 8427 0413 621 177 (02) 9264 4722 [email protected] (03) 9670 9451 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Tuesday September 29, 2020 T he Voice of the Maltese 3 Another service offered by The Voice of the Maltese providing legal information to our readers Abuse in the form Coercive Control: Should it be illegal? by Paul aims to cause emotional or mental harm. Sant The behaviour is repetitive, and conducted with the intention of intimidating, control- he most prevalent aspect of domes- ling, or causing fear in the victim. tic violence is the gradual toxic If you examine each small act in isolation, household expenses; and build-up of coercive and control- the act itself may not seem significant, • withholding or threatening to lTing behaviour, with or without physical however when the course of conduct is withhold financial support that is nec- abuse. Even when physical abuse is pres- looked at as a whole the picture becomes essary for the maintenance of an inti- ent, coercive and controlling behaviour much more sinister. Examples include: mate partner and/or their children. sets the scene and enables the continued • Embarrassing a person in front of perpetration of the abuse. others; Invisibility Research shows that the most devastating • Name-calling; Although it penetrates many parts of the and long term consequences of family vi- • Threatening to harm a person, relationship, it can persist undetected to olence are caused by coercive and control- their pets, family members or friends; outsiders. It can assume a variety of forms ling aspects of the abuse. The resulting • Treating a person badly because and does not leave physical evidence. harm is both significant and enduring. of characteristic they cannot change For victim-survivors, this increases their (such as religion, race, past, Gap in the legislation disability, feelings of powerlessness and disconnec- gender, sexuality, or family); tion to wider social networks. For many At the moment coercive control has not been • Ignoring a person; survivors, coercive and controlling abuse enacted as a separate offence in NSW or • Intentionally confusing a person. were coupled with physical violence to other state or territory in Australia, except for This might include someone moving create devastating consequences. Tsmania, nor has it been integrated into ex- or changing things and then denying isting domestic and family violence offences. they have done this. Should it be criminalised? What are acts of coercion and control? Financial Abuse There is no definitive answer to this ques- tion yet. There is currently a movement to- Coercive control is the use of intimida- Financial abuse is perpetrated with the in- wards criminalising coercive control by tion, isolation and control, in order to re- tention of controlling or intimidating the way of a new offence. The primary driver strict the freedom of the victim and victim, causing mental harm, apprehension of the current push for new legislation is intentionally destroy the victim’s self-es- or fear. Acts of financial abuse include: the recognition of the infliction of psycho- teem, confidence and wellbeing. • forcing a person to hand over logical harm as a key aspect of family vio- It is difficult to neatly define a category of control of their assets and/or income; lence. coercive and controlling acts, as the abuse • selling a person’s property, or the Its prevalence, toxicity and severity is is linked to the idiosyncrasies of the partic- property of their minor children, with- considered so widespread that domestic vi- ular relationship in which it occurs. It is nu- out their consent; olence support specialists, frontline work- anced and multi-faceted. It can include: • stopping a person from earning ers and legal professionals have joined to 1. psychological abuse; their own income; push for the re-examination of the case for 2. financial abuse; • preventing a person from partici- new law. 3. acts that emphasise the invisi- pating in decisions regarding house- However there is concern that the justice bility of the victim, and hold expenditure or the sale of joint system is not ready for such a change. The 4. isolation. property; challenges that will need to be considered • preventing an intimate partner Psychological abuse include: from accessing joint bank accounts 1. Will the threat of imprisonment Psychological abuse is behaviour that for the purpose of meeting normal deter perpetrators? 2. Will victims engage with police and the courts and how do we address PAUL SANT existing barriers to access? 3. Are law enforcement officers ad- (SOLICITOR) equately trained to identify coercive control? PARTNER AT LONGTON LEGAL 4. What are the unintended conse- For All Your Legal Needs quences? Is there a risk of misidenti- Now at: fication of the victim and/or systems 21 George Street abuse by the perpetrator? It is a complex issue that has attracted the Parramatta attention of numerous enquiries and law reform commission reports. Watch this Phone: 8599 8877 space. Also at: Level 4, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney. Ph: 8355 9999 We have provided you with an overview Email: [email protected] of the topic above but you should consult a professional for advice specific to your Maltese Spoken circumstances. 4 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020

Co-option of Members

inn M aMlta the Naatiolnatlista par’tys is i n Pthe tahroers olf aniotaher mgenereal elenctiont . Hence, the leadership election merely three years after Adrian Delia voters’ next preference on was elected leader. His challenger is Bernard Grech who the relinquishing or resign - is backed by the so-called Blue Heroes or rebels, depend - ing MP’s ballot has already ing on whose side one happens to be. been exhausted. IAn important fact is that Grech is in exactly the same position This is because under that Delia was in three years ago when he was elected leader: Malta’s electoral system an he is not a member of Parliament and if he wins the leadership MP’s or candidate’s vote contest he can only take-up the role of Leader of the Opposition can only be transferred through co-option. once. Hence the name the by Prof. Godfrey Pirotta Co-option came into being in order to make up for a quirk in Single Transferrable Vote our electoral system, the Single Transferable Vote system, but system. The electoral law, in recent years has been resorted to with astonishing frequency. therefore, makes no provision for a bye-election. It is not easy to ex - But, the seat cannot be left vacant so the only way forward is plain. co-option. The party from whose ranks the MP has resigned or There are three died will now be invited to nominate a person from its ranks for pathways through co-option. which an individual There are no restrictions as to whom it can nominate as long can gain a seat in as the person being nominated is in no way disqualified under Malta’s Parliament: Malta’s electoral law. In this sense they are free not only to first, by winning a nominate a person who had not contested the electoral district seat at a general in question but may pick someone who has never contested an election; second, by election before. election through a casual election; and third, through co- Procedure first used in 1969 option. Until 1969 this procedure had been hardly used and in fact The first is only two MPs had been co-opted in this manner, a Mr John Rai - straightforward mondo and Dr J. Miceli. One reason for this was that govern - enough for one to ments tended to be minority or coalition governments and hence understand since unstable. Sometimes, the length of a legislature was so short most MPs gain ac - that reasons for resignations by individual MPs were few and Eddie Fenech Adami (1969) cess to Parliament far between. in this way. They are elected at a general election. However, as we shall see, after 1969 co-option came to play a The second method, the casual election, comes into significant role in Malta’s pol - play when two elements are present. Under our elec - itics. toral system a candidate can contest, and some do, Between 1969 and 2011 four on two electoral districts. If elected from both, how - future Prime Ministers were to ever, s/he has to give up one of them. Once the can - gain entry to Parliament in this didate or his party decides which seat is to be way. The first of these was relinquished, the Electoral Commission will then call Eddie Fenech Adami who was on candidates who had contested the electoral district co-opted to Parliament in 1966 being relinquished, to send in their nomination for following the demise of a PN the vacated seat. MP who had been elected by a However, there is no new contest for the seat be - casual election. tween these candidates for a casual election is not a Fenech Adami had failed to bye-election. What will happen is that once the nom - win a seat in Parliament and it inations have closed the Commission will open the was only the death of this MP votes of the candidate who had relinquished the seat that opened his way to mem - and assign the next voter’s preference to the indicated bership. Within less than ten candidate. The candidate inheriting the most prefer - years he had become PN ences will win the seat. Leader having taken part in the A casual election may also be required if a candidate rebellion against George Borg elected at the general election resigns his seat or Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici (1983) Olivier and in 1987 Prime passes away. Here the Electoral Commission will initiate the Minister for the first time. same process adopted to fill a relinquished seat. The second was Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici who was co-opted to The problem arises, however, if the MP resigning his seat or Parliament in April 1983. Mifsud Bonnici had been appointed has passed away had been elected in a casual election. When Deputy Leader for Party Affairs of the Labour Party in 1981. He this happens there is nothing the Electoral Commission can do had accepted the post on condition that he would not be obliged to fill the vacant seat. to contest as a candidate at a general election but Mintoff had The reason for this is that the candidates elected at a casual other ideas as he intended Mifsud Bonnici to be his successor. election were elected because they were the most popular next preference on the ballot of the MP originally elected during the *Continued on page 5 Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 5

*CConotinu-edo fropm ptagieo 4 n of Membersi nign a tMumultuaouls ta’s Parliament period in Malta’s But given that Mifsud Bonnici had not stood for election his politics. On that oc - appointment as successor to Mintoff, who at the time was Prime casion it was neces - Minister, was problematic. So to resolve this problem, in April sary to co-opt the 1983, a Labour Member of Parliament, who had been elected entire Opposition through a casual election, resigned his seat making Mifsud Bon - Bench. nici’s co-option possible. In the December Mifsud Bonnici was appointed Prime Minister in December 1981 General Elec - 1985 when Mintoff announced his decision to relinquish that tion the PN had ob - office, merely two years after being co-opted. tained a majority of The third MP, who was eventually to become Prime Minister votes but a minority but made his first entry into Parliament by co-option, was Alfred of seats. It argued Sant of the Labour Party. Sant had failed to gain a seat during that since Malta’s the 1987 general electoral system elections but the was one based on sudden death of a proportional repre - sitting MP who had sentation it was the been elected legitimate winner of through a casual the election and re - Joseph Muscat (2011) election offered the fused to take up its seats on the Opposition benches in Parliament. Labour Party the Parliamentary Standing Orders lay down that an MP must not opportunity to co- absent him/herself from Parliament for two consecutive months opt him as an MP. without permission and the Speaker, after a number of warn - Nine years later, in ings, on April 26 1982 declared the seats vacant. No candidate 1996 Sant too be - submitted his nomination for the subsequent casual elections came Prime Minis - and therefore the seats remained vacant. ter. Nevertheless, discussions between the parties to find a solution The next co-op - arising from the 1981 election result continued and in March tion came in 2011 1983 Dom Mintoff, as Prime Minister informed the House that when Joseph Mus - the PN MPs were now ready to take their seats in Parliament. cat, until then a But, since their seats had been declared vacant a year earlier, Member of the Eu - this meant that the 25 PN MPs could not just walk into Parlia - Alfred Sant (1987) ropean Parliament ment and take their seats. was elected leader of the MLP. Consequently, he was not in a The outcome was a resolution moved by Mintoff invoking the position to take up his role as Leader of the Opposition until a provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Ordinance co- sitting MP from his party made way for him. opting these dissenting Opposition MPs. The fact that four Prime Ministers obtained their seats through As noted above co-option will have to be employed once again co-option demonstrates how useful this mechanism has proved in October 2020 if Bernard Grech wins the PN leadership race. to be in recent years. According to the latter this will not provide any obstacles as And since, apparently, it has become almost a custom for po - some sitting MPs have already promised to give up their seat litical parties in Malta to elect leaders who are not sitting MPs to make this possible. But this does raise the question: why has this mechanism is bound to be used more frequently. it become necessary for Malta’s political parties to look outside It is what again happened three years ago when Adrian Delia, of the Parliamentary Group whenever the need for a new leader an outsider, was elected as leader of the PN and is bound to hap - arises? pen again if Bernard Grech, another outsider, defeats Delia in Does this mean that our electoral system is failing to elect lead - the forthcoming leadership challenge On October 3, 2020. ership material to Parliament? These are questions worth pon - But co-option also played an important part in the 1980s dur - dering.

believe that expressing my, and tese Herald . It had its shortcomings perhaps also the other readers’ but it was a publication that we appreciation and gratitude for were proud of. After its demise, we tIhe interesting articles that The An appreciation had nothing. After it, others tried to Voice of the Maltese manages to regale us with are in order. I also fill in the blanks by publishing newsletters that however never suc - wish to thank wholeheartedly the production team of this magazine ceeded to replace the void. for giving us, the Maltese community, in particular, something to Then about seven years ago came The Voice of the Maltese mag - look forward to every fortnight. azine. It has been a godsend. The only drawback is its frequency The Voice has become a household name with many of us, espe - (every fortnight), but despite this, we are kept updated and never cially as this is the only publication that the Maltese Diaspora, can seem to miss anything important. This is a great commitment. closely associate with. This is a magazine that is professionally pro - The fact that The Voice of the Maltese is produced voluntarily is duced that has the interest of its Maltese readers at heart. It is where commendable. To have fellow Maltese sacrificing their time, and we as an ethnic community not only expect but also get regularly, probably their coffers for the sake of giving the readers such a the type of articles and the information that suits us. good upmarket product, and also help to strengthen the unity of I know for a fact that the magazine is also widely read in other the community, earns my respect. countries, which like Australia opened their shores and welcomed I appeal to the other readers to do the same. I dare say the pro - Maltese migrants when the need arose, but as I have lived for most ducers are making miracles to produce such a publication. There of my adult life and raised my family in Australia, I will reserve is no other publication like The Voice that looks after the interests my judgement to what I know from experience. of the Maltese community. We should recognise this. I remember when the Maltese community used to have The Mal - Anthony Cassar (St Albans, Victoria) 6 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 Blessed with many talents ur chosen personality for this month is a very active member of the NSW Maltese Ocommunity. Godfrey Sultana is synonymous with perhaps the biggest Centre for the Maltese in Australia. His skills are diverse, including ge - nealogy and uncovering individual family trees. Godfrey Sultana

odfrey Sultana was always active in the com - munity, and before he left Malta he was an ac - tive member of the St John Ambulance Brigade, Youth Service Organisation (YSO), and Civil GDefence. He also served three years of a four-year en - gagement with the Royal Malta Artillery (Territorials). After raising a family, Godfrey again got involved in the Maltese community in the Western suburbs of Syd - ney. He was a founding member of the La Valette Home Visitation Scheme, For seven years President of the Maltese Welfare Group, Vice President and Assis - tant Secretary of the Maltese Community Council, and founding member, Treasurer and President of the As - sociation of Lyceum Past Students (ALPS). After formally retiring in 2000, Godfrey did work at La Valette as Community Development Officer (CDO), administered the Maltese Respite Care Services for the last twenty years and kept the books and helped in the administration of the Centre. He has served on various committees of La Valette including three years as Vice President.

In 2008 the Maltese Welfare four years of study with no

(NSW) gave Godfrey the income. After working there for a O F

T H E

M O N T Quiet Achievers Award. H PERSONALITY couple of years he started Family accounting studies with ICS Godfrey was born in Ħam - OF THE MONTH (Internation Corresponden- run in 1944, right at the end of ce Schools) and before long WWII. When he was about was accepted as an external four, the family moved to St student at Mitchell College George's Bay in Birżebbuġa in the same street as Dowdall's of Advanced Education in Bathurst, now Charles Sturt Uni - Hotel. He lived there till he emigrated to Australia in 1964. versity. He arrived in Sydney on his own one week before his Employment: twentieth birthday and spent his first six months in Sydney as a boarder at the De Piro House in Stanley Street with Fr Godfrey's first job after leaving the Lyceum, and whilst George Scerri, Fr Edward Trapani and Brother Joseph Pan - waiting for engagement as an Emergency Teacher, was as tallersco. a proof-reader at St Joseph's Press (St Joseph Institute) in Godfrey was later joined by his parents and four brothers Ħamrun, a job he held until he emigrated. and moved to Leichhardt. In 1965 his girlfriend, Antoinette In Australia, his first job was as a paymaster with James Vella from Zabbar, arrived in Sydney and they were mar - Hardie at head office where he was responsible for prepar - ried at the end of 1966. Godfrey and Antoinette have two ing weekly wages for the group that included Spartan children, Patrick, a qualified mechanical engineer and IT Paints, James Hardie Asbestos and James Hardie Ferodo. Specialist, and Michelle, an accredited building and con - He then had a stint with Major Builders including Ronald struction lawyer. She currently works for a French tun - Lyon, which specialised in multi-storey office buildings nelling company as a Corporate Lawyer. and Industrial estates. At the last count, Godfrey and Antoinette had four grand - One of the biggest projects he worked on was a unit com - children and three great-grandchildren. plex in Hong Kong built on the side of an entire mountain. He then spent a few years with local builders A. V. Jen - Education: nings, which at the time besides building domestic homes Godfrey was educated at the Birżebbuġa Primary School were heavily involved in new subdivisions in rural areas. and in 1956 gained entrance to the New Lyceum in Ham - All roles were in project management and accounting. run. After completing the Oxford GCE exams, Godfrey ap - Godfrey then embarked on more ambitious projects with plied as an Emergency Teacher, but before he was accepted multi-nationals involved in heavy engineering, namely he decided to migrate. Power Stations in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. He tried to pursue his ambition to become a teacher and applied to CUSA House in Sydney, but that meant another *Continued on page 7 Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 7

Ron Borg: Remembering: Gaetano Kanta f you remember the songs that we used volved in the Televi - to hear from that magical box of enter - sion programme, “Fuq tainment in Malta during the ’50s and minn tiġi jkun Sultan”. tIhe ’60s, the Rediffusion, you might also re - He became ever so member the singer-songwriter Gaetano popular that he was Buttiġieġ, better known as Gaetano Kanta . quite often invited to Gaetano was born in Ħamrun on January perform at Parish halls 17, 1923. He got married to Censina in all over Malta, accom - 1953 and they had 11 children, one of panied on piano or ac - whom was also singer, another one a cordion by Edward mother of two children singers as well. Tagliaferro. As a 14-year-old pianist, he auditioned Gaetano was quite in - with Edward Tagliaferro and became a novative and talented. regular on programmes accompanying He also used to com- singers like Ray Ritardo, Victoria Briffa, pose new original The Four Links and Carmen Scerri. songs in Maltese, like The accomplished composer and musi - “L’Akbar ħabib”, and the hymn for cian Major Anthony Aquilina heard Gae - the Ħal Għaxaq Primary school. But he award tano singing and considered him worthy excelled in adapting Maltese lyrics to Eng - for his contribution of becoming part of Mons Mikiel Az - lish tunes, like, “Libsa Bil-Barnuż, a per - to Maltese song at the Festival L- zopardi’s programme Is-Siegħa tal-Morda. fect adaptation in Maltese of the renowned Għanja Tal-Poplu in 2001, while the At first, Gaetano sang English and Italian Christmas Carol ‘Jingle Bells’. Marsa Local Council also honoured him pop songs, but he also excelled in adapting On listeners’ requests, Gaetano published by presenting him with the Ġieħ il-Marsa Maltese lyrics to these songs, something some 20 booklets with the lyrics of his award. that had only been done just a few, like the songs that became very popular with Mal - Gaetano passed away on February 23, famed Muskettieri (Charlie Clews and Ar - tese emigrants as far as Australia and 2004. He was 81. The packed church for mando Urso). Canada. his funeral, complete with several concel - Gaetano became quite popular on Redif - He still enjoyed his singing in his early ebrants, was a testimony of the respect and fusion, with his often requested songs. In 70’s on radio and television programmes, admiration he had earned during his life. the sixties, he also took part on the chil - among them, “Pizzi Pizzi Kanna” pre - It was said, “Above all, Gaetano was an dren’s programmes, Iz-Ziju Salv u In- sented by his daughter Maryanne Zammit. exemplary Christian who always put Nannu Pepp produced by Salvinu Tellus Gaetano, who took the stage name of sound moral values and family above all and Ġużi Mallia, and eventually was in - Gaetano Kanta, was honoured with an else” Peronality of the Month for September CatholicCare Godfrey Sultana Home Care Services

*continued from page 6 He spent more than two decades working on multi-mil - lion dollar projects for companies like Babcock and Wilcox Aust., International Combustion Aust. Ltd (ICAL), Bailey Meters, Elsag Bailey, Transfield and ABB and was respon - sible as the Contracts Accountant for all major projects by the said companies. ICAL employed him solely for a $400 million project in Western Australia for one of the Power Stations there. Godfrey travelled all over Australia, Tasmania and New Do you know any seniors in Zealand regularly to check on projects he was in charge of. our community who could Hobbies: use a little help at home? He has several hobbies. They included stamp and coin col - lecting, and photography. For the last thirty years, he has CatholicCare home care services can help been heavily involved with Genealogy. Now, this is a pay - seniors to enjoy living independently in ing hobby. Besides uncovering individual family trees, he also does their own home with comfort and work for the Public Trustee in various states and is also a confidence. consultant to Who Do You Think You Are? Call CCareline to find out more. Godfrey Sultana was the main researcher on the Adam CatholicCare CCareline 131819 Hills episode and did some research on the Troy Cassar- CatholicCare.org Daley episode. He is currently working on another impor - tant project for another organisation. 8 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 Have your say/Xi trid tghid? Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ... Malta m’għandix aktar wisgħa Alex Camilleri minn Perth WA, Awstralja Hu biss għall-għaqal tagħhom li jien u ħuti jikteb: ninsabu komdi llum u aħna wkoll stajna nrabbu familja, li grazzi għall-Bambin ma att ma jien se neħodha kontra r-refuġjati noqosha xejn. Nittama biss biex dan il-qr - Qli minħabba l-kundizzjonijiet inumani rriedi virus jitlaq għal dejjem u jħallina ngħix jaslu jagħmlu sagrifiċċju u jħallu lil ħajja trankwilla. The Voice of the Maltese familthom biex imorru jsibu xi pajjiż li fih Dan li għedt biex nidħol għas-suġġett pro - ffoorrttnniigghhttllyy mmaaggaazziinnee jistgħu jgħixu ta’ veru bnedmin. prju. Ħafna drabi nħossni mweġġa’ naqra Ma neħodhiex kontrihom minħabba li dwar l-immigranti illeali li jaqsmu l- is is a bi-lingual (in English missieri, illum mejjet, kien jirrakkuntali and Maltese) fortnightly mag - Mediterran u xi nies li x’aktarx ikunu mix - minn xiex għadda hu u żewġ ħutu wara li trija, bix-xwini tagħhom jippruvaw azine that specifically targets ħallew Malta biex ġew l-Awstralja jfittxu l- all Maltese living abroad with idaħħluhom f’Malta, l-iżgħar pajjiż fl-Un - ġenna (kif kienu jgħidulhom), imbagħad joni Ewropeja biex itihom kenn. emphasis on the Australian sabu tant diffikultajiet u tbatija. Kont ninter - and Maltese scenes. Jien insegwi sew x’qed jiġri u naf li essa ruħi nisimgħu jgħidli minn kemm għalkemm ma tiflaħx, Malta, flimkien mal- e magazine can be read in flip - tbatija għaddew qabel bil-għaqal ta’ Maltin Italja, qed jerfgħu ħafna mill-piż ta’ dawn l- book or PDF format online. A pdf li kienu, stinkaw biex ħolqu għalihom ħajja immigranti. Filwaqt li mbagħad issib is-26 copy is sent via email on request. deċenti, u wara anke bnew familja u rabbew pajjiż ieħor membru tal-UE li lanqas biss Hard copy subscription is also lilna. jimpurtahom. available at a cost . Malta hi żgħira wisq biex taċetta tkun Editors: daqshekk ħanina, u naħseb li lanqas kieku Malta: Joseph Cutajar Kritika ħarxa trid ma tista’. Malta hija fost l-aktar pajjiż fl- Australia: Ewropa li għandu densitá ta’ popolazzjoni. Lawrence Dimech: MOM, Allura kif jista’ jkun li toffri l-ispazju li OAM, JP b’għan politiku m’għandiex lil dawn in-nies. John Brincat minn Brunswick, Victoria jik - Waqt li qed nikteb l-Unjoni Ewropeaj email address: teb [email protected] kienet qed tiddiskuti kif il-membri ħna li nghixu fl-istat ta’ Victoria nins - KOLLHA jistgħu jkunu solidali u jaqsmu abu għaddejjna minn kalvarju. bejniethom dawn l-immogranti. Malta l-punt tagħha għamlitu. Issa sta għall-oħrajn li juru Letters for publication in The Voice CAOVID-19 laqtitna ferm iktar minn stati oħra fl-Awstralja ghalkemm l-ikbar żball l-irġulija. Dan mhux każ ta’ flus imma ta’ magazine, either in Maltese or English kien fil-bidunett fi NSW bil-cruiseship ir- wisgħa. should include name, e-mail address Ruby Princess. Nattama li ma ndumx ma nisma’ li ntlaħaq and residence of the writer, and be e- Kissruna, irċevejna kritika ħarxa, ħafna ftehim li jkun tajjeb kemm għall-immigranti, mailed to: [email protected]. minnha mhux ġustifikata, fil-biċċa ‘l kbira imma wkoll għal Malta. Wara kollox Malta b’motovazzjoni politika, għax f’dan l-istat sehemha għamlitu, u anzi tat aktar milli Now you can also inzerta li hawn Gvern Laburista. Ma nafx wieħed jistenna. join us on facebook: x’ma għajjruhx lill-Premier Daniel An - (Ara paġni 12 u 14 biex tkun taf l-aħħar drews. Qalulu li hu Hitler, li hu dittatur, in - deċiżjonijiet dwar l-immigrazzjoni mill- https://www.facebook. somma kritika harxa bla bżonn. Kummissjoni Ewropea wara l-laqgħa im - Sar żball kbir u ntilef kontroll fil-lukandi, portanti ta’ nhar l-Erbgħa li għadda fejn ġiet com/groups/thevoice - imma waqt li qed nikteb jidher li li State imnedija riforma importanti fir-regolamenti tagħna fl-aħħar jiem għamel qabża kbira ofthemaltese lejn in-normal. tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar il-migrazzjoni u saret proposta ta’ solidarjetà). Dr Hugh McDermott MP State Member for Prospect Time to open up a bit? Joseph. Borg from Hurtsville NSW writes: For issues concerning: recently had the opportunity to talk to a few of my Maltese friends active in our Ageing and disability - community cIommunity about the current situation. They services -education - environ - expressed doubts as to how quickly our ment - health - housing - planning community can get back to normal. - Police - transport - water I believe that our leaders have kept the com - munity shut-down too much. Not that I P: (02) 9756 4766 blame them for the restrictions, as they have E: [email protected] to shield us from this pandemic and need to be very careful to get out of it with the least 2/679 The Horsley Dr, Smithfield NSW 2164 damage. However, I think it is time to relax a little. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 9 Memorji u nostalija ...

L-iskema tad-djar għua ħarġlu fllus- ukMoll mill-banek lAwtstrai ljani. Lawrence Dimech F’Awwissu 1967, il-Kummissarju ta’ dak iż-żmien, Dr A.A. Pullicino kien qal fl-Awstralja li din l-iskema issa bdiet u se sservi lill- eta nħarsu lejn l-istorja tal-emi - jissemma izda li kellu sinifikat u kien ta’ Maltin fl-istati ta’ NSW u Victoria biss. granti Maltin fl-Awstralja, naraw ħtieġa kbira fiż-żmien li ġie implimentat. Qal li l-iskema kellha tibda b’fondi ta’ li kellhom jikkumbattu mewġiet Qed ngħid għall-sskema ta’ għajnuna mill- $A4 miljun u lli -Maltin setgħu jisselfu qMawwija biex kisbu d-drittijiet tagħhom, Gvern Malti biex l-emigranti jkunu jistgħu madwar $8,000 fuq tul ta’ 29 sena kemm meta ffrontaw il-Gvernijiet Maltin jixtru djarhom. b’imgħax ta’ 5.5%. u anke dawk Awstraljani. M’hemmx Sintendi, minn meta giet imħabbra “l- L-iskema spiċċat taħt il-ħarsien ta’ dubju li l-aktar żewġ akkwisti għall- iSkema ta’ Djar għall-emigranti Maltin” għaqda kattolika bl-isem ta’ Maltin fl-Awstralja kienu ċ-ċittadinanza għal meta mbagħad ġiet implimentata, Hibernian/Maltese Home Loans. Il-prezz doppja u l-ftehim reċiproku bejn Malta u għaddejna minn ħafna skossi. biex tibni dar dak iż-żmien kien bejn l-Awstralja fejn jidħlu is-servizzi soċjali. Smajna b’din l-iskema għall-ewwel $5,000 u $7,000 dollaru, u l-aktar li stajt Il-kostituzzjoni tal-Indipendenza ta’ darba f’Settembru 1963 meta l-Ministru tissellef kien ta’ $8,250. Malta fl-1964 għamlitha ċara li dawk li tax-Xogħol u l-Għajnuna Socjali li kien Fil-politika Maltija dejjem ikun hemm li kisbu ċ-ċittadinanza Awstraljana tilfu dik ukoll inkarigat mill-emigrazzjoni ta’ dak min skemi bħal dawn janalizzawhom Maltija. Kellha tkun battalja ħarxa ta’ iż-żmien (illum mejjet) Dr Alex Cachia minn lenti partiġġjani. The Maltese Her - madwar 35 sena biex il-Gvern Malti reġa’ Zammit kien għamel żjara fl-Awstralja u ald, li dak iż-żmien u tul iktar minn ħam - tagħna lura d-dritt li nistgħu nżommu ż- qalilna li l-Gvern se jaħdem fuq din l- sin sena, kienet tarka u leħen sod żewġ ċittadinanzi. L-Awstralja wkoll iskema. għall-Maltin, appoġġjat din l-iskema ta’ għarfet id-dritt taċ-ċittadinanza doppja. għajnuna. L-akkwist l-ieħor li tassew serva ta’ għa - Meta l-Perit Dom Il-Perit Duminku Mintoff f’ meeting jnuna kien meta fl- 2005 Malta u l-Aw - f’Birzebbuġa kien qal li l-Gvern Nazzjon - stralja aġġornaw ftehim reċiproku biex alista ċċaqqlaq dwar din l-iskema minħabba dawk li jkollhom id-dritt tal-pensjoni- Mintoff żbalja ittra li kien kiteb ir-rappreżentat tal-partit jiet/servizzi soċjali/saħħa jkunu jistghu Mir-rapporti fil-gurnali Maltin ta’ tliet Laburista fl-Awstralja Joseph Forace. jirċevuhom fiż-żewġ pajjiżi fejn ikunu snin wara l-Gvern Nazzjonalista kien F’artiklu li jien kont ktibt f’It-Torca tas- jgħixu. Oriġinarjament, l-ewwel ftehim għadu qed jistudja din l-iskema. In-naħa 27 ta’ Awwissu 1967 intitolat MINTOFF ̉ kien sar fl-1991. Laburista ftit tawha mportanza. ŻBALJA, kont fissirt li l-mexxej Illum irrid infakkar f’akkwist ieħor li ftit F’Novembru tal-1966 fl-ewwel żjara li Laburista kien “qal ħmerija” għax dak li qatt saret fil-kontinent Awstraljan minn kien kiteb Forace kien wara li l-iskema Prim Ministru ta’ Malta, Dr Giorgio Borg TAĦT: Il-Prim Ministru Giorgio Borg kienet diġá bdiet tiġi implimentata. Olivier ħabbar li sehem tal-Gvern Malti Veru li kien hemm ħafna dewmien bejn Olivier jitkellem mal-ġurnalisti meta kien se jkun ta’ £637,500. kien żar l-Awstralja fl-1966 l-ewwel indikazzjonijiet u meta finalment Fl-1967 bdiet taħdem l-iskema iżda kull ringrazz - twaqqfet il- jament għandu jmur fejn kien xieraq. Maltese Dan juri biċ-ċar, li anke ħamsa u tletin Co-Opera - sena ilu, qatt ma bżajna niddefendu l-ver - tive Build - itá fejn jidħlu d-drittijiet u l-bżonnijiet tal- ing Society emigrant Malti fl-Awstralja.

L-ewwel dar li nbniet taħt l-iskema kienet fis-sub - borg ta’ Lalor Victoria. J.J. Tabone jidher mal- familja ta’ Charles Scicluna kif daħlu fid-dar. 10 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020

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

in hu Malti u ma semax b'Ġaħan? Mit-tfulija, f'xi waqt mit-tagħlim tal-lingwa jew il-letteratura Maltija tiġi mo - qrija l-ħrafa ta' Ġaħan u l-bieb (karikatura lemin) , li ĠMtispiċċa taqsam laill-klassi kħollha bid-daħk! Aktarn x jgħaddi minn moħħok meta tismagħha l-ewwel darba “imma kemm trid tkun sempliċi biex ma tifhimx x'riedet tgħidlu ommu lil dan il-karattru tfajjel, meta qaltlu biex jiġbed il-bieb warajh”? Jekk ma tkunx smajtha l-iskola, żgur tisma' dwara fi bnadi oħra, għax hija ċajta popolari meta xi ħadd jgħidlek biex qabel ma titlaq mid-dar, “agħmel bħal Ġaħan”. L-istorja hija ħelwa u ma tixjieħ qatt. Ftit snin ilu kont qed ngħallem il-Malti lil xi studenti, u kont qed nuża ktieb ta' Victor Vella li ma naqasx li kellu dan ir-rakkont 1. Ma nistax ninsa r- reazzjoni tal-istudenti li apprezzawh ma ngħidilkomx kemm, speċjalment waħda bl-isem ta’ Carol li ġieli għadha tfakkarhieli sal-lum. Fil-fatt, dan ir-rakkont huwa biss wieħed minn ħafna rakkonti bbażati fuq il-ħajja u l-filosofija ta' Nasreddin Hodja. Dan kien persunaġġ Tork li għex fis-seklu tlettax, imwieled f'Sivrihisar u miet f'Aksehir, fit-Turkija. Wara perjodu ta' studju, Nasreddin kien sar imam Musulman u wkoll magistrat tal-qorti tax-Xarija. 2 Nasreddin kellu sens ta' umoriżmu, ottimiżmu u sarkażmu, u b'kuraġġ kien jitkellem dwar l-inġustizzji u d-diżonestà. Hemm eluf ta' stejjer u ħrejjef li huma marbutin b'xi mod miegħu, u huwa impossibbli li dawn kollha kienu ntqalu jew inkitbu minnu. Fil-fatt, hemm diversi tradizzjonijiet mibnija madwar dan il-per - sunaġġ. Fil-Mediterran, stejjer marbutin ma' tfajjel sempliċi nsi - buhom fit-Toskana (Giucca), fi Sqallija (Giufà), fil-Kalabrija Nasreddin kien qed jieħu l-għeneb lejn is-suq fuq ħmar. Gruppi (Iogà) u Sardinja (Giafà), bl-istejjer ta' Ġaħan ta' Malta jixbħu l- ta' tfal żgħar talbuh bil-ħniena għall-għeneb, imma hu tahom biss iktar dawk ta' Sqallija. 3 ftit kull wieħed. Għajtulu “kemm inti xħiħ!” “Lanqas xejn” Huwa possibbli li l-karattru ta' Ġaħan wasal Malta meta marru weġibhom. “Qed nagħmel hekk għax l-għeneb kollha l-istess jin - hemmhekk l-Għarab minn Sqallija, jew inkella direttament mid- togħmu. Jekk idduq waħda, tkun taf x'togħma għandhom kollha. dinja Iżlamika li tirreferi għalih bħala Ġoħa, Ġiħa jew Ħoġa. 4 Għalhekk xorta waħda jekk tieħu waħda jew tieħu ħafna.” It-tradizzjoni ta' Nasreddin mhix limitata ġeografikament għar- Tassew, hemm x'titgħallem minn Ġaħan! reġjuni msemmija, imma wkoll f'oħrajn tal-Mediterran bħall- Greċja u l-Albanija, fil-Lvant Nofsani bħall-Persja (Iran), l-Ar- Referenzi menja, l-Ażerbajġan u fost il-Kurdi, u fl-Asja (ir-Russja, iċ-Ċina, 1. Weraq - Kors fl-Ilsien Malti; It-Tieni Ktieb; Victor Vella; 1991; p64 5 2. Malta's Philosophy & Philosophers; Mark Montebello; 2011; p22 l-Indja u l-Indonesja). 3. Ħrejjef ta' Ġaħan u Stejjer Oħra; L-Ewwel Volum; maqlubin bil-Malti B'firxa tant wiesgħa tal-messaġġ u l-ħsieb ta' dan il-bniedem, minn Ġużè Chetcuti mit-Taljan ta' Aldo Farini; Fiabe, Tradizioni e wieħed jista' jifhem kif tradizzjonijiet ta' stejjer tiegħu setgħu Leggende Maltesi; 1997; p137 nbnew u żviluppaw fil-kotra l-kbira li jinsabu llum, u anke kif 4. Ibid., p13 5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasreddin, retrieved 22/9/2020 tradizzonijiet oħra jeżistu ta' minn fejn kien. 6. The exploits of the incomparable Mulla Nasrudin; Idries Shah; 1985; Mhux l-istejjer kollha huma ta' wieħed sempliċi jew iblah. p60; available at https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780863040405/page/60/ Ikkunsidraw din l-istorja qasira, li fiha daqsxejn għaqal: 6 mode/2up A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese

website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au Tel (02) 9622 7799 Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell blacktown@breakaway- Streets, Blacktown NSW travel.com.au ..... for all your travel needs. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 11 Is-Surmast Ġużeppi Azzopardi Kompożitur tal-imgħoddi b’marċi mill-aqwa ost id-drawwiet fil-festi tradizzjonali fl-irħula u l-ib - liet, Maltin hemm il-baned li fihom jispikkaw ċerti marċi, ġieli miktuba għall-okkażjoni minn surmastri - jiet bravi. Fost il-marċi hemm wieħed li ‘jitkanta’ minn Fkulħadd u kullimkien f’Malta, (l-aktar miż-żgħażagħ). Dan isir kemm waqt il-festi kif ukoll f’attivitajiet politiċi, okkażjonijiet oħra festivi, u anke sportivi. Dan huwa kom - pożizzjoni tas-Surmast Rabti Ġużeppi Azzopardi. S’issa dan il-marċ li wkoll huma midħla sew tiegħu l-ko - munitajiet Maltin li jgħixu barra, għadu mingħajr lirika. Min ‘ikantah’ kull ma jgħid hu biss, ‘ta - tata - ta - tiiiiiiii … PeterPaul Ciantar raaaaaaa’ … u jkompli. Li jiddispjaċini li ħafna ma jafux li dan il-marċ għandu l- isem Coronation . Is-surmast Az - l-baned Maltin li qed idoqqu zopardi li kitbu qatt ma kien marċi ta’ Azzopardi. jidderieġi baned ta’ każini, għal- Azzopardi ikkompona l-marċ kemm kien midhla sewwa tal- Coronation fl-okkażjoni tal-Inku - banda Konti Ruġġieru tar-Rabat. runazzjoni tar-Reġina Eliżabetta Fir-Rabat dan is-surmast kien II. Dan fil-fatt hu wieħed minn magħruf bħala ‘Ġużeppi ż-Żnaj’. għadd ta’ marċi Imperjalisti oħra Kien jaf idoqq ħafna l-pjanu, u l- tas-surmast. Fost l-oħrajn hemm marċi tiegħu kien jiktibhom fuq ukoll dak imsejjaħ Prince Charles , il-pjanu li kien l-għajxien tiegħu u Welcome the Royal Family , u ta’ familtu. Xogħlu kien li jdoqq Golden Eagle . il-pjanu f’wieħed mill-klabbijiet Huwa kiteb ukoll xi marċi, fil-belt Valletta, u li jgħallem il- uħud funebri għall-banda La pjanu. Kellu wkoll orkestrina. Valette, li kien ukoll midħla Mill-ewwel sirt midħla tal-marċi tagħha, bejn għax għamel żmien tiegħu għax il-banda Konti Ruġ- joqgħod il-Belt (ommu Beltija) u ġieru (li kont nifforma parti min- bejn għax kien Pawlin sa mit- nha) dejjem iddoqq marċi tiegħu, tnissil tiegħu. u bis-saħħa t’hekk sirt naf ħafna Ġużeppi twieled ir-Rabat, il-kbir mill-marċi li kkompona. fost tmien ulied, fit-8 ta’ Marzu, Niftakar pereżempju l-marċ 1908. Missieru, li kien ukoll ban - tiegħu fuq stil ta’mużika Ciniża, dist mal-banda Konti Ruġġieru, PIU in Chun King , li ġie msemmi kien l-ewwel għalliem tiegħu fil- għal mużiċista tal-banda Rabtija li mużika. Wara kompla mas-Sur - kien magħruf bħala l-PIU u li fl- mast Giuseppe Vitaliti li wkoll aħħar spiċċa l-katubier tal-banda. kien is-surmast tal-istess banda. PIU in Chun King huwa marċ Il-kompożitur ħareg idoqq mal- tassew sabiħ u differenti minn banda Konti Ruġġieru u kkom - oħrajn, kif fil-fatt huma l-marċi pona l-ewwel marċ tiegħu meta kollha ta’ Azzopardi. kien għad kellu biss 16-il sena. Qed ngħid differenti għax għan- Minħabba u l-ħila tiegħu fid- du marċi bi stil Spanjol (bħal, daqq tal-pjani, ta’ żagħżugħ, mar Arena , Eviva Grande Spagna u jistudja l-pjanu u t-teorija l-In - oħrajn); dawk bi stil Naplitan gilterra. Ma tantx dam hemm (bħal, Napoli, Vesuvio u aktar); bi stil Ċiniż, bħal Chinese Rose ; għax qalbu kienet taħarqu għar-Rabat. Fil-karriera tiegħu bi stil Għarbi l- Arabian Night, Cairo u aktar. Għandu wkoll mar ukoll jgħix l-Amerika fejn ikkompona l-marċ New York marċi sud-Amerikani bħal Carnival di Rio jew il-famuż City ! Fil-fatt is-Surmast Azzopardi miet l-Amerika, fit-18 ta’ Christopher Columbus (ukoll wieħed mill-aqwa tiegħu). Diċembru, 1968 meta kellu kważi 60 sena. Kollha kemm huma ġew miktuba bis-sens, għax qabel jik - teb il-marċi Azzopardi kien jagħmel studju profond tar- Agostina l-Ballerina’ ritmi tal-pajjiżi li kien jassoċċja magħhom il-marċi. Wara Għandi ammirazzjoni kbira lejn il-marċi ta’ Azzopardi, kien kapaċi jsarraf dawn ir-ritmi b’melodiji f’posthom u imma x-xewqa tiegħi hija li nisma’ l-mużika tal-għadd ta’ fl-istess ħin festivi. Mhix ċajta! vodvilli li kkompona. Kien anke ikkompona l-mużika tal- Niftakar lill-ħabib tiegħi (illum mejjet) Pawlu Tonna Ta’ operetta f’żewġ atti bl-isem Agostina l-Ballerina , bi kliem ta’ Santu, li dejjem kien jifforma parti mill-kumitat tal-banda Carmelo Azzopardi, li jiġi zijuh stess. Konti Ruġġieru, jgħidli li fl-arkivju mużikali tas-soċjetà Din l-operetta ttellgħet għall-ewwel darba f’Jannar, tal- tagħhom għandhom ħafna marċi ta’ Azzopardi. Bħal ħafna 1953 fit-teatru li kellu l-każin Konti Ruġġeru u ġiet eseg - soċjetajiet mużikali oħra, dawn ma tantx iħobbu jsellfu par - wita mill-Għaqda Drammatika Golden Rose . tituri mużikali. Darba kien ċempilli xi ħadd mill-Kultura u ssuġġerejtlu Il-marċ ‘Coronation’ din l-operetta. Kien jaf sewwa bil-marċi ta’ Azzopardi għax hu wkoll dilettant tal-baned Maltin. Jidher li s-suġġeriment Il-marċi Coronation u Columbus ħarġu baxx baxx u spiċċaw għoġbu. Iżda x’ġara eżatt wara ma nafx, biss jidher li ma għand il-baned kważi kollha ta’ Malta. Illum ħafna huma sar xejn! 12 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 Roundup of News About Malta European migration pact proposes flexible solidarity t a meeting last Wednes - However, some East European day the European Com - states, particularly Hungary and mission unveiled a new Poland, are strongly opposing re - Apact on Migration and Asylum location mechanisms. that includes mandatory solidar - The Commission pointed out the ity on migration that Malta and need for countries to help stabilise Italy in particular, have long in - the overall system by supporting sisted on. The pact has still to be other states ensure the EU fulfils approved by the Council and the its humanitarian obligations “in European Parliament. times of stress”. The new pact announced by It suggests a system ranging from Commission President Ursula the relocation of asylum seekers von der Leyen reflects a just and from the country of first entry to reasonable balance between re - taking over responsibility for re - sponsibility and also solidarity turning individuals with no right to among member states and puts stay, or various forms of opera - an obligation on them to show tional support. solidarity in times of crisis. It ar - The new pact also deals with the gues for a flexible system of the management of the EU’s external EU Commission President Ursula contribution that relies on the borders by proposing streamlined von der Leyen announcing the pact willingness of member states. procedures on asylum and return. For the first time, the proposed in - tegrated border procedure will in - clude a pre-entry screening cover- ing identification of all people Malta commemorates 56th crossing the EU's external borders without permission or having been disembarked after a search and res - Anniversary of Independence cue operation. he COVID-19 pandemic did not preclude Malta from President of Malta, George This will also entail health and a commemorating the 56th Anniversary of its Independ - Vella laying flowers on the security check, fingerprinting and eTnce on September 21. One of the island’s five National Malta Independent monument registration in the Eurodac data - Days that reminds one of the birth of Malta base after which individuals can be as an independent and sovereign state after channelled to the right procedure. centuries of foreign rule was still celebrated Swift decisions will then be made with some pomp by the high authorities in on whether asylum should be the morning, but popular events normally granted or if the individual should organised by the National Festivities Com - be returned. mittee had to be abandoned. The Commission is calling for an The Malta Armed Forces were an integral effective return policy and an EU- part of the celebrations with the usual band coordinated approach to returns of marches in the streets of Valletta. They those migrants who are not eligible also formed a Guard of Honour to greet for protection, and in the hope of Prime Minister Robert Abela and President addressing migrant smuggling, George Vella, who, after the national also proposes “mutually beneficial salute, inspected the Guard of Honour. partnerships with key third coun - A Pontifical Mass at St. John’s Co-Cathe - tries of origin and transit”. dral celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Ursula von der Leyen said that Scicluna and attended by the country’s the commission has set out to re - highest authorities followed. A homily by store the citizens’ confidence in the Archbishop that reflected on seven their capacity to manage migration principles in the Church’s social teaching as a Union. was the main focus and the ceremony “It is now time to rise to the chal - ended with the singing of the Te Deum. lenge to manage migration jointly, At the end of the church service, Presi - with the right balance between sol - dent George Vella, Prime Minister Robert idarity and responsibility,” Von der Abela and the Leader of the Opposition Leyen said. Adrian Delia met in Floriana where they She said the proposals would se - paid tribute to an Independent Malta by cure permanent and consistent sol - placing bouquets of flowers on the monu - idarity for a member state, and that ment marking the event on September 21, "The proposals will focus on not if 1964, that marks the day when Malta member states will contribute, but ended 150 years of British rule. how they can contribute." Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 13 Roundup of News About Malta The Maltese Public Service ranks first for e-government in Europe Malta has once again classified in first shores. public trust in governmental services, are place among 36 countries that include all The Public Service obtained 100% of the being reflected in a number of sectors, in - the EU member states, as well as Iceland, possible points when it comes to technical cluding the Police Corps and the Armed Norway, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzer - elements considered important for the de - Forces. land, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, for livery of online government services. the online public services that it provides. In 2014, the Public Service embarked on Malta classified first in all the criteria its renewal with aimed at delivering better upon which this exercise – called e-gov - services to the people, with its first vision ernment benchmarking –is based, and being that of 24/7 accessibility. This im - which is done each year by the European plementation resulted in the setting up of Commission. servizz.gov, an agency through which the It classified in top place in the quality and government delivers its services. design of the service itself, as well the ease Over the past five years a €150 million with which its clients can use it. Maltese investment in technology has been made. online services attained 99% of the possi - Another €40 million are being invested in ble points, which is 12.5 percentile points projects that are currently underway. higher than the European Union average. Meanwhile, during The Public Service It is also best in the transparency adopted Week 2020 held last week, with the theme in the services provided, and the accessi - ‘Public Service Always At Hand’, afer vis - bility of online services, even when citi - iting a number of work places, Principal zens are far away from their country, with Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said 87% of the possible points, as well as 89% that the strong investment in technology of the possible points when it comes to ac - that has taken place in recent years in the cessibility for businesses beyond Malta's Public Service, as well as the sharp leap in Malta ratifies the Treaty on the Napoleon’s 1798 letter Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons eritage Malta has added another jewel inister for Foreign and European Af - niversary Independence Day. to its national collection by purchas - fairs Evarist Bartolo signed the In - This development follows rapidly on Hing a letter with orders by Napoleon Bona - sMtrument of Ratification for the Treaty on Malta’s signing of the treaty on August 24 parte to General Desaix to start planning the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons last, whereby the island became the 84th the invasion of Malta in 1798. (TPNW) that was deposited at the United UN member state to sign the Treaty on the The letter that sheds light on Napoleon’s Nations in New York on September 21 by Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. strategic mind when he instructed his gen - Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, Permanent The treaty has the ambition to achieve a eral to invade the Maltese islands was Representative of Malta to the UN at a world free of nuclear weapons that is also a bought at a Sotheby’s auction for €60,000. time when the United Nations was com - guiding principle of Malta’s memorating its 75th Anniversary of its foreign policy. foundation, and the International Day of The ratification of this treaty Joseph Calleja in an online Peace. stands in testimony to In so doing, Malta becomes one of the Malta’s unwavering commit - performnce October 24/25 first 50 states to ratify the treaty, which is ment to nuclear non-prolifer - s the Metropolitan be one of a series to be the minimum number of signatures and ation and global disarmament Theatre in New York co-produced by Joseph’s ratifications required for the treaty to enter that remain crucial to secur - iAs closed because of the agent. He will be joined into force. The ratification occurred as ing a safer future for all and COVID-19 pandemic, by soprano Diana Dam - Malta was commemorating the 56th An - for future generations. one of Malta’s biggest rau. This outstanding so - celebrities, tenor Joseph prano-tenor pairing will Calleja who was selected present a programme of CCF’s telethon collects over €1 million to serve as the island’s popular arias and duets. total of €1,010,985 were col - duced to curb the spread of the virus, first cultural ambassador They will sing live ac - lected during a 12-hour annual fund raising events that used in 2012, will be perform - companied by piano. tAelethon, 'Għinuna Ngħinukom' to help fill up the national charity ing online in an exclusive The performance will be (Help us to help you), organised by fund's coffers had to be cancelled, 60-minute programme on aired at 1pm New York The Malta Community Chest Fund depriving the MCCFF of valuable October 24. This will be time, and 7pm European Foundation that was transmitted on funds to support those in need. a special ‘Pay Per View’ time. The time in Sydney all the local television stations, in a At the end of the telethon, Presi - Celebrity Recital at St will be 4am on Sunday bid to compensate for the shortfall dent of Malta George Vella and Mrs John’s, the island’s 16th- 25th of October. It can be in donations due to the COVID-19 Vella thanked the Maltese people century Co-Cathedral. watched live for the price pandemic. for being so big-hearted, as well as The performance will of $20.00. As a result of the restrictions intro - the team that organised the event. 14 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020

Jiġu milquta l-anzjani Il-migranti fortunatament, filwaqt li matul l-ewwel xhur, - sinħadju akilf ttħabb’a rt lai lm-Unja oni Malta rnexxielha tik- Ewropeja waslet biex tpoġġi Skontrolla tajjeb il-imxija tal- għall-approvazzjoni tal-pajjiżi koronavirus, tant li kien msieħba proposta dwar il-problema tal- hemm żmien meta lanqas G kellna każ wieħed, fl-aħħar immigrazzjoni, li fost kollox se tagħmilha obbligatorja li l-membri xhur l-għadd żdied sewwa. kollha jerfgħu parti mill-piż tal-prob - Biex taqgħad perċentwal lema billi jieħdu għadd ta’ immigranti li għoli minn dawk effetwati jkunu daħlu f’pajjiżi oħra tal-UE. Dawk huma anzjani, l-aktar nies li ma jaċċettawx li jieħdu l-immigranti vulnerabbli, u dan irriżulta jridu jħallsu biex ipattu għal dan. fl-għadd ta’ mwiet ta’ nies Naħseb ħafna bħali jemmnu li hawn effetwati minn dan il-virus f’din il-pandemija li spara hu l-iżball: li xorta se titħalla toqba biex ‘l-fuq. Sat-Tnejn l-imwiet membri ma jaċċettawx immigranti f’pa - kienu telgħu għal 32. jjiżhom għax ikunu lesti jħallsu biex qed tinsisti li qed jinżamm mawhom minnufih kif Jidher li l-maġġoranza tal- kuntatt mal-qraba u jinfu - jirċievu r-riżultati. jżommuhom bogħod minn pajjiżhom. anzjani milquta u li tilfu ħa - Imma l-flus ma jsolvux il-problema ta’ jjithom ġejjin minn erbat’ pajjiżi bħala Malta, li mhix tfittex il-flus idjar privati tal-anzjani, par - Il-ftuħ tal-iskejjel pospost b’ġimgħa imma li ma tibqax taċċetta immigranti tikularment minn dik ta’ San aktar milli tiflaħ. Ġużepp fil-Fgura, fejn skont adanittant saret u qed 9,000 edukatur mhux se jib - Għalkemm veru, kif qal il-Ministru tal- l-aħħar figuri minn 278 res - issir diskussjoni qawwija dew fl-istess jum. Affarijiet Barranin u Ewropew, Evarist ident, 113-il anzjan irriżultaw dSwar il-ftuħ tal-iskejjel li L-edukaturi bdew jidħlu fl- Bartolo, dan huwa “bidu tajjeb” biex pożittivi għall-Covid-19. kellhom jinfetħu l-bieraħ it- iskejjel mill-bieraħ it-Tnejn forsi tissolva l-problema, imma xorta It-tajjeb li skont it-tmexxija Tnejn 28 ta’ Settembru, wara filwaqt li l-istudenti se jidħlu għadna ferm bogħod mis-soluzzjoni. tad-dar, il-maġġoranza tal- li saru ħafna aranġamenti ta’ fl-iskejjel fi gruppi differenti Sadanittant il-Prim Ministru ħabbar li anzjani bil-virus m’għand - sigurtá. L-Unjons tal-għal - mis-7 ta’ Ottubru sal-14 ta’ dis-sena f’Awwissu kellna żewġ terzi homx sintomi. Ma dawn liema kienu qed jgħidu li Ottubru, biex b’hekk il-prat - inqas ta’ wasliet ta’ immigranti irrego - hemm ukoll 29 fost il-ħad - minħabba l-għadd għoli ta’ tiċi l-ġodda ta’ protokoll lari meta mqabbel mas-sena l-oħra. Qal diema tar-residenza li wkoll infezzjonijiet, l-iskejjel aħjar jilħqu jindraw bil-mod il- kif l-obbligu li jkunu salvati l-ħajjiet laqtu l-virus. jiftħu aktar tard. mod. B’danakollu sal-14 ta’ qatt ma ġie abbandunat iżda hemm Għalkemm il-maniġer tal- Xi ġenituri wkoll kienu qed Ottubru l-iskejjel, kemm nuqqas kbir ta’ solidarjetà mill-istati kumpless jinsisti li s-sitwaz - juru t-tħassib tagħhom dwar statali, tal-Knisja u privati membri tal-Unjoni Ewropeja. zjoni hi taħt kontroll, xi jekk għandhomx jibagħtu Jridu jkunu bdew kollha. Stqarr li mhux se jkun qed jaċċetta li wħud minn dawk li għand - lill-uliedhom l-iskola jew le. F’dawn iċ-ċirkustanzi ġew dan il-piż jerfgħuh il-Maltin u l- hom qraba f’din id-dar sost - Għalhekk nhar il-Ġimgħa ukoll sospiżi r-regolament Għawdxin biss. Sostna li Malta llum new li r-riżultati kienu qed l-awtoritajiet ħabbru li issos- tal-attendenza ta’ bilfors. Il- hija mimlija u ma tistax tieħu iżjed im - jinżammu mistura mill-ist - pendew il-ftuħ b’ġimgħa u l- ġenituri se jkollom l-għażla migranti. Spjega kif huwa surreali li ess qraba. Ir-Residenza iżda 55,000 student u studenta u jekk jibagħtux lil uliedhom għandek il-kandidat tal-establishment l-iskola jew le. Sadanittant għal kap tal-Partit Nazzjonalista li qed għal dawk li jibqgħu d-dar jgħidl li Malta mhux veru full-up. Abela se jsiru lezzjonijiet online. insista li l-prinċipju se jibqa’ n-nuqqas Il-Prim Ministru qal li hu ta’ wasliet. akbar ta’ dannu minn tal-ko - Qal li problema ewlenija hija li għan - ronavirus għat-tfal meta ma dek ġemgħat kriminali li qed jittraf - jintbagħtux l-iskola . fikaw l-umani, u stqarr li l-Libja trid tiġi Hi sitwazzjoni xi ftit diffiċli mgħejjuna tirranġa s-sitwazzjoni għal min imexxi l-qasam tal- preżenti. edukazzjoni u l-iskejjel. Sar Nistennew u naraw x’se jiġri. risk assessment u l-iskejjel (Ara wkoll paġna 12 dwar il-patt pro - kollha jinsabu konformi mal- post mill-Kummissjoni Ewropeja). protokolli tas-saħħa

mara jew tfajla. “Il-messaġġ hu ċar, l-ebda mara Il-karea limbell ali l“-mQembaruħ pbarlam”en tmari Lhabiuxris taa uċ Sċeegrtetaarju bbli m’għandha taċċetta dan it-tip ta’ ling - Parlamentari għall-Ugwaljanza Rosianne Cutajar, fetħet waġġ," sostniet Cutajar (stampa fuq il-lemin). kWontra Godfrey Leone Ganado u Rachel Williams, li offendewha “Kull min jafni jaf li naċċetta kull tip ta’ kritika meta fuq Facebook Leone Ganado għajjarha qaħba, il-Qorti għax għandi rwol politiku. Ejja niddibattu, ejja Maltija iddeċidiet li l-kelma “qaħba” mhix aċċettabbli. ma naqblux iżda ejja ma niddeġenerawx f’ling - F'kumment fuq il-paġna ta' Facebook tagħha, Cutajar sostniet li waġġ sessist ta’ din it-tip jekk verament irridu l-Qorti qalet li dan mhux aċċettabli fil-konfront ta' kwalunkwe iżjed nisa fil-politika,"”saħqet Rosianne Cutajar. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 15

akemm taqraw dan l-artiklu tkun diġà għandu jħallas ammont konsiderevoli ta’ bdiet il-votazzjoni għall-elezzjoni tal- taxxa - li hu jgħid li dan il-ħlas ma sarx Mexxej tal-Partit Nazzjonalista li se minħabba li hemm kwestjoni li għandha x’ - Ninsabu Stkun mifruxa fuq ħamest ijiem, sat-3 ta’ Ot - taqsam mas-separazzjoni tiegħu minn mal- tubru. mara li għadha ma ġietx solvuta u kompla. Sintendi bħalissa l-kampanja elettorali taż- Qal: “Qatt ma kelli issues ta’ evażjoni ta’ fl-elezzjoni żewġ kandidati tinsab fl-aqwa tagħha, biż- taxxa. Qatt ma kelli issues illi t-taxxa tiegħi żewġ kandidati jiffukaw ħafna fuq l-għaqda ma ddikjarajtihex kollha.” fil-partit, li f’dawn l-aħħar snin kienet imx - Din kienet botta fina lejn ir-rival tiegħu ellfa sewwa. Imma xorta ma naqsux il-bati - Bernard Grech li, skont rapport ta’ The għal kap bekki, ħafna drabi ndiretti, bejn iż-żewġ Times, sentejn ilu kien ġie mistħarreġ dwar kandidati. dħul mhux iddikjarat lill-awtoritajiet tat- Ma naqsitx ir-referenza għan-nuqqasijiet Taxxi fuq diversi snin. tal-Partit fil-konfront tal-ħlas tat-taxxi taż-żewġ kan - Huma kummenti li ma tantx jawguraw taj - didati, fejn il-midja (mhux dik tal-Partit jeb biex ikun hemm l-għaqda fil-PN li l-ist - Nazzjonalista Laburista) kompliet tikxef li Delia għad ess żewġ kandidati qed jippridkaw dwarha. Arrestat Keith Schembri ħbar li ddominat l-midja lokali fl- persuni arrestati jinsabu fuq police bail għal aħħar jiem kien l-arrest ta’ Keith perjodu ta’ tliet xhur li jista’ jiġi estiż. Schembri, l-eks Kap tal-Istaff fl-Uf - Sintendi dan wassal għal reazzjoni qaw- Afiċċju tal-eks Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat. wija, l-aktar mill-Partit Nazzjonalista u Għalkemm dan issemma’ ħafna fl-inkjesta iżjed minn dawk qrib Busuttil, bid-deputat u fil-kumpilazzjoni dwar il-qtil ta’ Daphne tal-PN Jason Azzopardi jgħid li dak li qed Caruana Galizia, l-arrest tiegħu ma kienx jiġri hu bis-saħħa tal-pass li Busuttil u hu b’konnessjoni ma’ dan il-każ, imma dwar ħadu, f’April u Mejju 2017. allegat tixħim konness mal-iskema ta’ ċit - Qal: “Kemm għajjruna, insulentawna, hed - tadinanza b’investiment, jew dik li ħafna dewna u iżolawna. Riedu jiskreditawna, el - jirreferu għaliha bħala l-bejgħ tal-pass - ementi korrotti fiż-żewġ partiti u lil hinn, aporti. biex mingħalihom jaqtgħu qalb Simon, lili u Zmien ilu l-eks-Mexxej tal-Partit Naz - lil David Casa, lill-familja Caruana Galizia, zjonalista, Simon Busuttil, kien talab li ssir lil deputati oħrajn, lis-soċjetà ċivili li qatt ma Keith Schembri inkjesta dwar allegazzjoni ta’ tixħim li fiha waqfet tgħajjat għall-ġustizzja u l-verità,” hemm il-ħsieb li proġetti nvoluti jiġu allegatamet kienu nvoluti Keith Schembri Kif kien mistenni, il-ġurnalisti ma naqsux mħassra, Dr. Abela saħaq li l-proġetti li u Brian Tonna li jmexxi l-kumpannija li jiffaċċjaw lill-Prim Ministru dwar dawn l- servew ta’ ġid għall-pajjiż fosthom il-pro - Nexia BT li, fost kollox, kellha l-liċenzja avvenimenti u talbu r-reazzjoni tiegħu, bil- gramm ta’ ċittadinanza b’investiment biex tressaq barranin li jkunu interessati li Prim Ministru jwieġeb li dak li qed jiġri juri m’għandhomx jitwaqqfu minħabba indi - japplikaw għal din l-iskema. biċ-ċar li l-istituzzjonijiet ta’ pajjiżna qed vidwi “għaliex ilkoll nafu li mingħajr dawn Ir-rapport tal-inkjesta ħareġ dan l-aħħar u jaħdmu b’mod robust u ħadd ma jista’ jikkri - il-proġetti, pajjiżna ma kienx jista’ jwieżen qala furur sħiħ billi l-Avukat Ġenerali, li tika l-istituzzjonijiet li għandhom xi indħil lill-familji u n-negozji matul l-imxija tal- għadha kif inħatret, irrifjutat li tippubblika jew li qed jiġu influwenzati minn xi ħadd. coronavirus,” qal. r-rapport jew li tati kopja lil Busuttil. Mistoqsi jekk wara dak li seħħ kienx Għad irirdu nisimgħu aktar dwar dan. Attwalment, bil-liġi l-Avukat Ġenerali m'għandha l-ebda obbligu li tippubblika r- rapport, għalkemm jistgħu jiġu mitluba biex jiġu ppreżentati lill-qorti dawk il-par - tijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma akkużati meta jitressqu xi mixlija b’xi reat li joħroġ mir-rapport. Iżda ftit jiem wara l-Avukat Ġenerali xorta ħadet azzjoni dwar ir-rapport billi talbet lill- qorti tiffriża l-assi ta’ Schembri u Tonna, tal-kumpanniji mdaħħla fihom u anke xi familjari. Attwalment ġew iffriżati l-assi ta’ “Let Our Family madwar 91 kumpannija u persuni. Sadanittant, aktar tard il-Pulizija arrestaw Richard Spiteri Castle Hill Help You Through” wkoll lil Schembri u Tonna, u fil-fatt il- 0407 202 167 Seven Hills – Kummissarju tal-Pulizija svela li pulizija (02) 9659 0900 Windsor and Ħalli l-familja arrestaw erba’ min-nies u ġew elevati xi all suburbs dokumenti minn diversi postijiet fejn saru tagħna tgħin lill- tfittxijiet. familja tiegħek Qal ukoll li għadu għaddej l-istħarriġ dwar allegazzjonijiet ta’ korruzzjoni, u li l-erba’ 16 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020

New technology roadmap he federal govern - plan will ensure Australia ment's technology can cut emissions while en - roadmap aiming to suring economic prosperity. Tsteer the nation's transition to “The only pathway to global reducing carbon emissions emissions reduction while has earmarked five priority strengthening prosperity is technologies for investment, through developing low- with "clean" hydrogen, en - emissions technologies at ergy storage, "low carbon" lower costs than higher emit - steel and aluminium, carbon ting alternatives,” he said. capture and storage and soil The federal government carbon to be prioritised. said it expected to invest Mr Taylor fronted the Na - more than $18 billion in new tional Press Club to unveil energy technologies over the the roadmap, arguing the next ten years. Should elders pay more for aged care? n a submission to the aged care royal commission, Federal Treas - Another option for the vaccine ury calls for older Australians to contribute more of their own fIunds to their aged care, whether in-home or in a nursing home. ustralia is now at the front of the queue to access coron - The commission asked Treasury for its views on how the nation's avirus vaccines, when they become available, after joining fast-growing aged-care bill should be paid, including whether the Aa global pool backed by the World Health Organisation. full value of a home should be included in the current means test The COVID-19 facility known as COVAX gives Australia (presently it is limited to $170,000) to determine government- access to a large portfolio of vaccine candidates and manu - funded costs in nursing homes. facturers across the world. Including the family home in means-testing for aged care has Australia has committed an initial $123.2 million to be part long been favoured by policy analysts, but remains a heated polit - of the facility's purchasing mechanism, making it eligible to ical issue. Many older Australians have an emotional connection receive offers to buy vaccines when they become available. to their home and don't see it as simply an asset similar to shares US and China absent from WHO's global coronavirus vac - and superannuation. cine distribution plan The Treasury submission also called for greater levels of indi - This opens up supply options in addition to Australia's cur - vidual contribution to aged care. rent vaccine supply agreements with Oxford University/As - traZeneca and the University of Queensland/CSL. Permanent Archibald Prize Migration goes indigenous or almost a century, an In - is down digenous artist has never ustralia's permanent migration wFon any of the prizes on offer intake has fallen to its lowest in the prestigious Archibald lAevel in at least ten years as the coro - Prize, until now. navirus pandemic causes visa pro - Western Australian born, cessing delays and major disruptions Sydney based artist, writer and to international travel. New figures actor Wongutha-Yamatji, was reveal the number of permanent visa awarded the 2020 Archi-bald Packing Room Prize - a cash approvals reached 140,366 in the prize of $1,500 - for his self- 2019/20 financial year to June 30. portrait, Meyne. The number of approvals falls well The Packing Room Prize is below the Government's planning awarded to best entry judged ceiling of 160,000 and is down by the Art Gallery of New from the 10-year average of South Wales staff who receive, 175,000 permanent visas each year. unpack and hang the entries. By comparison, there were some hon while trying to Artist and Western Arrernte 160,000 permanent visas issued in Parked the wrong way park. Luckily, there man Vincent Namatjira be - the last financial year before the woman accidentally was no-one in the office came the first aboriginal artist coronavirus pandemic. The perma - crashed her car into the waiting room at the time. in the 99 year history to win nent migration intake covers skilled HAamilton Road Fairfield Chris Bowen was Federal the Archibald Prize ($100,000 migration pathways, family migra - NSW office of Shadow Treasurer when Labor were prize), for his portrait of In - tion pathways, and a small number Health Minister Chris in power. His wife Rebecca digenous footballer and com - of special eligibility visas. Bowen, member for McMa - is of Maltese descent. munity leader Adam Goodes. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 17

Ban on last rites Bishops call for ethical he Victo - rian Gov - eTrnment has banned faith development of vaccine leaders from rchbishop Peter deriving from abortion. The bishops accept A. Comensoli the that the use of an ethically compromised visiting patients chair of the Bish - vaccine is acceptable if no other option is at home, in a ops Commission for available, in order to protect lives.” hospital or a A care facility “for Life, Family and Public The federal Government has announced Engagement met federal agreements with two groups working on a last rites or to Health Minister Greg vaccine at this stage. These are the Oxford perform other Hunt earlier this month University AstraZeneca (AZD1222) and religious cere - to discuss and urge the the University of Queensland/CSL Limited monies in per - provision of "ethical un - (V451) vaccine projects. son”. controversial" COVID- Archbishop Comensoli said while the Ox - The rules also Archbishop state that, “last rites … can be provided Comensoli 19 vaccines. ford vaccine is being developed using “The development of a vaccine is vital in aborted foetal cell lines, “it is our under - using video or live streaming”. order to save human lives and bring the standing that the V451 project does not use That is impossible, Mons: Charles pandemic to an end. Nevertheless we have cell lines taken from an aborted child but Portelli (above) , parish priest of St Mary to be mindful of how vaccines are devel - uses a human ovarian cell line. For this rea - of the Assumption Parish, Keilor Downs oped and discourage research that fails to son, it appears to be an ethically acceptable – a COVID-19 hotspot, said, adding that respect the dignity of unborn human life,” option.” providing the sacraments to the dying was Archbishop Comensoli said It is the first statement from the Australian one of a priest's most serious obligations, “That is why Catholic bishops around the Catholic Bishops Conference on the and it can only be done in person. world are advocating for ethical develop - COVID-19 vaccine issue, following Syd - Mons. Portelli said the Andrews Govern - ment of vaccines.” ney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP's ear - ment's restriction on administering the last He said where there is a choice, “we en - lier public statements raising concerns rites, especially during a pandemic in which courage people to use a vaccine that has not about the use of aborted foetal cell lines in more than 700 Victorians had died, was an been developed using human foetal cells the development of vaccines. attack on “the free practice of religion”.

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Michelle Rowland MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY Level 1, Suite 101C, 130 Main Street, Blacktown PO Box 8525, Blacktown NSW 2148 (02) 9671 4780 [email protected] MRowlandMP www.michellerowland.com.au

Authorised by Michelle Rowland MP, Australian Labor Party, Suite 101C Lrvel 1, 130 Main Stret, Blacktown NSW 2148 18 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020

Tagħrif dwar il-kitba Maltija u dawk li matul

Fiils-ħa-rġsa eNrku 2l03i (7 ħMeajju d201m9) taul-m aggaħzinae Tlhel V-oiiceżvseniteljnu wparap, fli mtkiaen lm-al-iPlrosfesisuer Gnod frMey Waettilntgei r of the Maltese konna semmejna għall-ewwel darba lil xandruha. Hu kien ukoll devot kbir tal-Madonna tal-Għar Patri Mikiel Fsadni OP bħala dak li fl-1966, wara riċerka u baqa’ magħruf bħala awtur ta’ għadd ta’ kotba, fos - sab il-poeżija ‘Il-Kantilena’ ta’ Pietru Caxaro. Imbagħad thom uħud reliġjużi li baqa’ jissemma għalihom. PATRI MIKIEL FSADNI – awtur u riċerkatur devot tal-Madonna tal-Għar atri Mikiel Fsadni twieled il-Birgu Patri Fsadni kien magħruf ħafna fil-15 ta’ April 1916 minn Joseph u kemm fost sħabu u wkoll barra l- Giovanna née Cassano. Tul ħajtu kunvent għas-snin twal ta’ riċerka bPaqa’ magħruf sew għall-imħabba tiegħu li kien jagħmel dwar il-kunventi lejn din il-belt fil-Kottonera u ddedika li wassluh biex jippubblika għadd ħafna mill-ktibeit tiegħu għaliha. ta’ monografiji dwarhom, fost Wara li ħass is-sejħa għas-saċerdozju, fl- kollox dwar l-iktar tlieta antiki. 1933 daħal bħala novizz fil-Kunvent tad- Ir-riċerka tiegħu wasslitu wkoll Dumnikani tar-Rabat u għamel l-ewwel għas-sejba tal-Kantilena, li sabha professjoni fil-21 ta’ Ottubru tas-sena ta’ waqt li kien qed jirriċerka dwar wara. Sitt snin wara, fil-11 ta’ Ġunju 1939 ħwejjeġ storiċi fl-atti notarili ta’ gie ordnat saċerdot. Brandano de Caxario, miżmuma Għalkemm beda l-professjoni saċerdotali f’reġistru tal-1533 sal-1536. fir-Rabat, ftit wara ittrasferixxa lejn il- Birgu u nfatti fi żmien it-Tieni Gwerra din - Karattru sod u determinat jija kien jgħix mal-komunitá Dumnikana tal-Kunvent tal-Lunzjata hemmhekk. Kien Dan il-patri, magħruf ukoll għall- ukoll fost il-patrijiet li f’Jannar tal-1941 karattru sod u determinat tiegħu li esperjenzaw ħsaa kbira fil-kunvent li kien irid jagħmel kollox perfett, iġġarraf f’attakk tal-għadu fuq il-vapur ma kienx bniedem li jaqta’ qalbu MS Illustrious fil-Port il-Kbir. malajr anke meta kienet qed ton - Minħaba f’hekk il-partijiet kellhom jo- qoslu saħtu lejn tmiem ħajtu. Kien ħorġu minn dan il-kunvent u jevakwaw ukoll devot kbir lejn il-Madonna għal dak fir-Rabat. Huma baqgħu jgħixu tal-Għar u ħadem ħafna biex id- hemm sakemm wara niżlu jaqdu d-dmirijiet devozzjoni lejha tinxtered, kemm tagħhom f’dar f’Birkirkara qabel imbagħad f’Malta kif ukoll barra. irħewla lura lejn il-Birgu, fejn bdew jużaw Minn wara l-inkurunazzjoni parti mill-Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur. solenni tax-xbieha fl-1957 ħadem Kif intemmet il-gwerra Patri Fsadni reġa’ anke għadd kbir ta’ xbihat tal-ġibs ntbagħat iservi fil-Kunvent ta’ Santa Mar - tal-Madonna u santi u kwadri, tagħha. Kien taha għall-kitba kien xtaq li pubblikaz - ija tal-Għar fir-Rabat fejn baqa’ jgħix sa ukoll jiġbor, mingħand il-fidili r-rakkonti zjonijiet tiegħu jkunu mżewqin b’xi ritratti sitt xhur qabel miet fl-etá ta’ 97 sena. L- tagħhom ta’ grazzji li jkunu qalgħu bl-in - li hu stess kien ikun jiġbed u wkoll aħħar sitt xhur qabel il-Mulej sejjaħlu għal terċessjoni tal-Madonna tal-Għar, u ippub - żviluppa. Din il-ħila waslet biex fl-1988 għandu tliet ijiem wara għeluq sninu, fit- blika kotba kemm bil-Malti kif ukoll anke rebaħ l-ewwel premju fil-qasam tas- 18 ta’ April 2013, qattagħhom jirċevi l- bl-Ingliż dwarha. slajds imnedija mill-Ministeru tat-Turiżmu kura f’Villa Messina. Kien l-ixjeħ fost Għalkemm il-mard kien jimpedih milli u s-Soċjetà Fotografika. il-patrijiet li qatt kellha l-provinċja tad- jkun attiv fil-ministeru saċerdotali, Patri Għal xi żmien għen lil San Ġorġ Preca, Dumnikana Maltija. Mikiel kellu wkoll imħabba kbira għall- fundatur tas-Soċjetà tal-M.U.S.E.U.M. fil- ħajja tal-kunvent u tal-komunità. Kien jin - kitba tar-Regola għas-Soċjetà tiegħu, par - teressa ruħu f’kull attività li jkunu hemm tikolarment fit-taqsima dwar it-tmexxija. Għall-attenzjoni tal-qarrejja fil-knisja. Sa-kemm, seta’ baqa’ jingħaqad Ir-riċerki u l-pubblikazzjonijiet tiegħu, mal-patrijiet għat-talb. wassluh jingħata għadd ta’ unuri, fosthom Huwa ħadem ukoll ħafna, għall-iżvilupp fl-1975 meta ngħata l-premju Rothmans Il-qarrejja li jixtiequ juru l- tal-Letteratura u l-Kultura Maltija, b’mod għal-Letteratura. Fl-1990 ingħata l-Mi - fehmiet tagħhom dwar xi speċjali bis-sejba, fl-1966, flimkien mal- dalja tad-Deheb fil-premjijiet letterarji tal- suġġett huma mħeġġa li Professur Godfrey Wettinger, tal-Kan - Gvern ta’ Malta u segwa fis-7 ta’ tilena ta’ Pietru Caxaro. Kien ukoll Settembru 2000 b’Ġieħ il-Birgu. Imma l- ma jħallux għall-aħħar. In- ippubblika r-riċerka li kien għamel dwar akbar unur li rċeva kien bħala Membru tal- dirizzaw l-emails lil malte- wirt arkitettoniku partikolari Malti: il- Ordni tal-Mertu tar-Repubblika ta’ Malta [email protected]. Giren (FSADNI, Mikiel OP: IL-GIRNA, fit-13 ta’ Diċembru 2008. Wirt Arkitettoniku u Etniku Malti, Pub- Patri Mikiel Fsadni baqa’ attiv kif seta’ L-ittri għall-pubblikaz- blikazzjoni Dumnikana, 1990), liema sakemm miet fl-età ta’ 97 sena fit-18 ta’ zjoni indikawhom: Let- xogħol ġie wkoll tradott u ppubblikat fil- April 2013. Il-funeral tiegħu sar jumejn Lingwa Ingliża. wara fil-knisja tal-Madonna tal-Għar fir- ters to the editor. Kien ukoll dilettant tal-fotografija u meta Rabat. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 19 Mark Caruana receives OAM Medal at Government House ight months after being an - appointed to this position in May 2019. nounced by the Governor-Gen - Mark Caruana, who was accompa - eral and Chancellor of the nied for the ceremony by his wife An - OErder, H E General, David Hurley AC toinette and son Adrian described the as one of the 1,099 recipients of the ceremony as memorable and indeed Order of Australia, and among the 549 impressive although interrupted by recipients of the Medal (OAM) on the present health restrictions. occasion of Australia Day 2020 (Janu - Patrick Bartolo OAM, the other mem - ary 26), along with other awardees, ber of the Maltese community in NSW, Mark Caruana OAM has actually re - who also received the OAM on Aus - ceived the medal. tralia Day 2020, attended an earlier It took this long for the presentation ceremony at Government House ac - because the Covid-19 pandemic this year companied by his family. made the ceremonies more restrictive. Mark Caruana OAM, a well-known personality and migration researcher Please Note: and historian from NSW received his medals at Government House Sydney If interested in advertising on last week from the Hon Justice Mar - The Voice of the Maltese maga- garet Beazley QC, AO the 39th Gover - zine in order to reach the widest nor of the State of NSW, who was audience possible, particularly Mark Caruana OAM proudly among the Maltese diaspora is showing his Order of the Aus - requested to write for details to: tralia Medal after the presenta - [email protected] tion Message from Kerryn Tutt, General Manager CatholicCare wants to help Home Care, CatholicCare: during this challenging time e hope that everyone in the Maltese control and will take any precautions neces - Call CCareline on 13 18 19 to speak with community are keeping safe and sary to protect the health and safety of both a friendly and caring team member over Wwell, as the COVID-19 pandemic has been staff and client when visiting your home.” the phone or to arrange for a CatholicCare challenging for many. At CatholicCare, If you would like more information about Home Care Specialist to come and visit our Home Care team is working hard to the options available to you or would like you in your home. provide practical support tailored to the to enquire on behalf of a friend or family [email protected]; needs of seniors. As such, we are particu - member, help is only a phone call away. catholiccare.org larly mindful of seniors in our local com - munity right now. MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW “We are able to assist you in staying in your own home and to be healthy, happy A division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc. and to enjoy life, as we navigate the chal - Established in 1999 lenges ahead together,” said Kerryn Tutt, General Manager, Home Care, Catholic - Care. CatholicCare’s Home Care team will work in partnership with you to provide practical assistance and help you navigate Our trained and experienced teachers are qualified in language teaching the challenges of the in-home aged care and have Maltese study credentials. system in order to meet your individual Classes available for students from 6 yrs to adults at all levels of ability in needs during COVID-19, so that you can the Maltese language. remain independent and feel supported. Classes are held at Horsley Park Public School Ms Tutt added that as our community be - Saturday mornings 9.00 – 11.15 am. gins to venture back to normal life, she wants to assure you that CatholicCare sen - New students are welcome . iors services will not be relaxing any of We offer on site and online classes our high standards. For more information email: [email protected] “Our Home Care staff and clinical care team remain vigilant about their infection Mobile: 0416 119 100 The Voice of the Maltese is not just a news portal; We believe in freedom of expression and also fight for your rights. We are read in the right places. 20 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 L-Isqof Mario Grech issa uffiċjament maħtur Segretarju tas-Sinodu tal-Isqfijiet l-QT il-Papa Franġisku, nhar it-Tlieta 15 ta’ Settembru ħatar uffiċjalment lill-Mons. Mario Grech, Isqof emeritu tIa’ Għawdex, bħala Segretarju Ġenerali tas-Sinodu tal-Isqfijiet biex jieħu post il- Kardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri. Tal-aħħar serva f’din il-kariga sa mill-21 ta’ Settembru 2013. F’dan iż-żmien saru erba’ Sinodi, li fi tlieta minnhom ħa sehem ukoll l-lsqof Grech bħala Isqof ta’ Għawdex u President tal-Konferenza Episkopali Maltija. Mons. Grech esprima gratitudni u ammi - dinal Baldisseri, u fisser ix-xewqa L-isqof emeritu Mario Grech (it-tieni mil- razzjoni lejn il- predeċessur tiegħu l-Kar - tiegħu li jimxi fil-passi tiegħu. lemin) flimkien mal-Papa u dinjitarji fil-Vatikan Jagħlaq l-Istaġun t al-Festi -istaġun tal-festi f’Għawdex għalaq il-Ħadd 20 ta’ Settembru, bil-festa Lb’ġieħ u qima lill-Madonna tal-Grazzja, meqjuma fis-Santwarju tal-Patrijiet Fran-ġiskani Kappuċċini, fir-Rabat, Għawdex. L-Isqof novell Mons Anton Teuma mexxa l-quddiesa solenni tal-festa konċel - ebrata, waqt li Patri Philip Cutajar, Kap - puċċin għamel il-paniġierku tal-okkażjoni. Il-kant tmexxa mill-Kor Djoċesan taż- żgħażagħ, immexxi minn Dorianne Portelli. Filgħaxija tkanta l-għasar tal- Madonna u sar l-bews tar-Relikwija u ngħad ir-rużarju meditat bil-kant. Anima l-kant u d-daqq fuq l-orgni Anthony u Moses Galea Minħabba l-imxija tal-COVID-19 il-festi estern, fosthom il-pellegrinaġġ tradizzjon - ali bir-roti u l-muturi mis-Santwarju tal- Madonna Ta’ Pinu sas-Santwarju tal- Patrijiet Franġiskani Kapuċ- ċini jingħataw tifkira tal-okkażjoni ma sarux Mill-G ira ż Wirja: ‘Every Road is a River’ G awdxija t-titlu huwa ta’ wirja li qed tittella’ fis-sala tal-wirjiet, fil-bini tal-Ministeru għal Għawdex, fir-Rabat. Mary Portelli min-Nadur, xtaqet turi li l-mużajk jista’ jintuża ħCharles Spiteri Ibiex wieħed jesprimi ħsibijiet u emozzjonijiet bħal fi kwalunkwe midjum. Il-materja prima mhix żebgħa (għalkemm użat l- acrylics) , imma bic - ciet tal-blat, ċaqquf, madum, ħgieg, oġġetti misjuba, riciklati, jew mix - trija, u mitt ħag’oħra. L-ambjent u l-emozzjonijiet jiddominaw ix-xogħlijet li Mary għandha f’din il-wirja. Tgħid li tixtieq li b’mod sottili (u xi drabi anke dirett), tqajjem kurżitá, tistimula l-ħsieb, u taqsam dak li tħoss. Għall-wirja Mary stiednet artist Pakistana biex tesibixxi xi xogħlijiet tagħha. Iltaqgħu f’Artist-in-Residence Programme tal-Valletta 18 Foun - dation u Fondazzjoni Kreattivita’. Ix-xogħol tal-mużajk li ħadmu flimkien, ‘Nine Doors’, qed jiġi esibit waqt din il-wirja. Sfortunatament, bħalma l-Covid-19 affetwa ħafna artisti, Rabia wkoll sabet ruha f’diffikultá biex tibgħat l-arti tagħha bl- ajru. Għalhekk fil- wirja insibu kopja tal-qies tal-arti ta’ Rabia. Għax bħal fil-wirja, ‘Every road is a River’ , ma nafux triqitna fejn se twassalna. Jista’ hemm affarijiet li għall-ewwel narawhom strambi, għax mhux tas-soltu, imma fl-aħħar mill-aħħar jissarfu f’esperjenzi sbieħ. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 21 Inawgurata pittura ta’ Stella Maris fiż-Żebbuġ Għawdex il-kappella tad-Dar tal-Irtiri Stella Maris li s-Soċjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl għandna fiż-Żebbuġ, FGħawdex, reċentement ġiet inawgurata pittura li turi l-Madonna taħt dan it-titlu. Il-pittura, xogħol l-artista Mary Rose Sal - iba, miż-Żebbuġ stess, hi maħduma bi stil kontemporanju li tista' tissejjaħ low relief. Saliba ħadmet il-kompożizzjoni b’mod li meta wieħed jieqaf quddiem din il-pittura jħossu mistieden jipparteċipa fl-istorja li qed tiżvolġi quddiemu. Id-delikatezza fil-pinzellati li jsawru wiċċ il-Madonna joħolqu kuntrast mad-daqqiet b’saħħithom li bihom hu mpitter il-baħar imqalleb, simbolu tat-turbulazzjonijiet u t- tfixkil tal-ħajja. Id-daqsxejn ta’ dgħajsa maqbuda fil-mal - tempata tirrapreżenta l-ħajja tal-bniedem. Il-mewġ imqalleb jinbidel f’baħar kalm aktar ma wieħed jersaq lejn ix-xbieha materna ta’ meta nersqu lejn Marija. Marija. Ġesù tarbija, rieqed fl-idejn protettivi tal- B’hekk il- omm, hu nofsu mgħarraq fl-ilma. Dan juri kwadru ċar safejn twassal l-imħabba t’Alla għalina Xehnix aħaġ at tas-ssosltue li twara ħ erlikaoprtei r jfakkarna li biex jifdina u jsalvana. jillandja fuq l-għolja Ta’ Dbieġi aħna, li kul - Dar Stella Maris inbniet fil-bidu tas-snin Mf’Għawdex, li taħtha jinsab il-Villaġġ tas- tant inħos - sebgħin tas-seklu li għadda; issemmiet Snajja li ħa l-isem tal-għolja. Minn suna se għal post ieħor li Soċjetà, kellha f’Għajn - hemm it-triq tieħu lejn l-irħajjel pittoresk ngħerqu, in - sielem. ta’ San Lawrenz li fost l-attrazzjonijiet sibu l-għaj - tiegħu għandu l-bajja tad-Dwejra bl- In - Mary Rose Saliba nuna u l-faraġ Fr Norbert Bonavia land Sea u l-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral li ħafna Maltin u turisti jżuruhom matul is-sena. Il-fotografu/korrispondent ta’ The Voice , Charles Spiter i irnexxielu jaq- bad fir-ritratt il-ħelikopter jinżel fuq din l-għolja ta’ 190 metru li minn fuqha wieħed jista’ jara xena panoramika mill-isbaħ, 360 o dawramejt tal-gżira Għawdxija. Din l-għolja hi popolari max-xabbata li f’Għawdex isibu għoljiet għall-av- venura tagħhom. 22 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 The importance of Australian Citizenship Since 1949 over 5 million people have become Australian citizens zenship to understand our values more zens can leave and re-enter Australia as Update to the test deeply before they make the ultimate com - many times as they want. mitment to our nation.” Citizens can also vote in federal, state or ustralia’s citizenship test is getting territory elections, can vote in a constitu - What kind of questions tional referendum or plebiscite, can seek its first update in more than a will be on the new test? decade, with a focus on Australian election to parliament and can register the values. Announcing the changes, Acting The updated citizenship test will com - birth of their children in another country A prise of 20 multiple choice questions, in - as Australian citizens. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Mi - grant Services and Multicultural Affairs, cluding five new questions on Australian Citizens can also ask for help from an Alan Tudge said: “Our Australian values values. The applicant will be required to Australian embassy or consulate if they are important. They have helped shape our correctly answer all five of the questions are in trouble overseas. country and they are the reason why so on values, with a mark of at least 75 per How many people become many people want to become Australian cent overall, to pass the test. Australian citizens each year? citizens”. There will be no changes to the English The new questions, which will be in - language or residency requirements for More than five million people have be - cluded on Australian citizenship tests from citizenship. Generally, permanent resi - come Australian citizens since it was in - 15 November, “require potential citizens dents can live, work, and study perma - troduced in 1949. Over the past five years, to understand and commit to our values, nently in Australia, but they are not more than 686,000 people have been like freedom of speech, mutual respect, entitled to an Australian passport. granted Australian citizenship, including a equality of opportunity, the importance of Permanent residents do not have an au - record 204,000 people in 2019-20. democracy and the rule of law,” Mr Tudge tomatic right of entry to Australia and Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more said in a statement. must have a valid permanent visa to return than 84,000 people across Australia have We are asking those who apply for citi - to Australia as a permanent resident. Citi - received Australian citizenship through online ceremonies. A record number of migrants became Australian citizens in 2019-20 despite coronavirus disruption Resumption of in-person appointments The top five countries of origin granted citizenship are currently India, the United At Consulate General in Melbourne Kingdom, China, the Philippines and Pak - The High Commission in Canberra is pleased to ad - istan. vise that the Consulate General in Melbourne will re - More information about settling in Aus - open to in-person appointments on Monday October 5. tralia can be found in the SBS Settlement Our offices have been closely monitoring updates Guide. from the Government of the State of Victoria in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. The reopening of the Consulate General in Mel - bourne to the public will require the strict observance of the COVID-19 precautionary measures, as follows: • Persons accessing the office are expected to practice good hygiene and must sanitise hands upon entry; • Applicants will only be allowed access to the office at the time of the We offer legal services in Melbourne pre-booked appointment – no more than two persons allowed per allo - (Lt Collins Street) and Werribee. cated booking or persons residing within the same household; Family law is our specialty. • Applicants should wear a facemask to be taken off only when in - • wills, powers of attorney, structed by members of staff – to capture biometric images. • manage deceased estates, and provide In-person appointments relating to applications for passport and citizen - • purchase and sell property ship, and other consular services, including the witnessing of signatures • purchase and sell businesses. and identity, will be accepted by APPOINTMENT ONLY, so as to ensure • divorce, children, property, that social-distancing is enforced for the safety of the public and members • child support, intervention orders. of staff alike. • Maltese Wills, Powers of Attorney To make an appointment, one must contact our Consulate General in • Maltese Property matters. Melbourne on: [email protected] . Tel: (03) 9670 8427. Marlene Ebejer (speaks Maltese)is Persons who have expressed their interest in the past months, when our an accredited family law specialist Consulate General was operating remotely not from office, will be con - tacted to re-book an appointment. Phone: 03 9741 1722 The timeframe of application processing has been impacted by the cur - www.ebejerlawyers.com.au) rent restrictive measures and are taking longer. Applicants must leave email [email protected] ample time to renew their passports. We get to the point, provide the right ad - We look forward to welcoming applicants back and will appreciate your vice and get the work done at a reason - cooperation in making this a safe experience for all. able price. Tuesday September 29, 2020 The Voice of the Maltese 23 Il-festa ssir xorta … b’ħafna ristrizzjonijiet l-festa tradizzjonali ta’ Mar - ija Bambina ċċelebrata fil- paroċċa ta’ Greystanes NSW gIħaddiet minn ħafna mumenti diffiċli. Fosthom kien hemm l- isem ta’ l-istess parroċċa li nbidel minn Our Lady Queen of Victories għal Our Lady Queen of Peace. Tul il-65 sena mill-ewwel darba li saret din il-festa kien hemm in - terruzzjonijiet meta l-festi ta’ barra ġew imħassra minħabba x- xita u anke jum il-festa ġie mib - dul minħabba il-final tar- rugby league . Izda dis-sena l-COVID-19 fixk - let mhux biss il-festi ta’ barra kompletament imma wkoll iċ- ċelebrazzjonijiet reliġjuzi li ġew imqassma ma’ tmiem il-ġimgħa tas-26/27 ta’ Settembru, għal- kemm il-festa ilha żmien ma ssir f’dawk il-jiem. attendenza tal-membri kollha tal-kumitat tal-festa (stampa fuq) . L-sitatwa sabiħa tal-Madonna xorta ġiet maħruġa min-niċċa u Kien hemm xi restrizzjonijiet skont dak li jridu l-awtoritajiet tas- mqiegħda fil-post prominenti fil-knisja. saħħa, għalhekk l-attendenza kienet żgħira u ikkontrollata. Saret ukoll il-quddiesa tal-Ħadd mill-kappillan Paul Marshall bl- Il-festi ta’ barra gew imħassra kompletament. CCoommmmuunniittyy NNeewwss

Avviż lill-qarrejja La Vale tte Social Centre TTixttiieq li jjkolllokk La Valette Social Centre Inc. 175 Walters Road, Blacktown Tel. 96225847 The Centre is now open again two days a week, Thursdays, Saturdays koopja f’iddejjk ta’’ The Centre is a registered Covid-Safe Venue and all special requirements are in force including social distancing, restricted numbers, temperature tak - Thee Vooicee? ing, patron register and Covid-Marshall. nfakkru lill-qarrejja li T he Voice of Flexible Respite is operating normally but Centre-Based Respite is re - the Maltese , mhux biss magazine stricted due to low numbers that can be transported. Ionline , iżda wkoll l-uniku tax-xorta Charlie's Family Restaurant is open Thursdays and Saturdays tiegħu fl-Awstralja li wkoll jiġi ippub - for lunch and dinner. blikat. Bocci pitches are operating again with some restrictions. Fil-fatt huma ħafna dawk li ilhom li Bingo : Saturday only at 8.00pm preceded by short Maltese movie at 7.30pm. bdew japprofittaw ruħhom minn dan ______u abbonaw ħalli anke jibdew jirċevu MASS: Thursday: 10.15am; Saturday: 5.30 p.m. kop-ja pprintjata bil-posta d-dar bi (subject to availability of a priest.) ħlas. Għalhekk dawk kollha li jixtiequ li jibdew jirċevu kopja pprintjata tal- magazine kull darba li joħroġ biex Please note: If you are unable to buy the ikunu jistgħu jżommuha f’idejhom, huma mħeġġa biex jabbonaw għal next issues of The Voice from the usual sources, you sena sħiħa ħalli jagħmlu żgur li jkoll - can inquire about our subscription at: hom kopja kull darba. [email protected] Biex dan isir wieħed għandu l- We will deliver The Voice by mail to your address ewwel jikkomunika b’email ħalli jagħmel it-talba lil maltesevoice@ anywhere in Australia. gmail.com fejn jitlob tagħrif dwar il- ħlas ta’ abbonament għal sena fl- istat fejn jgħix. Imbagħad jekk ikun irid jissieħeb ma’ dawk kollha li mhu - All events for 2020 miex kuntenti biss li jaqraw il-maga - have been cancelled zine online, imma wkoll li jkollhom kopja tiegħu, jgħarrafna . 24 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday September 29, 2020 SSppoorrttss

The Floriana players caught in a dramatic moment hoping and praying for success in the shoot-out Floriana miss out on history in a shoot-out alta Champions Floriana came within whiskers of in which they controlled their opponents who dominated most making history in a UEFA club competition on Thurs - of the play, in the second half and for the rest of the game they day. They had the chance to become the first Maltese created the better scoring opportunities without scoring. In cMlub to reach the play-off round of the Europa League when extra time they also controlled their opponents. But they were they faced Estonia’s Flora Tallinn in the third qualifying round found wanting in the penalty shoot-out that decided the out - of the Europa League. But after 120 minutes (with extra time), come as they only convert twice against the Estonians’ four. they bowed out by 2-4 after a penalty shoot-out. Flora Tallinn now face Dinamo Zagreb, in Croatia in the play- It was heart-breaking. After a cautious first-half performance off round for a place in the group stages of the competition.

Premier League 2020/21 in Malta kicks off 41st Rolex Middle Sea Race edges Defeat for Champions on second day even closer - 71 entries thus far he start of the Premier League in Malta Day 1 n the surface, all looks well for the 41st Rolex Middle produced very interesting results. If Mosta v Gudja Utd 2-2 Sea Race, scheduled to start on October 17 from Val - Żejtun C. v Sta Lucia 2-2 aTnything, the first two rounds have shown Sliema W v Hibernians 3-1 lOetta’s Grand Harbour. that it could be a very balanced campaign, Floriana v Gizira Utd 2-1 Despite the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 that Champions Floriana, losers on Day 2 Lija Ath v Senglea A. 4-0 pandemic, 79 boats representing 21 countries are currently are bound to find it difficult to defend their Balzan v Tarxien R. 1-0 registered. Given the circumstances, this is a diverse and title, and that Valletta are set to prove them - Valletta v Birkirkara 4-2 attractive fleet with some fascinating entries. selves, hot championship contenders. Ħamrun S. v Sirens 5-1 The organisers, the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) Floriana beat Gzira on the first day but Day 2 continues to take nothing for granted. The shifting global then lost to Hibernians, who began with a Sires v Sliema W. 0-0 picture still presents a huge hurdle before the Saluting Bat - loss against Sliema. Valletta have beaten Senglea A. v Żejtun C. 1-1 tery cannons signal the start of the race. teams, that liked them could be title chal - Valletta v Balzan 1-0 Gzira Utd v Tarxien 1-1 In terms of preparations, the RMYC is well advanced. lengers. They first saw off Birkirkara and Gudja Utd v Lija Ath. 2-0 The COVID-19 Task Force is drawing expertise from sev - then Balzan. Mosta v Birkirkara 3-0 eral individuals including, importantly, some with front- Other results worth considering are Ħam - Hibernians v Floriana v 3-1 line experience of managing the public health response in run’s. They were top scorers against last Ħamrun S. v Sta Lucia 4-1 Malta. season’s surprise team Sirens, and then managed another convincing win over Santa Lucia. Sliema could not have wished for a better start. They beat Hibernians on Parramatta Eagles miss out on finals the first day but were then held by Sirens who were themselves soundly beaten by finishing Covid-hit season with draw Ħamrun Spartans in their opening game. arramatta FC Eagles missed out on the fi - Clement Wacci freeckick after 48 minutes. If the first results are anything to go by, nals of the NPL 4 NSW after drawing 1- Three minutes later they were down to 10 men then Birkirkara could be in for a tough sea - 1P away against Hurstville FC on Saturday. when Simon Christopher was red-carded. son. They lost both their opening matches. Parramatta finished the league in eighth place However, Parramatta were still delivering After the loss to Valletta, they hoped for a with only 11 points. and in the 58th minute were denied the lead revival when they faced Mosta. Instead, Parramatta, who were without a game in when Ali Dulleh's 18-metre effort smashed they suffered an even heavier defeat, by Round 10, found themselves a goal down in against the crossbar. Till the end play was conceding three goals without reply. the first minute but levelled the score from a shared for a drawn result.