Ira Losco to represent Malta in Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm

Transcription

1 The Voice of the Maltese Issue 120 online magazine (driven by the voice of its readers of its readers) February 2, 2016 Ira Losco to represent Malta in Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm Ira Losco with the trophy, and (top) in her meetng with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. (bottom right) She is greeted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat after her victory in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest that earned her the right to represent Malta in the next Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden on May 10. (See report on page 5)

2 2 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Maltese community celebrates The Maltese came from the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, Illawarra, Eastern Suburbs, St George districts and other areas, they came to pay homage to their adopted country and to celebrate the 288th Anniversary of Australia Day. Indeed, it was another wonderful experience to be at the Holroyd Function Centre, Merrylands to this annual event so well organised by the Maltese Community Council of NSW. It is now entrenched as a must-event-toattend in the calendar of our community. The event had all the ingredients necessary to deliver a sincere thank you to Australia, from the keynote address delivered by Andy Busuttil B.Sc., to the songs chosen by the Maltese Cultural Association Choir under the direction of Marisa Previtera and the beautiful and melodious voice of young Natasha Vella. The packed hall responded well and joined in with every patriotic melody rendered. The president of the MCC, Emanuel Camilleri explained the reasons why we need to come together to pay tribute to Australia, as we are so much part of this multicultural country. In his keynote address Andy Busuttil expressed his deep love for his homelands Malta and Australia with vivid images of Malta projected on the screen. In an appeal to the august gathering he said: Regardless of the fact that our youngsters are so strongly enculturated Australians, their heritage is still important to many of them. It is one of the main reasons that I am here today, to reflect the commitment to this country by Maltese- Australians and, at the same time, to encourage you, my Maltese brothers and sisters to be proud of our magnificent background and to take your place within this nation of many nations with a firm understanding of your value as powerful contributors to this nation s achievements and its future. Furthermore he pointed out that It is this history from the ancient through to the modern, as well as the beauty of its people, their inherent kindness and generosity of spirit, their extraordinary work ethic, and loyalty to those who show them friendship and respect and deep sense of caring for community that the people of Malta have brought to this country. Australia Day in style He went on to say: It is these qualities together with the multitude of other gifts of the Maltese that have been added to the wonderful diversity of this nation: A diversity that is unequalled anywhere else in the World. It is the gifts that all in this nation bring, that give us the day we are celebrating here today, Australia Day. This event would not be so significant if it was not for the acknowledgement and presentation of the recipients of the Order of Australia that attended the event. They are, Sam Vella, Lino Vella, Lawrence Dimech, and Ass. Prof. Stephen Gatt, Doris Athanasio, and Nancy Serg-Borg. There was also a power-point presentation showing Malta s Regardless of the fact that our youngsters are so strongly enculturated Australians, their heritage is still important to many of them. It is one of the main reasons that I am here today, to reflect the commitment to this country by Maltese-Australians Andy Busuttil delivering the keynote address at the celebration contribution to Australia compiled by Rhys Sullivan and Emanuel Camilleri. H.E. the High Commissioner of Malta to Australia, Charles Muscat spoke about his residence in Australia for over 50 years and his enforced renunciation of his Australian citizenship to be appointed as representative of his native country in Australia. He also congratulated Charles Mifsud for his recognition of his services to the community by being awarded Malta s Gie ir-repubblika Clr. Greg Cummings, the Mayor of the City of Holroyd delivered the concluding remarks. He praised the contribution of the Maltese community not only to the history of Holroyd but also to the nation of Australia. The Mayor also mentioned briefly the proposed amalgamation of Holroyd with neighbouring districts. He said that he keeps abreast with the Maltese community by reading The Voice of the Maltese. Also present for the occasion that marked this important day, apart from the Mayor and the High Commissioner and their spouses were, Dr Geoff Lee MP, Julie Finn MP, Salvino Guisti Consul-General, Susan Templeman candidate for the seat of Macquarie and Fr N Bianco MSSP who rendered the Australia Day prayer. The secretary of the MCC, Josephine Bigeni acted as MC. Thanks go to Patrick Bartolo for providing the photos and the excellent assistance of the staff of the Holroyd Centre. Elsewhere 16,000 persons from 154 countries in 391 ceremonies were welcomed as new citizens.

3 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 3 The Maltese Cultural Association Choir with guest singer Natasha Vella (centre) and choirmaster Marisa Previtera (first from right) Order of Australian Medal awardees (from left): Sam E. Vella, Stephen Gatt, Lino Vella, Doris Athanasio, Lawrence Dimech and Nancy Serg-Borg Holroyd Mayor Crl. Greg Cummings Josephine Bigeni Some of the VIPs at the event (from left): H.E. Charles and Victoria Muscat, Emanuel and Theresa Camilleri, Salv Giusti, Clr Greg and Mrs Cummings, Julia Finn MP and Dr Geoff Lee MP A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese website: Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell Streets, Blacktown NSW... for all your travel needs. Tel (02) blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au

4 4 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Heart of Malta (2) T he Maltese have never been a people to deal with things on merely an intellectual and detached level. That is one of the most beautiful elements of the Maltese psyche; the capacity to see things with the inner eye which is at once spiritual and emotional. It is this inner eye that makes the Maltese the embracing and generous people that we are. It is also what made us the doughtiest of warriors in history when events have called upon us to be so. It is also the same quality that will drive the Maltese matriarch to sacrifice her life for her children without question and for the Maltese patriarch to stand in the way of danger and to do so without fear of consequence. The events of the past centuries have demonstrated this time and time again. So how will these other elements of the makeup of the Maltese be reflected in the way that refugees are dealt with? In situations such as the dealing with refugee populations, simplistic statements and opinions often rule. In Australia in recent times under successive governments it has been border protection and stop the boats that have been the mantras that have, in turn, infected the psyche of the population. Simplistic statements should always be challenged but when it comes to refugees this can be extremely difficult. One needs to penetrate beyond the surface layers of the intellect and reach into the heart of the matter to be able to decide upon a reasonable, fair, just and compassionate approach to people who are terrorised and in need of help. To turn people away who are in pain and whose children are being threatened, starved and murdered is not the Maltese way. As already mentioned, some Maltese will have no difficulty doing this. Others will never do it and many others haven t made the connection with refugees to be able to decide one way or the other. With regard to the last point, the ambivalence due to disconnection, I came upon a realisation during my recent travels home that filled me with warmth about my Maltese brothers and sisters. It is a realisation that is deeply rooted in the most valued of traditions in Malta, that of Christian (in particular Catholic) values and the valuing of the child, the family and the power of love. When speaking with a number of Maltese people about refugees it is common that the refugee situation will elicit a negative response from them. They will express discontent The students at St Paul s Primary School in Malta has children coming from 16 different religious beliefs and 42 countries. According to the parents the school does not discrimnate against any of them. On the contrary they say that children are learning from each other. about the number of black people now living in the community. They will particularly express disquiet about them if they are Muslim rather than Christian. They will find positive attributes in the Christian refugees and negative ones in the Muslims. This is not new for Malta. As a people having one of the highest rates of Catholicism anywhere in the World, this disconnect from Muslims is almost inevitable. Muslims and Catholics have a long, dark history of conflict with nowhere in the World perhaps except Jerusalem exceeding that of Malta. The Great Siege of Malta was fought precisely along these lines of religious demarcation between two brutal sets of rulers each of which was intent on the total annihilation of the other. However, when you allow these Maltese people to express their disquiet and you ask what would they do if their children were in serious danger, exposed to the high possibility that they could be killed, unable to go to school, unable to play, inadequately fed and clothed, exposed to the diseases brought about by destroyed sanitation and water systems (if they ever existed at all) they too will say that they would do what they can to keep their children safe. They would risk life and limb and they would go to countries that are so different to their own as to be the equivalent of flying to the moon. In other words, if the boot were on the other foot and if the situation demanded it, they too would be refugees. Once I spoke with my fellow Maltese about the sadness, fear and trauma to which the refugees living there had experienced they tended to come back with yes, poor things, it s true ( iva jaħasra, veru ). Once common ground is determined and a human connection is made, the inner eye takes over and the intellect is relegated to another plane. Amongst the broader Maltese population some integration of refugees into the local community in both a social and economic way is taking place. Intermarriage is occurring (love will always find a way!) and refugees are being employed to do the more menial tasks not often favoured by the locals. These are starting points. Definite change will only start to occur once both the locals and the refugees themselves commit to the idea that the change is permanent and non-reversible. It is highly unlikely that the refugees finding a place in Malta will want to go elsewhere. *Continued on page 5

5 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 5 Refugees are people just like us with the same needs, the same sorrows, joys, fears and loves *from page 4 It is highly unlikely that the Maltese populace will want to further displace them once they are relatively settled there, especially if children are involved. The real danger for the Islands lies in the possibility that the opportunities offered by these new additions to the Maltese community will be lost and alienation will cause the rise of a subculture of discontent and one of rejection and violence. This is the one thing that our homeland cannot afford and needs to work hard to avoid. Education programmes such as those being conducted by the Jesuits ( demonstrate the extent to which religious divides can be subsumed by the proper actions of Faith and a belief in true Catholic doctrine. This group runs outreach and education programmes in Maltese schools amongst many other activities to bring about a clearer awareness of the plight of refugees and their needs in a totally new and unfamiliar environment. These programmes are essential as are programmes to educate refugees into the national culture and psyche of the Maltese and to help them understand what it is that they need to do to encourage the Maltese people to take them into their hearts. Once they are there, they will be stood by and never alone. This is the Heart of Malta. This is the consequence of the inner eye coming into play and the recognition that refugees are people just like us with the same needs, the same joys, the same sorrows, the same loves and the same fears. Religion may continue to be a sticking point. However, the fact that my mother, a devout Catholic and laypreacher can warmly embrace, and take into her heart, refugee friends of ours in Australia who are Sunni Muslim continues to give me great hope for the future of our people and our Islands. Whether the heart of Malta beats firmly or not is in the hands of both sides of the equation, the Maltese themselves and the refugees who have come to our homeland for succor. This is the strength of both, the responsibility of each and the power resident in them all. For the second time in her career as a singer, 34-year-old Ira Losco has earned the right to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest that this year will be held in Sweden, in May. Oozing confidence throughout as she sang Chemeleon (Invincible) on the stage at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Ira won the Malta Eurovision Song Contest with 68 points, to pip second placed Brooke, who sang Golden, by 10 points. Franklin, singing Little Love, placed third with 44 points. Ira Losco, a professional singer has made such progress since first representing Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn in 2002 with her song, Seventh Wonder that had earnd her second place. On her way to victory and participation in the 61st edition of the event in Stockholm, Ira earned the maximum 12 points from four of the six judges, and Brooke earned from two of the judges. Ira also earned the support of 40 per cent of the popular vote. Clad in a white hood over a white top and jeans, Losco, who had two songs in the final - the other being, That s Why I Love You, performed beautifully on the night in a spectacular event that also proved to be another feather in TVM s cap. She was alone on stage and was one of the hot favourites for the title from the outset and stood out along with a few others among the 14 finalists. The finalists qualified from the semifinal night, during which 20 songs were performed. Ira Losco was the only one to perform two songs. Ira, who recently released her 10th Ira Losco to represent Malta in Eurovison Song Contest album, could not hide her satisfaction as she was awarded the trophy by PBS chairman Mr Tonio Portughese, and hugged all the other contestants. She thanked all who supported her, adding that she would have been happy whatever the outcome. "It feels great and surreal. I'm happy to have been part of this contest. The Eurovision has become more special and exciting, so why not take part again," she said. Another very good performance was that of last year s runner-up, Christabelle, Her song, Kingdom was a powerful dance track that seemed to have Eurovision written all over it. However it cud only finish fourth. Undoubtedly, the night belonged to Ira Losco, but the show also featured performances from last year's winner Amber, and Destiny Chukunyere, who recently won the European Junior Song Festival and performed as guest singer during the festival in Malta. She stole much of the limelight with her performance. She is only 13 but was commended for her standout performance, not only by most of the foreign judges who were at the Centre to cast their vote on the finalists, but also the audience. In Destiny Malta has a real talented artist and a star that will shine on for many years to come. Two days after her victory Ira, whose grand parents and mother lived in Australia for a long time was hosted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at his office in Castile. He ongratulated her on her achievement and she replied saying, I will use my experience to give the best possible interpretation in Stockholm.

6 6 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Honoured for outstanding services on Australia Day A number of people of Maltese descent were among those who on Australia Day were recipients of an Order of Australia award, and who, according to the chairman of the Council of the Order of Australia Angus Houston are people who serve the community, but do not seek accolades." This year, as Australia celebrated its national day, 228 years after European settlement, and 115 years after Federation, 816 people (245 women and 571 men), 604 of who were successful, were nominated for the honour. Amongst the many we noticed were three in particular of Maltese descent. They are, Father Carmelo J. Sciberras, Albert Anthony Vella, and Rear Admiral Gregory Father Fr. Carmelo J. Sciberras Rear Admiral Gregory John Sammut AM, CSC, RAN, from NSW for exceptional performance as the head of Future Submarine Program, the Direct of General Submarine Capacity and the Direct of Submarine and Special Ship. Rear Admiral Gregory John Sammut was born in Sydney in He fulfilled a longheld ambition to join the Royal Australian Navy from high school in Having completed an honours degree in electrical engineering in 1987, he subsequently conducted seaman officer training before qualifying as a submariner in 1991 and then obtaining his submarine command qualification in He served as the commanding officer of the Collins class submarine, HMAS Farncomb, and the Anzac class frigates HMAS Ballarat and HMAS Toowoomba. From June to November 2006, he was Commander Task Group 158.1, directly responsible to the Commander of Coalition Forces in the Northern Arabian Gulf. Sammut s most recent operational role, from October 2010 to April 2011was as Commander Combined Task Force 150, during which he commanded operations of the maritime counter-terrorism task force of Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations. John Sammut. There may be others who are not distinguished by their Maltese sounding name. Governor-General Peter Cosgrove praised the compassion, generosity and ambition of all the award winners We are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them, he said. On this day, as the country rejoices except for the Indigenous Australian who still considers the British occupation as an invasion, dispossession and culture near-annihilation, the nation recognises the quite achievers who provided outstanding community services. Among those who were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia were: Carmelo J. Sciberras of Summerland Point NSW for services to the Catholic Church in Australia and the Maltese community in NSW. He was born in Sliema, entered the Archbishop s Seminary at Floriana for secondary education, and immigrated to Australia in He read philosophy and then completed theological studies at St Patrick s College, Manly obtaining a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STD). He was ordained at St Mary s Cathedral by His Eminence Cardinal Sir Thomas Gilroy on July 18, Served as captain for 17 years with the Australian Army Reserve. For about 17 years he served the Maltese Community mainly by broadcasting a socio-religious segment of about 15 minutes duration once a week, first on Ethnic Radio and then on SBS. Later he worked with the late Fred Fenech broadcasting on 2RRR FM, and was involved with a number of Maltese Committees. He is also currently the spiritual director of the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco (NSW), chaplain to the National Servicemen s and Affiliates Association and chaplain and crewman with the Hawkesbury Unit of the Royal Marine Rescue. He also served in many parishes and was chaplain of the Repatriation Hospital in Concord. Rear Admiral Gregory John Sammut Other main honours: Australian of the Year: Lieutenant-General David Morrison, a former Army chief. Young Australian of the Year: Nic Marchesi & Lucas Patchett of Orange Sky Laundry. Australian Senior of the Year: Professor Gordian Fulde From St Vincent & Sydney Hospital. Albert Anthony Vella of Matraville NSW was honoured for his services to multicultural education. Albert is the son of Maltese immigrants, An lu and Anne Vella who arrived in Australia in the 1950s. In 2008 Albert Vella was elected president of the NSWFCLS. Following that, he joined the Australian Federation of Ethnic Schools Asso- Albert Anthony Vella ciation as the NSW representative. In 2010 he was appointed to the NSW Community Languages Schools Board. Over the last eight years Albert has worked tirelessly promoting community language school education. Under his leadership the NSWFCLS successfully lobbied the NSW Government for a substantial increase in the funding for community language schools, additional training for CLS teachers, and for better access to government school facilities in order to ensure that all the students in NSW who attend a community language school receive the best education possible. He told The Voice of the Maltese that parents of Maltese background should encourage their children to learn and study the Maltese language at the two Maltese community language schools in Sydney to ensure our language and culture has a long term presence in NSW.

7 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 7 RELIGIOUS FUNCTIONS PRAYERS FAITH IN MALTA DURING WWII R eligious functions did take place during the war; but everything was carried out as quickly as possible because of frequent attacks, many a time between one air raid and another. Before Vatican Council II, Mass was celebrated only in the morning. The only special concession was an afternoon Mass celebrated on Christmas Eve due to blackout. Prayers were said, and the rosary was recited in shelters especially during air raids. Teaching doctrine to children, First Holy Communion, Spiritual Exercises and other functions took place in shelters. On September 8, 1940 First Holy Communion celebration took place in a huge improvised air raid shelter in Valletta, at the Yellow Garage. About 36 children, dressed in white and carrying candles, received their First Holy Communion deep down in the rock beneath the bastions at the entrance of Valletta. This shelter was temporarily transformed into a chapel illuminated by countless candles and the children sang hymns together with about 200 other persons in the shelter. A short sermon was delivered for the occasion. In the afternoon a modest party was organised for these children as a treat to celebrate a happy day. Parish priests tried to look after their faithful in various ways, for example during the blitz of March 1942 they advertised in one of the local papers: The parish priests of Valletta wish to in- Leo s Vehicle Rentals Guaranteed cheapest rates All vehicles in NRMA road Service Low holding Deposit Discount for weekly rentals Shuttle service to the Airport Phone: Mob: Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148 MALTA: Echoes from the past form their parishioners that during the next few weeks a course of spiritual exercises will be held in the larger shelter of Valletta. On Monday, March 2, Fr Buhagiar OC will preach in the Yellow Garage shelter at 7 p.m. The Great FAITH of the Maltese One Sunday morning, when a Maltese, army chaplain, Fr Harry Born was celebrating Mass at Tigné Point Battery for the gunners of the Anti- Aircraft Regiment Royal Malta Artillery an aerial attack took place. The priest admired the faith of the Maltese soldiers. Fr. Born used to recount how, during the attack with his steel helmet on, he continued celebrating Mass while splinters were falling all around and the guns blazed away. He said he could hear the shrill voice of Bombardier Ellul, a gunner from Birkirkara, exhorting his crew: Keep firing lads, God is with us. Throughout the war, Army chaplains kept giving regular services to soldiers in their batteries and they always kept celebrating Mass in the open air even under heavy attacks. DorisCannataci A Greek church that was destroyed during the war years On one occasion, a priest by the name of Fr Raymond Formosa was saying Mass on a gun position during an air raid, while the Commanding officer, Lieutenant Edgar Salamone covered the Hosts in the paten with his steel helmet. Even the British Governor at the time, General Dobbie was struck by the faith and courage of the Maltese. 25 March 1942: Feast of the Annunciation A heavy-calibre bomb fell near the bronze statue of Christ the King in Floriana that commemorated the International Eucharistic Congress held in Malta in The explosion brought down part of the roof of the Railway Tunnel shelter injuring people, but the statue remained untouched, while the bomb dug a large crater within a few centimetres of the statue. When addressing the nation, the then governor, Lord Gort referred to the untouched statue of Christ the King saying that in spite of the bombs dropping so close, the statue remained untouched; hence, our faith in God and Christ the King would save us. Prayers and faith never ceased throughout the war. Pilgrimages to various Sanctuaries and Churches in Malta and Gozo helped boost the morale of the people. Throughout the war the relic of the Arm of St Paul was exposed on the altar in the church of the Shipwreck of St Paul, Valletta. All the treasures of the church were put in safe places but not this relic. It was always left for the veneration of the people and to guard our country and save us in time of need. One can say that the motor that kept the Maltese going during the war was their Faith in God, Our Lady and Saint Paul.

8 8 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Have your say/xi trid tghid? The Voice of the Maltese o n l i n e m a g a z i n e is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via by request. Subscription is free. Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice either in Maltese or English should be ed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com. Now you can also join us on facebook: com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Your letters/ L-ittri tag kom... Joseph Caruana from Perth, WA writes: Iwish to express my heartfelt thanks to The Voice for the latest initiative in favour of the readers particularly to those of us who are nearing pension-age. I am referring to the service being offered with regard to financial help. It is something that is most needed. This is something that most of us who have been living in Australia for decades and did not care much about finance, really appreciate as we start counting our Tony Cassar from St Albans writes: It was most interesting to read the article by Anthony Theuma in the last two issues of The Voice of the Maltese, in which he expressed his interest, and love for the Melita Eagles football club, that has ceased to be an attraction for the Maltese community in Australia, for various reasons, and particularly for lack of success and the Football Federation s decision to eliminate the ethnic attachment to the football clubs. I admire Theuma s enthusiasm for the Eagles, but sadly, I fail to see a revival to those wonderful years when we were so proud of this club that helped us early migrants, in the first years of our arrival to this large country to clutch to something While visiting Malta Stay at: The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) Thanks for the initiative dollars and find out that we may be short of the knowledge that is needed as we retire from our jobs and become even more conscious of what lies ahead. I am sure that many of us who know little or nothing about finance look forward to learning from the experts who could show us the way forward. As such I determined to avail myself of this opportunity and will be seeking the answers to some general questions that like others may have been meaning to ask in order to spend the rest of my life free of concerns Reviving interest in Maltese football clubs in Australia that reminded us so much of our upbringing in Malta. When I lived in NSW before transferring myself to Victoria, we had the Melita Eagles and in Victoria we had George Cross and Green Gully. We were so proud of our teams and I still cannot understand how all three teams seem to have lost the way and become so insignificant to the game of football and even to most of the Maltese- Australians. Maybe the blame is ours too, as we did not treasure enough what we had and though Australia is well known for its achievements in most sports disciplines, when it comes to our kids and the second and third generations we did not care as much to push our siblings into sport, and in particular football. Our clubs also failed to generate enough money to compete, therefore what used to attract the Maltese towards these clubs, that is, Maltese footballers from Malta, became unaffordable. With all due respect to the non-maltese players forming part and turning up for these Maltese football teams, nowadays, few of us seem able to associate themselves with the clubs that we duly regarded as representing us. I wish to express my gratitude to Anthony Theuma for his efforts and the suggestions he made in order to try and revive the interest in the Eagles, and all the others and we should all do our best for him to fulfil his dream of organising an annual preseason tournament between the Maltese clubs still left in various states and urge them to play for what he termed as It-Tazza Maltija (The Maltese Cup. Go for it Anthony. I am sure you will find a lot of support.

9 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 9 Pensioners and travel overseas restrictions Ir-riçerkatur Mark Caruana jikteb: G alkemm il- ru ta sett bolol mill- Posta ta Malta (The Voice No. 119) hija inizjattiva ta min ifa arha, nixtieq nag mel Ωew osservazzjonijiet. 1. G aliex il-bolol in ar u fix-xahar ta Jannar 2016 meta l-grupp ta 214-il Malti u G awdxi, mag rufa b ala l-maltin ta New Caledonia, biss biss telqu minn Malta According to reports published in major newspapers around Australia the Coalition Turnbull Federal government is under fire from migrant and refugee groups, who say a plan to limit the time pensioners can spend in another country before their pension is cut discriminates against Australians born overseas. Under the change, pensioners who have spent less than 35 years of their working life in Australia will find their pensions reduced after six weeks of overseas travel down from the current time limit of 26 weeks. The new rule, which is due to start in January 2017, was announced in the last budget and is yet to pass through Parliament. It will save about $168 million over four years. One of our readers who came to Australia from Malta in the early 1950s and who did not want to be named, said the changes were unnecessary if not stupid While he makes the 35-year-mark and so will not be hit by the change others he regularly meets through his involvement in the Maltese community are worried about the new rule. It is not sure if this new rule goes against the spirit of the current social service agreement between Malta and Australia. "It's a kind of discrimination towards migrants and a special worry to the Maltese. You want to go to Malta because in your twilight years you may afford it or because you want to spend some time with your close relatives before its too late, so why do have to come across this unnecessary heartless rule? The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, along with the Australian Council of Social Service, is urging the government to rethink the new rule, noting about 40 per cent of Australia's pensioners were born overseas. "Once people [get] their pension, they've G alfejn din l-g a la kollha? fix-xahar ta Settembru u t allew jinωlu fl- Awstralja f Marzu tal-1917? 2. G aliex meta staqsejt Ωew membri prominenti fil-kunsill g all-maltin ta Barra, add minnhom ma seta` jg idli ta min kienet din l-inizjattiva? Dawn kienu sajma g al kollox minn din l-a bar. Mank ew mg arrfa jew ikkonsultati dwar su ett li jinteressahom millqrib got certain rights," federation chairman Joe Caputo said. Mr. Caputo said pensioners born overseas often needed to travel overseas for extended periods to stay in touch with family, or to care of a sick or dying relative. In some cases, they had never been back to the country of their birth and were going on the trip of a lifetime. A spokesman for Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the change was about making things "fairer for taxpayers". He added that, "The government believes a person's retirement costs should be fairly distributed between the countries a person has spent most of their working life." He said Australia had 30 international agreements that allowed people social security from more than one country. It is the expectation that where a person has spent a proportion of their working life overseas, they will be eligible to receive a pension from that country. Labor will oppose the change in Parliament, with the opposition's payments spokeswoman Jenny Macklin noting it will hurt thousands of migrant pensioners. These pensioners have worked hard their whole lives. They deserve our support in retirement. The Senate committee looking at the measure is due to report when Parliament resumes next week. Note: Readers can be assured that The Voice of the Maltese intends to follow this matter up with the Federal Members of Parliament from all parties.

10 10 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Perspettiva A L-NBN ej jew? Min jg ix fl-awstralja çertament jaf bil-pro ett ambizzjuω talkumpannija NBN Co., li huwa ntenzjonat li jwassal servizz modern tattelekomunikazzjoni fuq l-art, li jifla g as-servizzi ta' g ada. Dan kien pro ett mibdi mill-gvern Laburista fi Ωmien Kevin Rudd. Kien innovattiv g al diversi ra unijiet, fosthom id-deçiωjoni li jiddeçiedi li mal-a ar tal-pro ett, kull indirizz ikollu servizz minimu li jkun ferm a jar minn dak li hu possibbli llum, preferibbilment fuq fibri rqaq tal- ie, u jekk le permezz ta' trasmissjoni bir-radju fuq l-art jew minn satellita. Li tg addi netwerk tat-telekomunikazzjoni mal-pajjiω kollu huwa diffiçli ferm. Anke llum, wara g exieren ta' snin, kumpanniji tat-telefonija konvenzjonali ma jirnexxilhomx jil qu lill-indirizzi kollha fil-pajjiω. Dan huwa veru fl-awstralja li huwa pajjiωkontinent, u niftakar li kien ukoll il-kaω meta kont na dem mat-tele- Malta f'art missirijietna li hija biss ftit gωejjer Ωg ar. Dan mhux inqas diffiçli bil-fibri, però bl- cable tal-fibri kif ikun minn ewwa g aωla strate ika li jintuωaw teknolo iji tar-radju jwassal biex is-servizz jasal fejn g andu jasal f'inqas Ωmien, anke jekk is-servizz li jkun a jar milli possibbli llum bil-pari tar-ramm u l-adsl, g andu xorta inqas potenzjal mill-fibra. Min huwa tekniku fit-telekomunikazzjoni jaf li l-fibra hija l- medju tal-futur. Ir-ramm qdiena, u qdiena sew, imma llum hemm bωonn ta' xi a a a jar. L-g a la g al dan bla dubju ejja millinternet u l-applikazzjonijiet tal-multimedja u o rajn li g adhom iridu jin olqu Fl-Awstralja, min kien mid la tal-industrija g amel xi snin fuq ix-xwiek, waqt li l-koalizzjoni Liberali/Nazzjonali, dakinhar floppoωizzjoni, mill-2010 beda jhedded li j ott kollox u jibni xi a a kompletament differenti. Wara afna xhur, il-poωizzjoni nbidlet meta Malcolm Turnbull li kien ikopri t-telekomunikazzjoni g all-oppoωizzjoni, waqt li g ajjat bil- ela ta' flus tal-pro ett, irnexxielu jben ilha li fil-fatt jinωamm il-pro ett b'xi modifikazzjonijiet. Id-deçiΩjoni ewlenija kienet li kwart tal-fibri tal-linji ji u tterminati fid-djar u l-impriωi (FTTP - Fibre To The Premises), bilbqija tan-netwerk lejn id-djar u l-impriωi juωa r-ramm li jintuωa llum g at-telefonija bl-istallazzjoni ta' kabinets odda fit-toroq (FTTN - Fibre To The Node) u fuq ir-ramm li jintuωa g at-televiωjoni fuq il-cable (HFC - Hybrid Fibre Coax). Dawn itteknolo iji jissej u kollettivament ta lita ta' teknolo iji multipli (MTM - Multi Technology Mix). Il-pjan li jintuωa r-radju fuq l- art u bis-satellita ma ntmessux. Din il-bidla saret il-politika tal-gvern, wara li l-koalizzjoni adet il-poter fil Jien kelli x-xorti li fejn noqg od fi Blacktown Referenzi ikun parti mit-teknolo ija tal-futur tal-fttp, g alkemm iffrustrat li wara l-fibra tg addiet fil-bidu tal-2015, illum kwaωi sena wara version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: pot.com kitba ta IVAN CAUCHI Tqeg id tal-cable talfibri mill- addiema x-xog ol g adu ma tlestiex u s'issa ma nistax nuωa s-servizz il- did, li ilni nistenna g al Ωmien twil. Madankollu, dejn il-biçça l-kbira tal-awstralja, nista' ng id li xxurtjat, g ax ix-xog ol fil-pajjiω kollu mistenni li jitlesta fil Jien m'iniex se nid ol fil-kontroversji politiçi kbar f'dan il-qasam, li huma jekk l-mtm se jwassal biex: (a) l-indirizzi tal-awstralja fl-2020 kollha jkollhom aççess g an-netwerk tal-futur, jew jekk filfatt wara jkunx hemm bωonn pro ett ie or li jistalla l-fibra minflok ir-ramm kif kien originarjament propost, (b) l-infiq totali jkun inqas milli kif kien ippjanat ori inarjament, jew bejn wie ed u ie or ikun l-istess jew anke iktar. Dan mhux g ax m'g andix opinjoni fuq il-qasam, g ax nemmen fis-s i li l-futur jinsab fil-fibra kull fejn huwa possibbli, u r- ramm illum jista' biss jitqies b ala teknolo ija ta' transizzjoni. Madankollu, g alija fl-a ar mill-a ar, il-pajjiω qabad it-triq bωonnjuωa tal-evoluzzjoni fil-telekomunikazzjoni. G al afna snin, wie ed jista jqabbel lil din l-industrija ma' baqra li tin aleb (cash cow). Investiment g all-futur, wie ed qawwi, huwa bωonnjuω, g ax g al wisq Ωmien dan kien nieqes. Meta x-xog ol tal-bini prinçipali jispiçça, id-dettalji u l-kontroversji jintesew, g ax in-nies u l-impriωi jkunu jistg u juωaw isservizzi ta' g ada, li afna minnhom lanqas biss ma ew ivvintati, ming ajr il- afna problemi u limitazzjonijiet li jeωistu llum. L-Awstralja mhix l-ewwel pajjiω li adet dan il-pass, li tibda' miexja fit-triq tat-ti did tal-qasam tat-telekomunikazzjoni. Illum hemm afna pajjiωi li g amlu passi kbar f'din id-direzzjoni. Anke f'malta, dan l-iωvilupp qed ise minn kumpanniji privati, bil-go tibda' tibni netwerk tal-ftth (Fibre To The Home) fil-2012 u be siebha tkopri l-pajjiω kollu sal-2020, il-melita topera netwerk tal-hfc u l-vodafone joffru servizzi fuq il-fibri lill-impriωi. Li hemm innovattiv u fl-istess in id-diffikultà fl-awstralja hija l-iskala ijografika tal-pro ett, min abba d-distanzi twal u l- popolazzjoni relattivament Ωg ira. J'alla x-xog ol isir kif u meta ppjanat. Dak l-nbn ej jew? 1. NBN Corporate Plan 2016, Table 2

11 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 11 JosephCutajar With the first of the year's major feasts in Malta, that of St. Paul Shipwreck normally held every year on February 10 but this year brought forward to January 30 (because it would otherwise coincide with Ash Wednesday), more celebrations follow early February 5th to 9th Carnival, which has an important place on the Maltese cultural calendar. In Carnival Malta takes on a traditional pattern with extravagantly coloured most often very artistic allegorical papier- maché floats s that are paraded through the streets of Valletta, presided over by King Carnival and accompanied by boisterous brass bands and a cacophony of revellers in outrageous costumes. It also typically includes masked balls, fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions. Let s make merry! It s Carnival time in Malta Some parents also like to dress up their kids in fancy costumes and let them roam around to be admired. For many adults it is a time for them to let their hair down and go with the flow. It is perfect for those who enjoy lavish late-night parties, and many pile into the clubs and bars wearing their outrageous outfits. Valletta is the heart of revelry, but several "spontaneous" carnivals also held in more remote villages and towns across Malta and Gozo. Many of them have their own version of festivities, particularly in Gozo where the village of Nadur has a particular interpretation. In Nadur carnival takes on a more macabre and funny mood with grotesque masks and satirical floats parading through the streets of the town at night. The occasion is also very popular with the Maltese, many of whom, make the trek to Gozo to witness and celebrate what many describe as il-jiem tal-bluha. In Malta The Ghaxaq carnival organised by the inhabitants of this locality, is quite original. Here people wear masks and all the old-fashioned clothes that they can find in their wardrobe. A most traditional dance during Carnival is the parata, a light-hearted reenactment of the 1565 victory of the Knights over the Turks, and an 18thcentury court dance known as il- Maltija. Carnival, held during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, has been celebrated in Malta since the 15th century, but it received a major boost in 1535, five years after the arrival of the Order of St John. Grand Master Piero de Ponte officially introduced it in Birgu (Vittoriosa) where a number of knights played games and displayed their skills in various pageants and tournaments. This did not go too well by the next Grand Master to rule in Malta, Piero de Ponte, who complained that some knights had exaggerated in their banquets and masquerades during which numerous abuses were reported and most of the time ended up in brawls. So at the following general assembly of knights De Ponte pointed out that he would no longer tolerate any wild excesses, especially since they came from members of a religious community. Therefore he limited himself to approving tournaments and other military exercises necessary to Christian knights to train themselves for battle against the Turks. A further reprimand for the knights behaviour was dished out by Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette in He had allowed the wearing of masks in public (forbidden in Malta for the rest of the year) and this made the celebrations more fun. According to the history books, the knights decorated the ships of the Order's fleet in harbour and participated in revelry that had never been seen before in Malta. La Valette was not amused at the people wearing masks who had been invited to celebrate Carnival aboard the vessels. In 1639, another Grand Master Giovanni, Paolo Lascaris prohibited women from wearing masks or participating in balls organised at the knights' auberges on penalty of being publicly whipped. Another order was that nobody could wear a costume to represent the Devil, a decision that neither the knights nor the women took kindly to. More changes to Carnival occurred while the Knights of St John governed over Malta. Improvements were made during the British period in the 19th and early 20th centuries particularly when it comes to Carnival parades that became noted for their biting satirical themes. Many of the intricate floats were designed to poke fun at political figures and unpopular government decisions; however, as a result of a law passed in 1936, political satire was essentially banned. However, in the past two years, political satire is once again being allowed and Maltese artists have been taking advantage of this by building floats depicting politicians who stand out for their behaviour or decisions. No Maltese special occasion is celebrated without food. Each occasion has its own particular sweets. Those associated with Carnival include perlini (multi-coloured, sugar-coated almonds) and the prinjolata, which is a towering assembly of sponge cake, biscuits, almonds and citrus fruits, topped with cream and pine nuts. So let s make merry!

12 12 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Roundup of News About Malta Inquiry blames British driver, organisers for October 4 crash T he magisterial inquiry into the Porsche supercar crash on October 4 last year during the charity activity of Paqpaqli ghall-istrina that injured 23 spectators, three critically, has found the driver of the Porsche car, multi-millionaire Paul Bailey the prime person responsible for the crash that injured dozens during last year s charity collection. The inquiry also found the organising committee as partly to blame for not taking enough health and safety measures in the circumstances. Outlining the conclusions of the 1,700-page inquiry, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said it would not be fair to put all 11 members of the organising committee in the same basket when it comes responsibility. It will be up to the prosecution to determine the responsibilities. The inquiry that was led by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, said Paul Bailey wasn t a professional driver and the supercar crash was a result of lack of handling techniques and corrective measures. The driver of the supercar suffered grievous injuries. Two others suffered grievous injuries, with one of them still in hospital. There is an arrangement that after the inquiry, Paul Bailey, who had been allowed to return to his home after the accident, would come back to Malta voluntarily. The inquiry found that President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca was not involved in the organisation of the event. Therefore she cannot be held responsible for what happened and has no criminal responsibility. An inmate who died in Mater Dei Hospital, the victim of an outbreak of influenza at Corradino Correctional Facility, was the subject of a press briefing by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela and Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne. The Minister explained that the 58-year-old inmate from Marsaxlokk was discovered Following the resignation of Michael Falzon, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat named Dr Deborah Schembri as the new Parliamentary Secretary for lands. Her portfolio now includes lands and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Dr Falzon, who became the second member of the Cabinet to lose his job in this administration, resigned his post in the wake of a damning report by the National Audit Office, NAO, that found he had exercised no safeguard for government s interest in expropriating a 50% stake of a Valletta property owned by businessman Marco Gaffarena who had been compensated with 1.65 million, for properties he had bought for little more than 150,000. At a press conference, while describing the NAO report as a condemnation on the Lands Department s operations, the Prime Minister said he had accepted Falzon s resignation. At the same time he said that operations at the Lands Department had stopped and forwarded the NAO findings to the Attorney General for his review of whether any further action was required. He added that the lands given to Gaffarena in the socalled Old Mint Street expropriation deal Inmate victim of flu outbreak at Correctional Facility The President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca presiding over the Swearing-in Ceremony of the new Parliamentary Secretary Dr Deborah Schembri. Also pictured: PM Joseph Muscat (extreme right) and Attorney General Peter Grech (first left) Female lawyer Schembri named as new Paliamentary Secretary for Lands struggling to breathe in his prison cell on January 24 and rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed as suffering from influenza. He died on Thursday. A magisterial inquiry was launched and an autopsy is being carried out. Three other inmates were later also admitted to hospital, one of them to the ITU with similar symptoms were to be taken back by government. As such he filed a court case against the businessman and his wife and requested the Court to annul the transactions. The court was asked to revoke all transfers made in terms of two expropriation contracts, and to order the Gaffarenas to return all assets to government. The PM further announced his plan to transform the department into an authority. President calls for special unit to help prisoners President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has called for the setting up of a special family intervention unit in prison to look after the relationships of prisoners with their relatives that would help those at the end of their term in prison to get back into society. Speaking at a public meeting at the palace in Valletta with the participation of Corin Morgan Armstrong and Mark Griffiths who have been involved for many years in contact between prisoner and their families in a number of countries, she said that because of the difficulties they face within society, 75% of prisoners tend to commit crimes again when they leave prison. She explained that these situations lead to enormous hardships for the families, particularly children, therefore the special unit could help in their reintegration.

13 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 13 Roundup of News About Malta IMF projects strong outlook for Malta s economy The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects a strong outlook for the Maltese economy, with economic growth expected to remain solid in 2016 and It also notes the robust economic gro-wth that has been recorded by the country s economy, helped by policy initiatives and supported by vibrant domestic demand, large infrastructure projects, and a stable banking sector. In its Staff Report for the 2015 Article IV Consultation, released on Wednesday 20th January 2016, the IMF remarked that growth in this year and the next will be initially driven by domestic demand and then by a gradual recovery of external demand. The Fund also expects the risks to this positive outlook to be balanced and the current account surplus expected to remain. Towards the end of 2015 an IMF team At a meeting of the informal Justice and Home Affairs council in Amsterdam, Malta s Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela called for tangible progress on relocation and return of third country nationals not qualifying for international protection In his intervention, during the meeting that dealt mainly with the fight against terrorism and the current migration situation, Minister Abela underlined the need to make tangible progress in implementing the measures already agreed to such as the decision on relocation and on the return of third country nationals who do not qualify for international protection. He also called for an increased pace in the implementation of the measures agreed with third countries and regions such as in the context of last November s Valletta summit, in particular, that action is needed to prevent migrants embarking on illegal journeys. The ministers also discussed the current concerns relating to safeguarding the Schengen area with Abela stating it was important to preserve the Schengen area while, at the same time, ensuring the security of our citizens. Australian High Commissioner to Malta HE Ms Jane Lambert addressing the guests in the presence of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr George Vella Home Minister discusses fight against terrorism and migration situation in Amsterdam meeting was in Malta for discussions with representatives of the Maltese government, and then issued the report, that acknowledges that unemployment in Malta is at historical lows and that labour participation is increasing. It also noted that measures to enhance female participation are paying off and supporting potential growth. It pointed out the action taken by the Government on multiple fronts, including the judicial and the energy sectors. On the fiscal front, the IMF noted the Government s success in reducing the fiscal deficit and debt and on its progress on the restructuring of stateowned enterprises. In his reaction to the report, Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna, said the Government was pleased to note that its efforts to continue strengthening the country s fiscal governance are in line with the Monetary Fund s s recommendations. We take note of the IMF s recommendation to take policy actions in the financial sector so as to continue strengthening the resilience of banks. We will also continue directing efforts towards raising potential output and thus increasing the productive capacity of the Maltese economy, Minister Scicluna said Australian High Commission in Malta celebrates Australia Day The President of Malta, H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and her husband Edgar were the guests of honour at a reception hosted by the Australian High Commisioner to Malta, H.E. Ms Jane Lambert at her residence in San Pawl tat- Targa on the occasion of the celebration marking the 288th Anniversary of Australia Day on January 26. Ms Lambert addressed the guests with a speech in which she gave a brief history and the significance of the occasion. In her reply, the President not only congratulated Australia for this important milestone, but also mentioned the close and friendly relations between the two countries. Also present among other guests from the Diplomatic Corps, was Malta s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr George Vella and his wife Miriam. Minister Carmelo Abela (arrowed) in a photo call with the other ministers in Amsterdam a With regards to the fight against terrorism, the ministers agreed on the need of continued cooperation among them as the only way to address this threat.

14 14 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Tiddomina r-riωenja ta Segretarju Parlamentari Ftit tal-jiem ilu dak li ddomina l-a barijiet kienet ir-riωenja ta Dr Michael Falzon, Segretarju Parlamentari fl-uffiççju tal-prim Ministru, li ta tu kien jaqa fost kollox id-dipartiment tal-artijiet. Ir-riΩenja tieg u waslet wara li rapport tal- Awditur, ordnat mill-gvern dwar l-esproprjazzjoni ta proprjetà fi Triq Zekka l-belt li kienet tippartieni lin-negozjant Marco Gafferna. Il-kaΩ kollu jdur ma' proprjeta li Gaffarena sar proprjetarju tag ha lura fl Hu xtara 25% mill-bini g al 23,294. F'Jannar 2015 il-gvern esproprja din il-parti tal-bini g al 822,500 fi flus u artijiet. Xahar wara n-negozjant xtara 25% o ra tal-istess bini g allprezz ta' 139,762 biex xahrejn wara, f April, il-gvern esproprija l-istess parti tal-bini g al 822,500 fi flus u artijiet. Skont ir-rapport tal-awditur, Dr Michael Falzon, u Ωew diretturi li ja dmu fid-dipartiment tal-artijiet ma arsux l-interessi tal- Gvern meta sar il-ftehim tal- esproprjazzjoni Proprju meta l-istorja ta Falzon kienet fl-aqwa tag ha are riωultat ta st arri internazzjonali dwar il-koruzzjoni. Ng iduha, li kieku wie ed kellu jixtarr dak kollu li ntqal u nkiteb fil-midja lokali u dak li ntqal mill-oppoωizzjoni Ωgur li wie ed jasal g all-konkluωjoni li Malta tinsab mg arrqa fl-koruzzjoni. G alkemm imbag ad, hawn dawk li jsostnu li l-oppoωizzjoni qed tibni l-istrate ija tag ha fuq il-koruzzjoni, u sa çertu punt fuq l-ambjent, min abba s-suççessi li qed jag mel il-gvern fid-diversi oqsma, l-aktar u l-aktar f dik tal-ekonomija li hija wa da mill-aqwa fll-ewropa, fil-qasam tas-sa a, fit-turiωmu eçç. Imma jidher li l-affarijiet mhumiex daqshekk çari. F rapport li n are mill-organizzazzjoni 'Transparency International', il-'corruption Perceptions Index', li jag ti lista tal-pajjiωi l-inqas korrotti fid-dinja, Malta tpo iet fis-37 post minn 167 pajjiω. Dan meta sen ilu kienet fit-43 pajjiω (minn 175). ma Gafferena. G alkemm Falzon dejjem ça ad li hu g amel xi a a aωina, u anke sfida diversi drabi lill-pn jg id li hu korrott, xi a a li l- OppoΩizzjoni qatt m'g amlet, huwa xorta wa da rriωenja g ax ass li kellu j orr ir-responsabilta politika tieg u. Mieg u rriωenja wkoll wie ed mid-diretturi msemmi mill-awditur. Id-direttur l-ie or kien irriωenja xi Ωmien qabel. Sintendi, ir-riωenja tas-segretarju Parlamentari ng atat importanza kbira fil-midja. Bilkemm la aq inqara r-rapport tal-awditur u t abbret ir-riωenja tieg u li l-kap tal-oppoωizzjoni ma ffaççjax lill-istampa. Filwaqt li laqa' poωittivament ir-rapport tal- Awditur, Dr Busuttil fakkar li dan kien fuq blinizjattiva tal-oppoωizzjoni, u stqar li: Ir-rapport huwa kundanna kbira fil-gvern ta' Joseph Muscat li jinsab fi kriωi ta' korruzzjoni, u sostna li li f dawn sentejn l-akbar skandli se ew fil-qasam tal-artijiet li jaqa' ta t il-l- Prim Ministru u s-segretarju Parlamentari. Aktar tard Busuttil sa ansitra rrefera g al dan il-kaω b ala l- Mafia ta Kastilja filwaqt li fil-parlament staqsa min kien gawda minn din l-esproprijazzjoni, u l-oppoωizzjoni nsistiet li r-riωenja ta Falzon kien imissa ilha li se et, iωda l-prim Ministru g amel minn kollox biex itawwal iω-ωmien. Min-na a tieg u l-partit Laburista sostna li. Gvern Laburista, ma mexiex b all-gvern Nazzjonalista ta qabel li meta ffaççjat bi skandli, dejjem arab mir-responsabbilità. Skont stqarrija tal-partit Laburista, dan il- Gvern refa ir-responsabbilità. Dan huwa Gvern li ma ja rabx milli jwie eb, dan huwa Prim Ministru li jiddeçiedi, addie or jikser kliemu stess u jibqa jkun negattiv. Meta mbag ad il-prim Ministru feta kawωa l-qorti kontra Marco Gaffarena u martu Josielle biex il-gvern jer a jie u lura l-artijiet mog tija lill-koppja fl-esproprijazzjoni tal-poroprjeta' fi Triq Zekka, il-partit Nazzjonalista sostna li dan kien messu sar xhur ilu. Filwaqt li l-kap tal-oppoωizzjoni sostna li din il-kawωa kienet redikolu u mistennija li tintilef. Mhux se nipprova nikteb dak kollu li se u ntqal dwar dan il-kaω, g ax ma nafx kemm ilpa na rrid, u fuq kollox kemm se jkun hemm qarrejja li se jaqraw kollox. IΩda ta min isemmi, li fost il-ftit, li mhumiex fil-partit Laburista u li qabωu g al Falzon kien hemm l-eks-deputata Laburista Marlene Farrugia. Din sostniet li Falzon kien il-vittma ta sistema msewsa u mdewda fid-dipartiment talartijiet li ilha ejja minn snin ilu. Sostniet li g alkemm hu ma waqqafx din l- istituzzjoni msewsa, xorta refa r-responsabilta` kollha ta dak li kien qed isir u anke ta dak li sar qabel. Anzi kellu jirriωenja qabel, meta l-kaω beda ji i investigat. Kien jag mel afna id g alih u g all-partit li kieku sar hekk. IΩda dan il-gvern, l-ewwel jipprova jg atti u jtawwal, u wara ti i kontrih. Il- ist tal-istorja kollha hu li kif ji ri s-soltu fil-politika Maltija l-istess a a na a taraha bajda u l-o ra tara sewda. Il-Gvern qed i ares lejn ir-riωenja ta Falzon b ala sinjal li hu qed juri bil-fatti li jrid governanza tajba (attwalment wara r-riωenja ta deputat nazzjonalista ftit ilu l-partit Nazzjonalista uωa l-istess fraωi), filwaqt li g all-oppoωizzjoni r-riωenja ta Falzon turi li l-gvern qieg ed fi kriωi ta skandli u korruzzjoni. Il-korruzzjoni Ωdiedet jew naqset? Minn fost il-pajjiωi tal-unjoni Ewropeja hemm tmien pajjiωi, fosthom l-italja u l-greçja, li ew wara Malta. B ala punti fl-indiçi Malta g amlet avvanz ta punt wie ed biss. IΩda dan il-punt Ωgur li huwa ta sorpriωa g al afna, li wara ilbaraxx ta skandli li ssemmew matul is-sena, Ωgur kienu jistennew li Malta mhux talli ma kienetx se tmur il quddiem fil-lista, iωda lura mhux aωin. Skont l-istess st arri, fost l-aktar pajjiωi nodfa hemm il-pajjiωi nordiçi bid-danimarka, il-finlandja u l-isvezja jiksbu l-ewwel tliet postijiet. Minkejja dan, Transparency International sostniet li g alkemm dawn il-pajjiωi jidhru li huma 'nodfa' mill-korruzzjoni, mhux neçessarjament ikun il-kaω b'daqshekk çertezza min abba li w ud minnhom ikunu qed 'jesportaw' il-korruzzjoni. Mela fuq kollox kif jg id il-malti: Kul add g andu xi jxomm ta t g abtu.

15 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 15 Il-Gozo Channel tag mel profitt Il-poplu j ares lejn il-gozo Channel aktar b ala kumpanija li tati servizz milli biex tag mel il-flus. Tant li g al afna snin kienet tag mel it-telf, fosthom fl-2012 b telf ta 1.6miljun. Minn dakinhar g alkemm it-telf, baqa hemm, imma beda jonqos, sakemm issena li g addiet it-telf inbidel fi qlieg... u qlieg mhux aωin tafx, g ax kien ta aktar minn miljun Euro: eωattament 1,014,025. Malli t abbar ir-riωultat poωittiv, millewwel idda let il-politika bl-oppoωizzjoni tg id li l-qlieg sar b mertu tal- idma tal-gvern Nazzjonalista qabel dan inbidel f Marzu tal Ta min il-mertu? Tal-management il- did li mexxa l-gozo Channel minn Marzu 2013? Jew tal-gvern ta qabel li tilef l-elezzjoni fl-istess xahar u sena? A jar ma ng id xejn... g ax biωωejjed g andna polemiçi. L-unika a a li nista ng id hi li jidher li fil-politika kull partit jg id li r-riωultati tajbin saru bis-sa a tieg u u l- Ωiena saru mill-gvern tal- urnata Mix-xena tal- ajja Maltija 2 Xandru l-a bar it-tajba... Hekk qal Kristu, u hekk qal l-isqof t G awdex, Mons Mario Grech, waqt quddiesa dan l-ah ar g all- urnalisti. Sostna hekk: Huwa minnu li fost il- urnalisti hemm dawk li siebhom biss biex iwasslu l-a bar il-kerha. Ma ng idx li m g andniex inkunu nafu bil-kronaka s-sewda, imma din trid tistimulana biex nag mlu xi a a alli neg lbu n-negattiv bit-tajjeb. Meta l- urnaliωmu jirrapporta a bar negattiva, forsi wkoll b mod sensazzjonali, u jieqaf hemm, nibωa li flok ma jkun qed jaqdi lis-soçjetà, dan ikun qed jinqeda bid-dg ufija tal-bniedem g al skopijiet ulterjuri. KaΩi b al dawn ikollhom ri a ta sfruttament u manipulazzjoni. Imma l- urnalist g andu l-missjoni li j abbar a bar tajba. Kieku ng aqqdu l- isforzi tag na biex permezz ta dawn ilmezzi nikkomunikaw il- afna poωittiv li hawn madwarna, mhux biss inkunu nirrikonoxxu t-tajjeb, imma nkunu wkoll nistimulaw lill-o rajn biex ikattru l- id. Kliem tassew sabi u ta min jixtarru, Sfida minn Tifel lill-pulizija Tifel ta 12-il sena li skont il- urnali lokali, nqabad tlett darbiet isuq karozza, mhux talli ma ax tag lima, iωda sa ansitra sfida lillpulizija li qatt m uma se jaqbduh. Fuq il-facebook tieg u ab ritratt ta numru ta karozzi tal-pulizija u fuq ir-ritratt minnhom kiteb: Ma taqbduni qatt!!! (are stampa ta t) Jidher li dan g amel hekk g ax g alkemm il-pulizija rçevew rapporti u sa ansitra ritratti ta dan it-tifel jsuq il-karozza, qatt ma qabduh fil-fatt. Mhux hekk biss, talli tnejn mill-pulizija li rew wara l-karozza li allegament kien qed isuq it-tifel, spiççaw quddiem il-qorti billi ie allegat li meta ar u lit-tifel millkarozza wωaw forza Ωejda Ûwi ijiet fil-knisja imma sfortunatament jidher li ftit huma l- urnalisti li jimxu mieg u. Veru li dan forsi mhux dejjem tort tag hom, billi afna milli jmexxu l- urnalisti jimxu mal-g idut li bad news gets higher ratings and sells more papers than good news. mieg u u we g uh. Il-pulizija konçernati jsostnu li mhux veru we g uh imma l-istess tifel li abat rasu malisteering tal-karozza. Is-sabi a hi li jidher li l-pulizija g andha jdejha marbuta g ax ma jistg ux jakkuωaw littifel fil-qorti g ax g adu ta t l-eta`. Jidher li d-d ul ta diversi li ijiet li jag tu drittijiet odda - fosthom id-divorzju - ftit li xejn effettwaw Ω-Ωwi ijiet li jsiru fil-knejjes. Jekk wie ed i ares lejn l-istatistika jsib li attwalment kien hemm xejra poωittiva fl-g add ta Ωwi ijiet bil-knisja. Kienu qed jonqsu, imm issa Ωdiedu, tant li fl-2015 sar1,458 Ωwie bil-knisja, fosthom 74 koppja li kienu ΩΩeww u biç-çivil u li ddeçidew li jikkonvalidaw it-tie tag hom permezz ta Ωwie bil-knisja. Mit-total irre istrati fl-2015, 1,248 kienu bejn Maltin. Kien hemm ukoll 71 Ωwie bejn Maltin u barranin; 44 bejn Kattoliçi Maltin u Kattoliçi barranin; 22 bejn Kattoliçi Maltin u Insara mhux Kattoliçi barranin; 5 Ωwi ijiet ta Maltin ma barranin li mhumiex Insara. Il-71 minn pajjiωi o ra li fl-2015 ing aqdu fi Ωwie fil-knisja ma Maltin kienu 34 ra el u 37 mara, minn 31 pajjiω differenti, fosthom: mill- Italja u l-ingilterra (bi 11 kull wie ed). Il-qag ad jonqos sew G adu kif abbar li matul l-2015 pajjiωna kellu l-akbar tnaqqis assolut fl-g add ta nies jirre istraw g ax-xog ol g al dawn l- a ar 28 sena. Imqabbel ma sena ilu, il-qg ad naqas b 1,672 persuna. It-tnaqqis fil-qag ad ilu sejjer minn mindu nbidel il-gvern meta kien hemm madwar 7,300 persuna jirre istraw g ax-xog ol. Minn dakinhar il-qag ad naqas b madwar 2,700 persuna, biex issa l-qag ad niωωel g al ftit aktar minn 4,000. Fil-fatt f'diçembru li g adda kien hemm biss 4615 persuna jirre istraw g ax-xog ol. Sintendi l-gvern sostna li dan ir-riωultat juri l- idma tieg u. IΩda min-na a tal-oppoωizzjoni ndaqqet id-diska li dan se g ax il-gvern impjega g add kbir ta addiema mieg u, u g ax ne a lil çerti nies mir-re istru elettorali, eçç, eçç. Ham & Bacon Curers Pty Ltd Proudly manufacturing and supplying Award-winning hams and deli meats Phone (02) Fax (02) admin@zammitham.com Ballandella Road, Pendle Hill NSW

16 16 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Sitting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the Oval Office, Mr. Barack Obama said few countries had as much in common as Australia and America. I want to thank all the people of Australia for the extraordinary hospitality and graciousness that they've shown me every time that I've had a chance to visit your wonderful country, said Mr. Obama at the White House. I'm glad to be able to reciprocate. I will note it is a little bit colder here than it was Down Under. It was in fact minus 5 o as Mr. Turnbull arrived from nearby Blair House, the President's guesthouse. Malcolm Turnbull is the fifth Prime Minister from Australia that the US president has greeted since he took office in The Australian PM noted he had enjoyed productive meetings with US defence and intelligence, but said he was concerned that the alliance combating IS had to improve its online counter-terrorism efforts. Archaic and barbaric though they (the Islamic State) may be, their use regrettably of the Internet is very sophisticated. And so I'm pleased that we're going to be working on even closer collaboration there. A quick glimpse at Australia Australia-US relationship founded on shared values Autralian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull (left) with US President Barack at the Whi- 70 years married C harles Buhagiar and his wife Ethel, both 86 years old from Attwood Victoria (left) are celebrating 70 years of marriage. Both Sliema-born, they married in 1945 in Malta when they were teenagers. and came to Australia in Charles served six years ( ) in the navy. The Maltese couple decided to migrate with the then children, Charles Jr and Elizabeth. In Australia they had four more syblings, Norman, Dorothy, Margaret and Carol. They are now grandparents with 18 grandchildren. te House. It was the fifth Aussie PM that Obama has greeted since he took office in 2008 Our alliance, our relationship is founded not just on national self-interest, not just on economics or kinship, but on shared values. We define our national identities by reference to common political values of freedom, the rule of law, democracy - real democracy, which empowers the majority, but constrains them so as to protect the minority. So we have those strong values in common. He noted he had enjoyed productive meetings with US defence and intelligence, but said he was concerned that the alliance combating IS had to improve its online counter-terrorism efforts. Speaking to the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Turnbull said he rejects the notion that the world order that has been underpinned by the American strength was fraying. He said the greatest period of prosperity and peace on earth - including China s rise - was due to post World War 11 stability that had been forged by the United States. School holidays in NSW are over The summer holidays are over in NSW with nearly 800,000 students back to school. Last Thursday more than 300 new teachers and 42 principals began new roles in public schools across the state. Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said that Schools are getting an extra $113 million of additional needs-based funding this year, while $224 million would be invested to allow more teachers to mentor their colleagues in 2016.

17 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 17 There are around 231,000 Australians in permanent residential aged-care facilities and more than 800,000 Australians access home care services. The number of reported assaults at the facilities has increased by more than 10% to 2625 in a year. Of the reports, 2199 were for alleged or suspected unreasonable use of force, 379 for unlawful sexual contact and 47 for both. The top area of complaints were about health and personal care, including infections; consultation and communication, including internal complaints; physical environment, including call bells and cleaning, and personnel, including staff numbers, training and medication management. The incidents of reports of suspected or alleged assaults was 1.1 per cent and this is consistent with the long term of aged care population. What is going on in the detentions centres paints a picture of depression, desperation and violence at Australia s domestic and overseas detention camps. Asylum seekers have swallowed insect repellant, bashed their heads on the wall and doused their bodies with boiling water in a culture of self-harm that appears that have reached a crises point according to logs kept by the Department of Immigration and Boarder Control covering one year. The United Nations has condemned this tough regime as it raises questions about human rights. They call for the immediate release of children from detention. The data shows that in the year to July there were 188 incidents of self-harm involving asylum seekers at Nauru, about one very two days and 55 self-harm acts in Papua New Guinea s Manus Island. They include detainees swallowing poisons, stuffing teabags down their throats and hanging by bed sheets or other makeshifts nooses. A quick glimpse at Australia Warning about closing doors Age-care facilities and complaints Desperation The NSW Premier Mike Baird (on right) has used his Australia Day address to warn that Australia is at risk of losing its character to antiimmigration politics. I believe strongly we are now at a fork in the road, Mr. Baird said in the address at the 32nd Australia Day lunch at Luna Park Sydney. We are potentially at risk of losing what makes Australia the best place in the world to live because some want to shut our door and avert our eyes. To shut our doors to refugees as some here and around the world are calling for is not our history, not our character. Mr. Baird - whose father, Bruce, was a famously outspoken MP in the Howard government over its asylum seeker policies - made a case for continuing immigration with reference to the story of Sydney lawyer Deng Adult, a former Sudanese child soldier who immigrated to Australia in his teens. He is living proof of what people can achieve when they are given the opportunity and we as a nation share our luck, Mr. Baird said. He reminded us very poignantly in our national anthem are the words 'For those who've come across the sea we've boundless plains to share'. My genuine and honest fear is what will happen to Australia if we shut our doors to people such as Deng, whether it be out of fear or ignorance. We have a choice to continue on the path that brought this nation to where and who we are today, or we can let fear blind us and hate infect us. Mr. Baird used the same address last year to call for an increase in Australia's humanitarian refugee intake. Australia has committed to re-settling about 12,000 refugees from war-torn Syria but the federal government has emphasised that their number will be "hand picked" to avoid fears of terrorism. MICHELLE ROWLAND MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY Proudly serving the areas of: Acacia Gardens, Blacktown*, Girraween, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, Pendle Hill, Prospect*, Quakers Hill*, Riverstone, Rouse Hill*, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie*, Vineyard *Parts of 230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147 Ph: Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au Not until the Queen is dead The debate about the Australian Republic heated up during Australia Day, with General David Morrison vowing to make pushing for a republic one of his priority issues during his tenure as Australian of the Year. Meanwhile Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who led the republic movement to an unsuccessful result at the 1999 referendum has warned that he has no interest in leading the republic cause to another heroic defeat. He said I have no desire to do it again. If you are really committed to Australia becoming a republic then you want to be sure that the manner and the timing of the referendum unites rather than divides Australia He repeated his long held view that success would only follow the death of the Queen. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said just as we should have constitutional recognition of our first Australians we are ready to have an Australian as a head of state. Skewed in favour of the rich According to Oxam, wealth is becoming further concentrated, with a number of people owing the same amount as the bottom half of humanity falling from 288 to 62 in five years. It says a broken economic model underpinned by deregulation, privatisation and financial secrecy has seen the wealth of the richest 62 people jump by 44 percent in five years to $1.76 trillion. The we-alth of the poorest 3.6 billion plunged by 41%. The report says that the big winners in our global economy are those at the top. Our economy system is heavily skewed in their favour. Credit Suisse study revealed that the richest one per cent now have more than the rest of the world. Oxam said that Australian multinational companies, and those that operate here, should be required to publish their profits and taxes paid in every country they operate.

18 18 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Ta tmien snin, tifel li twieled u jg ix iç-çina jappella lill-maltin japprezzaw l-ilsien Malti M inkejja li ma twelidx Malta imma fiç-çina fejn jg ix mal- enituri tieg u li marru ç-çina, fejn ja dem il-missier madwar 11-il sena ilu, Jeremy, tifel ta tmien snin, irnexxilu mhux biss jitkellem il-malti tajjeb imma wkoll jiktbu. Meta Jeremy u missieru Silvano Azzopardi, ori inarjament minn Birkirkara kienu intervistati fuq ir-radju RTK filprogramm ta George Cremona T G omru Qasir, waqt li appella biex il-maltin japprezzaw l-ilsien Malti, it-tifel, li jidher li huwa kburi li kapaçi jitkellem u jikteb bil-malti, spjega li minkejja li fl-iskola ma jitg allimx il-malti, xorta rnexxielu jitg allmu. Jg id li fl-iskola li jattendi afna mhux biss ma jafux li jeωisti l- Malti imma lanqas b Malta. Jeremy nnifsu kapaçi jitkellem tajjeb ukoll bl-ingliω, min- abba li fl-iskola fejn jattendi jitkellmu bl-ingliω, u anke biç-çiniz, li ji i mg allem fl-iskola. Il-Malti tg allmu grazzi g all- e a u l-isforzi tal- enituri tieg u, l-aktar t ommu, li meta tinωel Malta tie u lura mag ha ç-çina kotba tal-letteratura u wkoll il-grammatika Maltija biex uliedhom ikunu jistg u jaqraw u jistudjaw il-malti. Jeremy g andu wkoll uh ie or li l- enituri tieg u adu mag hom meta marru jg ixu ç-çina meta kien g ad g andu biss ames snin. Illum g andu mas-17-il sena u wkoll jaf jitkellem il-malti perfettament. Fil-programm, Jeremy g amel Jeremy f ritratt f parti mill-hekk mag ruf b ala l-great Wall of China mistoqsija retorika meta staqsa, G aliex intom titg allmuh il- Malti? G ax intom Maltin. Jekk ma tafx bil-malti, baωikament m intix Malti. Mela a jar tibdew titg allmu l-malti. Il-missier, Silvano, g amilha çara li kemm hu u wkoll martu minn dejjem kienu determinati li minkejja li qed jg ixu barra minn Malta, littfal tag hom jg allmuhom jitkellmu u anke jiktbu l-malti tajjeb. Ûied jg id li bejniethom fid-dar huma jitkellmu bil-malti u b hekk Jeremy u uh jistg u wkoll jisimg u l-ilsien Malti mitkellem. Barra minhekk, l-omm tqatta Iç-çkejken Jeremy (lemin) flimkien ma missieru Silvano, waqt il-programm ta George Cremona afna in mat-tfal tg allimhom dak li hemm bzonn. A na Maltin u ma xtaqtx li g ax qed na dem x imkien ie or it-tfal tieg i ma jkunux jafu bil-malti, qal il-missier. Silvano jissorprendi ru u meta ji i Malta u jisma nies Maltin ikellmu lit-tfal tag hom bl-ingliω. Ma tantx in ossni tajjeb, g ax ng id, mela hawnhekk qeg din Malta, u n-nies kultant ikellmu lit-tfal tag hom bl-ingliω. Il-lingwa tag na g andha tkun xi a a li g andna nkunu kburin biha u nitkellmuha u niktbuha tajjeb. Lit-tfal tag na g andna ng allmuhom l-istess affarijiet. Fil-fehma tieg u il-maltin g andhom jag mlu kull sforz biex jitkellmu u jiktbu bil-malti tajjeb. Spjega li fiç-çina mhu façli xejn g ax fl-iskola ma jitg allmux il-malti. Ji ifieri hu biss iddar li t-tfal jitkellmu l-malti u jistudjawh biss id-dar, flimkien mal- enituri. Dan jag mluh g al ftit sieghat fil- img a, baωikament is-sibt jew il-óadd. Hemm isibu l- in li jitg allmu l-malti g al forsi xi sag tejn meta l-omm tag mel ilitha biex t arri hom fil-malti. Mhu façli xejn g ax dan ikun apparti mill-homework normali tag hom. Hu wkoll sforz g alina g alkemm aktar g all-mara. Lit-tfal jg idulhom li mhux biss g andhom jitkellmu l-malti imma hemm ukoll il- tie a li jkunu jafu wkoll jiktbuh. G ax il-malti mhux facli li tiktbu, g alhekk hu importanti li anke jitg allmu l-grammatika tajjeb. Fl-a harnett f appell lill- enituri li forsi jkun hemm minnhom li jippreferu jkellmu lit-tfal tag hom b ilsien ie or minflok bil-malti, Silvano qal li forsi meta tkun Malta ma tapprezzax daqshekk l-affarijiet Maltin. G andna g ax inkunu kburin li a na Maltin. G andna hafna storja u kultura. Issokta jg id li meta qed jg ixu tant bog ob minn Malta wie ed japprezza aktar il-lingwa Maltija, ilkultura Maltija u dak kollu li hu Malti. G alhekk meta ji i bilfamilja f Malta anke je odhom iωuru l-muωewijiet. G andna g ax inkunu kburin li a na Maltin. G andna afna storja u kultura. Apprezzaw dak li g andna, temm jg id Silvano.

19 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 19 Biex tikteb Malti tajjeb Il-konjugazzjoni tal-verbi (Mudelli) Se nissoktaw bl-eωempji, jew mudelli fil-konjugazzjoni tal-verbi li bdejna fl-ah ar ar a billi llum nittrattaw xi verbi hekk mag rufa b ala Torox. se nittrattawhom fil-mod IMPERATIV u wkoll INDIKATIV, kemm fl-imperfett (li juri g emil li g adu ma twettaqx), u wkoll fil-perfett (li juri g emil li twettaq). Verbi Torox ÓABB GÓADD MOD IMPERATIV abb g odd Jiena Inti Huwa Hija Ahna Intom Huma Jiena Inti Huwa Hija Ahna Intom Huma MOD INDIKATIV IMPERFETT n obb t obb j obb t obb n obbu t obbu j obbu PERFETT abbejt abbejt abb abbet abbejna abbejtu abbew ng odd tg odd jg odd tg odd ng oddu tg oddu jg oddu g addejt g addejt g add g addet g addejna g addejtu g addew (Fil- ar a li jmiss nittrattaw il-verbi Dg ajfin u Kwadrilitteri PoeΩija dwar ir-ra al G awdxi tal-munxar (li b ala l-qaddis Patrun tieg u g andu lil San Pawl Nawfragu) Jekk intom tfittxu sewwa fil- Web-Site tal-munxar, issibu nformazzjoni g all-kbar w anke g aω-ωg ar. Sewwa illi titg allem fuq dak li tixtieq qalbek; tkun iblah jekk int tbarri lil Ra al art twelidek! Il-kbir Missierna Pawlu Patrun ta dan ir-ra al fi triqu lejn Damasku waqa minn fuq il-fa al. Tag rif dwar il-kitba Maltija Ta Kristu sar dixxiplu u ma Ωied ça du qatt; Missier il-munxar kollu meqjum Ωgur minn kul add. Fi triqtu lejn Damasku Intlaqat minn ra dawl U vuçi soda qaltlu: G ax qed tinkwetani Sawl! U Sawlu dlonk ittenda Li dik ma kenitx triqtu Lilu l-kuxjenza niggωet; Ma allitux bi kwietu! F din il-pa na sibna wkoll biex ng addu lill-qarrejja tag rif dwar il-kitba Maltija kif ma ru mill-akkademja tal-malti li twaqqfet fl-1920, bil- idma ta' ÌuΩè Muscat Azzopardi, Fran isku Saverju Caruana, Dun Karm Psaila, Ninu Cremona u xi o rajn, u li ori inarjament kienet kellha l-isem ta L-G aqda tal-kittieba tal-malti. Mill-bidu tag ha l-g an tal- G aqda kien li xxerred l-ilsien u l-letteratura Maltija kif ukoll it-tiswir ta' ortografija standard. Fl-1964 mbag ad saret bidla statutorja, u l-g aqda bidlet isimha g all-akkademja tal- Malti, kif g adha mag rufa sal-lum. Illum, l-akkademja, li hi g aqda volontarja, g andha b ala g an ewlieni tag ha li ib 'il quddiem l-istudju akkademiku dwar il-letteratura u l- lingwistika Maltija. Fost l-g anijiet l-o ra hemm li t ares il-jeddijiet tal-ilsien Malti b ala l-lingwa nazzjonali u uffiċjali ta Malta, li to loq kuxjenza favur l-uωu effettiv tal- Malti fl-oqsma kollha tal- ajja u li tibni kuntatt ma' bieb tal- Malti u ma' persuni li juωaw il- Malti barra minn Malta. Dan kollu l-akkademja tag mlu id f id mal-kunsill Nazzjonali tal-ilsien Malti, l-entità tal- Gvern g al-lingwa Maltija, fittwettiq tal-politika lingwistika tieg u g al Malta, kif definit fl- Att dwar l-ilsien Malti. Fi danha, din l-akkademja g andha Kummissjoni li tie u sieb twassal it-tag rif dwar ilkitba bil-malti, li anke ppubblikatu u li huwa mi bur f Ωew taqsimiet, bl-ewwel wa da tittratta l-ortografija jew kif wie ed g andu jikteb sewwa l- Malti, u tag ti fil-qosor ir-regoli tal-ortografija b eωempji u b xi tifsira mag hom. Dawn ir-regoli huma mqassmin f g axart irjus, li huma: 1. L-Alfabett 2. Is-Sillaba 3. L-Aċċent 4. Taqsim tas-sillabi 5. Il- oss u l-aċċent tal-vokali 6. Tiswir il-kelma 7. Il-Le en u l- oss tal-vokali ma xi Konsonanti 8. L-Ittri J u W b ala Konsonanti 9. Id-Dittong 10. G eliem fil-kitba Maltija It-Tieni Taqsima tittratta akta bir-reqqa dwar it-tiswir u l-bini ta kull kelma li tid ol fitta dit Malti. Din it-taqsima hija mag rufa b ala l-morfolo ija tal-ilsien Malti jew Tag lim fuq kif isiru jew jing amlu l- kliem fl-ilsien Malti. Na sb g alhekk li minn Ωmien g al Ωmien, f din ilpa na nwasslu lill-qarrejja xi tag rif imfassal mill- Akkademja dwar issu gett. Sa mal-mulej iltaqa U dlonk bidel it-triq U sar tal- nus Appostlu G al qalb tag na l- allieq! IΩ-Ωag Ωug Said, Naduri, tar-ra al Kappillan, il-mer la b qalbha tg oωωu g ax fih l-aqwa kaptan. Il-Munxar kburi sewwa b Marziena l-fdalijiet; u dan juri li r-ra al g ani fiω-ωmenijiet. MaΩ-Ωmien anke pprovda im u bravi w g aqlin Il-Profs hawnhekk jispikka mhux sempliçi çittadin. Kav Joe M Attard Jannar 2016

20 20 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 19, 2016 Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm. MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, each Friday p.m. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat. MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 ( ): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM Saturdays 6 to 8 a.m. Martese Caruana presents Nostalgia Music; Sundays from am: Il na Maltin. Both available on demand. Follow same procedure as for MCC programmes, except select programe in reference. In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Program on 4EB on Tuesdays am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: Listen to John Borg & Glenn Cassar every Saturday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM or on the Internet - www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND The SBS MALTESE NEWS Community News Meetings of Day Care Maltese Groups in NSW Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month from10:00am to 12 noon. The group meets in the Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights. Maltese Seniors Central Coast You need to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment. For all information and referral matters one should call Censina Cefai: Tel: or Tune In to Radio and Television Isma l-programm tar-radju bil-malti mill-kunsill Malti ta NSW minn fuq l-istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Jista wkoll jinstema On Demand minn fuq l-internet (On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am) Il-programm ta sieg a nhar ta Óadd fil a.m. ikun fih l-a ar a barijiet minn Malta, muωika, tag rif, kultura, avviωi u su etti ta interess g all-maltin On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13: fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38. The radio programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app. For television news from Malta - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am. VIVA MALTA VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired on Thursdays every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm. (Next on Feb.11 and 25). Presenter: Nathalie Gatt. Web streaming on: L-A barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2 Daceyville Maltese Seniors Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville. Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Come and join us and make new friends. Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month; Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to am Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm. THE AUSTRALIAN GENIES (We grant wishes for handicap children) FUND RAISING NIGHT Nhar is-sibt 12 ta' Marzu fis-6pm fil-balmoral Hall Function Centre Balmoral Street Blacktown NSW. Divertiment mir-roc A TAC Band, DJ Albert u Kathlyn Vella u hutha. Donazzjoni ta $60. Tfal ta t 12 il-sena nofs prezz. G all iktar tag rif çemplu lil Sam Axiaq: John Zarb: Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Events in 2016 Sunday March 13 Fete Sunday July 3 Lejla Fil-Buskett Sunday October 16 Fete Sunday December 4 Festa Join us on The Voice of the Maltese facebook page: m/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Ongoing: We meet every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm Our Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining. Come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) mobile *(All Groups are Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with the assistance of Multicultural NSW. Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School).

21 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 21 Readers can also request a printed copy of The Voice of The Maltese magazine by post I Community News n response to a number of inquiries, The Voice of the Maltese wishes to advice that we can now supply hard copies in colour of our magazine to our readers at a price. So anybody interested in acquiring copies of the magazine can communicate with us personally or by to: maltesevoice@gmail.com. The magazine can also be delivered by post. As the cost of postage varies one is kindly requested to get in touch with us to work out the details. MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc. Learn Maltese! Classes are available for students from 6 years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials. Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island. Classes at: HORSLEY PARK - SEVEN HILLS - LUDDENHAM For more information and enquiries Phone Or malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme. Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation. Óamrun Association Ltd ABN: Se ji i organizzat: Valentine s Day Show is-sibt 13 ta Frar fis p.m. bid-divertiment ipprovdut minn: Charlie Muscat, u Floor Show mill-country singer, Carmen Cauchi D ul: $10. Il-klabb ikun miftu mill-5.00 p.m. Tistg u tixtru ikel u xorb Malti mill-kcina u l-bar. Tag rif: George Zahra: , jew il-klabb: Se ti i organizzata wkoll: Bus trip g al GRIFFITH Il-Gimg a, s-sibt u l-óadd 26, 27 u 28 ta Frar Prezz: $300 kull persuna (twin share), li jinkludi morning tea, buffett breakfast is-sibt u l-óadd u l-akkomodazzjoni. Il-lunch tridu tixtruh u t allsu g alih. Il-bus titlaq minn dejn il-klabb tal-óamrun il-ìimg a fis am EÛATT. Ni u lura l-óadd g all-5.00 p.m. Jekk tibbukkja u tiddeçiedi li t assar trid iççempel sebg at ijiem qabel... jekk le t allas nofs il-prezz. Aktar tag rif ming nd: George: ; Chris: Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc. The 16th Annual - Quiet Achievers Night of Recognition (Part of NSW Seniors Week) Wednesday, March 16 at 7.30pm at the Annunciation Hall 171 Walters Road Blacktown NSW Awards are given to our Elderly Maltese from NSW as nominated by the Maltese Community Guest Artists for this year Maltese Cultural Association Choir All invited Entrance Free Refreshments served Kull qalb trid o ra Biex tipproduçi magazine b al dan, li wara kollox hu frott tal-passjoni li g andna biex inwasslu t-tag rif lill-maltin barra minn art twelidhom, ma jin tie x biss xog ol u in, imma wkoll spejjeω. Biex jittaffew u ud mill-ispejjeω nippruvaw insibu sponsors alli jg inuna. G ad m g andniex biωωejjed minnhom, imma bdejna, u ta min jag tihom ajr. Kull qalb trid o ra, g alhekk in e u lill-qarrejja biex i ibu dan quddiem g ajnejhom u kemm jista jkun juωaw is-servizzi u/jew jixtru l-prodotti ta dawk li qed jirreklamaw/jisponsorjaw fil-magazine. The Voice: the most popular by far The Voice of the Maltese online magazine is by far the most widely read publication among the Maltese Diaspora, with subscribers from Australia, Canada, the UK England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ieland), Ireland Rep., Belgium, France, Italy, India, the Caribbean island of St Kitts & Nevis. But not only. It is also gaining popularity in Malta and it keeps growing with every issue.

22 22 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 Community News The Maltese Language School of NSW The Maltese Language School of NSW invites applications for Maltese language classes at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre located at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young Street) Mays Hill (next to Parramatta West Public School). Both young and adult students may apply. For more information contact Mary Pace-Feraud on or The Maltese Community Council of NSW is conducting a computer class at Maltese Resource Centre 59b Franklin Street, Mays Hill 2145 NSW every Friday between am For more information contact Em. Camilleri: Lejla M arrija organizzata minn Horsley Park Community Social Group, Horsley Park Għall-iMġarrin u l-ħbieb Nhar is-sibt 27 ta Frar, 2016 f Mandavilla Events Centre Horsley Drive, Horsley Park Divertiment ipprovdut minn: Tony Fenech, Charlie Muscat u Joe Xuereb $65.00 kull persuna. Tinkludi antipasto Malti, ikla ta tliet korsi, birra, inbid, soft drinks te` u kafe`. Ikun hemm: Lucky Door Prize, Raffle, wirja ta ritratti u ħafna iktar. Biex tibbukkja ċempel lil: Theresa Quattromani jew lil Josephine Borg Ejjew niltaqgħu u niddervertu flimkien. Il-qlieg imur g all-cancer Council The Malta Community Chest Fund MALTESE CHARITY DINNER DANCE Saturday July 23, p.m p.m. Grand star receptions 499 Grieve Parade, Altona North. vic 3025 Tickets: Adults $65 Children $40 includes 4-coure meal, soft drinks, beer & wine maltese music - maltese brass band - raffle tickets silent auctions & major grand auction enquiries & tickets: contact daniel ; lourdes ; joe lordan.co@hotmail.com (donations also welcome) Proudly sponsored by: La Valette Social Centre Celebrating feast of St Paul Sunday February 7: 5.00 p.m.: Mass in the main Hall of the Centre at 175 Walters Rd Blacktown accompanied by the La Valette Choir under the direction of Victor Floridia. Afterwards procession with the statue to the chapel accompanied by Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese Band DJ for entertainment: Bar and kitchen will be open IL-ÓADD 14 ta Frar:4.00p.m.: G ana bis-sehem talg annejja minn Malta, France Mifsud (Ta Vestru) u ibnu Ionut kittarrist prim. Jie du sehem ukoll l-aqwa g annejja u kittaristi min Sydney D ul $10 kull persuna. Biljetti millbieb. Il-bar u l-kçina jkunu miftu in. Ejjew u gibu l- bieb. G al aktar tag rif: La Valette: METD OUTINGS th April Apple Picking Bilpin $25/pp - $15/child including morning tea 14th August St Maria Festa Central Coast $35/pp including morning tea 5 11th September Il-Festa tal-vitorja City $25/pp 5th October - 23rd Anniversary Luncheon Please support the Maltese Elderly Thanksgiving Day Committee by attending our fund-raising activities outlined above. For more info, call one of the members: Lina: ; Doris: ; Maggie: ; Maria: metd@live.com.au PO Box 93, Kellyville 2155 L-a barijiet tal-pbs (Malta) G alkemm il-pbs ta Malta tforni lill-sbs fl-awstralja bis-servizz tag ha, il-qarrejja huma m e a biex x in iridu jid lu fil-website: u jsegwu l-a barijiet ta Malta minn hemmhekk. Il-website tkun a ornata l- in kollu bi stejjer li jkunu qed ise u.

23 Tuesday February 2, 2016 The Voice of the Maltese 23 S p o r t s 1 FFA announces additional officials for 2016 Finals Series Following a successful two-year trial in the Westfield FFA Cup, Football Federation Australia (FFA) will introduce 5th and 6th officials to matches in the Hyundai A- League and Westfield W- League 2016 Finals Series. The two extra match officials will be positioned on the goal line at each end of the field to assist referees with decisions in and around the penalty area, including penalty calls and decisions about whether the ball has crossed the line for a goal. The presence of the 5th and 6th officials in the Westfield FFA Cup offered great assistance to the referee with numerous correct decisions made by the referee after consultation with the 5th/6th officials. Damien de Bohun, the head of the Hyundai A-League said: FFA will introduce 5th and 6th officials to assist the existing match officials during the upcoming Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League 2016 Finals Series. The technical standard and speed of play in the A- League goes up every season and this places additional demands on match officials. Referees continue to improve as well thanks to additional coaching and fitness programmes but in the splitsecond available to make decisions in and around the penalty area the extra set of eyes is extremely valuable. The 5th and 6th officials will be appointed from the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League referees panel, which consists of Chris Beath, Matthew Conger, Strebre Delovski, Shaun Evans, Adam Fielding, Jarred Gillett, Peter Green, Kris Griffith-Jones, Stephen Lucas, Alan Milliner and Ben Williams. The introduction of the 5th and 6th officials for the Finals Series is the latest initiative aimed at assisting match officials, following the introduction of three full time professional referees for the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Season. FFA is constantly seeking improvements to enhance the A-League and is committed to giving the match officials as much assistance as possible to allow the referee to make correct decisions on the football field, de Bohun said. FFA trialled the 5th and 6th officials during the Westfield FFA Cup and having an extra two match officials in the critical area around the penalty area and goal was crucial in the referees making a noticeable number of correct decisions. This trial will continue in the W-League Final Series, which gets underway next weekend. FFA has also made a submission to FIFA on a trial of video replays to assist match officials. One of the two extra officials standing on the goal line. The A- League will have similar ones What do the 5th and 6th officials actually do? Most of those following European football particularly, must have seen them, standing behind the goals with their mystical batons looking intently at the action that goes on inside the penalty area but then when it comes to decisions they appear to disappear. What is it that these officials actually do for modern football? It all started in the 2009/10 season in the Europa League group stages where these two extra officials were placed behind the goal lines to ensure that the Laws of the Game are upheld, informing the referee of incidents of any kind that he may otherwise have missed, particularly in key areas of the field like the penalty area and its surroundings. Some spectators might say that they have never once seen these officials inform the referee of incidents. Given the amount of controversial penalties and decisions that are given, or more often than not in today s game the ones that are missed some would argue that surely, the decision should be made to either train these officials to the point where they feel comfortable making these big decisions and have them present in all leagues world-wide or simply scrap them. One would completely understand the principle of them being there because in theory they benefit modern football ten-fold. On paper these officials would cut out decisions like, for example, Bayern Leverkusen s ghost goal against Hoffenheim a few years ago in the German Bundesliga that clearly went through a hole in the side netting of the goal but was still given and at the time sent them top of the league. It was a very serious incident that clearly had massive benefits to Bayern Leverkusen that potentially could have been correctly ruled out with the assistance of these extra officials. But it also has to be said that not everything works as well in practice as it does on paper though and this is one of those things. It doesn t mean that it can t work though. Football is changing especially with the introduction of goal line technology so who knows, in a few years time one might see officials behind goals overruling incidents like diving and goal line technology preventing ghost goals. It would almost be like a brand new sport. It would be interesting what impact these two added officials to be introduced by the FFA would have on the game in Australia.

24 24 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday February 2, 2016 S p o r t s 2 Australia A-League Western Sydney Wanderers held off a fast-finishing Melbourne City to win a pulsating Day 17 top-ofthe-table clash at Pirtek Stadium by 4-3 that enabled them to hold on to their two-point lead over Bribane Roar and widen the gap over third-placed City to five points. The Wanderers looked to be cruising as they raced to a 3-0 lead with less than 25 minutes remaining. But City weren t done, scoring twice in two minutes to set up a frantic finish. They then scored a third. It also means that the Wanderers have extended their unbeaten home run against Melbourne City to six matches, while despite being on the wrong end of the score, City had more shots at goal than the Wanderers at After two disappointing results, Brisbane returned to winning ways by beating Sydney FC away by 3-1. It helped them stay on the tail of the leaders. Sydney s loss means that for the first time this season they have lost back-to-back games. Defending A-League Champions Melbourne Victory again disappointed in a 2-3 defeat away to Perth Glory who seem to have found their true form in their last two outings, first by humiliating Newcatle 6-1 away and then also defeating the Victory. At the end of Day 17, Sydney Wanderers lead the league ladder with 33 points followed by Brisbane (31) and Melbourne City (28). WSW just scrape through after taking 3-goal lead Latest results Day 17 West. Sydney v Melbourne C. Sydney FC v Brisbane R. Perth Glory v Melbourne V. Adelaide v Newcastle J. Wellington P. v Central Coast Day 16 Brisbane R. v Adelaide U. Central Coast v West. Sydney Melbourne C. v Wellington Melbourne V. v Sydney FC Newcastle v Perth Glory Malta s Premier League Football Newly promoted St Andrews had lost all their matches before facing champions Hibernians, so nobody expected them to fare any better in their 20th league outing. But they held them to a 2-2 draw. On the last day of the transfer window Hibernians signed goalkeeper Justin Haber from Birkirkara. Thanks to a hardwon 3-2 success over Pembroke that followed the 2-1 against Floriana in the previous game, Valletta managed to restore their threepoint lead in the league ladder. Birkirkara drew 0-0 with Floriana and Malta s Steven Camilleri. He finished the Championship s top scorer with 21 goals Eagles General Meet Feb 13 Parramatta Melita Eagles Sports Club Ltd s annual general meeting is to be held at the club rooms Melita Stadium on Saturday February 13 at 1.00 p.m. Membership may be renewed before the meeting. More information: Stephen Ellul: RESULTS: Round Valletta v Pembroke Hibernians v St Andrews Birkirkara v Floriana Balzan v Sliema W. Tarxien R. v Mosta Naxxar L. v Qormi Round 19 Valletta v Floriana Hibernians v Qormi Birkirkara v Sliema W. Pembroke v Tarxien R. Balzan v St Andrews Mosta v Naxxar L European Waterpolo Championships Malta beats Turkey to finish in 15 place th Steven Camilleri is event s top scorer with 21 goals On its debut at a European Championship final, Malta recorded its first victory in history at this year s event in Belgrade to finish in 15th place overall. Malta obtained the placing by virtue of a victory in a penalty shoot-out for 15th/16th place against Turkey. The two teams tied 10-all at the end of normal time, then Malta won 4-3 on penalties. The Championship proved to be a personal triumph for Malta s Steven Camilleri who finished top scorer with 21 goals, two more than Hungary s Denes Varga. The event was won for the third time by hosts Serbia who beat Montenegro in a close final by 10-8 Hibs shocked as St Andrews get first point have not beeen performing that well, but they are still well in the fray, while Balzan have regained their form and are fourth after four successive victories. *Two more matches that were postponed from Round 18 were played during the week with Balzan thrashing Qormi 5-1 and Birkirkara beating wooden-spoonists St Andrews Standing P W D L F A Pts Valletta Hibernians Birkirkara Balzan Floriana Tarxien R Mosta Sliema W Pembroke Naxxar Qormi St Andrews Michael Mifsud back with Valletta hoping to win a third League title There have been a number of transfers, mostly with clubs signing or exchanging foreign players, but the transfer that raised most eyebrows during the January transfer window in Malta was that of Malta international striker Michael Mifsud who rejoined Premier League leaders Valletta from Sliema Wanderers on a two-and-a-half year contract. He obtained his release from Sliema after 18 months. He has scored eight goals for Sliema this season. Malta s all-time top scorer with 40 goals, is a product of Siema Wanderers. He made his debut for the Blues in season season before signing for German club Kaiserslautrn in 2000/01 where he played for their B team and also made his debut for the senior team in the Bundesliga, scoring two goals. He failed to become a regular for the senior side and was released to return to Sliema for the remainder of the season to win the Premier League title with the club. In the summer of 2005, he left Sliema to join Norwegian club Lillestrom, and after declining to renew his contract, in 2007 signed for Coventry City in the Football League Championship in England. At Coventry he impressed in a League Cup match against Manchester United by scoring two goals to eliminate United. In 2009 he was released and joined Barnsley, but soon returned to Malta to join for Valletta. Then after a short spell with Qormi he again signed for Valletta to win his second League title with them in In September 2013 he tried his luck in Australia s A-League with Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City), but failed to impress and was released to return to Malta and sign for Sliema. Now in the twilight of his career he is back at Valletta where coach Paul Zammit hopes he could help the club win its 22nd League title..