Sunday Circle Issue 219

www.sundaycircle.com

MARCH 2013 – ISSUE NO. 219

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE

KING see pages 10 & 14

PLUS

Pornography: harmless fun or guilty pleasure?

By Martina Said – see page 18

Off-Roading in Malta

By Martina Said – see page 56

WIN A LUXURY HOLIDAY TO SANTORINI with ROCS TRAVEL – see page 36

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18

contents INTERVIEWs

REGULARs 2 A Word from the editor 4 c bodY | 6 c stYle | 8 c beAutY 67 PAPArAZZi

10 Not for turNiNg |

sHOPPING

81 stYle & techNologY 82 food & driNK

68

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: MEET SOME OF THE CANDIDATES CONTESTING IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS 2013

SUNDAYCIRCLE.COM COMPETITIONS* 6 WIN WITH BAY sTREET win a weekend break at the Bay Street Hotel on bed and breakfast basis with a chocolate hamper from Nestle

39 ROCs TRAVEL COMPETITION win a luxurious trip for two to the Greek island of Santorini

win TWO TICKETS to Rodriguez Jr Live in Malta with sundaycircle.com and Mobilee Malta

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10

The country’s future depends on the security of our finances, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi tells Philip Leone-Ganado

14 the Politics of We

PL Leader Joseph Muscat sets out his vision for a united Malta – but will this be enough to make him Prime Minister?

50 the YouNg ecoNomist

PN candidate Kristy Debono tells Katryna Storace that her party alone can steer Malta safely through the next five years of government

52 strAight tAlKiNg

Labour candidate Helena Dalli speaks to Philip Leone-Ganado about the issues facing women and the changing face of the PL

54 the voice of differeNce

Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson Angele Deguara speaks to Martina Said about issues, women in politics and her determination to make her voice heard

sEX

18 A NAKed truth

Harmless fun or guilty pleasure? Martina Said lifts the covers on pornography

sOCIETY

24 the hiPster fActor

Rachel Agius takes a closer look at modern hipsters – a movement that is defining a generation

TRAVEL

36 stuNNiNg sANtoriNi

We take a look at the beautiful Greek island of Santorini, offering a lucky reader the holiday of a lifetime with Sunday Circle and ROCS Travel

POLITICs

45 the vAlue of the vote

Does your vote count? Philip Leone-Ganado investigates

sPORTs

56 A rocKY ride

Off-roading in Malta has had its fair share of controversy, but as Martina Said discovers, it refuses to be tamed

MUsIC

61 While mY guitAr geNtlY WeePs Composer Gordon Mizzi speaks to Katryna Storace about his collaboration with classical guitarist Carlos Bonell and his love of everything musical

HEALTH & BEAUTY

43 KeeP oN smilNg

GAMING

Dental and Implant surgeon Jean Paul Demajo answers some questions about replacing a full set of teeth

Poker requires skill and mental endurance. Philip Leone-Ganado looks at the intriguing world of professional poker

Consultant plastic surgeon Raymond Debono takes a modern approach to facelift surgery

29 A WiNNiNg hANd

88 fightiNg off AgeiNg

Send your letterS to: Katryna Storace, the editor, Sunday Circle, Network Publications Ltd, Level 2, Angelica Court, Guzeppi Cali Street, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1425, or email: katryna@ networkpublications.com.mt The editor reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and where space is limited. For advertising enquiries email: renee@networkpublications.com.mt or call: 2131 6326/7/8. Artworks should be sent to: natalie@networkpublications.com.mt. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole, or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed in the Sunday Circle are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the editor and publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, but cannot be returned without a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The editor is not responsible for material submitted for consideration. The Sunday Circle is printed by Progress Press and distributed free with The Sunday Times every month.

A word from the editor It’s a week until elections and needless to say, politics is on all our minds. On our roads and in the bars, our television sets and social networking sites, it looms like a giant question over our collective conscience: who will take the helm and govern the country for the next five years? It’s been a long campaign, characterised by the good, the bad and the ugly. We’ve seen corruption scandals bubble to the surface, watched heated debates between candidates and witnessed the rise and fall of various individuals along the way. And in the midst of it all, we’ve tried to grapple with the true definition of what it means to belong to one party or the other, at a time when labels no longer fit as comfortably as they once did. This, says Joseph Muscat, is entirely in the spirit of Labour’s campaign. The

electoral slogan “Malta Taghna Lkoll” calls for an end to that which divides us, professes a new way forward and opens the floor to issues that previously took the backseat in political fora.

Lawrence Gonzi, meanwhile, reinforces the PN’s “Futur fis-Sod”, saying that everything rests with those decisions taken in relation to our economy. The interviews – placed back-to-back – offer a closer look at these issues in the words of Gonzi and Muscat respectively. We also saw it fit to speak to three candidates – Kristy Debono (PN), Helena Dalli (PL) and Angele Deguara (AD) – to get the female perspective on the campaigns of all three contending parties. Ultimately, the final decision rests with us. So here’s to the final week on the political battlefield – and may the best man win.

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MARCH 2013 – ISSUE NO. 219

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE

KING

PUBLICATION & SALES MANAGER EDITORIAL

Sasha Miceli Demajo

EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR

Philip Leone-Ganado ASSISTANT EDITOR

COVER

.

PLUS

Pornography: harmless fun or guilty pleasure?

By Martina Said – see page 18

Off-Roading in Malta

By Martina Said – see page 56

WIN A LUXURY HOLIDAY TO SANTORINI with ROCS TRAVEL – see page 36

SALES & MARKETING Marisa Schembri

Martina Said

Scan here with your smartphone or tablet

Jessica Camilleri Sarah Scicluna

Renée Micallef Decesare Katryna Storace

see pages 10 & 14

ART & DESIGN

Sarah Scicluna ARTWORK DESIGN

FEATURES SALES MANAGER SUPPLEMENTS SALES MANAGER

Jessica Borg SUPPLEMENTS SALES COORDINATOR

Natalie Vella SALES ADMINISTRATOR

WEB Lexi Busuttil Martina Urso

ExclusivEly DistributED by c+M MarkEting ltD, tEl: 21424079; 21424080

Body SHAdES oF SPRING

Rouge Eclat is Clarins’ new collection for spring, inspired by the iris flower. Lips whisper youth with an age-defying lipstick that comes in 15 shades. Skin gets a petal-fresh finish with Clarins’ compact of ultra-fine powders for a matte yet radiant complexion or a natural pink glow. Eyes seduce in incurably romantic hues of iris blossom with Iris Blossom Eye Quartet Mineral Palette.

Clarins’ Spring Collection is available from the Clarins Beauty Centre, Ta’ Xbiex. Tel: 2133 9256, 2133 8404 and Clarins authorised outlets.

Clarins products are exclusively distributed by von Brockdorff Imports Ltd.

INTENSELy MASCULINE

Bvlgari Man Extreme is elegant, deep, attractive and intense. It excites with its composition starting from the first note and luminous accords of pink grapefruit and Calabrian bergamot.

Citrusy notes are combined with cactus zest, which highlights the floralspicy heart, followed by white freesia blooms surrounded with cardamom from Guatemala and gently warmed with amber. Elegance in base notes is accentuated with Haiti vetiver, Laoese benzoin and Balsa wood. Exclusively distributed by C+M Marketing Ltd, Tel: 2142 4079.

LASTING CoLoURS

Mavala Colorfix is a top coat to be used on top of nail polish to seal colour and prevent nail polish from cracking whilst giving the nail a nice shine. Mavala Colorfix contains Acryl which forms a hard yet elastic film on top of nail polish, leaving the manicure flexible and prevents nail polish from peeling. All this means that your manicure lasts longer. Apply a new coat two days later to revive the manicure. Exclusively represented by C+M Marketing Ltd. Tel: 2142 4079.

4

Sunday Circle | March 2013

FEMME FATAL

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Classique mixes up genres with the curvaceous diva in a satin corset. The Eau de Toilette combines flowers, spices and ginger – rose, neroli and jasmine, while the vanilla weaves a powdery cloth around it on a velvety weft of amber wood.

Venus has become Minerva, the orchid has replaced the bitter orange and the endnote is almost unchanged. The effect is dense and bewitching. Classique Eau de parfum was conceived to make women swoon, and the bottle, half frosted, half clear, embodies the woman down to the last detail. Exclusively represented by C+M Marketing Ltd. Tel: 2142 4079.

EXTREME SENSUALITy

Roberto Cavalli launched a new fragrance named Just Cavalli for Her, the second in collaboration with the house of Coty. It is described as creamy-floral and sexy – top notes offer luminous drops of neroli, announcing the sexy heart created of Tahitian tiare flowers, along with warm rosewood accords in the base.

The fragrance is available in a pink glass bottle covered with goldcolor metal. Fragrance Just Cavalli is available as 30, 50 and 75ml Eau de Toillete accompanied with 150 ml body lotion and 150ml shower gel. Roberto Cavalli fragrances are distributed by Club.

STYLE EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN

The Rug Company’s new collection designed

by Jonathan Adler has arrived. Part of the new Studio Collection, the designs are a masterclass in colour and graphic design, but at affordable prices. Bursting with character, Adler’s passion for colour will uplift any interior. The rugs are handmade in Nepal using Tibetan wool, the thick lustrous threads creating a wonderfully dense texture. The Rug Company also offers a home approval service so you can try the rugs at home first. The Rug Company Area F, Blue Harbour Business Centre, Ta’Xbiex, Tel: +356 2132 4990, www.therugcompany.com.

MUSIC MANIA

SPORT APPEAL

The Suzuki Swift Sport is now in Malta. The Swift Sport is a super car that knows how to handle itself. The car is street wise, agile, safe and most of all has great sport styling. Put the fun back into driving with this award winning car. Visit www.suzuki.com.mt, call 2596 9641/3 to book your test drive today or visit the Industrial Motors Showroom located on National Road Blata L-Bajda.

Olimpus Music shop is the one and only music one-stop-store. In their new store in Valletta Road, Mosta, you can see on display anything that your musical mind has ever dreamed of, including the world’s best-selling acoustic electric guitar, the 500-series, which embodies the pure spirit of Yamaha guitars. It is the perfect balance of performance, value and dependability. The new 500II models feature all-new pickup systems with a more powerful, dynamic tone and upgraded cosmetics that combine on-stage attitude with refined, timeless good looks. Tel: 2133 2093

REVAMPED STYLE

As we step into a new season, Fred Perry Sliema steps into a whole new shop. Fred Perry has been relocated from the current level 2 store in Saint Anne Square to a stylish new basement shop, within the same building, just in time to show off the new spring/summer collection and it’s certainly not a shy one – inspired by British pop culture, colours are bold and graphic prints are bright. Fred Perry is defiantly making a statement this summer. Visit the new shop located at -1 level entrance from ground level at The Warehouse.

CHOCOLATE PARADISE

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the theme of this year’s chocolate fest being hosted at Bay Street Complex from Saturday 30th March to Sunday 7th April. Every day from noon until 6pm, visitors can enjoy a range of stalls, entertainment and displays – the main attraction being Malta’s largest chocolate tree, sponsored by Nestlé. Other attractions include Nestlé chocolate painting, a long chocolate collage, body painting and specialist praline chocolate making. Children can enjoy a meet and greet with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory characters. Master Chocolatier Andrew Farrugia will be creating chocolate centrepieces and chocolate cocktails expert Richard Pons will be serving some of his creations.

Shoppers can win prizes sponsored by Travel Issa, Hamilton Travel, Nestlé and Junior’s Fun and Learn Centre and include Disneyland Paris accommodation, weekend breaks, travel vouchers and Nestlé hampers and children’s toys. For more information phone 2138 4421. Log on to sundaycircle.com to win a weekend break at Bay Street.

6

Sunday Circle | March 2013

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BEAUTY

TRANSFORMING POWER

Joico understands the power to transform and was relaunched in February in Malta with a new product portfolio providing customers with the perfect product mix, new and colorful brand images, new design to the already iconic packaging and a new brand promise to make people feel good. Joico gives hair stylists and consumers the power to make heads turn. Salon Services, “Somnium”, Triq it-Torri, Swatar, Birkirkara, Tel: +356 2258 1731 Email: info@salonsmalta.com.

ALL THINGS BEAUTY

This unique boutique outlet offers a one-stop perfumery, cosmetic, skin care and nail care shop with brands from the world’s leading perfumeries and cosmetic houses. Customers can drop in for a free make-up, skin care and nail consultation or enjoy a manicure for as little as €12.00 using Mavala products and Artistic Colour Gloss 3-week nail polish. Special offers on top fragrances are ongoing at House of Beauty. House of Beauty, 39, Main Street, St Julians. Tel: 2704 0535.

TOTAL RELAXATION

Discover Myoka Spas where you and your partner can drift away and enjoy quality time with one another. Whether you take your special someone, your best friend or even decide to go solo, you’ll definitely be showing your body some love, which is exactly what it deserves. Clients will be provided with luxurious bathrobes, slippers & towelling, the use of the 5-star spa experiences including indoor heated pools, sauna and steam rooms for the day.

Visit www.myoka.com, Tel: 2137 0163.

IN SAFE HANDS

Building on more than twelve years laser hair removal experience, Estetika now introduces a brand new revolutionary concept in laser hair removal to Malta – the Estetika Laser Card, which offers unlimited treatments throughout the whole year on as many areas of your body as you wish, without paying anything extra.

Every treatment is applied by a dedicated medical practitioner in a well appointed clinic, so you can rest assured that you are in safe hands every time. Terms & Conditions apply.

Estetika, 66, Dingli Street, Sliema 2134 0503, www.estetika.com.mt.

SALE ALERT REFRESHING SKIN

Thanks to Guinot’s Mousse Bioxygene, the skin breathes again after just a few days.

Bioxygene recreates skin that is more beautiful and comfortable and the complexion appears more youthful and healthy looking. The skin feels refreshed and becomes radiant. Guinot’s Mousse Bioxygene contains no artificial colouring agents, is paraben-free and is not tested on animals.

Apply morning and/or evening to the face and neck after cleansing. For more information contact PHBS ltd. on 21 424 401/2/3 or email on info@phbsmalta.com.

8

Sunday Circle | March 2013

The red hot sale at Inglot is running until March 9 and the world’s leading cosmetic brand has a 2 for 1 sale, limited to selected stock items such as pure pigment eye shadows, lip paints, lip duos selected pro3 freedom system palettes and pro 5 freedom system palettes. For more information contact Inglot on 20151410, www.inglotmalta.com or visit our store at the Strand, Sliema. Also, buy any item at Perfumes & More until March 8 and get the other item at 50 per cent off. For more information contact Perfumes & More on 20151617 or manager@perfumesandmore.com.mt.

INTERVIEW

10 Sunday Circle | March 2013

INTERVIEW

Not for

TURNING

The counTry’s fuTure depends on The securiTy of our finances, prime minisTer Lawrence Gonzi TeLLs phiLip Leone-Ganado. wiTh under a week LefT unTiL The march GeneraL eLecTions, iT’s Time for maLTa To make a choice Photography by Steve Muliett -§- Art Direction by John Mizzi

I

n the Cabinet meeting room at Castille Palace, eleven portraits hang on the wall.

Painted when the sitter leaves office, they tell the story of an extremely select group: those men who have led our country as Prime Minister. For your image to hang in such distinguished company must be an unthought-of honour for any politician, but one man in particular – the current incumbent, Dr Lawrence Gonzi – is hoping his appointment with the portrait painter can be staved off for a few more years.

We are sitting in the Prime Minister’s office on a Saturday evening, three weeks from Election Day. Even at this late hour, I’m lucky to get an hour in Dr Gonzi’s schedule. “I don’t usually find it difficult to relax,” he says. “I always find an hourand-a-half after lunch to relax and catch up on the news. But during this election campaign...” He laughs. “Not so much.”

With the country gearing up to go to the polls, the choice facing Malta dominates our conversation.

“On 9 March we will conclude our term of office,” says Dr Gonzi, with a matter-of-factness that belies the stresses of a drawn-out contest. “It has been a difficult five years, but we will deliver a country that is stronger, more developed, and more beautiful than it was five years ago. Then the electorate has to choose: to whom shall we entrust this country?”

It’s a statesman’s outlook – stark and detached – but Dr Gonzi is also a politician. “Of course, I’m trying my best to persuade the electorate to

choose me and my party,” he says. “We have a good programme and a good track-record. We have faced a number of difficulties – the financial crisis, the Arab Spring – all of which militated against us, but we’ve come through with flying colours and we have a good story to tell.”

The Prime Minister recalls the immense stresses of the period between 2008 and 2009 when, newly re-elected, he was tasked with steering Malta through a massive global recession. “We had major employers threatening to shut up shop,” he remembers. “It would have cost us thousands of jobs. But with conviction, hard work, and difficult choices, we managed to intervene and save the day. And today, I think: my goodness, we managed to do something in Malta that many larger countries did not.”

He rejects outright the suggestion that his absolute emphasis on keeping Malta’s finances on solid ground has meant he has lost focus of other issues. “Everything else is secondary,” he says, with a conviction that makes you feel this answer has been gestating for months. “I’ve seen Prime Ministers, friends of mine, frustrated and humiliated by the instability and unemployment in their countries; I want to do my best to ensure that never happens to this island of ours. If we get the economy right, everything else follows.”

Issues like civil rights are important, he agrees, but without a job to fall back on, are nothing more than a point of principle. “Do not miss the wood for the trees,” he advises. “It’s all about the economy, it’s all about jobs.”

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 11

INTERVIEW

“

I disagree fundamentally with what Joseph Muscat is proposing.

I think he’ll make the wrong choices.

You cannot promise everything to everyone

Among the greatest successes of his term, Dr Gonzi points also to his government’s handling of the crisis in Libya. “We were in a very difficult situation,” he says, nearly two years to the day since two Libyan fighter pilots fled to Malta rather than bomb their own people, “but our values won the day. I am very proud of the fact that we took a very principled stand, even when things were difficult. What we did took moral courage.”

the realities of the job. “There’s simply no comparison. Being PM means the buck stops with you. You’re taking decisions that will impact the country for the present and for the future, sometimes long-term.” Dr Gonzi feels that he has shouldered that enormous responsibility to the very best of his abilities, and what keeps him going, in fact, is the thought that the decisions he is taking are making a real difference in people’s lives.

For the first time ever, my party has delivered a careful analysis to prove that all our promises are actually attainable, assuming a medium growth of our economy Has he made mistakes? “Oh, there are always going to be mistakes,” he says dismissively, “but hindsight is just a nice pastime.” He admits that there are issues he wishes he had handled better, mentioning the public transport reform and the honoraria increase in particular.

“There are always regrets. Had the pressure been less, those mistakes could have been avoided. But people forget the enormous pressure we had to face, pressure that saw other countries collapse while we stood fast.”

It has been nine years since Dr Gonzi first became Prime Minister and, looking back, he believes not even a lifetime in frontline politics could have prepared him for 12 Sunday Circle | March 2013

But taking on the top job also means becoming one of the most public figures on the island, and opening yourself up to sometimes scathing criticism. “Criticism does hurt, especially when it’s unfair,” Dr Gonzi admits, “but you quickly develop a thick skin.” Has he adapted as well to another aspect of public life: the increased levels of stage-managing that he is required to submit himself to? “Well, I’ve been forced to,” he laughs, with a quick glance over at the press officer sitting beside us. “It’s not something I sit comfortably with, but it’s a necessary reality.” But no matter how convincing the trappings of state, he says, the truth will out. “If something’s going wrong, you can’t

”

pretend it’s right, and if it’s right, I genuinely believe the electorate will notice that.”

Similarly, Dr Gonzi believes that the substance that underpins his party’s electoral programme will not go unnoticed by the voting public, and dismisses claims that the election has grown increasingly populist. “For the first time ever, my party has delivered a careful analysis to prove that all our promises are actually attainable, assuming a medium growth of our economy.” Moreover, the implementation of the entire programme is tied to a clear goal: a budget surplus by 2016.

“All this is part of a carefully-considered economic plan,” says Dr Gonzi, growing uncharacteristically animated as he trains his sights on the Opposition. “I disagree fundamentally with what Joseph Muscat is proposing. I think he’ll make the wrong choices. You cannot promise everything to everyone. Millions of Euros of promises. He’s being generous with other people’s money. It’s irresponsible, and it will endanger our finances.”

It all, in the end, comes down to that: security of finance. The future is as bright as it is challenging, says Dr Lawrence Gonzi, and as he prepares to step onto the proving grounds yet again, he does so, as ever, mindful of the storm. “We went through enormous pressure, and came out with our heads held high. Malta enjoys huge respect in the European and international communities, and I am very proud as Prime Minister to have been an author of these results.”

INTERVIEW

14 Sunday Circle | March 2013

INTERVIEW

the PolItIcs of

WE

PL Leader JosePh Muscat sets out his vision for a united MaLta – but wiLL this be enough to Make hiM PriMe Minister?

Text by Philip Leone-Ganado -§- Photography by Steve Muliett

I

t is a familiar narrative: the young challenger uniting a divided people beneath a single banner, calling for the end of the old regime and the dawn of a new age. “The era of traditional political parties is gone,” says Labour Party leader Dr Joseph Muscat, unequivocally. “Any party that doesn’t realise that is drowning. We’ve realised that to be relevant in today’s ever-changing society, parties have to take a secondary role: to be simply a tool of government, an electoral platform for a much wider movement.”

It has been nearly five years since, in the wake of a spectacular electoral defeat, Dr Muscat swept through the Labour Party like a force of nature, changing its image overnight. In place of the clunky, aging MLP, the former MEP crafted the Partit Laburista: a self-declared movement of progressives, liberals and moderates that was slick, modern, and crucially, electable. “Today the PL stands transformed,” he says with more than hint of pride.

“It has rediscovered its social-democratic and liberal values, it has embraced the social market economy, and it looks forward to a new type of politics that is not tied to the past but geared towards the future.”

In a few days, that movement faces a trial by fire, and Dr Muscat has no doubts as to its strength.

“The results speak for themselves,” he says. “So many people are feeling at home within this movement that it can’t be artificial. People feel that the project belongs to them.” He believes the party today has a wider appeal than ever before, and points specifically to the inroads it has made with the middle class. “We’re showing that we’re not a movement of envy but a movement of aspiration.

We’re pleased with people’s success; I think that

transcends class. We’ve transformed this party into a movement of aspiration and social mobility.”

Dr Muscat argues that his party is also the only one with governmental aspirations that can speak for people of a liberal bent. “I think the breakthrough was our ‘risky’ attitude on the divorce referendum,” he says, pointing forward to the next step: the introduction of civil unions for gay couples. The proposal comes in between the PN’s proposal of civil partnership and AD’s full marriage equality, but Dr Muscat insists civil unions are the superior choice. “Civil partnerships are just second-tier agreements between two people; we’re proposing a bond between people who are in love with each other, with rights and responsibilities.” But will those rights and responsibilities be equal to marriage?

“No,” he concedes, “it will be different. But we think in our social context this is the most realistic proposal we can put forward.”

For Dr Muscat’s movement though, the ultimate endgame is far loftier than enticing any single group of voters, and is summed up by the enduring slogan of this campaign: “Malta Taghna Lkoll”, “Malta for All”. It is a powerful cry, one that brings to mind a struggle to reclaim the country. But in what way is the struggle necessary? Doesn’t Malta already belong to us all? Dr Muscat shakes his head. “Take the business community,” he tells me.

“Currently there are a handful of people who have an upper hand on everything. We want everyone to have an equal chance of succeeding. We can’t say that we’ll give everything to everyone, but right now this country has degenerated into a clique, by the few for the few, paid for by the many.”

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 15

INTERVIEW

“

It’s going to be a close election.

This is not simply a choice between parties but between brands of politics: we can get stuck in a rut or we can move forward as one

”

A Labour government, in contrast, would mean a clean break from the past and a completely new, post-partisan way of doing politics.

“We will put together a bipartisan high-level economic group,” says Dr Muscat by way of example, “where we will pick the best brains in our country on strategic policy initiatives to foster economic growth.”

Of course, the PL’s ideal has not met with universal approval, and criticism has to a large degree still followed traditional party lines. Isn’t there a risk, then, of Malta Taghna Lkoll simply becoming a Labour battle-cry? I draw Dr Muscat’s attention to the University and MCAST debates. There, many argued that what we were witnessing was simply traditional partisan rivalry in a new coat, but Dr Muscat says he saw something quite different: a genuine outpouring of emotion. “It’s not something you can fake or pre-arrange,” he says. Isn’t it, I counter? “No,” he insists, “there are certain things – the smallest of moments, a glimpse, a handshake – that show you that this is something genuine. Our campaign is about nothing if not genuine sentiment.”

It’s easy to stand in opposition and talk of changing the world, but Dr Muscat feels the PL is more than ready to take the reins and 16 Sunday Circle | March 2013

govern. “We are an excellent team, with candidates who have been in politics a long time alongside newcomers: young people, accomplished professionals, even people you’d never associate with Labour. We have an excellent programme, which is costed, realistic, and concrete. We did not go for auction politics but focused ourselves on 20 priorities, which we have costed at an additional €722m over a five-year period, compared with €1.2b extra that the PN manifesto will cost. We showed responsibility.”

He rejects the government’s argument that it was precisely their financial responsibility that has kept Malta afloat in a catastrophic global financial situation. “Just look at what Standard & Poor’s is saying. The level of national debt is worrying, our economy is too dependent on a small number of economic sectors, female participation in our labour force is way too low and the way in which the deficit has been managed is more through one-offs than any coherent strategy.” Could Dr Muscat himself have done better? “I believe so. The figures speak for themselves. Five years ago the PM promised people everything, and delivered very little,” he says. “I ask people: are you better off now than five years ago?” That there are people in other countries who have done far worse,

he argues, is little consolation. “There are also people who have done a lot better. The fact is that in the midst of global economic problems, the PM gave himself a pay rise, without telling anyone, and tried to conceal it.”

What would be the immediate priorities if a Labour government took office tomorrow? Dr Muscat is raring to go. “Energy, for sure,” he answers quickly, insisting that his party is the only one with a coherent roadmap. “We’ll then put forward the budget, which will be done in the first week. Then we’ll start preparations to enact three crucial bills by the summer recess: the Whistleblower Act, the removal of timebars on cases of political corruption, and the party financing rules.”

There is, of course, the small matter of an election to get through first. Dr Muscat follows the polls regularly, but says he is more interested in how to change them than what they read.

But when we speak, the polls put Labour 12 points ahead – what on earth would he want to change? “We take the numbers with a pinch of salt.” Dr Muscat smiles, perhaps knowingly – it’s hard to tell. “It’s going to be a close election.

This is not simply a choice between parties but between brands of politics: we can get stuck in a rut or we can move forward as one.”

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SEX

18 Sunday Circle | March 2013

SEX

A NAKED TRUTH Harmless fun or guilty pleasure? martina said lifts tHe covers on pornograpHy...

Did you know that pornography sites rank among the 120 most visited sites in Malta, ahead of Skype, Dropbox and Instagram?

That is according to the internet ranking site, Alexa.com*. This shows that despite our efforts to sweep pornography under the carpet of taboo, the naked truth is that most people on this dignified island have probably viewed porn at least once in their lives.

Thanks to the internet, it’s no longer necessary to sneak into a shady shop with sunglasses and a hooded sweater in the hope that no one will notice you picking up the X-rated magazine off the top shelf. However, aside from Alexa’s rankings, there is little to indicate just how widespread engagement with pornography really is: How many people seek it? How often do they want it? How present is it in our culture?

*consulted at the time of print

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 19

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SEX Dr John Mifsud, a sexologist and psychotherapist, says it is difficult to obtain an exact figure on how many people access porn. However, off the top of his head and from clients he’s seen, he considers “almost all men and around 50 per cent of women watch porn” – although he thinks many women will probably not admit it.

The following question, perhaps, calls for an obvious answer: but what is it about porn that has got people so hooked?

“Porn is the depiction of the body in a sexual act with the intention of arousal,” he says. “The main sexual organ in both men and women is the brain... the way we perceive. It is our interpretation of things which makes us aroused; what we see, read and hear.”

He says that people tend to seek out porn for very basic reasons – to satisfy a need or for the purpose of enjoyment. It satisfies a need in people without a partner, in those whose partner is not available, or in a person who is shy or scared of being refused by their partner if they make an advance. “Porn helps fill the gap.”

Mary Ann Borg Cunen, counselling and academic psychologist at University of Malta, says people also get hooked to the sense of pleasure, until it becomes a compulsion.

“Using porn creates an accumulation of oxytocin. It is a bonding chemical which when released during intercourse creates a feeling of ‘togetherness’. But when released while watching porn alone, can leave one feeling alone and confused... All porn offers is pleasure.”

But can porn be written off as good or bad? “What is wrong and what is right?

One cannot impose their values on others,” says Dr Mifsud. Porn cannot be classified as either or because it depends a lot on the type of porn and on the person watching it. “It can be both, although there is no scientific evidence on the negative effects of porn on society.”

He adds that personality plays a very important role in how porn is regarded.

Mary Ann agrees that “emotionally needy” personality types or people with a psychological disorder, for example, could see reality in a distorted way, which fools them into believing that acts carried out in porn films or videos could be replicated in real life.

The main sexual organ in both men and women is the brain “There is controversy in this research but some believe that there could be a link between hardcore porn and violence. It could make men regard women as sexual objects, hardening their sensitivity towards women,” Mary Ann explains. “It could also lead to violence within a relationship, where men might believe that women actually enjoy being raped from what they see in porn.”

There is not much to prove such a link just yet, however. One of the problems with porn is that it tends to blur the lines between what is real and what is simply a fictional set up. “A man sees a naked woman in a video but there is a difference between seeing the fantasy in that woman and the real woman in your life,” says Dr Mifsud.

“One must differentiate between porn and reality and feeling; when you cannot recognise the difference, it is a problem.”

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 21

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Is there such a thing as an “addiction to porn”?

Often we get addicted to something we don’t need, but we do need sex Mary Ann says it is also relevant to distinguish between porn and erotica. While porn can portray graphic sexual images that conjure an “animalistic” reaction, erotica has an element that is more artistic, sensual and emotionally engaging.

They both agree that porn can sometimes be a waste of time for some people who engage with it too frequently. “Sometimes people obsess over wanting to find the perfect film or perfect scene that turns them on, also classifying their porn into a system,” says Mary Ann. “This can be very isolating and time-consuming.”

But the effects are not all bad, as Mary Ann explains. In most cases, it is nothing but a bit of fun. “It can help couples who watch it together, to make them feel more aroused and give them ideas. It is also helpful for people with sexual dysfunctions or disability, to get them back in touch with their sexuality in a safe place.”

Is there such a thing as an “addiction to porn”? According to Mary Ann, there is – when stretches of time are spent watching, reading or seeking it out. “There is the conditioning aspect here, where watching porn becomes reinforced by the experience of sexual pleasure – in this case it is an emotional addiction not a chemical one, which differentiates it from other addictions such as drugs and alcohol.”

Dr Mifsud agrees there could be a need to “break the habit”, but it is uncommon that people get addicted to it. “Often we get addicted to something we don’t need, but we do need sex,” he says. “I get clients telling me they’re addicted to porn but it often won’t be the case.”

There is, however, such a thing as a sense of guilt that follows viewing porn. “When you’re highly aroused, physically and mentally, your judgment is cloudy. After a surge of oxytocin and dopamine, the body calms down and the interpretation of the act becomes rigid again and one feels guilt,” says Dr Mifsud.

Ultimately, however, it does little to hinder the impulse of seeking it out. Porn is what it is, whether we choose to acknowledge its existence or not – and by the looks of it, it is here to stay.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 23

SOCIETY

the

HIPSTER FACTOR

24 Sunday Circle | March 2013

SOCIETY

Fashion trend or liFestyle choice? there’s more to the modern hipster than skinny jeans, vintage garb and trendy haircuts, says rachel agius, as she

takes a closer look at a movement that is deFining a generation Illustrations by Roxanne Gatt

Y

ou’ve seen them around. It is also a fair bet you have mocked them in the past: the ridiculous vintage sweater, the outrageously expensive Smartphone and the somewhat selfabsorbed stream of filtered photos they post on their various social media profiles.

You’ve also marvelled at the skinny cut of their jeans and secretly wondered if you could pull off the look yourself (probably not). They are, of course, the hipsters.

This fascinating group of people inhabits the locally-sourced organic-only cafes of the world, browse the second-hand record and book shops forgotten by the masses and stalk the aisles of thrift shops like well-dressed wolves hunting for the next cast off treasure they can customise, upcycle or take apart to make something new. There is no one “typical” hipster – just like all other groups, their style and interests vary, often quite dramatically.

WHAT IS “THE HIPSTER”?

The modern hipster is in fact not very modern at all. The term came about during the 1940s Jazz Age and was used to refer to aficionados of the music and culture surrounding it. Then, just like today, hipsters took to what they loved in reaction to and resistance against “the Man” – in their case, a world of political apathy, false social and financial security in the wake of the Great Depression and the looming shadow of a second world war.

Jazz was a fortress; a place for the marginalized to express themselves freely and simultaneously launch an attack on what they considered a deluded and naïve populace.

Today’s hipsters, some of whom do consider themselves political activists, may not have the social impetus to launch such an attack – most live comfortably in developed Western societies where the threat of instability, war or calamity is safely contained within their TV sets and comfortingly far away. The hipster is hardly the social pariah he was in the 40s.

HOW TO SPOT A HIPSTER There are a few things you can look out for on your next social safari that can help you spot the elusive hipster in its natural habitat.

First, the average age of a hipster’s outfit is no less than ten years. Hipsters love anything retro or vintage, probably because they believe that the mass-produced culture we are surrounded by today pales in comparison to the authenticity of yesteryear. Expect hipsters to be wearing their grandmother’s jumper and shoes from the eighties. They also probably have an ancient, fixed gear bicycle.

Pop music, fiction and films enjoyed by the majority are unquestioningly no good. Quality lies in obscurity In fact, hipsters will often profess an interest in anything old; film, music and literature are the obvious suspects but ephemera, interior design and the most obscure niche interests also have a strong fan base among the sartorially superior.

That brings us to the second hipster habit.

If something is popular or well-known, it is automatically considered “rubbish”.

Pop music, fiction and films enjoyed by the majority are unquestioningly no good.

Quality lies in obscurity. Music no one’s heard of, books with a limited run and rarely seen films will be at the top of every hipster’s list of favourite things.

There is something called “the mainstream” and hipsters loathe it. The idea is synonymous with poor quality, poor taste and a poor appreciation of what is actually good.

A third element to watch out for is the hipster’s job. They either a) don’t have one, preferring to work on their postmodern, transmedia story of love in the modern world or b) work in the creative industry.

This includes photography, all kinds of media, the publishing industry and fashion Note that “working in the fashion industry” can be code for “folding shirts at Marks and Spencer’s”. But that’s okay.

They are only holding th is job down to pay the bills and besides, it gives them time to work on their new novel about the tragedy of their souls, crushed beneath the wheels of capitalism.

THE PROBLEM OF BEING MODERN Of course there is a bit of a discrepancy between the hipster’s hatred of all things commercialised and their somewhat obsessive relationship with their Smartphone, tablet and/or computer, and modern conveniences like teabags, running water – although bathing is generally optional – and modern transportation. Because, try as they might, hipsters cannot relinquish their reliance on popular culture entirely.

The only reason their phones and bikes and fair-trade coffee are affordable is because there is a demand for those things triggered by, you guessed it, the demand of the masses.

Given hipsters’ affinity for low paying but spiritually or creatively rewarding employment, it’s only through the mechanics of supply and demand that they can ever afford the things they love. It’s hard to escape that reality in our modern age.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 25

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HIPSTER: STYLE OR LIFESTYLE? There is cause for concern, however. Social naturalists are worried about the hipster species. Nowadays, with everyone and everything online, nothing is secret for long. Hipster style, with the distinctive vintage appeal and customized ingenuity, has made it onto the internet, where others are having no trouble emulating it. The aesthetic is being cannibalized, appropriated by people a hipster would consider painfully mainstream.

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“Hipster” has become a style as well as a person, and thus, is subject to the mix-and-match system often employed in forming the personal style of others. Worse still, they’ve probably never heard of The Clash and have most likely never even seen a first edition copy of A Clockwork Orange – a real travesty to people who consider being hipster a lifestyle, not just a fashion choice.

In all, perhaps, we should make a concerted effort to save the hipster – an unusual but precious part of our social ecosystem. Many others could do with taking a leaf out of their impeccably preserved antique book and embracing themselves and what they love without giving a damn about what others think. The world needs people who are not afraid to stand out from the crowd. And if those people happen to look sharp while doing so: all the better.

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GAMING

A WINNING HAND MORE THAN JUST A GAME OF LUCK AND GAMBLING, POKER REQUIRES SKILL AND MENTAL ENDURANCE. PHILIP LEONE-GANADO LOOKS AT THE INTRIGUING WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL POKER If you know nothing about poker, you probably already know quite a bit. You know what it means when the chips are down and you have an ace up your sleeve, how to lay your cards on the table or keep them close to your chest, and when to hold

’em and when to fold ’em. What you may not know is that what many think of as a simple casino game, or even a dangerous addiction, is actually a multi-billion dollar industry and an exciting game of skill and mental prowess.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 29

GAMING

Poker is a game of skill, otherwise there would be no professionals.

Have you ever heard of a professional slot-machine player?

“It’s not gambling,” says Milly Uylenbroek, a 29-year-old web developer, originally from the Netherlands. Milly has been playing poker for ten years, and three years ago beat out over 100 players to win the Malta Open, and a €25,000 first prize. For professional players, she says, poker is serious business.

“The pros I know all go the gym at least four times a week, lead a healthy lifestyle and study the game of poker by themselves and with each other,” she says, “and all those things are as important as actually playing poker.”

One such professional player is 30-year old Erik Smith from Denmark, who lived and played in Malta for a number of years, and placed first in a 2010 Italian Poker Tour event held locally, netting €40,000. Erik, who runs the poker website www.pokerhistory. eu, explains that the idea of making a living playing poker is often treated with a degree of skepticism, whether it’s people asking him what he plans to do when his luck runs out, or assuming that he’s actually scrounging off welfare while gambling away what little money he has.

But Erik is no degenerate. “I place less than one bet a year on sports and I never entertain myself with casino games,” he says. “Poker is a game of skill, otherwise there would be no professionals. Have you ever heard of a professional slot-machine player?”

The statistics bear out his argument. To the casual observer, poker would certainly seem to be a game dominated by luck.

30 Sunday Circle | March 2013

Surely nobody can control which cards are drawn? But in poker, it’s not about the hand you’re dealt, but what you choose to do with it. A study by software consultancy Cigital found that out of 103 million hands played online, 76 per cent ended before showdown, when opposing players reveal their cards and the best hand wins. In other words, in the vast majority of cases it was player’s actions, not the luck of the draw, which determined the winner.

“Skill mostly shows after playing a lot of hands,” Milly explains. She points out that even if she went up against world numberone Phil Ivey, the luck of the draw might help her win a single hand, “but if I played ten thousand hands against him, you’d better bet your money on Phil.”

It is this ability to play the long game that defines a skilled poker player, maximising your winnings when on a hot streak and minimising your losses when the cards turn against you. A good player needs to draw on a variety of skills: mathematics, to determine odds and probability; psychology, to read your opponents’ plays; patience, daring, and above all, mental toughness.

“The worst part is the swings,” says Erik, who recalls once going the equivalent of 80 games without a win before turning it around. “It is very tough to mentally prepare and take beatings over a long period. You ask yourself when will it turn around and every day it doesn’t, it eats away a small part of you.”

But when the going is good, few things are better. Erik talks passionately about the freedom the game has given him to travel the world, meet new people, and do his own thing – while Milly has ridden her love of poker all the way to Vegas and the World Series of Poker, the game’s world championships. She still gets excited when she thinks of her biggest win, the Malta Open.

“It was one of those times where nothing could go wrong. I entered the final table with a below average chip-stack, but I felt really strong so I changed my play-style and started playing quite an aggressive game. The other players didn’t expect that from me, and it gave me the edge I needed to win.” In a game where men still rule the roost, the win was particularly sweet. “I won a sword,” she laughs. “One of the few woman playing the tournament and I won a sword. I thought that was so much better than a trophy.”

With increased television exposure and the promise of untold riches, the game is exploding worldwide, with some estimates valuing the online industry at $4.8b dollars.

In Malta, a small and friendly community of pros is supplemented by a steadilygrowing number of recreational players, online and in traditional casinos. And every weekend, hundreds will meet up with friends around kitchen-tables for a slice of the action. As far as the future of the game is concerned, it’s all-in.

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travel

Stunning

SANTORINI It Is one of the most popular Greek Islands for tourIsts wIth Its GorGeous vIews and IncredIble landscapes. there Is no better place to escape to than stunnInG santorInI

36 Sunday Circle | March 2013

travel

S

antorini has a magical quality to it that few other places on Earth can boast – the island is crescent-shaped and unique as it is the result of several remarkable volcanic explosions that erupted over thousands of years. The island slants downhill from the high cliffs into the neighbouring Aegean Sea. It is dotted with small villages filled with white and blue houses built into the cliffs, located at the extreme southernmost part of the Cyclades islands in Greece.

The island itself owes its very existence to the volcano.

Santorini is known to attract all kinds of tourists, particularly those seeking a romantic escape. It offers an intriguing history, awesome volcanic landscape, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, beautiful sunsets and endless views of deep blue sea. Santorini’s group of islands consists of Thera, Thirasia, Aspronisi, Palea and Nea Kameni islands, located 63 nautical miles north of Crete.

Landscapes and views aside, Santorini also leads the way in exclusive luxury accommodation on the island, such as Aqua Vista, an exceptional collection of boutique properties offering unparalleled service in breathtaking locations. The hotels enjoy an impeccable reputation – they have played host to numerous celebrity clientele over the years, from Hollywood elite such as Harvey Keitel and Hugh Jackman to fashion icons Jean Paul Gaultier and Gianni Versace.

Tucked away in the heart of Kamari in Santorini and a short distance away from the famous black sand beach is the Acqua Vatos hotel, which was recently fully refurbished and transformed into a hip boutique hotel in the spring of 2011. It is trendy, elegant and eccentric, with minimalistic design and exhibitionist bathrooms. Acqua Vatos is ideal for families with kids, as there are rooms designed and equipped especially for them. The very large pool is a star attraction for adults and children of any age.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 37

travel

Up north the cliffs rise to a heady 450 metres above sea level in the Imerovigli area. Here, taking advantage of the unsurpassed views and sunsets sit another three of Aqua Vista’s fivestar properties: the Above Blue Suites and Villa, the Dreams Luxury Suites and The Aliko Suites.

The best part of these properties is that they offer the perfect residence for any kind of holiday. Whether it is romance, luxury, adventure or a home-like atmosphere, at least one of Aqua Vista’s unique accommodation scenarios is sure to get the attention of potential visiting tourists.

The entire range radiates refined elegance and discreet luxury. They are exclusive retreats with the intention of offering the best of everything: spectacular locations, classic architecture, sophisticated interiors and impeccable service.

For couples, these accommodation options tick all the boxes. There is a focus on complete privacy and bespoke service. Many have private plunge pools, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis and secluded balconies and terraces. All suites in all properties are individual in the way they’re styled. Many were once cave houses occupied by villagers and fishermen which have been painstakingly restored, staying true to the original architecture and design but with a contemporary luxury touch.

MARCH SPECIAL OFFER Book your Santorini 2013 holiday by 31 March and save up to

€200 per room

For more information about the Santorini packages call ROCS Travel today on 2015 1515, check out their website www.rocsholidays.com or email them on

travel@rocsgrp.com

38 Sunday Circle | March 2013

eXPerIeNCe SaNtOrINI WITH ROCS TRAVEL In the past years, ROCS Travel has invested lots of energy in redefining the notion of what a real holiday is all about. With more than twenty years of experience in the travel industry and after inspecting more than 1,000 properties around the globe, there is one thing we’ve learnt: ROCS clients deserve better than just the cheapest of what is out there. This formula has made ROCS Travel the leading leisure tour operator in Malta.

For 2013, ROCS included a portfolio of eight magnificent and breathtaking properties in Santorini which will feature in their new 300 page World Holidays 2013 Brochure. Package rates start from as little as €359 inclusive of return Airmalta flights to Athens, seven nights’ accommodation, daily Greek Buffet Breakfast and all taxes.

travel

Each property also has its own personality with a defining touch of Greek island luxury. The cliffs at the Dreams Luxury Suites, for instance, are so steep that it feels as if nothing stands between you and the sky. Views are a full 180 degrees and standing on the terraces looking out on the caldera makes you feel as though you’ve taken flight.

Dining is also an essential part of the Aqua Vista experience. For completely private dining, terraces are transformed to restaurants for two, decorated with

candles and with a private chef. The breakfast menu at the Aliko Suites is quite literally endless with guests offered anything they would like to eat. Aqua Vista’s full portfolio also includes several great value three-star and four-star properties across Santorini.

It all seems too good to be true – beautiful sunsets, stunning landscapes and backdrops and an island to explore that is filled with rich history, architecture and entertainment that guarantees an unforgettable holiday.

WIN aN amazINg trIp for tWo to oNe of the aqua VIsta hotels IN the greek IslaNd of saNtorINI ROCS Travel and Sunday Circle team up to offer a fantastic prize to the idyllic island of Santorini.

Simply log on to sundaycircle.com to find out how to participate and you can be on your way to the beautiful Santorini for the holiday of your dreams.

The prize includes: An amazing five-night stay for two to one of the Aqua Vista Hotels featured in the ROCS Travel World Holidays brochure, including return flights to Athens on Airmalta.

Terms and conditions apply, prize excludes taxes

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 39

Aqua Vatos

7 nights from

€30

€359pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

Tucked away in the heart of Kamari in Santorini and just a few passes away of the famous black sand beach. It is trendy, elegant and from time to time eccentric, with minimalistic design and exhibitionist bathrooms. Acqua Vatos is ideal for families with kids, since there are rooms designed and equipped especially for them. The XXL pool is a star attraction for adults and children of any age.

Athermi Suites

7 nights from

€65

Asteras suites

€569pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

A domestic and stylish atmosphere combined with exceptionally personalised service that affords guests an intimate glimpse of everyday life on Santorini, without sacrificing comfort or privacy. A compelling blend of unsurpassed location and legendary old-school hospitality, Athermi Suites invites you to experience Santorini at its purest and most overwhelming.

7 nights from

€75

€569pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

Phoebe… Venus… Galatea… Astrophelia…

La Luna… All with imposing doorways, ample interiors and shady private terraces from where the magical and so famous sunsets can be enjoyed, capture the essence of old that is brought up to date with tasteful fashionable and chic touches!

Seductive...Alluring...

Fascinating... the Asteras Villas are just a precious jewel managed by a courteous team of extremely professional members that are there to put their touches in making your stay an even more memorable one

Above Blue

7 nights from

€75

€619pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

At Imerovigli, in the highest point of the stiff cliffs, facing the volcano, are perched the eleven suites of Above Blue… Representing a new concept of sanctuary these suites of different sizes and formations have three things in common… style, sophistication and an addiction to luxury.

sant from

€359

discover a whole new blue

Cheaper than online. Cheaper than anywhere.

Avantio Suites

7 nights from

€75

€639pp

Adamant Suites

7 nights from

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

High on the clifftops of Greece’s sunset paradise, emerges gleaming a bright, white, clean-lined suite hotel that wisely lets the views do the talking. Smart and modern in design, yet reassuringly unpretentious in attitude Avianto Suites offer a relaxed retreat with heart-stopping magnificent views of the endless Aegean Blue, the volcano, Thirassia and the caldera combined.

€85

€689pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

Adamant suites is a small private complex consisting of only six private suites, tastefully designed and decorated suites, named after precious gemstones are literally hanging over the stiff cliff offering you unbelievable views to the most beautiful sunset on earth., all different in size and shape designed to accommodate you and your dreams and offer you the perfect vacation spot.

Spend hours in your private balcony or veranda. Relax in your indoor or outdoor heated Jacuzzi and enjoy the unique privacy and romance you deserve.

Aliko luxury Suites dream luxury Suites

7 nights from

€160

€1129pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

Aliko luxury suites are located on the most preferential point on the island of Santorini, at the highest point of the Caldera, at the picturesque village of Imerovigli. Every angle of the suites offers an extraordinary, stunning view of the volcano, the sea and the neighboring islands and evokes emotions of serenity to its guests. The interior design and architecture is balanced between the traditional Cycladic and contemporary style.

7 nights from

€200

€1139pp

book by 31 Mar for a discount per rooM

Dreams Luxury Suites is the place where style, opulence, and perfection meet a world of beauty and tradition. With just four luxury suites that have a unique personality, and combine courteous and warm service with authentic tradition. These four suites offer a unique combination of the energy of the island with personalized services. Distinctive and luxurious with different style and color combination they offer you an experience you will never forget.

torini The pACkAgeS inClude

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Keep on smiling Reasons for replacing one’s dentition

Replacing a full set of teeth is no easy task, says Dental and Implant Surgeon Jean Paul Demajo. He offers some tips on this specialised treatment

Replacing a full set of teeth could be a tricky affair. Important questions need answering. Firstly, what are the patient’s main wishes and why does the patient wish to undergo this treatment?

Case A after treatment: Definitive porcelain teeth in-situ.

Case A before treatment: Aerial view of Maxilla 2 months post-extraction.

Case B before treatment: Four mandibular implants 3 months post-insertion.

Case B after treatment: Construction of Porcelain bridge supported by the four implants.

• Current teeth have persistent abscesses. Teeth have already undergone extensive work, including root canal treatment, and now require extraction • Remaining teeth are mobile due to gum disease and cause discomfort on eating • Unstable denture on eating and talking • Psychologically traumatic due to longstanding edentulism (lack of teeth) • Lifelong dream of having a perfect smile

Generally speaking in the upper or lower jaw, six implants are required to replace 12–14 teeth. Having said that, four implants may at times be used to replace 12 teeth, while eight implants would definitely guarantee fourteen teeth (normal number of teeth in each jaw). The conventional method for placing implants is changing to a more advanced computer-aided technique. Using this technology, CT scans are taken and the information downloaded onto an implantplanning programme. The information may be used to fabricate a surgical guide to the exact pre-planned implant placement requirements eliminating the need for any gingival incisions and suturing. This offers maximum comfort with no swelling or discomfort enabling the patient to return to his or her daily routine.

If the volume of bone present is not sufficient, then bone-grafting procedures may have to be undertaken. In the upper jaw, the maxillary sinuses are partly filled with bone grafting material. In this manner the implants are completely surrounded by bone, achieving excellent stability and allow for full osseo-integration (fusion to bone).

In most cases the implants are placed at the same time as the bone graft is done. This avoids a second surgical sitting and halves the treatment time. In the lower jaw, bone grafting is rarely required. This is also thanks to the computer-aided implant planning technique, which allows for more precise

implant placement by avoiding important anatomical structures. Using this technique, implants are angulated allowing for an increase in the span and number of teeth, as well as reducing the overall number of implants required.

Once the implants are inserted in either of the jaws, four to six months are required for complete healing. During this time a removable denture may be used to replace the teeth. In a number of cases temporary teeth may be fixed to the implants on the same day as they are inserted in the jaw, offering the patient a fixed provisional dentition. These temporary teeth would be constructed of strong resin and offer good aesthetics. This form of temporarisation is determined by the number of implants used as well as the quantity and quality of bone.

After four to six months of complete healing, the temporary fixed teeth are removed, an impression is taken and the permanent fixed prosthesis is planned. The type of material used for the permanent fixed teeth may vary from a semi-precious metallic substructure to a metal-free zirconium substructure. The substructure is then coated with resin or porcelain teeth. Colour, shape and size are required to fulfill the patient’s desired look.

The set-up of the new teeth is tried in place and shown to the patient. This try-in stage allows for a few final adjustments before completion and fixation onto the implants.

Once the final set of teeth is fixed onto the implants the patient realises the importance of all the clinical time required to plan and execute the job. The hefty price tag is secondary to the irreplaceable comfort and aesthetics achieved.

Dr Jean Paul Demajo has trained in London and works in private practice in Malta

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 43

politics

THE VALUE

OF YOUR VOTE can a single vote really decide an election, asks philip leone-ganado?

It is the cornerstone of our democracy, the principle for which so many fought and died: one man, one vote. Now, as a long and arduous election campaign nears its culmination, we are being bombarded with reminders of how valuable our vote is. You, we are told, can decide who runs the country for the next five years. But really, can you?

Can a single voter decide an election? Simply put: no. In principle, the answer is yes, but in fact, the odds are astronomical. No election in Malta has ever been won or lost by a single vote and on Election Day you have a better chance of being hit by lightning on your way to the polls than of casting a decisive vote.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 45

POLITICS People will rightly point to the razor-thin margins that decided elections like 2008, where the Nationalist Party’s majority was of just 1580 votes, as evidence of the value of a single vote. But 1580 is still a lot more than one. Assuming that none of them convinced a group of people to vote with them, 1579 of those decisive voters could have stayed home that day, and the result would have been the same.

of voting – feeling engaged with the community, feeling that you can personally make a difference in the world – far outweigh the costs. “In a close election… the sense that you can make a difference becomes more pronounced,” says Lynn Sanders, associate professor of politics at the University of Virginia. “That transforms the act of voting to one that is more like the act of protest or fighting.”

“

It doesn’t even really matter who wins, or whether your vote contributed to that victory, the act of voting yields positive benefits in and of itself. “We find people are happier with the outcome and they feel more in control of their lives, if they voted,” says psychologist Marc Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Michigan. “That is better for their psychological functioning than feeling that whatever they do doesn’t matter anyway.”

whether you stay at home on polling day or not is still, ultimately, about you

”

Of course, some will say, if everybody thought their vote didn’t matter, nobody would vote, and then a single vote would make all the difference. And in fairness, that’s not entirely ludicrous. In 1973, for example, Gozo held a local referendum on the question of whether to abolish the now-defunct Gozo Civic Council. With a spectacularly low turnout of only 1.25 per cent, the decision of nearly 16,000 voters came down to just 137 people who voted yes. But it’s also true that with one of the highest non-compulsory voting turnouts in the world (the lowest turnout in a general election in the last 40 years was still a staggering 93 per cent), everyone isn’t going to think like that. Assuming you don’t carry out a campaign encouraging people not to vote, whether you stay at home on polling day or not is still, ultimately, about you, and will have no value in determining the final result.

And of course, even in electoral terms, just because your vote doesn’t actually decide which party gets to form a government, or which candidate gets a seat in parliament, doesn’t mean it counts for nothing. In real terms, for example, there is a difference between a government with a vote majority as narrow as the last one, and one enjoying a majority of five or six percentage points. They may both enjoy a similar majority in parliament, but the strength of their mandates is wildly different. Similarly, because of the quirks of our electoral system, a third party like Alternattiva Demokratika could hypothetically get six per cent of the national vote and still not get a seat in Parliament, but the result would still confirm them as a credible political consideration in a way that a return of one per cent simply would not. Elections are, at the end of the day, a numbers game, and the final score is the not the only number that matters.

There might even be more value in deliberately abstaining. Many countries – Malta not included – offer a creative abstention option known as “None of the Above” (NOTA), listed on the ballot sheet with the candidates, and treated like any other candidate for the purposes of counting. If any candidate receives fewer votes than NOTA, he is immediately eliminated from the election. It is a way of recognising that while abstention can be a symbol of apathy or indifference, it can also be a powerful message of dissatisfaction that is, at the very least, no less likely to make a difference than actually voting.

So on 9 March, ignore the rhetoric of civic duties and changing history, but head down to the polling station anyway. The vote you cast will not decide the election – that’s for sure – but it will make a difference.

Economists, in fact, who like to think in these terms, point out that choosing to vote is a non-rational decision. To make an informed vote, you need to spend time and energy reading up on candidates and proposals, following debates and discussions, and then actually getting out of your house on polling day, spending time and fuel to go to the voting station and waiting in line to vote. Knowing that your vote couldn’t have made a difference either way, a rational decision-maker simply wouldn’t bother.

And yet, not only do rational people continue to vote, but across the world, people in nondemocratic societies engage in bitter struggles for the right of the vote. Clearly, in some way the economists haven’t considered, the vote does indeed matter. One possible answer researchers have outlined is that the psychological benefits 46 Sunday Circle | March 2013

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Masthead

Tenor Cliff Zammit Stevens

MNOZIL Brass Band

Maestro Damiano Binetti

Soprano Gillian Zammit

NIGHTS AT THE OPERA

Teatru Manoel announces the BOV Performing Arts Festival 2013... he annual Teatru Manoel BOV Performing Arts Festival confirms BOVs strong relationship with Teatru Manoel.

This yearly event has now established itself as one of the most anticipated events of Malta’s cultural and operatic calendar and this year includes three major productions.

T

The first is this season’s opera which is a double-bill featuring Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci on each night between Thursday 14 March and Sunday 17 March. The cast includes both local and foreign performers, including tenor Cliff Zammit Stevens. For the first time, this will be a predominantly Maltese production with local directors Denise Mulholland (directing Pagliacci) and Nanette Brimmer (directing Cavalleria Rusticana) and set designer Pierre Portelli. Music Director is Damiano Binetti.

The second event is the much anticipated show from MNOZIL Brass Band on Friday 3 May. Since 1996 the seven musicians of MNOZIL BRASS have been giving regular concerts all over the world at prestigious venues such as the Musikverien Wien, the KKL Luzern, the Royal Albert Hall and Burgtheater Vienna, among others. They are a brass ensemble with a difference mixing great comedy and fantastic musicianship.

The third event of the Festival is the Lieder Recital on 7 May. This features Malta’s very own Gillian Zammit, an established soprano both in Malta and overseas with an operatic repertoire that ranges from Baroque to 20th Century Opera. She will be accompanied on the piano by Lucia Micallef.

Before both the operas in March and the Lieder Recital in May there is a pre-performance talk for ticket holders. The talks provide an insight into the programme of that evening and are part of the ToiToi Education Programme which is supported by BOV. Booking for all three events of the Teatru Manoel BOV Performing Arts Festival can be made online www.teatrumanoel.com.mt or by email bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or by phoning 2124 6389 48 Sunday Circle | March 2013

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INTERVIEW

the Young

economist The NaTioNalisT ParTy aloNe is caPable of sTeeriNg MalTa safely Through The NexT five years of goverNMeNT. The Proof is iN The PuddiNg, says PN caNdidaTe KrisTy deboNo Text by Katryna Storace -§- Photography by Steve Muliett

At just 31, Kristy Debono is a fresh face on the local political scene. A qualified economist with a solid background in the iGaming industry, she is the youngest PN candidate contesting on the ninth district.

Hailing from a family wherein different political opinions were the norm, Kristy is not what you’d call a traditional Nationalist – her political beliefs are founded, she says, on conviction. “As a student at university I was what you’d call a laissez-fair nationalist. My parents shared different political views, so I wasn’t influenced by them.” It was in 2003, as the debate on Malta’s accession to the EU raged on, that Kristy found herself leaning towards the PN. “I found the Labour’s arguments frivolous in comparison, and it was then that I started to feel that I was aligned with the PN’s views.”

After graduating, she began work as an economist, while preparing a financial bulletin on NET. Being in the newsroom brought her within close proximity of politicians, and this fuelled her interest in politics.

It was also here that she met her future husband, Jean Pierre, who is the assistant secretary general of the PN. Since then, politics has become very much a family affair. “My marriage is one of the dearest decisions of my personal life,” she says. “We are both so supportive of eachother’s career.” Today, Kristy is at the forefront of the political game, having accepted Dr Gonzi’s invitation to participate in this year’s electoral campaign as a candidate.

Being one of the youngest candidates in the PN’s electoral campaign, says Kristy, gives her the edge with the younger members of the electorate. “The advantage of being young is that it makes you more open-minded, more avant-garde and innovative... I think young people relate to that.”

As a fresh, youthful voice in this campaign, does she feel at odds representing a party renowned for its more conservative values? “The party is very dynamic, especially when considering certain economic decisions it has taken, actually steering away from more conservative sectors, and for which we are reaping the economic benefits,” she says without hesitation. “The number of new candidates being put forward is also a sign that the party keeps regenerating. As far as traditional values are concerned, the party remains loyal to those values that are timeless.

At the same time, certain decisions, such as the cohabitation bill, for example, reflect that we are being realistic and moving with the times.”

50 Sunday Circle | March 2013

The PN’s relevance, she says, has never been clearer. “I seriously doubt any party but the PN can steer the country in the right direction. If, on 9 March, the Nationalists aren’t elected, what happens next will be like opening Pandora’s Box.” The Nationalist Party, she feels, has a proven track record when it comes to the economy. “Right now, when most countries are dipping further into recession, the PN has managed to keep afloat in all the key sectors: health, education and the economy.” It is to the party’s credit, she says, that it had the vision to seek out alternative niches to continue to boost and consolidate a struggling economy – niches such as the iGaming and pharmaceuticals industries, as well as financial services. “And all this was done with social consideration. Everything is easy once you know how it’s done – but it was the PN that had the vision to look beyond.”

And being a young woman in politics – does that present challenges?

She smiles. “Politics is such an intense commitment that to juggle family with your career and politics is close to impossible. I’m lucky that my husband is also a party official, so we’re used to the long hours,” she says. She is, however, against all forms of discrimination – positive discrimination in particular. “I do believe that women might tackle an issue differently to their male counterparts. Women tend to look at any issue from a holistic, sensitive point of view. That said, however, I assess politicians on their ability and performance. I don’t see the value in putting women in the picture just to get the balance right, for appearances’ sake.”

For Kristy, the highlights of the campaign so far have been the numerous home-visits she conducts every day. “Each and every house visit is an experience of its own... It brings you face-to-face with the actual difficulties that Maltese families encounter daily.” Kristy herself is not alien to these hardships. She lost her father tragically at the age of 16 in a traffic accident. “We’re three siblings at home, and were all teenagers at the time. My mother was left to care for us and bring us up alone. The ray of light in all of this is that we have developed a very strong bond as a family, and I’ll cherish that forever.”

It is an experience that has also, perhaps, made her more sensitive to the needs of others, and has left her all the more willing to be of service to others – something she can fulfil more completely if she were to be elected.

INTERVIEW

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 51

INTERVIEW

STRAIGHT

TALKING Labour candidate, HeLena daLLi, speaks to pHiLip Leone-Ganado about tHe issues facinG women, transparency in poLitics and tHe cHanGinG face of tHe pL Photography by Ray Attard

As a student, Helena Dalli wanted to change the world. “I was an idealist,” she laughs. “Who isn’t at that age?” Years later, that idealism has been tempered with the pragmatism that comes with top-level politics, but the old spark has not been entirely snuffed out. “The best moments are still the ones where I feel like I’ve made somebody’s life better,” she says. “It may sound like a cliché, but I meet families in my district who need very real material help. Politics is about improving the lot of as many people as possible.”

Dr Dalli, the Labour Party’s spokesperson for the public sector, government investments and gender equality, was first elected to Parliament in 1996, where she served briefly as parliamentary secretary in the prime minister’s office. As a university lecturer in economic, political and legal sociology, as well as a regular newspaper columnist, her finger is firmly on the pulse of society, and it was social conscience, she believes, that first drove her into the arms of the PL. “The PL historically has always been the champion of the welfare state,” she says. “We’ve always been there for the underdog.” But with the rise of the middleclass, and the increasing endorsement of the welfare state by all parties, doesn’t this position risk irrelevance? “We’ve evolved to new realities, and we’re now in a position to aim even higher. Labour is also concerned with business and employers: 52 Sunday Circle | March 2013

we recognise that if the economy is strong, the situation for workers is strong; we need to create an environment where people can better themselves.”

If a Labour government were to take office tomorrow, she says, the most important priority would be restoring faith in an ailing political system. “A certain arrogance has seeped in. This country is being run by a government that feels it has a divine right to rule, a government that was called an oligarchy by one of its own members.”

She points to the lack of progress on the Whistleblower’s Act, the Enemalta scandal, and various deficiencies in the Government Auditors’ reports as evidence of the administration’s increasing corruption.

“We want to start afresh and create an open government. We’ve worked with civil society on our electoral programme and we’ve proposed a commissioner for ministers and parliamentarians, and an online database where the public can keep track of parliamentary attendance.”

As one of six female parliamentarians, Dr Dalli is aware that she is part of a very select group. But, she says, the problem is not that voters are not willing to accept female candidates, but that in politics, as in other fields, competent women are simply not putting themselves forward. “The higher you go in any sector, the less women you find, as it becomes harder to balance work and family demands. We have to organise society in a way that encourages female

Labour is also concerned with business and employers... we need to create an environment where people can better themselves

INTERVIEW

participation: measures like free childcare and flexible working hours are important, but we need to change mentalities, not just laws. We’re wasting female potential.”

in with the aims of meritocracy? Dr Dalli’s response is razor-sharp. “Who said these women aren’t qualified? What we’re proposing isn’t tokenism.”

Last year, the government blocked a European Commission proposal for mandatory gender quotas on company boards. This, Dr Dalli says, was a mistake. “Quotas are a necessary evil. Countries that introduced quotas forty years ago have some of the highest rates of female participation in the world. We can let the process evolve naturally, but it might take a hundred years.” How do quotas fit

And yet, in politics, at least, a certain differentiation does exist. Dr Dalli says that parties are always on the look-out for strong female candidates in particular, and admits that it grows tedious consistently fielding questions about how she manages work and family, for example. “I sometimes turn back to journalists and ask: would you be asking me these questions if I were a

man?” she sighs. “I don’t think we’re yet at a point where we can genuinely look at male and female politicians equally.”

Dr Dalli deftly brushes aside any questions on her role in a potential Labour government, but a spot in Cabinet hardly seems unlikely. Years since that idealistic student stepped into politics, eager to change the world, does she ever regret it?

“On the contrary,” she smiles, “if I hadn’t entered politics, I think I would have spent my whole life feeling there was something more I should be doing.”

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 53

INTERVIEW

the voice OF

DiFFeReNce As A spokesperson for AlternAttivA DemokrAtikA, Angele DeguArA is up AgAinst the big shots. she is DetermineD, however, to mAke her voice heArD in the nAme of her pArty Text by Martina Said -§- Photography by Steve Muliett Angele Deguara had no intention of running for politics – for a number of years she worked behind the scenes with Alternattiva Demokratika until she became spokesperson for social policy and civil rights. Today, she hopes her voice will make a difference.

“I got involved with the party because I am interested in the issues it represents,” Angele says. “We always say there aren’t enough women in politics; being a woman interested in social policy, I felt it is my duty to represent these issues. I felt I needed to put my beliefs into practice.”

As senior lecturer and head of the Sociology department at Junior College, it is safe to say that social issues have always taken a prominent role in Angele’s life. Among those dearest to her, in fact, are equality, social justice and welfare – issues she believes have been addressed by different governments but which have still not yielded the desired results. “Rather than promising a cut in taxes for high income earners, AD is in favour of consolodating a universal welfare state which needs to be financed through progressive taxation,” she says.

“Despite the general improvement in the quality of life of the Maltese, we find that around 60,000 people in Malta are still living under the poverty line. The standard of living in many households is low.” She adds that for single-parent families – of which there are quite a few – the struggle is even greater, and if she got elected to parliament, Angele says she would push for greater equality across the board.

“AD’s policy is based on equality, social justice, civil rights and environmental sustainability.

At present there is no representation of AD in 54 Sunday Circle | March 2013

parliament, but if we do get elected these are the issues we will push,” she says.

“It is hard to bring about total equality, but we can at least help reduce inequality, with respect to gender, disability and the LGBT community.” Angele also believes equality should be extended to the family, whereby the definition of a “family” is widened and made to be more inclusive. “We should no longer project the traditional family form when there are other family setups, such as single-parent families and homosexual couples – social policy should accommodate all families.”

The AD’s stance on a host of controversial issues has been publicly expressed early on, not merely because a general election has rolled around. “We had been talking about divorce since 1989 – we discuss progressive ideas that we would like to see actualised,” she says. “AD has been crucial in putting certain issues on the map, such as marriage equality, decrimilisation of drugs for personal use and environmental sustainability and in bringing about a change in the mentality of other politicians and the public.”

As an active member of AD, she is in the thick of Malta’s election fever, but also somewhat removed from the race, which is at its peak between the two big parties. With all the talk of the “need for change”, I ask Angele what sort of change she thinks the country really needs. “In a healthy democracy there is always need for change. We’re the small party – in reality the scales tip between the PN and PL. But change could come in a different form, through a multi-party system, for instance, as is the case all over Europe. It is also a more accurate representation of the people’s wishes.”

Does she really ever see that happening, however? “We have a ‘winner takes all’ mentality here. Even given an alternative, people tend to vote for the lesser of two evils, either out of a state of uncertainty, because they are not well-informed, or simply because they want to send a message to the other party.” However, electing AD to parliment is not impossible. “People can vote for change and make history.”

As a mother, wife, lecturer and spokesperson, Angele juggles many different and equally demanding roles. She says that besides being a good multi-tasker and having a determined character, she’s managed to cope through the years thanks to the support of her husband, family and friends. “I learned that you cannot do things alone, support is important.” It is this same support that she believes women lack, which inhibits them from entering the world of work.

“In terms of political life, it is hard and very demanding and there aren’t structures in place to help women with families.

Thankfully my two sons are now teenagers, but for many women, the pressure is on them to be the primary carers,” she says. “We aren’t lacking trained or qualified women – there are more graduated women from university than men. But this is not reflected in our workforce and in the public domain.”

Amid campaigning and lecturing, Angele is also reading for a PhD in Anthropology, which she wishes to focus better on once the election period is over. She is an active member of the Fair Trade Cooperative in Malta, is an animallover and a vegetarian. She is also determined in her conviction to strengthen women’s status in society. And, unarguably, she is putting her words into practice.

INTERVIEW

55 March 2013 | Sunday Circle 000

sport

A Rocky

RIDE

The moTor sporT has had iTs fair share of conTroversy, buT off-roading in malTa refuses To be Tamed, as marTina said discovers...

Photography by Adrian Caruana

It is like watching big, burly men stomping on bumpy ground, trumping hurdles and trudging through the mud.

Except that the men are vehicles: very large, four by four vehicles off-roading through remote areas on the island.

I meet Kevin Mallia and Jonathan Bruno, president and secretary respectively of All Wheel Drive Club (AWDC) Malta; a club established in 1989 for off-road enthusiasts that today boasts a following of around 400 members.

“Where smooth, tarmac roads end, off-roading starts,” says Jonathan. “It is the only motor sport which takes place on rough terrain and literally involves driving off the road.”

“Rough terrain” conjures images of rocky and dusty surfaces, with large lay stones and waste scattered on the ground, which is the kind of terrain these machines must drive over, either using the car’s own power, a winch, or the help of another car, depending on the kind of event.

They explain that a driver must manoeuvre acute angles, drops, uphills and downhills, 60 degree angles and boulders bigger than the vehicle itself, and stay within a marked track around five metres wide, with a number of obstacles along the course. A competition is marked by time-keeping and penalties. “If the driver commits a penalty, it results in reduced time, which slows down the momentum. There are competitions that are not timed and just involve a series of obstacles. A driver must always be able to anticipate an obstacle and a way to overcome it.”

56 Sunday Circle | March 2013

sport

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 57

Sport

It sounds like a real challenge, but is clearly, not the only one this local motor sport is facing.

Jonathan says there was a time when it was easy to find a location to off-road on the island, Selmun being the club’s own little hub until a legal notice published in 1996 tarnished the name of the sport.

Kevin explains how damage to some rubble walls in the area allegedly caused by a local farmer put the club’s name to shame, as authorities believed the damage was caused by off-roading activities. “We were no longer allowed to use Selmun as a site and the legal notice offered no alternative permissible sites at which to off-road.” The notice still applies today – “we are the only sport besides shooting bound by a legal notice,” says Kevin, and argues that it is not right that off-roaders are likened to “people who use a deadly weapon in a sport.”

Each event requires a Mepa permit, and the club has come to an agreement with the authority that allows off-roading activities to be held in degenerated sites, which include dumping sites, quarries and other areas not crucial to the environment. “We see this as unfair because enthusiasts should not have to spend their recreational time at a dump site, but we don’t have much of a choice,” they explain.

The environmental effects caused by off-roading are there to see. Do they justify the restrictions placed upon the sport? “Doesn’t everything impact the environment nowadays? From building a house to travelling to space, everything impacts the environment in some way,” says Kevin. He feels, however, that a lot of good comes out of the sport too. It keeps its enthusiasts busy and encourages young drivers to stay away from worse distractions.

58 Sunday Circle | March 2013

for off-road circuit racing, which is a different kind of racing that takes place on a different surface to the one referred to in this article, says Jonathan.

In spite of this, the club still organises around 30 events a year, ones which vary in levels of difficulty, competitiveness and vehicle class. “There are vehicles used in events which are straight out of a factory, while others are modified purposely for off-roading,” Jonathan explains. “The way a vehicle is set up is the driver’s choice entirely and it depends on the kind of competition the driver wants to take part in. The combination is limitless.”

The budget is also limitless, it seems, as they tell me modifying a car can cost anything between €2,000 and €80,000. “You can start off with a basic Maruti and work your way up to a heavily modified Land Rover. Maintenance also depends on the kind of car – a driver might end up with his car engine totally submerged under water at some point in the competition. That requires a proper service.”

The stunts performed at off-roading events look pretty daunting – I ask whether drivers need to possess certain skills in order to compete. Kevin says it is important for drivers to be level-headed and calm. “You must not panic and cannot be afraid; a drop could be a storey high. A driver needs to learn what to do when things go wrong, and you only learn that through experience.” It also requires an element of team spirit, as a driver is always accompanied by a navigator. “The navigator is the driver’s eyes,” says Jonathan. “He might need to get out of the car to move a stone or hook a winch. There is lots of physical fitness involved as well as team work.”

Jonathan says the legal notice affected the club significantly. After many years of bargaining, the government granted a quarry to the Motorsport Federation for off-roading use. However, a lack of financial resources is hindering the club from starting work on the site, which would perhaps open new doors for those who wish to practise the sport locally.

The sport clearly involves a level of risk and danger, but, they tell me, no fatalities have ever occurred due to off-roading locally. However, as competitions get more challenging, drivers must abide by a longer list of safety measures, including specialised equipment like a roll cage, seatbelts, fire extinguishers, helmets and special clothing. “There are many features which make injury as impossible as can be, but you are never 100 per cent safe.”

Last month, government allocated a piece of land and financial support to the sport association ASM,

That, perhaps, is the whole point – just like any other motor sport, risk is part of the thrill.

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MUSIC

While my guitar W gently Uweeps

Y

Composer Gordon mizzi speaks to katryna storaCe about musiC, Composition and his Collaboration with ClassiCal Guitarist Carlos bonell Photo by Nicky Scicluna

“Fascinating and inventive” is how one London reviewer described Gordon Mizzi’s musical compositions. A closer listen unveils a musical landscape that is reflective, brooding and deeply pensive, with intriguing melodies and bursts of rhythm in places.

Gordon writes for the classical guitar – an instrument that, in his own words, “has had a chequered history”, and one with which he has a particular affinity. A business graduate, he is entirely selftaught, except for a few night classes at UCLA. March 2013 | Sunday Circle 61

MUSIC Photo by David Pace Bonello

I

“I started teaching myself to play the classical guitar at 24, when I was a student in the States,” he says.

Today, Gordon is a proficient guitar player as well as a composer of original scores. He has produced two collections of recordings, Song of the Sea and Saints and Fireworks, in recent years. His music is published in two volumes by Mel Bay, a leading publisher in the USA.

Composition... reflects a whole lifetime of different sounds that influence you and lodge themselves in your memory

The guitar, he admits, poses a different challenge in composition to other instruments, like, say, the piano. This is because of its very particular features. “The guitar is a difficult instrument to play,” he says. “In fact, most great composers for guitar – Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, Gaspar Sanz – were guitarists themselves.”

Composing music, says Gordon, takes its time and cannot be rushed.

The music “inhabits your head, and brews over time until the piece is finally ready.” Inspiration is everywhere and abounding. “The inspiration to compose comes from a lot of different places,” he says.

“It reflects a whole lifetime of different sounds that influence you and lodge themselves in your memory.” One of Gordon’s pieces, for example, bears the title “Paceville – Sin City”, and echoes the mood of 62 Sunday Circle | March 2013

I

this infamous nightlife area in all its cacophonous and dissonant glory.

That said, however, he also points out that the pieces stand alone, and need not be interpreted in relation to their titles.

Literature – poetry in particular – are also very prominent influences in Gordon’s work – a fact attested to by the numerous tomes of poetry that line his shelves. “The three love poems that feature on Saints and Fireworks, for example, are based on three Hawaiian poems: Hula, Lahaina and Hana.”

Aside from his original compositions, Gordon has also worked on transcribing a number of well and lesser known pieces, adapting them specifically for the classical guitar. How does he go about this?

“A transcription must be idiomatic: faithful to the original piece, but in the idiom of the guitar.” This is, of course, the greatest challenge.

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MUSIC Gordon’s musical interests are varied, and throughout our discussion, he mentions several musical figures, from Chopin to Bob Dylan. In choosing to adapt pieces for the guitar, he is equally eclectic in his choices. “I love Neapolitan music and have a collection of scores that haven’t been transcribed yet.”

I

Music has the ability to move people – and in this it is one of the most powerful art forms

I

Recently, Gordon undertook a project wherein he set out transcribe the renowned Branles de Malthe for classical guitar. The Branles were commissioned by the Order of the Knights of St John for the Dauphin of France, and were played in the European courts in the mid-1500s. They first came to his attention after they were published by Anna Borg Cardona in Malta: a Musical Legacy. “There was a lot of research involved. I looked up the original sources and got hold of them.” The sources he refers to were retrieved from the Bibliothèque Sainte Genevieve, Paris, and the British Library. With the original scores in hand, Gordon set about adapting them for the guitar.

SONG OF THE SEA

SAINTS AND FIREWORKS

THE MUSIC OF GORDON MIZZI

THE MUSIC OF GORDON MIZZI

VOLUME ONE

VOLUME TWO

FOR GUITAR

FOR GUITAR

SONG OF THE SEA Carlos Bonell Plays Gordon Mizzi

Gordon Mizzi

SaintS & FireworkS Carlos Bonell guitar

Sheet music by Gordon Mizzi, published by Mel Bay & recordings of Carlos Bonell performing Gordon Mizzi

The Branles de Malthe by Jean D’Estree feature on Saints and Fireworks and are performed by the world renowned Carlos Bonell. I first met Carlos Bonell about 25 years ago in Malta,” he says. Bonell has long been associated with Malta, presenting various concerts at the Manoel Theatre since the 70s. Bonell has collaborated with Gordon on both Song of the Sea: Carlos Bonell plays Gordon Mizzi (2003) and Saints and Fireworks. They feature recordings of Bonell performing guitar music composed and arranged

by Gordon. Both CDs were well received among critics, and got positive reviews in Classical Guitar and other high profile magazines.

This month, Carlos Bonell will be returning to the Manoel stage for a special recital of Gordon’s original work and other classical pieces for the guitar. “I think it’s going to be an interesting programme, with a nice mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Contemporary music.” The programme includes pieces by Tárrega, Villa Lobos, and Bach, as well as a performance of the Branles de Malthe, and other highlights from his published works.

Since 2006, Bonell has been helping Sir Paul McCartney in notating and recording a concerto for guitar and orchestra. “McCartney doesn’t read music.” This collaboration highlights the universality of the appeal of music – that even classical music can reach out and touch different audiences.

“People of different cultures identify rhythm as the most important factor,” he says. “There’s something inexplicable and universal about this. It is something deeply seated in the soul. Music has the ability to move people – and in this it is one of the most powerful art forms.

Carlos Bonell

64 Sunday Circle | March 2013

Carlos Bonell will be performing at the Manoel Theatre on 26 March at 20:00. For more information and tickets visit teatrumanoel.com.

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1: Chiara Privitera & Yanika Mattei

2: Jessica Inglott, Chiara Privitera, Diana Grech, Lyndsey Zammit & Lindsey Borg

4: Antoine Galea, Gabriella Galea Gusman & Andrew De La Torre 3: Daphne Mercieca, Rebecca Gonzi, Tamara Webb, Lyndsey Zammit & Jessica Inglott

• 1-3: C+M Marketing House of Beauty opening party held at The Villa, St Julians on 20 February • 4-5: The launch of the new Vodafone offices in Skyparks Business Centre • 6-7: Sara Grech and Raymond Bugeja held a lavish reception at the Westin Dragonara Hotel on 2 February to Launch ENGEL & VÖLKERS • 8: Launch of the French brand of exclusive beauty products Ericson Laboratoire, held at the Radisson Golden Sands on 4 February • 9-11: Slim presents friends of friends Carnival celebration at Club Paradiso Xlendi Gozo * For inclusion in Circle Paparazzi contact Marisa Schembri on marisa@networkpublications.com.mt ** For more Paparazzi photos log onto www.sundaycircle.com

6: Raymond Bugeja, Hannah & Benjamin Grech, Lawrence Gonzi, Semira & Sara Grech

9: Francesca Pecci, Mark Sullivan, Mark Peregin & Alexandra Cachia

5: Melanie Cremona, Marcel Grech Mallia & Romina Buttigieg

7: Michael Defland, Melanie Klusmeier, Christian Voelkers, Sara Grech & Raymond Bugeja,

10: Jean Fox and Nicky Scicluna

8: Donatella Vella, Fabien Prudent & Antonella Vella

11: Tina Urso & Emma Paris

GENERAL

ELECTION

MARLENE FARRUGIA Age: 46, Dental Surgeon LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 5, 6

What are the issues that are important to you?

No issue can be a standalone issue. Interdependence and interconnection of issues is obvious – you cannot put your weight behind one cause and ignore the rest. Take the energy policy issue. Health, environmental and economic implications are intertwined with any impact on competition, job creation, the financial state of the country, and so on. Therefore, the overriding issue remains: how to enhance practicality, efficiency, transparency and synergism in the way we do politics.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

My priority is to actually make a “Malta Taghna Lkoll”. Beyond the chants and rhetoric there is real work waiting to be continued to make real people feel whole in their country. Throughout my career in politics I have striven to bridge the political divide because partisan politics has cost our country and its people too much. Many decisions taken by either political party at one time or another during their existence in government were obviously shortsighted and taken only in an attempt to secure power for longer. It is time that a politics of consensus is put into practice for the sake of our present and future. I will work towards promoting constructive politics and making its implementation efficient, effective and timely.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

That is for the electorate to say. They can look at my life, where I started from, how I got here, my performance in business and politics and decide for themselves.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

Local politics is riddled with bickering. Too much time is wasted in parliament, with endless repetitive speeches that fill parliamentary time. I would like to see more done in parliament in less time. More accountability and shouldering of responsibility for what one says and does, both in formulating and implementing policy.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

The Labour Movement is the best choice if we want to change for the better the way our country is governed. The PN is entangled in a sticky web of its own creation and needs to be in opposition to clean up its act and reinvent itself. MLP was in such a mess in 1987. The country needs a change now as much as it needed then.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I spend time with my children who are not children anymore. I love travelling with them. Having been brought up in the beautiful countryside and rocky beaches around Qrendi and Zurrieq, I crave open spaces, so I walk whenever I can. I spend the rest of my time reading. Books have never let me down, so I prefer them to people – don’t tell my voters!

68 Sunday Circle | March 2013

General election 2013

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 69

GENERAL

ELECTION

NIKITA ZAMMIT ALAMANGO Age: 23, Student in B.Sc. Politics at London School of Economics, UOL LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

What are the issues that are important to you?

My main priorities are to contribute towards the provision of a better education system that leaves no one behind, and a health service system that is sustainable and more efficient.

We need to strive to achieve an economic model that is sustainable and at the same time progressive, an economic model whose green credentials are strong so that our environment is better protected for all of us to enjoy.

The protection and strengthening of minority rights is an important cause which I am very fond of. I am against any form of discrimination, be it based on gender, politics or otherwise. On the contrary, I am in favour of a more inclusive society where career progression is strictly based on meritocracy and everyone’s talents are properly credited and used effectively.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

My first priority would be the promotion and adoption of policies that would help in the reinforcement of civil rights and furthering the nation’s socio-economic development. As I did in the past, during the divorce referendum campaign, I will again stand up and be counted to ensure that we eradicate any injustices that are based on one’s sexual orientation, economic background, race or beliefs.

70 Sunday Circle | March 2013

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I will offer enthusiasm, resilience and determination to change things for the better and to partake in rebuilding a new Malta not only from a physical point-of-view but, even more importantly, from a social perspective. I will advocate and endorse fresh and sound ideas to ensure that our policies are implemented in a diligent and transparent manner.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

Trust in politicians has been steadily eroded over the past years. I sincerely believe we need to work hard to restore trust in the country’s political institutions and our policy makers. It is high time that we look beyond partisan politics and ensure that the issues being debated are held at the very centre of our discussions, fully cognisant of the fact that politicians are there to serve the public’s interest, in an efficient, diligent and accountable manner.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

I truly believe that PL is the best choice because it has transformed itself into a movement that understands the aspirations and concerns of the electorate. Over the past years the PL was

open to constructive input while reaching out to thousands of people who showed good will.

The comprehensive roadmap being presented throughout this campaign is what the party is now committed to implement if elected for the coming legislature.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

Given the time, I love to read, listen to music or watch a good movie. Travel and shopping features well during my leisure time but I equally enjoy a good night at the theatre or dining out with family and friends, whom I thank for their unconditional love and support through thick and thin.

Anything else you would like us to know?

Chances are that in anyone’s life journey some experiences take more significance than others in shaping one’s character and outlook. Never have I been more appreciative of this fact than when I had the opportunity to visit Israel and Palestine late in 2012. The insight gathered through the newsfeeds of the international media can hardly compare to the understanding one gets while out in the field. The sights, the sounds and the hardships endured by the people who struggle to survive for another day are nothing short of a life lesson and suddenly, complacency becomes a state of mind that exists only in retrospect.

General election 2013

CLIFFORD GALEA Age: 27, History teacher, TV and Radio broadcaster and Newspaper columnist LABOUR PARTY DISTRICT: 8, 12

What are the issues that are important to you?

What are the issues that are important to you?

We can work together for a better Malta with better education, more tangible work, more attention to children and youths, focus on people with disability and also minority groups.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

For more tolerance among us. I will definitely work hard for a better education for all and for more awareness and attention to our potential gems: history and culture.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I am down-to-earth, ready to listen and to deliver. We have to erase bureaucracy with facts not only by words.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

Less rhetoric, more action.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

The PL is offering a real alternative with proper proposals, no hidden agenda. Malta needs to wipe out corruption and their lack of accountability.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I still meet people, socialise and have a good laugh.

ALEX MUSCAT

Age: 30, Economist LABOUR PARTY DISTRICT: 11

We have seen a number of high profile cases in which public funds were allocated to the wrong priorities. I am of the opinion that a more equitable and responsible government expenditure would assist in economic growth.

What are your views on education?

Building a new school every year is simply not enough. I believe that we need a more holistic way of thinking with regard to our education.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

We have come together with those from different backgrounds and beliefs to assist in building a future which suits a modern progressive society.

Being a young candidate what are your views on youth involvement in politics?

A mixture of youth and experience can definitely contribute towards the creation of a dynamic package of policies that would positively improve the lifestyle of our society.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I like to enjoy the pleasures that life brings. Whether it’s watching a football match, socialising or country walks.

JASON MICALLEF

Age: 41, Executive Chairman at ONE Productions Ltd/redtouchfone LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 11

What are the issues that are important to you?

Giving our country back to its people is a priority: this is what “Malta tagћna lkoll” signifies. I would support my government in establishing an inclusive approach to national decision-making. A new government will work with one and all, including those with different political beliefs, as we have already done under Joseph Muscat’s leadership in opposition.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I think my track record in local politics, my time as a television producer at PBS and the past three years at the helm of ONE and redtouchfone is enough for people to decide and according to their judgement, vote for me as their next MP.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

I believe in meritocracy. We have had too many political appointments in government authorities over the years, where people were chosen because of their political beliefs or acquaintances. It is high time for this way of doing politics to stop.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

I believe that it is only Labour that can bring about the change that Malta really needs. We have a political manifesto and a clear roadmap of where we want to be in the next 10 or 15 years.

We want to see the younger generations achieve more; better work and the best possible work conditions for all; better care for our pensioners; and to work hand-in-hand with the business community to create a new middle-class.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I love gardening. Then, of course, is my love of football and the greatest club in the world: Manchester United.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 71

GENERAL

ELECTION

What are the issues that are important to you?

We need a society where everyone participates and where individuals and enterprise are nurtured to their full potential. This needs to be done within the context of a just society where those who are disadvantaged are given all the help required to move forward.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

I have been working in the health sector for 30 years now. We have worked hard over the past years to put a plan into place to ensure that we will take the healthcare service to the next level of excellence. I look forward to participating actively in the team tasked to deliver on our plans.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I want to see a new way of doing politics based on meritocracy, focused on results – where people get what they deserve not on the basis of whom they know or the party they vote for.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

CHRIS FEARNE

As a small nation we should be working together as one. There are still divisions dating back to

Age: 49, Paediatric Surgeon LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 3, 4

GINO CAUCHI

Age: 45, Journalist and Communications Exec LABOUR PARTY DISTRICT: 4, 10

What are the issues that are important to you?

The well-being of every family. We need to tackle the steep increase of families living in poverty. We have to address immediately issues related to the cost of living, utility bills, lack of foreign and local investments. We need to create new and proper job opportunities. We need to bring the business sector back on its feet. We need to achieve a better economy and facts.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

Energy, integrity, honesty, loyalty, and goodwill – these are the main qualities that a politician should have. I have proved myself during my first legislature as a Member of Parliament.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

We are talking about change. Let’s eradicate a collapsed system of governing in the name of the few and give the country back to the people. We are proposing a holistic programme aimed at addressing each and every sector.

72 Sunday Circle | March 2013

the ugly episodes of the sixties and eighties, and instead of encouraging people to bury the hatchet, there has been a strategy to emphasise this divide. It’s time to move on.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

The PL will bring a fresh team with detailed plans on how to take us to the next level of excellence with a new way of doing politics.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy reading. Although I am very busy, I still find time to read.

Anything else you would like us to know?

I would like to thank all the members of my family, as well as my faithful team of helpers, without whose unfailing efforts, I would never have been able to contest this election.

JOE CILIA

Age: 51, Notary Public and Doctor of Laws LABOUR PARTY DISTRICT: 1, 4

What are the issues that are important to you?

The most important issue is the need for a change in direction after a tired, recycled and outlived Nationalist Administration.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I already have a track record of experience, energy, and credibility at parliamentary, party and constituency levels. I have always been very close to my constituents and competent to represent their needs and aspirations.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

The party has undergone a tremendous change and has found the right formula to represent different views, has a modern approach while respecting the core values of our society.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy watching movies, supporting my favourite football club Liverpool FC, good food and good company.

General election 2013

MARTIN ELLUL MERCER Age: 56, Physiotherapist

LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

What are the issues that are important to you?

As a citizen living and working in this country, I am affected by the same problems that every family faces: daily rises in cost of living, costs of energy, and a total lack of transparency in the decisions that affect our daily lives.

Furthermore, as a healthcare professional, the inadequacies existing in our healthcare system, and a quasi non-existent primary healthcare are my primary concerns. I also feel that relative poverty should be addressed. Today around 88,000 citizens on this island are on the verge of poverty and this is a figure that cannot be tolerated.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

As a physiotherapist for the past 34 years, I’ve seen suffering and I’ve seen the best in people enduring and overcoming their illnesses and pains. I’ve seen the strength of character of the Maltese people struggling to keep up with the demands of their families. For me, politics is

MICHAEL FALZON

Age: 51, Lawyer (employed with one of the local banks) LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

akin to medicine: you assess, you evaluate, you treat. I intend to pursue my political career in this way, by listening and acting accordingly and fairly.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

Labour listens, Labour feels the pain of every individual. Labour pledges itself with a roadmap built on the ideas of people from all walks of life and its determination to improve a deteriorating standard of living. Furthermore, it pledges a more transparent administration and a concrete promise to fight corruption.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy gardening and the countryside. I have three grandchildren who have completed my life. Although I enjoy books relating to Maltese history, I like fiction and enjoy all sorts of music. I can’t say I’m into sports but when I find time, a brisk walk relaxes me and clears my head.

What are the issues that are important to you?

The issues which are most important to me are the social ones. The real reason to be in politics is the will to serve, and what better way to serve then that of striving to give a better standard of living to all.

What would be your priorities if elected?

I appreciate that this is a tall order, but I sincerely believe that being close to the people is a priority. Should I be elected, I will definitely and resolutely strive towards creating a more secure country.

I can only offer simple things, but important ones at the same time: hard work, honesty, sincerity and integrity.

Why should people vote for you?

I think it is up to the voters to decide why they should vote for me. I humbly think that, given their trust, I can serve them well.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

One thing which I would definitely try to change about local politics is to make it more respectful. In particular, one thing which I really dislike is when personal attacks are resorted to.

Why do you feel your party is the best voice for the country?

Undoubtedly, the Labour Party is the only real choice available. It is the only party that can give this country what it so direly needs: real social justice, a sense of direction, and a responsible and forward-looking government.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy a good book and I love to travel, especially driving through the countryside when abroad. I am also President of a Band Club and legal consultant and one of the founding members of the Malta Pyrotechnics Society.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 73

GENERAL

ELECTION

Manuel MallIa Age: 59, Criminal Lawyer LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

input from the people who will have lent me their trust. My ultimate aim is to give credibility back to the politician through my service and my example.

What led you to a change of heart and contest the forthcoming elections as a Labour candidate?

It is not I who had a change of heart, but the Nationalist Party, which has lost its heart.

One cannot remain anchored to the past just on the basis of the colour of a flag, or on the basis of events from decades ago. We are here and now, and it is becoming increasingly clear that it is the Labour movement that is representative of the times we are living in. The values which the Nationalist party had in the past are acknowledged by all, values I shared.

The difference is that I kept my values, while the Nationalist Party has dropped them along the side roads a long time ago.

What are the issues important to you?

All issues that affect Maltese citizens and families are important to me. Good governance, responsible public spending and the proper observance of the principles of justice are crucial in that the effects of these rubrics for a good government filter down to each and every one of us. Corruption and inefficiency 74 Sunday Circle | March 2013

increase public expenditure to the detriment of taxpayers who have to carry the cost of these extravagances. The total detachment of Gonzi’s government from the people is best epitomised by the shocking revelation of the self-awarded pay rise (a weekly raise of the equivalent of a monthly minimum wage) to Ministers, at the same time that families were finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet.

What would be your priorities if elected?

My priorities will be tackling core problems at their source. Corruption and unnecessary bureaucracy are high on my list, and no fish will be considered too big to get away with wrongdoing. Also topping my agenda will be measures aimed at protecting and supporting the most vulnerable in our society – the elderly, the lower income earners and persons with disabilities.

Why should people vote for you?

In my professional life I have always served people. I see the politician’s role as an extension of that philosophy. If elected, I will strive to live up to the name of Representative, and will carry with me every day the concerns, realities and

Why do you feel your party is the best voice for the country?

It is not just the best voice, but at the moment it is the only voice. The movement, rather than the party, has become truly representative of all our society, and is positively looking forward to a change for the better. The Nationalist Party on the other hand keeps using scaremongering tactics which, although having served it well in the past, do not work anymore. The Maltese people want to know what’s up ahead, and how we’re going to address it. To use a driving analogy, how would you like to be in a car, driven by someone who does not take his eyes off the rear view mirror? Such a driver is the Nationalist Party.

What do you do when you are not campaigning?

I pride myself on my time management.

There is a time for campaigning, a time for my profession, and most of all, time for my family. We love going to the theatre, especially for opera, but we also love to meet friends in various social occasions. It goes without saying that the highlight of the week is the Sunday lunch with my wife and children.

General election 2013

What are the issues that are important to you?

I believe that any government must remain close and listen to the electorate at large.

Economic growth is a priority in order to ascertain that everyone reaps the fruit from such growth. We must also ensure that equal opportunities are provided. A new government must also show a sincere commitment in taking measures to fight corruption. Another important aspect which needs to be addressed seriously is the preparation in view of the 2017 Presidency of the European Council.

What do you have to offer? Why should people have to vote for you?

EDWARD ZAMMIT LEWIS

Age: 39, Lawyer LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 8, 11

NICOLAI GAUCI

Age: 23, Company Director LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 10

People should vote for me because I am a dynamic politician with fresh ideas and share the same ideals and vision as our Leader Dr Joseph Muscat.

I have been in politics since I was elected President of the youth forum in 1998 and local councillor in Attard in the same year. Today I work hand in hand with the Party and represent it legally in

various cases before our Courts.

I have studied and keep myself abreast about international matters.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

The polarization in this country. I believe we are a nation where one should not be described as “the face of this party or another”.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

The Labour Party is forwarding-looking; it is honest and is presenting a very competent team to the electorate. Most importantly the LP has presented a road map which is realistic and once implemented, will improve the governance of our country, and the standard of living of the electorate.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I spend time with my wife, daughter and friends.

I also enjoy reading and following Italian football. Even though the occasions have now become few, I also enjoy playing football.

What are the issues that are important to you?

The most important issues for me are the utility bills: many families and businesses (stable companies and also self-employed) are facing lots of problems to cope with these bills. I deeply worry about the importance of art and sports in our country. There is still not enough pressure or specialised people to address these matters in order to improve upon these issues.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

My highest priority will be that every single proposal being put in the party’s manifesto will be implemented as being promised. I would also work more closely on the arts and sports sectors.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I consider myself a confident individual and I’m never afraid to speak my mind on matters close to my heart. This is what a voter looks for in a politician.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

We need to start to accept each other’s opinions to be capable of balancing matters.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

If I could change one thing in local politics it would be to accept other’s opinions and my party is definitely showing this as one of the highest priorities.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

As a father of two children, I try to dedicate all the time to my family this gives me energy to continue this journey.

Anything else you would like us to know?

I am part of the Sliema WFC Committee.

Football is part of my life but I am also a music fanatic. It is important in life to keep our minds working in order to gain as much experience and knowledge as we can.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 75

GENERAL

ELECTION

What are the issues that are important to you?

The smooth and transparent functioning of the justice sector is essential for lawyers to provide a better service and to reassure clients that their concerns are being dealt with properly. My specialisation in constitutional law underlines my interest in the workings of Parliament, the Judiciary, the Government and other constitutionally-appointed bodies – the proper functioning of which is essential for the State to function correctly. I wish to live in a truly fair society where no one is allowed to fall behind – only to be remembered of just before the election.

What would be your priorities if elected?

What would you actively work towards?

Pressing for transparency and accountability by removing prescription from acts of corruption involving politicians, introducing the Whistleblower Act and party funding laws.

Promoting meritocracy. Reforming the Maltese Constitution. Ensuring we live in a true democracy where decisions are taken in the national interest.

MARC SANT

Age: 29, Lawyer LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 8

LUCIANO BUSUTTIL Age: 38, Lawyer LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 1, 5

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

People feel comfortable talking to me because they say I am a very good listener. I believe my

What would you change about local politics?

I would lessen the polarization permeating our society; eliminate institutionalized bureaucracy and the acceptance of mediocrity.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice?

The Labour Party introduced an array of social services that lifted many people out of poverty. It has always been the voice of the underprivileged and the party that worked for the many instead of the few.

Today it remains the party that truly cares for minority groups; which wants everyone to progress and which is working hard to bring Malta out of its ingrained acceptance of mediocrity.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy watching football, socialising and reading.

What are the issues that are important to you?

Non precarious jobs creation is definitely a priority. We need to cater for those who fall through the system by offering training and education that will help them find a job.

Producing cleaner energy is definitely an issue I have at heart. As a father of two, I am concerned with the poor level of air quality due to the Marsa and Delimara Power Stations.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

If I am still responsible for EU matters and youths, I would work hard towards the 2017 presidency and towards enhancing more rights and opportunities for youths to participate in decision-making processes. Above all, I would make sure that EU funds available are fully utilised.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

I am young and dynamic and have been active in politics these past 12 years. During my career as Hamrun Mayor and then MP, I have always been close to my constituents and always worked in their best interest. I know I have much more to offer.

76 Sunday Circle | March 2013

educational background combined with my experiences in various student organizations and community associations can help me put my ideas, energy and goodwill at the service of my country and my constituents.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

Hypocrisy. A politician should always keep in mind that he or she is elected by the people to represent them in an honest way.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

We have listened and come up with an electoral manifesto of the people, by the people and for the people. We have opened up and embraced people from all sectors of society, including several who have never voted Labour.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I love spending time with my wife and children.

I also love astronomy, painting, watching movies, reading and following football.

General election 2013

local talent and everything that forms part of our cultural heritage. We need to set a better education system in this area with professionals teaching all forms of art and create more opportunities for local artists, not just to showcase their talent but to become professionals and earn a decent living.

We also need to maximise collaboration projects through EU funds. There is more room for job creation in this sector that has been neglected for too long; recording of soundtracks for movies in Malta is just one example.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

MRO SIGMUND MIFSUD

Age: 39, Musician at Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Arranger & Producer and Managing Director at BLS Entertainment LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

I entered into the political arena because I believe I can make a difference and work for a better way of living. I have a two-year-old daughter and I would like her to grow up in a society with a better education system not based simply on academics but on creativity, talent, and abilities; a society that tolerates and protects diversity and in a clean environment.

I want to be part of that change. People should vote for me because I am a doer, passionate and take duties assigned seriously, with dignity and responsibility.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

I would like to see a forward-looking political arena and ideals based on positives rather than politics based on fear and on the past. Thus, more respect towards diverse political opinions. We should not cherish mediocrity but work hard to be better. This is the future of politics.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

PL offers a change in mentality. People need to be trusted more, based on their talent, not their contacts. If we believe we can have a better quality of life, we need to employ our abilities and talent to the full, irrespective of political beliefs. When Joseph Muscat says “tista ma taqbilx magħna, imma tista taħdem magħna”, it is a very strong, forward-looking statement.

Why did you feel you had to write a song for your campaign?

What are the issues that are important to you?

I come from the Culture Industry, thus culture is my line of expertise. I truly believe that culture is what identifies us – it is the factor that gives us the cutting edge when compared to other countries. Culture and the Arts come into play especially when a country’s economic growth, like Malta, depends on the Tourism Industry. It also enriches our education system.

Nevertheless, now that I have been doing door-to-door visits and meeting families in their homes, there are also other issues that come at par, such as high utility bills, health, pensions and accepting and putting the necessary laws in place to protect diversity. But above all, I believe in a better future; I embrace change and although we have been made to believe in fear of it, I believe otherwise.

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

My priority would be to bring more respect towards local artists. Art has to be respected as a profession, not be treated as a hobby. We need to find constructive ways to popularise our talent and educate people to appreciate

I believe in politics people need to know what you stand for. I am proud of being an artist that has now entered in the political arena and I felt the best way to communicate my beliefs was through a song. More artists should be free to express their political opinion through their art without being discriminated or censored.

Musician or politician?

Music and politics both are means of communication with people – the way of communication is different. Music is a universal language and brings people together. I would like politics to be a tool that will give me the opportunity to communicate with a lot of people and be an instrument to unite diverse opinions. Both being a musician and being a politician are equally important to me and just as I do for every commitment I take on, I will contribute and dedicate my energies to the best of my abilities.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

In my spare time, I compose musical arrangements, produce concerts and am also the Musical Director of the Sliema Band Club and various concerts such as National Orchestra goes Pop and Rockestra. I enjoy walking and try to find time for a walk every day. I enjoy editing videos of my little girl who is now two years old. I also enjoy dinners with family and friends.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 77

GENERAL

ELECTION

What are the issues that are important to you?

I always had in mind some day to work closely with people and residents. I got involved with local councils and found it is my place. I like meeting people, being close to people and involving myself in events that are of the people such as feasts and holy communions. My interest to help is at the centre of it all.

What is your interpretation of “Malta Taghna Lkoll”?

The title is philosophical, not just a catch phrase or statement to gain points now that will then fade after the elections. It is in line with the ethos of the party and was proposed because it is inclusive of everyone in society – people from different political parties, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and minority groups.

What are your thoughts on the electoral campaign so far?

SANdRO CRAuS Age: 42, Educator, Mayor of Rabat LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 7

CLIFTON GRIMA Age: 29, Lawyer LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

The way the campaign has evolved, there is lots of talk on scandals that are not the main concern of the people. They are important issues but they should not supersede all that we have worked on.

People want to hear about things relevant

What are the issues that are important to you?

As a young man, I believe that young people are not only the future, but also the present. Thus, I consider essential the guarantee for youth that the PL has been proposing – backed by the approval of €6 billion by the EU.

What would you like to see under a new Labour government?

I would like to see inclusivity with respect to decision-making and a government that can be made accountable for its decisions, is in favour of minorities and that helps those excluded from society. I would like to see policies that also address sections of the population that are at risk of poverty, a greater focus on the elderly and a government that moves away from partisan politics.

How are you going to contribute?

I believe I can contribute to issues involving education and local councils. I am an accounts, economics and sociology teacher and think we should listen more to our students and teachers. I am also mayor of Rabat and think local councils should be given more autonomy to fight bureaucracy and should serve as a motor in their locality.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

What would be your priorities if elected? What would you actively work towards?

The PL is the base of a political movement which has in its ranks people from all walks of life who have one thing in common: they want to make our nation the best in Europe. Our electoral programme is concrete, doable, and the way forward.

I believe that a politician should always be near the people. In this aspect it is worth mentioning that the PL has a roadmap designed by the people for the people. I feel it is only natural that a politician works actively to involve as many people as possible in political life, which would help to put their priorities at the top of the political agenda.

I value my family and spend as much time with my loved ones as possible. I am also involved in various organisations and am currently the Vice President of Sliema Wanderers FC. I love practically all the imaginable sport disciplines but football definitely ranks as number one.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

Surely, the fact that I come from a working class background helps me understand what people feel and think. I am a very energetic person who in the past years acquired firsthand experience of what it takes to lead, as Mayor of Msida.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

Together with Dr Joseph Muscat, I can contribute towards having – in line with the PL’s slogan – a united nation.

78 Sunday Circle | March 2013

to them – young people are concerned on issues of education and employment, farmers about agriculture. This campaign is looking to discredit people and it is coming out especially from the side of the PN. We are trying to be inclusive and close to the people while the PN campaign is there to divide.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

General election 2013

MARTIN ELLUL MERCER Age: 56, Physiotherapist

LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

What are the issues that are important to you?

As a citizen living and working in this country, I am affected by the same problems that every family faces: daily rises in cost of living, cost of energy, and a total lack of transparency in the decisions that affect our daily lives.

Furthermore, as a healthcare professional, the inadequacies existing in our healthcare system, and a quasi non-existent primary healthcare are my primary concerns. I also feel that relative poverty should be addressed. Today around 88,000 citizens on this island are on the verge of poverty and this is a figure that cannot be tolerated.

What do you have to offer? Why should people vote for you?

As a physiotherapist for the past 34 years, I’ve seen suffering and I’ve seen the best in people enduring and overcoming their illnesses and pains. I’ve seen the strength of character of the Maltese people struggling to keep up with the demands of their families. For me, politics is

MICHAEL FALZON

Age: 51, Lawyer (employed with one of the local banks) LABOUR PARTY | DISTRICT: 9, 10

akin to medicine: you assess, you evaluate, you treat. I intend to pursue my political career in this way, by listening and acting accordingly and fairly.

Why do you feel your party is the best choice for the country?

Labour listens, Labour feels the pain of every individual. Labour pledges itself with a roadmap built on the ideas of people from all walks of life and its determination to improve a deteriorating standard of living. Furthermore, it pledges a more transparent administration and a concrete promise to fight corruption.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy gardening and the countryside. I have three grandchildren who have completed my life. Although I enjoy books relating to Maltese history, I like fiction and enjoy all sorts of music. I can’t say I’m into sports but when I find time, a brisk walk relaxes me and clears my head.

What are the issues that are important to you?

The issues which are most important to me are the social ones. The real reason to be in politics is the will to serve, and what better way to serve than that of striving to give a better standard of living to all.

What would be your priorities if elected?

I appreciate that this is a tall order, but I sincerely believe that being close to the people is a priority. Should I be elected, I will definitely and resolutely strive towards creating a more secure country.

I can only offer simple things, but important ones at the same time: hard work, honesty, sincerity and integrity.

Why should people vote for you?

I think it is up to the voters to decide why they should vote for me. I humbly think that, given their trust, I can serve them well.

What is one thing you would change about local politics if you could?

One thing which I would definitely try to change about local politics is to make it more respectful. In particular, one thing which I really dislike is when personal attacks are resorted to.

Why do you feel your party is the best voice for the country?

Undoubtedly, the Labour Party is the only real choice available. It is the only party that can give this country what it so direly needs: real social justice, a sense of direction, and a responsible and forward-looking government.

What do you do when not working or campaigning?

I enjoy a good book and I love to travel, especially driving through the countryside when abroad. I am also President of a Band Club and legal consultant and one of the founding members of the Malta Pyrotechnics Society.

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 73

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STYLE & TECHNOLOGY

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MONO-bLOCk SwiMMiNG POOLS The installation of a pool is the best choice you can make; a pool provides you with exercise, entertainment, health and leisure.The installation of a Multiforma Swimming Pool will raise the value and image of your home. Why Fiberglass?

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The New Bose The SoundDock III digital music system is compatible with the new iPhone 5 and other devices equipped with the new Apple Lightning™ connector.

Experience stunning Bose Quality sound while charging your device, and navigate tracks and playlists with the convenient remote control.

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March 2013 | Sunday Circle 81

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food & drink

2012 Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Home of Marmalade and Preserves

, You want gold d ! ol G al ic op Tr r Go fo Dole Tropical Gold canned pineapple in 100% pineapple juice is a convenient, ready-to-eat product. It is available in two varieties, slices and chunks. Both pineapple slices and chunks have a natural golden colour, crunchy texture and a delicious taste. Dole pineapple slices and chunks are completely natural, with no additives and preservatives and are rich in vitamin C. They are ideal baked with ham, grilled with chicken, served with ham sandwiches or desserts.

Dole has introduced new Fruity Snacks Mango bites and Pineapple bites. These are nutritious dried chunks of pineapples and slices of mango which are perfect for a healthy on-the-go snack.

Quintano Foods Ltd. Tel: 2381 4556

82 Sunday Circle | March 2013

Nothing goes down as well as genuine, homemade treats.

Mackays, a family-owned business, is the only remaining producer of marmalades and preserves in the Dundee area of Scotland, the ‘home of marmalade’.

Be original and taste some of the vast variety of flavours such as Orange & Lemon Marmalade with Ginger, Orange Marmalade with Whiskey and preserves like Scottish Strawberry, Lemon Curd, Rhubarb and Ginger.

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Devon Cereal Biscuits with Cranberries are a high fibre biscuit. Full of oats (28%) and with Cranberry nuggets Devon’s cereal biscuits are an ideal start to the day.

Visit: www.cbiscuits.com

food & drink

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Fine Italian Biscuits Golden Harvest Hot Cross Buns have long been a symbol of Good Friday. Today they are sold in bake shops and supermarket bakeries throughout the Easter season. Each bun have an icing cross on top to signify the crucifiction. for your fresh, delicious hot cross buns this easter season, ask for Golden Harvest Hot Cross Buns!

Available from all leading supermarkets and mini-markets as well as all Golden Harvest outlets www.goldenharvest.com.mt

The range of Lazzaroni biscuits is rather vast. Classic Petit Beurre biscuits and Oswego malt biscuits are delicious dipped in tea or in hot milk. There’s also a variety of shortbread biscuits, like Aurore biscuits – made from delicious milk and honey, Preziosi for a toasted hazelnut taste, Sinfonie biscuits – rich in fibre and Rubacuori – made from dark chocolate. Lazzaroni also has a wide range of fine pastry biscuits like, Limonelli, with a lemon and toasted hazelnut taste, Nanette – delicate wafers filled with hazelnut cream, covered in milk chocolate and fine threads of dark chocolate and Cabaret – made from caramelised sugar, cinnamon and covered in milk chocolate. For a healthier snack Lazzaroni also has a variety of biscuits high in fibre and with no sugar added, such as the Zerole classic biscuits. Pain Croute biscuits come in an original and unique shape and these can be split into your desired portion and ideally served with jam.

Quintano Foods Ltd. Tel: 2381 4556

March 2013 | Sunday Circle 83

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food & drink

Visit Us This Easter!

Choose from a vast selection of Easter eggs and cakes together with our wines, fine wines, champagne, spirits and beers. Deli items, chocolates, gift packages and accessories are also available. Visit our store or shop online at www.farsonsdirect.com Largest variety of brands on the island - Free deliveries* For more information please call 23814444 (*Terms and conditions apply)

Great Value - Easy Parking - Wide Choice The Brewery, Mdina Road, Mriehel BKR3000 (Just past the Farsons Brewery) Tel. 2381 4444 • e-mail. info@farsonsdirect.com

84 Sunday Circle | March 2013

Ponsomby Street, Mosta MST 4032 2143 2571, 2143 6186, 2143 2951 info@vct.com.mt www.vct.com.mt

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Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 08.00 to 18.00 Thu 08.00 to 20.00 (Late Night) Sat 09.00 to 12.30

Come and see where smiles are made and Celebrate PlaY! Bring your kids and participate in the fun, view the new 2013 novelties and for a little break, our cafeteria offers a broad range of snacks at family friendly prices.

Playmobil FunPark, HF80, Industrial Estate, Hal Far t: 2224 2445 e: funpark@playmobilmalta.com opening hours: Mon-Sun 10.00 - 18.00 by bus: Route no. X4 by car: Proceed to the Airport then follow the signposts

JOIN OUR FUNPARK FREE

PAGE NOW!

ACCESS AT THE PLAYMOBIL FUNPARK

www.playmobilmalta.com March 2013 | Sunday Circle 85

86 Sunday Circle | March 2013

www.NIVEA.com TEL: 2122 1094

NIVEA

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€8.80

€3 OFF on RRP

COM 111110A

on RRP

MSV Life p.l.c. is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority to carry on long term business under the Insurance Business Act 1998.

freephone 8007 2220 www.msvlife.com March 2013 | Sunday Circle 87

BEAUTY

Fighting

OFF Ageing Consultant PlastiC and aesthetiC surgeon ray deBono takes a modern aPProaCh to FaCeliFt surgery Modern facelift surgery is a highly individualized procedure designed for each patient. Facelift involves repositioning the underlying foundation and restoring tissues to their original position, without stretching of the overlying skin. The main areas addressed are the muscles in the neck and along the jawline, and the fat and fascia in the cheek.

Today we are concerned with fat and/or tissue redistribution, and fat atrophy.

Most patients need tissue repositioning to help create the contours of the face that we are trying to achieve. Some people lose facial fat volume as part of the ageing process, but people in their early forties and fifties usually need volume redistribution rather than volume addition. When people have loss of tissue volume in the face, we will add fat, which is taken from another part of the body.

The stretched look of earlier facelifts was a result of the skin being pulled tight. Tightening or repositioning of the underlying foundation contours the face, without the need for stretching the skin. Stretching facial skin does not give a facelift result that is considered appropriate anymore.

Tightening the skin can lead to that windblown look and the “joker lines” on the cheek.

TYPES OF FACELIFTS The Full FaceliFT The incision/scar begins above the ear, follows the contour of the ear to the ear lobe and continues up behind the ear and into the hair in a way that it is not seen. This is a “complete” technique that addresses both the face and the neck and will correct the cheek and jawline droop and the neck droop. It can be used to address any degree of ageing changes.

as you would look five years after the surgery, as ageing continues. Some people may say that a facelift may “fall”. A true facelift cannot fall.

The surgical changes made by repositioning the underlying foundation and tightening the deeper-layer tissues in the face are secured. “Skin only” facelifts without repositioning the underlying muscle framework however do “fall” in a relatively short time-span.

The ShorT Scar FaceliFT

concluSion

The incision begins above the ear, follows the contour of the ear cartilage and stops just behind the earlobe. This technique is also often referred to as a “mini facelift” and is very limited in its effect on the neck and jawline changes.

It is usually used for patients with no significant ageing changes in the neck.

The effects of a facelift are long-lasting. You will always look better than if you did not have the procedure. However, the effect decreases over a period of years. At say ten years after surgery, you will not look as good

88 Sunday Circle | March 2013

Modern facelift surgery has become very much customized to the individual patient’s needs in order to achieve a natural non-operated look. Recovery is usually two to three weeks, most people return to normal activity by three weeks. Age is not the determining factor for when one should have a facelift. The primary factors linked to the ageing process are genetics; lifestyle, such as a lot of sun exposure; weight gain or loss; and smoking. Those four things affect appearance and changes associated with ageing in most people.

NEW CineMate® 1 SR

digital home cinema speaker system

Now you can get the home cinema sound you want without compromising your room. It’s all made possible by a Bose® innovation that delivers spacious sound as wide as your room – from one visible speaker that fits neatly beneath your TV and a wireless, hideaway Acoustimass® module. Hear the CineMate® 1 SR system for yourself and discover how Bose can change the way you think about home cinema.

Doneo, Mountbatten Street, Hamrun. Tel: +356 21 230 741, Fax: +356 21 230 735. info@doneo.com.mt

Choose from 3 natural shades to match your skin tone for an instant, healthy glow.

Available from all Guinot Appointed Salons

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