The Voice of the Maltese No. 148

The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers )

Issue 148

o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e

February 28, 2017

M a l t a C a r n iv a l 2 0 1 7 Spectacular, colourful, artistic It has been Carnival time in Malta and Gozo with. Everybody had the chance to forget politics and to make merry. The past few days were a most colourful, spectacular and artistic occasion. Creative Floats, both satirical and comical, and dancers had a field day making sure that this time of year on the Maltese islands stays alive.

Photos by UnionPrint and Joe Grech

At The Voice of the Maltese we are working on a special issue of the magazine specially dedicated to the Malta Carnival 2017. It is intended to pay tribute to the hundreds of people in Malta and Gozo who have contributed and worked so hard to deliver a spectacular, colourful and artistic event that gives credit to all those who participated in making it an occasion to be enjoyed by locals and foreign visitors. The special issue is being made possible thanks mainly to the photographers who offered The Voice some spectacular pictures that editorial comment on page we believe should be enjoyed by our readers. The special issue of (Report, The Voice is set for Tuesday March 6. 6)

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Malta a “Hotspot” for Chinese Investment and Tourism M

alta's ambassador to China, HE John Aquilina, pointed out Malta’s advantages for Chinese tourists, and its potential for investors wishing to become permanent residents of the island nation when he addressed an audience of 400 people at a major Promotional Seminar in the ancient capital of Zhengzhou in central China.

The Ambassador, who was the Keynote Speaker at the seminar in Zhengzhou, which has become an ultramodern technological centre of around 9.5 million people, told the audience that, “In the eyes of China, Malta may be a small country, but the country’s potential is limitless".

Mr. Aquilina spoke about Malta’s major strategic, economic and trading advantages as a member of the European Union, a member of the Eurozone, a member of the Commonwealth, and the only country in the Schengen group of nations to have English as one of its official languages.

His speech followed a brief introductory film narrated in Chinese that highlighted Malta's history, landscape and lifestyle, and a short account of the prestigious importance of Malta taking over the Presidency of the EU Council during the first six months of 2017.

The Maltese Ambassador told The Voice of the Maltese: “The Chinese have a great love for history and culture, so a short account of Malta’s 7,000 year history, and the information that Valletta is to be designated as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018, also grabbed their

Malta’s Ambassador to China, John Aquilina (third from right) at the launch of the Promotion Campaign attention.”

Asked the main reasons behind the organisation of the seminar, the Ambassador said it was intended to pass on information about how to apply for the Malta Residence Visa Programme (MRVP).

The MRVP has been extremely successful in China, bringing with it the promise of multiple millions of investment Euros to Malta.

He explained that the interest in the MRVP among the participants of the promotional event was intense, with many seeking detailed information through multiple questions, followed up by one-on-one meetings.

Support speakers at the meeting were the Private Client Services Leader of the Hong Kong office of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd, as well as the Director, Wealth Management, and the Regional Chief Investment Officers for Greater China from UBS, Hong Kong.

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The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Another service offered by The Voice of the Maltese providing legal information to our readers

Buying Real Estate in NSW: Tips and Tricks

by PaulSant

B

uying real estate is the biggest single purchase you will make in your lifetime. As property prices continue to climb, it has never been more important to be an informed purchaser.

Most purchasers understand that a Contract for Sale must be signed at some point, but what most purchasers do not realise is that there are three main ways of entering into a contract for sale of land.

However, before we get into the nitty gritty, it’s important to understand one crucial detail - neither party is bound by the terms of the contract until the contracts are exchanged and dated.

Throughout this article I will refer to the date of exchange, as opposed to the date that you signed the contract. The date that you signed the contract is amusing but irrelevant!

1. Exchanging Contracts with a Cooling Off Period If you are one of the lucky few whose private offer is accepted by the vendor, it is likely that you will sign the Contract for Sale in the presence of the real estate agent. At this point in time, it is unlikely that you would have had a chance to receive legal advice regarding the contract.

Luckily for you, the law requires that you be entitled to a minimum cooling off period of five business days from the date on which the contracts are exchanged.

At 5 pm on the fifth business day the cooling off period will automatically expire and all parties to the contract will be legally bound by its terms.

You will be required to pay 0.25% of

the deposit at the beginning of the cooling off period (in other words at exchange of contracts).

If, during the cooling off period, you decide to go ahead with the purchase you will be required to pay the rest of the deposit before the expiry of the cooling off period.

If you decide that you wish to pull the plug, you may rescind (or end) the contract before the expiry of the cooling off period and you will forfeit you 0.25% deposit. However, you will not be expected to pay the balance of the deposit.

2. Exchanging Contracts with a 66W Certificate It is also possible to sign the contract at your solicitor’s office. This is required where the vendor insists on receiving a 66W certificate. A 66W certificate waives the standard cooling off period and makes the contract immediately binding upon the parties (rather than five days after exchange). It is used by real estate agents and vendors to ensure that the purchaser is bound and cannot end the contract in the event that they discover something unsavoury.

3. Buying at Auction If you are the successful bidder at auction, there is no cooling off period. The contract is immediately legally binding on you.

Now comes the hard part!

The bulk of a purchaser’s homework normally occurs before the contract becomes binding. Earlier in this article we established the various ways in which a purchaser can enter into a legally binding contract for sale. Below we will examine

PAUL SANT (SOLICITOR)

PARTNER AT LONGTONLEGAL For All Your Legal Needs Incl.:

Family Law, Property & Construction Law, Conveyancing, Corporate & Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Immigration Law, Wills & Contested Estates Level 4, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Parramatta by appointment Ph: 02 8355 9999 (Reception) & 02 8015 7923 (Robin) Email: paul.sant@longtonlegal.com.au www.longtonlegal.com.au Maltese Spoken

what you should do before you are locked in!

What should you do before the contract becomes binding?

It is absolutely crucial to do your homework before becoming legally bound to proceed with the completion of the contract. To place yourself in the best possible position you should: 1. Obtain loan approval, if you require a mortgage to purchase the property.

2. Obtain Pest and Building Reports, to satisfy yourself as to the quality of the property. Be sure to thoroughly inspect the property. Caveat emptor (buyer beware)! As purchaser, you are expected to be aware of the physical defects in the property, whether obvious or hidden.

The vendor is not required to disclose any of this information, and you cannot make a claim for compensation from the vendor if you find out that for example, the house is infested with termites.

3. Obtain a Strata Report – if you are buying an apartment, a strata report can reveal valuable information such as the history of the strata levies, whether there are any major works planned for the near future (for which a special levy will need to be struck), any litigation in which the owners corporation may be involved in, the sufficiency of the sinking and administrative funds, and the general harmony of the complex.

4. Get legal advice on the contract and negotiate the terms in the contract.

If you have exchanged with a cooling off period then you should ensure that you have done your homework before the expiry of the cooling off period. If you are exchanging with an s66W certificate or buying at auction, you should have completed your research prior to exchange of contracts.

Good luck property hunting!

We have provided you with an overview of the topic above but you should consult a professional for advice specific to your circumstances.

4

The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Something magical happens each time you enter these city walls. Architectural excellence captivates your visual senses, as every step leads to a landmark of historical value. Walls and pavements that line the grid of narrow streets whisper secrets and mystic tales to passersby, whilst the air fills up with modern art, live music, and an array of celebrations. The Unesco World Heritage Site could perhaps best be described as a place where history meets the present; where every explorer can find something they love. How will your Valletta story unfold?

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday February 28, 2017 At the reception H.E. Ms Julienne Hince hosted at her residence on Australia Day (reported in the last issue of The Voice), the new Australian High

Commissioner to Malta delivered a most interesting speech in which she expressed her commitments and hopes for the duration of her posting.

HC Hince: Migration looms large in bonds between Malta, Australia I

n her first meeting with the lo- tralians who claim Maltese ancestry, cals, Maltese Cabinet Ministers, including quite a few in this room,” MPS, members of the diplomatic she added. corps and the President of Malta, The new Australian HC to Malta diMarie Louise Coleiro Preca who was vulged that before taking up her post the guest of honour at an official in Malta she visited a number of function organised by the new Aus- Maltese communities throughout tralian High Commissioner on the Australia, among them a home for occasion marking Australia Day, H.E. Julienne Hince, said she was honoured to receive the appointment and to welcome the invitees for the first time to her residence.

She pointed out that Australia is traditionally the first foreign country in Malta to kick off the national day season with Australia Day falling early in the year on 26th January. On this day Australia commemorates the arrival in 1788 of British Captain Phillip’s First Fleet of Britain to New South Wales.

“Australia's European history is therefore yo- Ms Julienne Hince (left) in the ung - 230 years or so. company of Malta President MarieBut Indigenous Aus- Louise Coleiro Preca delivering tralians are probably her address to mark Austalia Day the oldest continuous human culture on earth”, Ms Hince the aged, St Francis of Assisi in said.

Mackay, Queensland that was set up “Indigenous culture is diverse and by a group of pioneering Franciscan strong and makes a vital contribu- Nuns in Far North Queensland, tion to Australia's national identity. whose predecessors arrived in the I hope to find avenues in Malta to 1950s. She was very impressed. promote our indigenous heritage When it comes to further connecwhile I am here. Paradoxically then tions between the two countries, Ms Australia is a country both young Hince said that shipbuilders in both and old,” she said, adding that it is Tasmania and Fremantle have proa country which over the last century vided patrol boats and ferries to has happily accommodated citizens Malta, while a young family busifrom close to 200 different nations ness is carrying on a Maltese marinto a distinctly modern and harmo- itime tradition by building small nious society - one which embraces motor vessels in Fremantle, WA. the idea of equal opportunity or 'a In Malta she hopes to work with fair go' - for all. and to provide “a platform to harTouching on the bonds Australia ness the energy of some of our creshares with Malta, she said that ative dual nationals – whether they many would know migration looms are chefs with great restaurants, scilarge in these bonds. entists, Academics, artists, singers, “While our solidarity was forged government figures or businesspeothrough both world wars, it was the ple.” subsequent migration of tens of Her Excellency the High Commisthousands of Maltese to Australia sioner congratulated the Maltese that has cemented ties. We estimate Government on assuming the Presithere are now roughly 160,000 Aus- dency of the EU Council for its “deft

management of a huge task – firstly a logistical challenge with hundreds of high level meetings - many at Ministerial or leaders level,” and for managing a difficult agenda that includes migration and refugee flows; staying connected and relevant to communities, and how to assist social and economic prosperity; and Brexit.

She said Australia hopes to be more than an observer of EU developments. It shares values in human rights and fundamental freedoms, and collaborates in areas such as science and technology, development assistance, the environment and energy efficiency.

“We hope to build on this by entering into formal negotiations – and here I seek Malta’s support too - for an Australia EU Free Trade Agreement,” the HC said.

When it comes to human rights, she said that Australia is campaigning this year for a seat on the UN’s Human Rights Council a position it is well qualified to serve.

Ms Hince expressed hope that her work in Malta would help the Maltese understand the breadth of what Australia has to offer as a modern, vibrant society of some 24 million.

The High Commissioner offered a vote of thanks to her son Alexander and her spouse Michael.

“Many of you know the challenges and sacrifices made by family members who support and accompany nomadic diplomats like me or other professionals in demanding jobs – like politics. The role of families is crucial.”

She also thanked and acknowledged the contributions of diplomats who during their postings overseas might give up career opportunities; perhaps friendships even - to support their professional lives.

At the end of her speech Ms Julienne Hince announced the launching of a High Commission Facebook page and proposed a toast to Her Excellency, the President of Malta.

6 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

The day the Australian Labor Party changed itself, and its leader

F

ebruary 8 this y e a r marked the 50th anniversary of the election of Gough Whitlam as leader of the Australian Labor Party.

On this day in 1967, he replaced Arthur Calby Dr BarryYork* well, who had been party leader since 1960. The ALP had been in opposition since December 1949.

The shift from Calwell to Whitlam was huge, overturning nearly 70 years of ALP principles such as the White Australia Policy and protectionism. It was the end of a socially conservative old guard: a modernising move on the part of young professionals like Whitlam, Don Dunstan, Jim Cairns and Moss Cass.

Whitlam had been ALP deputy leader since 1960 but Calwell did not support him and had wanted instead Eddie Ward, an old Labor man more of his own outlook and class background.

Under Calwell, Labor narrowly lost the 1961 election, lost again in 1963 and was soundly defeated in 1966.

Calwell, a rough diamond with a high-pitched rough voice, had developed skills of oratory on the stump whereas his younger opponent, Prime Minister Harold Holt, was polished and well-spoken.

Calwell was born in 1896 and represented an Irish–Australian nationalist tradition, Catholic social conservatism and a commitment to socialism (by which he meant nationalisation). He was active in the anti-conscription struggles of the First World War and also during the economic Depression of the 1930s.

In the late 1920s, he led the Australian Public Sector Association in Victoria. Calwell never went to university but was an avid reader, of strong intellect, and someone who learned plenty from the ‘university of life’. He became President of the Victorian state branch of the ALP in 1931 and was elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Melbourne in 1940.

Calwell’s leadership abilities and

Gough Whitlam (left) with then ALP leader Arthur Calwell, Canberra, 1960

- National Library of Australia

talent led Prime Minister John Curtin to appoint him as Minister for Information during the Second World War and then, after the war, Prime Minister Chifley made him Minister for Immigration.

He oversaw the greatest immigration programme in Australia’s history. But he was wedded to the White Australia Policy, which had been bipartisan parliamentary policy since 1901 (save for a couple of Free Traders). He oversaw the deportation of hundreds of Chinese and Malay seamen who had taken refuge in Australia during the war.

The two rivals – Calwell and Whitlam – were as distinct from one another as could be imagined within a political party.

Whitlam was 20 years younger than Calwell – a different generation. Urbane and cosmopolitan, he came from an upper middle-class family. He attended a state school and Canberra Grammar before going to the University of Sydney to study Law. Calwell had attended Catholic schools in working class inner Melbourne. Whitlam had an Anglican upbringing but was an agnostic.

Whitlam joined the ALP in 1945 after service with the Royal Australian Air Force. Unlike Calwell, he was not a trade unionist and became a barrister. He was elected the Member for Werriwa, in Sydney’s west, in 1952 after the death of sitAndrej Vujicic

ting member Bert Lazzarini, who was born in 1884 and part of the old guard.

Gough Whitlam was more social democrat than socialist and once said that nationalisation was ‘the Old Testament’ whereas he preferred ‘the New Testament’.

In the 1960s, more and more households were acquiring television and the new media became very important at election time. Calwell’s physical appearance and his gruff way of speaking were no match for Menzies or Holt. The latter came across as statesmen whereas Calwell came across as fairly ordinary. Cartoonists unkindly portrayed him as a cockatoo.

It was no secret that Whitlam wanted to lead the ALP and that Calwell was the obstacle. Things came to a head in 1965 when The Australian quoted Whitlam’s supposedly off-the-record remarks that Calwell was ‘too old and weak’ and too ‘old-fashioned’ to win an election.

At the ALP’s biennial conference in 1965, against Calwell’s wishes, Whitlam secured support for the removal of the White Australia Policy from the party’s platform. This was symbolic not just of a desire for a new approach to immigration but also recognition of Australia’s new role and place in the world. *Continued on page 7

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Whitlam: left politically but actually on the party’s right *from page 6 Whitlam’s persona, his intellect and great wit, his careful eloquence, skills of oratory, and his physical stature, made him ideally suited for

television.

Whitlam is regarded today as having been on the left politically but he was actually in the party’s Right faction when he replaced Calwell.

Whitlam was strongly opposed to

A picture that tells a story: The photo taken in the early seven-

ties shows the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam (second left) with three Maltese community leaders, George Mamo (Maltese Community Council), Lawrence Dimech (The Maltese Herald) and Vince Pisani (Melita Eagles FC).

Mr. Whitlam was a very good friend of the Maltese community in NSW. Many Maltese lived in his electorate, Werriwa. Together with other politicians from other parties he was always an important guest at various Maltese functions.

It is worth recalling that on Christmas Day 1974, while on his way to Malta Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin in the NT killing 71 people and causing $837 million in damages. Instead of continuing the voyage he rushed home while his wife Margaret continued her journey to Malta.

the Left and to the influence of the trade union leaders in formulating party policy.

At the time of Whitlam’s ascendancy, the principal political issue in Australia was the Vietnam War. Arthur Calwell had gone to the 1966 election on a policy of complete and unconditional withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam. Public opinion was not then with him and Labor was badly defeated. Calwell stated that ‘it is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies’.

He resigned in January 1967 and Whitlam was elected ALP leader on February 8. Whitlam rejected Calwell’s policy on Vietnam and instead advocated ‘holding operations’ there. This change of policy spurred the growth and militancy of the movement against the war, as its opponents could no longer attain their objective by voting Labor.

Whitlam remains the longest-serving ALP leader. He held the position for nearly eleven years, until December 1977.

Arthur Calwell died in 1973.

Gough Whitlam died in 2014. *Dr Barry York worked on the museum’s Oral History Program for many years before retiring in May 2016. He was awarded a PhD in History by the University of New South Wales in 1988. He has authored and co-authored several books of political history and immigration history and as awarded the Order of Australia in 2005 for his services to the recording of immigration history.

Fr. Sebastian Camilleri dies aged 95 He spent 50 years helping migrants r. Sebastian Camilleri, OFM from Óamrun, one of the F first Maltese to be honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 1981, died on February 10 at the Mater

Dei hospital in Malta at the age of 95. Hie was buried three days later at the Addolorata Cemetery.

In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, the South Australian government presented Fr Sebastian with the singular Gold Medal for outstanding services to the local multicultural Church and society.

Fr Sebastian, born in Óamrun, Malta on the December 31, 1921 the son of Carmelo and Angela nee’ Gatt, excelled as a model Maltese Franciscan priest overseas among migrants, as a worthy ambassador of Malta and as an asset to the Catholic Church.

He was a Maltese Franciscan priest who rendered 50 years of successful pastoral work as chaplain of the Maltese migrants in the US, Canada and Australia.

Fr Sebastian had an M.A. and a Ph.D. apart from tutoring experience, authored several books, and wrote a number of articles of a theological and liturgical nature

that were published in the cultural-religious magazine AD 2000.

On his return to Malta he formed part of the Franciscan Fraternity of Sacro Cuor, Sliema and was spiritual assistant of the Piccola Famiglia Francescana. He was also Spiritual Director of the Parish Legion of Mary group and reliFr Sebastian Camilleri gious counsellor in different catholic scho- ols. In January 2015 he became the first friar to be admitted to Domus Pacis Franciscan Retirement Friary at Ba˙ar iç-Çag˙aq.

He made a name not only for himself but also for the Maltese Franciscan Province of St. Paul the Apostle, Malta.

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

Did the Foreign Ministry get value for money spent on Etnika's Australia tour?

Anthony Cassar, from St Albans, Victoria, writes:

The Voice of the Maltese b bii--m mo on ntth hllyy m ma ag ga azziin ne e

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request.

But if you require a printed copy we can oblige.

Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice either in Maltese or English should be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese

I

wish to add to what the reader from NSW wrote about lack of publicity about the Maltese Etnika group’s tour of Australia.

This time I refer to its performance in Melbourne where many like me, who would have liked to attend their performance were left stranded because we had no inkling about the place or the date when the group was going to perform.

Whoever was responsible for the organisation in Melbourne, presumably either the Consulate or the MCC in Victoria did them, or the Maltese community in this state no favour.

It is worth noting that the state of Victoria, and particularly Melbourne, is the largest state with members of the Maltese community.

Therefore it goes without saying that as this same community normally attends enmass most functions organised by or for the Maltese community, it would have done the same in this instance.

A few days ago it was brought to my notice that the holding of the event was mentioned during some Maltese programmes on radio 3ZZZ and SBS. For some reason or other, and nothing to do with the presenters of said programmes, not everybody - me included - is a radio listener. Either that or some people don’t really care. That does not include me.

My point is, and this I have just learned, of the hundrreds of Maltese, and also friends of us Maltese in the area, who might have been interested in the event. I learned that less than 200 turned up either because like me they did not know about it, or the venue was much too small to accommodate a large crowd.

At one time I too was going to blame the Voice of the Maltese magazine for the lack of

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Email: sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) 23497000

publicity, but after the editorial comment in issue No. 147 about the way the magazine and its reader were treated blame should be placed solely on the shoulders of the organisers for lack of foresight.

It was indeed strange to learn that the tour had the blessing of Malta’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which must have spent a bundle to bring this group and sponsor the event. Is the ministry aware of the adverse comments by the Maltese community? I am sure that it has not got value for the money spent.

Dibattiti fuq it-TV

George Callus minn Miranda NSW jikteb: ien wie˙ed minn dawk li ma nitlifx puntata mill-programm ta’ Tony Jones fuq ABC 2 Q&A. Na˙seb li hu wie˙ed mill-a˙jar programmi dwar l-affarijiet kurrenti li jse˙˙u flAwstralja. Insegwi wkoll xi programmi fuq it-TV ta’ Malta u nqabbel.

F’Malta kull dibattitu jispiçça kul˙add jitkellem fuq xulxin, b’˙afna g˙ajjat, u speçjalment f’Xarabank anke l-moderatur donnu aktar i˙awwad lill-kelliema biex iwassalhom g˙al fejn irid hu.

Fil-Q&A ikun hemm ukoll politiçi Awstraljani. Li jdejjaqni hu li ˙add minnhom ma jammetti li l-Gvern tieg˙u g˙andu xi problema.

Dejjem bl-iskuzi, allura kif nistg˙u naffrontaw problema jekk ma nammettux li teΩisti?

J

Flamenco dancing?

Thomas Schembri jikeb minn Balmain, NSW:

ort nara lill-grupp Malti Etnika f’Sydney u kien programm pjacevoli iΩda ma M nistax nifhem kif da˙al il-flamenco dancing fir-root music tal-kultura Maltija.

Rugby: Why at Cabramatta and not the Melita Stadium?

Jos. Camilleri from Penrith writes: ell done to the Malta Knights Rugby League team for their victory over the Philippines. It was a good performance and an equally very good result for the Maltese team. However, the decision to play the match at Cabramatta was not the ideal one for a Maltese team when there’s the Melita Stadium at South Granville, a more centralised location.

I am not sure about the reasons for this, or whether the Knights had a hand in the choice of venue, but if we have pride in our Maltese heritage and the decision rested on the Maltese team, the Melita Stadium is the ground built by the sweat and tears of the Maltese of NSW.

W

Tuesday February 14, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 9

PeterPaulCiantar

Ir-‘Rag˙aj it-Tajjeb’ fil-knisja tal-‘Madonna tal-G˙ar’ ir-Rabat I

l-Kappella tas-Sagrament fil-Knisja mag˙rufa b˙ala ‘Il-Madonna talG˙ar’ - jew kif ukoll jafuha ˙afna, il-Knisja ta’ San Duminku fir-Rabat hija kappella li tnissel fik ‘©abra’.

F’din il-kappella jinsab is-sagrament ta’ din il-knisja; u kull patri li jqaddes fuq l-altar ewlieni tag˙ha jkun irid jg˙addi minn bieb Ωg˙ir fil-kor biex imur fiha ˙alli minn hemm i©ib il-pissidi g˙at-tqarbin jew is-sagrament g˙all-barka sagramentali.

Din il-kappella tnissel devozzjoni kbira. Mhux darba jew tnejn tilma˙ xi persuna jew tnejn donnhom mo˙bija fil-©nub, mi©burin i˙arsu fiss lejn issagrament. Nistg˙u ng˙idu li din hija dehra komuni f’din il-kappella li g˙andha diversi xog˙lijiet sbie˙ tal-arti.

F’din il-Kappella tas-Sagrament hemm ukoll wa˙da mill-isba˙ pitturi tal-pittur Ûebbu©i Lazzru Pisani. Qed nghid g˙all-kwadru tar-‘Rag˙aj it-Tajjeb’. Óafna j˙arsu lejn din il-pittura b’g˙ajn speçjali g˙ax tirrappreΩenta lill-pittur Pisani fl-aqwa tieg˙u. Il-pittura ©©ib id-data tal-1903, meta ta’ 58 sena Pisani kien fil-maturità artistika perfetta tieg˙u.

Il-figura çentrali li tiddomina l-kwadru kollu hija dik tar-Rag˙aj it-Tajjeb, b’wiçç ˙ieni li sab innag˙©a l-mitlufa. Hawn ir-rag˙aj jidher b’˙arsa ta’ missier u x˙in jid˙ol lura fir-razzett tieg˙u jilma˙ lin-nag˙a© li ˙alla warajh jistennewh bil˙niena lura ˙dejn ix-xatba.

Fil-pittura, in-nag˙a© jidhru kollha b’˙arsithom imsammra lejh jarawh die˙el bin-nag˙©a l-mitlufa.

Fil-pittura r-razzett jidher b˙ala razzett Malti, bix-xatba tal-injam u annimali o˙ra. Il-kuluri li nqeda bihom Pisani f’din il-pittura huma ˙ajjin u vivaçi, hekk li donnhom jirriflettu jum sabi˙ Malti riesaq lejn inΩul ix-xemx.

Il-qalb tixg˙el fuq sider ir-rag˙aj tfakkar filQalb ta’ Ìesù ... qalb kollha ˙niena lesta li tag˙der u ta˙fer lill-midinbin. Ir-ra©©i qawwija ˙er©in minn ma’ ras il-Mulej tassew jo˙olqu effett sabi˙ f’dan il-kapulavur ta’ Pisani. L-an©li li jdawwru l-kwadru jsa˙˙ru din il-kappella.

Insemmi wkoll li l-armonija ta’ kuluri li juΩa lpittur fil-kwadru tar-Rag˙aj it-Tajjeb jag˙mlu kuntrast qawwi mad-dekorazzjoni sabi˙a ta’ mal-˙ajt li ssebba˙ din il-kappella.

Tassew kappella ta’ ©abra, li verament isserra˙ il-qlub ta’ dawk kollha li jmorru fiha u nissug©erixxi lill-Maltin u lil dawk li jΩura Malta biex waqt li jkunu hawn jag˙tu titwila lil din ilkappella biex jammiraw din il-pittura.

Fuq xellug: stampa tal-kwadru bil-pittura talartist Ûebbu©i Lazzru Pisani, ‘Ir-Rag˙aj it-Tajjeb’ li tant ji©bed devozzjoni lejh

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday February 28, 2017 A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: https://ivancauchi. blogspot.com

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

Mistoqsija lill-Monsinjuri M

onsinjur' huwa titlu li membri tal-kleru fil-knisja Kattolika jista' jing˙atalhom b˙ala rikonoxximent g˙al xog˙ol ta' servizz speçjali tal-knisja meta l-Papa tal-©urnata jaççetta proposta li tkun saritlu mill-isqof tal-lokal.

Minn sentejn ilu 'l hawn, il-Papa preΩenti Fran©isku, iddeçieda li jabolixxi dan, jew li jillimita lil min dan it-titlu jing˙ata1, bil-g˙an li ttmexxija tal-knisja tidher iktar modesta. Min di©à g˙andu dan it-titlu mhux affettwat.

Jien hawnhekk m'iniex neçessarjament qed nie˙u l-veduta formali tattitlu, imma nindirizza wkoll lil dawk li normalment ji©u msej˙in hekk b'mod onorarju jew b'rispett.

Dan ir-rispett qieg˙ed jonqos bil©urnata, hekk kif jinkixef iktar ˙mie© fl-istorja diΩgustanti tal-abbuΩ sesswali ta' minorenni fl-Awstralja minn membri tal-kleru jew ordnijiet reli©juΩi.

Dan l-abbuΩ, ng˙a©©el biex inΩid, mhux limitat g˙all-knisja Kattolika, u lanqas g˙ar-reli©jon nisranija, madankollu hawn se nitkellem dwar dik Kattolika, g˙ax dik hija r-reli©jon li twelidt fiha f'art twelidi Malta, u li g˙adni nqisni membru tag˙ha llum fl-Awstralja.

Fil-bidu ta' Frar 2017, mill-Kummissjoni Rjali fuq l-AbbuΩ Sesswali tal-Minorenni, sirna nafu li bejn l-1950 u l-2010, 7% tal-qassisin Kattoliçi kienu akkuΩati b'dan l-abbuΩ.2 Fi tliet ordnijiet, is-Salesjani, il-Christian Brothers u l-Marist Brothers, din il-figura telg˙et g˙al 20%, u f'ie˙or (St John of God Brothers) kienet, inkredibbilment, 40%.

Fi kliem ie˙or, kwaΩi wie˙ed minn kull Ωew© fratelli ta' din l-ordni li wie˙ed seta' jiltaqa' mieg˙u, illum hu mixli b'abbuΩ sesswali. Ómistax wara, kellna a˙bar o˙ra, minn xhieda fl-istess Kummissjoni, li sal-2015 il-knisja Kattolika kienet ˙allset $276 miljun f'kumpens, trattament u spejjeΩ o˙ra marbutin mal-abbuΩ sesswali.

Dan mhux Ωball - $276 miljun, iktar minn kwart ta' biljun dollaru Awstraljan, figura li taqtag˙lek nifsek, ©ejja minn organizzazzjoni li titkellem b'awtorità f'isem Alla. Óare© ukoll id-dettall li l-iktar ammont ta' sej˙iet g˙al kumpens minn façilità wa˙da kienet minn post ta' kura residenzjali fi Queensland im˙addma mill-Brothers ta' De La Salle.3 Din kienet pjuttost ta' xokk g˙alija, g˙ax jien g˙amilt g˙axar snin student f'kulle©© ta' De La Salle f'Malta.

Jien nixtieq nistaqsi lill-monsinjuri tal-knisja, mill-esperjenza ta' servizz speçjali fi ˙dan il-knisja, u 'l-isqfijiet li pproponewhom: • G˙aliex l-inçidenza ta' kleru akkuΩat b'abbuΩ sesswali kontra l-minorenni, 7%, huwa daqshekk g˙oli, iktar g˙oli minn stimi o˙ra ta' pedofili fil-popolazzjoni ©enerali (1-5%)4? Hemm xi ˙a©a fil-kundizzjonijiet tal-g˙ajxien ta' min huwa ordnat li qed jikkontribwixxi g˙al dan?

• Kemm minn dawn il-kaΩijiet ta' abbuΩ setg˙u ji©u evitati kieku l-amministraturi tal-ordnijiet reli©juΩi, l-uffiçjali u l-isqfijiet konçernati ma qag˙dux jilag˙bu dawra durella, b'inkompetenza liema b˙alha, billi jçaqilqu minn post g˙all-ie˙or lil

'

u˙ud minn dawk akkuΩati b'dan l-abbuΩ? Meta jkun sar dan, ta˙sbu li g˙andu jkun hemm xi konsegwenza fuq min ˙a ddeçiΩjoni?

• Kemm minn dawk il-$276 miljun li t˙allsu sa sentejn ilu ©ew, direttament jew indirettament, mill-kontribuzzjonijiet ta' dawk li jattendu l-quddies ta' nhar ta' Óadd u ©ranet o˙ra, u g˙adhom jikkontribwixxu sal-lum?

Ta˙sbu li dawk li kienu involuti fl-abbuΩ, kemm dawk li g˙amlu kummissjoni (˙atja li wettqu l-abbuΩ), jew li g˙amlu omissjoni (li suppost g˙amlu ˙a©a imma m'g˙amluhiex, jew li ˙adu deçiΩjoni baΩwija), g˙andhom jikkontribwixxu sehemhom?

• Kif tista' l-knisja tippretendi li l-insara wa˙edhom jersqu g˙as-sagrament tal-qrar biex jammettu d-dnubiet tag˙hom u jitolbu ma˙fra, meta l-knisja stess kellha bΩonn li titressaq quddiem kummissjoni lajka biex jo˙ro© çar l-iskala astronomika tal-problema u biex fl-a˙˙ar nibdew nisimg˙u ammissjonijiet tal-˙abi sistematiku mill-knisja tal-a©ir li sar u t-trattament ˙aΩin tal-vittmi?

G˙adkom ta˙sbu li hu biΩΩejjed li wie˙ed ikollu l-Bibbja u ttag˙lim soçjali tal-knisja biex jiggwida moralment l-azzjonijiet tal-bniedem fil-˙ajja ta' kuljum, jew li fil-fatt hemm çerti çirkustanzi li fihom l-Insara g˙andhom ˙afna x'jitg˙allmu kif g˙andhom i©ibu ru˙hom minn tradizzjonijiet o˙ra, mhux biss reli©juΩi imma wkoll istituzzjonijiet lajçi?

Se jkun interessanti nara jekk ni©ix meqjus denju li nirçievi twe©iba g˙al dawn il-mistoqsijiet, jew jekk jin˙asibx li posti mhux li nistaqsi imma biss li ng˙id il-Kredu fil-˙in il-propizju waqt il-quddies u “amen” x'˙in tin©ibidli l-ispaga.

Referenzi

1. https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/report-pope-abolishes monsignor-honor-most-priests, retrieved 20/2/2017 2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/05/catholic-churchunder-royal-commission-spotlight/, retrieved 20/2/2017 3. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-16/catholic-church-paid-almost-300m-to-victims-survivors-rc-hears/8276104,retrieved 20/2/2017 4. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28526106, retrieved 20/2/2017

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Claudia Faniello to represent Malta at Kiev Eurovision with Breathless

A

fter nine attempts, Singer Claudio Faniello finally managed to fulfil her dream of winning the 2007 Malta Eurovision Song Contest, and in so doing has earned the right to represent Malta in this year’s Eurovision Contest to be held in Kiev, Ukraine on May 13. Malta will perform first in the second semifinal on May 11, vying for a place in the grand final.

The 28-year-old single won the local contest by garnering a popular total of 4,996 votes for her rendition of the Philip Vella/ Sean Vella/Gerard James Borg composition Breathlessly.

Janice Mangion, who performed the only song in the Maltese language, ‘Kewkba' finished in second place with 4,544 votes, while Kevin Borg, a former Swedish Idol winner was third with 2,502 votes.

It was the first time that the winning song was chosen solely through a televoting process.

On finals night Faniello, who first performed at the Malta Eurovision back in 2006 but missed the previous four contests, because “I wanted to focus on my career and because I wanted to be back with the right song,” beat 15 other singers to win the title.

In her reaction to the success, Claudia, the second member of the Faniello family to win the contest after her brother Fabrizio’s victory in 2001 said she really believed in her song.

Etnika performance in Melbourne made one proud to be Maltese s in other states, on the initia- even describing it as the best show sax); Oliver Degabriele (double A tive of the Ministry of Foreign they had ever attended to. bass); and Andrej Vujicic (cajón and Affairs in coordination with the After welcoming the audience, MC katuba kit). Flamenco dancer Consulate-General of Malta for Victoria on the occasion the Maltese Presidency of the Council of European Union, the Maltese instrumental group ETNIKA performed in Melbourne. The concert was held on February 9 at the Maltese Community Centre, Parkville in Melbourne.

Entrance to the concert was free.

The hour-long show by the talented artists was very well received by the 150 attendees, with some

for the night Mr Joe Stafrace introduced Mr Victor Borg, the president of the MCCV who explained the workings of his council. An address

by Mr Victor Grech, the Consul General of Malta in Victoria followed.

He in turn introduced the Etnika group.

The group was made up of Alison Galea (voice and keys); Andrew Alamango (voice and electric guitar); Walter Vella (tenor and baritone

Francesca Grima added to the attraction.

The group performed some wonderful music and singing from their album that included among others, “X'ser Ng˙annu?, Lança, il-Mara u xXitan, Valletta, BormliΩa, etc.

After the show, members of the group mingled with the crowd. The show made one so proud to be Maltese.

- PaulVella

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

International organisations all hail Malta’s fast-growing economic progress

I

n the past few days Malta could not have had a better response internationally to its economic efforts and success with the International Monetary Fund, the European Union Commission and well known rating agency Fitch all hailing Malta’s progress and affirming that the local authorities are steering the island towards an even rosier future.

The IMF said Malta is one of fastestgrowing economies in Europe, the EU praised its progress and Fitch Agency classified Malta’s outlook as “positive and af-

firming it as ‘A’ Outlook stable.

In the report by its executive board the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded that Malta is one of fastest-growing economies in Europe, and that its economy remains strong with an appropriate balance between lowering public debt and sustaining economic growth.

The IMF even commended local authorities for implementing “sound macroeconomic policies,” saying that, despite rising labour supply these policies have contributed to “strong economic performance, robust job creation, low unemployment, and improved public finances.” n the same day as the IMFs report, Malta received It said that the country's more favourable comments from the European banking system remained Commission that praised its economic progress saying well capitalised and liquid, the country is doing much better than other EU states “well above the levels seen with public finances improving significantly in European peers”.

The EU's country report said Malta has benefited from In its report, the IMF said the favourable macroeconomic environment with govthat following an average ernment debt dropping below 60% of GDP for the first growth of nearly 8% in time since 1998. It added that the economic growth 2014-15; output is estimated eased somewhat in 2016, but is forecast to have reto have expanded by 4.1% mained strong at 4%. in 2016, supported by The EU report further states that Labour market destrong domestic demand. velopments show growth in Malta's employment rate, It confirmed that owing to alongside a drop in the unemployment rate to record buoyant revenues and conlows. These achievements are consistent with Malta's solidation measures, the Europe 2020 employment target.

2016 fiscal deficit has narThe European Commission warned that public adminrowed to an estimated level istration still suffers from some inefficiency, and acof 0.7% of GDP, well cess to finance continues to pose structural challenges below the budget target of to investment, particularly for the private sector, while 1.1% of GDP, while public traffic congestion continues to generate considerable debt declined further to economic and environment costs.

Malta doing much better than other EU states

O

about 60% of GDP, and that in the coming years favourable macroeconomic conditions, the low interest rate environment, and persistent primary fiscal surpluses are expected to bring down public debt as a proportion of GDP, IMF is also in full agreement with Fitch agency’s recent rating that the Malta’s outlook is favourable, though growth is set to moderate to 3.4% in 2017 and converge to its potential of about 3% over the medium term as the impetus from domestic demand is projected to weaken.

IMF said that to keep on trek, Malta’s small and open economy policies should continue to focus on enhancing the economy’s resilience to shocks and strengthening competitiveness, improve the efficiency of tax collection and contain a fast-growing wage bill and spending on goods and services.

Further improving the financial health of State-owned enterprises and containing the long-term spending pressures would reduce fiscal risks, the IMF board said.

Noting that continued structural reform momentum had to be maintained, and Malta had to keep introducing more women into the workforce, do more to foster research and innovation and improve the efficiency of its judiciary, IMF concludes that as a result, the output gap is expected to close, while the current account surplus is set to increase modestly. Strong job creation is likely to continue, keeping unemployment low, while inflation is expected to pick up as import prices recover.

Fitch ratings agency affirms Malta as ‘Positive Outlook’

eanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency has afM firmed Malta's Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings

(IDR) at 'A' with a ‘Positive Outlook’. It also affirmed at 'A' and 'F1', respectively the issue ratings on Malta's senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at 'AAA' and the Short-Term Foreign and Local Currency IDRs at 'F1'.

In addition to national income, the ‘Positive Outlook’ reflects the view that the public debt/GDP ratio is on a downward trajectory and that economic growth will keep outperforming similarlyrated peers, Fitch said.

The agency noted that in 2016 economic growth remained strong at 3.9% year-on-year over the first three quarters and that this was boosted by robust private consumption.

It further forecasts that supported by strong employment growth,

rising disposable income due to continuous wage appreciation and the launch of new investment projects in the health, education and transport sectors the Maltese economy would continue to outperform eurozone peers, with projected average real GDP growth of 3.2% in 2016-2017, broadly in line with the 'A' median.

Exports' contribution to growth will rise gradually as external demand recovers and investment slows, it said. It added that tertiary industries would remain the main engine of growth, in particular IT and professional services, the gaming industry, and healthcare services and tourism.

Malta's headline fiscal deficit is lower than the 'A' median and due to strong growth and consolidation is expected to narrow further. The deficit is forecast to narrow to 1.1% of GDP in 2016 and 1% of GDP in 2017, down from an estimated 1.6% in 2015.

Tuesday February 28, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Roundup of News About Malta NP demo “in defence of democracy and freedom” he Nationalist Party in oppoT sition held a demonstration in Valletta that it labelled as

being in defence of democracy and freedom. MP leader Simon Busuttil addressed the thousands that attended the event that started from Castille and ended in Republic Street.

He criticised the government over the so-called Panama Papers scandal, government institutions, particularly the police, for allegedly failing to hold an investigation, and accused the Police Commissioner of being the Prime Minister's puppet. Later in the week in a TV programme he said

that one of his first decisions when the PN takes office would be to sack him.

Dr Busuttil said government was with its back to the wall and was now resorting to stifling freedom of expression.

He insisted the PN would not adhere to the obligations of a new media law being proposed by the government that requires news portals to be registered as “it undermines Internet freedom”.

Turkey optimistic about EU ties during Malta's EU presidency

t a joint press conference at the Castille Palace in Valletta with A Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said his country appreciates Malta’s commitment for unconditionally supporting Turkey's full EU membership.

He added: “During Malta's presidency, we hope that relations between the EU and Turkey will improve further”.

The two leaders also discussed Turkish-EU relations with Muscat saying the remaining conditions that Turkey needs to fulfil are vital.

He asserted that he would work toward bettering relations and sorting out problems with Turkey in its bid to become an EU member.

La Valette’s dagger on show in Malta

dagger and also a sword presented to Grand Master Jean AGreat de La Valette by King Philip II of Spain shortly after the Siege of 1565 in recognition of the Knights’ victory over the Ottoman Empire, is to be brought to Malta for the first time since 1798 to be on display for a three-month period, to the end of June as part of the exhibition marking Malta’s EU Presidency.

The French seized the dagger and sword during Napoleon Bonaparte’s two-year rule at the end of the 18th century to be exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Unemployment down to under 3,000

nemployment continues its downward trend and figures just U published by the National Statics Office indicate that by end January the number of persons registering for work with JobsPlus

is down to 2,889. Compared to January 2016 it shows a drop of 1,800.

S&P lauds transformation of Enemalta

n a rating statement, Standard & Poor’s lauded the positive transIintoformation of Enemalta pc from a former state owned corporation a public limited company. The Government of Malta said it welcomed the statement.

The rating statement affirms that Enemalta’s restructuring efforts are delivering improvements in financial performance that should result in positive cash flow over 2016-2018. Standard and Poor’s also noted the strategic importance of the €350mln investment made by Shanghai Electric Power in 2014 with respect to Enemalta.

MIA registers profit of €21 million At end 2016, Malta International Airport (MIA) said it increased its profits by €1.7 - from €19.3 million end of 2015 to €21 million last year.

Malta ranks 15th among “full democracy” countries hile the NationW alist Party criticises the government for what it describes as “lacking democracy”, internationally, Malta is regarded as one of only 19 states in the world that has full democracy.

The influential UKbased magazine, The Economist’s annual report for 2016 places Malta in 15th place in its Democracy Index.

The Democracy Index compiled by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit measures the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 165 are UN member states.

The index is based on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories measuring pluralism, civil liberties, and political culture. In addition to a numeric score and a ranking, the index categorizes countries as one of four regime types: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes.

The index is a weighted average based on the answers of 60 questions, each one with either two or three permitted alternative answers. Most answers are "experts' assessments”. Some answers are provided by public-opinion surveys from the respective countries.

Based on their scores in each category, countries are classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime and authoritarian regime.

According to the Index, full democracies are nations where civil liberties and basic political freedoms are not only respected, but also reinforced by a political culture conducive to the thriving of democratic principles. These nations have a valid system of governmental checks and balances, independent judiciary whose decisions are enforced, governments that function adequately, and media that is diverse and independent.

Malta, that also scored highly for civil liberties, is a spot above the United Kingdom.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Li©i tal-Istampa B diet b˙ala b’polemika dwar l-allegazzjoni minn blogger li waqt Ωjara ta’ xog˙ol fil-Ìermanja l-Ministru Chris Cardona, Ωar ˙anut tan-nisa u spiççat f’diskussjoni dwar il-li©i talIstampa.

Meta barra l-libelli li g˙amel lill-blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia l-Ministru Cardona kiseb mill-Qorti l-ifriΩar ta’ madwar €46,000 mill-Bank tal-istess blogger, l-OppoΩizzjoni ressqet abbozz ta’ li©i fil-Parlament biex f’kaΩi ta’ libell il-Qrati ma jkunux jistg˙u jiffriΩaw l-assi tal-©urnalisti.

Imma lanqas kienu g˙adhom g˙addew 24 sieg˙a li min-na˙a tieg˙u l-Gvern ma ressaqx abbozz ta’ Li©i tal-Istampa li mhux biss ine˙˙i l-iffriΩar tal-assi, iΩda wkoll il-libell kriminali. Libell ta’ din ilkwalita` kien jista’ jwassal anke biex ©urnalist jispiçça l-˙abs. Attwalment snin ilu ©urnalist ta’ ©urnal satiriku kien we˙el tliet xhur ˙abs.

Kif qed ji©ri fis-sa˙na politika li g˙addejjin biha b˙alissa m’g˙addiex wisq ˙in li l-OppoΩizzjoni ma xlietx lill-Gvern b’tentattiv li ried jo˙noq l-istampa billi filli©i ppreΩentata l-multa massima li seta’ je˙el ©urnalist kwaΩi ©iet irduppjata g˙al madwar €20,000. Ag˙ar minn hekk l-OppoΩizzjoni xliet lill-Gvern b’tentattiv li ried jo˙noq l-espressjoni libera sa˙ansitra fuq l-Internet billi skont il-li©i ppreΩentata l-websites tal-a˙barijiet kellhom ji©u rre©istrati mal-Gvern.

Dr Mario De Marco l-viçi-mexxej tal-PN qal: “L-internet huwa dinja fih innifsu, u hemm bΩonn li a˙na nag˙rfu dan. Siti ta' individwi ma jistg˙ux jitpo©©ew fuq l-istess livell tal-gazzetti.” Ûied li l-PN hu kontra l-proposta li se titlob lis-sidien ta' siti tal-a˙barijiet biex jirre©istraw ru˙hom b˙ala edituri ta' dak is-sit mar-re©istru talIstampa tal-Gvern.

De Marco wissa li l-proposta, inkluΩ ittibdil fil-li©i tal-Istampa preΩenti, se tillimita d-drittijiet tan-nies li jesrpimu ru˙hom online u tiskora©©ihom minn attiviΩmu politiku.

Min-na˙a tal-Gvern qal li l-OppoΩizzjoni qed tg˙awwe© il-fatti g˙ax ma kienx minnu li kulmin g˙andu website kellu jirre©istraha, iΩda huma biss l-edituri ta’ website tal-a˙barijiet li riedu jirre©istraw.

Stqarrija ma˙ru©a biex ji©i ççarat dan ilpunt tal-li©i l-©dida g˙amlitha çara li “m’hemm, u qatt ma kien hemm l-ebda intenzjoni, la diretta u lanqas indiretta biex iç-çittadini jirre©istraw isimhom x’imkien biex ikunu jistg˙u jikkummentaw online.

Din kienet biss xnieg˙a qarrieqa.

“Il-li©ijiet il-©odda dwar l-istampa, mhux biss se jift˙u bibien ©odda g˙al-libertà ta' espressjoni tal-©urnalisti, iΩda juru wkoll li l-Gvern qed jie˙u direzzjoni differenti biex jimmodernizza li©ijiet eΩistenti, u jag˙milhom simili, u f'çerti kaΩi anke a˙jar minn dawk ta' demokraziji moderni o˙ra.

“Ir-Re©istratur, bl-istess mod b˙al dak li hemm illum, mhu se jkollu l-ebda dritt jinda˙al fil-kontenut ta’ gazzetti, servizzi tax-xandir u siti elettroniçi li jirre©istraw u li jkollhom kontenut ta’ a˙barijiet, politiçi jew ©rajjiet kurrenti.”

Il-Gvern sostna li fuq kollox minkejja li kien ilha Ωmien tg˙id li l-libell kriminali kellu jitne˙˙a, fil-fatt fl-abbozz li resqet lOppoΩizzjoni ma kien imsemmi mkien ittne˙˙ija tal-libell.

Biex spiççajna rridu naraw lil min se nemmnu jekk hux lill-Gvern, li qed jg˙id li bil-Li©i proposta l-©urnalisti se jing˙ataw aktar liberta` u protezzjoni, jew lill-OppoΩizzjoni li ssostni li l-Gvern qed jipprova jo˙noq lill-Istampa.

U l-©urnalisti?

Min-na˙a tieg˙u l-Istitut tal-Ìurnalisti Maltin esprima s-sodisfazzjon tieg˙u g˙all-abbozz ta’ li©i li fih emendi li kien ippropona l-Istitut stess, fosthom l-introduzzjoni tal-medjazzjoni u t-tne˙˙ija tallibell kriminali.

Il-President tal-Istitut, qal ukoll li l-proposta tar-re©istrazzjoni tal-websites tala˙barijiet qajmet ˙afna diskussjoni u g˙alhekk tajjeb li din tkun iççarata.

Óala sfaççat tal-ikel

g˙idu li ˙add ma jie˙u pjaçir bil-˙ala.

IΩda minn dak li sar mag˙ruf dan lJa˙˙ar, jidher li g˙al ˙afna nies dan hu biss

g˙idut. Skont studju reçenti tal-Uffiççju Nazzjonali tal-Istatistika kwaΩi kwart (22%) tal-ikel li nixtru jispiçça ji©i mormi.

L-istess studju juri li l-˙ala tal-ikel jammonta g˙al aktar minn 55% tal-iskart domestiku ©©enerat mid-djar Maltin.

U sadanittant g˙andna nies, li g˙alkemm mhux forsi daqs pajjiΩi o˙ra, bilkemm g˙andhom x’jieklu sakemm jixbg˙u.

Hemm turisti, u hemm turisti

t-turiΩmu huwa wa˙da mill-kolonni Ig˙axewlenin tal-ekonomija Maltija, sintendi it-turiΩmu ji©©enera diversi modi ta’ d˙ul finanzjarju g˙al pajjiΩna.

Forsi l-akbar d˙ul hemm tal-infieq flivja©©ar, fl-akkomodazzjoni, l-ikel eçç.

IΩda mbag˙ad hemm d˙ul ie˙or dak ta’ xiri ta’ o©©etti mit-turisti.

Nie˙du t-turisti Maltin – aktarx li dawn fost l-aktar turtisti li meta jΩuru pajjiΩi barranin jid˙lu fil-˙wienet u jixtru. Dan hu sa˙ansitra rifless fir-reklami tal-a©enzija tal-ivja©©ar Maltin, li ˙afna drabi flitenerarji (programm) tal-vja©©i tag˙hom biex jibdu n-nies niΩΩlu li, “ikun hemm ˙in g˙ax-xiri” eçç, eçç.

Imma xi ng˙idu g˙at-turisti barranin li jΩuru Malta?

Jekk nie˙du l-infieq ras-g˙al-ras, insibu li l-aktar turist li jonfoq f’Malta huwa dak Libjan li jonfoq medja ta’ €173 kuljum.

G˙alhekk ˙asra li t-turiΩmu mil-Libja f’dawn l-a˙˙ar snin naqas bil-kbir min˙abba s-sitwazzjoni fil-pajjiΩ ©ar.

Min-na˙a l-o˙ra l-inqas turist li j˙alli flus warajh huwa t-Taljan b’€101. Jekk imbag˙ad in˙arsu lejn dak li j˙allu t-turisti b˙ala pajjiΩ, pajjiΩ... u allura dan jiddependi fuq l-g˙add ta’ turisti li ji©u f’Malta minn kull pajjiΩ, insibu li fuq quddiem nett hemm l-IngliΩi billi l-559,987 turist IngliΩ li ©ew Malta matul l-2016, nefqu bejniethom total ta’ €485miljun.

Wara ji©u t-Taljani, li g˙alkemm kif g˙idna ras-g˙al-ras l-inqas li j˙allu flus, min˙abba l-g˙add kbir li qed iΩuruna, nefqu total ta’ €193 miljun. Fit-tielet post il-ÌermaniΩi b’€137 miljun.

L-aktar turist li jqatta’ jiem f’Malta huwa dak Russu li jdum madwar 12-il-jum, warajh l-IngliΩ b’medja ta’ tmint ijiem.

L-g˙add ta’ turisti li semmejna, ma jinkludix dawk li jΩuru Malta bil-vapuri (cruise liners). Matul is-sena li g˙addiet ©ew 316-il vapur tal-passi©©ieri li bejniethom ©arrew 47,978 passi©ier.

U l-Maltin? L-ammont ta’ Maltin li vja©©aw barra l-pajjiΩ fl-2016 la˙aq l496,767, li bejniethom nefqu €461.4 miljun.

In-nuqqas ta’ ikel fost xi Maltin, mhux bilfors huwa min˙abba nuqqas ta’ flus. Minn xi kultant dan hu min˙abba traskura©ni (kif fil-fatt nemmen li hi), meta, kif irrapportaw xi g˙alliema, tfal imorru l-iskola b’xi lunchbox kollha tilqit ta’ ikel b˙al tar-ritratt xellug) jew anke ming˙ajr l-ebda lunch, tant li xi g˙alliema jg˙idu li ti©ihom ˙asra minn dawn it-tfal tant li jipprovdulhom xi ˙a©a huma.

Lanqas irridu ninsew li l-Gvern di©a` qed joffri kolazzjon (breakfast) b’xejn lil dawk l-istudenti li jattendu fl-iskejjel primarji talistat u li l-©enituri tag˙hom ja˙dmu.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Miss,Mrs,Ms, Mr, u issa wkoll...Mx

M

eta konna Ωg˙ar konna ni©u mg˙allma nag˙mlu distinzjoni eΩatta bejn x’titlu nuΩaw biex nindirizza lil xi ˙add. Jekk tifel konna nghidulu Master, jekk xebba Miss, mara miΩΩeww©a Mrs, ra©el Mr.. eçç eçç.

G˙adda Ω-Ωmien u biex dak li jkun ma jmurx jindirizza xebba b˙ala “Mrs” u jaqla’ xi ˙asla, jew mara miΩΩeww©a b˙ala “Miss” b’min je˙odha b˙ala kumpliment u min jie˙u g˙alih, ©iet ivvintatha l-famuΩa “Ms” li tg˙odd g˙as-sess femminil kollu, u fuq kollox tixba˙ aktar lit-titlu “Mr” li jg˙odd kemm g˙al ra©el miΩΩewwe©, kif ukoll ©uvni. Fuq kollox g˙ax g˙andu jkun hemm differenza bejn in-nisa u l-ir©iel?

Issa g˙andna dawk li huma hekk msej˙a “non-binary” (persuni li ma jidentifikawx ru˙hom mal©eneru (sess) li ji©u ddentifikati mieg˙u meta jitwieldu. Fil-kaΩ ta’ dawn issa g˙andna t-titlu “Mx”.

Dan it-titlu jidher li se jaqbad l-art meta idher, ma nafx hux g˙aliex hekk jaqbel, tqis li l-President innifisha f’invit li li fl-a˙˙ar l-Gvern u l-OppoΩizzjoni bag˙tet lil persuna ta’ dan il-©eneru wΩat qablu dwar xi ˙a©a. Qablu dwar li f’Malta propju dan it-titlu: “Mx”. g˙andu jid˙ol iΩ-Ωwie© g˙all-koppji gay Propju qabel lestejt dan l-artiklu smajt jew lesbjani. Hu qbil li ˙alla ˙afna nies li issa g˙al nies b˙al dawn l-ittra X se tin- b’˙alqhom miftu˙a. tuΩa wkoll minflok l-M (male) F (female) Dan min˙abba li l-Ministru Helena Dalli fil-karta tal-identita` u l-passaport. ˙abbret li l-Gvern kien qed i˙ejji li jintro-

L-invit mibg˙ut mill-President lil persuna non-binary

Sa fl-a˙˙ar qablu dwar xi ˙a©a!!! duçi Ω-Ωwie© bejn koppji tal-istess stess.

J Óafna stennew li fi ftit sieg˙at l-OppoΩizzjoni kienet se to˙ro© bil-kanuni tag˙ha

Il-Karnival ta’ Malta 2017

Jiem ikkuluriti li fihom il-politika ti©i wΩata biss biex idda˙˙ak u tg˙aqqad mhux tifred

eta tkunu qed taqraw din il-˙ar©a ta’ M The Voice, f’Malta nkunu resqin lejn tmiem il-Karnival 2017, iΩ-Ωmien li ˙afna jsibuh b˙ala l-jiem tal-bluha. Tulhom wie˙ed jidhol f’dinja o˙ra, mhux daqshekk serja. Din xi ˙a©a li ˙afna f’Malta b˙alissa jixtiequ wara l-klima politika s˙una li tifred. Imma minn tlett snin ‘l hawn il-politika da˙let sew ukoll filKarnival, bla ma ddejjaq lil ˙add, anzi tpo©©i tbissima fuq wiçç l-aktar nies politikament imda˙˙la. (Ara l-ewwel faççata) Id-deçiΩoni li ter©a’ tid˙ol is-satira politika f’dawn il-jiem mhux biss irnexxiet imma qed tag˙ti spunt lill-artisti li jg˙idu tag˙hom u jg˙addu l-messa©© li l-politika wkoll tista’ dda˙˙ak.

Dis-sena s-satira politika kwaΩi iddominat.

G˙add ta’ karrijiet, b’mod tassew artistiku mbuttaw il-quddiem xi waqtiet politiçi li tul is-sena l-o˙ra u l-bidu ta’ din spikkaw u firdu lill-poplu. Bihom taw iç-çans li minflok ikun frustrat, jid˙ak.

Fost il-karrijiet hemm dak li juri Ωew© protagonisti, lill-Ministru Konrad Mizzi

kontra din il-li©i. Ma nag˙tix tort lil min ˙aseb hekk, meta wie˙ed jikkonsidra lmod kif l-Partit Nazzjonalista mexa fil-kaΩ tad-divorzju.

IΩda r-reazzjoni mmedjata tal-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni kienet li hu jaqbel ma dan ilpass. Ftit sieg˙at wara, donnu biex juru li kellu l-appo©© tal-partit g˙al li qal, in˙ar©u stqarrijiet mill-Moviment Ûg˙aΩag˙ Partit u l-Forum Opportunitajiet Indaqs Partit Nazzjonalista li sostnew li f’ din ilkwistjoni huma kienu solidali (four square) mal-mexxej Nazzjonalista.

Kif jindbidlu Ω-Ωminijiet!!!!

Malta kienet bdiet tag˙raf l-g˙aqda çivili wara li g˙addiet l-Att tal-Unjoni Çivili 2014 u tat l-istess drittijiet, ir-responsabbiltajiet u l-obbligazzjonijiet lill LGBT daqs li kieku Ωwie©, bil-jedd tal-adozzjoni.

Fl-14 ta’ April tal-2014 b’ vot ta’ 37 favur u 30 astensjoni mill-membri tal-OppoΩizzjoni, il-Parlament approva l-li©i li mbag˙ad jumejn wara kisbet ukoll il-firma tal-President tar-Repubblika u fis-17 ta’ April. L-ewwel unjoni çivili ©iet esegwita fit-13 ta’ Ìunju tal-istes sena

msemmi fl-hekk mag˙rufa l-Panama Papers, jitfa’ l-flus f’borΩa u lill-president tal-PN Ann Fenech bil-pastizz f’idejha wara l-kritika lill-Prim Ministru meta stieden xi Prim Ministri barranin f’˙anut tadizzjonali mag˙ruf g˙all-pastizzi.

Spikka wkoll karru dwar il-Presidenza Maltija tal-UE li juri g˙add ta’ wçu˙ ta’ mexxejja barranin, fosthom il-PM Joseph Muscat.

Imma minbarra lkarrijiet fl-isfilata tal-Belt, il-Karnival Guaranteed cheapest rates ©ie wkoll iççelebrat f’g˙add ta’ bliet u All vehicles in NRMA road Service r˙ula madwar Malta Low holding Deposit u G˙awdex, b’dawk mag˙rufa b˙ala KarDiscount for weekly rentals nivali spontanji, u Shuttle service to the Airport ntwera biç-çar li bog˙od mis-serjeta’ Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 l-Maltin tassew jafu 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148 jixxalaw!

Leo’s Vehicle Rentals

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

A quick glimpse at Australia

We feel betrayed” -Archbishop Fisher

S

ydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP admitted that he and other clergy felt contaminated, betrayed and demoralised by the paedophiles in the Church. He understood why Australians felt so angry.

“We knew (the report) would be bad, but it's humiliating, it's harrowing, It really has hurt me, and it has hurt a lot of priests and bishops, but that's tiny compared with how it's hurt the survivors.

“I felt – probably this will be pretty universal among the bishops and the clergy – quite winded,” Archbishop Fisher said of the moment he saw the figures. He has since spoken to many clergy, and they are “feeling betrayed, demoralised by it”, he says.

Community reactions have ranged from defensiveness among some Catholics, to such disillusionment towards the Church from nonbelievers that, for some, the word priest has become synonymous with paedophile.

Archbishop Fisher said that, in a sense, they are both right. “This is so awful that you lose perspective on everything else.

On the really good things, the schools for poor kids, the orphanages, the hospitals where there were none, the wonderful things the church – and not just the Catholic Church – did in building the social infrastructure of Australia,” he said.

Close to 4500 people made claims for alleged incidents of child sexual abuse between January 1980 and February 2015, but the earliest incidents reported to a claim were in the 1920s. Of the total amount, $258.8 million was monetary compensation of about $91,000 per claim.

Counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness SC, told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney hearing that figure in-

cluded compensation, treatment, legal and other costs. Of the total amount, $258.8 million was monetary compensation of about $91,000 per claim.

In another session, Parramatta Bishop, Vincent Long Van Nguyen told the royal commission he suffered abuse by a member of the clergy after arriving in Australia as a refugee from Vietnam in 1981, therefore, he had enormous empathy for victims.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher F

Closing the gap report for 2017 his year's Closing the Gap report shows report. An unacceptably wide gap and this T that there's been little progress on in- target is not on track to be met by 2031. creasing the life expectancy of Aborigines Early childhood education, numeracy and and Torres Strait Islanders. The number of Indigenous people in work has fallen; the rate of progress in improving literacy and numeracy skills is too slow to meet the 2030 target.

Indigenous leaders have welcomed a plan by the Opposition for an entirely new target - to reduce the rates of Indigenous imprisonment. They say it was momentous, not just because of the details of the Closing the Gap report.

It was the first time an Australian PM spoke their language in Parliament. The PM said: Yanggu gulanyin ngalawiri, dhunayi, Ngunawal dhawra. Wanggarra lijinyin mariny bulan bugarabang - we are meeting together on Ngunawal country.

The Prime Minister said while the death rate of Aboriginal children has declined, there's been no progress in raising the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Non-Indigenous Australians are still expected to live about ten years longer. That's the same as last year's

literacy targets have shown mixed improvement since 2008. Indigenous Australians represent 3 percent of the Australian population yet they represent a staggering 27 percent of the prison population. About 84 per cent of Indigenous children go to school, compared to 93 per cent of non-Indigenous students.

The clear message from the two major parties and Indigenous leaders is that the level of inequality in Australia is still unacceptable.

New chairman for SBS

he Turnbull Liberal government has anT nounced that multicultural affairs adviser and director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Dr Bulent Hass Dellal, is the new chair of Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). He has been an SBS board member since 2010 and previously served as deputy chairman.

Dr Dellal has been the acting chairman for the past year since the sudden departure of controversial chair Nihal Gupta, a prominent Liberal Party donor who lasted just 16 months in the role. He also served as acting chairman when the Abbott government declined to reappoint investment banker Joseph Skrzynski to a second term.

In an interview with Fairfax Media, Dr Dellal rejected calls by former ABC managing director Mark Scott for the two organisations to merge. Mr Scott said SBS was becoming less distinctive and combining the two broadcasters would save costs. Dr Dellal said the surging popularity of anti-immigration parties such as One Nation only makes a standalone multicultural broadcaster more important than ever.

“Whether it is about immigration or multiculturalism or terrorism in the Middle East, we have a vital role to play to keep Australians informed,” he said.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday February 28, 2017

A quick glimpse at Australia

If requested, more troops to fight IS?

A

Prime ustralia’s Minister Turnbull said that “we haven't received that request [for a larger contribution] or considered any US military request for more help in fighting the so-called Islamic State, but when we do, we will assess it very carefully”. The PM was

State election in Western Australia

he 2017 Western Australian state elecT tion will be held on Saturday March 11 to elect 59 members to the Legislative As-

sembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council. On 3 November 2011, the Government of Western Australia introduced fixed four-year terms, with the elections to be held on the second Saturday in March.

The first election under the new law was

in 2013. At that election, Labor won 21 seats, the Liberals won 31 seats and the Nationals won 7 seats. No seats were won by independent.

The current Premier of WA is Colin Barnett (Liberal) and has been leader since 2008.

National Party leader is Brandon Grylls and the Labor Party leader since January 2012 is Mark McGowan.

speaking after Defence Minister Marise Payne met privately with her US counterpart James Mattis in Brussels.

He stressed however that Australia already has “one of the largest, if not the largest presence” after the US. Senator Payne similarly expressed an open mind on the question, saying the government “would consider any request on its merits.”

Labor defence spokesman Richard Marles said the decision should be “made on the basis of our national interests and national security”, and that no-one has made a case for extending Australia's military commitment.

International education - third-largest export

ew Department of Education figures reN leased recently show that in 2016 there were 554,179 full-fee paying international students in Australia, generating a total 712,884 enrolments. International education

People before pokies ew data reveals that $5.4 billion was lost N by pokies players in NSW registered clubs last financial year from a total statewide spend of $80 billion – up from $73 billion in 2014-15.

Fairfield local government area – home to the giant Mounties club – top the list, with $681,219,755 lost in clubs there last financial year based on the regulated average 90 percent return to players.

The data shows the average gambling losses per Fairfield resident is $4171 – almost 10 percent the average annual local income of $39,936.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics ranked Fairfield as Sydney’s most disadvantaged community.

Similar figures for individual clubs and pubs in NSW are to be published each month under a push to improve transparency of gambling data and as part of a “People before pokies” campaign.

is Australia's third-largest export after iron ore and coal and has flow-on effects for the retail, hospitality and tourism industries.

Universities are also increasingly dependent on international student revenue to pump money into teaching and research. The University of Melbourne raked in $526 million in international fee revenue in 2015, up 21 percent on the year before.

The proportion of revenue from international students, rather than local students, increased from 41 percent in 2011 to 48 percent in 2015. The University of Sydney recorded $480 million in international fee revenue in

2015, up 23 percent on the previous year.

The chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, Phil Honeywood, said Australia was in a strong position to benefit from political ructions in competitor countries. "Because of Brexit, European students will no longer be able to study for free in the UK," Mr Honeywood said.

“And there are perceptions the US will not be a welcoming place for students from many countries under President Trump.

“That reinforces Australia as a safe, affordable and attractive destination.”

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

A commemorative photo of the band and committee members when the MQVB celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2006

Maltese Queen of Victories Band of SA marks 36th Annivesary

O

n February 8 last the Maltese Queen of Victories Band of SA (MQVB) celebrated its 36th Anniversary. It was on this date in 1981 when a public meeting was held at the Christ the King hall in Lockleys to form a Maltese community band here in Adelaide.

The band, which has had a tremendous success, has been a great asset for the Maltese in this area and has served the Maltese community. It has represented our community in many Maltese and Italian festas, Government-organised parades, Ethnic festivals, Australia Day Parades and also travelled to many places including Melbourne to participate in the Queen of Victories feast North MelA look back: The band performing on the occasion of the visit of former Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi

bourne (1983-1984) the St Paul Feast in Sunshine (1986-1994), St Gaetano Feast at Essendon (2003) and the Good Friday/Easter celebrations in St Albans (2001-2002).

It has also welcomed many Maltese dignities visiting Adelaide such as three Maltese Presidents of the Republic of Malta, namely, Ms Agatha Barbara, Censu Tabone and Marie Louise Coliero Preca, and Maltese Prime Ministers, Dr Edward Fenech Adami, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and Dr. Joseph Muscat. It also played a part during visits by Opposition leaders and other Maltese Members of Parliament, religious leaders, including Pope John Paul 11, as well as Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and Bishop Mario Grech.

I believe our main highlights were the the three very high standard concerts to celebrate the band’s tenth, fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries, the release of the band’s first CD, the history book and the introduction of its full uniform.

I am sure that our forefathers and every Maltese would be very proud of the success this band has

achieved, particularly considering the size of the Maltese community in South Australia and the limited resources available. It has not always been plain sailing to keep it going.

The manual efforts of this association are quite different from that of other Maltese societies. We not only needed to have loyal financial members and good enthusiastic committee people, but we also needed a good supply of musicians familiar with the Maltese culture.

They needed to be persons keen to learn music theory and to play a musical instrument. We also needed financial help in order to buy musical instruments, capable and dedicated people ready to teach and lead this band and good and efficient administrators.

At the present moment the MQVB is under the direction of Rosemarie Andreacchio. It has 24 musicians including Joe Camilleri, Ron Borg, Charlie Baldacchino, Richie Saliba, Joe Carabott and Joe Chetcuti who have served this band from its inception.

The band does its rehearsals every Wednesday (7.30pm - 9.30pm) at the Christ the King Parish Hall on Henley Beach Road Lockleys.

Anybody interested in joining this friendly, happy and family atmosphere organisation is requested to contact any member of the committee.

JoeChetcuti

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Il-festa ta’ San Pawl Nawfragu f’Parkville

F

id-9 ta' Frar, li g˙adda, fl-okkaΩjoni tal-Festa ta' San Pawl Nawfragu li normalment ti©I ççelebrata fl-10 tax-xahar, saret quddiesa fil-Kappella ta' San Pawl ˙dejn iç-Çentru Malti f’Parkville kien Fr Lonnie Borg, li ©iet ikkonçelebrata mir- Rettur f'Parkville, Fr Edwin Agius, MSSP. Fr Lonnie g˙amel l-omelija ta’ waqt il-quddiesa.

Fost il-preΩenti kien hemm il-president Victor Borg u l-viçi-president Joe Stafrace mill-Kunsill Malti tal-Victoria, kif ukoll membri tas-Soçjeta` tal-MuΩew u tarReskeon Maltese Association Seniors Group, il-president u membri tal-Maltese Association Hob-

PaulVella

reports from Melbourne

O

n a warm cloudy day with sunny breaks, the Xag˙ra Association of Australia Inc. (Melbourne) held its annual picnic for its members at Brimbank Park that was attended by around 175 members and friends.

Fr Edwin Agius waqt il-quddiesa filfesta ta’ San Pawl (lemin: il-vara sons Bay u membri tal-Grupp Letteratura Maltija tal-Victoria.

G˙add ta’ nies o˙ra attendew

g˙alkemm wie˙ed kien jistenna aktar meta t-temp kien wie˙ed sabi˙.

Xag˙ra Ass. Members meet for annual picnic There was plenty of food and drink and a BBQ was organised by the committee free of charge for all the members, a few of whom even of-

fered a hand in the cooking.

Having finished the meal, some of the members sat down for a chat between them, while others preferred to take a walk in the park. Some of the men, including youths, also enjoyed themselves playing the Maltese game of boççi, while the very young ones had a field day running around in this beautiful park. Afternoon tea followed.

It was a good gathering of friendly people and guests that included Fr Manny Bonello, Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in North Reservoir and Reskeon Maltese Association Seniors Group representatives, Salvina (president) and Paul Vella (secretary.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Tag˙rif dwar il-kitba Maltija

A

ktar regoli u tag˙rif uffiçjali dwar kif wie˙ed g˙andu jikteb il-Malti, ma˙ru© mill-Kummissjoni fi ˙dan l-Akkademja talMalti. u minsijin, jew imnisslin L-GÓAMLA TAL-VERB (ikompli) min-nomi.

G˙alhekk (4) Verbi li g˙andhom l-a˙˙ar konsonanti wa˙da dawn nistg˙u nqisuhom mill-ittri dg˙ajfin a jew j. Dawn huma verbi tassew fost il-Verbi Mnisslin. neqsin.

Ara: ta, minn g˙ăta(j) jew ag˙ta(j) = mog˙ti, tajt; ©ie = VERBI MNISSLIN ©a(j), ©ejt; ra(j), rajt; mexa, mxejt; tefa, tfejt; ra©a, r©ajt; Verbi mnisslin huma: ©era, ©rejt; beda, bdejt.

12. Verbi mibnija fuq (5) Verbi li g˙andhom Ωew© konsonanti dg˙ajfin a, j g˙eruq ta’ erba’ konsojew w. nanti.

B˙al wera, xewa, g˙ewa, sewa, tewa, lewa li jag˙mlu u jinkitbu wrejt, xwejt, g˙wejt jew g˙ewejt u mhux urejt, T.ç. Imnisslin aktarx minn sura ewlenija ta’ verbi neqsin xuejt, g˙uejt, suejt, eçç. Biss wera fuq li wrejna qabel, titlef imtennija b˙al ferfer, karkar, g˙arg˙ar, bexbex, ΩarΩar, l-ewwel konsonanti w fl-imperattiv u fil-futur u tinkiteb kexkex, qasqas, mexmex fejn is-sura ewlenija tal-verb nieqes ti©i mtennija. ûri, nûri, nûru, eçç. li jinkitbu flok uwri, nuwri, nuwru.

O˙rajn b˙al fekren, ˙axlef, ˙arbex, herwel, ˙anxar, Barra minn dawn ix-xorta ta’ verbi ewlenin, ng˙oddu o˙rajn ta’ g˙amla barranija msej˙in ta’ erba’ ittri, g˙arwel, qarben, eçç.

13. Verbi li mis-sura ewlenija jtennu l-konsonanti tang˙aliex is-sura ewlenija tag˙hom hija mibnija fuq erba’ konsonanti. Dawn ix-xorta ta’ verbi huma aktarx nofs. imnissla minn verbi neqsin li fl-ilsien Malti ©ew mitlufin (1) Imnisslin minn verbi s˙a˙. Ara: qabad, kiser, raqad, ©ibed, qata(g˙), sama(g˙), g˙odos, g˙ereq li jnisslu qabbad, kisser, raqqad, ©ebbed, qatta(g˙), samma(g˙), g˙addas, g˙arraq.

(2) Imnisslin minn verbi neqsin. Ara: sadd, raqq, bexx, ˙akk, senn li jnisslu saddad, raqqaq, bexxex, ˙akkek, sennen (sura ewlenija sadad jew sadd, raqaq jew raqq, bexex ust like us, an object has many lives and tells many jew bexx, eçç.). stories. Witnesses of a presence or an absence, an obMinn sam, qies, dar, tar, sar, ˙at, g˙am, g˙ex, g˙er, inject reminds us who we were and who we are, where nisslu sawwem, qejjes, dawwar, tajjar, sajjar, ˙ajjat, we are from, who used to love and care for us, whom we g˙awwem, g˙ajjex, g˙ajjar, fejn il-konsonanti dg˙ajfin j loved and cared for. Those who left their homeland did u w, mixruba f’vokali mkarkra fl-ewwel sura, jo˙or©u it accompanied by their objects, or by the memory of obmtennija. jects they couldn’t bring. That’s what RIMA is looking Minn waqaf, wasal innisslu waqqaf, wassal. for.

Minn mexa, ©era, ra©a’ nnisslu mexxa, ©erra, ra©©a’.

RIMA is looking for objects, any objects, together with Hekk ukoll min-nomi dud, ©wieΩ, newl, kus, g˙abra, rix, stories that come along with them. Because objects tell g˙ajn, g˙ajb, kejl, tieni, bejt, sawt, innisslu dewwed, stories, they are the visible fragments of our biography. ©ewweΩ, newwel, kewwes, g˙abbar, rejjex, g˙ajjen, g˙ajjeb, Artefacts, tools, copies of documents, letters, pictures, kejjel, tenna, bejjet, sawwat. journals, notebooks, language lesson materials and everything related to your experience of displacement T.ç. Fost il-konsonanti fostanin, li fis-sura tal-verb and exile will be used for the RIMA exhibition that will imnissel ma ji©ux imtennija, huma l-konsonanti talbe held at the end of 2018 in Malta. gerΩuma g˙ u h. G˙alhekk minn nag˙al, ©ag˙al, Anybody wishing to be part of this project (even Malqag˙ad, fehem, bag˙ad innisslu nieg˙el, ©ieg˙el, qieg˙ed, tese living abroad) can choose one (or more than one) fiehem, bieg˙ed u mhux nag˙g˙al, ©ag˙g˙al, qag˙g˙ad, object related to one’s exile or displacement experience, fehhem, bag˙g˙ad. and write the story attached to it, or record it on an 14. Verbi li jbiddlu l-ewwel vokali ta’ aççent ma˙tuf audio file (languages: English, French, Italian, Arabic, fil-vokali â jew ie mkarkra.

Maltese).

Minn verbi s˙a˙ b˙al: feraq, fehem, birek innisslu fieraq, One would be contributing to a project that has as its fiehem, bierek u fuqhom minn qag˙ad, lag˙aq, meg˙ek, pivotal point the active collaboration of its participants. bag˙ad, innisslu u niktbu: qieg˙ed, lieg˙eq, mieg˙ek, All objects will be returned to all participants at the end bieg˙ed. Hekk ukoll minn weg˙ed, meg˙er, g˙andna of the exhibition. wieg˙ed, mieg˙er.

RIMA is a project supported by Valletta 2018 that aims Minn verbi neqsin b˙al qarr, wiΩen, innisslu qârar, to collect the narratives of various people in ‘exile’ wieΩen. which originate from the same feeling of departure, de15. Verbi li fl-ewwel sura jie˙du l-ittra n fil-bidu. tachment, and desire for settlement.

The RIMA project is more generally a constant reflecHekk mill-ewwel sura tal-verbi s˙a˙, b˙al fara©, silet, tion about migration itself, particularly the discourses g˙araf, feraq, ©ama(g˙), g˙aΩaq,g˙o©ob, qabad, ˙ataf, that surround it. At its core, is the idea that we are all sama(g˙), g˙amel innisslu nfara©, nsilet, ng˙araf, nferaq, potential migrants. n©ama(g˙), ng˙aΩaq, ng˙o©ob, nqabad, n˙ataf, Anybody wishing to be part of this collaborative project nsama(g˙), ng˙amel. Hawn nag˙rfu nag˙Ωlu sura minn and share his/her personal objects that tell a story about o˙ra li fil-widna jinstemg˙u tista’ tg˙id l-istess. B˙alma one’s exile, or the exile of a parent, should send an nag˙Ωlu (jien) naqbad minn (hu) nqabad, hekk ukoll email on rimaproject16@gmail.com or call 77 09 40 26. nag˙Ωlu: (jiena) nag˙mel minn (hu) ng˙amel, (jiena) The deadline for submissions closes on April 2. nog˙©ob minn (hu) ng˙o©ob, (jiena) nag˙der minn (hu) For more information log on to: ng˙ader u o˙rajn hekk. http://valletta2018.org/events/call-for-objects-stories-of-

Call for objects: Stories of objects in displacement

J

objects-in-displacement/#sthash.D5Xhbzef.dpuf

Aktar regoli u tifsir fil-˙ar©a li jmiss.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday February 28, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

A Night to Remember for the FOPH NSW raises $7,000 successful fundraising night organised by Friends of ProviA dence House NSW (FOPH) in conjunction with the Hamrun Club, Marsden Park will be a “night to remember” for a night of entertainment and generosity by a record breaking attendance at the Club that on the night raised over $7,000.

Maltese singers, namely, Joe Apap, James Cassar, Martin Vella, Alee, Katyln Vella, Charlie Muscat, Charlie Camilleri and Charlie (Lawrence) Schembri volunteered their time to take part in this fundraising night.

The night commenced with popular Maltese and Australian songs by the popular MCA Choir. Next, Jim Borg, the Coordinator of FOPH welcomed the people and introduced the entertainers.

A chocolate wheel was run that included

prizes donated by a number of sponsors.

Rita and Charlie Scicluna won a trip to the Gold Coast offered by George Vella’s Breakaway Travel Blacktown.

Marisa Previtera, Secretary of FOPH group, read a message of support from Fr

Quiet Achievers Night of Recognition on March 8

An open invitation - Come and say thank you

T

he NSW Quiet Achiever’s Night of Recognition, the prestigious event that honours Maltese volunteers in the Maltese community in NSW will be held on Wednesday March 8 at 7.30 p.m.

The Maltese Welfare (NSW) extends an invitation to all to participate in this prestigious annual event at the Annunciation Hall - St Dominic’s Aged Hostel (next to the LaValette Centre), 171 Walters Rd Blacktown NSW. Entertainment provided by Grace Camilleri - Light refreshments – Free entrance

Consular services in Perth WA

aul Calleja, the Hon Consul of Malta in Western Australia, has told The P Voice of the Maltese that the Malta High Commission believes the level of demand for consular services in Perth justifies another visit from the Con-

sul-on-the-Move to the city. For more information, one should contact below details.

The Hon Consul is pleased to inform that he is now able to deliver full consular services including witnessing signatures and certifying documents.

Consular services will be conducted at the Maltese Association of Western Australia, 1 May Holman Drive Bassendean on Fridays 5.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.

To request an appointment one should phone: 9271 1847 or email: calleja1948@optusnet.com.au.

For issues concerning: Ageing and disability - community services education - environment - health - housing planning - Police - transport - water

Martin Micallef, Director, Dar tal-Providenza, in Malta.

The success of the night was due to the hard work of George Zahra, the president, committee of the Óamrun Club, Agnes and Greg Caruana and all volunteers.

MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

Learn Maltese!

Classes are available for students from six years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials.

Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island.

Teachers urgently needed - Paid positions For more information and enquiries Phone 9601 2189 Or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme.

Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a NotFor-Profit organisation.

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Community News Tune In to Radio and Television

Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5-6 pm, Fridays 5-6 pm and Saturdays 1011am.

MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, every Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. and Mondays 7.00 to 8.00pm. Presenter: Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Thursdays 2 4p.m: Martese Caruana presents Golden Mix. Available on demand.

Follow same procedure as for MCC programmes, except select programe in reference.

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm Listen to John Borg & Ronnie Borg every Saturday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM or on the Internet www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND

The SBS MALTESE NEWS

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bilMalti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq l-istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet www.893fm.com.au (On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am) Il-programm tal-Óadd 11.00 am: l-a˙˙ar a˙barijiet minn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura, avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess.

UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38.

The radio programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app. For television news from Malta - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired on Thursdays every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm.

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au.

L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups

Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the last Tuesday of the Month.

Group meets in Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast

Have to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment. For all information and referral matters call Censina Cefai: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month: Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am

Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

Maltese of Bankstown

Group meet 3rd Wednesday of the month at New BCRG offices 15 Kitchner Parade, Bankstown NSW (opposite RSL Club).

Every other 3rd Thursday they have an outing. For enquiries call Sam 9534 2357

IL-MALTESE BOWLERS SOCIAL GROUP TA’ NSW Jistiednu nisa u r©iel Maltin li j˙obbu l-lawn bowls biex jing˙aqdu mag˙hom, jie˙du sehem fil-log˙ob u jag˙mlu ˙bieb ©odda.

• Jilqg˙u wkoll lil dawk li jridu jitg˙allmu jilag˙bu dan l-isport, li jing˙ataw lezzjonijiet b’xejn.

• Jilag˙bu log˙ba darba fix-xahar fir-Rosehill Bowling Club u klabbs o˙ra.

• G˙al aktar tag˙rif çemplu lis-segretarju, Tony Pace-Feraud (0400 376 607) jew email lil: maltesebowlersnsw@hotmail.com Il-logħba li jmiss se ssir nhar ilĦadd 12 ta' Marzu fis-1:00 pm. firRosehill Bowling Club.

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2017 Sunday March 12: Fete Sunday July 2: Lejla

fil-Buskett Sunday October 15: Fete Sunday December 3:

St Nicholas Feast For more information: Joe Fenech 0412 009 957 or PRO Emm. Vella 045 677 064

Join us on facebook:

https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon

The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Meets every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm. Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining, so come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

*(All Groups are co-ordinated by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with a sponsorship from Multicultural NSW. Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863 123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School).

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday February 28, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

T

he Australian High Commission’s in Malta now has a new Facebook page, and the High Commissioner a Twitter account that could both be accessed by the readers.

The High Commission’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/A usHCMalta/ The Commissioner’s Twitter handle is: https://twitter.com/AusHCMalta

The Maltese Cultural Association of NSW

Lejla M©arrija Se ti©i organizzata Lejla M©arrija mill-Horsley Park Community Social Group, Horsley Park

Presents

G˙all-Im©arrin u l-Óbieb

“Ìensna in Concert”

An epic saga of 7000 years of Malta’s history with a 150 strong choir and many talented singers in Malta with:

The Cittadini

on Sunday March 5, 2017 at 2.p.m. at Wentworthville Leagues Club Smith Street, Wentworthville

Nhar is-Sibt 25 ta’ April, 2015 Fil- Mandavilla Events Centre Horsley Drive, Horsley Park Divertiment minn: Charlie Muscat u Joe Xuereb Mistiedna Specjali: Natasha Vella u Martin Vella $65.00 kull persuna Li tinkludi Antipasta Malti, ikla ta’ tliet korsi, birra, inbid, soft drinks te u kafe`.

Admission: Adults $12 Children under12yrs: $8 For information: Mary Ramundi 96881432, Charles N Mifsud 0421 662 298, Jim Borg 041 825 591.

Biex tibbukkja çempel lil: Theresa Quattromani fuq 0402-178-781, jew Josephine Borg: 0402-040-954

Ejjew niltaqg˙u u niddervertu flimkien.

Il-qlie˙ kollu jmur G˙all-Cancer Council

IL-KLABB TAL ÓAMRUN qed jorganizza

HAWAIIN NIGHT FEDERAZZJONI TAL-ISKEJJEL TAL-MALTI INC. (AWSTRALJA

Is-Sibt 18 ta Marzu 2017 fis-6.30 pm Id-divertiment se ji©i pprovdut minn:

CHARLES MUSCAT U JOE XUEREB B˙ala memorja ta’ John Laus Victor Mifsud se jkanta g˙add ta’ makkjetti tal-Laus G˙alkemm id-d˙ul hu b’xejn, dawk li be˙siebhom jattendu, jekk jog˙©obhom g˙andhom jg˙arrfu lil xi ˙add tal-kumitat ˙alli jsibu l-ikel li jkunu jixtiequ.

Aktar tag˙rif ming˙and: GREG: 0411 517 187 KLABB: 9838 1111

Registration for the 2017 Maltese Language classes is now open: MacKay Qld: Skola Maltija assisi@mackay.net.au NSW: The Maltese Language School of NSW –

malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmal.com Akkademja Maltija ta’ NSW skolamaltijasydney@yahoo.com.au Saturday School of Community Languages - carmelgl108@gmail.com VIC: Maltese Community Council Maltese Language Classes – admin@mccv.org.au

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Sports

3 Sama brothers in Parramatta Eagles team

P

arramatta FC (Eagles) will kick off the 2017 NPL NSW Men’s 1 Season on March 11 at the Melita Stadium against Wollongong Wolves FC with three brothers from the Sama family after 32year-old Nicolo joined the eldest of the brothers, 35-year-old Giosue (Josh) and Marco (25) and Giosue (Josh) to play side by side and become one of the first family trio to be seen in the same team in The Sama brothers (from left): NPL football history.

After playing within their Marco, Nicolo and Giosue respective clubs and age groups growing up, b r o t h e r both Giosue and Marco have spent the last S e a n , few seasons with Parramatta whilst Nicolo I b r a h i m was living overseas.

Haydar Upon their younger brother’s return Giosue has been and Marco prompted the possibility of appointed bringing Nicolo into the squad that was soon the club’s to become a reality. It will be seventy plus 1st grade Parramatta FC’s new years worth of football between the three of captain. them.

In turn, captain, Ibrahim Haydar Meanwhile, after the departure of Josh Parramatta have signed a former APIA Symons to his junior club APIA Leichhardt player, Ryan Norval who is expected to Tigers FC where he will be reunited with his make his debut against Wollongong. Others who joined the club beside Nicolo Sama include Jordan Crighton and Jacob Ott, both from Blacktown Spartans FC, Lawrence lose to 5,000 athlets from a number of Hanna (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), countries will take part in the 2017 Marcus Donatiello (Sydney United 58 FC), Malta Marathon, Half Marathon and Howard Fondyke (Sydney Olympic FC), walkathon to be held this coming Sunday. It and Chris Moore (Mt. Druitt Town Rangers will be the eighth successive year that a FC). They will make up for the departure of record number of participants will be taking Symons and Luke Turnbull to APIA, and part in this event since the inaugural Malta Aram Tayebi and Blade Richards to Mt. Druitt Town Rangers FC. Marathon was in 1986.

Malta Marathon event on Sunday

C

Balzan regain leadership he Premier League returned at the weekend T with the start of the third round after making way for the quarter-final round of the FA Trophy

DAY 22 Hibern’ns v Hamrun S Balzan v Mosta Valletta v Sliema W Floriana v Pembroke Birkirkara v S Andrews Gzira U v Tarxien

Drag racer, bowler win 2016 top awards in Malta’s Best Contest

dragstar racer, Duncan Micallef won A the Sportman of the Year (2016) award in the contest held Saturday and organised by Sports Malta and the Sportwriters Assocaition.

Tenpin Bowler Tiziana Carannante garnered the Sportswomen of the Year title, while former football refere Esther Azzopardi was voted Official of the Year.

Malta’s U/21 football team win the Team of the Year award.

A-League:

Sydney FC lose unbeaten sequence but then recover

ince our last issue of The Voice, Sydney S FC who seemed to be running away with the A-League, had their 19-match unbeaten sequence shattered at the hands of their most hated rivals. At the ANZ Stadium Western Sydney defeated them 1-0 with a Brendon RESULTS – DAY 21 Santalab superb Melbourne C v Sydney FC 1-3 first-half goal.

V Adelaide 2-1 However, they Melbourne Brisbane R v Wellington 1-2 regained their Perth G. v W. Sydney 2-0 1-1 composure on Newcastle J v Central C DAY 20 Day 21 to beat W. Sydney v Sydney FC 1-0 Melbourne City Central C v Melbourne V 0-3 to retain their Perth G. v Brisbane R 2-2 eight-point lead Wellington v Melbourne C 1-5 over Melbourne Adelaide v Newcastle J 1-0 P W D L Pts Victory after a Standing narrow win ov- Sydney FC 21 15 5 1 50 er wooden-spo- Melbourne V 21 13 3 5 42 onists Adelaide. Perth Glory 21 8 7 6 31 C. 21 8 6 7 30 Brisbane lost Melbourne Brisbane R 21 7 9 5 30 ground and also West Sydney 21 5 9 7 24 third place with Newcastle J 21 5 7 9 22 a home defeat Wellington 21 6 4 11 22 against Wellin- Cent. Coast 21 5 5 11 20 21 3 5 13 14 Adelaide gton.

3-3 7-1 3-1 2-0 2-2 1-0

in which highly fancied and last year’s finalists Standing P W D L Pts Balzan were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Tarxien in Balzan 23 14 6 3 48 Hibernians 23 14 5 4 47 extra time. But Balzan recovered from the setback Valletta 23 12 8 3 44 to regain the Premier’s leadership with a 7-1 win Floriana 23 12 6 5 42 over Mosta, while Hibernians dropped two points Birkirkara 23 11 5 7 38 Sliema W. 23 9 4 10 31 after being held to a 3-3 draw by Óamrun.

Tarxien R. 23 7 8 8 29 In other matches Valletta and Floriana kept heir Hamrun S. 23 8 3 12 27 fight for a place in Europe while Birkirkara’s St Andrews 23 5 8 10 23 RESULTS FA TrophyQ/FS hopes keep fading after a Gzira U 23 6 4 13 22 Tarxien v Balzan 2-1 2-2 draw against St An- Mosta* 23 4 4 15 16 Floriana v Hamrun S 2-0 Pembroke* 23 3 5 15 14 Sliema W v Senglea A 0-0 drews. *Mosta awarded 3-0 victory In the Trophy, Balzan’s over (Sliema win on penalties 3-2) Pembroke after protest Victoria W. Pembroke 2-0 loss leaves Floriana - 2-0 winners over Óamrun - as the team top-ranked Premier League table team still in the last four that also includes last year’s winners Sliema Wanderers, Tarxien, and, for the first time in the history of the competition, a team from the Gozo league, SK Victoria Wanderers. The Gozitans won a place in the semi-finals by virtue of a 2-0 success over Premier side Pembroke Athleta.

Parramatta FC 2017

With only a few days until the season starts, PS4 NPL team Parramatta FC has launched its 2017 Season Pass that entitles the holder entry to all 11 its home games and any FFA Cup home matches, together with a Club polo shirt and cap or beanie.

Season passes only cost $130 for Adults and $ 100for pensioner/concession.

Anybody interested should contact Poppy on: registrarmsfc@tpg.com.au to get yours today!