Sunday Circle (September 2018) by Times of Malta

SEPTEMBER 2018 – ISSUE NO. 284

LIFE WITH DOWN’S A mother’s tale

THE A WORD Why we need to discuss abortion

THE HUMBLE ĦOBŻA

POZNAN A city with soul

DIANE IZZO Secrets of her success

CONTENTS COVER STORY 08

STYLE

BEYOND THE BRAND Since 2000, DIZZ Group of Companies has expanded exponentially. Sunday Circle chats to the Group’s founder and CEO, Diane Izzo, to discover more about the company and the woman who runs it.

H E A LT H

A FAMILY OF WIGMAKERS Michael & Guy have been creating wigs for theatre for generations, even working on productions put on at the Royal Opera House. Iggy Fenech chats to Guy, Chris and Matthew Galea about the art form. BRINGING DRAMA TO LIFE Puccini’s masterpiece is set to enchant audiences in Gozo with a larger-thanlife portrayal of Tosca’s tribulations. Anna-Marie Galea speaks to costume designer Luke Azzopardi about his vision.

ARTS 38

18 18

A PIECE OF MY HEART Children with Down Syndrome go on to live happy, healthy and successful lives. Yet, outdated notions of the condition still persist, says Sandra Borg, whose daughter was born with the condition. REPLACING OLD BRIDGES WITH IMPLANTS Dental and implant surgeon Jean Paul Demajo writes about implants.

TACKLING TRAGEDY THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD As a new play to be staged in October looks back on the Beslan Siege of 2004, Anabel Attard remembers this horrific tragedy – and looks at what has become of Beslan today. It was September 1, 2004 when balloons flew cheerily in the breeze outside School Number One in Beslan, North.

H E R I TA G E 42

SAFEGUARDING OUR NATION’S PAPER TREASURES As a stunning new photographic exhibition by Alex Attard gets set to go on show next month, Anabel Attard explores its fascinating inspiration: the little-known Notarial Archives.

CONTROVERSIES 24

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT Herman Grech talks to Pia Zammit about his upcoming play De-terminated, and how he hopes it will help kick off a discussion about abortion.

FINDING YOUR OWN HAPPINESS Cliff Zammit Steven’s al fresco concert has become a muchloved annual appointment. He talks to Anabel Attard about this year’s programme and the Foundation it will raise funds for.

T R AV E L 58

A CITY WITH SOUL A student city that somehow manages to combine a buzzing nightlife with some great restaurants and true architectural beauty, Poznan is the beating heart of Poland. Ramona Depares takes the tour.

LESSONS IN LIFE Kristina Cassar Dowling talks to Jonathan Shaw about his newly launched book #Forty, in what turns out to be the intriguing backstory to a life lesson.

REGULARS

THE HUMBLE ĦOBŻA Pippa Mattei pays tribute to the heart of Maltese cuisine.

THIS PUBLICATION IS BEING DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF:

PEOPLE

FOOD & DRINK 28

GOOD CAUSES

04 06 08

A word from the editor C Body C Style

Send your letters to: Ramona Depares, executive editor, Sunday Circle, Allied Newspapers Ltd, Mrieħel, or email: ramona.depares@timesofmalta.com. The executive editor reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and where space is limited. For advertising enquiries email: renee.mdecesare@timesofmalta.com or call: 9947 7193. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole, or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed in the Sunday Circle are not necessarily those of the editor-in-chief or publisher. All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the editor-in-chief and publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, but cannot be returned without a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The editor-in-chief is not responsible for material submitted for consideration.

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This edition comes with one of the loveliest,

Down’s child. Which are just like the

most touching write-ups that I have had the

realities of life with any other child.

good fortune to edit. Writer Sandra Borg is

A WORD FROM

the editor

On a different note (unintended pun!),

a formidable, former editor of this

Cliff Zammit Stevens’s upcoming mega

magazine – and she is also mother to

concert in Valletta is being held for a

Katarina, a gorgeous toddler who also

supremely good cause – raising awareness

happens to be Down’s Syndrome. When

about domestic abuse through The Marcy

Sandra got in touch telling me that she

Foundation. Not only are you doing your

wished to share her thoughts, and those of

good deed for the day by attending, but

other parents, with our readers, I was

you will also be seeing the acclaimed tenor

immediately intrigued. Having had a little

on stage with our very own superstar Ira

bit of experience enjoying the company of

Losco. A definite win-win.

PUBLISHER ALLIED NEWSPAPERS LTD.

little ones who are Down’s, I had no need to be convinced that there isn’t any real

health, fashion… I hope you enjoy this

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ramona Depares

difference between them and other kids.

gentle return to Fall.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Iggy Fenech

bubbly – and on occasion moody and

They’re all just as joyous, excitable, bright,

PUBLICATION SALES MANAGER Renée Micallef Decesare

infuriating, as only little ones can be, of

DESIGN Joseph Schembri

amazing a potential, too.

COVER Diane Izzo Photography: Brian Grech EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Ramona Depares, Anna Marie Galea, Kristina Cassar Dowling, Pippa Mattei, Annabel Attard, Rachel Zammit Cutajar, Pia Zammit, Sandra Borg

There’s more of course: shopping,

course – as any other child. With just as It would appear, however, that the

COMPETITION WINNER The winner of the Back to School

memo has not reached everyone yet. This

competition, sponsored by Tiptoes,

feature is guaranteed to set everyone to

is Sarah Abdilla from Mosta. Ms

rights – and not only because it comes

Abdilla wins a pair of top-of-the-

accompanied by the most adorable photos

range Biomecanics School Shoes

but, more importantly, because it sheds

and has been notiﬁed by e-mail.

unique insight into the realities of life with a

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6 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

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STYLE AUTUMN ARRIVALS: DESIGNERS AT SARTO

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WIN WITH BAY STREET!

How would you like to be the lucky winner of a brand-new car just in time for Christmas? Bay Street is giving away a Renault Clio this November as part of its 18th birthday celebrations, but we don’t want to give away too much just yet… Stay posted and get more information on how to enter the draw by liking their Facebook page: Bay Street Shopping Complex.

8 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

STYLE TOMMYXLEWIS CAPSULE COLLECTION

Iconic designer Tommy Hilfiger has partnered with British Formula One® driver Lewis Hamilton to launch the #TommyXLewis Collection, which features apparel, footwear, accessories and underwear. “Lewis is bold in everything he does, from racing and extreme sports, to fashion. The ‘TommyXLewis’ collaborative collection is rooted in our brand DNA but, at the same time, is something totally fresh for us,” said Hilfiger. The Limited Edition capsule embraces the brand’s sportswear roots, revisiting iconic American styles. Hamilton’s twist to every design takes inspiration from his luxury street style wardrobe. The collection is available exclusively from Tommy Hilfiger, Valletta.

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EVERY SHADE OF YOU

‘AMADEUS’ BY MASQUERADE

As part of Masquerade theatre company’s 20th anniversary celebrations, they will present the award-winning play by Peter Schaffer, Amadeus, which follows the lives of the iconic 18th-century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Featuring a stellar cast, which includes Manuel Cauchi and Thomas Camilleri, and directed by Stephen Oliver, Amadeus will be performed at Teatru Manoel in Valletta between 19-21 & 26-28 October 2018. Tickets can be purchased at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, and early bird offers are available until the end of September.

M·A·C is celebrating the power of self-expression and individuality with Studio Fix, now available in Malta in 60 shades! Studio Fix combines a matte ﬁnish and medium-tofull buildable coverage with SPF 15 protection, minimises the appearance of pores and imperfections, and stays put for 24 hours. Throughout this month, get a free foundation pump with any Studio Fix purchase at all M·A·C locations in Malta. Find your perfect shade and get your free sample at M·A·C Cosmetics Tigne Street, Sliema / M·A·C Cosmetics Zachary Street, Valletta / M·A·C Cosmetics Debenhams, The Point. Instagram: @maccosmeticsmalta.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

COVER STORY

Beyond the

Brands

SINCE 2000, DIZZ GROUP OF COMPANIES HAS EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY. IN FACT, WITH A PORTFOLIO THAT INCLUDES BROOKS BROTHERS, GUESS, PAUL & SHARK, TRUSSARDI, HARMONT & BLAINE, GOLDENPOINT, ELISABETTA FRANCHI, MICHAEL KORS, AND PINKO, TO MENTION BUT A FEW OF THE BRANDS THEY REPRESENT LOCALLY, DIZZ IS THE UNMISTAKABLE LOCAL LEADER IN FASHION RETAIL – AND THEY’VE EVEN BRANCHED OUT INTO CATERING. HERE, SUNDAY CIRCLE CHATS TO THE GROUP’S FOUNDER AND CEO, DIANE IZZO, TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE WOMAN WHO RUNS IT.

Diane Izzo has become a household name in the

not an effort though, as I have always been a fashion

worlds of entrepreneurialism and fashion in Malta.

lover. In this sense, my business gives me additional

What drives you to continue working so hard and to

pleasure.

continue expanding DIZZ Group’s portfolio of brands? I have been fortunate to become involved in a

I usually start by having a brieﬁng meeting in the office with my closest collaborators. I then try to

business which I thoroughly enjoy and within a sector I

schedule my other meetings during the latter part of the

feel is a perfect ﬁt. It has been a terriﬁc and exciting

morning or the early afternoon, although occasionally

journey and I continue to enjoy my involvement in the

meetings do go on till after eight in the evening.

running of DIZZ Group. The expansion has been a very

I always make it a point to visit a few outlets

rapid one in recent years and has been a mix of both

during the week and have a good look around on

direct acquisitions and organic growth. This is a clear

Saturdays, too.

sign that companies overseas trust us and also feel that

Even though I lead such a hectic life, I try to

we are the ideal partner to take good care of their

attend gym sessions and other activities, which I enjoy. I

interests in Malta.

also like going on nice long walks, as these give me time to enjoy some fresh air and do some exercise at the

Can you give us an idea of what a typical day for

same time.

you is like? I always make it a point to have a good night’s

How has Malta’s shopping and fashion industries

rest: not being properly rested is not the best way to

changed since you ﬁrst started out, and where do you

start the day. A light breakfast is necessary when I am in

see them heading to in the future?

Malta too, as I never know when the ﬁrst chance to have

The market has changed signiﬁcantly over the

a bite to eat during the day will come by. What is also

years. I would say that, 18 years ago, there weren’t many

very important is the way I appear while I am at work or

top brands present, and the market was mostly

in meetings. If I represent the top fashion brands on the

composed of fast-fashion stores and traditional, large-

island, I must ensure I also look the part. It is certainly

retail, multi-product stores, which also offered

10 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

THIS A PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

COVER STORY

SEPTEMBER 2018 â&#x2C6;« Sunday Circle

COVER STORY

clothing in their range. The modernisation of the market itself, the increased travel experiences of the Maltese population, and the number of foreigners taking up residence in Malta for work or other reasons has made it necessary for the market to evolve in the required direction. I feel that the market will experience a moment of saturation. Nonetheless, the larger groups and most sought-after brands will continue to thrive further in an ever-stronger market. You started out with Terranova and now have a portfolio

“In an ever more demanding market, the secret to success is having everyone as your potential client.”

that’s made up of low- and high-end brands, as well as catering establishments. From a business perspective, how does this ﬁt into DIZZ Group’s future plans? The mix of brands serves as the basis for a balanced and

Your portfolio of companies is expanding rapidly, with

complete offering to our vast clientele. In an ever more demanding

Moschino on the horizon to mention just one. Why has this

market, the secret to success is having everyone as your potential

become your business strategy?

client. The diversiﬁcation into the catering business was a natural one also as, for many years, we operated Da Izzo Cafe, until we

There are many more projects my colleagues and I are working on but, as I said earlier, we plan things out very carefully

linked up with the Pascucci franchise. We now operate four outlets

and only launch a brand when we are certain the time is right,

and have plans for opening a few more in the coming years. We

the store is right and appropriate staff is in place. This is the

always wait for the right location to come about as this is the

strategy. It is not about becoming market leaders, it is all about

obvious key to success.

remaining so.

12 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

COVER STORY

You started your company at the age of 21, which is an amazing feat in itself. If you had to go back and give your 21-yearold-self advice, what would it be? Actually, when I look back at those times, I remember the great advice my father gave me when I was considering getting into this business. If I had to give myself advice, I would probably think that I should have been slightly more aggressive in the initial stages and paced the growth of the business. Nonetheless, it has been a great achievement and I have no words to thank all those around me who, in some way or form, have supported me along this route. What are you most looking forward to over the next three months? I know the next three months are going to be very important ones due to a number of initiatives and projects we are looking to developing further. A few important launches will also be coming up before the end of 2018. I really look forward to Christmas as it is a particular time of the year I enjoy spending with my family. I will certainly make it a point to make time for a well-deserved holiday, too… In fact, over the past years, I have realised that if I stay in Malta, work takes over completely. So, the only real way to ﬁnd some time to relax and unwind is by being away from it all. Visit www.dizz.com.mt

14 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HEALTH

A piece of my heart CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME GO ON TO LIVE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES. YET, OUTDATED NOTIONS OF THE CONDITION STILL PERSIST, SAYS SANDRA BORG, WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS BORN WITH THE CONDITION.

One in 100, said the gynaecologist, those were my chances

chromosomal anomalies found in humans,

of my daughter being born with Down Syndrome. All the

occurring approximately once in every 660

antenatal tests had shown a healthy growing baby, so I put

births. According to the Down Syndrome

the thought out of my mind until, two weeks before her

Association Malta, in Malta it is recorded

delivery was due, I kept having the same nagging thought.

that approximately ﬁve to seven children

When Katarina was born, I only had time for a quick look before she was taken away. I could see that she was

with Down syndrome are born each year. Despite its relative frequency, a lot

beautiful, perfect – and that she had Down Syndrome.

of outdated notions still persist around

When we waited for what seemed like ages and the

the condition.

paediatrician gave us the news officially, it just seemed like

“We would like for people to

the beginning of a journey I had always somehow known I

understand the condition better,”

would take.

says Lawrence Mangion, father of

Those early days were not easy. Some of our dreams

14-month-old Amber. “So that

came crashing down. My daughter would never be top of

parents of children with this

her class – would she get married, would she lead a

condition are prepared and

completely independent life, would she have to face

understand what it means. And

discrimination, what would become of her after my death?

that people understand that

Thoughts and fears came ﬂooding in. I thought my heart

children with this condition are

would break.

just like all the other

But as the days and months passed, Katarina’s character started to shine through. Never was there a

children.” Four-year-old

bubblier baby. Wherever we went, she smiled and gurgled

Beppe, who was

at people, eliciting smiles and cuddles.

diagnosed with the

One year later, she is the light of our family. Sure, there are challenges – but slowly she is overcoming them, as we cheer her on like maniacs at every milestone. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of

condition at birth, lives a full and happy life, with a packed time-table, says his mother Vanessa Portanier. “School, therapies and extra-curricular activities, like music and swimming. He also enjoys his ‘break time’

chromosome 21 (Trisomy 21), the result of a genetic

watching educational videos on ipad and also meeting

mutation at the time of conception ,or soon after. It affects

people. He adores his grandparents, the rest of our family

people of all ages and races irrespective of economic levels

members and a few close friends who have been with us on

or culture. It is one of the most frequently occurring

this journey full of surprises.”

18 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HEALTH

From left: Francesca, Mariah, Beppe, Nicole, Jordi, Katarina and Amber. PHOTOS: TICKLES & GIGGLES PHOTOGRAPHY

SEPTEMBER 2018 â&#x2C6;« Sunday Circle

HEALTH

Three-year-old Francesca Rausi, too, goes to school and has integrated very well in class with other children, says her mother Michelle. “She participates in all activities, swimming, reading, singing... she loves school and loves being with her schoolfriends and teachers. She has never cried because she didn’t want to go to school. She has learned so much - already she can understand both English and Maltese, she can easily identify colours, numbers, letters and she sings along with nursery rhymes.” Most parents, particularly in Malta, go through our same journey, with a diagnosis being given at birth. Like us, most are initially broken by the news, then recover quickly to channel their energy into their children’s development and well-being. “At first it was a big shock for us – but from that day we started the challenge and looked for information and dealt with our newborn beauty,” says Reuben Spiteri, father of four-year-old Mariah. “We started with all that had to be done, such as therapy, talks and all we could do to reach new goals... Now Mariah is doing very well and improving day by day. It is a big challenge for us. But I will do all that I can for her... Mariah is always happy and very outgoing so she makes you love her more each day.” Mariah’s mother, Charmaine, encourages new parents of DS children to “never regret the gift of love God gives them, as they bring so much happiness and satisfaction in our lives. The only difference is that with Mariah I have to work more – but she always reaches her goals.” When little Jordi was born, the paediatrician first gave the news to his father. His mother Luana Debono had previously suffered a miscarriage, so her husband was reluctant to give her the news. “When the paediatrician told me, I just squeezed him tight and said: ‘He is still my son!’” says Luana. “Together we gave the news to the family members waiting outside. I never wanted to hide Jordi’s condition, he is still my flesh and blood and I love him more than I love myself.” For others, the news was even harder. When little Amber was born, the initial diagnosis was closely followed by yet another piece of news: Amber had heart problems – common in DS babies – and would require surgery when she was three months old. Her parents, Lawrence and Charmaine, were devastated. But little Amber showed courage and resilience and is now a beautiful smiling baby who has brought her parents such happiness that they cannot describe it. “For us having a child with Down Syndrome is nothing except a little more patience and a little more understanding,” says her father Lawrence. “When Nicole was born, some of our friends did not send their ‘congratulations’ because they had mixed feelings about the news,” says her mother Melissa Cassar. “Today, we wouldn’t change a thing. Nicole is a perfect child for

Children with this condition are just like all the other children

Amber and Jordi

20 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HEALTH

us, as is her brother who does not have DS. We learnt not to see DS

wasting time on a lot of worries, I channel my energy into ways and

in Nicole. She is a daughter with her own abilities. We provide her

means of helping him.”

with every possible opportunity, work with her to maximise her

Another way of weathering through the dark days is to ﬁnd

potential, and give her the best we can. Nicole gives us a lot of

support, usually very forthcoming in the community for people

satisfaction, in everything that she does; from when she started

with a disability. “Although we have our concerns about the near

creeping, to walking, imitating (which was quite a big challenge),

and later future, we try to concentrate on a day-by-day routine, and

and now to saying words, the numbers and singing the alphabet!”

focus on the next milestone to reach. Meeting up with family and

Of course, dark moments happen. Days when all the questions come ﬂooding in, parents feel tired and discouraged, society shows a lack of understanding or kindness. “When people

friends who have relatives with DS also helps us to interact and support each other more,” says Melissa. Of course it helps to know that you are not alone. When

ask me: would you change anything in all this? I am always hesitant.

Katarina was born, I thought that a piece of my heart was broken

I never say: nothing - which is what most parents who have a child

forever. And if I compare her to typical children – or think about the

with disability automatically answer,” says Vanessa. “Who would

distant future – sometimes it still feels that way. But who is to

ask for a child with a disability, I always ask myself?

deﬁne the meaning of a useful, successful life? And aren’t we all on

“However, given the situation, I would primarily change the

a troubled sea? Does anyone know what the future will bring? A

way I reacted when I got to know that Beppe has DS. I didn’t enjoy

year later, I no longer see her as my baby with Down Syndrome –

his ﬁrst few months of life. I was so overwhelmed that I hardly

and I know I am not alone in this – she is simply Katarina, the child I

realised that God had given me a gift... somewhat different from

always wanted.

what I expected, but still a gift. Now, after four years, instead of

They bring so much happiness and satisfaction in our lives

22 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

Francesca, Beppe, Nicole and Mariah.

ISSUES

Let’s talk about it MALTA REMAINS ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHERE ABORTION IS OUTLAWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE – BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS NOT PART OF OUR REALITY. HERMAN GRECH TALKS TO PIA ZAMMIT ABOUT HIS UPCOMING PLAY DE-TERMINATED, AND HOW HE HOPES THESE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES WILL HELP KICK OFF A DISCUSSION.

It’s a tough one this. Any mention of the ‘A’ word can Herman Grech

swiftly turn a family dinner into an episode of Xarabank. However, the fact remains that Malta is one of the last remaining countries in the world where abortion is outlawed under any circumstance. Consequently, it is only responsible of us as a country to at least be discussing what abortion is, and what the facts are, instead of sticking our ﬁngers in our ears and hoping it will all go away. One person who may be crucial in spearheading this debate is theatre director, journalist and new playwright, Herman Grech. Last year Herman conducted a series of interviews with seven different people (all Maltese, bar one) who spoke about their different abortion experiences and views. He then turned them into a theatre script – De-terminate’ – which talks about the characters’ different perspectives (be they pro-choice or anti-abortion). The play, which emphatically does not take sides, is set in Malta and tackles the issues of intolerance, fear, concern and frustration. I asked Herman; why? Why choose to write this play? “It was a difficult call to make,” he says. “In the other ‘serious’ plays I directed, I tackled the subject of politics and incarceration (Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me), terrorism (The Lockerbie Bomber) and migration (Lampedusa). I wanted to speciﬁcally tackle a difficult subject which would resonate with a Maltese audience. Apart from politics and migration, abortion is the one incendiary subject which really gets the Maltese hot under the collar. I did read abortionrelated plays but I found most slanted heavily towards one side. And, of course, none could capture the characteristics of the Maltese people. So I thought, why not write my own?

24 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

ISSUES

Charlotte Grech, Jes Camilleri, Marta Vella, Isabel Warrington, Alan Paris and Jo Caruana. PHOTO: PIERRE STAFRACE

I wanted to find out if the issue of abortion could ever be discussed without name-calling and hysteria The abortion issue hasn’t ever been thoroughly tackled on the Maltese theatre stage and Herman adds that he approached it specifically from a narrative perspective, because: “you might choose to disagree with someone’s views/the way someone dealt with the issue – but you can’t say it didn’t happen. I have five characters telling their own story, while two others play the pro-choice and anti-abortion activists. “I wanted to find out if the issue of abortion could ever be

“It wasn’t as difficult a task as I’d have imagined ﬁnding

discussed without name-calling and hysteria. These days, when our

people willing to tell their stories”, he tells me. I guess it helps that

discourse is dictated by our Facebook bubble, we refuse to engage

Herman is a “veteran journalist” (his quote!). He feels that winning

in listening to different points of views. The narrative of De-

the interviewees’ trust was the most difficult task, however once

terminated is ‘let’s try to stop shouting the other side down’ and

word got around that he was writing a play about abortion, people

engage in discussion.”

started approaching him wanting to tell their stories. I wondered

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

ISSUES

if there were any recurrent themes

Herman Grech, Alan Paris and Jo Caruana PHOTOS: MARK ZAMMIT CORDINA

with the Maltese interviewees. “There was a lot of pent-up anger and frustration - from both sides. I faced women who were raped and had barely spoken to anybody about their abortion experience because they could face prosecution and be ostracised by society. I met this most wonderful man who regretted putting his partner through an abortion but is also equally frustrated that he cannot speak out openly. I have enough interview material to write a sequel.” He adds wryly. Herman repeats often that his over-riding wish throughout this whole process is that we “start to try to understand the importance of listening to each other before we brand everyone who disagrees with our views a ‘church crusader’ or a ‘baby killer’.” This fuelled his determination (yes, yes, I used the word intentionally!) to get the script written and cast. I asked him how he went about converting the interviews into a theatre script. “I was lucky because I ended up getting seven very different perspectives, and the script almost wrote itself. I carried out the interviews

You might choose to disagree with the way someone dealt with the issue, but you can’t say it didn’t happen

towards the end of 2017, promised

half-jokingly. I ask Herman whether he’s experiencing the same amount of shootdowns? “Yes!” he promptly replies. “As you can imagine, rehearsals are sparking some very interesting debates. However, I wanted to include three male characters in the play (Alan Paris is playing two roles) because I didn’t want the play to become just a rallying cry for women. There are two people between the sheets and the impact of whether one proceeds with a pregnancy can equally have a major

myself that I would ﬁnish the transcripts by New Year’s Eve, and

impact on the man. What’s interesting is the way it almost always

then decided to take days off work to write, walk, write, walk, and

kick-starts a debate in social circles whenever someone mentions a

keep writing until I had a semblance of a script... But I also knew it

play about abortion – from the standard “is abortion ever

would be work in progress. I always work very closely with the

justiﬁed?” to “are you crazy to even go there?” The set up is quite

actors and I demand their input on a script, so I’m still making

similar to The Vagina Monologues, in that the setting is very

changes as we go along to make it as relevant as possible.”

stripped back. I love the intimate staging of Spazju Kreattiv, where

De-terminated is a star-studded cast with Charlotte Grech, Isabel Warrington, Jo Caruana, Marta Vella, Jes Camilleri and Alan

the actors can literally dialogue with the audience members.” His parting shot to me reiterates his “we must listen to each

Paris on board. I asked Herman if there were any particular

other” mantra. “I often feel that art, and especially theatre, screams

considerations, other than sheer talent, when he was casting this

louder than real-life episodes. When you’ve sat down and engaged

play. “Directors won’t admit this,” he says with a chuckle. “But, often,

in watching actors play out a political or social script, you can

they’re reading a part with someone already in mind. In this case, as I

absorb the narrative more thoroughly than you would reading a

was carrying out the interviews, I was telling myself that Alan would

news item on a mobile phone. Especially in this day and age, where

be perfect for this role. Or that Isabel has the perfect accent for this

we all have the attention span of a ﬂy.”

part. I’m lucky to have landed six of the best actors in Malta. In a play like this you simply can’t afford to have a weak link. Back in 2002, when FM productions had staged The Vagina

De-Terminated is a co-production of Spazju Kreattiv and is supported by the Malta Arts Fund. It will be performed from the 19th till the 21st and the 26th till the 28th of October at the Spazju

Monologues, I remember that poor Chris Gatt, the director, had

Kreattiv Theatre. The production includes a sound installation by

barely any chance to get a word in edgeways. All six actresses (me

Yasmin Kuymizakis. Tickets are available online.

included) were so quick to shoot him down at almost every turn. “You’re not a woman – you can’t understand,” became our mantra,

26 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

www.kreattivita.org

FOODIES

The humble . hobza PIPPA MATTEI PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE HEART OF MALTESE CUISINE.

PHOTOS: RACHEL ZAMMIT CUTAJAR

28 Sunday Circle â&#x2C6;« SEPTEMBER 2018

FOODIES

world is and they will invariably answer

. . . – Hobz biz-z ejt

the ħobża Maltija. Whether eaten as a

Every Maltese person has their own version

meal or an accompaniment, no meal at a

of ħobż biż-żejt. Do you serve it with fresh

Maltese table is complete without a loaf

tomatoes, kunserva or both? Do you use

of fresh bread.

tinned tuna or anchovy ﬁllets or no ﬁsh at

Ask any local what the best bread in the

The Maltese loaf, or ħobża Maltija,

all? The toppings may vary but what

has been the very centre of Maltese

remains consistent is the importance of

cuisine since early times. A staple, which

fresh Maltese bread. My favourite way is to

made up of 75 per cent of the local diet

simply rub slices of Maltese bread with half

during the times of the Knights Of St

a ripe tomato, spread with kunserva, drizzle

John, bread a factor in the country’s

with some good-quality local olive oil,

interaction with others through trade and

vinegar and season with Maltese rock salt

wartime strategy. An increase in the price

and freshly ground pepper. You can eat as it

of wheat as a result of liberalisation of

is, or top with some chopped local olives

imports caused a revolt that eventually

and capers, and maybe top with tinned

led to a new constitution that allowed

tuna or ﬁllets of anchovies. It can also be

Maltese to elect their own prime minister,

served with Maltese fresh cheeses (ġbejniet

John Howard in 1921. The Maltese loaf still

friski) or when in season, with twice peeled broad beans (ful). Fresh herbs are also a

has a prominent place in modern Maltese cuisine, whether as a meal unto itself as

from his own bakery and to supermarkets

great addition. Fresh mint adds an extra

in ħobż biż-żejt, or as an accompaniment

which allows for more convenient access

boost of ﬂavour to this simple meal.

to almost any meal with a little bit of

to the Maltese loaf. What gives Maltese

sauce.

bread its distinct ﬂavour is the use of

mix, which I put in a large jar and into the

sourdough, a batch of yesterday’s dough

fridge ready for any hungry souls that ﬁnd

bread has changed somewhat over the

mixed in with the new batch. Though this

their way into my kitchen, or even better to

years. In the past, before households had

has become a trend in modern bread-

take on the beach or boat with the sliced

their own ovens, the village bakery

making, for the Maltese loaf, it is a

fresh bread. The mix is then handy to top

played a more central role in village life.

method steeped in tradition.

the bread slices when required!

The tradition of baking Maltese

The baker was mainly in charge of

Sometimes I prepare a taħlita that is a

The creation of the electric oven

running the wood-ﬁred ovens, while it

has made bread-making more

was the villagers themselves who

convenient, however it has lost some of

brought in the ingredients to mix the

its traditional charm and ﬂavour. Though

Pippa’s tah-lita

bread. While mixing and kneading, they

some bakeries still use traditional wood-

INGREDIENTS

would catch up on village goings-on,

ﬁred ovens, these are few and far

1 onion, chopped

making the bakery the heart and soul of

between. Qormi, still a village renowned

6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped

every village. On Sundays, they would

for its superior bread, is one place where

2 tbsp kunserva (tomato puree)

take their roasts or pies to bake in the

traditional bakers still follow the methods

6 olives, pitted and chopped

baker’s oven.

(and technologies) used by their

2 tbsp good quality Maltese capers (choose

grandparents.

the small ones)

To keep up with today’s fast-paced lifestyle, the baker himself now both mixes and bakes the bread and sells both

Leftovers can be transformed into a wonderful Maltese dessert – bread pudding

When you get hold of a loaf of

Good amount olive oil

Maltese bread, still warm out of the oven,

2 tbsp vinegar (balsamic or other)

it is very difficult to resist digging into the

Freshly ground pepper and rock salt

crispy crust and the soft, warm dough on

1 small tin tuna ﬁsh in oil or a few anchovy

the inside. But if you can hold off a little

ﬁllets (optional)

while, traditional ħobż biż-żejt is the best way to enjoy fresh bread, though it’s

METHOD

perfectly good the following day if you

• Chop all ingredients well and put into a

pop it in the toaster, served with barbuljata – scrambled eggs. Leftovers can be transformed into a wonderful Maltese dessert – bread pudding. These are some of my recipes.

large clean jar. • Add the oil and vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. • Mix well with a long spoon, close jar and keep in fridge till needed.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

FOODIES

Maltese Scrambled Eggs – Barbuljata Yesterday’s bread is still perfect when it’s toasted. You can serve it with the taħlita as above, or serve with scrambled eggs for an excellent Maltese supper. Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 3 large ripe tomatoes 1 onion, ﬁnely chopped 1 tbsp olive oil 25-50g butter 8 eggs Salt and pepper 1 tbsp parsley chopped (optional) METHOD • Peel, de-seed and chop the tomatoes. • Cook the onion in the oil and a little butter until soft and then add the tomatoes. • Cook for 5 mins. • Beat the eggs lightly with the salt and pepper and pour them onto the tomatoes and onions mix, adding the remaining butter and parsley. • Stir continuously over low heat until the eggs are barely set. • Remove from the heat and continue to stir. • Serve on fresh Maltese bread or toast.

30 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

FOODIES

Maltese Bread Pudding Left over bread can be used to make one of the favourite Maltese puddings! This recipe was handed down to me by my mother-in-law Elena Mattei. INGREDIENTS A large bowlful of bread, biscuits, buns or Maltese rusks, soaked in water and then squeezed till fairly dry 1 tin (400g) sweetened condensed milk 1 egg a pinch of nutmeg 2 tbsp jam 2 tbsp treacle 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 tbsp cocoa 2 tbsp raisins 1 tbsp candid peel, chopped METHOD • Preheat the oven to 180°C. • Mix all the ingredients into the bread and mix until incorporated. • Grease an oven-proof dish with butter and add the bread pudding mixture. • Smooth so that it is evenly distributed. • Bake until set and ﬁrm, approx. 45 mins. • Serve warm or cold cut into squares or triangles.

Be Gentle When You Touch Bread This poem seems to be attributed to David Adam, an English minister and canon of York Minster. It clearly depicts how the Maltese feel about bread. Be gentle when you touch bread Let it not lie uncared for, unwanted. So often bread is taken for granted. There is much beauty in bread; Beauty of sun and soil, beauty of patient toil. Winds and rain have caressed it, Christ often blessed it. Be gentle when you touch bread. Like Pippa Mattei’s recipes? Get more in her cookbooks 25 Years in a Maltese Kitchen, which has also been translated into Maltese, and the Gourmand awardwinning book Pippa’s Festa.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

TRADITIONS

One particular model worn by Malcolm Galea had 15 wigs sewn together

Guy Galea

PHOTOS: JONATHAN BORG

32 Sunday Circle â&#x2C6;« SEPTEMBER 2018

TRADITIONS

A family of wigmakers MICHAEL&GUY OF OLD BAKERY STREET, VALLETTA, HAVE BEEN CREATING WIGS FOR THEATRE FOR GENERATIONS, EVEN WORKING ON PRODUCTIONS PUT ON AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE. IGGY FENECH CHATS TO GUY, CHRIS AND MATTHEW GALEA ABOUT THE ART FORM. It was 1937 when Tony Galea ﬁrst opened the doors

fact, he took me under his wing and insisted that if

to his hairdressing business in Valletta. Named after

I wanted to make it, I had start young. Originally,

himself, the salon quickly prospered but behind the

however, he was the one working on wigs while I

scenes, Tony was working on something that would

focused on hair and fashion shows, as well as

cement his family’s name in the local theatre

fashion shoots. Those were my bread and butter.”

industry: he was making wigs for national productions put on at Malta’s ﬁnest theatres. Not many records survive from the early

Both of Guy’s children, Chris and Matthew, entered the business at a young age, too, right after graduating from Mcast. They have since

days of Tony’s career as master wigmaker, but

both been to Germany to work and train at the

pictures and family stories place him at the Royal

Wella Studio in Darmstudt, and taken on various

Opera House for quite a number of productions

productions. But Michael’s ﬁnal job in theatre

that took place there before it was bombed in

came soon after that.

1942. And, yet, Tony’s biggest legacy seems to be

“My father and I were meant to work on the

the knowledge and skills he transferred to his son,

wigs for Masquerade’s Cabaret, but [Michael]

Michael.

didn’t like the brown, ﬁnger-wave wigs we

“My father was a no nonsense sort of man,”

created so he took them home and styled them

Guy, who started out in the family business aged

again himself,” Chris, who has won Best Stylist at

14, explains. “The moment I showed interested, in

the Malta Fashion Awards three times, reveals.

Peter Schaffer's Amadeus.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

TRADITIONS

“Yes, he was a real perfectionist,” Guy adds. “He was a real master wigmaker; I never contradicted him.” “Yet, theatre is a real commitment,” Chris continues. “You have to be there every night, and the hairspray fumes and cigarette smoke of backstage had simply got too much for him, so he bowed out after that.” As I come to discover during our interview, the work that goes into creating a set of wigs for a production can be overwhelming. Just one Pantomime requires up to 100 different wigs to be styled, with 10 to 15 ultra-elaborate ones needed for the dame, which can take weeks of work to create. Every year, Michael&Guy is entrusted with the creation of wigs for both Pantos at the same time. And work has since increased, with the salon creating wigs for My Fair Lady, Chris Galea

Mamma Mia, Antigone, Don Giovanni, Cendrillon, The Crucible, California Suite and Is-Serra this year alone, and they still

Just one Pantomime requires up to 100 different wigs to be styled

have The Jew of Malta and the Pantomime to go before the end of 2018, among others. “Most of the wigs we use for theatre are synthetic, so the setting process is different to that we’d use for real hair,” Guy explains. “We usually buy them as straight, normal plain wigs and then set them with hot water or hot rollers to the type of style that we’ve been asked to create.” “Yet more work goes into period wigs or ones for Panto, which need to be as outrageous as possible,” Matthew interjects. “One particular one worn by Malcolm Galea had 15 wigs sewn together. It was called ‘the Wedding Cake’, and had a spinning Barbie and Ken (operated by an internal motor) at the top. It was huge and incredibly heavy, and all supported on a straw hat base.” Guy’s, Chris’s and Matthew’s next challenge will be to create 30 period wigs for Masquerade’s new adaptation of Peter Schaffer’s Amadeus. The story brings to life the story and music of Wolfgang

Matthew Galea

34 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

Amadeus Mozart and his archenemy Salieri. Directed by the seasoned Stephen

Oliver and starring Manuel Cauchi as Salieri and Thomas Camilleri as Mozart, Amadeus presents them with some tricky and intricate work, particularly as the 18th century style needs to be adhered to. “This, however, will be the second time we’re working on a production of Amadeus,” Guys tells me. “Back in 2002, Masquerade had staged the piece and my dad and I had created the wigs. It took months of preparation and work, particularly as the staging often require Mozart and Constance’s wigs to over the top.” “This time round, however, the director has asked us to stick to the styles that were worn in the period Mozart lived rather than what is traditionally used for the play,” Chris adds. Using Guy’s trusty hairstyles bible, Fashions in Hair: The First 5000 Years by Richard Corson, the trio are now working against time to ﬁnalise everything by 19 October. And while they have a lot to live up to given 2002’s successes, they also have a few things they need to keep in mind. “I remember dad telling me that Constance’s [played by Faye Paris] wig had fallen off during one of the shows as she was rolling on the stage and going under someone’s legs. That action will be there this time, too, so we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again!” Matthew says. As one of the ﬁnal productions that were mostly in Michael and Guy’s hands, and now one in which father and sons are once again working on as a team, Amadeus holds a special place for the family. And that can only mean that audiences will get to see something even more special as, on top of their secret techniques that have been developed over the decades, Guy, Chris and Matthew will also be injecting some personal memories into this production’s wigs. Masquerade’s adaptation of Peter Schaffer’s Amadeus will be on at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta on October 19, 20, 21 and 26, 27, 28. Tickets are available online. www.teatrumanoel.com.mt

CIRCLE PROMOTION

To Her Beat OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF SEED DANCE STUDIOS, MARISHA BONNICI, HAS MADE THE NEWS QUITE A FEW TIMES. THE REASON? SHE’S MENTORING SOME OF MALTA’S MOST PROMISING DANCE TALENT. INTERVIEW BY IGGY FENECH.

Marisha Bonnici has, in the span of just half a decade, cemented her name as one of Malta’s top dance mentors. To my mind, there is no mystery as to how she’s managed that. After all, as she told me in a previous interview, she’s always known that she wanted to be a dance teacher and believes that Maltese students have what it takes to achieve internationally. So what, I hear you ponder, has Marisha done to deserve such acclaim? Well, she has created for her students an environment that is overflowing with opportunity. Her school, Seed Dance Studios, through scholarships, intensives and competitions, has connections with some of the world’s biggest and most influential names, including the American Ballet Theatre, the Royal Ballet School, the Tanzakademie Zurich, the Ballettschule Theater Basel, and Larissa Savaliev. This has opened doors for her students that can take them beyond what tiny Malta has to offer and removed the glass ceiling that has kept so many young dancers from attempting to step into the international dance scene. So much so that one of Seed Dance Studios’ 11-year-old students has been paving the way for the past three years. First, Lea Ellul Sullivan (BoV Joseph Calleja Scholar) made it to the finals of the world’s most prestigious dance competition, the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York, known for being a milestone towards an international career with companies like the Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet. Then, she managed to qualify again the following year, achieving a better score overall. And, now, she’s become Malta’s first Royal Ballet International Scholar, which means she’ll be splitting her time between Seed in Lija and the Royal Ballet School in White Lodge. “It’s humbling that someone from such a little island has managed this,” Marisha tells me. “Together with me, Lea had dreams, but it was the hard work and dedication from Lea’s end, my end and her parents’ end that made this a reality. Now, she’s joining 10 young dancers that have been hand-picked for their excellence and invited to join the Royal Ballet School’s programme.” This breakthrough, Marisha believes, is also down to good training and the right environment – something she has been advocating for since her early days in the business. As she’s gone on the record to say many times, while it’s nice being a big fish in a small pond, a truly good dancer with the correct technique and artistry must aim to stand out wherever he or she is, even with other great international dancers.

36 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

CIRCLE PROMOTION

Yet, for all the amazing things that Seed Dance Studios, with Marisha at its helm, continues to achieve, its ethos has never changed. And that ethos is a very important one not only for young dancers but also for children in general. “We always aim to nurture our students and provide a fulfilling experience in every sense of the word. Dance, after all, helps children with their posture and health, it aids them with skills like timekeeping, and it gives them an artistic outlet away from desks and keyboards at a time when so few get a time to explore their creativity. This, I believe, is an important factor in helping them feel rewarded by their efforts.” With a new scholastic year about to commence at Seed Dance Studios, there’s also more to look forward to for its students. Indeed, the school will become the first in Malta to offer American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Student Examinations. This international graded evaluation system enables students to broaden their knowledge and work closely with Ms Julie Wherlock from Ballettschule Theater Basel. The Pre-Vocational Trainee Program will also be introduced this scholastic year and will offer students mentorship with a number of international and local teachers. In other words, a way of setting the bar higher for those who want to take their dancing vocation further. “It’s so important not to constrain children to what we believe is right for them,” she explains. “This is always my advice to parents: Let children explore their talents; support them to their limits when it comes to their passions. Life isn’t just about scholarly education, but about a holistic approach that can make them truly happy.” In order to achieve this, Marisha believes that parents should seek to find schools that aim to mentor students and equip them with the necessary tools and opportunities. “Put your children’s interests first. Aim to find a

and the Spanish Dance Society in London, so we’re very excited to

school that provides a caring, nurturing and stable approach to

continue to develop the gained experiences in a new scholastic

dance. Yet, if you feel your child has outgrown their environment,

year at the school.”

don’t be scared of encouraging them to develop further. Find a

The six fully-qualiﬁed teachers at Seed – which include

school that seeks to mentor students for vocational training and

Marisha’s mum, the seasoned and much-loved dance teacher

provides diverse international opportunities. Don’t be scared of

Mireille Coleiro – have quite a lot lined up, particularly with 90

wanting more for your child.”

weekly classes in Classical Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz, Spanish,

This, Marisha insists, does not reﬂect badly on any school. Much like a job, one has to evaluate when it is the right time to

Lyrical Jazz, Contemporary, Street Jazz and Hip-Hop. “Seed is open to everyone, no matter the age, the ability, or

move on to continue growing both in the ﬁeld and as an individual.

the reason they want to take up dance. I always say that, while

‘’One day Seed will not be enough for some dancers, and that is

some come in for fun and to meet friends, others come in with a

okay. As a teacher, I look forward to seeing how far my butterﬂies

much bigger goal. And it’s an honour to nurture such wonderful

will ﬂy!

talent and the future dancers of tomorrow.”

“And the future for Seed is looking bright,” Marisha continues. “Students have just come back from summer intensives at the Royal Ballet School, the English National Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, the Rambert Ballet & Contemporary School, Ateneo Danza,

So, here’s to another year at Seed Dance Studios. I wonder what successes we’ll be writing about this time next year! The new scholastic year at Seed Dance Studios commences in October. Find Seed Dance Studios on Facebook.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

THEATRE

PHOTOS BY EMMA MICALLEF

It was September 1, 2004 when balloons ﬂew cheerily in the breeze

threatened to kill them. Everyone was ordered to speak Russian,

outside School Number One in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia. It is

and only to speak when they were spoken to.

tradition there for balloons to welcome the students back to a new

Some people are still remembered for their bravery in the

term, and for parents and teachers to celebrate this special day

siege. Among them, one of the children’s fathers – Ruslan Betrozov –

with them.

tried to encourage the others to stay calm and helped them to

Little could they have known of the horrors to come just

understand instructions by translating them; he was shot in the head

minutes later, when, at 9.11am, Chechen rebels took approximately

and died instantly. Another father, Vadim Bolloyev, refused to kneel

1,200 children and adults hostage. It would be a tragedy that would

when he was ordered to and was immediately shot to death. Both

last for three days – ending on September 3, with more than 300

men were dragged outside and their bodies were used to warn

killed (including 186 children) and 700 wounded.

other hostages what could happen to them if they didn’t behave.

The Beslan crisis began when Islamic militants stormed the

Sadly, the suffering didn’t stop there. More and more people

school on behalf of Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, who

were singled out and killed over the course of the next few hours

demanded recognition of the independence of Chechnya, and

and the subsequent three days. Bombs were detonated, people

Russian withdrawal from Chechnya. At ﬁrst, some of the students

were shot, and blasts were even triggered by remote control,

and teachers mistook the militia for Russian special forces, and

designed to cause as much damage as possible.

assumed they were practicing a security drill. But it soon became clear that this was much more than that when shooting began. In the hours that followed, the militants herded those present into the school gym, where they conﬁscated their phones and

38 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

All of this culminated on September 3 at 2.30pm, when Russian commandos took over the school and freed many of the hostages. Unfortunately, this wasn’t long after the roof of the gymnasium collapsed, killed many of the remaining hostages.

THEATRE

Tackling tragedy through the eyes of a child AS A NEW PLAY TO BE STAGED IN OCTOBER LOOKS BACK ON THE BESLAN SIEGE OF 2004, ANABEL ATTARD REMEMBERS THIS HORRIFIC TRAGEDY – AND LOOKS AT WHAT HAS BECOME OF BESLAN TODAY.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

THEATRE

Finally, by 3.30pm, most of the hostages had been rescued – but that was actually only the start of Beslan’s recovery, as residents and the whole world tried to make sense of what had happened. Among those fascinated by Beslan was Carly Wijs, the writer and original director of a play about the tragedy, Us/Them; it will be performed in Malta for the ﬁrst time in October. Carly used her script to explore how adults and children deal with trauma. In fact, the play uses a child’s view of the world to focus on the media’s depiction of the siege, and to highlight how people have different memories of the same event. The result is a challenging piece that tackles tragedy through the eyes of a child – and it is a challenge being embraced by local theatre director Chiara Hyzler and the production company The Shrinking Violets. “I saw the show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016 and was immediately captivated by it,” Chiara tells me. “The fact that this was a siege in a school really shocked me’; it was beyond comprehension that anyone could use children as pawns in their political games. The more I learnt about how the siege unfolded, the more it upset me. Of course, the fact that the play tells its story from a children’s perspective – without omitting the gruesome details – breaks my heart.” As the director explains, Us/Them stays very true to the actual events that unfolded over those fated three days, and is primarily based on documentary interviews with actual survivors. “Audiences can expect a detailed retelling of the siege and powerful performances all round. It will be an hour of highs and lows, and they will leave not knowing what hit them,” she says. As for Beslan itself, today – almost exactly 14 years since that ﬁrst day of school changed the course of the town’s history – stories of survival and recovery still emerge. Life has gone on but, as news stories detail, those left behind have to live with the bitter memories. Many of them still visit the graves of the victims, which they have called The City of Angels, but often they talk of how difficult it is to take in the number of red granite gravestones that lie before them. Meanwhile, another memorial – The Tree of Sorrow – was erected in the cemetery, and it represents four mothers holding each

40 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

Both men were dragged outside and their bodies were used to warn other hostages what could happen to them if they didn’t behave

other’s hands. The souls of the children who perished ﬂy above them like birds. Body parts of children that could not be identiﬁed are buried beneath the memorial. “The tragedy that took place in Beslan is beyond comprehension,” Chiara continues. “Us/Them has given me the chance to get to know the victims and to remember this terrible moment in history. It is an important story, and one that we look forward to sharing with our audiences next month.” Us/Them will be staged at The Splendid, Valletta on Thursday 4 and 11, Friday 5 and 12 and Sunday 7 and 14 October at 8pm, and on October 13 at 7pm and 9 pm. Tickets are available online. www.showshappening.com

HISTORY

AS A STUNNING NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION BY ALEX ATTARD GETS SET TO GO ON SHOW NEXT MONTH, ANABEL ATTARD EXPLORES ITS FASCINATING INSPIRATION: THE LITTLE-KNOWN NOTARIAL ARCHIVES.

Safeguarding our nation’s paper treasures Joan Abela, consultant historian for the Notarial Archives. PHOTO: AMANDA HSU

Ever heard of the Notarial Archives in

“Put simply, they are a treasure

In fact, as Joan explains, these archives

Valletta? Hmm… perhaps not. I’ll admit – I

trove for Malta’s hidden history; a

are commonly referred to by historians as a

hadn’t before I came into contact with

collection of over 20,000 volumes,”

place where the ‘collective memory of the

photographer Alex Attard’s upcoming

explains Joan Abela, the consultant

Maltese nation’ is stored. Here, between the

exhibition, which goes through the lens to

historian for the Notarial Archives ERDF

covers of the beautifully bound registers, lies

provide a never-before-seen snapshot of

Rehabilitation Project. “They constitute an

a fascinating (and mostly still-undiscovered)

this incredible destination.

outstanding primary source for historical

social and economic history of both private

investigation and provide an

and public Maltese life. For it was here that

myself. What exactly are the Notarial

uninterrupted 600-year-old link with the

notaries, together with clergymen, formed

Archives?

past.”

that social group on whom the largely

But wait, I am getting ahead of

42 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HISTORY

PHOTO: ALEX ATTARD

“The shameful state in which the Archives were abandoned is exactly the sad circumstances which the Foundation actively seeks to prevent from ever being repeated.” in 1640 under Grand Master Lascaris (1636-

in December 1945, the collection was

57) who, for the ﬁrst time, underscored the

transferred to the St Christopher Street

importance of the proper keeping of

address, but was re-housed in the 1960s

notarial documents in the Deed of

when the palazzo had to undergo some

Foundation of the Archivio Pubblico.

structural reinforcements. In 1968, the

Today, the Notarial Archives are governed by a separate legislation and fall

Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street while the

under the responsibility of the Chief

Notary to Government. Original copies of

Christopher Street. They have remained

these notarial acts are presently deposited

there ever since. The shameful state in

at 2/3, Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street, Valletta,

which they were abandoned is exactly the

which is also the office of the Chief Notary

sad circumstances which the Notarial

to Government. Register copies of these

Archives Foundation actively seeks to

acts, which are true copies of the original

prevent from ever being repeated.”

illiterate mass of the population from all

documents, are housed in an 18th-century

walks of life depended.

palazzo situated at 24, St Christopher

“Consequently, these records contain

original copies of the acts were moved to

So, thanks to a collaboration between the government and the

Street, Valletta. The latter is the Archive

Foundation, the Notarial Archives have

a mass of detailed information that would

that is currently undergoing a programme

come a long way in the past few years,

have otherwise been lost,” Joan goes on to

of rehabilitation.

although Joan stresses that work on such a

say. “But, in order to understand the

“During World War II, the notarial

great scale never ceases to produce new

importance of this collection, it’s vital to

volumes were housed in Valletta and

also understand some of its history.”

suffered from two direct hits in April 1942,”

But, to help overcome those

Joan says. “This resulted in the destruction

challenges, the Archives were awarded

or damage of around 2,000 volumes. Then,

€5,000,000 through the successful

In a nutshell, the curator details how the Notarial Archives were originally set up

challenges.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

HISTORY

As I chat to Joan, her passion and love for the preservation of the Archives becomes clearer and clearer. “I guess that is fuelled by all the excitement that goes with every new discovery,” she smiles. “It is the result of every tiny piece of fragment that is saved, and underlined by every historical manuscript that is treated with respect and given back its dignity. Preserving the Archives for future generations has become an integral part of my life. I consider it a mission and a duty towards my country.” And, among the many things being done to highlight the incredible treasures of the Archives, the Foundation is working to give them a new dimension by presenting them to artists so that these may use them as sources of inspiration – just like Alex Attard has done with his photography. “Alex was introduced to the Archives by my dear friend – photographer and volunteer, Amanda Hsu,” Joan says. “I remember talking to Amanda about my wish to open the doors of the Archives to photographers so that, through their application for funding from the ERDF (European Regional

lens, they could capture the passion and dedication with which

Development Fund) 2014-2020, which was submitted by the

volunteers and staff carry out their daily tasks. For me it was

Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government through

important that such acts of altruism were recorded because

the Office of the Notary to Government. These much-needed

good deeds need to be remembered as well.”

monies are now being directed towards the rehabilitation of

Luckily for Joan and the team, it only took a couple of

the Archives’ building fabric, the re-organisation of spaces

hours for Alex to fall in love with the Archives and to begin to

(including a museum), the housing and shelving of the

experiment with his lens. “His commitment was, and still is,

manuscripts, as well as the purchasing of new equipment and

truly commendable,” Joan says. “Through his art, Alex has

the setting up of a conservation laboratory. “This is an

managed to show that archives are not just for researchers but

essential part of the process of rehabilitating the Notarial

also for artists. He has created extraordinary works of art from

Archives since a safe and suitable building is the ﬁrst step in

manuscripts that had no purpose because of their lamentable

ensuring a secure environment for the documents,” this

condition. He gave a new lease of life to what was considered

historian says.

to be lost forever.

44 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HISTORY

“The thing I loved most was being part of a small group of passionate staff and volunteers who give so much to preserve our nation’s history with so few resources.”

part of a small group of passionate staff and volunteers who give so much to preserve our nation’s history with so few resources.” When he started working on this project, Alex went to the Archives around three times a week at different times of day, to simply roam around and take pictures of anything that caught his eye. He was inspired by the documents which were irreparably damaged during the war. “A few months later, I was ﬁnally ready to set up my miniature ‘studio’ in a corner of the room by a large window and I could begin to capture the various shapes and forms I could see in these mangled, destroyed documents that would become the subject of the exhibition. “Now, it is hoped that this ﬁrst notarial archives-inspired artistic venture will lead to many more,” Joan says. “Alex’s

“There was so much of interest but, for the purpose of my artistic project, the most interesting of all was the space referred to

exhibition, together with an accompanying forthcoming

as ‘the crying room’. It is here that you ﬁnd boxes holding

publication edited by Emanuel Buttigieg and myself entitled,

documents that were severely damaged during the war and over

Parallel Existences – The Notarial Archives: A Photographer’s

the passage of time. And it was there that I decided to start

Inspiration (Kite Group), constitute ventures into new territory for

snapping – I was inspired to conceive and suggest alternative

the Notarial Archives Foundation. From the original mission of

identities. It became a parallel existence for these forgotten

saving the notarial documents from oblivion – which continues –

manuscripts through an artistic expression, where history informs

the Foundation is now spearheading initiatives intended to take the

art, and art returns continuity to history by restoring time, memory

Archives ‘out there’,” the historian underlines.

and purpose to it. These lost, discarded, documents have now

Alex, meanwhile, has also become very passionate about

become art pieces in their own right providing history with

showcasing the Archives to the public, and preserving them for

continuity. I believe the results speak for themselves – hopefully

future generations. I ask him what inspired him to put his upcoming

(and along with the fantastic restoration work being done)

exhibition together. “Well, following on from my exhibition The

safeguarding the memory these incredible treasures for a long time

Overlooked Performance, in 2015, about the ephemeral art beneath

to come,” Alex adds.

the face of Renzo Piano’s Valletta parliament building, Joan asked

The Notarial Archives are open to the public from Monday to

if I would be interested in exploring the Archives – perhaps with a

Friday, from 8am to 3pm. Alex Attard’s exhibition Parallel

view to photograph them. As soon as I visited, I developed a strong

Existences will be open at Valletta Contemporary from October 5

emotional connection to them; the thing I loved most was being

to November 3. The project is supported by Arts Council Malta.

46 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

GOOD CAUSES

Cliff Zammit Stevens PHOTOS: KRIS MICALLEF

48 Sunday Circle â&#x2C6;« SEPTEMBER 2018

GOOD CAUSES

When Music Triumphs FROM INTIMATE SETTINGS IN MDINA TO THE OPEN-AIR SPLENDOUR OF PJAZZA TEATRU RJAL AND – NOW – THE GRANDEUR OF ST GEORGE’S SQUARE, CLIFF ZAMMIT STEVENS’ AL FRESCO CONCERT HAS BECOME A MUCHLOVED ANNUAL APPOINTMENT. HERE HE TALKS TO ANABEL ATTARD ABOUT THIS YEAR’S EXCITING PROGRAMME – AS WELL AS THE FOUNDATION IT WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR. I have enjoyed many of Cliff Zammit Steven’s concerts over the years and have watched, with admiration, as he has evolved into an ever-more experienced and dynamic artist – all the while retaining his humility and trademark wide smile. This year, his annual appointment with music lovers takes on an all-the-more poignant meaning as it will raise funds for the Marcy Foundation – an organisation recently launched by Cliff in memory of his beloved mother Marcelline, who passed away last year. Of course it will be difficult for Cliff to perform this ﬁrst concert without her, but, at the same time, it is touching that her legacy will live on through his music. “For as long as I can remember, music has always made me feel something special,” Cliff says. “During my troubled childhood I found refuge in my voice and in music. My ﬁrst on-stage experience was when I was just 11, as the Lion in the Wizard of Oz, produced by FM Theatre. It changed my life.” Cliff says he has always felt safe on stage; that he belonged and felt happy. “I was so lucky to have something that distracted me in a positive way and gave

The Marcy Foundation Launch-Marthese Moore, Anne Marie Zammit, Cliff Zammit Stevens, Yvette Stevens, Estelle Borg

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

GOOD CAUSES

“After losing my mother, singing was the only thing that made me feel at peace.”

me something to focus on. So, I started training and taking part in musicals, before moving on to operas.” It wasn’t long before Cliff then moved to London to read for a degree in vocal studies, where he knew he wanted to focus on opera. “I am lucky to have been given this voice,” he says. “And to have been able to make it my career. Yes, opera is a challenging path but I absolutely love it.” In fact, even as an adult, Cliff considers music his refuge. “Just ﬁve days after my mother’s passing I went back to singing,” he continues. “It was such a vulnerable moment in my life – up there on stage, alone, performing. But it gave me a reason to wake up in the morning and to get on with my day, and it felt like I was doing the right thing. After all, I ﬁnd peace in singing and, after losing my mother, singing was the only thing that made me feel at peace.” Now Cliff is also using that sense of purpose to plan his upcoming event – his 10th Anniversary Concert on 3 October in St George’s Square, conducted by Philip Walsh and with music by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. It will be his biggest solo concert to-date – although he has, in the past, performed to crowds of 20,000 overseas. He is also looking forward to working with Ira

50 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

GOOD CAUSES

Losco, and to performing the single they recently released together for the Marcy Foundation, Xemx. “Ira is a true superstar and I couldn’t ask for more than her presence on stage with me,” he says. As for what concert-goers should expect, the tenor explains the programme will cover everything from classic gems to current charttopping pop hits. “It’s going to be a very inclusive concert with something for everyone, and everyone is welcome,” he stresses. “It will be an event everyone can relate to and will underline just how true it is that music is a universal language. I hope it will make people happy – just as music has always made me happy.” And it is with that in mind that Cliff also shares his advice to other people facing challenges – like the domestic abuse he faced as a child, or the trauma of losing his mother. “Find something that makes you happy. Life is beautiful and there is always light somewhere. Our time on this earth is too short to worry about the little things. I follow the golden rule of always loving and respecting yourself, first and foremost. “Equally, the Marcy Foundation is not there to diagnose people, but to create awareness and to guide people. We aim to provide a platform where people can find the information they need to empower themselves. We want to create a non-judgmental society and our goal is make people comfortable enough to seek help. It is not shameful to need help. Society must stop judging: everyone has their own challenges and help is out there.” Meanwhile Cliff is also looking to his future after the concert – and it’s bound to be very busy. He will perform in Tosca in Gozo, before flying to London to start a 15-day tour in La Tragedie de Carmen by Bizet. “I will be debuting the role of Don José – which I’m very excited about,” he says. “Carmen is such a beautiful and sad story. I relate to this, mainly due to the domestic violence my family has suffered.” Working hard seems to be second nature for Cliff, although he is also looking forward to touring South Africa at the end of the year – wine tasting and relaxing in his first holiday of the year. But first, all of his focus is on the concert and the continued success of the Foundation. “To say I have been overwhelmed by the support so far would be a gross understatement,” he smiles. “It fills me with so much courage that something so raw and organic has been embraced by so many people – and that so many people have already been in touch to seek the Foundation’s help. I am thrilled that I can do something to help. “Of course, this year’s concert also means so much more to me than any of the ones that have come before. It is going to be a very emotional performance because the most important person in my life, my mother, is not going to be there. But this will all be for her and I will be celebrating her life throughout it. He legacy will now always live on through the Marcy Foundation, and I look forward to sharing that with our audience on the third.” Cliff Zammit Stevens will be live in concert on 3 October with guest star Ira Losco, in St George’s Square. Tickets are available from www.showshappening.com. Proceeds from the concert and the sale of Cliff and Ira’s new single Xemx will go towards the Marcy Foundation.

52 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HEALTH

More common than you may think

PSORIASIS IS A SKIN CONDITION THAT AFFECTS AROUND 3-5 PER CENT OF MALTA’S POPULATION. YET, WHILE EVEN INTERNATIONAL STARS LIKE KIM KARDASHIAN WEST AND BRITNEY SPEARS HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT LIVING WITH PSORIASIS, MANY PEOPLE STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND THE NONCONTAGIOUS CONDITION. HERE, IGGY FENECH SPEAKS TO DERMATOLOGIST DR LIAM MERCIECA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CONDITION AND THE LATEST TREATMENTS AVAILABLE.

54 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

HEALTH

What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic inﬂammatory skin condition characterised by well-deﬁned, red, scaly, thickened areas called ‘plaques’. While there are different types of psoriasis, it tends to involve the elbows, knees and scalp – but it can affect any part of the body. The amount of skin involved can vary from tiny patches to extensive body coverage. The condition is unique to each individual patient with the cause being a mix of genetics, immune system dysregulation, and environmental factors, such as stress and infections. What does a patient typically complain of? Patients usually complain of visible plaques, which can be rather unsightly, and

Is psoriasis a cosmetic condition?

contagious and cannot be picked up

Psoriasis is a condition with various

through contact.

dandruff when the scalp is involved.

health and obvious cosmetic implications.

Another common symptom is itching.

Health-wise, particularly when it’s severe, it can be quite disabling and can adversely

How common is psoriasis in Malta?

affect the person’s quality of life.

There have never been any local

Is there a link between psoriasis and other serious medical conditions? Yes, psoriasis is associated with a number of medical conditions including

studies on the epidemiology of psoriasis,

Is psoriasis contagious?

psoriatic arthritis, which leads to joint

although they are currently in the pipeline.

No – and it’s important that people

pains and stiffness. If left untreated, this

Nevertheless, it is one of the most common

know this. Many patients with psoriasis

will cause permanent and irreversible

skin conditions, which, from our experience

have encountered individuals asking this or

damage to joints. Patients with moderate

and European data, affects around 3-5 per

passing negative comments especially at

to severe psoriasis also have an increased

cent of the local population.

the beach. Psoriasis is in no way

risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, and depression. Is the condition reversible? To date, there is no cure for psoriasis, however, it can be treated successfully with patients achieving sustained, nearlycomplete clearance of up to 90 per cent. There may be ﬂare ups every now and then, especially if the person is going through a particularly stressful time. How do most people respond when they are diagnosed with psoriasis? It depends on the severity of the condition. Most patients have a mild form, which carries a minimal impact on their quality of life. In fact, after explaining their condition and talking about the treatment options, most people are very hopeful. Of course, the more severe the condition, the more risk there is of the patient taking it badly, but treatment has evolved and most

Kim Kardashian West and Britney Spears. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

cases can be treated successfully.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

HEALTH

How does psoriasis impact patients’ and their families’ lives? The two peaks when psoriasis is most likely to occur are between 15 and 35, and then over 50. Of these, the majority have a mild form, but those living with moderate to severe psoriasis can see their quality of life greatly affected, especially when it’s left untreated. In certain cases there is a risk of depression, social isolation and even suicidal thoughts. What are the most important treatment priorities? The ﬁrst step after diagnosis is for us to go through lifestyle changes with the patient including weight loss, smoking cessation, reducing alcoholic consumption, and eating a balanced diet. Patients can be in a very vulnerable state, but please don’t be duped into buying expensive, non-proven remedies or try drastic diets that promise to cure psoriasis. They simply don’t work. Treatment is then administered depending on patients’ needs and their preferences. These can range from creams (moisturisers, steroid creams, vitamin D analogues, calcineurin inhibitors), ultraviolet therapy, oral drugs (which, although have some side effects, have been used successfully for many years to suppress parts of the immune system), and the latest treatments called injectable biologics. Are there any new, innovative medicines that

Join PAM

have evolved in recent years to improve this impactful

“From its inception, Psoriasis Association Malta

condition? And are they

(PAM) has had the key purpose of providing patients

accessible to Maltese

with a voice and a means of support in their journey

patients?

through the confusing reality of dealing with

Yes, the ﬁrst injectable biologic treatment was licenced in 2004, and we

psoriasis,” says Marika Azzopardi, the public relations officer at PAM. “PAM is open to all those who have psoriasis,

now have around six

as well as their parents and relatives, helping to

available. Not all of them are

bridge the gap between medicine and patient in

available in Malta but there are a few options. These injectable

order to help make this skin condition easier to

treatments target a speciﬁc chemical in the immune system that leads

handle… It can be very distressing to witness

to psoriasis. These are reserved for patients with moderate to severe

psoriasis on a loved one, especially when someone

psoriasis who have failed other treatments.

doesn’t know how to assist in relieving the symptoms or in providing a cure.

What are the latest treatment guidelines and recommendations for Maltese dermatologists? We follow UK guidelines in Malta, which means that we use an algorithm that has been scientiﬁcally proven to place each case in its

“Within PAM, questions can be answered by those who have already been through such situations and, thus, a patient-led association is our ultimate aim.”

best treatment section. This is also coupled with explaining and listening to the patient to ensure psoriasis has a low impact on their

On Saturday 27th October between 3 and 5pm, The

quality of life.

Malta Association of Dermatology and Venereology (MADV), in collaboration with Psoriasis Association

options moving forward? There is no miracle cure for psoriasis, however, there have been

Malta (PAM) and Malta Eczema Society, is organising a patient symposium addressed by an international guest speaker on the advances in treatment of

great advancements over the last few years and I’m sure we’ll see more

psoriasis and eczema at The Palace Hotel, Sliema. No

in the future. For patients, my advice is to go to a GP ﬁrst, so they can

registration required.

assess the situation and then refer you to a dermatologist if need be. It’s a very treatable condition, so it’s a very hopeful outcome!

56 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

THIS A PAID FEATURE

What are your recommendations regarding these new treatment

HEALTH

REPLACING OLD BRIDGES WITH IMPLANTS The most popular way to replace a missing tooth used to be with a fixed

• Maintaining good hygiene below the bridge may be difficult

bridge. This would involve trimming one or more teeth on either side of the

Today the most widely recognised

missing tooth and fixing a conventional

way to replace missing teeth is with

metal-ceramic bridge to each of these

dental implants. This involves the

supporting teeth. The bridge literally

insertion of a ﬁxture or screw in the jaw.

bridges the gap with a suspended

Once healed, a tooth is attached onto it.

tooth in the middle of the supporting

This method may be utilised to replace

teeth.

single or multiple missing teeth.

ADVANTAGES

• Quick

• Independent from other teeth

• Looks good

• Very good track record

• Maintains bone and, therefore,

• Strong and reliable • Cheaper than implants DISADVANTAGES • The lifetime of the bridge depends

reduces bone loss • Very good aesthetics DISADVANTAGES • Not suitable for every patient

supporting teeth fail, the bridge

• Oral hygiene must be well kept

fails and would need replacing

• Involves surgery

irreversible loss of healthy tooth

Intra-oral after treatment

• Expensive

on the supporting teeth; if

• Trimming of the teeth causes

Intra-oral before treatment

• Long duration of treatment • Sensitive procedure

tissue • Supporting teeth may require root canal treatment • Area of missing tooth below bridge will continue to lose bone • Bridge may need changing after approximately 10 years

Not every patient is a good candidate for bridges. The same applies

Extra-Oral before treatment

for implants. It is important to know your options and hear your physician’s advice on what is best for you! As always, the best advice is to ask your dentist.

A CASE STUDY A middle-aged woman decides to remove a bridge done many years ago to replace two missing teeth. The six-tooth bridge spanned across the patient’s

Extra-Oral after treatment

front teeth, ﬁxing them together. The bridge was supported by four of the patient’s natural teeth, having another two teeth suspended on it to replace the missing teeth. Two implants were inserted in the jaw to eventually replace the two missing teeth. Once healed, the once six-tooth ﬁxed bridge was replaced with six individual, full-ceramic crowns; four on the natural teeth and two on the implants. This solution allows for better aesthetics and hygiene maintenance.

Content and clinical cases provided by Dr Jean Paul Demajo, Dental and Implant Surgeon.

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

TRAVEL

Poznan

so pretty

A STUDENT CITY THAT SOMEHOW MANAGES TO COMBINE A BUZZING NIGHTLIFE WITH SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS AND TRUE ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY, POZNAN IS THE BEATING HEART OF POLAND. RAMONA DEPARES TAKES THE TOUR.

It’s 10PM and the sun still hasn’t quite set

lived up to in terms of amenities, bar prices

everything an entertainment centre

yet. We are drinking cocktails – beautifully

are extraordinarily cheap. Then again, this

should be.

inexpensive cocktails, may I add – in a

is a trend that I was to see reﬂected across

supremely stylish hotel just around the

the city centre itself. At the Puro, they’re

my map of Polish cities to visit. In truth, I

corner from Stary Rynek in Poznan,

not greedy – if you’re staying there, they

barely knew anything about it before I

Poland. It’s Sunday night and the bar on

even throw in unlimited free coffees, teas

landed, apart from the fact that they hold a

the terrace at Hotel Puro is buzzing with

and hot chocolates everyday. And the

Malta Arts Festival (that’s right!) and that

life. A couple play ping pong in the corner;

good stuff, too, not the instant crap.

Ryanair ﬂy there super-cheaply. As soon as

a young man in a wheelchair is being

An hour or so later, pre-drinks are

I can’t say that Poznan has been on

we land, we book a taxi from the airport –

interviewed about his music on a separate

done and we are ready to hit the actual

only half an hour’s drive away – to the

table; two achingly hip 20-somethings are

centre for some honest-to-goodness

Hotel Puro, which literally lies bang in the

discussing some new designer or other.

socialising. It is the weekend, after all, and

centre. The cost amounts to a grand total

the centre of Poznan will not be going to

of 35 Zloty – the equivalent of €10, give or

star hotel bar would be where it’s all

sleep before the early hours. Think of

take. This agreeable surprise is to be a

happening in Poznan, but it is. I suspect

Stary Rynek (Old Market Square) and its

recurring theme during my three-day stay

this has a lot to do with the fact that Puro

environs as Paceville without the sleaze,

in the city.

styles itself as a ‘design’ hotel –

or the expensive prices. Or the dirt. Or the

everywhere you look, it’s bold lines, cool

underaged kids in skimpy clothing. Oh

economy,” Woytek Mania, from the Poznan

art, beautiful furniture and stunning, smiley

yes, and there’s actually good food and

Tourist Office, tells me when I ask how on

people. Despite the four-star tag, which is

beautiful architecture. In short, it’s

earth they manage to keep prices so cheap.

I’d never have thought that a four-

58 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

“It’s because we have a strong

TRAVEL

Old Market Square

Think of Stary Rynek and its environs as Paceville without the sleaze, or the expensive prices

Lake Malta

His statement is very matter-of-fact. Eh well, lucky you, I think to myself. I’m meeting Woytek in order to get the lowdown on the must-dos, must-eats and the off-the-beaten track attractions the city offers. He doesn’t disappoint, showing up armed with facts, leaﬂets, transport cards and oodles of passion for this city that he loves. And, as he points out various sites, museums, parks and restaurants, I can totally see why. It’s a city with a soul, a student city that somehow manages to combine a buzzing nightlife with some great restaurants and true architectural beauty. First things ﬁrst – getting around, once you get to the centre, is easiest on foot. All the attractions surrounding the centre are within easy walking

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

TRAVEL

distance. The only time you will need

but most impressive was the part where

transport is to visit Lake Malta (about that

every single car gives way for pedestrians

later), and you can either take the tram or

to cross. No need for lights or crossings –

just grab an Uber for less than the

they will politely come to a halt anyway.

equivalent of €10.

Malta, take note.

One super-touristy thing I did was

Eventually we all made it to Na

ask Woytek about pierogis. I mean, to my

Vinclu (www.facebook.com/NaWinklu/),

uneducated mind Poland equals Pierogi.

walked inside and proceeded to order the

Soft dumplings ﬁlled with whatever your

entire menu. Not kidding. We had meat

heart desires – what’s not to like? He

pierogi, cheese pierogi and veggie ones.

hummed and hawed and tried to steer me

And then some more for good measure.

towards other forms of cuisine, explaining

Topped off with a strong espresso. Happy

that Poznan is, traditionally, closer to

tummies, not one tourist in sight, and the

Germany than to Poland in terms of food.

entire thing came to about €6 per person,

But I wasn’t having it. Eventually, he

with more than enough pierogi to spare.

admitted that yes, there are some rather

The walk back was considerably slower,

amazing Pierogi to be had in Poznan too,

but we did have the thought of visiting a

and that we don’t need to go to a tourist

rather promising ‘museum’ that was on the

trap to indulge. Pointing at a few places on

way to motivate us, the Brama Posnania

the map, he explained how to get there (as

(http://bramapoznania.pl/). The building

always, the best places are not bang in the

itself is part of the attraction – right on the

centre) and we were sold. We picked Na

banks of the river, with a glass bridge

settlement established by Poland’s ﬁrst

Vinclu; the restaurant being a 30-minute

leading to it, it makes for an imposing

know ruler, Duke Mieszko I, in the 10th

walk away from the centre, we set off on

ﬁgure.

century. Extremely interactive, this puts

the extremely picturesque walk. There

The presentation itself offers a

paid to sceptics who think history has to

were lakes, trees, bridges, ducks and

history of Cathedral Island, regarded as the

be boring – it spans 150 years and

canoes – a supremely serene walk it was,

site of the most powerful fortiﬁed

somehow manages to keep your interest

The chilling zone at Hotel Puro foyer

60 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

Pierogi at NaWinklu

TRAVEL

The park right outside Stary Browar

throughout, mostly thanks to interactive multimedia presentations. And, if you get tired of the history, you can always go out on the terrace to enjoy the glorious view. Next thing on my list was – of all things – a shopping centre. It’s not that I wanted to be too Maltese about it, but the Stary Browar (www.starybrowar5050.com/) is pretty amazing as malls go. Yes, there are a lot of branded goods to be bought for unbelievably low prices. But for me, the puller was the artistic aspect of the interiors, which come with a massive sculpture by Igor Mitoraj depicting part of a human face; the quaint restaurants and cafes on the top ﬂoor and best of all, the massive park that is accessed from the top ﬂoor, boasting four acres of grass, trees and deckchairs, as well as some very interesting insect sculptures. If you’re lucky, you may also chance upon one of the many open-air events that take place there. If you’re into battles and history, a drop in to the Imperial Castle (http://ckzamek.pl/ ) is obvious. You can meander freely around the courtyard, corridors and hallways, but you will need to pay to get into the castle proper. It is totally worth the modest fee, as the building offers a fascinating insight into the different historical periods Poznan went through. Fun fact: in 1939, after Nazi troops invaded Poznan, the castle was started undergoing works in order to become Hitler’s residence, but it never happened as in 1945 the Red Army took over.

The inside of the Stary Browar

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

TRAVEL

Yearning for greenery? Less historically intensive, and super-touristy but fun,

Outdoorsy types will have a ﬁeld day (sorry) in Poznan – there

is seeing the billy goats at noon at The Old Market Square

are parks aplenty and every random corner comes with trees,

or, Stary Rynek to give it its proper name. Incredibly

benches and the works. I particularly enjoyed Citadel Park,

picturesque in the way only Polish cities manage to be, the

which is the most popular outdoor space with locals, possibly

square is where it all happens. At noon, the crowds will be

because it’s bang centre in the city and it’s very easy to get to.

eagerly awaiting in front of the Clock Tower, camera in

You get the impression of being deep in the countryside without

hand, to capture the said goats doing their head-butting

actually leaving the city – win.

thing. But there’s more to do around here, as the square is

The park comes with a good dash of historical offerings.

dotted with bars and eateries and even clubs for the

There’s the Museum of Arms and the Poznan Army Museum for

evening. If you still have the energy for that sort of thing,

all the war and weapon freaks out there. I wasn’t particularly

drop in at Meskalina late on a weekend, and channel all your

enthused, but those who are into the topic refused to be

Paceville feels.

dragged away. Me, I preferred meandering around in the benign

My ﬁnal stop for the trip was the Jeżyce area of Poznan, purely for the promise of Woytek’s art nouveau architecture. A 15-minute tram ride had us right bang in the

sunshine, admiring the various art installations. Keep an eye out for Magdalena Abakanowicz’s iconic The Unrecognized Ones. The other obligatory outdoors stop was obviously Lake

centre of architecture and design heaven – there isn’t much

Malta. This was one of only two times we used public transport,

to do in the area except wander at leisure and admire the

although taxiing it from the centre only costs about €10, so it’s

buildings, still gamely hanging on, showcasing bas reliefs and

totally worth it. After all the obligatory silly selﬁes under every

geometric designs. We spent a happy couple of hours just

sign that sported the word ‘Malta’, we explored the area, which

taking it all in, before settling down for dinner at what we

is massive. My favourite area was what I dubbed the chilling

had been promised is one of the best restaurants in town,

section, with people canoeing, or just lying down, eating and

Modra Kuchnia (https://www.facebook.com/ModraKuchnia/).

drinking beer. Given the preponderance of the latter, maybe

A perfect ﬁnale to my Poznan experience.

calling it ‘Malta’ was not such a bad idea after all... But if you’re not the lazy sort, there’s plenty to be done – skiing in winter, watersports in summer and a very well-equipped spa.

What you need to know Getting there: Ryanair ﬂies directly to Poznan. www.ryanair.com

Where to stay I stayed at Hotel Puro Poznan, a design hotel that is a twominute walk away from Old Market Square. The hotel is geared for travellers who enjoy that extra bit of comfort, technology and modern living. Every facility within the room can be controlled via a tablet, should the guest wish. Free international calls are also offered. https://purohotel.pl/ A 30-minute taxi ride from the airport to the hotel costs between €10 and €12. Modra Kuchnia Hotel Puro

The design element is a priority at Puro Hotel

62 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

PEOPLE

Lessons in life KRISTINA CASSAR DOWLING TALKS TO JONATHAN SHAW ABOUT HIS NEW-LAUNCHED BOOK #FORTY, IN WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE THE INTRIGUING BACKSTORY TO A LIFE LESSON. Age. It’s only a matter of time till we all blow out our next birthday

Before understanding the message of this book, Jonathan

cake candles; close our eyes tightly, hold our breath just a little and

tells me that readers need to be on the same wavelength about the

make that cliché wish we always make. This story works in two,

purpose of its contents and the reason for which it was created.

maybe three ways… you’re either still young enough to enjoy

#Forty is a book of reﬂection, a book to help create a sort of

blowing out those candles; embarrassed at the amount of candles

resurgence in the mind, body and soul. Jonathan does not wish for

taking up all the space on the cake; or possibly you’re grateful for

it to be considered a self-help book as, he believes that every book

every candle on your cake. Age. It’s a tough one to put your ﬁnger

has a take home message. With his story it’s all about taking time

on; are you as old as you feel or as old as you look? Every age has

for yourself, discovering something new about your life and

its hang ups. Jonathan Shaw, author of #Forty gives the stages in

channelling your reﬂections to be the change.

our life a meaning. He states that “every decade has a purpose”

In his Introduction, Jonathan compares life to a book. This

and, with his newly-launched book, explains the lessons he’s learnt

reminded me of St Augustine of Hippo’s famous quote : “The world

on turning 40.

is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”. Now,

Jonathan is motivated by change. Now, seeing that change is inevitable,

seeing as travel is what motivated him in the ﬁrst place to write a collection of anecdotes that were not

Jonathan’s challenge is to drive himself to

intended to be published, I’d say the philosopher from

“make things happen”. Finding solutions,

Hippo and our local entrepreneur are onto something.

making connections and transforming

He urges his readers to take time off from their

ﬂuttering thoughts into great ideas is what

regular routine to exploit their ‘current’ – a concept

helps him wake up with a positive mindset

mentioned in his ﬁrst chapter. His choice of words

every morning. During his recent sabbatical

instills a clarity in his creative process, using phrases

– a break away from the structures of

like “invest time in yourself” as opposed to “waste

society and the expectations life demands

time on yourself”, to drill in the importance of change.

of us – Jonathan started to jot some of his thoughts down on a notepad, old school

Jonathan’s notebook of life lessons were translated into an inward looking manuscript featuring

journaling style. As he travelled and he had

30 concepts, each illustrated with three scenarios and

time and space to reﬂect, his thoughts

additional exercises to envisage each session with a

gained some sort of clarity, his pen scribbled down what his mind was experiencing and the pages started to ﬁll up. Back on the rock, Jonathan mentioned this therapeutic system of putting pen to paper and discussed the text on his notepad with Jo Caruana and Chris Peregin – two big names in

different perspective. There is no order to the book, each session adds value to life just by reading it, should thinking time be allocated of course. Thinking, processing and then acting is what helps instigate change, and #Forty is there to help. “The process of writing was a journey in itself,” Jonathan explains, as he delves into the creative process adopted when

Malta’s content industry. Impressed and excited by the thought

scribing away. “There’s an energy connected to the way we write

process within the notepad, Jo and Chris urged Jonathan to sort

stuff down, putting pen to paper is an investment in the way we

out the contents, give his writing structure and wrap a cover

think, the way we look at things and suss them out.”

around it. This journal needed to be published. Together, they

This change that Jonathan felt when he hit 40 evoked a

sieved through the thinking process, narrowed the 70 original

purpose and curiosity in his life; there are lessons within his book

concepts down to 30 and voila: #Forty was created. His catalyst in

that he himself still admits to struggling with, but here’s to hoping

this process was Mikela Fenech Pace, a friend who edited his

his next 40 will be as clear, concise and inspiring as his ﬁrst #Forty.

transcript. Her familiarity with his mindset helped to retain the authenticity of the book.

64 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

#Forty - be the change is published by Midsea books and is available from WHSmith and Agenda bookshops.

PEOPLE

Every decade has a purpose

SEPTEMBER 2018 â&#x2C6;« Sunday Circle

OPERA

PHOTO: CAITLIN SPIN

There are few operas as melodramatic as Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca.

dramatic than Tosca, I think it was the perfect ﬁt. My previous

It is an opera that has fascinated millions and given Maria Callas

couture collections have been very much imbued with a sense of

what was arguably her best-known role: no one who has ever

love and loss, and that gives them a sense of theatricality. I’m also

heard her desperate opening cries of “Mario” has ever failed to be

very lucky in the fact that Camilleri Paris Mode have always

haunted.

believed in me and, in fact, they have sponsored all the visuals of

Now, Luke Azzopardi is taking up the very heavy mantle of costume designer for the Aurora Theatre production of Tosca to be

this production.” More emotionally challenging than previous pieces he has

held on October 13. Here he speaks about what inspired his choice

worked on, Luke felt that Tosca had more rigid creative boundaries

of fabrics and design and why Tosca remains so preciously relevant

than other productions.

to so many despite its very speciﬁc backdrop. “It was a natural choice for me to do Tosca’s costumes

“The opera is very speciﬁc in that it is rooted in a very ﬁxed time and place. With Puccini’s other operas, such as Madame

because of my very theatrical background. I have always loved

Butterﬂy, there is more room for movement and ﬂexibility, however,

making dramatic pieces and, since there is really no opera more

when it comes to Tosca I felt that it was important to stay true to

66 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

OPERA

Bringing drama to life PUCCINI’S MASTERPIECE IS SET TO ENCHANT AUDIENCES IN GOZO WITH A LARGER-THANLIFE PORTRAYAL OF TOSCA’S TRIBULATIONS. ANNA-MARIE GALEA SPEAKS TO COSTUME DESIGNER LUKE AZZOPARDI ABOUT HIS VISION.

the era it is set in. So, a lot of research had to be done in that respect. What I wanted to create are pieces that can make the horror of the opera very, very real. There appears to be so much pre-destination in this piece and I wanted to recreate the historical horror of war and death.” Despite Tosca’s untimely demise, Azzopardi is nothing if not philosophical about what her death symbolizes, and how that inﬂuences his choice of colour and fabric for her costumes: “Yes, Tosca dies but in her death she is victorious. I wanted that to be reﬂected in the costumes I made for her role. Tosca has three costumes and I think my favourite is going to be the grand ball-gown. In past versions of Tosca, the gown has always been a thick velvet, red or ox-blood

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

OPERA

coloured piece. Who could forget what Callas wore? I wanted to

historically-demanding so I couldn’t get carried away as much as

create something lighter and fresher. I have used brocades and

I usually would be inclined to do. That said, everything is

taffetas and, while I’ve retained the elements of the early 19th

structurally bigger than one would expect. It is expansive in order

century, I’ve kept it fashionable. I was looking at past dresses, and

to show the vastness of the glory of the church and high

they were just so drab: everyone kept creating the same dress

spirituality. I suppose you could say I have ‘Bernini-ﬁed’ the

over and over again with puffed sleeves and an empire waist. I

costumes.”

suppose one could say that I’ve applied the same concept that I usually apply to my couture dresses and have made something dramatic but, ultimately, wearable.” When it comes to the other costumes, Luke opted to use a lot of colour washing. “Colour blocking tends to give items a sense of contemporaneity. I usually like working with feeling but Tosca is more

my previous couture collections have been very much imbued with a sense of love and loss, and that gives them a sense of theatricality

68 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

As one can expect, the choice of colours was very much inspired by the storyline.

“Anyone who is familiar with my work knows that I love mustard, chartreuse and ochres and, in the context of Tosca, they ﬁt in perfectly because these colours are rich, and they can still denote freshness and doom simultaneously. In such an opera, you need the feeling of the lavish, heavy ornamentation that you may imagine in an Oscar Wilde novel, but at the same time you need a bit of light. I feel I’ve achieved this by achieving decadence while adding light: you need an interplay of both to capture the true spirit of Tosca.” Passionate as always, Luke’s focus on character and his willingness to plunge deep into the souls of the opera’s protagonists is a major key to the haunting beauty he is always able to produce. “I see myself as a story teller. It’s always human stories which interest me. Many people may ask: why it is that Tosca is so relevant in 2018? But, what I always ask is: what is the story rooted in? Who was Tosca? We see Tosca going from this infantile, childish love in Act 1 to this force to be reckoned with in Act 3. You have this duality of beauty and frivolity, and then when something goes wrong, everything goes wrong. The detail is absolutely phenomenal. Even from the music you can tell what is going to happen next, and you’re able to feel what the protagonists are feeling. My hope is to honour the beauty of his work.” Tosca takes place on October 13 at the Aurora Theatre, Victoria. Tickets are available online. The opera is directed by Vivien Hewitt. The production is supported by Valletta 2018 Foundation. http://teatruaurora.com/opera-tosca-2018/

BUSINESS

Emerging Sectors Dr Jonathan De Giovanni is a Partner at WDM International. The Firm presents a multidisciplinary offering to its clients, ranging from legal and tax consultancy to audit and business advisory. WDM Lex Advisory, the Firm’s legal advisory arm, is an Approved Agent for Malta’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. Moreover, through WDM Trustees Limited, the Firm is also licenced to act as a professional trustee or co-trustee, as well as an administrator, in the context of private foundations. Jonathan graduated as Doctor of Laws in 2009, while contemporaneously reading for a Master of Arts in Financial Services at the University of Malta. He successfully completed his master’s degree in 2011, graduating magna cum laude, after submitting a thesis regarding the international taxation of investment funds. He also read for an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation, graduating from the Chartered Institute of Taxation in London.

What is a typical day in your life? No day is really the same, so describing a typical day can turn into a rather daunting task! Typically, I start early(ish) at around 6am. As soon as my alarm rings, I get out of bed – no time for snoozing! The ﬁrst hour is a frantic ritual of checking e-mails that came through during night-time from clients who operate in different time zones, making coffee (and some very light breakfast), and spending some quality time with my wife. The day typically proceeds with preparation and/or attendance for/to several board meetings. Sitting on the board of several entities regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), such as funds, investment management companies, forex entities and the like, requires preparation, study

Jonathan joined WDM International in 2013, with a speciﬁc mandate to develop the legal and trustee services arm of the ﬁrm, focusing primarily on international clients. He was conferred the Award for Excellence at Malta’s Best Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2016. 70 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

and clear mindedness. There is virtually no room for error and, therefore, planning and preparation is key. I go to the office between 10 and 11am, having already gone through and replied to urgent e-mails, attended one or two meetings, and received several calls – daytime is typically hectic, and jam-packed. Office time is characterised by team co-ordination, internal meetings with staff members, and further client meetings. That takes me to lunchtime. I usually have a light lunch out, depending on circumstances. This is often also client-centric, whereby I meet clients travelling to

BUSINESS

What are the primary legal services provided by your firm, WDM International, through its legal arm that you spearhead: WDM Lex Advisory? Going through all the services provided may be a feat in itself. Being full service in nature, the Firm strives to remove the need for clients to have to spend their valuable time looking for numerous providers to service individual business requirements. By way of example, a core practice of the legal services arm is our corporate and tax practice, focusing on the provision of crossborder and Maltese tax advice geared towards efficient business structuring. A second, fundamental practice is our financial services practice, offering pre- and post-licencing advice to funds, fund management companies, forex companies, fintech operations, and credit and financial institutions licenced by the MFSA. Yet another side of our practice deals with international private clients and global mobility, offering individuals and their families, Maltese residence and citizenship-planning services, personal tax advice, registration of high-value assets, such as yachts, commercial vessels and aircraft, as well as wealth structuring and generational succession planning. The Firm also deals with global property and investment structuring and the setting up of iGaming operations licenced by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). What type of client does the legal practice of the Firm attract? The clients we are attracting are from every corner of the globe. So many of the Firm’s clients are either international businesses or high-net-worth individuals who are ‘cash rich, but time poor’. We regularly assist high-net-worth individuals, entertainers and sports personalities, business entrepreneurs, skilled migrants and their families on all routes of entry into Malta. Malta or extend a board meeting to the restaurant. However, as often

Being able to offer multi-disciplinary services with cross-border

as I can, I also try devote some time to friends and family during this

solutions enables us to micromanage situations where the strategy

hour or two. This is my time to switch off and recharge for the

needs to be changed on a short-term basis.

afternoon. The afternoon is typically split between business development

Latching onto your comment regarding strategy, what are

activities and lecturing. Lecturing advanced tax to accountants in

your comments on the strategic direction of the Firm, and your

their ﬁnal stage of their degree (and, less often, aviation law at the

input in this matter?

University of Malta), carries substantial responsibility, requires you to be alert, technically on point and almost deﬁnitely not tired. All this is juxtaposed with an intense travelling schedule

At WDM International, we understand that ﬂexibility is key to strategic direction. In my opinion, even where the Firm is placing resources to

whereby I meet clients around the globe, attend conferences, invest

increase growth in a particular sector, it would be foolish not to be

in continued professional education, network and identify new areas

aware of other sectors where the business can also grow in parallel.

of business. In the little free time that is left, I enjoy spending much of

In this respect, the way in which the Firm operates is signiﬁcantly

it with my wife, who is also an accountant by profession with an

impacted by what is happening globally. You can describe it as a

equally busy schedule. When dinner plans are not hijacked by further

chess game, where the opponent is constantly changing – not the

client meetings, we enjoy dinners together whether out or indoors.

client, as such, but the global inﬂuences that impact our strategy,

In my free time, I also enjoy spending time with close friends wining, dining and entertaining. I try to ﬁt in a couple of hours a week for my wellbeing, whether this is in the form of a massage, cycling on a stationary indoor bike, a walk, or a swim (and tanning session!).

such as Brexit, a cooling of the Chinese economy, or a state of terrorist attacks. By way of example, the Firm has witnessed a signiﬁcant increase in Chinese interest in Malta – not something that has been

SEPTEMBER 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle

BUSINESS

seen in previous years, but something that has become apparent

monitoring of supply chains, retail loyalty rewards programmes,

from our involvement in Cathay Associates, our Chinese network.

digital IDs, data sharing and copyright, and royalty protection.

In a similar vein, the fall-out from Brexit is already creating

Moreover, around 700 cryptocurrencies of a similar nature are

ripples across Europe, and we are seeing an upsurge in interest in

currently deemed to exist, and the number is constantly on the

passporting/re-domiciliation of UK-based companies, looking to

increase.

safeguard their access to the Single Market through being based in Malta. In my view, strategic direction also includes very important

Within the Maltese context, several blockchain and crypto businesses have already located to Malta, as regulatory steps in this direction have concretised, also attracting a number of

elements of, not only forward planning, but planning for a much

cryptocurrency exchanges to our shores. The MGA has also issued a

longer term, ensuring the Firm insulates its clients from current and

document with guidelines on blockchain and cryptocurrency

potential challenges that they may face. This is precisely what the

applications in the gaming industry, aiming to apply standards to

Firm’s international networks are for, enabling us to take soundings of

games that use cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Last

economic and political climates in other countries – and enabling that

year, the Government of Malta also announced it was developing a

the Firm’s Maltese and international clients have access to whatever

project to test the feasibility of using blockchain for the recording of

services they may require across borders to secure their interests.

academic certiﬁcates. Once the relevant enacted legislation has been fully implemented and service providers will be able to apply for the pertinent licences, my Firm will decide what strategic direction to take in relation to becoming, what is now termed, a VFA Agent. Several staff members are already being trained in this relatively new and very exciting area of law, particularly as the Firm has already received numerous serious requests in this regard. As a Firm, we shall surely strive to ensure that the growth of cryptocurrency as an industry is carried out in an exemplary fashion, which would help ensure investor conﬁdence in these emerging sectors. Surely, I can guarantee that there will be exciting developments in this sphere, both at a national and at Firm level. Perhaps, this can indeed be the subject matter of a second interview, closer to Christmastime! On a completely separate note, can WDM International assist clients with issues of Global Mobility and the obtainment of citizenship/residence by Investment?

In 2017, cryptocurrencies simply couldn’t be stopped, and blockchain technology is to thank for that. Blockchain is the digital, distributed, and decentralised ledger

Certainly! The Firm was one of the ﬁrst approved agents for all immigration and tax programmes offered in terms of Maltese immigration and tax legislation, and has submitted numerous applications to the relevant Authorities. The Firm also prides itself of a 100 per cent success rate in terms of applications submitted and

underlying most virtual currencies that’s responsible for logging all

approved. The Malta Individual Investor Programme allows for the

transactions without the need for a ﬁnancial intermediary, such as a

grant of citizenship by a certiﬁcate of naturalisation to foreign

bank. Simply put, it’s a new means of transmitting funds and/or

individuals and their families who contribute to the economic

logging information.

development of Malta. Meanwhile, the Malta Residence and Visa

A natural question that arises is: Why, therefore, the sudden need for blockchain? Blockchain is the vision of developers who believed that the current banking system had ﬂaws. With blockchain,

Programme offers a second-to-none solution for permanent residence within the European Union. I take pride in saying that our strength is our ability to listen, to

real-time transactions are a possibility (even across borders), while

understand and, on the basis of our experience, to recommend the

banks are left out of the equation entirely, presumably reducing

best course of action for our clients. Our ﬁrm is likewise committed

transaction fees.

to providing clear, innovative solutions to complex immigration

Although blockchain technology was initially developed to

issues. We strive to constantly work within the cost expectations of

record Bitcoin transactions, other uses are now surfacing, among

our clients while working towards our main objective of ensuring our

which are in the areas of payment processing and money transfers,

client’s immigration stability in the long run.

72 Sunday Circle ∫ SEPTEMBER 2018

THIS A PAID FEATURE

Related to the previous question, what are your comments on Malta being deemed to be a blockchain island?