Evening Roundup
Cannabis reform ‘fraught with hidden motives’ – MEA
The Malta Employers Association has criticised the government’s proposed cannabis reform, expressing concern over the lack of assurances over possible cannabis use at the workplace. “It is evident that, like the White Paper that was issued some months ago about the subject, the Cannabis Reform Bill is fraught with omissions, inconsistencies and hidden motives,” the MEA said in a statement on Saturday. Times of Malta / Newsbook.com.mt
Vigil in remembrance of dead prisoners held outside Corradino prison
Activists on Saturday held a vigil in remembrance of prisoners who lost their lives at Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF), calling for answers on the circumstances surrounding the deaths. “The reign of terror instituted by former prison director Alex Dalli is a clear factor leading to this loss of life,” organisers said. “His resignation, and far less his self-suspension, will not bring these victims back,” the groups stated. Times of Malta
Mons Victor Grech wins Active Ageing Award
Mons Victor Grech was awarded the Award for Active Aging yesterday in a ceremony celebrating the work, commitment and dedication of senior citizens in Malta, with a total of five awards being presented this year. Mons Grech founded Caritas Malta in 1984, with the aim of providing drug prevention and rehabilitation programmes. A year later he founded the first Therapeutic Community for those who abuse drugs in Malta and went on to open a home for the rehabilitation of prisoners suffering from drug problems. Newsbook.com.mt
Mid-Day Briefing
Covid-19 Update
51 new COVID-19 cases were reported by health authorities on Saturday, while a further 12 patients recovered.
Malta’s active case tally continues to increase, reaching 552.
Police Commissioner Gafà says police investigating all allegations made on corruption
Commissioner of Police Angelo Gafà refused to say whether former Muscat-era ministers are being investigated by the police.
In an interview on 103 with Professor Andrew Azzopardi, Gafa insisted that the police cannot comment on such issues, adding however that a police investigation is always opened when allegations are made, in the press or otherwise, or when information is brought to the attention of a magistrate overseeing an inquiry.
Gafà argued that financial crime investigations, saying that certain cases can be quite complex and require the input of experts that are not found locally “As Police Commissioner, I do not have the privilege of expressing a personal opinion. I have to be neutral and cannot in one way or another engage in any sort of political debate. I will have to remain silent in the light of such a situation,” Gafa said. (Independent / Maltatoday)
New infrastructure ill-equipped – PN
PN leader Bernard Grech took Government to task on Saturday criticising infrastructural projects which he said had proven to be ill-equipped against floods, as seen from the recent storm, and which were still leading to excessive traffic. Speaking on party radio, he added that the PN will keep analysing the matter and will be proposing measures to address such problems. Grech also returned on the payments reportedly received by Joseph Muscat related to a company involved in the hospitals deal, calling on the Police Commissioner to follow up on the case case and be transparent about such allegations.
Morning Briefing
40% of hospitalised Covid-19 patients unvaccinated
40% of persons requiring hospital treatment are unvaccinated, Health Minister Chris Fearne revealed, noting that this is a high figure considering that only 5% of those above the age of 12 in Malta are unvaccinated. Fearne noted that none of the 16 people currently in hospital have not received the booster dose, adding that these numbers confirmed that not taking the vaccine is still to be regarded as something dangerous for one’s health. Addressing a press briefing yesterday, the Deputy PM said that given the rise in positivity, which stood at around 2%, it was not the time to release further measures. There have been a total of 152 cases traced to schools since they were opened for this scholastic year, and said that there are currently 10 mini-clusters traced to classrooms.
Active Covid-19 cases are back over the 500 mark (513) with 50 new cases registered on Friday, with 10 recovering. 16 persons are now hospitalised, with three of them in intensive care.
The Minister also added that only vaccinated persons will be allowed as schools’ Christmas concerts.
(The Malta Independent)
PN formally takes anti-cannabis bill stance
The Nationalist Party’s parliamentary group said that the proposed cannabis bill will lead to a prevalent culture of drug abuse in this country, insisting that it would increase drug abuse locally while normalising drug culture. “The bill as proposed by government does not give any protection and assistance to vulnerable people who easily fall addicted to drugs. It does not give any new and more effective legal tools to combat drug trafficking” it said. The PN said that any legislation on cannabis legalisation should focus on more vulnerable age groups, in particular children. “With this bill, the Labour government is turning its back on children and their interests”, it lamented.
(Maltatoday)
Tourism registers small increase on 2020
Inbound tourists for the first nine months of 2021 amounted to 586,234, an increase of 0.4 per cent over the same period in 2020, NSO data showed. Total nights spent by inbound tourists increased by 22.4 per cent, and reached nearly 5.4 million nights. Total tourism expenditure was estimated at €566.7 million, an increase of 44.3 per cent when compared to the same period in the previous year. Total expenditure per capita stood at €967, increasing from €673 in the same period in 2020, mainly as a result of longer length of stay.
CDE News
