President Vella: I cannot refuse to sign bills approved by Parliament / Malta Malta News Briefing – Saturday 18 December 2021

Mid-Day Briefing

President Vella: I cannot refuse to sign bills approved by Parliament

President George Vella said that his constitutional role limited his responsibility, and insisted that he did not have the power to ignore a law passed democratically by parliament. Referring to pressure by NGOs to refuse to sign a cannabis reform law, the President insisted that “in no way can the president, under our system, impose his decision on those representing the people in parliament, whether he agrees with it or not”.
The Chamber of Pharmacists and nurses’ union, and church organisation had suggested the President to abstain from signing the bill into law, but the president made it clear that such suggestions would not be entertained. (Times/Maltatoday)

Covid-19 Update
The increasing wave of infections continued unabated on Saturday with 291 new cases reported by health authorities – a nine month high. A total of 22 virus patients are currently hospitalised with three of those requiring intensive care. Active cases stand at 1791.

Gusman passes away
Popular local entertainer Enzo Gusman passed away aged 74. His wife Carmen said the singer passed away peacefully at home. “Our beloved left his long suffering behind, to join the risen Lord where he will suffer no more.”

Morning Briefing

Malta gets derogation on medicines importation

The EU will give Malta a three-year reprieve from medicines import rules, to help ease the pressure of Brexit on local distributors.
For that period, medicines from the UK will not require manufacturing authorisations to be allowed into the country.
Medicines arriving in Malta from the UK will also not need to be batch tested again if they have already been tested. EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said that “acess to medicines should never be put at risk. We are putting forward proposals to ensure that people in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Malta & Ireland, which depend on UK medicines supply will continue receiving medicines they need. Patients’ interests are always at the centre.” (Times of Malta)

Prison Director to be permanently removed, but given other role
Prison Director Alex Dalli will not be retained as director of prisons, home affairs minister Byron Camilleri revealed, adding that the self-suspended colonel will be kept on the payroll on another unspecified role. Announcing the conclusions of the prison inquiry that was launched after a spate of suicide attempts within the Corradino Correctional Facility, Camilleri insisted that Dalli brought “order” to prisons. Robert Brincau, who acted as interim CEO, will get the job on a permanent basis.(Newsbook)

Covid-19 Update: 221 cases of Covid-19 were reported on Friday, a five-month high, with 153 recoveries, rounding the active case tally to 1,600. Despite this significant increase, the number of hospitalised persons remains 20, three of whom in ITU.