Politics Update – Prime Minister Robert Abela on Sunday said he would not celebrate the result of a MoneyVal anti-money laundering scrutiny of the country, saying more work still needed to be done. Reacting to the developments, Abela said that while he was confident of Malta’s efforts, he did not want to send out the message that it was mission accomplished. “This is not the time for euphoria. We do not want to undo the hard work that has been done. In fact we need to continue working to improve our laws and their enforcement. We cannot go back to the structural deficiencies of previous years,” he said. PM Abela also said that the government is not seeking to legalise brothels or encourage drug use. Abela held that the burden of migration on Malta was not proportional to the country’s size and resources, saying it faced unprecedented pressure. He maintained that some member states refuse to participate in the voluntary burden sharing mechanism, through which those who arrive irregularly are relocated to other countries. Abela insisted that the country cannot take in more asylum seekers. Newsbook.com.mt / Times of Malta
PN Leader Bernard Grech said that different party is needed in government for Malta to better its international reputation. During a political discussion on Sunday, Grech said that government needs to work with social partners to rehabilitate Malta’s reputation abroad. However, he added that to better Malta’s image means to have a different team of people in government. “It is easy for the Prime Minister to say ‘I’m doing all that I can to fix the problem’ – but the same people who persisted in the mistake can never be the solution,” he said. Grech was referring to those who defended Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff at OPM, despite allegations of corruption made against him. “There were people in government who weren’t doing their job properly […] Not only did they made a mistake – they persisted in their mistake.” This country is better than the people who are being accused. We have to understand why we are here. There were people who were not doing their job properly in government, and a government that was voting to defend these people. It was not only a mistake, but they persisted in their mistake. This is diabolical,” Grech said. Maltatoday / Independent
Holy Week – Archbishop Charles Scicluna has urged the faithful to reflect and avoid useless distractions during Holy Week. Delivering his homily on Palm Sunday, the Archbishop invited the faithful to reflect on their relationship with Jesus. “Ask yourselves: ‘Do I know Jesus? How’s my relationship with the Lord?”, he said. – Newsbook.com.mt
Covid19 Update – Malta has registered 67 new Coronavirus cases and 323 recoveries, confirming its downward trend since the introduction of restrictive measures earlier this month. 176,612 vaccine doses were administered so far, with 50,557 receiving the two doses. Two males aged 74 and 71 have died while having Covid-19.
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Newspaper Review
The Sunday Times says that Malta is expected to pass the Moneyval test when the members of the anti-money laundering committee vote next month. Malta handed it its report by a specially assembled team some weeks ago.
Illum says that the government is lobbying the Financial Action Task Force over a report on the anti-money laundering infrastructure in Malta. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said that it is not prudent to talk about the outcomes while the process is still ongoing.
Malta Today says that businessman Yorgen Fenech had complained that the police ignored his claims, that former chief of staff Keith Schembri repeatedly asked him to find a way of getting rid of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The Independent on Sunday leads with reports that some people are being offered the Covid-19 vaccine earlier than they should, jumping ahead of more vulnerable cohorts. There have been over 170,000 inoculations so far.
It-Torċa says that legal professionals have expressed surprise at comments by PN Leader Bernard Grech saying that he would consider recommending a presidential pardon for alleged murder mastermind, Yorgen Fenech.
Il-Mument quotes a statement by the network of igaming companies warning that blows to Malta’s reputation is damaging to the sector. The network urged authorities to serve justice in all cases of corruption.
Malta Today says that the European Court of Human Rights found that amendments to the pre-1995 rentals law in Malta allowing tenants a five-year reprieve before eviction breaches the rights of landlords.
The Sunday Times speaks to the police Cyber Crime Unit who revealed a sharp increase in online scams during the pandemic. Last year, the unit received over 600 reports about online fraudsters, up from 384 the year before.
It-Torċa announces the inauguration of a new online platform for start-ups, startinmalta.io. Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia said that entrepreneurs could benefit from up to €200,000 in financial assistance.
Illum carries an interview with Malta International Airport CEO Alan Borg who said that the company estimates a loss of almost €70 million because of the pandemic. The CEO said that the airport’s priority is the vaccination programme.
The Independent on Sunday publishes an article by senior editor Stephen Calleja who contracted the Covid-19 virus and battled for his life for two weeks. Calleja speaks about the impact of the experience.
Il-Mument reports the suspension of Zenith, formerly MFSP, by the financial services watchdog. The financial services company was ordered to stop offering services to new or existing clients.It-Torċa speaks with a friend of Ramiro Micallef, who died this week from a gas leak. He appealed for the charity group Ramiro & Friends set up by the young cancer survivor himself to rem
Morning Briefing
Former Mtarfa British Military Hospital to host international school
A concession agreement between the Government of Malta and Haileybury school was signed on Saturday. Through this agreement, a Haileybury school in Malta is becoming an immediate reality. The agreement will see the former Mtarfa British Military Hospital converted into an international school.
“This is an important step for investors and foreigners in Malta, as well as local Maltese people who want their children to undergo a programme of studies which is recognised internationally”, said the minister. She added that apart from converting the building into an international school, it will also be completely restored and renovated.
In a recorded message, Martin Collier, Master of Haileybury UK, said that he is delighted that this agreement will see the opening of the first European Haileybury partner school in Malta, which will join several other partner schools around the world.
Owners of building housing Paola band club to get €74k in compensation
The family who owns a house in Paola, which is used as the club of the Soċjetà Filarmonika G.M. Fra Antoine de Paule, will receive €74,000 in compensation after a court judge concluded that their fundamental rights are being breached as the family cannot use the property.
Members of the Zarb Adami family had filed a constitutional case against the club society and the State Attorney.
They explained to Judge Grazio Mercieca that their home, situated in Pjazza Antoine de Paule, has been rented to the band club for an annual rent of around €1,000.
Covid-19 Update
Health authorities reported 93 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, while three patients including one aged 46, passed away.
The death tally has now reached 385.
CDE News
