Updated 1236: Covid-19 Update
Coronavirus cases edged up again on Saturday with 62 new positive patients, almost double the recoveries, which stood at 33. This has taken the tally back to over 700, at 719. 3,351 swab tests were carried out yesterday. Malta’s death count also added one victim to the grim list, after a 64-year-old woman passed away while positive, making her the 442nd victim of the virus in Malta.
Mid-Day Briefing
Ali Sadr complained to Keith Schembri after FIAU raised AML issues on Pilatus
Pilatus Bank Chairman Ali Sadr has sought Keith Schembri’s assistance back in 2016 after being informed by the MFSA that it was looking into money laundering issues related to the Bank, The Times of Malta revealed today. As a result, Sadr complained, this had delayed the process of obtained a passport to open a branch in London. The MFSA has asked Sadr to address the “issues” raised by the FIAU, Malta’s anti-money laundering unit. Merely a few days later, the FIAU withdraw its issues, which it had earlier described as “serious shortcomings” and informed Sadr that thee shortcomings previously identified by the anti-money laundering unit “no longer subsist”.
Band clubs wants return of feasts in 2022
The national association of Maltese band clubs wants feasts to be fully celebrated as from 1 January 2022.
“The National Band Club Group is once again appealing to the public health authorities to take note of the various letters that the group sent in the previous months and that went unanswered,” the association said in a statement today. It said that it had set up a working group to prepare a holistic plan by the end of September 2021, that will prove to the health authorities that the feasts could be organised without any risk to the public health.
Newspaper Review
The Times reveals contents of an email from Pilatus Bank owner Ali Sadr to then OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri complaining about concerns raised by the FIAU that were holding back the opening of the bank’s branch in London.
L-Orizzont reports that Magistrate Nadine Lia granted a request by the prosecution to hear the case against Yorgen Fenech, accused of buying weapons and ammunition on the dark web, behind closed doors.
The Independent reports that the prosecution in the arms-buying case against Yorgen Fenech asked for the sitting to be heard behind closed doors due to the sensitivity of the matter and to protect the witnesses. The defence team raised no objection.
In-Nazzjon reports on proposals by the PN to protect and promote green open spaces in the countryside and along the coast. The recommendations include the creation of a tree-map and a green scoring system for localities.
The Times says that an appeals court upheld a previous judgement acquitting the husband of the former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono from work-for-votes accusations. Anthony Debono expressed relief that the conclusion six-year judicial process was over.
The Independent follows a judgement by the Court of Appeals ruling that allegations brought against Anthony Debono in 2015 were not credible. Debono was accused of fraud and misappropriation when his wife served as Gozo Minister.
In-Nazzjon quotes Bernard Grech’s reaction to Anthony Debono’s acquittal on Friday, that the charges against him were a smear campaign orchestrated by the PL. The PN leader said he expected the Prime Minister to apologise to the Debonos.
L-Orizzont reports that the New Hope Scheme announced by the government this week will start accepting applications from Monday. The initiative provides public guarantees on life insurance allowing persons with past health conditions to take home loans.
Morning Briefing
Debonos cleared of wrongdoing
Anthony Debono, husband of former Gozo PN stalwart Giovanna Debono, has been cleared of all charges linking him with a ‘works-for-votes’ scandal by a court of appeal presided by Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera. In a judgement delivered on Friday, the court said the whistleblower who made the allegations was not credible. The judgement ruled that the information given by contractor-turned-whistleblower Joseph Cauchi, was not sufficient to prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt. PN leader Bernard Grech called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to apologise to the Debonos on behalf of the Labour party.
The testimony provided by Cauchi was “neither credible nor plausible”, and the evidence submitted was “unfounded or unproved suspicions”. Cauchi’s testimony was not corroborated by others, the court ruled.
PN calls for more public and green spaces
The Nationalist Party is proposing the addition of more public and green spaces but appealed to the public for the respect private property. In a presser on Friday, PN environment spokesperson Robert Cutajar and MZPN President Gabriel Micallef unveiled seven proposals for the addition of more public spaces.
“This shows that the environment is truly a priority for the party,” Cutajar said. The PN also proposed additional powers to the local councils, so that they could oversee abandoned construction areas, that often turn into dumps. More pedestrian zones in all localities is also on the Party’s wish-list.
WSC launches public water dispensers to help reduce the use of plastics
For €00.20c for a litre of water, the public will be able to fill their reusable bottles from water dispensers which are being placed in strategic locations by the Water Services Corporation (WSC). This was announced by the WSC whilst outlining its plans to make drinking water more accessible to the public and to diversify its services to the consumers. Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli explained that the use of the water dispensers will support the country in its commitment to reduce the use of plastic and the carbon footprint emanating from the production of plastic.
The public is encouraged to make more use of reusable water bottles. The WSC has already installed over 70 free of charge water dispensers at Mater Dei Hospital. In collaboration with the Education Ministry, a further 200 free of charge dispensers will be installed in schools.
Covid-19 Update: 42 new cases of Covid-19 were reported on Friday while 55 recovered, taking the active case tally up to 691. 3,439 swab tests were carried out the day before.
CDE News
