Update – 2000 – Legal Notice
The government has published the legal notice regarding travel to Malta, which comes into force on 14th July, slightly amending their original position. Originally, the government said that from Wednesday only people with a recognised vaccine certificate will be allowed to travel to Malta. The only exceptions to the new rule will be for unvaccinated children between the ages of 5 and 12, who will need to present a negative PCR test, and children under the age of 5 who are exempt from this obligation. Children travelling to the country will need to be accompanied by an adult in possession of a recognised vaccination certificate.
On Tuesday evening, however, a slight variation was made. The legal notice issued by the government reads that persons who arrive in Malta from any of the countries listed in the notice, which includes EU countries and the UK, without being in possession of a vaccination certificate shall be required to submit themselves to a period of quarantine in terms of article 2(1) of the Period of Quarantine Order. This refers to a 14 day period of quarantine immediately upon arrival in Malta. In addition, persons who cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons and persons between the ages of five (5) to eleven (11) years, both ages included, shall not be required to be in possession of a vaccination certificate upon their arrival in Malta from any of the countries listed, so long as upon their arrival in Malta they are in possession of a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test performed not longer than 72 hours before their arrival in Malta. Lastly, persons who are resident in Malta and who prior to the entry into force of this order were already expected to return to Malta from any of the countries listed shall not be required to be in possession of a vaccination certificate upon their arrival in Malta, so long as upon their arrival in Malta they are in possession of a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test performed not longer than seventy-two (72) hours before their arrival in Malta. – Source Malta Independent
Updated 1730 – Newsportal Review
The Times of Malta says that proposals in Malta’s recovery plan include the setting up of a pilot near-carbon-neutral school, a new ITS campus, the digitalisation of the Justice system, and new ferry landing spots in St Paul’s Bay and Buġibba.
The Independent reports that unvaccinated people account for vast majority of new cases and that the Delta variant is now present in community. Government and health authorities will announce more vaccine certificates of different countries which will be accepted by Maltese authorities.
TVM reports that a diver in critical condition after he was hit by a concrete block in Marsaxlokk.
Newsbook follows testimony from Parliament, during which it was revealed Josianne Cutajar and Yorgen Fenech described the Labour MP’s associate Charles Farrugia as a “greedy pig”, according to standards czar.
Maltatoday reports that Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee approved Manuel Mallia’s nomination as Malta’s UK high commissioner. The Opposition voted against, arguing that a career diplomat was a more ideal choice.
Update 1420 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health is delivering a press conference. A five-year-old child has died while positive with COVID-19 although the infection does not appear to be the cause of death. A cousin of the cousin girl has appealed to the public “stop speculating and wait for test results”.
During the press briefing, Fearne also revealed that from the current active cases, less than 15% are Maltese, while more than 90% of cases concern non-vaccinated persons.
Developing Story
Updated 1240 – Covid-19 Update
Active cases reached 782 after 154 new cases were reported on Tuesday, with just six recoveries. 351,395 persons are now fully vaccinated.
Updated 1200
Grey-list exit not an easy task – Moneyval expert: Malta’s exit from the grey-list may be a tricky, according to Giuseppe Lombardo, an international expert who served as an assessor for Moneyval. Speaking at a financial crime conference, Lombardo said that Malta should not to get carried away with the notion that a return to the white list was imminent. Malta, would first have to prove it was properly policing two areas that were difficult to show effectiveness in: tax evasion and the ultimate owners of financial structures.
Malta is trustworthy and efficient – Economy Minister: Malta is a trustworthy, transparent and efficient economic partner, according to Economy Minister Silvio Schembri. Speaking at a public consultation seminar on the government’s Economic Vision 2021-2031, Schembri said that Malta will continue to enhance and promote good governance across every sphere of public life and across its key institutions and decision-making authorities. “Today we have raised the bar when it comes to transparency and rule of law in Malta and in view of recent developments, this consultation process comes at a significantly opportune time”, he added.
No need for vaccine appointment from next week: Maltese and Gozitan residents who have not yet received the vaccine against COVID-19, can be vaccinated without an appointment by visiting the vaccination centre at the University of Malta, from Monday to Saturday between 08:30 -15: 00 and in Gozo, by visiting the Gozo Conference and Expo Center Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Children under the age of 16 who are to be vaccinated without an appointment, must present an identification document and must be accompanied by a parent who consents to the vaccination. The Ministry for Health also announced that from Monday a mobile unit would begin touring Malta and would be stopping in various localities according to a schedule that will be published in the coming days, aimed at making the adult vaccine more accessible.
Updated 0835 – Newspaper Review
The Times quotes a spokesperson for the EU Commission that rules imposed by Malta restricting arrivals to vaccinated people could be discriminatory against EU citizens who are not fully vaccinated.
The Independent reports that the EU Commission plans to discuss Malta’s requirement for vaccine certificates for inbound travellers during a member states coordination meeting. A spokesperson for the Commission said the decision may breach freedom of movement.
L-Orizzont says that 576 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in the last week, with more than a hundred daily cases recorded in the last three consecutive days. Health authorities said that 90 per cent of infected people were unvaccinated.
In-Nazzjon says that the Opposition is requesting an urgent debate of the FATF greylisting in the parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee. Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar said that committee chairman Jean Claude Micallef had turned down the first request.
The Times reports that English language schools had around 15,000 cancellations since the government ordered the closure of the industry on Friday. School estimate that the decision will cost them around €40 million in losses.
The Independent follows the Public Accounts Committee hearing debating a probe into Rosianne Cutajar’s dealings with businessman Yorgen Fenech. The Standards Commissioner said the MP hinted that she expected a brokerage fee from a property deal.
In-Nazzjon quotes Rosianne Cutajar’s collaborator Charles Farrugia who denied that the MP had taken a cut from a brokerage fee involving Yorgen Fenech. Farrugia said he did not broker any deal but merely introduced the parties.
L-Orizzont says that designs for the Central Link project have been modified to include a tunnel in the direction of Mrieħel from Balzan. Transport Minister Ian Borg told parliament that the tunnel will make roads safer.
In-Nazzjon covers the testimony of Standards Commissioner George Hyzler before a parliamentary committee on Monday. He said evidence suggests that MP Rosianne Cutajar sought compensation for her role in a Mdina property deal involving Yorgen Fenech.
Morning Briefing
EC concerned on ban on non-vaccinated tourists
The European Commission expressed concern that a ban on non-vaccinated travellers entering Malta could be discriminatory. Addressing the media, European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said any COVID-19 travel restrictions put in place must be “proportionate and non-discriminatory”, adding the the EU executive “has concerns that these measures could discriminate against those persons who are not fully vaccinated,” he said.
Facts point at broker role by Cutajar – Hyzler
All facts point towards MP Rosianne Cutajar acting as a broker in a multi-million Euro property deal, according to Standards commissioner George Hyzler. Testifying in Parliament, Hyzler said that wWhen weighing the facts, and looking at all of Cutajar’s actions, it led me to the conclusion, based on the preponderance of probability, that she had indeed acted as a broker, or co-broker, in this transaction. Her actions led others to believe this too,” Hyzler said. He was testifying in front of the Standards Committee, during which he gave details on his investigation. “It was she who took the buyer to the spot. It was she who called to see the progress made on the purchase”, Hyzler explained. Meanwhile, Charles Farrugia known as it-Tikka told Speaker Anglu Farrugia that he will adjust income tax returns to declare money received from a property deal involving Yorgen Fenech in what was described in media reports as an attempt to exonerate Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar.
Parliament approves stronger role for FIAU
Parliament has unanimously approved the second reading of a bill which amends various legislation relating to the use of financial information for the prevention, the identification, investigation of the prosecution of certain criminal acts, according to the 2019 European directive. Addressing the House, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said that the FIAU’s budget increased from a million to 10 million euro in three years, while employees tripled from 35 to 105. FIAU presented 5,175 reports of suspicious transactions last year, when in 2017 it presented 778 reports. PN finance spokesperson, Mario de Marco, said that the Opposition would be voting in favour, adding that it is convinced that FIAU is making efforts against money laundering however, he said, but warned that the agency’s independence should be respected.
Covid-19 Update: Six new cases of coronavirus were reported on Friday, while for the fourth time this week, no patients recovered. 2,717 swab tests were carried out yesterday. Active cases now stand at 52.
CDE News
