FRONTPAGES
The Times carries a warning by the Malta Employers Association that reliance on foreign workers could push the population up to 700,000 in a few years. The frontpage story <<Population could reach 7000,000, say employers>> covers an address by Association President Dolores Sammut Bonnici at an event organised by the Malta Institute of Accountants on Friday. Sammut Bonnici said that the shortage of workers is causing difficulties for employers and liked the current situation to a “large tree that is producing a very good harvest, but the soil is not there.” The MEA President said that employers are concerned that they cannot fulfil contract obligations because of low available workforce, while the long process in regulating the status of third-country nationals means that many of these are working illegally. Employers are hesitant in taking the necessary disciplinary steps against employees for fear of losing them, added Sammut Bonnici.
A second story on the frontpage of The Times reports that Maltese children aged 8-9 lead the most sedentary life among 16 European countries. A study conducted by Prof. Carmel Cefai from the University of Malta’s Centre for Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health, shows that away from school children in Malta spend most of their time at home sitting at a computer or reading. <<Children want more recreational spaces, study finds>> also reports from the study that children are not satisfied with the recreational areas in Malta.
<<Bonnici says Parliamentary comments on judiciary backing granting of warrants now ‘clarified’>> is the main story int The Malta Independent. The newspaper contacted the Justice Minister who said the matter “has now been clarified” with the Association of Magistrates and Judges after speaking to Association Secretary Magistrate Francesco Depasquale. Bonnici said in Parliament on Wednesday that the Association – including all Magistrates and Judges – backed him on the granting of the warrant to law graduates Yanika Barbara and Thomas Sant, who were found guilty of theft in their student years. The Association reacted to the Minister’s comments in the House of Representatives and said that only four unidentified members of the judiciary had, in fact, offered their backing to the decision.
The Malta Independent carries a second story <<db project objections intensify amid rising criticism>>. The paper reports that thousands of residents demonstrated to show their objection to the mega-development that will see the construction of a 37-storey residential tower and a 19-storey complex in Pembroke. FLimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Moviment Graffitti, and Partit Demokratiku are among the organisations that are formally objecting to the project and in separate statements deplored the advertised selling of property even before the project has been approved.
The main story in L-Orizzont: <<Id-dejn jonqos b’636,000 kuljum>> quotes the recently-published ‘country specific recommendations’ by the European Commission that the national debt is expected to fall to 36% of GDP. The paper observes that, in the past 12 months, government debt decreased by €232.2 million – equivalent to €636,200 every day. The article points to differences experienced under the last Nationalist government when, it says, government debt rose to €919,717 daily.
In a second article, L-Orizzont quotes Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia saying that Malta is nearing full employment. <<Niftħu aktar idejna għall-ħaddiema barranin>> reports that Farrugia also warns of challenges that this situation may bring, including the risk of cheap labour. <<Ma nafx,… ma niftakarx>> is the title of the third article on the frontpage of L-Orizzont which follows up on the story that arose from a social media post accusing PN MP Jason Azzopardi of sexual harassment. The newspaper contacted the police officer mentioned in the post for comments who replied that she does not know, does not remember whether there have been other similar allegations against the Nationalist MP. Jason Azzopardi called the accusations “a total lie.”
In-Nazzjon carries two stories on its frontpage. <<Daqshekk ċereali u zokor għall-pazjenti fl-Isptar Mater Dei>> reports that, with immediate effect, patients recovering at Mater Dei will no longer be served cereals, oats, and sugar. The article says this is a cost-cutting measure and reports that butter is also in short supply. The products, says the article, were offered to patients for breakfast and tea in the afternoon.
The second story draws on an address by PN Secretary General Clyde Puli at a gathering for mayors who have served in Qormi over the past 25 years. <<Il-Kunsilli Lokali mneżżgħa mill-fondi u l-poteri>> quotes the former mayor of the locality as he criticises the government’s decision to set up a roads agency that will dispossess local councils of funds and powers. Puli said that the introduction of Local Councils in 1993 was a courageous step that many at the time did not understand but is today appreciated by everyone.
BACKPAGES
The Independent carries an opinion article by Labour MP Alex Muscat on its backpage, titled <<Law and order starts with us>>. In it, the House Representative reflects on the Luqa hit-and-run incident in which PC Simon Schembri was left in critical condition and on the NAO report into Mater Dei Hospital published this week. Muscat says that there is a lack of respect for authority in Malta, instigated mainly by the Nationalist Party. He calls this attitude “highly unfair and irresponsible” but is confident that most of Maltese respect and appreciate the police force. On the report by the National Auditor’s Office, the MP says that there was a deliberate intention to cover up malpractice by the Nationalist government and says politicians from that party “simply cannot be trusted.”
<<Proof in the living room>> is the Talking Point on The Times back page. Penned by PN MEP David Casa. In it he replies to the latest opinion article by Martin Scicluna who he quotes: “tangible proof of wrongdoing, not politics, is one of the basic precepts of the rule of law.” Casa argues that the accusations against Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi, and Brian Tonna among others are indeed based on “hard evidence” in the form of documents signed by the men in question. The MEP says that the Labour Government is systematically pushing an attitude of nonchalance who he says was demonstrated by prominent politicians Edward Scicluna and Alfred Sant and “gleefully picked up by Martin Scicluna.”
The back-page article on L-Orizzont reports on the developments on the US-North Korea summit. The paper quotes the statement by the DPRK Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs expressing regret at President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Singapore Summit planned for June 12. <<Il-Korea ta’ Fuq għadha lesta għat-taħdidiet ma’ Trump>> says that the Asian country is ready to sit with the US “at any time and in any manner.” On Thursday Trump announced that he was walking away from the negotiation table of what could be an historic meeting, citing lack of good will on the part of North Korea.
In-Nazzjon carries several stories and articles on its back-page, the main one <<Din mhix Pyongyang>> criticises a series of public appointments and decisions that are convenient to the party in government in a bullet-form list. A second article <<Stravaganza minn fuq dahar il-poplu>> reports on the extravagant lifestyle of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak, who is under investigation for corruption. The article likens the case to that of former President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos and says that the blame falls not only on the corrupt politicians, but on those who support them for their personal interests too.
Another report <<Kif tista’ ma tissuspettax?>> follows the story of the arrest of Slovak journalist Pavla Holcova who was called in by the police to help them in the investigation. The article questions the intentions of the Slovak Investigations Department after the journalist found herself arrested and her phone confiscated. A final article on the back-page looks back on the legacy left by former diplomat Joe Cassar who passed away earlier this week. <<Id-dejn tagħna ma’ Joe Cassar>> praises the values and qualities of the late Nationalist politician.
