News Update
No Election Date
Prime Robert Abela kept the country guessing on the election date on Sunday while campaigning in election mode at Tarxien, repeatedly telling supporters that the PN wanted to take Malta to the past, while Labour was the future. He announced that the government will refund IVF patients for expenses on medicines they incurred this year, until government procurement of the medicines they need is completed. Times of Malta Speaking at a political event in Tarxien, Abela pointed out that the January period meant the start of another IVF cycle for prospective parents. “These couples told us how important is was to see the legal changes needed for this opportunity to become parents in Malta. In the recent past, it was the norm to have to leave Malta for this opportunity,” he said. Malta Today
PN Government will let pandemic taxes to be paid over eight years
A Nationalist Party government will allow business to pay any taxes and social security contributions accumulated during the pandemic over an eight-year period, Bernard Grech pledged on Sunday. During a political activity in Ħal Safi, Grech explained the proposal for businesses to pay their tax dues incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic over eight years. “We will do this with the aim of helping you overcome such challenges, especially those relating to cash flow,” Grech said. He added that the scheme would have a positive spillover effect, in turn helping workers and the economy. Maltatoday
Happiness lies in doing the right thing
During mass on Sunday, Archbishop Charles Scicluna reflected on one of Jesus’ sermons as he warned against overreliance on one’s wealth and connections, questioning the happiness of those who did everything for monetary gain. In his homily, Mgr Scicluna emphasised that it is not that hunger, sorrow and poverty were blessings in themselves, but that God was providing comfort. In this spirit, he said that his thoughts were with the many people – especially parents – who were struggling with difficult situations, not least because of the pandemic’s impact on mental health. Newsbook
Covid Update
Four people died with Covid-19 on Sunday. Two of the latest victims were women aged 77 and 83 and the other two were men aged 65 and 66. The total number of deaths now stands at 589. 116 new cases were registered on Sunday, while 207 people recovered from the virus. The number of active cases has dropped to 1,680. 57 patients at Mater Dei Hospital are Covid positive, four of whom are in the ITU. Malta Independent
Morning Briefing
Marsascala council issues motion against marina
Marsascala local council has presented a motion to Transport Minister Ian Borg and Transport Malta, reiterating their position against the plans for a yacht marina at the Marsascala creek. PN Councillor John Baptist Camilleri said that the Local Council demands that this proposal is withdrawn immediately and that plans for a yacht marina in Marsaskala be abandoned completely. A group of residents, fishermen, feast and fireworks enthusiasts, and activists attended the event, in which the Council said that the only remaining path for Borg and Transport Malta is that of withdrawing the call and plans for a yacht marina in Marsaskala. (Maltatoday)
Victor Calvagna Child Volunteer of the Year’ Annual Award launched
The Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (OCVO) has launched the ‘The Victor Calvagna Child Volunteer of the Year’ Annual Award. Calvagna died in January a week after suffering serious injuries when he was hit by a car in St Paul’s Bay. Commissioner Jesmond Saliba described Puttinu Cares co-founder Victor Calvagna was an “inspiration for all those who worked within the voluntary sector.” Saliba went on to say that the idea behind this initiative is that Victor Calvagna’s spirit will not only stay alive in every child, but this legacy will give us the strength to continue to celebrate life of Victor Calvagna, in an Annual National Award that rewards a child between the ages of 6 and 12 for their work in volunteering. Saliba concluded by saying that “everyone who works in volunteering in our country recognizes the work, the commitment, the heart and everything that has been woven into the life of Dr Calvagna.” (The Malta Independent)
Joseph Muscat defends Accutor job in interview, says police search was invasion of privacy
Joseph Muscat was back on the media this morning with an extensive interview on Lovin Malta. The former PM said that he was offered a job by a firm linked to Steward Healthcare right after he announced his intention to quit frontline politics. He insisted that he was approached by Pakistani lawyer Wasay Bhatti during the weeks between his December 2019 announcement that he would be stepping aside as prime minister and him actually moving on the subsequent month.
Bhatti’s company Accutor AG wired Muscat €60,000 within a few weeks in 2020. Muscat insisted this was consultancy work.
Muscat also lamented that the police search was ‘theatrics’ that irritated him significantly. He argued that he inteded to “fade away” and give space to his successor Robert Abela. “The search on my home was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Muscat said. “I realised that being at the fringes was being interpreted as me hiding away, which was not the case.” Muscat emphasised his close relationship with current Labour Ministers, and appeared to specifically highlight DPM Chris Fearne’s role in handling the pandemic. (Times of Malta / Maltatoday)
Covid-19 Update:
Six persons passed away in the last 24 hours, with the victims being two women aged 86 and 89, and four men, two of whom are aged 66 and the other two are aged 80 and 96. The number of people who have died since the beginning of the pandemic in Malta now stands at 585.
In Saturday’s update, the health authorities said 107 new cases were found. With 198 recoveries, the number of active cases currently stands at 1,775.
