Updated 1230 – Mid-Day Briefing
President George Vella has called on politicians to “respect people’s intelligence” when they begin campaigning for the upcoming general election. In a public, televised addressed for Republic Day speech, Dr Vella also talked on issues such as construction, the COVID-19 pandemic and justice for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. “My appeal is to respect the people’s intelligence and to put before them clear and unequivocal working programmes and policies that will be implemented if chosen to lead,” Vella said during the annual commemoration held at the Palace in Valletta. On justice, Vella referring to the assassination of Caruana Galizia, added that “the lessons will remain for us to learn from. No one is above the law. And the rule of law and the protection of human rights must remain crucial tools for the fair and democratic functioning of our country. The President also tackled a number of social issues, calling on people not to “turn a blind eye to these challenges and pretend they do not exist. We cannot ignore the injustices and suffering of others,” he said, pointing out the problems of poverty, addiction, usury, hunger and homelessness”. (Maltatoday/Times of Malta)
EC allows Maltese courts to press charges against John Dalli – report
The European Commission has lifted Dalli’s immunity allowing local courts to press charges over his role in an alleged €60 million bribe to influence tobacco legislation, The Times of Malta reveals.
“The Commission can confirm that, on request of the Attorney General of Malta, the Commission has waived the immunity of former commissioner John Dalli,” the spokesperson told The Times of Malta. “This matter falls within the remit of the competent national courts. The presumption of innocence applies,” she said.
Church defends position on Gozo land
The Archdiocese of Malta said it could not have foreseen, “let alone exercise control over,” a decision taken by the Land Registration Agency in 2019 to permit the registration of tracts of land in Gozo which caused residents uncertainty over legal title to their homes. In a statement, the Archdiocese said the decision by the Land Registry, “criticised even by the Gozo Minister during an adjournment in the House of Representatives in November 2020, is crucial to understanding the real reason behind residents’ uncertainty over legal title to their homes.” (Newsbook)
Covid-19 Update: Covid-19 cases remained stable on Monday with 78 new infections and 73 recoveries. Of 1396 active cases, 17 remain in hospital, two of home in ITU.
Morning Briefing
People feel safer in restaurants than at work – survey
People feel more comfortable going out to eat at a restaurant or to a bar than going to their own workplace, a survey has found.
EY Malta’s 5th edition of the EY Future Consumer Survey showed that currently, 76% of the respondents feel comfortable dining out in a restaurant or bar, while only 71% feel comfortable going to their workplace. This effect is enhanced when compared to figures of last July, which show that as time passes, more people are trusting dining out (an increase of 7%), while less and less are feeling safe going to work (a drop of 14%). (Newsbook.com.mt)
PN asks its Naxxar mayor to resign over conflict of interest
PN’s Naxxar Mayor Anne Marie Muscat Fenech Adami has been asked to resign after she failed to declare her conflict of interest in a proposed Naxxar development at the former trade fair grounds. In a statement, the Opposition said that “Nationalist Party General Secretary Michael Piccinino, following a discussion with The Leader of the Nationalist Party Bernard Grech, earlier in the afternoon spoke with Naxxar Mayor Anne Marie Muscat Fenech Adami and asked her to resign in the face of an undeclared conflict of interest as revealed in the media”. The party warned that should the Mayor refuse to submit the resignation herself, the case will be brought before the Party’s Disciplinary and Ethical Commission. (Maltatoday).
Covid-19 update
78 new coronavirus infections were recorded on Sunday, figures published by the health ministry show. During the last 24 hours, an 82-year-old male died while COVID-19 positive. Total deaths number 471. There are currently 16 patients currently being treated at Mater Dei Hospital, two of whom are in the ITU.
