58 trees uprooted and replanted due to infrastructure projects

Oct 12 2022

58 indigenous and/or protected trees were uprooted and replanted elsewhere during 2022 so far, all to make way for infrastructural projects.

This was revealed by Infrastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia in Parliament on Tuesday, in response to a question by PN MP Rebekah Borg.

Farrugia stated that when trees need uprooting, Infrastructure Malta works with the Environment and Resources Authority to obtain the required permits and ensure low environmental impact.

The agency works to replant the trees in cases where they are not alien or invasive species. They are either replanted in the vicinity or other areas should the former prove more difficult.

Farrugia also highlighted that ERA requires IM to plant a number of new trees for each one uprooted, abiding to the Maltese environmental legislation.

However, the authority goes over and above what the law requires, Farrugia emphasised. He added that over the past three years around 44,000 trees and 40,000 bushes had been planted in rural and urban areas.

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NCPE condemns alleged assault of foreign nationals by police officers

Oct 12 2022

The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) released a statement expressing its ‘serious concern at the fact that three police officers are being accused of abducting and assaulting foreign nationals. It appears that the alleged victims were chosen by the alleged perpetrators on the basis of their skin colour and nationality.’

‘The NCPE commends the Malta Police Force for taking immediate action after receiving reports of this abuse and acknowledges the reforms that have been undertaken by the Force to prevent and address such gross misconduct. These incidents are not only deplorable in themselves but they also mar the reputation of the Police Force in its entirety.’

‘It reiterates that cases of violent racism, wherever they happen, are never isolated incidents but always connected to a context of social inequality and normalized behaviour of hatred. All cases of racism, discrimination and intolerance are an affront to a democratic society and as such they should be treated with the utmost seriousness.’

‘The NCPE calls on all public institutions to audit their structures in order to identify systemic racism and take the necessary action to ensure that all social groups in Malta are considered and treated as equally valuable members of society. Moreover, persons in the public sphere have a responsibility to promote values of equality and social inclusion, and to refrain from spreading hostility towards groups based on their nationality or skin colour.’

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Restoration works underway at Auberge D’Anglaterre, Birgu

Oct 12 2022

During a news conference addressed by the Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici and the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, it was explained that the restoration works currently underway at the Auberge D’Anglaterre, are expected to be finalised by the end of November.

The works, which originally started in May, are being carried out by the Restoration Directorate in collaboration with the Kottonera Foundation and Vittoriosa Local council.

“These restorations allow us to continue taking care of our national history, a heritage that determines our identity as a people,” Minister Owen Bonnici stated. “It is our mission to make our heritage more accessible and to strengthen our local communities and restoration is a crucial aspect of our cultural plan”.

Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli praised the Birgu Local Council and the Kottonera Foundation for their dedication towards increasing the value of the three Kottonera cities by preserving their Historical Heritage.

The Architect responsible for the works, Perit Timothy Portelli, explained the job in detail. The works consist of the restoration of the masonry fabric and timber apertures of the façade of the Auberge d’Angleterre.

The restoration works include cleaning, replacing the existing stonework, removing any defective mortars and replacing them using lime-based materials. Results include applying damp proofing at the roof level in place of deteriorated cement coatings.

The Auberge D’Angalterre was used upon their arrival in Malta; the Knights of St John settled in Birgu and built seven auberges, one for each language.

The Auberge d’Angleterre incorporated an older, one-storey house which the English Knight Sir Clement West purchased in 1534. Sir West donated the building to the English langue in 1535; the first floor was built that year. Due to the English Reformation in the mid-16th century, the English language was suppressed; in fact, the Auberge d’Angleterre was never rebuilt in Valletta.

The building was included in the Antiquities List of 1925 and is scheduled as a Grade 1 building. Nowadays, the auberge houses the Vittoriosa Health Centre.

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Did you know leaving your car window open unattended is against the law?!

Oct 12 2022

This might come as a surprise to many but leaving the car window open whilst the vehicle is unattended is actually against the law and could earn you a ticket.

A recent post by a local named Brian Dimech raised questions after he got a LESA ticket for leaving the back window open whilst the vehicle was parked unattended.

The post saw many questioning the act, but it turns out that getting a ticket for this very same reason is an offence that many drivers misunderstand. But this confusion might also be well-founded.

Leaving a window open is an offence due to it falling under ‘leaving a vehicle unattended’ as it invites crime. However, this might not apply for drivers leaving windows open for a few centimetres of ventilation.

Meanwhile, convertible cars with their roofs down are not fined, but wardens urge people to still close them as a matter of safety. On the other extreme, leaving a car running with keys in the ignition is of course inviting a fine.

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