‘Disappointed that music and sport will be suffering the injustice’ – MFA and artists state

Jan 26 2022

Following the announcement that mandatory vaccine certificate rules will be scrapped next month, artists, sports persons and even wedding planners issued their disappointment at being left out.

The Malta Football Association expressed its disagreeing take with the health authorities as the exemptions were announced yesterday. Football supporters will have to present a valid COVID vaccine certificate, leading to a ‘bittersweet moment for Maltese sport’.

‘This is another slap in the face for sports associations, athletes, coaches, match officials, volunteers, fans and all those involved in local sport as our unstinting efforts to deal with the ongoing difficulties and financial repercussions caused by COVID-19 are being constantly hindered by incoherent measures.’

Singer songwriter Ira Losco took to social media, saying she is ‘very disappointed that music and sport as always will be suffering the injustice of not having equal measures as some other sectors.’

‘I would like to ask why? The reason and logic (or lack of) behind it will always baffle me’ said the singer. This was echoed by wedding planners, as a second petition was launched in response to the newly announced restrictions.

‘There should be more options to have a standing wedding with PCR tests for the unvaccinated if need be, however the regulations need to change!! They have kept the regulations the same for way too long now! We have a right to celebrate the wedding as we all initially planned and wanted it!’

Yesterday, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that most establishments will not need a vaccine certificate as of February. Restaurants, snack bars and band clubs will not need the certificate as of 7th February. The same would apply for bars, gyms and pools as of the 14th.

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Worker who lost finger in workplace accident compensated €81,000

Jan 26 2022

A Maltese worker who lost a finger in a workplace accident has been compensated a whopping €81,000.

With the judgement issued earlier today by Judge Lawrence Mintoff, he decreed that the company was 85% responsible for the incident.

The accident goes back to the 16th of April 2015, with the court case itself having started back in April 2018. Plaintiff Lawrence Camilleri was injured whilst working on site, losing a finger in the process.

The court today, 26th January 2022, ruled that the company must pay adequate compensation to Camilleri, calculated according to his salary and extent of injuries. Charlene Grima and Carina Nagiah represented Camilleri as his lawyers.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti

New research reveals why we’re having less sex than ever

Jan 26 2022

Apparently, people are not having as much sex as they used to, with several studies attempting to nail down exactly why this is. Is it social media overuse? Or are we just not bothered?According to the UK’s National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL), people are having less sex every week. Back in 1991, it was an average of five times per month but in 2001, it dropped to four and down to three by 2012.

Academic director for NATSAL at University College London Soazig Clifton said that Brits are definitely having less sex. However, this seems to be an international trend as other studies are suggesting the same. The US confirmed the decline in sexual activity, with the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behaviour comparing more than 8500 individual’s responses from 2009 and 2018.

The proportion of adolescents reporting no sexual activity during this period rose from 28.8% to 44.2% among young men and from 49.% to 74% among young women. Despite this not easily answering ‘why’ this is the case, some reasons can be drawn out. Some researchers are suggesting that people are spending much more time virtually rather than having sex with the person next to them.

Some theorise that we’re just busier than ever – whether is social lives, poorer work-life balance or juggling social media commitments, people are just too tired to have sex. Others suggest that sex becoming less taboo in everyday conversation may have also balanced out statistics. People may be more prone to telling researchers they’re not having sex, meaning a more understanding society about sex has developed.

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Carmen Ciantar’s daughter also on Health Minister’s payroll

Jan 26 2022

According to news portal ‘The Shift News’, daughter of Carmen Ciantar, Celine Camilleri Ciantar, serves on the Treatment Abroad Committee. This decides which patients require medical treatment or serious intervention outside of Malta.

Having just graduated as a dentist two years ago, it is still unclear what kind of remuneration Camilleri Ciantar receives from her committee position. Carmen Ciantar is currently facing backlash over a €163,000 a year contract as Foundation for Medical Services CEO salary. The National Audit Office describes this as ‘irregular.’

She also earns an extra government pay while serving on the Malta Gaming Authority’s board of governors. She also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne’s chief of staff. She does not receive a salary for that role.

Brian St John, one of her predecessors, had an €80,000 contract, which is roughly half the amount paid to Ciantar. Ciantar herself has asked the Standards Commissioner to investigate, with the Nationalist Party calling on the contract to be scrapped.

Fearne himself said that the contract will be revised in 2024, with Prime Minister Robert Abela insisting that the contract was before his tenure.

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