€4,000 fine for man who assaulted three Gozo police officers

Mar 29 2022

A 28-year-old man was handed a €4,000 fine after he slightly injured three officers and found in possession of drugs in Gozo. The Zebbug resident was arraigned on Monday.

The police were called on the site to stop the argument in Indipendenza Square, Victoria on Sunday at around 9:45pm. After being ordered to stop, the man threatened and insulted the police, going on to assault them and injuring a sergeant and two constables.

The man was charged with being in possession of cocaine as well as disturbing the peace. According to Newsboy, the argument took place during celebrations due to the Labour Party election.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspend for one year apart from the fine.

#MaltaDaily

‘The pandemic is still with us’ warns former PM Alfred Sant

Mar 29 2022

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant took to Facebook to warn about rising COVID-19 infections following the ‘mingling’ which happened during the election campaign.

He pointed to China, saying that, despite taking drastic measures to mitigate the spread, the infections are once again spreading after the country seemed as though it had finally contained the virus there.

China had to once again close off entire localities to ensure the pandemic does not spread anymore, said Sant. ‘In Malta, with all the mingling which happened during the electoral campaign, infection numbers are sure to increase.

‘In the mean time, people have had enough of the restrictions which had to be put in place’ said Sant. He went on to say that when in Brussels, he was confronted by a woman who, upon seeing him donning a mask, asked him if he knew that he had no reason to wear it anymore.

‘Everyone is ready to forget the days spent in pandemic’ said Sant. ‘However, it continued to remind us that it’s still there. It’s sad to realise this.’

‘But it’s even sadder to assume that everything can be forgotten today only to find the pandemic has entered your home tomorrow’.

#MaltaDaily

60,000 people chose not to vote or spoil the vote

Mar 29 2022

Almost the double the number from five years ago, around 60,000 people in Saturday’s election either abstained or spoiled their vote. By the time voting booths closed at 10pm, 51,500 people chose not to vote, which lead to a historically low turnout of 85.5%.

This also included anyone who did not bother to pick up their vote document. An additional 8,227 went to the polling station to spoil their ballot, with the future also being twice as much as five years ago.

Political strategists will be attempting to understand who these people are and why they chose to protest in such a way. The abstention was accompanied by a reduction in votes for both major parties and an increase of more than 5,000 votes for third parties.

The PL had an impressive 39,000 vote lead over the PN, being the hardest hit by the abstention rate. Among the spoilt votes were a well drawn face with its tongue sticking out and a slightly haunting message wherein one voter said that when his mother needed help, she did not find it.

#MaltaDaily

More voting privacy for disabled persons says Bjorn Formosa

Mar 29 2022

Leading ALS activist Bjorn Formosa called for more privacy when it comes to casting votes for disabled persons. He did so after revealing that he essentially broke the law during the general election after his wife had to secretly write down his preference on the ballot.

This is because, as it currently stands, people who cannot use their hands aren’t allowed to bring someone they trust with them into the voting booth to write down the vote on heir behalf. They must instead vocalise their voting preference to PL and PN agents.

@bjornformosa

We’ve made something illegal! #election #votingrights #disability

♬ original sound – Bjorn Formosa

Formosa posted to TikTok saying that he felt very uncomfortable with that arrangement as he wanted to enjoy the same right to privacy as ever Maltese citizen.

‘Maria managed to write down my vote for me but we had to do it quickly so we don’t get caught. So she wrote my 1 under my favourite candidate as fast as possible. No person with a disability should feel they have to break the law when voting.’

Bjorn had discussed the issue with PL candidate and former MP Oliver Scicluna last November. Both had agreed that the law should change as soon as possible and that it is time for ‘politicians to show compassion with people in need.’

#MaltaDaily