Gozo Inaugurates First State-Run Childcare Centre: ‘Djamant’

Jan 28 2025

Gozo’s first state-run childcare centre, Djamant, has been officially inaugurated within the Educational Complex in Victoria.

Managed by the Foundation for Educational Services (FES), this centre is part of a unique complex that also includes a primary school, middle school, secondary school, sixth form, and recreational facilities.

The inauguration was led by Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, Clifton Grima, and Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri. With this addition, FES now operates 13 state childcare centres across Malta and Gozo.

Minister Grima emphasised FES’s role in supporting holistic child development while assisting families to balance work and home life.

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of parents by creating spaces that support children’s growth and education.

The Djamant centre can host up to 89 children, featuring three activity zones, two baby rooms, and an outdoor area. It is equipped with resources designed to aid children in their educational journeys.

Minister Camilleri praised the collaborative efforts that brought the centre to life, ensuring Gozo enjoys facilities equal to those in Malta.

He expressed confidence in the centre’s dedicated staff and their ability to provide excellent service, benefitting Gozo’s families and children.

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2 To 4 Month Waiting Time For Driving Tests

Jan 28 2025

Responding to questions posed in parliament, Minister for Transport Chris Bonett revealed that the average waiting time for someone to undertake their driving test is two to four months.

Responding to questions posed by PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut, the Minister also revealed that the standards for the driving licenses are the first priority.

The examiners are following the ‘Standard Operating Procedures’, which are currently being reviewed and updated to reflect the realities of today.

This process is being undertaken to ‘establish clearer, more transparent and more uniform criteria so that the exams are fair and consistent.

#MaltaDaily

Metsola & Spiteri Debono Attend Auschwitz Liberation 80th Anniversary

Jan 28 2025

Malta’s President, Myriam Spiteri Debono, and European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, participated in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi extermination camp where 1.1 million people perished.

President Spiteri Debono joined survivors and global leaders in Poland to honour the victims of the Holocaust. She lit a candle as a symbol of respect and remembrance for those who lost their lives in one of history’s darkest chapters.

Survivors shared powerful testimonies, highlighting how the Holocaust began with small acts of exclusion and discrimination. They urged vigilance against the rise of hatred to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.

President Metsola, reflecting on the solemn event, emphasised the courage and resilience of survivors. She spoke of the “loss and stolen innocence” and the indifference that allowed such horror to occur.

Metsola also reminded the world of the need to confront hatred wherever it arises, noting that even in a place of unimaginable tragedy, there is a message of hope. “We will remember them,” she affirmed, underscoring the collective responsibility to ensure #NeverAgain.

#MaltaDaily

Potential DV Being Investigated For Woman’s 4th Floor Fall

Jan 28 2025

An 18-year-old Sardinian woman is undergoing treatment at Mater Dei Hospital after falling from the fourth floor of a hotel in Paceville last week.

Claudia Chessa, from Arzachena in northern Sardinia, sustained serious back injuries in the incident, though her life is not in danger.

It is believed that an awning beneath her balcony helped to cushion her fall. Chessa was staying at the St Julian’s hotel with her 27-year-old boyfriend, also from Arzachena, when the incident occurred on Wednesday night.

Reports indicate that she lost consciousness after the fall, prompting hotel staff to contact emergency services. She is currently awaiting surgery.

Authorities are investigating the case as a potential domestic violence incident, as initial findings suggest the couple had an argument shortly before the fall. However, investigators have not ruled out other possible causes.

The woman’s boyfriend was arraigned in court on Friday. According to Italian media, he has since returned to Italy.

The investigation is being led by Magistrate Jean Paul Grech, as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

#MaltaDaily