On International Women’s Day, a new initiative was launched to provide financial assistance for childminding services during statutory meetings of Local Councils.

This initiative aims to help council members better balance family responsibilities and official commitments, while encouraging equal participation in local governance.

The announcement was made by Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, during a discussion with female council members to mark the occasion.

The event was also addressed by the Prime Minister’s wife, Dr. Lydia Abela, and Minister for National Heritage, Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici.

The initiative, led by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government in collaboration with the Local Government Division, will offer funding to Local and Regional Councils, as well as the Association of Local Councils, to provide childminding services during meetings.

This is intended to foster more innovative and inclusive local governance, strengthening opportunities for those who wish to contribute to their communities without the burden of personal and family needs.

Alison Zerafa Civelli highlighted that this measure was introduced in response to the challenges faced by parents and guardians in balancing professional and family life. She pointed out that various measures have already been implemented to support parents and guardians in both the public and private sectors.

Minister Owen Bonnici emphasized that the government’s goal is to increase women’s participation in the workforce, public life, and leadership roles. He noted that the number of female local councilors has increased by 5% compared to the previous legislature, but further work is still needed.

Dr. Lydia Abela added that this initiative is an important step toward encouraging more people, especially women, to contribute to their local communities.

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European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has paid a visit to San Anton school, speaking and surely inspiring not only the hundreds of students but also all the staff and teachers.

In a Facebook post, San Anton stated that they where honoured to welcome Roberta Metsola and that she was warmly greeted by Head of School, Ms. Bernadette Stivala, Chairman of the School Board, Ms. Sunaina Attard, and members of both student councils.

Metsola’s visit began with the

with a warm welcome from the young students of the Early Years Sector, who greeted her with enthusiasm and performed the National Anthem.

The visit then moved on to a brief performance by Junior Sector students, guided by their Drama Educator Ms. Chiara Hyzler.

The students presented three short scenes from Disney stories featuring female characters who challenge laws and traditions, setting a perfect tone for the upcoming Women’s Day celebrations.

The visit continued with an engaging Q&A session, where Senior Sector students impressed Dr. Metsola with insightful questions on topics such as Women in Leadership, Workplace Equality, Balancing Career and Family Life, and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence.

Students also inquired about the highs and lows of her political career, to which Dr. Metsola spoke with pride about being Maltese. She explained that coming from a small island like Malta requires extra effort to gain recognition on the international stage and encouraged students to persevere and never give up on their dreams.

The visit concluded with a touching gesture when Form 5 student Ella Saliba Simpson presented Dr. Metsola with a portrait she had personally drawn of her, a memento marking an inspiring and memorable visit.

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Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that the Cabinet will discuss the possibility of granting a Presidential pardon to three students and a lecturer facing court proceedings over ethical hacking related to the FreeHour app in 2022.

Speaking to the media following a special EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, Dr Abela expressed his belief that the charges were unjust and stated that this case could merit the use of the Cabinet’s prerogative to terminate criminal proceedings.

He emphasised that the state must take responsibility when failing to update laws in line with modern technological realities.

Earlier this week, Michael Debono, Giorgio Grigolo, Luke Bjorn Scerri, and lecturer Mark Joseph Vella were charged in court with unauthorised access to the FreeHour app. They pleaded not guilty, and proceedings are ongoing.

Dr Abela stressed the need to address this issue not only from a legal standpoint but also in the context of today’s technological landscape.

Taking to Facebook, Nationalist leader Bernard Grech stated that “The government of Robert Abela had a responsibility to ensure that the three young men and their lecturer accused of hacking were never taken to court, especially since there is widespread agreement that they did nothing wrong.”

In a statement the Nationalist Party also stated that “Robert Abela should change the law instead of allowing three students and their lecturer to be found guilty of hacking, only to then grant them amnesty.”

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