Hundreds walk in aid of Puttinu Cares despite strong winds

Apr 15 2022

‘The wind does not discourage us’ the NGO Puttinu Cares stated on their social media platforms as they shared images of hundreds walking in aid of all the patients the organisation supports.

In commemoration of Good Friday, Puttinu Cares held a marathon walk on the eve of the public holiday. The event saw hundreds come together in solidarity to support the NGO.

This was the seventh edition of the Good Friday walk in aid of Puttinu right before a televised fund-raising marathon. Participants each donated €10 and walked either from Mellieha or Mosta parish square to Qawra overnight.

The marathon was cancelled over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite no fundraisers to help, patients continued to travel to the UK for treatment, staying in one of 20 apartments owned by Puttinu.

Puttinu now aims to buy a new building in central London as well as to secure 21 flats which will be free of charge for the patients and their relatives. The marathon was joined by several parents who lost their children but found support from Puttinu.

A tribute was also payed to the late founder of the NGO, Victor Calvagna, who died earlier this year. Today, Friday 15th, a televised marathon will be broadcast between 10am an 3pm and 9pm and midnight.

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Xgħajra councillor Doris Borg quits PN after ‘party media favoured district competitor’

Apr 14 2022

Councillor and former PN candidate Doris Borg has quit the Nationalist Party and will continue to occupy her post within the Xgħajra local councillor as an independent councillor.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Borg stated that she was sidelined on the second district, with party media giving significant promotion to the other candidate in her district, new MP Bernice Bonello.

“We were two women on the second district”, Borg said as she went on to argue that not only was she discriminated, but her dignity was trampled on.

Borg received 152 first-count votes on the second district whilst Bonello received 440 first count votes. The two were also competitors on district four, where the Xgħajra councillor received 44 first-count votes while the new MP secured 305 votes.

#MaltaDaily

Maltese taxi driver loses license after being found guilty of profiting from prostitution

Apr 14 2022

After admitting that he was profiting from prostitution and pleading guilty to taking commissions from a massage parlour, a Maltese taxi driver has lost the possibility of renewing his license.

Carmel Schembri admitted to profiting from prostitution and managing a brothel and was given a 14-month jail sentence suspended for two years along with a fine of €1,500.

Schembri did not persuade the Court of Justice to revoke Transport Malta’s decision to withdraw his license after the Court ruled that the law did not give the authority the discretion.

When debating the decision, Schembri argued that it was unfair and that considerations were irrelevant and out of proportion, sustaining that he always offered the best service to his clients and that it was his only livelihood. On the other side of the coin, Transport Malta held that a tag cannot be issued if an individual is found guilty of such charges.

Schembri was reportedly renting out properties in Hamrun, Luqa and St. Paul’s to use them as massage parlours, with the Malta Police Force uncovering that they were being used as brothels.

#MaltaDaily

Alicia Bugeja Said and Rebecca Buttigieg sworn in as Parliamentary Secretaries

Apr 14 2022

Rebecca Buttigieg and Alicia Bugeja Said have officially been sworn in as Parliamentary Secretaries early today.

On Wednesday, Buttigieg was elected via casual election on the ninth district, with Bugeja Said getting into Parliament through the gender corrective mechanism.

In a recent Facebook post, Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed the two’s entry into Parliament, sustaining that the equality and reform sectors require further change in order to ensure a more just society.

He went on to state that our country must look towards improving Malta’s fishing and aquaculture and protect the interests of fishermen whilst exploring new possibilities and opportunities. With regards to animal rights, Abela said that the government has a number of solid proposals it will be implementing this legislature.

Earlier today, Andy Ellul was also appointed Labour Party whip, replacing Glenn Bedingfield.

#MaltaDaily