Left out because he ‘was in Gonzi cabinet’ says Chris Said

Apr 20 2022

Nationalist MP Chris Said claimed that current PN leader Bernard Grech told him that he will not be appointed as shadow minister because he was part of Lawrence Gonzi’s cabinet.

Said was speaking to Times of Malta, but refused to say whether or not he agreed with the decision. The veteran MP served as Justice Minister from 2012 to 2013.

He said that it is Grech’s prerogative and that he respects that, as well as that he will continue to work tirelessly for the voters who trusted him in the election. Said was the shadow minister for Gozo up until the 2022 election.

The post has now been given to 26-year-old newcomer Alex Borg, who received 6,108 first count votes in his first time contesting the election. Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Mario de Marco, the two other veteran PN MPs who were also members of Gonzi’s cabinet, were also left out.

Said said on a Facebook post on Monday that he understands the Opposition leaders decision to leave him and the two others out. Grech himself is still yet to address interviews to media since last month’s loss for the party.

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Labour Women President compares Eve Borg Bonello to Jason Azzopardi

Apr 20 2022

Speaking on local TV show Pjazza, Labour Women President Nikita Alamango likened the PN’s newest and the youngest ever MP to Jason Azzopardi.

Speaking on a TV show alongside Energy and Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, Alamango was speaking about how she wishes to see a change in politics on the island.

She said that despite her dream, the recent statements by Eve Borg Bonello made her think of the unelected former PN MP Jason Azzopardi. She said that Borg Bonello is resorting to insults and is thus not convinced the change will occur.

This follows statements by Borg Bonello wherein she said that the difference between the political parties is clear; one has an EP president whereas another has an MEP guilty of sex crimes.

The jab was made at Cyrus Engerer, who in response took to social media to say that politics has taught him how to speak less but listen and work more. Taking his own jab at Borg Bonello, he said that there are others who are yet to learn this lesson.

Eve rounded up the response by saying that she knows she has a lot to learn, ‘from those with PhDs to those who learnt their way through life without ever being in a classroom.’

However, she said, tagging Engerer, that she doubts there is anything ‘to learn from a convicted sex criminal.’ What do you make of this political feud?

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FKNK to strip hunters who killed protected birds of license

Apr 20 2022

With condemnation by hunting and other organisations, FKNK said it will deploy all its resources to ensure the poachers are caught. The FKNK said it will do everything with its remit to ensure that those found guilty of the crime will be permanently denied a hunting license.

The FKNK warned that it will not be heeled ransom by those who want to jeopardise the status of legitimate hunters. This comes after protected marsh harriers were shot and killed in Delimara, prompting a statement and footage of the incident by BirdLife Malta.

The latter NGO said on Tuesday that poachers were hunting about 30 marsh harriers which were roosting in Delimara. Gunshots were heard at night, with police who convened on site finding that the hunters had fled.

Four injured birds were found and handed over to the government veterinarians, with a fifth one found dead. Birds of prey such as marsh harriers are a protected species and it is illegal to shoot on them.

This follows massive controversy after the spring hunting season opened on Easter Sunday, despite a legal complaint by BirdLife Malta being filed. A court ruled the BirdLife request out, giving the hunters the go ahead to hunt turtle doves and quails.

The incident also prompted social media backlash after some MPs came out in favour of the move.

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Photo Source: Steve Zammit Lupi FB

Five COVID-19 self-testing kits approved by Medicines Authority

Apr 20 2022

The first five COVID-19 self-testing kits have been approved by the Medicines Authority. Pharmacists were informed by the health authorities last Thursday to not sell the kits because the authority had yet to publish the list of approved tests.

Times of Malta were informed by Medicines Authority chief Anthony Serracino Inglott that applications to approve 10 types of kits were received soon after the legal notice was published.

According to the authority’s website, five devices have been formally approved for sale from pharmacies. The kits can only bee sold in pharmacies, but the newsroom was informed that self-tests are available online as well as in grocery stores, petrol stations and ironmongers.

The five approved kits are: Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Self-Testing); On-Site Covid 19 Ag Self-Test; Clungene Antigen Rapid Test Self-Test; SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test; and SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self-Test Nasal (Roche).

All five are different to the already approved rapid testing kits which were used by health care professionals in the private sector in recent months. Authorities, health sources said, would only green light the sale of kits that use nasal swabs for self-testing.

The tests used by healthcare professionals utilise nasopharyngeal swabs that collect samples from the upper part of the throat behind the nose. Nasal swabs collect samples from the tip of the nose.

Sources claimed that because it is difficult to get the proper sample with a nasopharyngeal swab without medical training, it had been agreed that only kits which use nasal swabs will be allowed on the market.

Kits will not have a price cap, meaning they can be sold at any price.

#MaltaDaily