Man found dead in prison cell – suspected suicide

Nov 10 2021

An inmate has been found dead in his cell at Corradino Correctional Facility with suspicions of suicide.

Sources speaking to newsroom MaltaToday revealed that the foreign inmate, a 35-year-old Indian national, is suspected to have committed suicide in prison Division 4.

Peppi Azzopardi, who has been advocating for prisoner rights, broke the news this morning on Facebook. ‘Another tragedy in prison?’ Asked the Xarabank host.

Journalists, activists and academics have been vouching for the resignation of prison director Alex Dalli, following the passing of 12 inmates under his watch. This is a developing story.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Peppi Azzopardi FB, Wikipedia

Excavations and demolition can start earlier but not later than 4pm

Nov 9 2021

Tuesday will see the hours during which excavation and demolition works can occur changing. These works will no longer be permissible after 4pm, meaning that the times will change accordingly;

Times will change from 8am to 2pm and between 4pm and 8pm to between 7:30 am and 4pm. A legal notice will publish the changes.

Minister for Environment Aaron Farrugia stated that this decision is a result of continuous work towards a more sustainable industry and with the context of the construction reform.

In other related news, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg posted to social media saying that 35% of Kirkop Tunnels and Airport Intersection Project is ready.

He anticipated that in the second quarter of next year, the first parts of this project will be opened to the public. ‘We will continue to better the connections around our country’ said the Minister.

#MaltaDaily

Contraception project seeks to reduce pigeon pest population by 70%

Nov 9 2021

A project recently kicked off seeks to reduce pigeon populations by over 70% using contraceptive feed. Trying to reduce numbers without resorting to cruel means (such as shooting), pest exterminator Arnold Sciberras said it is a targeted feeding programme of contraceptive-laced feed which will use feeding silos to attract the birds.

The Environment Ministry, in April 2018, condemned the attempts by the Vittoriosa local council to reduce unwanted pigeon populations by shooting them.

Sciberras said this will be a three year programme. Despite taking longer, this is not an issue as it will still ensure that the nuisance caused by the pigeon doesn’t continue any longer. The contraception also works after being ingested over a long period of time by the birds. Thus, if a racing pigeon accidentally eats the contraceptive-laced food once, it will not affect them.

This rarely happens however as the racing pigeons are trained to eat from their coop at specific times.

#MaltaDaily

Peppi Azzopardi responds to accusations of defending

Nov 9 2021

Peppi Azzopardi responded to accusations made by the son of late Hugo Chetcuti, saying that he was misinterpreted over a social media post about the prison.

The Xarabank host posted to Facebook on Sunday, saying that there were four prisoners who wanted to make a police statement about abuses. They were allegedly being silenced by the authorities. Luke Chetcuti, the son of the murderer entrepreneur, took this to be reference to the four prisoners currently in solitary confinement. This included his father’s killer, Bojan Cmelik.

Chetcuti accused the host of attempting to defend the killer, saying that Peppi should be ashamed of doing so. Peppi said that he was instead ‘defending four men who are jailed over drug-related charges and have killed no one.’

‘They had only been trying to kill themselves with the help of drug pushers who make millions off people like them. It’s a lie to say they are killers and that they include the person who killed Hugo Chetcuti.’

‘Had he had the decency to read what I wrote’ said Peppi, ‘he would have realised that I never spoke about his father’s murderer or any other murderers. If anything is shameful is the the way in which Chetcuti failed to read my status and attacked me over things I did not say.’

#MaltaDaily