Many attempt to catch the flag in traditional Maltese Gostra

Aug 29 2022

Keeping an iconic part of Maltese tradition alive, many brave and stunt-hungry people tried to hit the flag at the end of a long, grease-ridden wooden pole yesterday in Spinola.

Known as ‘il-Gostra’, the tradition is believed to go back to the Middle Ages, and involves, well people running up the pole to grab a flag attached to the end of the pole.

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The aim of the game is to grab one of the three flags at the end of the pole: a blue and white one dedicated to St. Mary, a yellow and white one representing the Vatican and the Belgian tricolour dedicated to St. Julian.

The tradition involves the inevitable slip up by most who try to attempt it, leading to not just a unique tradition but also an entertaining showcase for all who attend the yearly event.

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Many Maltese turning to food banks and parishes due to poverty

Aug 29 2022

Newspaper Illum revealed that many people, most of them Maltese nationals, are turning to food banks, parishes and support groups to feed themselves as food prices sky-rocket.

The paper was informed of this by Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, who heads the Millenium Chapel in Paceville.

He told the newspaper that many Maltese have their backs against the wall, pointing to three areas where price increases are make poverty rates worse: essential products, medicines and rents. Many have been left without a roof over their head, he added.

‘There are 300 people who are homeless. Homeless shelters are full. Come here by night and see the amount of people asleep along the beachfront. There are usually three other people sleeping next to our chapel’ he said.

Manager of the Foodbank Lifeline Foundation Barbara Caruana also explained to the same newspaper that the number of families in need has risen well above pre COVID-19 pandemic levels. Instead of helping around 100 families per week, it is now offering food to around 250 families.

The same sentiments were echoed by Fr Mark Andre Camilleri, Rahal Gdid parish priest. He added that many foreigners have resorted to the parish church because of their ‘precarious working conditions’ and due t being exploited. Fr Anton Cassar, Bormla parish archpriest, also noted an increase in poverty, pointing to the parish’s handing out of over 180 sets of groceries per month.

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PN opposes TM’s Ta’ Xbiex offices and restaurant proposal

Aug 28 2022

The Nationalist Party has expressed its opposition to Transport Malta’s application to build offices and a large restaurant on the shore of Ta’ Xbiex.

This, the party said, is a threat to public open spaces which are already becoming scarce for all residents. PN MPs Rebekah Cilia, Janice Chetcuti and Stanley Zammit represented the party in saying that this is yet another case of a threat to open spaces.

The spokespersons for the Opposition said that were this development to take place, it would block access to the bay as well as making the traffic and parking issue worse in area.

The PN appealed to the authorities involved to repeal this project and leave the area open so that residents and the public can enjoy it.

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100 new nurses to begin work by next week in government hospitals

Aug 28 2022

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne took to social media to announce that 100 new nurses will be starting to give their services to government hospitals as of next week.

In the well-received post, Fearne wished the new recruits all the best and welcomed them into the health and medicine sector.

This news follows the recent red flags raised about nurse resignations continuing to pose problems as shortages endangered the lives of patients but also burnt out medical workers.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses spoke out several times in regards to this issue, calling on the health authorities to address the issue for the safety of both patients and workers and to make sure that the rights of all are being safeguarded.

More than 120 nurses left their job at Mater Dei in 2021, and the figures for the first three months of 2022 indicated that the exodus could only continue. This new regiment of nurses will surely act as a breath of fresh air for many nurses exclaiming exhaustion, but many are still calling on the government to find a solution to keep nurses from leaving their post and finding better employment elsewhere.

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