Prime Minister denies drone accusations by Bernard Grech

Feb 15 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela has addressed the claim made by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech that a drone was flown over his home, categorically denying it.

The Prime Minister told journalists that he condemned the incident if it happened and said that he had no knowledge about the incident. Grech, who has filed a complaint to the police commissioner about the incident, took to Facebook to make the accusation.

In the post, Grech accused Abela of ordering Labour media to fly a drone over his Mosta home to film it. He confirmed that he informed Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa about it and said police are investigating the matter.

Grech believed ONE News were sent to film as part of a scheme to sway attention away from questions about property deals the Prime Minister took as a lawyer. A ONE News journalist at the news conference also repeatedly denied that the media organisation was at the PN leader’ house.

The Prime Minister said that he absolutely denies any involvement. ‘I did not even know about it. If it happened, not only do I condemn it, but I believe that family life should not mix with the political roles we have. Respect for family privacy should be absolute.’

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Canada truckers in Freedom Convoy protest could have bank accounts frozen

Feb 15 2022

The Canadian government has warned that it will be freezing the bank accounts and suspend the vehicle insurance of truckers who continue to form blockades in protest of the vaccine mandates. The country has declared a national emergency to quell the resulting gridlock, with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland saying that this is about stopping the financing of these illegal blockades.

‘We are today serving notice that if your truck is being used in these illegal blockades, your corporate accounts will be frozen. The insurance on your vehicle will be suspended’ she said. ‘Send your semi-trailers home. The Canadian economy needs them to be doing legitimate work, not to be illegally making us all poorer’ said Freeland.

Trudeau’s administration is authorising banks to freeze or suspend accounts suspected of being involved in illegal activity without the need for court order. The Prime Minister himself announced that he would be enacting Canada’s far-reaching Emergencies Act for the first time in the country’s history. This is his latest effort to combat the anti-vaccine mandate ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests which started in Ottawa on January 28th. Truckers have been blocking city streets and critical bridges, disrupting Canada’s trade routes and supply chain for weeks.

The Emergencies Act empowers the Canadian government to temporarily override civil rights, restrict travel, forbid public assembly and force businesses to act without compensation. Trudeau said that the scope of these measures will be time-limited, geographical targeted and reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address. He added that he does not plan to deploy the military.

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Chris Fearne and I agree about marina says Transport Minister

Feb 15 2022

Speaking to journalists, Transport Minister Ian Borg played down comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne regarding the Marsascala marina.

Fearne said that the undeveloped coast should stay as is, but the transport minister denied that Fearne, a candidate on the same third district, was expressing disagreement on the marina.

‘I invite readers to listen to Fearne’s statement properly… my position and the prime minister’s are identical to his. I agree with what Fearne said. It is what I have said in the past weeks’ said Borg.

Fearne said Marsascala’s undeveloped coast should remain as it is as residents enjoy it for swimming, recreation and fishing. The inner bay’s mooring should be reorganised in a better way, said Fearne.

Facing backlash by residents, Ian Borg said the government will communicate with the local council after they doubled down on their opposition to the project.

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Photo Source: Ian Borg FB, Chris Fearne FB, Moviment Graffiti FB

ABBA leader should pay due defamation costs says MGRM

Feb 15 2022

Malta’s gay rights movement MGRM called on the Electoral Commission to take action against ABBA party leader Ivan Grech Mintoff to fulfil court obligations and pay damages from a libel case.

MGRM is owed a sum total of €3,975 in libel damages and court expenses by Grech Mintoff after he lost both in a first court judgement and then again on appeal.

MGRM’s lawyer Gialuca Cappitta told the chairman of the Electoral Commission that despite empty promises by Grech Mintoff ‘as well as further legal action against him to secure payment, in turn incurring further costs, Grech Mintoff has to date failed to pay the owed amount.’

‘Any individual actively and maliciously defying court orders and refusing to pay an amount ordered by the court should not remain unchecked and be allowed to contest any public election’ said Cappitta.

MGRM also asked the Commission to take all action and assess the conservative party leader’s eligibility for a candidature for the 2022 general elections.

Ivan Grech Mintoff was sued over defamatory statements he broadcast on YouTube and Facebook, with the NGO also suing pro-life organisation Gift of Life, which alleged that the gay rights movement was being funded by American pro-choice organisation Planned Parenthood.

The MGRM said Grech Mintoff’s defamatory statements included alleging that an MGRM representative had admitted to taking money from murdered children to fund her own personal agenda. He also stated on television that the MGRM took money from people who killed children and that they were in bed with the world’s ‘foremost abortion promoters.’

#MaltaDaily