Slippery oily material left on road likely cause of Marie Claire Lombardi’s death

Nov 12 2022

Police investigations have concluded that slippery, oily material left in Triq l-Imdina, Rabat was most likely the cause of death of 45-year-old motorcyclist Marie Claire Lombardi.

Police issued a statement asking for any information pertaining to who left the material on the road, even if done with confidentiality.

The tragic accident took place on the 22nd of October when Lombardi suffered serious injuries after being thrown off her bike due to the road hazard. She sadly lost her life shortly thereafter and three days before her birthday.

Facebook page ‘Malta Dizastru Total’ extended the call for information, writing: ‘On the 22nd of October 2022, an unknown person dropped a box of olives in the middle of the road.’

‘This person picked up the box and fled the scene, leaving death behind them… A few moments later, 45 year old Marie Claire Lombardi drove in the same spot and unfortunately lost her life’.

#MaltaDaily

PN calls to incentivise reducing cars off roads

Nov 12 2022

Addressing a press conference, PN MP and spokesperson for transport Adrian Delia said that it is time to reverse the incentive which brings more cars to Malta to reduce the amount due to the increasing road accidents.

Delia pointed out how, despite 2022 not being over yet, there have been 24 casualties on roads as well as over 1,000 injuries.

The former PN leader highlighted how statistics indicate that the crisis is only worsening by the day but that the transport minister is ‘refusing to believe’ that the problem exists.

Instead of addressing the problem, Delia pointed out how the current system is allowing 56 new cars to be added to Maltese roads on a daily basis. Meanwhile, more traffic is fuelling road rage and endangering more lives.

Delia also made reference to the Transport Malta scandal wherein licenses were reportedly given to select preferred drivers. This, Delia said, meant putting incapable drivers on the roads and making the situation worse.

The PN MP said that the government needs a long term transport plan or risk putting Malta into gridlock. An alternative transport strategy is needed said the MP.

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NGO shocked over dismissal of Cannabis Authority chair

Nov 12 2022

Following the dismissal of Malta’s first chair of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis Mariella Dimech, NGO Releaf released a statement expressing its concerns about the situation’s development.

Mariella Dimech announced that her services had been terminated by the home affairs ministry 10 months since her appointment despite being appointed for a 3 year term.

Dimech said that over the last 10 months she had to work without any functional office, no staff or budget and a political strategy she disagreed with.

The NGO raised concerns over the former Caritas drug rehab coordinator’s dismissal, saying that the human rights framework is being transformed into a commercial model by the industry.

Meanwhile, former Caritas director and executive head of the Housing Authority Leonid McKay has been appointed as the new executive chair of the cannabis authority.

The new appointment was however not approved by Releaf, with another statement pointing to his reportedly prohibitionist stances of ‘labelling’ cannabis users as ‘sick patients in need of rehabilitation.’

On his part, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri defended McKay’s appointment, saying he is a worthy successor and that he would not have accepted the role had he not believed in the cause.

#MaltaDaily

Community policing to now cover 75% of Malta says Minister

Nov 12 2022

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri revealed on Friday that community policing is set to be extended to 8 other localities.

This scheme would thus be extending the service to over 75% of Malta, with new officers being introduced to Zurrieq, Zebbug, Siggiewi, Qrendi, San Gwann, Xghajra, Zabbar and Marsascala.

The scheme goes back to Mellieha in 2019, with the police force adding more localities to the list as the government pledged extending it to the entire island by 2023.

Camilleri explained how this is intended to allow officers to operate foot patrols in the same area more often and hopefully create a stronger bond with people in the localities.

Localities will have their own personal police officers, Camilleri explained, as well as Facebook groups for residents and the police through collaboration with the local councils.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa explained that the ambitious plan of having public policing nation-wide by 2023 is slowly being achieved and confirms how people are more entrusting of the police force.