What's new?

Saturday 10^th May, 2008

STATE OPENING OF ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT
Group photo of The Hon. Members of Parliament together with the Speaker of the House, and H.G. The Archbishop.

H.E. The President delivers the official speech on the occasion of the Inauguration of the first Sitting of the Eleventh Parliament.


Unlike other EU countries, the Maltese Parliament is still composed of only one party in government and another party in opposition.


I wish each and every member of parliament to work in the interest of our country.

The magic of 'Let Go'

Our son is now exactly 12-hours old. He was born on the 6th of May 2008 at 11:55AM.
What an amazing day! My wife Miriam did a superb job. The midwives and the staff at the Gozo Maternity Unit are not just experts but are professional, caring and so supportive in such moments.

I am still rather speechless with the happiness and joy of the birth of our new-born.

Weight: 4.105kg and Length: 53cm and normal delivery. I took the advice of many of you. Just be there and support. I felt uncontrollable...can't change or do anything while Miriam was doing all her best to 'let go' of our child from her womb after 9 months in comfort. Nature thought me major lesson in life : "Let go"

This is what I truly learned this day and I'm obliged to my son for his first lesson!

Admitting the obvious truth - that you are not responsible to affect a change or correct a problem which is beyond your competency, power, authority or responsibility.

Releasing over-responsibility - giving permission to yourself to be free from an overresponsible sense of obligation, duty, or requirement to make everything "perfect'' in your life and the life of others.

No perfectionism - Allowing yourself to rid yourself of the perfectionistic need to control every aspect of your life so that nothing goes ``wrong'' in it.

Getting rational about what you can and cannot do - becoming realistic about what is and is not your obligation or duty to correct, change, or control.

Confessing faith in God- Openly declare that God, your "Higher Power" is stronger and a great source of power to whom you can hand over these things out of your control.

Accepting your powerlessness - over things and handing these things over to your Higher Power.

Handing it over to God - which is no longer taking direct action to effect a change but handing the situation over to the goodness and mercy of your Higher Power in hope that the solution will rest in the Higher Power's authority and wisdom.

Declaring God is in Charge - admitting that you can only do so much and after that it is up to your Higher Power to take over.

Thank you all very very very much for your calls and SMSes during the day.
Thank you to families, relatives and friends who visited us at the Gozo Hospital.

Cheers from
Victor, Miriam and son (still have to think of the name!)

Gozo the future eco-island

German Green MEP to discuss Gozo as an eco-island

Source: www.adgozo.com On:Sat 03/05/2008 12:00 (2589)

MEP Gisela Kallenbach has accepted an invitation by Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party to pay a visit and to hold a public debate in Gozo in the coming weeks.. Ms Kallenbach is a German Green MEP and a member of the EU Regional Development Committee. She is responsible for the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and other instruments of the Union’s regional policy. Assessing the impact of Eruopean Union policies on economic and social cohesion, outermost regions and islands as well as trans-frontier and interregional cooperation are amongst her responsibilities. For many years Ms Kallenbach represented the city of Leipzig on the Eurocities environment committee and is an Honorary member of Solar City Leipzig and Haus der Umwelt (environment house) associations. “When I heard about the Malta Green Party’s proposal to turn Gozo into an ecological island over a year ago, I increased my interest in this island-region and happily accepted the invitation by Alternattiva Demokratika to visit the island soon” said Ms Kallenbach. AD spokesman for Gozo and secretary general of the Malta Green Party, Mr Victor Galea said that “We are honored to host Ms. Kallenbach in Gozo and we envisage that a public debate will be held in order to learn from success stories of other EU countries where the state seriously invested in sustainable tourism, jobs and the improvement of the ecology. We also hope that the Maltese Government’s promise to take up the Alternattiva Demokratika suggestion is implemented as soon as possible in order to turn Gozo into an ecological island, while enhancing its unique characteristics.” “A strategy to generate energy mainly through alternative sources would create a substantial amount of Gozo-specific employment and add value to the island’s unique characteristics. The establishment of Gozo as an island model by virtue of pioneering its launch as a centre of studies in renewable energy, concurrently generating new employment for technicians, engineers, marketeers and hospitality representatives is something Alternattiva Demokratika looks forward to.” “Our aspiration is to have Gozo become the country’s leader in exploiting alternative sources of energy and establishing itself as a centre in alternative energy studies while promoting a campaign to reduce energy bills for households and businesses in Gozo” concluded the secretary general of Alternattiva Demokratika. During her stay in Malta, MEP Gisela Kallenbach will also be holding a speech during the annual meeting of the members of the Foundation of European Societies of Arm Collectors (FESAC).

Gozo 1234 and 5 and 6 and 7

For those who might have missed it, here you can have a glimpse of what kind of PR went on during the festivities of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th of may 2008 in the famous island of Gozo:

Gozo 1:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, visits Archeology Museum at the Cittadella,Victoria, Gozo

Gozo 2:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, at Cittadella, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 3:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs K. Gonzi attended a traditional folk dance and singing activity. Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said was also presentat Palm Street, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 4:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs Kate Gonzi visit an art exhibition accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said at The Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo at Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 5:

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs Kate Gonzi visit the Crafts and Art Market. Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said accompanied the Prime Minister at Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria, Gozo.

Gozo 6:

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, attends the traditional Dwejra fair at Dwejra Gozo.

Gozo 7:

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, visits an Exhibition at Banca Giuratale, accompanied by the Minister for Gozo, the Hon Giovanna Debono, and Parliamentary Secretaries the Hon Chris Said, and the Hon Mario de Marco, at Independence Square, Victoria, Gozo.

Malta lost a great man

The Times of Malta reported that Sir Anthony Mamo, the first President of Malta, died aged 99 this morning.The same newspaper gave a short biographical note on Sir Anthony Mamo. He was a former Chief Justice and was the only Governor-General of Malta before he served as President between 1974-76.
Anthony Mamo was born in Birkirkara and educated at the Archbishop’s seminary and the University of Malta where he graduated BA in 1931 and LLD in 1934. He was in private practice for a year before joining the civil service. He served as Crown Counsel from 1942 and became attorney general. He was appointed chief justice in 1957 and Governor-General in 1971 before becoming President in 1974.
Sir Anthony was a professor of criminal law at the University.
He was awarded the OBE in 1955 and knighted two years later. He was made Sieheb il-Gieh within the National Order of Merit in 1993.

The Department of Information said the Prime Minister had phoned Sir Anthony's family to convey his condolences. Sir Anthony is to be given a state funeral. Details will be announced shortly. The last state funeral was that of President Agatha Barbara in 2002.

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party issued a press statement expressing the party's condolences, praising Sir Anthony for his intellect, integrity and professionalism, saying that his passing away was a major loss for the country.

May he Rest in Peace.

No sensitivity to our history and heritage

Here I am posting two photos for you to spot the difference. I think that you can clik on the photo to enlarge it.

Something is missing/stolen or what?


'They' took it away and cement it instead!


Is the Gharb Mayor aware?


No sensitivity to our cultural heritage indeed or one of the seher il-punent happenings?

Minn Sqallija spiccaw Ghawdex

Le, mhux ghall-immigranti rregolari qed nghid....imma kwazi. Wahda minnhom is-Sewda nghidulha fil-fatt.

Kellu jaghtiha sorpriza ghal birthday. Xtara l-biljetti biex hu u l-mara tieghu Alice jiehdu lil Joan Debattista gurnata Sqallija bl-ajrupjan. Joan donna kienet qed tistenna xi tip ta' sorpriza kif jaf jaghmel Grezzju ghal b'day taghha. Meta wasal il-Gimgha 25 ta' April f'xi l-5 ta' fil-ghodu cempel lil Joan u qallha biex tipprepara l-passaport. Dik hekk ghamlet. Miskina.

Grezzju saq bil-lajma lejn l-ajruport. Mar jizzattat quddiem biex min ghalih jaghmel ic-check-in u jirkeb l-ajruplan.

"L-ajruplan diga qabbad il-magni u c-check-in ilu maghluq. Sorry."

"Mela mhux fis-7.00am jitlaq?"

"Le. Fis-7.00am jasal Catania."

Tistghu timmaginaw wicc il-mara ta' Grezzju kif sar!
Joan tipprova tikkalma is-sitwazzjoni.
Grezzju bla kliem....soltu wara li jfattar xi haga.

F'xi l-11.00 nirceivi telefonata m'ghand Joan. Qaltli li qieghda tiehu kafe' ghand Bellusa.

"Bellusa ir-Rabat voldieri?"

"Iwa qieghda Ghawdex"

Gidtilha: "Orrajt, stennieni nitfa ha nghid lil Miriam nigu niehdu drink hemmhekk." U morna.

X'hin naslu naraw lil Joan flimkien ma' Grezzju u martu Alice. Alice kien qisha l-Alice in wonderland. Grezzju wicc l-askri (bejnietna, dak ghandu hafna tipi ta' wcuh) u Joan tikxef snienha.

Mank ilhaqna poggejna bil-qieghda li ma qalulniex bil-frattarija ta' Sqallija. Alice kellha ghajnejha miksurin. Thassartha. L-iehor le imma. Beda jipprova jikxef snienu biex ghat-taparsi ma gara xejn ta' barra minn hawn. U mur!

Qalu li marru shopping u ser jerghu jmorru shopping u fthemna li niltaqghu aktar tard. dawn l-Imlaten ukoll!

Hekk ghamilna.

Iltqajna ghand wiehed mir-rahhala li jahdmu mieghi fl-agri-turizmu.
Joan ghoxiet.

Thobb hafna l-baqar. Gibtilha l-ghogol. Tghidx kemm ferhet bih.

Grezzju iddeffes u tista' tarah fir-ritratt jipprova juri li ma jibzax mill-ghogol. Hemm arah jippoppa sormu.

Riedet tkun taf liema hu l-muntun. Ovvjament riedet tkun taf liema hu l-wott wkoll peress li fuq ix-xoghol ghandhom wott iehor imma b'zewgt saqajn.

Hawnhekk Joan u Grezzju mall-muntun. Araw naqra dak il-bully fuq wara.

Anke it-tigieg riedet tmiss. Refghet tigiega hamra u mbaghad refghet tigiega bajda.



U s'intendi riedet tigbor il-bajd.

Iddawar idha 'l hawn u ddawwar idha 'l hemm, gabret battejn.


Mur ghidilha li l-bajda tat-tigiega l-hamra kellha tispicca fuq rasha.

Viva l-birthday!





U wara morna nieklu Turkish fir-restaurant gdid li fetah fir-Rabat.

Intant it-tfal ta' Joan ma jafu b'xejn. Minghalihom qieghdin Sqallija!

Maria Helga-Zammit tibghat l-SMSes biex tara kif il-kunjata sejra ma' l-Isqallin. Ippruvajt naghtiha hjiel. Ghidt lil Joan tiktbilha SMS hekk:

'Bhalissa qieghdin Birbuba - villagg semitiku in-naha tal-punet'

Imma Helga Zammit ghandha xorti taf li l-Gharb qieghed fil-punent t'Ghawdex ahseb-u-ara fejn hi Birbuba jew San Dimitri.

Hawn qieghdin nieklu ghand tal-Lajku. Mill-lemin ghax-xellug jew mix-xellug ghal lemin: Grezzju ta' wiccu u **** xorta wahda, Joan is-Sewda, Jien u Miriam u Alice in Wonderland.
[Dan ir-rakkont inkiteb bil-kunsens tal-protagonisti ewlenin ta' l-istorja]

Agro and Eco Holidays in Gozo

Reading the Sunday newspapers today I was so pleased to read a contribution as a letter to the Sunday Independent Editor under the name of Not. J. L. Attard (Read HERE).Not sure if Attard is the one I know.

Although the first part of his letter was focused on statistical figures of unemployment written in quite a partisan way and thus bashing the PN government, the rest of his letter was positive. I am so pleased that finally another Gozitan can see a solution to create more jobs in Gozo by investing in the agri-tourism sector.


Two summers ago, an SBS Radio representative visited Gozo. She and her family participated in one of the experiences offered by the Ager Foundation. She interviewed me (in Maltese) and some of the service providers - farmers. I downloaded the sound clip from the Sydney Radio and created the video clip below and added it to the new Ager Foundation Youtube page.