Professional Documents
Culture Documents
20
YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT
maltatoday
SUNDAY 6 JANUARY 2013 ISSUE 687 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY
CAN THIS
MAN BE
MALTAS
NEXT PRIME
MINISTER?
He changed the aesthetics of the Labour Party and
transformed an ineffectual political force into an
organised campaigning machine. The big question is:
can this man deliver the beef?
mt survey
CONTINUES ON PAGE 10
Newspaper post
JAMES DEBONO
2
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
ROME
SALE
FURTHER
REDUCTIONS
TRIPLE
TWIN
TRIPLE
TWIN
TRIPLE
TWIN
ONLINE
409
429
549
569
1109
1129
ROCS
RATES
239
249
289
299
489
509
ROCS
FURTHER
REDUCED
RATES
199
219
249
269
429
469
News
Simon Busuttil
and thus choose for himself the battle terrain Grech proved reluctant
to say anything worth reporting. For
instance, when talk turned to Air
Malta as it did fairly frequently
the former chairman of the national
airline limited his contribution only
to say: if you like we will discuss that
in another programme, just you and
I: adding that on this subject alone,
he had perhaps more insider knowledge than others.
All well and good, but... why was it
not possible to talk about the same
subject in slightly lesser detail yesterday? Inevitably, one gets the impression that Louis Grech was simply
unprepared or unwilling to talk about
it: which is not the sort of depth one
expects from a European approach to
such matters.
Then there were contradictions of
simply Biblical proportions on either
side. After accusing Grech of inconsistency, Busuttil went on to radically
reinvent his own partys former positions on a number of issues. Incredibly, he even cited the introduction of
low-cost airlines as one of the feathers
in the PNs cap quite forgetting that
the Nationalist government had actually resisted this development tooth
and nail for almost a decade, and only
very grudgingly accepted their introduction under intense pressure from
the tourism lobby.
But such was the reluctance of either deputy leader to provide concrete
details about his own partys proposals, that the bulk of the discussion
was limited largely to the standard,
ritual exchange of accusations and
calculated barbs (though admittedly
Louis Grech
couched in far less aggressive terms
than usual).
This was clearly more familiar territory for Busuttil, who often successfully put his opposite number on
the defensive: about his own election
at the expense of Anglu Farrugia
(who now seems to have become a
folk-hero for the Nationalists, of all
things), and also about the Labour
Partys highly dubious track record
on both employment and matters
concerning human rights.
Grech may have been somewhat
less eloquent at this level of the debate often his sentences trailed
away into incoherent mumbles
but he did give as good as he got in
return. At one point, he turned the
tables onto Busuttil over his own
partys much more consequential
internal problems a line of attack
which culminated in what was arguably the strongest line of the evening:
Your government has spent the past
year and a half in denial. (To which
Busuttil, it must be said, had no answer to give.)
But ultimately, Louis Grech was on
far safer and more comfortable territory when he tried to strike a more
conciliatory tone. Viewers of either
political hue will no doubt have sympathised with his claim that people
are simply fed up with divisive, confrontational politics. Many would
have also welcomed his appeal for
greater impartiality in our general
approach to such matters: it cannot be, he argued, that we still cling
to the old view that everything one
side does is automatically right, and
vice versa.
Panel of international
experts to endorse
Labour plans
A plan to reduce electricity and water tariffs by the Labour Party will be
explained in a business breakfast next
Wednesday, during which a panel of
international experts will endorse the
Oppositions plans.
Labour sources stopped short of revealing any details about the plans, but
they insisted that it was not based on
the Sargas proposal, though they also
said they would not rule out Sargas.
The international experts who
News
Gay marriage
Despite valiant efforts to introduce
the cohabitation bill last year, the
draft law was a disservice to all parties involved. Cohabitation law and
gay marriage are two very different
pieces of legislation, however the
Civil Partnerships and Rights and
Obligations of Cohabitants Act tried
to intertwine cohabitation and rights
of same-sex couples together.
The first to propose the legalisation of gay marriage was the divorce
champion and outgoing MP Jeffrey
Pullicino Orlando, who once again
tested the limits of the Nationalist
governments Christian Democrat
credentials by floating the idea in
March last year.
In the forthcoming electoral cam-
News
Cohabitation Law
The greatest fault in the draft Civil
Partnerships and Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act was its
lack of clarity. Instead of defining a
framework of rights including property, taxation, social welfare and legal
rights, the bill championed by outgoing justice minister Chris Said went
completely adrift by defining differences between different types of
partnerships.
In an attempt to shoehorn in civil
partnerships for same-sex couples in
a cohabitation law, the Nationalist
government failed on two fronts. It
presented a discriminatory cohabitation law and failed to take heed from
the divorce debacle, while also missing out on an opportunity to table a
separate bill on civil unions.
The bill received an unenthusiastic
reception by an irate gay community,
which said it was misled about the
draft laws content and parts of the
bill were even branded discriminatory by some quarters.
In 2011, 22.7% of all births in Malta
were extramarital, however Gonzis
two administrations have procrastinated in introducing the law, despite
repeated promises that his government will honour an electoral commitment made by the PN in 1998 to
recognise the rights and obligations
of cohabiting couples.
Reports and indications that the bill
would recognise the civil partnerships of same-sex couples, gave the
gay community an impression that
the PN government was ready to go
beyond a mere recognition of same-
Drug legalisation
As anywhere else in the world,
Maltas drug policy is and has always been closely linked to political
manoeuvring. In recent months the
pro-legalisation lobby found new impetus with a number of well-attended
demonstrations held in Valletta and
compared to previous years, the issue
is no longer a taboo subject.
Pro-legalisation lobby activist David
Caruana had said the time had come
not only to decriminalise drugs,
but as both political parties said this
week, a reform is also needed for the
classification of drugs. Legalising
and regulating cannabis would place
government in charge of it, taking it
away from the criminals and out of
the hands of children.
Despite the fact that no party in
Malta supports the legalisation of
drugs, Alternattiva Demokratika is
the only party so far to openly support the decriminalisation of drugs
for personal use. The Greens argue
that this policy was successful in
countries like Portugal and that it results in more safety and less crime.
On the other hand, the PN and
Labour remain adamantly opposed
to the legalisation or decriminalisation of drugs. Although the Labour
according to an analysis by
the former head of the legalisation group NORML.
At an estimated $35.8 billion marijuana is by far the largest
cash crop in the United States when
compared to the average production values of other crops from 2003
to 2005.
Prison rights activist Fr Mark Montebello who recently spent some
time in the heart of Mexicos drugwar region had said that decriminalisation strikes at the root of the
problem adding that the current
tough policies only strengthen the
international drugs trade.
The outspoken Montebello had
claimed that the drugs trade is Maltas greatest business, saying that resistance to the idea of decriminalisation stemmed from the involvement
of powerful players in the illicit trafficking of drugs.
n
pu
of blic
fe at
r io
e-
Pr
T
I
G
N
SAYI S
I
T
I
S
A
ALZAN
B
R
U
O
I
V
A
S
Saying it as it is a narrative of the events the author experienced in the last 35 years. This is a pre-publication offer, and all
proceeds will go the MaltaToday libel fund. Order your hardback copy, worth 30.00, and save 6. Please send a cheque of 24.00
with your name, address and contact number. All cheques are to be made payable to MediaToday and addressed to MediaToday,
Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann. This offer does not cover postage and packaging. A week before publication date, an invitation will be issued
to all those who ordered the book to attend the launch. Those who do not collect the book on this occasion may collect the book from
the MediaToday ofces in San Gwann.
News
Michael Falzon
for the
parties to play to
a public sense of fair play during the
holidays. But not everyone agrees.
I think the truce was generally ad-
News
let battle
ba
begin
hered
to except for the
fact that Labour had an internal election for deputy
leader. This, theoretically,
was not part of the electoral campaign In practice, we know it was!
MaltaToday columnist Michael Falzon, himself a former Nationalist
minister, said.
I dont think it was a gimmick.
It was a responsible decision and
my initial reaction was positive. I
am not disappointed with the way
things turned out.
Of a similar opinion was anthropologist Ranier Fsadni, formerly
chairperson of the PN think-tank
AZAD, who said the two major political parties adhered to the truce.
It was never meant as an agree-
Lino Spiteri
Ranier Fsadni
the PNs own battle-cry would be to
hammer that on the whole it was
good, and so it will remain with a
PN government opting for Labour is a risk.
Of the same opinion is Fsadni,
who believes that a certain segment
the PN.
Certain of Labours totemic symbols were particularly likely to be
associated with the memories and
myths that are the wellsprings of the
fear. I interpret Labours change of
its name, certain of its symbols and
colours to be an attempt to neutralize this fear, in the hope that this will
reduce of the PNs turnout, Fsadni
says, referring to the softer hues of
MARCH
ELECTIONS IN
FIGURES
175,000
Number of
eligible voters for Local Council
elections
5,000
The number of
persons who will assist the
Electoral Commission at the
polling booths and counting
hall
332,000
Number of
eligible voters for General
Election 17,000 more then
2008
It is expected that by the third week
of January, the commission would
have processed the list of candidates
who will be contesting the 9 March
elections.
On 9 March, local council elections
will be held simultaneously with the
general election in 34 localities. The
Number of parties
who have confirmed their
participation. However, other
parties could join PN,PL,AD in
coming days.
65
Number of seats to be
won, although the number
could increase if result is not
proportionally reflected in
number of seats obtained by
elected parties.
13
Number of districts
in which Malta is divided for
General Election purposes
34
News
News
Size
Rap
Raphael
p
Vassallo
Vas
office and even more so, throughout Alfred Sants entire tenure between 1996 and 1998 the longterm success of any government
now depends not just on securing a
parliamentary majority to begin with
(as it did in 1987) but also on the
extent of the same parliamentary
majority.
Put bluntly: the state of present-day
Maltese politics, with its tendency
towards internal bickering and backbencher revoltss, is such that size
really does matter. Only a majority of
at least two seats ideally, three or
four can now create the parliamen-
10
News
tary cushion necessary to buffer any
potential future rebellions of the
kind that has become steadily more
frequent in the past two decades.
In this sense, one is forcibly reminded of that classic line from
Shakespeares Macbeth: To be thus
is nothing; but to be safely thus
And for Muscat in particular, winning on March 9 would in fact only
be a first step towards building a secure platform from which to govern
comfortably for the following five
years.
It is therefore highly unlikely
that electoral strategy discussions
at Mile End will be limited only to
electoral campaign issues covering
the next two months. Muscat and
his strategists will almost certainly
have their eye on the bigger picture:
looking towards a post-election scenario, and considering how best to
accommodate the right people in
the right positions, without unduly
upsetting any disgruntled backbenchers whose ambitions may be
thwarted by the Prime Ministers
choice of Cabinet (among other
possible pitfalls).
mt survey
Labour starts
the race with the
advantage of having
a more trusted leader
CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1
The PN starts this years race 1.6
points below 2008 levels.
Support for the PN during 2012
ranged between 22% in December and
29% in September. Moreover, while
the February 2008 survey registered
a 3.6-point swing from the PN to the
Labour Party, the 2012 survey registers
an 8-point swing.
Back in 2008, the PN had succeeded
in wiping out Labours pre-campaign
advantage to win the general election
by a wafer-thin 1,500-vote majority.
The task now seems more daunting
for the PN, because the PL starts the
race benefiting from a higher swing in
its favour than in 2008.
But past surveys show that the electoral campaign itself can change the
political dynamics of the race.
MaltaToday surveys in 2008 had
shown the PN catching up and eventually overtaking Labour during the
final weeks of the electoral campaign,
mainly thanks to an increase in support for the PN among new voters,
which compensated for the swing in
Labours favour.
Moreover, contrary to 2008, Labour
starts the race with the advantage of
having a more trusted leader than Lawrence Gonzi.
(&&*
(&'(
(&'(
$(&&)(&&*%!
(&&*
(&'(
65.7
9.6
0.6
3.6
20.5
#
11
News
PL
PN
Profile
Leade
PL
Leader
PN
Leade
t k
n
Don
Don
ne
t k
n
ne
ow
10
ow
No
% support
20
No
30
Leader
Which leader do
you trust most?
PN in 2003 because of the EU membership issue.
While AD started of the 2008
electoral campaign from the minimal 0.7% level of support gained in
the 2003 election, in 2013 the party
starts from the 1.3% level gained in
2008.
Interestingly the number of undecided voters and non-voters is
similar in both surveys although a
higher percentage of respondents
refused to state their intentions in
2008.
JANUARY 2008
Muscat by 11 points.
A year of surveys
2012 started with Labour enjoying
a 9-point lead over the PN amid rumours of an imminent election after
Franco Debono threatened to bring
the government down following a
government reshuffle at the beginning of January, and ending with the
PL enjoying an 8-point lead after the
government lost the budget vote and
elections were called.
This suggests that little has changed
over the past months, with Labour
holding on to its lead.
But in reality, the prolongation of
the crisis after the government survived a confidence vote in January at
first worked in the PLs favour with
the gap increasing to a staggering 14
points in March; and then against
it, with the gap being narrowed to
11 points in May following the noconfidence vote in Carm Mifsud
Bonnici.
But expectations of an imminent
election boosted Labours fortunes
in Autumn, with the gap remaining
DECEMBER 2012
steady at 12 points in the months of
September and October. But the two
post-budget surveys have shown the
PN narrowing the gap first to 9 and
then to 8 points.
The PN reached its lowest ebb in
February just after surviving a confidence vote with the speakers casting vote and after Gonzi called for a
leadership contest in which he stood
as the sole candidate when the party
attracted the support of 22% of respondents.
Support for the PL peaked in
March (39%) and again in September and October when the party surpassed the 40% mark. But the party
registered its lowest level of support
in December when it garnered 31%.
This suggests that the party was fully
geared for an election after the summer recess, but the prolongation of
the governments life to December
has had a negative impact on Labour.
Support for the Greens remained
roughly the same, oscillating between 1.3 and 2.3 percent, with the
greens seeing a peak in support in
12
Interview
By James Debono
From union to
BUDGET TAX
CUTS
I dont
think that it
was fair to
think solely
of [richer]
taxpayers
we should
eventually
consider
revising the
tax bands in
their entirety
ON EU
MEMBERSHIP
I am in
favour of
Europe and
happy that
Malta is part
of the EU. We
should now
focus on being
the best in
Europe
13
Interview
Former union man Manwel Micallef believes the key to the success of a future Labour
government is its ability to kick-start economic growth. The question is: how?
Labour
everything.
What will be the major challenge
of a Labour government?
Joseph Muscat says that Malta
should be the best in Europe. This
is not a clich. He wants quality of
life in Malta to be coveted by other
Europeans. To reach this aim we
need a solid and dynamic economy
in a fast-changing world which does
not allow us to depend on one particular sector.
But does not the present government have a merit in weathering the
international economic crisis and
14
Feature
50 Shades of Grey may have dominated the bookseller lists, but which books stro
of some of our most prominent personalities over the past year? TEODOR RELJIC i
a catastrophic love story running in
parallel to the sorrows of Dominican
history during the tragic and murderous 31 year dictatorship of Rafael
Trujillo, Diaz finds a humorous undercurrent in everything: depression,
obesity, prostitution, injustice, poverty, cruelty and despair.
The novel focuses on the viewpoint
of the diaspora from the Dominican
Republic, and the narration is a mix
of United States popular culture and
Dominican history.
Daz emphasizes sex as a key ingredient in being a Dominican male. The
Dominican male is characterized
Ruben Zahra
Musician, Artistic Programme Director for Valletta 2018
THE BOOK: Sin City The Complete Series by Frank Miller
WHY ITS SPECIAL: Spanning
seven comic book volumes, Sin City
showcases Frank Millers dark, violent and wholly, pathologically, noir
universe. Sin City is Millers longestrunning work set in crime-ridden
Basin City, dominated by booze,
broads and bullets and the struggles
over and concerning them.
In marvellous black and white studies, Miller parodies all the pulp essentials, shadow and absence dominating the books. If he can leave
something unsaid and suggest it via
a looming umbra, he will. He creates
a universe in which his art and words
work beautifully together to create
something powerfully unique.
Ira Losco
Singer
Alan Montanaro
Actor, drama teacher, Panto Dame
THE BOOK: First They Killed My
Father by Loung Ung
Coryse Borg
Actress, Artistic Programme Director for Valletta 2018
THE BOOK: Actions: The Actors
Thesaurus by Maria Calderone and
Maggie Lloyd-Williams
WHY ITS SPECIAL: This year I
found myself extremely busy not
least due to a hectic theatre schedule and didnt end up reading as
much as Id liked. But it was during
one of the plays I was taking part in
Shakespeares A Winters Tale that I
was introduced by my director, Polly
Leo Brincat
Labour spokesperson for the environment
THE BOOK: Ever The Diplomat by
Sherard Cowper-Coles
Steve Hili
Radio DJ, actor
THE BOOK: Ramon u z-Zerbinotti
by Guze Stagno
WHY ITS SPECIAL: I am constantly reading. Throughout 2012
15
Feature
2012
Joe Tanti
Radio DJ
THE BOOK: Shake Hands with the
Devil by Romeo Dallaire
WHY ITS SPECIAL: I read true
stories, biographies, autobiographies
real life. How nations unite in indifference rather than action. How helpless you and I are. How frustrating it
is to want to be heard when youre
ignored by the people you thought
would understand.
If you want to understand the plight
of so many refugees to distant shores
like ours, first you have to know their
pain. A pain all to close to the Rwanda
story.
Raphael Vella
Artist, lecturer, Artistic Programme
Director for Valletta 2018
Jean-Pierre Magro
16
Opinion
Saviour Balzan
speakers.
These past two weeks, I visited
both HQs, and the contrast was
immense, if not shocking.
The Labour Party had
American-style posters hanging
everywhere, with new faces
strolling around, creating the
impression that something new
was happening.
When I arrived, I a smiling
face greeted me and wished me a
happy new year.
At the Stamperija, the reception
simply looked at me at addressed
with Hi. That is precisely what
I hate.
Yet even more sinister, was the
next question:
Who are you?
Now I do not expect to be
recognised by everyone but in the
political world I am what Dixan is
to a housewife.
Now that may sound
chauvinistic, most especially to
that silly government department
on equality, who always write
me letters obliging me to write
handyperson not handyman and
police officer not policeman and
chairperson not chairman.
The truth is that the Labour
Party has managed to cough up
more than a simple tsunami of
enthusiasm but an avalanche
of new faces, many of whom
would have comfortably landed
themselves in the PN.
It reminds me of the PN of
yesteryear, when people just
flocked to the Stamperija to be
part of the sea of change.
Today, I get the feeling that many
want to be part of the change.
Changing the old guard.
The worrisome thing about this
change is that it is not ideological.
Ideological change is more
permanent.
The change has very much to
do with denying Lawrence Gonzi
another five-year term.
People simply argue that they
would like to see a change.
Muscat is hoping for a pyrrhic
victory but it will be short-lived
if he does not provide the beef.
And the beef is all about longterm change.
Changing the foundations of
this country in such a way that the
mistakes of the past will not be
repeated with every change of the
administration.
Changing the car registration
tax regime or allowing for civil
The real
change
will make
diversity a
possibility
and allow
for a level
playing field
17
Opinion
Raphael Vassallo
rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt
Fantasy island
I
Inhabitants
of fantasy
islands
do not
like being
reminded of
this, but...
out of the ballot box to be counted in
the end.
And with every passing election
the need to address this anomaly
grows ever more pressing. At
the last election, the number of
uncounted votes stood at around
4,000. Considering that the two main
parties were separated by only around
one-fourth that number, the fact
that so many votes were ultimately
bypassed in the counting process
can only raise very serious questions
about whether the result of that
election (or indeed any other since
Independence) was in fact an accurate
reflection of the will of the electorate.
Yet here we all are again, 25 years
after a promise to revise that same
system and we face yet another
election whose outcome will be
inherently questionable from the
outset.
And why, pray tell, did the
Nationalist government fail to fix
such a glaring bug in our system
despite the existence of broad
consensus on precisely
how
to go about fixing it? I imagine for the
same reason that Labour never did
much about it when the shoe was on
its own foot.
Its simply not in the incumbent
governments interest to have a fair
election result. The only thing that
interests an incumbent government is
to carry on governing. The will of the
electorate? That just gets in the way.
And oh look: if there is yet another
mismatch between votes and seats
(as there was in 2008), we will once
again fall back on a Constitutional
mechanism that was originally
concocted by the late Guido de
Marco and Dom Mintoff way back in
in 1986, with a view only to guarantee
majority rule in cases where the
number of seats does not reflect the
percentage of votes cast.
In other words, the Constitutional
mechanism which translated into
four extra PN seats at the last election
was originally intended only as
a stop-gap measure until a more
wholesome and permanent solution
could be found.
Yet 25 years later this same stopgap measure has now become the
norm: despite the inherently antidemocratic nature of a system which
simply awards Parliamentary seats
even to candidates who fail to meet
the required quota for parliamentary
representation.
But of course none of this really
matters, you know. The only really
important thing is that we get to
continue living in that beautiful
fantasy dream-world of ours: a world
in which our country is not actually
saddled with more debt that future
generations will ever be able to pay
(thats just enemy propaganda, you
know); nor is it not crippled by the
exact same infrastructural problems
we experienced before 1987.
Who can best guarantee the
uninterrupted continuation of that
illusion, in defiance of reality, for at
least the next five years? And THAT, I
greatly fear, is what this next election
is really all about.
18
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
From tomorr
Reporter with Saviour Balzan
On Favourite Channel
Monday to Friday
Repeat on maltatoday.com.mt
James Debono
Asks the vital
questions of the
campaign
maltatoday.com.mt
Karl Stagno
Navarra
Tour of Malta
maltatoday.com.mt
19
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
row on maltatoday.com.mt
19
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
row on maltatoday.com.mt
20
Opinion
Evarist Bartolo
"11;./$"$"!1/,./$"/
1kkxkX@k@bkkx,Xkx@_kk
k@3X@}sbk@b@bkbkXk_k@X@N
!@kkkxkkxbkX@b@bxkkkxk@bbk
X@kx@bbk@b@k@Nk@XXkkb!b@_kXkNk_@k@b
$xyXk8@k@_@b!b@}kXkNk__@k@b$xyXk8X@_
bkkbkXkbXkx!@kkk@NkkbNk!xk
xx@@bkkx,Xk_@bX@kbkkbk_@bkkxk_kbk@b$xyXk
xkkX@$xyXkkkbkX@b!@kkkk_bkX@b
Nk@@Nkkbkkk@xkx@@_
kkX@
1"9k./",.!1/;/1!
@k@b@XkbNkkk_kk@kxk@b@@kxx@
!xkxx@NkkNkxkk@xbk_Xx@x
kXkxk@X@xkbkXkbXk1kk.kbkXk@b_XNkkb_
kkkkxNkbk@bkbkXk
X@xkkk.kbkXk@bNkkXkkbx1b"@@@x
1b@@@_3@@@Nk@X@@x1kb@z
@@_@k@@@Nkxb@bxkkxx@!kNk
xkX@NkXkXkbbkXxkk@kxk@b
@@kxx@
1kkX_XkNkxkkxkbkXkbXk_kxNk
!b@_1kb@_1b@@bb@Nkkkp@bX@@kNk@bk
@_@k,@Xk_b_8@k@_kX@bX@NkXkXkbx_!k@/kk_8@k@
1k!xkxx@bkx@k@@xkkk_k@b
kXNkXkbxk@X@Nkkk@@@b@@__Nb@
1kkXk@kxXkXxkbkXkkbkb
xkkkk@kX@XpNk@k.kbkXkx@L
BOV, which
has missold the
schemes to
investors,
should not
be the one
informing
its victims
of MFSAs
decision
21
Opinion
O
Claudine Cassar
22
Letters
Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075
E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted.
PN gambles on local
elections as referendum
date looms
10 years ago 5 JANUARY 2003
Cabinet was facing a challenge come 6 January, 2003,
as it was expected to discuss
the date for a referendum on
EU membership to decide on
whether to hold the local council elections, which are due on
8 March.
The decision to postpone the
local elections had to be taken
before 20 January when by
law, the Presidents writ is issued. However, on 3 January,
2003, then prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami gave a very
strong hint that he intended to
go ahead with the local elections.
The elections, which were to
be held in 23 localities, saw
one third of the electorate going to the polls. They served as
a barometer for the electorates
mood, even if localised issues
unrelated to national concerns
tend to influence the vote.
However, judging by the trend
witnessed over the three years
prior to 2003, local elections
were a bad omen for the Nationalist Party, and the decision
to go ahead with the forthcoming March elections was a big
gamble for them. It wasnt going to be easy for the prime minister to convince his cabinet to
tow the line and go ahead with
the March elections.
In 2002, the Labour Party
emerged victorious at the polls
with a clear majority of 52%.
Even if the majority of localities were Labour-leaning, the
victory was not to be ignored.
It gave a clear signal that the
Mintoff factor was no longer a
nuisance for the Labour Party
and that Labourites were shedding their scepticism on local
elections.
23
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
Available
at all
leading
bookstores
Retail
price
24.99
24
Editorial
Labour in 2008 was reeling from its fifth electoral defeat since 1981. Clearly, the time had
come for a radical rethink, and if necessary a
radical reform of the entire party. And it was
largely on this premise that Joseph Muscat
was preferred over his older competitors.
To say that Muscat has not since delivered
on this promise of change would be wrong.
From the very start, he surrounded himself
with his most trusted friends and collaborators. A closer look at his entourage will
uncover an uncanny resemblance to his
schoolmates at St Aloysius College. They are
all young, business-oriented and well educated men and women with a thirst to elect
Muscat into government.
Indeed many among the party faithful have
questioned the wisdom of keeping unelected
officials so close to his power base.
But Muscat has followed in the footsteps of
25
MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016
MANAGING DIRECTOR: ROGER DE GIORGIO
MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN
Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Fax: (356) 21 385075
Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt
deeds.
If Muscat does get elected, he will be one of
the youngest prime ministers and one with a
very tall order.
Ruling is very different from leading an
Opposition party through a campaign as
Muscat may well discover very soon.
If he fails to get elected he would have
condemned the Labour Party to a future of
great uncertainty and awarded the Nationalist
administration with another five years.
It would mean that the electorate prefers
familiar faces and the status quo. Polls have
another story to tell, but anything could happen.
Monday, 7 January marks the beginning of
the electoral campaign during which we
commit ourselves to provide a fair and objective reportage and analysis of the political
campaigning of all the political parties.
26
THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK
Graffiti: an unofficial legacy
to former servicemen in
Malta PART 1
Baroque Architecture researcher and illustrator DENIS
A. DARMANIN zooms in on examples of military graffiti
spread out across the Maltese island in this two-part series
ONE may not consider graffiti of having any historical value, but rather as
an act of vandalism, which in its rightful perspective is very true. Whether
scratched, written or daubed with
paint, graffiti is a means by which the
perpetrator passes a message, leaves
a statement or produces a likeness of
something on an external surface.
Those most common are usually
those left by some young lovers where
the lad scratches his name and of his
girlfriend along with a heart. Others
more common until recently were
politically orientated, while a great
number just show a name or nickname, and possibly a date.
However, graffiti in the soft Maltese
limestone goes back much farther
in time, probably to the pre-historic
period of our islands. My good friend
Joseph Muscat had dedicated a good
part of his life researching and giving
us numerous publications on ships
graffiti from the era of the Order of St
John in Malta. He was partially instrumental in kindling this interest in me,
but it is also a by-product of the wide
spectrum that I cherish when it comes
to Maltas vast military heritage, especially of the British era.
Many of these early graffiti come in
the form of a likeness of some galley or
man-of-war of the Order and concentrated on the external walls of chapels
and churches, very likely the result
of an ex-voto by some Maltese sailor
for having returned safely home after
completing a corso, or voyage. Others
could have been inspired by his safe
return after an engagement with an
enemy while at sea, or by his reaching
safe harbour in the aftermath of some
bad storm.
More are commonly found in former
residences of similar seamen from the
villages who had wished to record
a likeness of the ship that they had
served on. Some of my favourite graffiti of this era are located on the exterior
of the Sarria Chapel in Floriana, of the
post office at Zurrieq, the Cathedral
in Gozo, the Victory Chapel in Qormi
and a number of rural dwellings scattered around the island. These ship
graffiti give a first-hand impression of
what some of these vessels had looked
like in the eyes of the person who had
etched them, some in great detail, but
also in learning some of the names
CULTURE | TV | FILM
CINEMA LISTINGS
FOOD | WHATS ON
Drama go
St James C
St James Cavalier continues its
collaboration with the Metropolitan
Opera this season, with lavish new
productions being transmitted to
the St James Cavalier Cinema live
from New York.
LElisir DAmore January 13,
15:00
modern terms graffiti is an act of vandalism, these later ones and in the context in which they appear, are pages
from our history that cannot be found
written or recorded in any book.
Due to Maltas strategic position as
Britains major garrison, ship repair,
transit, bunkering and victualing station in the Mediterranean, our islands
enjoyed the movement of many ships,
both naval and commercial, and the
movement of thousands of soldiers
from all corners of the Empire. Apart
from the Mediterranean Fleet, other
ships of the Royal Navy and its auxiliaries called regularly at our harbours
or were stationed here in duration.
Therefore, considering the number
of naval establishments in Malta with
their own personnel and the additional crews billeted while their ships
are being repaired or who were just in
transit, it is not difficult to find that
many sailors left a statement to their
presence on the island. Among my
favourites in former Royal Navy establishments can be found at Manoel
Island, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St Angelo
and Verdala Barracks.
Graffiti were not the product of seamen and sailors alone, as many others
were left by soldiers. During the Napoleonic and Crimean wars, Malta is
recorded as having been the station
or transit point of as many as 20,000
British, colonial and allied troops. A
number of them were stationed here
as a garrison force, plus our own Maltese regiments serving under the British Crown or as better known, the
Maltese Corps of the British Army.
Many of these soldiers were stationed in the same barracks within
the forts and fortifications built by the
Order where conditions were squalid
and very much confined, so graffiti by
British soldiers also adorn the walls of
many of these old buildings.
Denis A. Darmanin will be giving a
talk on military graffiti at the lower
section of Fort St Elmo in Valletta
on 10 January at 18:00, at The Judge
M. Caruana Curran Hall, Din l-Art
Helwa, 133, Melita Street, Valletta.
The second part of this article will be
published in the 9 January edition of
MaltaToday Midweek.
Otello
27
maltatoday,
GINGER
GRUB
pgs 34, 35
MAD
MOODS
pg 32
es digital at
Cavalier
LElisir DAmore
only )
Senior Citizens, Students, Unemployed, Special Needs: 10
Children (under 12) 5
The Tempest
British composer Thomas Ads
makes his company debut conducting the Met premiere of his opera
The Tempest, which has been widely
praised as a modern masterpiece.
Robert Lepages innovative production recreates the interior of the
La Scala opera house as the magical
island venue for the otherworldly
arts of Prospero, the exiled Duke of
Milan.
Simon Keenlyside sings Prospero,
as he did to critical acclaim in the
operas world premiere at the Royal
Opera, Covent Garden. The Tempest is an extraordinary, exquisite
composition.
Lepage says: The opera captures
the magic of Shakespeares last play.
It is a box full of magic tricks, which
makes it a gift for me and for the designers.
The opera also stars Isabel Leonard as Prosperos daughter, Miranda;
Toby Spence as his brother, Antonio; Audrey Luna as the spirit Ariel;
Iestyn Davies as the jester, Trinculo;
Alek Shrader in his Met debut as
the noble Ferdinand; Alan Oke as
the monstrous Caliban; and William Burden as the King of Naples.
The libretto, by Meredith Oakes,
is adapted from the original text of
Shakespeares play.
Un Ballo In Maschera
The Tempest
VALENTINE
VACATION
pg 36
We are a
baroque
nation
Valletta International Baroque
Festival Artistic Director Kenneth
Zammit Tabona tells TEODOR RELJIC
that the upcoming showcase of
local and international music will
push Vallettas baroque roots to the
forefront once again
28
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
THIS
THISWEEK
WEEK
MUSIC
maltatoday
JANUARY 8
restaurant watch
Food:
Quality
Presentation
Wine list
Vegetarian options
Gluten free
Unique dishes
Fresh produce
Service:
Polite
Quick
Friendly
Ambience:
Dcor
Lighting
Music
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Is the resto:
Child-friendly
Comfortable
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
JANUARY 9-26
Valletta International Baroque
Festival
Festival of local and international
baroque music taking place for the
first time in various venues around
Valletta, including the Presidents
Palace, St Johns Co-Cathedral, the
Jesuitss Church and the Church
of all Souls. Featuring the Malta
Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera
Fuoco, La Sainte Folie Fantastique,
Toi Toi Baroque Bonanza, The
Goldberg Ensemble and The
Anon Ensemble, Jeune Orchestre
Atlantique, Cappella Sanctae
Catherinae, Orchestra of the Age
of Enlightenment, New Century
Baroque, Don Juan by Teatru Manoel
Players, Wayne Marshall Organ
Recital, Combattimento Consort
Amsterdam, Combattimento
Consort Amsterdam and Les Talens
Lyriques. On January 13 and 20, the
festival will be running a series of free
events.
JANUARY 29
Improvisations
Concert by percussionist Renzo
Spiteri and Scandinavian saxophone
player Thomas Agergaard at the
Manoel Theatre, Valletta at 20:00.
Tickets are at 20, 15, 10. Bookings:
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt, 21
246389.
THEATRE AND
DANCE
TONIGHT
The Wizard of Oz
Christmas panto by MADC at the
MFCC, Ta Qali. Featuring Alan
Montanaro as The Dame, and
directed by Marco Calleja and Denise
Mulholland. Cast includes: Izzy
Warrington, Bettina Paris, Philippa
Cassar, Gianella Mazzola, Chantelle
Micallef Grimaud, Andy Catania,
Alex Gatesy Lewis, Ralph Mangion,
Chris Hudson, Paula Fleri Soler,
Maria Buckle and Chiara Hyzler.
Tickets are at 10, 17, 22 and 25.
Children 12 years and under get 5
euro discount (discount not available
on 10 ticket). Bookings: 79 796232 or
via http://www.madc.com.mt/.
JANUARY 15
No
No
No
No
Between 40 and 50
Between 50 and 70
Between 70 and 90
Over 90
TONIGHT
The Curse of Snow White
Christmas panto by Masquerade at
the Manoel Theatre, Valletta. Written
by Malcolm Galea, with direction by
Anthony Bezzina, musical direction
by Kevin Abela. Choreography is
by Lee McCallion, vocal coaching
by Stephania Galea, costumes by
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Your details:
Name: ___________________________________
Address: _________________________________
________________________________________
Phone Number: ____________________________
Email address: _____________________________
Send yo
your review to:
Restaurant Watch - MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann. SGN9016
Restau
Or ll it out, scan and email to rzammitcutajar@mediatoday.com.mt
Prize winners will be drawn every Thursday.
29
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
THIS WEEK
Colin Fitz will be treading the boards as the Dame in Masquerades panto The
Curse of Snow White at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta for a final show tonight
UNTIL JANUARY 13
Merry Poppins
Christmas panto at the Catholic
Institute, Floriana. Featuring Toni
Busuttil as Merry Poppins with
choreography by Felix Busttil and
Daron Galea (Yada Dance Company).
Bookings: Pawlu Testa Travel
21223340, 27223340; Catholic
Institute booking office 21238429,
21242551; Carmen Azzopardi
21454836; Tereza Bazaar 21892730.
JANUARY 17
The Hard Rock Bar Comedy Club
First edition of Maltas only comedy
club, running every three weeks at the
Hard Rock Bar, Valletta Waterfront
from 21:00. Featuring: Steve Hili,
Colin Fitz, Dan Cass, Joe Depasquale,
Luca Mul Stagno and Nicola Abela
Garrett. More information: info@
wembleystoreboys.com, 99 992019.
EXHIBITIONS
ENDS TODAY
Laventure
An exhibition of selected artworks
from Hugo Pratts cult comic
book series, Corto Maltese at St
James Cavalier. Curated by comic
book historian Marco Steiner, the
exhibition features 40 prints from the
comics. Organised in association with
the French Embassy.
ENDS TODAY
Maltese Cribs and Christmas Art
exhibition
Exhibition at Auberge dItalie,
Merchants Street, Valletta. Opening
hours: 09:00 to 18:00 (Monday to
Friday), 09:00 to 16:00 (Saturday) and
09:00 to 12:45 (Sunday). Closed on
Christmas and New Years Day.
ENDS TODAY
17.00hrs.
UNTIL JANUARY 13
Caesar Attard H-ardcore
Mixed media exhibition by Caesar
Attard at the Upper Galleries of St
James Cavalier. Visitors will have
the opportunity to move from one
sub-theme to another as they walk
from one room to another. A talk
with the title What is so h-ardcore
about being out of time?, followed by
a discussion, will be held at a date to
be announced later.
UNTIL JANUARY 27
Folk Music Exhibition
An exhibition highlighting traditional
popular music as an integral part of
Maltese identity. Folk instruments on
display include: iz-Zaqq, iz-Zafzafa,
it-Tanbur, il-Flejguta, iz-Zummara
as well as guitars and their moulds.
There is also a video of a live
performance of musicians using
these instruments. At the Inquisitors
Palace, Birgu. Opening Times: 09.00-
1 Year fixed
2 Year fixed
3 Year fixed
3.75% p.a.
4.00% p.a.
4.35% p.a.
UNTIL JANUARY 27
Peasant Costumes: Insights into
Rural Life and Society
If you didnt catch this fascinating
exhibition in Gozo, you can now
visit it in Malta. An exhibition of
popular attire and their pictorial
representations in late 18th, 19th
and early twentieth century Gozo at
the Inquisitors Palace, Birgu. The
exhibition illustrates the historical
context and production processes
and materials for peasants dress
behind popular costume within rural
Malta and Gozo at the time. Opening
times: 09:00 to 17:00 (last entry
16:30). Admission to the exhibition
is included in the admission price to
the Museum: 6.00, 4.50, 3.00. HM
Members free.
UNTIL JANUARY 31
H.M. Bateman The man who
loved Gozo
An exhibition of paintings and other
works by renowned British cartoonist
and artist HM Bateman (1887-1970)
who spent his last years in Gozo at
the Salon at the National Museum
of Archaeology. Bateman was widely
acclaimed for his The Man Who
cartoons. There is also an exhibition
catalogue. Admission included in
the entrance ticket to the Museum:
Adults 5; Students 3.50; Children
2.50. HM Members: Free. Opening
times: 08:00 to 19:00.
FIMBank p.l.c. is a licensed credit institution in Malta with company registration C17003, is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and listed on the
Malta Stock Exchange. The Bank is a participant of the Depositor Compensation Scheme in Malta. Terms and conditions apply.
30
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
THIS WEEK
TELEVISION
Bull Flying Beach 18:25 Studio Aperto 19:00 Come tu
mi vuoi 21:25 I guastanozze 22:55 Il principe delle donne
01:10 Sport Mediaset 01:35 Eli Stone
TVM
07:00 L-Ghodwa T-Tajba 08:00 The divine Michelangelo
Part 2 09:00 TVAM 10:30 Malta u Lil Hinn Minnha
12:00 News in Maltese 12:10 Hadd Ghalik 14:00 News
In Maltese 14:05 Hadd Ghalik (cont.) 15:30 Teleshopping 16:00 News In Maltese 16:05 Teleshopping 16:40
Gadgets (repeat) 17:10 Mixage (repeat) 18:00 News in
Maltese 18:10 Venere (repeat) 18:40 TVHEMM 20:00
L-Abarijie 20:45 X Factor 22:25 Only Fools and Horses
23:15 L-Ahbarijiet 23:35 Malta u lil Hinn Minnha (repeat)
RETE 4
06:40 Tg4 Night News 07:00 Mediashopping 07:30
Vita da strega 08:35 Storie di confine 09:20 Slow
Tour 10:00 S. Messa 11:00 Le storie di viaggio a...
11:25 Anteprima Tg4 11:30 Tg4 Meteo 4 13:55
Anteprima Tg4 14:00 Tg4 Meteo 4 14:40 Come si
cambia 15:20 Poirot 16:20 Tootsie 18:50 Anteprima
Tg4 18:55 Tg4 Meteo 4 19:35 Tempesta damore
21:30 Changeling 00:10 I Bellissimi di Rete 4 00:15
A Mighty Heart
TVM 2
07:00 News 08:00 Extraordinary dogs 08:20 Ghawdex
illum 08:50 Kelma l-hajja 09:00 Quddiesa 09:45 Sensilhena 10:30 TVAM (repeat) 12:00 The Divine Michelangelo 13:00 Ruggers 13:30 GFA Roundup 14:00 Starboard
14:30 Tigrijiet Biss 15:00 3 Pointer 15:30 Paq Paq 16:15
Mixage 16:50 Luxdesign 18:00 Malta u lil hinn minnha
19:30 News for the hearing impaired 19:40 Madwarna
20:25 News in English 20:30 Kuncert tal-Epifanija 21:45
Kontrattakk
NET TV
07:00 Net News 08:30 Telebejgh 10:00 Ucuh 12:00
Distinti 12:30 Telebejgh 14:00 Net News 14:05 Newsroom (repeat) 15:00 Net News 15:05 Simpatici 16:15
Kisbiet 17:00 Net News 17:05 Sport Extra 18:00 Net
News 18:10 Flusek (repeat) 18:40 NetWorks 19:30 Ghalik fl-Ewropa 19:45 Net News 20:30 Dj Vu 21:30 Net
News 21:35 Replay 23:15 Net News
RAI UNO
21:30 Changeling Rete 4
ONE
06:45 Pink Panther 07:30 One News 07:55 Promozzjonijiet u Reklami 08:00 Folji 09:35 Looks 10:20 Dance
10:40 Ilsien in-Nisa 12:10 Aroma Kitchen 13:30 One
News 13:35 Promozzjonijiet u Reklami 13:40 Ir-Rangers
(Omnibus) 14:30 Affari Taghna16:50 Telebejgh 17:30
One News 17:35 Promozzjonijiet u Reklami 17:40 Animae in Concert 19:20 Promozzjonijiet u Reklami 19:30
One News 20:15 Arani Issa 22:35 On D Road 23:05 One
News
CANALE 5
08:00 Tg5 Mattina 08:50 Le frontiere dello spirito 09:40
AXN 301
06:00 Torta di riso... 06:25 Torta di riso... 06:50 Torta
di Spot 07:50 Torta di riso... 08:15 Torta di riso... 08:40
Charlies Angels [15] 09:30 Walker, Texas Ranger 10:20
Walker, Texas Ranger 12:00 Torta di Spot 13:00 Torta
di riso... 13:30 Torta di riso... 13:50 Le spie [12] 15:30
Most Shocking Best Of 16:20 Chaos [15] 17:10 La
mummia: La tomba dellImperatore Dragone 19:05 Top
20 Countdown 20:00 Torta di Spot 21:00 Lincredibile
Hulk [12] 23:00 Torta di Spot
E! ENTERTAINMENT 306
06:00 THS: Michael Jackson 08:00 Forbes Top 20 TV
Cash Queens 09:00 Opening Act: Twentyforseven and
Gym Class Heroes 10:00 Mrs. Eastwood & Company:
A Band of Eastwoods 11:00 E! News 11:30 Fashion
Police 12:00 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Backstory 12:30
Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Bridal 13:00 Ice Loves Coco:
Baby Got Baby? 13:30 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Birthday
14:00 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Business 14:30 Ice Loves
Coco: Baby Got Family 15:00 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got
Vows 15:30 Ice Loves: Baby Got Birth 16:00 Ice Loves
Coco: Baby Got Bad News 16:30 Ice Loves Coco: Baby
Got Besties 17:00 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Third Wheel
17:30 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Backseat Driver 18:00
Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Separation Anxiety 18:30 Ice
Loves Coco: Baby Got Guest Star 19:00 Ice Loves Coco:
Baby Got Godparents 19:30 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got
Sundance 20:00 Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Hawaii 20:30
Ice Loves Coco: Baby Got Puppies 21:00 Ice Loves Coco:
Baby Got Haters 21:30 A-List Listings: Le Palais - The
Crescent Palace 22:00 Keeping up with the Kardashians: Whos Your Daddy? 23:00 Love You, Mean It With
Whitney Cummings 23:30 E! News
06:00 Pilates: From the inside out 06:50 Yoga for Life
07:40 Everybody Nose 08:05 Fed up! 08:30 If Walls
Could Talk 09:00 Divine Design 09:25 Kitchen Impossible 09:50 Bathtastic! 10:15 Ground Breakers 10:40
Platinum Weddings 11:10 State of Style: 2012 Fall/
Winter Collection 11:35 Behind the Label 12:00 Chef
Abroad 12:25 Naturally Delicious 12:50 Chasing the
Yum 13:15 Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello
13:45 Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello 14:10
Reservations Required 14:35 Feng Shui Living 15:00
House Hunters International 15:25 House Hunters International 15:50 House Hunters International 16:15
Masters of Luxury - Design 16:40 State of Style: 2012
Fall/Winter Collection 17:05 Behind the Label 17:30
Chef Abroad 18:00 Suggs Italian Job 18:25 Bazaar
18:55 Reservations Required 19:20 Eating Art 19:45
Secrets From a Stylist 20:10 Divine Design 20:35 Selling New York 21:00 Selling New York 21:30 Selling New
York 21:55 House Hunters International 22:20 House
Hunters International 22:45 Chef Abroad 23:10 Chef
Abroad 23:35 Chef Abroad
TCM 310
ITALIA 1
07:25 Provaci ancora Gary 07:50 Gormiti Leclissi suprema 08:05 Gormiti Leclissi suprema 08:20 Spider-Man
08:45 Ben 10: Forza Aliena 09:10 Ben 10: Forza Aliena
09:35 G.I. Joe Renegades 10:05 Naruto Shippuden
10:35 Magia del lago 13:00 Sport Mediaset XXL 14:00
Edward mani di forbice 16:05 Ice Gal Bolzano 17:50 Red
RAI DUE
06:00 Due uomini e mezzo Lezione tra fratelli 06:30
Real School Il Divertinglese 07:00 LAlbero Azzurro
In fretta, in fretta 07:15 Princess Lillifee 07:25 Le
nuove avventure di Peter Pan Penna 07:50 I Saurini
e i viaggi del Meteorite Nero 08:04 Cartoon Flakes
Week End 08:05 Ultimate Spiderman 08:25 New Art
Attack 08:50 Classici Disney 09:00 Tarzan 2 10:07
Cartoon Flakes Week End 10:10 Ragazzi c Voyager
Fai la tua domanda 10:50 A come Avventura 11:30
Mezzogiorno In Famiglia 13:00 Tg2 Giorno 13:30
Tg2 Motori 13:40 Meteo 2 13:45 Quelli che aspettano 15:40 Victoria Cabello in Quelli che 17:05 Tg2
L.I.S. 17:08 Meteo 2 17:10 Stadio Sprint 18:10 90*
minuto 19:35 Cops 20:30 Tg2 20.30 21:00 N.C.I.S.
22:35 La Domenica Sportiva 01:00 Tg2 01:20 Protestantesimo
RAI TRE
06:00 Fuori orario. Cose (mai) viste 07:35 La
grande vallata 08:25 Lultima carrozzella 09:55
LIspettore Derrick 10:45 TGR Estovest 11:05 TGR
Mediterraneo 11:30 TGR RegionEuropa 12:00
Tg3 12:10 TG3 Salute informa 12:18 Tg3 persone
12:25 TeleCamere 12:55 Se una farfalla batte le
ali... 13:25 Passepartout Cera una volta 14:00
Tg Regione 14:09 Tg Regione Meteo 14:15 Tg3
14:30 in 1/2 h 15:00 Tg3 LIS 15:05 Alle falde
del Kilimangiaro 18:55 Meteo 3 19:00 Tg3 19:30
Tg Regione 19:51 Tg Regione Meteo 20:00 Blob
20:10 : Che tempo che fa 21:30 Presa diretta
21:33 Ladridipartito 00:05 Tg3 00:15 Tg Regione 00:20 TeleCamere 01:10 Meteo 3
TLC 403
Arranged (2007)
21:00 on Sundance (Channel 314) & Sundance HD (Channel 331)
Deadliest Catch
14:00 on Discovery HD Showcase (Channel 420)
31
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
THIS WEEK
TELEVISION
14:35 Wake Brothers 15:25 Made 16:15 Made 17:05
Wake Brothers 17:30 Wake Brothers 17:55 Awkward
18:20 Awkward 18:45 Plain Jane 19:35 Plain Jane
20:25 Teen Mom 21:15 Teen Mom 22:05 Awkward
22:30 Awkward 22:55 Ridiculousness 23:20 Ridiculousness 23:45 Jersey Shore
MEZZO 510
09:30 Ensemble Psalentes : Beghinae In Cantu Instructae 10:15 Beethoven : Missa solmenis 11:45 Valery Gergiev dirige Szymanowski et Brahms avec le LSO 13:20
Clips musicaux 13:45 Pierre Boulez dirige Wagner,
Schnberg et Berg 15:10 Clips musicaux 15:30 Gregory
Porter live at Nice Jazz Festival 16:30 Clips musicaux
17:00 Roberto Alagna chante Francesca da Rimini de
Zandonai 19:15 Clips musicaux 20:30 Gergiev dirige
Brahms et Szymanowski avec le LSO 22:30 Gergiev dirige les symphonies 10 et 9 de Mahler Pleyel
EUROSPORT 600
Royally Obsessed
Royally Obsessed is an insightful documentary that takes us on a tour into the homes of some of the worlds most fanatical Royal collectors. From high end
items to tacky trash, we try to understand why these people are so royally obsessed. In this episode we learn how Janet and Phillip Williams have turned
their home into a royal museum. From a cheap mug that her mum bought her to celebrate the Queens first Australian visit in 1954, the subsequent 58 years
have seen Janet spend over $200,000 on plates, pictures, figurines and even life size models of the Royal family. She has more than 12,000 pieces in all, and
not a day goes by without a new piece of royal memorabilia being delivered to Victoria St, Woonona.
22:40 on TLC (Channel 403)
HISTORY 412
BIO 411
06:00 Storage Wars: Scoot-A-Toot, Toot! 06:30 Storage
Wars: Smoke Em If You Find Em 07:00 Heir Hunters:
Perkins & Routledge 08:00 Barter Kings: Barter Up
08:30 Barter Kings: Shake Your Money Maker 09:00
Barter Kings: Home is Where the Barter Is 09:30 Barter
Kings: Talkin Turkey 10:00 Hoarders: Bob and Richard
11:00 Hoarders: Deborah And Jim 12:00 Hoarders: Gail
And Warren 13:00 Hoarders: Bob and Richard 14:00
NICKELODEON 452
06:15 Bubble Guppies 06:40 Go, Diego, Go! 07:05
Little Kingdom 07:30 Bubble Guppies 07:55 Dora
the Explorer 08:20 Winx Club 08:45 The Fairly Odd
Parents 09:10 Monsuno 09:35 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness 10:00 The Legend of Korra
10:25 The Penguins of Madagascar 10:50 SpongeBob
SquarePants 11:15 Winx Club 11:40 iCarly 12:05 The
Troop 12:30 The Troop 12:55 Drake and Josh 13:20
Drake and Josh 13:45 SpongeBob SquarePants 14:10
SpongeBob SquarePants 14:40 Back at the Barnyard
15:05 The Mighty B 15:30 The Fairly Odd Parents 15:55
iCarly 16:20 Big Time Rush 16:45 Victorious 17:10
Supah Ninjas 17:35 SpongeBob SquarePants 18:00 The
Legend of Korra 18:25 Power Rangers Samurai 18:50
The Penguins of Madagascar 19:15 Victorious 19:40
iCarly 20:05 True Jackson, VP 20:30 Big Time Rush
20:55 SpongeBob SquarePants 21:20 Avatar: The Legend of Aang 21:45 Avatar: The Legend of Aang 22:10
The Penguins of Madagascar 22:35 The Penguins of
Madagascar 23:00 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron:
Boy Genius 23:25 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron:
Boy Genius 23:50 CatDog
MTV 500
06:00 Only Hits 07:30 Taylor Momsens Top 50 Style
Icons 08:20 Taylor Momsens Top 50 Style Icons 09:10
Behind the Music 10:00 World Stage 10:50 Room Raiders 11:15 Room Raiders 11:40 Room Raiders 12:05 My
Super Sweet 16 UK 12:55 Wake Brothers 13:20 Wake
Brothers 13:45 Wake Brothers 14:10 Wake Brothers
08:30 Live: FIS World Cup Nordic Skiing: Schonach, Germany [Live] 09:15 IBU World Cup Biathlon 10:30 Live:
FIS World Cup Alpine Skiing: Zagreb, Croatia: Mens Slalom 1st Leg [Live] 11:45 Live: FIS World Cup Nordic Skiing: Val di Fiemme, Italy: Womens 9km Freestyle [Live]
12:30 Live: FIS World Cup Nordic Skiing: Schonach, Germany: Gunderson [Live] 13:15 Live: IBU World Cup Biathlon: Oberhof, Germany: Womens Pursuit [Live] 14:00
Live: FIS World Cup Alpine Skiing: Zagreb, Croatia: Mens
Slalom 2nd Leg [Live] 14:45 Live: FIS World Cup Nordic
Skiing: Val di Fiemme, Italy: Mens 9km Freestyle [Live]
15:30 Live: IBU World Cup Biathlon: Oberhof, Germany:
Mens Pursuit [Live] 16:15 Live: FIS World Cup Nordic Ski
Jumping: Bischofshofen, Austria: HS 140 [Live] 18:30
Live: FIS World Cup Nordic Ski Jumping: Schonach, Germany: Womens HS 106 19:00 European Tour Snooker
20:00 Live: European Tour Snooker: Munich, Germany:
Final [Live] 22:00 FIS World Cup Nordic Ski Jumping
23:00 Rally Raid: Dakar 23:30 IBU World Cup Biathlon
EUROSPORT2 601
07:00 FIA European Championship Rally 07:30 FIS
World Cup Nordic Skiing 08:00 ITSF World Cup, Table
Soccer 09:00 Live: FIL World Cup Luge: Koenigssee:
Mens, 1st Run [Live] 09:45 Live: FIS World Cup Nordic
Ski Jumping: Schonach, Germany: Womens HS 106
[Live] 11:15 FIS World Cup Nordic Ski Jumping 12:00
FIL World Cup Luge 12:30 Live: FIL World Cup Luge:
Koenigssee: Team Relay [Live] 13:30 Live: ITSF World
Cup, Table Soccer: Mens Semi-Final [Live] 15:00 Live:
European Tour Snooker: Munich, Germany: Day 3 [Live]
17:00 Live: ATCO PSA World Series Squash: Final [Live]
20:00 Live: World Championship Darts: Frimley Green:
Day 2 [Live] 23:00 ITSF World Cup, Table Soccer
32
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
THIS WEEK
FILM
IN CINEMAS TODAY
GOLD SILVER
BRONZE COPPER CASH-FOR-GOLD
Mad love: Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper
wrestle with their inner demons in this uplifting
comedy-drama
Embassy Cinemas
Valletta
Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
(3D) (PG)
10:30, 14:00, 17:30, 20:50
Parental Guidance (U)
10:00, 12:15, 14:30, 16:45, 19:00,
21:15
Skyfall (PG)
16:10, 18:00, 20:55
Life of Pi (PG)
10:20, 13:30, 16:05, 18:35, 21:10
Jack Reacher (14)
10:30, 13:20, 16:00, 18:35, 21:10
Rise of the Guardians (U)
10:00, 12:05, 14:10, 16:00, 18:55,
21:00
Eden Cinemas
St Julians
Tel. 23 710400
Parental Guidance (U)
11:15, 14:05, 16:20, 18:40, 21:05,
23:20
Rise Of The Guardians (3D) (U)
11:15, 14:00
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
(3D) (PG)
16:20, 20:00, 23:20
Skyfall (PG)
11:20, 14:30, 17:40, 20:45, 23:40
Jack Reacher (14)
11:30, 14:30, 18:20, 21:00, 23:40
Tinkerbell and the secret of the
wings (U)
11:10, 14:00, 16:00, 18:15
House at the End of the Street (16)
20:50, 23:00
Life of Pi (3D) (PG)
11:30, 14:20, 18:15, 21:00, 23:40
Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger (U)
11:20, 14:00, 16:15, 18:30, 20:55,
23:05
Pitch Perfect (PG)
11:20, 14:00, 16:15, 18:30, 21:05,
23:25
Taken 2 (14)
11:00, 14:10, 16:25, 18:50, 20:55,
23:00
Deceduti: Wara L-Ahhar Tad-Dinja
(PG)
11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 14:15, 14:45,
15:45, 17:15, 17:45, 18:30, 20:15,
20:50, 21:15, 23:00, 23:35
Alex Cross (18)
11:20, 14:05, 16:20, 18:40, 21:15,
23:30
Silver Linings Playbook (14)
11:20, 14:00, 16:20, 18:45, 21:10,
23:40
Rise Of The Guardians (U)
11:10, 14:05, 16:15, 18:25, 20:45,
22:50
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn
Part 2 (12)
11:10, 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:10,
23:35
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
(3D) (PG)
11:00, 14:25, 17:45, 21:15
Empire Cinemas
Bugibba
Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909
Rise of the Guardians (3D) (U)
10:45, 16:15, 20:35
Tinkerbell and the Secret of the
Wings (3D) (PG)
14:00, 18:25
Life of Pi (3D) (PG)
10:30, 13:15, 15:55, 18:40, 21:25
Parental Guidance (U)
10:40, 13:40, 16:05, 18:25, 20:55
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
(3D) (PG)
10:15, 13:45, 17:15, 20:45
Skyfall (PG)
14:00, 18:00, 21:10
Jack Reacher (14)
14:10, 18:00, 20:50
Alex Cross (18)
13:30, 16:00, 18:15, 21:05
Oscars, here
we come
THESE days, you can sniff an Oscar
contender from a mile off. If your
film focuses
on major
historical
fil
f
j
hi t i l
events/figures with sombre seriousness, tackles some form of disability
or illness and generally allows for the
actors to flex their dramatic tendons
in the most showy way possible,
youre in with a shot.
Director David O. Russell (Three
Kings), previously a persona non
grata in Hollywood after his on-set
histrionics alienated him from colleagues, appears to know this all too
well.
Recovering from a mid-career
slump after 2004s awkward philosophical comedy I Heart Huckabees
with Rocky-like boxing drama The
Fighter (2010), Russell follows up the
Christian Bale-Mark Whalberg shaggy dog story with a similarly scrappy
if ever so slightly manipulative
tale of common people fighting to
overcome maddening obstacles.
But its good luck that Silver Linings Playbook adapted from Matthew Quicks debut novel of the same
name has a thick streak of comedy
running through the drama, making
it not only a more bearable, but also a
more interesting ride through mental
illness, depression and familial strife
in middle-class Philadelphia.
Perhaps sniffing the projects Oscar-friendly potential (Playbook has
already secured all the major Golden
Globe nominations), Hangover star
Bradley Cooper tears down his defences to play Pat Solitano, a former
high school teacher suffering from
bipolar disorder. Emerging from an
eight-month stint at a mental health
facility after a violent episode involving his unfaithful wife Nikki (Brea
Bee), Pat is keen to get better, and salvage his marriage.
But despite the best efforts of his
long-suffering parents Patrizio
(Robert de Niro) and Dolores (Jacki
Weaver) Pat is convinced that he
can manage his illness without any
pharmaceutical aid, which puts a
damper on his hope to reach out to
Nikki, who has since placed a restraining order on him.
But Pats precarious existence is
pushed into even headier territory
By Teodor Reljic
when he meets his friends sister-inlaw, the attractive but equally broken
Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). There
is never any doubt that Playbook is
primped for success from its opening
minutes we are, after all, watching
two of Hollywoods most charismatic rising stars making merry with a
Pandoras Box of human emotions in
a story that will elicit sympathy from
even the hardest of hearts.
But theres also genuine feeling
here, which is not surprising when
you discover an illuminating biographical nugget from the previously
maligned David O. Russell: his son
suffers from bipolar disorder. Perhaps this is the reason why, at its
best, Playbook eschews the polished
veneer that maims any award-friendly films of their artistic edge, with
Russell shooting key moments with
almost documentary-like loose camerawork. Its also evident that he gives
the actors plenty of room to loosen
into their often conflicted roles, suggesting that he may have put his past
as an on-set drama queen behind
him (unfortunately, YouTube is not
so forgetful, or forgiving).
No matter how crappy the films
he starred in were, Cooper always
brought an energetic charisma to
every role, and seeing him redirect
that towards a more vulnerable outlet is interesting to watch. Much like
Christian Bales yo-yoing drug addict
pugilist Dicky Eklund in The Fighter, Pat is a slave to his mood swings,
making him an unpredictable character who instantly ratchets up the
tension both dramatic and comic.
It then falls to Lawrences Tiffany
S
L IN IN G
S ILV E R
)
4
1
(
K
O
P L AY B O
This weeks
picks
ADVENTURE
LIFE OF PI
Director Ang Lee adapts Yann
Martels award-winning novel
about a young man who survives
a tragic disaster at sea and is
hurtled into an epic journey
of adventure and discovery.
While marooned on a lifeboat,
he forms an amazing and
unexpected bond with the ships
only other survivor a fearsome
Bengal tiger. Starring: Suraj
Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Adil
Hussain.
ACTION
JACK REACHER
When a gunman takes five lives
with six shots, all evidence
points to the suspect in custody.
On interrogation, the suspect
offers up a single note: Get
Jack Reacher! So begins an
extraordinary chase for the
truth, pitting Jack Reacher
against an unexpected enemy,
with a skill for violence and a
secret to keep. Starring: Tom
Cruise, Rosamund Pike and
Robert Duvall.
COMEDY
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
Artie and Diane agree to look
after their three grandkids when
their type-A helicopter parents
need to leave town for work.
Problems arise when the kids
21st-century behaviors collide
with Artie and Dianes old-school
methods. Starring: Billy Crystal,
Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei.
33
maltatoday,
THIS WEEK
In Pettersons
sparse and
lucid novel,
what is left
unsaid is more
important
than what is
actually said
over, his mother is dying, and the Berlin wall is coming down. Arvid feels
lost. He cannot understand what is
taking place around him and he falls
on memories of past events to try to
comprehend the present.
I was searching for something very
important, a very special thing, but
no matter how hard I tried, I could
not find it. His sense of loss is acute.
I am 37 years old. The Wall has fallen.
And here I sit.
He remembers his communist membership and admiration for Mao, and
how he abandoned his university studies to follow his beliefs and become a
factory worker much to the chagrin
of his mother, who had worked hard
all her life in similar factories.
Arvid accompanies his sick mother
on a final trip to her birth place in
Denmark, and yet he cannot really
communicate with her at all. Though
deeply aware that she had always preferred her other sons to him, he tries
to bridge the gulf between them, but
both are incapable of communicating
their feelings. She did not pay attention. She turned her attention to other
things. Petterson presents a sensitive
portrayal of a complex mother-son relationship.
Arvid hungers for his mothers love
and this encounter is his last chance
to show his feelings. His mother is a
strong but dour character who has
had little patience with her weakling
son. Now, faced with the prospect of
imminent death, none can breach the
gulf that separates them.
Petterson describes the characters
of mother and son with great insight.
By the end of the book, we literally get
under Arvids skin. We know that he
is standing on the edge of a precipice.
I had read somewhere that fiction is
not exciting unless you sense an abyss
beneath the characters, and this is
what Petterson depicts so masterfully
in this novel.
This is a moving story, finely written in the authors typically spare and
lucid style. It is filled with silences.
There is little dialogue, but what is
left unsaid is more important than
what is actually said. The novel has
beautifully sensitive passages showing insight into the frailty of the human condition.
34
FOOD
RESTO OF THE WEEK
takes a look at a
r
ja
ta
Cu
it
m
m
Za
d
Rachel
gs a recipe, wine an
restaurant and br in k.
delicacy of the weeur comments on
Write to us with yo it your own recipes
restaurant s or subm mediatoday.com.mt.
to rzammitcutajar@
Angka Caf
With the festive season over and
done with, the top New Years resolution on most peoples mind is healthier eating. But does that mean giving
up on dining out completely? Not
necessarily Angka Caf specialises
in food that is not only tasty but also
nourishing.
Angka Caf, unique to the Maltese
islands, offers a complete vegetarian
menu, while only serving food that
do the body good. And that is not all.
The Caf is part of the Rejuvination
Centre and Green Clinic providing
a perfect combination of healthy food
and a range of services that provide
healing for the dissociation of body
and mind.
The centre is not only about food
but about wellbeing with holistic
health treatment being at the centre
of the clinic. Yoga classes and natural beauty treatments and meditation
are all aimed at providing healing for
the dissociation between body and
mind.
I must confess I am no vegetarian
and though I do cook vegetarian food
mostly by accident the thought of
going to a restaurant where you are
restricted to ordering only vegetables
gives me an instant meat craving (the
servatives.
Though vegetarian food can be
bland if not prepared well, owner
Lydia Oukhaneva has a range of recipes so full of flavour that even meat
eaters like myself leave feeling completely satisfied.
The salads are satisfying even on
their own mustard greens give a
bit of a bite to the leafy salad and fennel tops add flavour to a tasty tomato
salad.
There are also a variety of homemade desserts to suit the gluten intolerant, and keeping as natural as
possible, made with only organic
products.
Healthy smoothies are also available, all made from fresh fruit and
vegetables for maximum goodness.
While eating your meal, why not
try some of the flavoured water, flavoured with natural ingredients and
definitely no preservatives.
The caf is completely alcohol and
nicotine free in order to promote
healthy lifestyles for children through
example.
Angka Caf is open on Monday to
Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00; Friday
from 09:00 to 23:00 and Saturday
from 09:00 to 17:00
Address: Wigis Kitchen, Main Street,
St Julians
Contact: 21 377504 or 99 825386 or
visit www.wigiskitchen.com
Opening hours: Tuesday - Thursday:
12:30 - 14:30 and 19:30 - 22:30
Friday - Saturday: 12:30 - 14:30 and
19:30 - 22:45
Sunday: 12:30 - 15:00
Masi Masianco
PINOT Grigio delle Venezie is the most up-to-date Italian white wine. The richness of the perfumes and aromas of this grape cultivated
at Castions di Strada, in the Friuli region, complements the structure of the native Verduzzo grape, deliberately picked slightly over-ripe
and matured on plateaux. Masianco is a Supervenetian of great personality, which goes well with the typical dishes of todays cuisine, hors
doeuvres, fish and grilled white meats. Masi Masianco is imported and distributed by Attard and Co.
35
maltatoday
maltatoday
, SUNDAY,
, SUNDAY,
6 JANUARY
22 MAY 2013
2011
FINE FOOD OF THE WEEK
Types of ginger
Fresh ginger: Fresh ginger is available in two forms, young and mature.
Young roots, also called green or
spring ginger, has a pale, thin skin that
requires no peeling, is very tender and
has a milder flavour. It can be grated,
chopped, or julienned for use. Mature
ginger root has a tough skin that must
be peeled away to get to the fibrous
flesh and is usually grated, chopped or
ground for use.
Dried ginger: This form is usually
found in whole fingers and also in slices. It is usually soaked in recipe liquid
before using.
Medicinal uses
Pineapple
and ginger
smoothie
START the new year with a healthy and tasty smoothie with fresh ginger
that is a natural remedy for travel sickness, nausea, indigestion, flatulence,
colds, poor circulation, inflammation, fevers, headaches, toothaches, menstrual cramps and high blood pressure.
Ingredients
Method
Blend pineapple, ginger, yoghurt, pineapple juice, cinnamon, and ice (if
using fresh pineapple).
today. Travel sickness, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, colds, poor circulation, inflammation, fevers, headaches,
toothaches, menstrual cramps and
high blood pressure are among the
conditions for which ginger is a known
remedy.
If a person has exercised too much or
suffers from arthritis or rheumatism,
ginger has been known to ease inflammation of the joints and muscle tissue.
Due to its tremendous circulationincreasing qualities, ginger is thought
to improve the complexion. It has reduced nervousness, eased tendonitis,
and helped sore throats return to normal. Studies demonstrate that ginger
can lower cholesterol levels by reducing cholesterol absorption in the blood
and liver. It may also aid in preventing
internal blood clots.
The warming herb is stimulating to
the system with active ingredients of
36
maltatoday,
TRAVEL
Maldives
There is no place that screams romance like the Maldives. With more
than 1,000 islands of powdery white
sands and crystal clear waters that
never drop below 20C. 900 of the said
islands are uninhabited perfect for
that romantic getaway.
Here, limpid lagoons, swaying coconut palms, sandy beaches, extensive
reefs and the leisurely Maldivian way
of life combine to make a truly idyllic setting. The Maldives is one of the
few places on earth where bliss can be
derived from merely doing nothing.
With typically just one resort to an island, each is a world in itself ranging
from the luxurious to the pleasantly
informal, from the tranquil and intimate to those offering entertainment
and activities for the entire family.
Most provide a wide range of water
sports facilities, including excellent
diving and snorkeling, and all have
their own restaurants and open-air
bars, as well as live entertainment featuring international music.
Complementing the natural simplicity of the surroundings, accommodation is in beachside chalets or
bungalows built out over the sea. Most
resort restaurants serve both local and
international cuisine and seafood is
available in abundance.
Maldives has a fine selection of fresh
tropical fruits especially coconuts,
mangoes and bananas which feature
on most dessert menus.
Colombo
A large natural harbour and strategic location made Colombo in Sri
Lanka, a thriving spice port on ancient
sea trade routes.
It was first settled in by Arab traders
in the 8th century AD, subsequently
by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonists. Modern Colombo, which is the
administrative capital of Sri Lanka,
has an interesting blend of modern
buildings and colonial architecture,
numerous parks, playing fields and
idyllic beaches.
Rio De Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is a city of beauty and
contrasts contrasts of colour, lifestyles and dazzling scenery that will
always fascinate and make one long to
be there.
It is one of the largest cities in South
America widely renowned for its
various cultural celebrations. Rio de
Janeiro is a city sculptured on a thin
strip of land between the mountains
and the sea. It is renowned for its
spectacular natural setting, its carnival celebrations, the beat of samba, a
vibrant beach culture that plays out on
the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema
or Leblon and the easygoing lifestyle
of its inhabitants.
Some of its most famous landmarks
include the giant statue of Jesus, at
the top of the Corcovado Mountain,
which has recently been named as
one of the New Seven Wonders of the
World; Sugar Loaf Mountain with its
cable car, the Sambodromo, a giant
permanent parade stand used during
The Carnival; and Maracana Football
Stadium, one of the worlds largest. Rio
also boasts the worlds largest forest
inside an urban area, Tijuca Forest.
Cape Town
Situated amongst stupendous coastal scenery and overlooked by Table
Mountain, a flat-topped outcrop with
sheer cliffs rising 1,000 metres above
the bay, Cape Towns location is exceptionally beautiful.
In the surrounding country, extensive vineyards and fertile farmlands
are sheltered by soaring mountains,
making exciting getaways for couples
seeking each others company.
Phuket
Thailand has become a top destination through Europes dreary winter
where island life seems like a dream.
Located approximately 860 kilometres south of Bangkok on Thailands
west coast is Phuket, the countrys
largest island.
Connected to the mainland by a
bridge, Phuket has retained a distinctive culture, where the fusion of Chinese and Portuguese influences have
Sydney
Sydney, New South Waless spectacularly beautiful capital is set around
one of the worlds largest and loveliest
natural harbours.
With its superb climate, wonderful beaches, excellent dining, diverse
shopping, lively nightlife and casual,
friendly atmosphere, Australias oldest
city is undoubtedly one of the worlds
most appealing.
Maldives
Built on low hills interspersed with
wooded bays and inlets, Sydney is
visually dominated by the bulk of the
Harbour Bridge, the downtown towers
and the glittering white shell-shaped
roofs of the Opera House an intricate confusion of water and buildings
that provides dramatic views at every
turn.
With its thriving cultural scene and
active nightlife, Sydney has something
for everybody from comedy clubs to
casinos, carnivals to cricket and live
bands in busy pubs to opera and ballet.
For lovers of good food, the combination of high-quality local produce,
innovative chefs and relatively low
prices make eating out one of Sydneys
greatest pleasures.
Dubai
Dubai is a city of contrasts, a land
where the old and the new, traditional
and modern, east and west, blend
seamlessly to create a fascinating and
exciting destination.
It is a welcoming city with a charming ambience rooted in traditional
Arabian hospitality topped with an
ultra-modern flourish. The kaleidoscopic blend of people and cultures
brings to the city a unique fusion of
influences.
Dubai is the entertainment, shopping, sports and culinary capital of
the Middle East. Home to some of the
worlds finest hotel chains and dining
options that include a range of eclectic
local and international cuisine, Dubai
offers the world on a platter.
Recreational facilities are available
in abundance and the entertainment
ranges from traditional celebrations
to trendy night life options. The numerous shopping malls feature some
of the worlds best brands, at competitive prices.
Dubai is an extremely safe city with
sunny weather all through the year.
Seychelles
The Seychelles, 115 outstandingly
beautiful granite and coral islands
fringed by sparkling white sandy
beaches and encircled by coral reefs
teeming with fish, lies in the Indian
Ocean a few degrees south of the
Equator.
Uninhabited until the arrival of
French planters in the late 18th century, they remain sanctuaries for unique
flora and fauna the coco de mer
palm, the insect-eating pitcher plant,
giant tortoises and flying foxes and
are a haven for holidaymakers too.
The islands resorts and hotels offer
high standards of accommodation,
facilities and services, yet have been
considerately developed to ensure
protection of the indigenous animals
and birds, the colourful marine life,
and the exceptional natural beauty of
the forests, beaches and mountains.
The Seychellois, predominantly of
Crole and European origin, display
an easygoing friendliness. English and
French are the official languages, but
the vast majority speak Crole, a local
patois based on French. Seychellois
food is even more eclectic, based on a
blend of French, Indian and Chinese
influences.
Seychelles is also home to two
UNESCO World Heritage sites: Aldabra, the worlds largest raised coral
atoll and Praslins Valle de Mai, once
believed to be the original site of the
Garden of Eden.
Mauritius
Sydney, Australia
Cyprus
Cyprus, Aphrodites isle strategically located at the eastern end of the
Mediterranean, has long attracted
invaders. Today, while the predominant culture is of Greek origin, other
occupiers Phoenicians, Egyptians,
Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and
British have all left their mark. Happily, Cypriots seem to have absorbed
the best attributes of each and firsttime visitors are constantly amazed
at the genuine hospitality, warmth
and friendliness with which they are
greeted.
Check out the forested mountains,
deep gorges and flat fertile plains
full of citrus groves and vineyards;
intriguing archaeological sites; quiet
villages with old men playing tavli
(backgammon) in the square and
lively resorts where the evening entertainment lasts until dawn.
Spend the days lounging around at
five-star spas or take a more active
stance and stay at one of the many
agrotourismo hotels and come closer
to nature.
37
maltatoday,
THIS WEEK
Guze, Ta Xbiex
D Bar, Gozo
THIS weeks winners of the MaltaToday restaurant watch are Maria Carmela Sant of Xewkija Gozo,
Fiona Mallia of Ibrag and Carmen
Galea of St Julians.
Dining out is not about what
38
Information Technology
recall it as MittensandScarves.com
or ScarvesandMittens.com. When
the online site is not your actual
brick and mortar site, you could
consider going for web advertising to
overcome this issue, otherwise, stick
to short, simple names which are
easy to remember.
2.
Is it easy for people to
type it?
Some words are known to be
tricky when it comes to spelling.
Using the same example as above,
people might actually type scarfs
check if scarvesandmittens.org
and scarvesandmittens.eu are still
available and get them too. This
will ensure that when your business
grows, you do not get any surprises
from competitors who take up similar
domains to reap your benefits.
2.
Ensure your emails are
using the chosen domain.
As soon as you have your
own domain, start using it to
communicate with your customers.
Set up info@yourdomain.com, and
use it to communicate. Print it on
your business cards and on your
stationery.
3.
Build a brand across the
web
Start off by creating all the social
media accounts using your domain
name. Point your statuses and tweets
to your site. Send out press releases
hyperlinking to your site. Write on
blogs, while hyperlinking to your site.
Let people talk about your brand,
and Google will notice it. As your
brand gets more exposure across the
web you are more likely to rank high
on Googles search results.
4.
Dont let it expire!
If you are buying the domain
yourself ensure that you do not
www.alertsolutions.com.mt
MEMBER OF THE
39
Events
Stphanie-Marie Degand
classical music by a foreign international orchestra.
JOA works with some of the best
international conductors and soloists. The conductor for the JOA
a compelling discography and is often invited to perform internationally with renowned orchestras such
as The Kings Consort, Chambre
Philharmonique, Les Sicles and
Le Parlement de Musiques. Degand
will also perform as a soloist the
concerto for violin in G minor by
J.S. Bach. The programme will also
feature Florian Cousin, flutist of the
prestigious orchestra Les Musiciens
du Louvre Grenoble, as soloist for
the concerto for flute, strings and
continuo in D minor by C.P.E. Bach.
This concert is also an opportunity
to present two of our local talent:
soprano Claudia Tabone and alto
Clare Ghigo who will be performing
the music of Abos and Zerafa.
JOA is an international orchestra
coming to Malta with a programme
of music by Maltese composers
as well as music by Bach. JOA is
presenting our own 18th century
musical heritage. The organisers
have been working on this project
for over a year to present a unique
programme by the Jeune Orchestre
Atlantique which celebrates Maltese music within an international
context.
This concert is organised with the
support of the Culture Programme
EUR TEXT of the European Union.
The concert is also supported by the
Ministry for Justice, Dialogue and
the Family, the Malta Arts Fund,
Cultural Contact Point Malta and
the Manoel Theatre. The concert
will be held on Tuesday, 15 January
2013 at 7.30pm at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.
Tickets at 10 available from the
booking office 21 246389 or directly
from the website: www.vallettabaroquefestival.com.mt. For more information visit: www.eurtext.eu.
Banifs
collaboration
with
MCAST sought to give students
a platform for exposure and a
chance to bridge their education
with the requirements of industry. A copy of the calendar can be
picked up from any Banif Bank
branch.
in Gozo and
St Peters Pool
An artistic impression
and Riviera Bay
including details
in Malta. Denabout the towers the
ise
Formosa
meeting rooms are
Gruppetta, on
named after
the other hand
came up with
original names
for the guest
meeting rooms
at the new
Head Office,
deciding
to
give due credit
to the Maltese heritage
and
naming
them after the
small fortified
watchtowers
that were built
by the Grand
Masters Torri
ta San Tumas,
Torri ta Santa
Marija, Torri
ta San Lucjan
and Torri ta
San Pawl.
We are really glad that the names or external partners over for meetwe gave the different meeting rooms ings. Moreover, it will be fun for
were the ones chosen, said both our employees to say that theyll be
Robert Cassar and Denise Formo- holding their meetings at Gnejna or
sa Gruppetta. Knowing that the Golden Bay.
Vodafones move to its new Head
names we chose will be part and
parcel of the new Vodafone head Office in SkyParks will introduce
office is something we are really a number of innovative concepts
proud of. We chose these particu- and ideas including, hot-desking,
lar names because we think that flexible working methods and open
they would create a conversation plan bringing together team memice breaker when we have visitors bers from different departments.
40
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY 2013
a)
The issuance of contingent
convertible bonds eligible as Core
Tier 1 capital in the total amount
of 400 million, pursuant to law
n 63-A/2008, November 24th and
other applicable laws;
b)
Share capital increase
of Banif, in cash with suppression of pre-emption rights, reserved for the subscription of the
Portuguese State, totalling 700
million, through the issuance of
70.000.000.000 of new shares, of
which 44.511.019.900 shares with
After the 2 stages of the recapitalisation are completed, the Portuguese State will have a 49.4%
stake in Banif and thus it will not
have the majority of the voting
rights. Besides, the States participation in Banif is temporary, until
2017.
41
Events
an obligation to pass on what we have inherited to future generations. The expertise and dedication that is being applied
to this project will restore these pieces to
their original state.
We thank Bank of Valletta as one of
the first institutions to commit its assistance towards this project. The Ghajnsielem Community and those who visit
the church will have the opportunity to
admire this painting in all its splendour as
was intended by the master who painted
it, said Fr Bajada.
The conservation and restoration work
is being carried out by Maltese restorer
Manwel Zammit of Zejtun along with Fr
Charles Vella and his team.
Admission:
Tickets at the gate:
Adults : 7
Children (6 12 years) and Students: 3
One may be able to visit part of
the fort prior or following the reenactment.
The re-enactments
are held according to schedule as
above. However, in case of inclement weather or else due to some
Getting there:
Bus no.2 or no.3 leaves Bay 14 at
Valletta Bus Terminus, every 15
minutes or so to reach Birgu in
c. half an hour. Both buses stop
close by the bridge that connects
the town of Birgu with the town of
Bormla. The bus stop is called Caf
Riche. Bus no 3 continues further
on to Kalkara.
42
Events
access to trade finance, local entrepreneurs can reach new markets, grow their businesses, and
hire more employees.
IFC has been a shareholder in
FIMBank since 2005 and is also
a partner in FIMBanks factoring
joint ventures across the world
in Russia, Egypt, and Brazil.
The loan is part of IFCs efforts
to support trade finance in the
Middle East and Africa, which
helps promote private sector development in those regions.
Financial Stability
Report Update for 2012
The Central Bank of Malta has published on its website the Update to
its Financial Stability Report, which
covers developments in the first half
of 2012. The Update observes that although the external macro-financial
conditions remained challenging,
the domestic economy continued
to show signs of resilience and thus
remained supportive of financial
stability. The analysis contained in
the Update indicates that in recent
months no new risks and threats
have emerged for the financial system in Malta. On this basis the risk
outlook as contained in the Financial Stability Report 2011 remains
valid. Against a background of uncertainty in international markets
and global economic activity, this
Update reaffirms the importance of
exercising the utmost prudence.
During the first six months of 2012
core domestic banks continued to
expand, mainly through additional
lending to households. Banks customer loans continued to be fully
funded through customer deposits,
thereby supporting funding resilience. Meanwhile banks continued
to maintain strong liquidity ratios.
Their mid-year profits were also
higher than a year earlier, on account of higher net-interest income.
This contributed to maintain solvency ratios well above the regulatory requirements.
Risks from the other components
of the financial sector, namely noncore domestic banks, international
banks, insurance companies and
investment funds remained low,
supported by the generally positive
performances of these institutions
during the first half of the year. The
links with the domestic economy of
non-core and international banks
remained limited, despite their relatively large balance sheet size.
Credit risk remains a key risk for
the financial sector in Malta. Owing
to exposures to certain economic
sectors that continued to experience
weak business activity, in particular
the construction and real estate sector, a main challenge facing the core
domestic banks is the level of nonperforming loans in certain sectors.
On the other hand the quality of
mortgage loans remained stable and
higher levels of loan-loss provisioning and capital buffers were reported by banks.
The Financial Stability Report Update can be downloaded from the
Central Bank of Maltas website www.centralbankmalta.org
FIMBank p.l.c. is an international trade finance bank focused on delivering trade finance
solutions to businesses worldwide. The Bank actively pursues
a strategy of establishing factoring joint ventures with prominent
institutions in selected emerging
markets. The international network of Factoring Joint Ventures
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank
Group is the largest global development institution focused exclusively
on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable
growth by financing investment,
mobilizing capital in international
financial markets, and providing
advisory services to businesses and
governments. In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high of
more than USD20 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector
to create jobs, spark innovation, and
tackle the worlds most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
43
Classifieds
ALUMINIUM WORKS
MANUFACTURERS of aluminium
security roller shutters for windows
and doors. Aluminium shutters for
garages (roller or ceiling systems). All
types of aluminium, apertures, aluminium thermal insulation, PVC apertures,
security main doors, aluminium railings
for stairs and balconies (chrome/stainless steel finish). A45 Industrial Estate,
Marsa. Call on 21226320, 99891899.
Email: horvin@waldonet.net.mt. Visit
www.horvin.eu
VIN Aluminium (ex-Joevin), manufacturers of doors, windows, insect screens,
etc. We also make repairs. Call on
21898999, 99465666
ANTIQUES
BARGAIN Prices: For sale large gild
ormolu mirror, Maltese mahogany
desk, marble dressing table, chiffonier,
biscuttin table, marble chest of drawers with grotesque lions, pair Victorian
chairs, glass domes, clocks under
domes, lusters, opalin and ceramic
vases, figurines, Persian carpets and
more. Call on 21415949, 99420241,
77415949
POMSKIZILLIOUS Museum of Toys at
10, Gnien Xibla Street, Xaghra Gozo.
Closed for the month of January. Will
open again in February and March
Saturday mornings only from from
10.30am till 1pm or by appointment
ARTWORK
ORIGINAL wall hanging ceramic sculpture by Andrew Diacono. Name given by artist is Diplomatic Meeting/
Measuring 70cmx48cm. Must be seen.
Asking price is 950 but will accept
other offers. Call on 99406197,
21421312
AUTO-AIRCONDITIONING
=
3
TECNOPLUS LTD, for auto air-conditioning. Check and prepare your airconditioning now, repairs, servicing
and parts. Avoid summer rush. Call on
21468402, 79468402, 99468402,
99498371
BAKERY
SAN Quintin Bakery, prop. Mario
Micallef, Maltese & fancy bread - fresh
daily. Visit us at Censu Borg Street,
Hamrun. Call on 21251410. G al ob
ta veru!
BOATS
CRANCHI Boats, to view the full range
call at the local agent BJ Marine on the
way to Grand Harbour Marina, 119
St Lawrence Street, Birgu. Call on
27019356
CAR REPAIRS
EUROSTAR is an expert in car body
repair and collision repair for all types
of vehicles. Our body shop guarantees your cars body repair. Being in
the business for over 50 years, we
have established a reputation respected by many insurers. If you require
any of our services, call or visit our
collision centre in Qormi for a free
estimate on any accident repair or
auto body repair. Eurostar Automotive
Repair Centre, Triq l-Industrija, Qormi,
Malta. Call on 21490735, 21490500
CAR WASH
GERMAN MAKE EHRLE TOUCHLESS
CARWASH operated round the clock
2 CLASSIFIEDS
FOR 3 WEEKS
Choose category. Fill in the boxes provided. Write in block letters. Your advert will appear for three weeks in both MaltaToday, MaltaToday Wednesday, and www.maltatoday.com.mt.
This offer does not apply to Real Estate agents. Send your form to:
MaltaToday Classieds, Media Today, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016.
Together with a 3 cheque payable to MediaToday Co. Ltd.
44
Classifieds
at Galea General Services Ltd, Mgarr
Road, Xewkija, Gozo. Self-service with
no brushes and hence spotless wash
and no scratches. Other washing
equipment available. For trade enquiries call on 21561122, 99494618; fax
21554277; www.ggs.com.mt
CLEANING SERVICES
ECOLOGICAL Cleaning Services:
cleaning of all water culverts, drainage
pipes, emptying of cesspits & wells.
Also cleaning & repairs of grease
traps and inspections of drain pipes by
CCTV. Call on 21651029, 99421954,
99499714
TOTAL CLEANING AND RESTORATION
SERVICES LTD, cleaning of all kinds of
carpets, upholstery and curtains (on
site) and fire places. Insurance claims
for fire and water damage accepted.
Call on 99455152 or email info@
tcrcleaningmalta.com
COMPUTERS
ALL computer problems, 24/7
express service, free antivirus given.
Brand new computers and laptops
also for sale. Call Chris on 99424703
ALL kinds of computer repairs at
your Home. FREE USB Pendrive with
every Format. Wireless setup, Virus
cleaning. Upgrades and technical
assistance. Call Josef on 99460939,
21227614 - www.computech.com.
mt.
ENCOUNTERING computer problems? Repairs on spot, on the same
day? Cleaning from viruses and
spyware? Swift-Tec is your answer.
Renowned for upgrades, new system
installations and distribution of the
high quality laptops. Installation of
antivirus for free. Swift-Tec. Call on
27886633
COURSES
KEUNE Hair Centre, St Michael Street,
Lija. Salons worldwide: Amsterdam,
Berlin, London, Sydney and Tokyo.
ENTERTAINMENT
NIGRET NIGHT CLUB in Labour
Avenue, Rabat, Malta. We cater for
all kinds of functions: coffee mornings, lunches, dinner dances, hens/
bachelors and wedding parties. For
more information call on 21454858,
21454908, 79454908. Freddie
Portelli in attendance every Friday
and Franz Grech every Saturday with
line-dancing/ country music and 60s
music.
FOR HIRE
CHAIRS AND TABLES for all occasions including childrens parties, weddings, Gala dinners, etc.Variation of
chairs and tables of any colours and
sizes. Call Gino ta Hal Qormi on
99492732, 7949 2732, 21472838.
Facebook: Gino ta Hal-Qormi
TOP Hat Wedding Hiring Service:
wedding suits, Holy Communion,
Confirmation suits, coloured suits,
graduation gowns, bridesmaids. Visit
us at 210, St Edward Street, Qormi.
Call on 21488241, 79488241
FOR SALE
ADULT NOVELTIES and lingerie, ideal
to brighten up hens nights, bachelor
SITTING room suites for sale at moderate prices. Part exchange accepted.
Also second hand ones and re-upholstery. Call 21374823, 99824139
GENERAL
EMPTY wine bottles: 5ltr for 1, 2 ltr
for 25c. Call on 21433831 or email
on dyni86@gmail.com
MEMORIAL Works. Memory slabs
(marble or granite), ceramic plaques
and photos, additional inscriptions on
graves and monument cleaning on
site. Starting from 130. Call Austin
Muscat on 21449909, 79449909.
www.austinmarbles.info
TEDDYS Detergent Shop at 590, St
Pauls Street, St Pauls Bay. Best prices in town. We also offer free delivery
to nearby areas. Find us on Facebook.
Call on 27333357
TEDDYS Fashion on 571, St Pauls
Street, St Pauls Bay. Latest womens
fashion at lowest prices. All items
under 20. Find us on Facebook. Call
on 27889987
FURNITURE
HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION
GOZO, XLENDI
apartments. Call
79592764
new furnished
on 21555026,
45
Classifieds
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
AGIUS Decorations Ltd for all types
of gypsum works, PVC Wall panelling, PVC soffits, 60 x 60 soffits,
folding doors, coving, ceiling roses,
roller nets, blinds, curtain rails & laminate floor. Supply and install. Agius
Decorations Ltd - Shop, Valley Road,
Qormi. Call on 21472068, 21803654,
99476936, 79253740. Email on
agiusdecor@onvol.net
ALL kinds of works of spray, brush
painting and works on antique furniture.
We also do works on spray painting for
other carpenters. Moderate prices.
Call on 27406731, 99406731
DEOS Interiors: turnkey contractors, gypsum works, importers/suppliers and installers of Italian material, including coving, ceiling roses
and interior decorations. Showroom
at Testaferrata Street, Ta Xbiex. Call
on 21334323, 99475239 or email on
deos@maltanet.net
W.P. LTD Specialists in waterproofing membrane. Ten-year guarantee.
For free estimates and professional
advice call on 21438326, 99445527,
99493840; email: william@go.net.mt;
www.wpmalta.com
HYPNOTHERAPY
HYPNOTHERAPY, qualified help to
quit smoking, self-esteem, phobias,
panic attacks, depression, impotency,
jealousy, anger management, weight
control, positive thinking, social interaction and stuttering. Phone C. Barlow
MAPHP, MNRPC on 27339320,
99881165
LETTING
4,457 Properties To Rent on Maltas
Best Rated Property Website: www.
simonestates.com CHECK IT OUT! Call
on 23880034, 79861510
MARINE
PRIVATE
EXCLUSIVE
YACHT
CHARTERS: why not charter one of our
sailing yachts or motor boats for a day
around the Maltese Islands? You may
also charter for longer periods and
sail to Sicily. We provide fully insured
and licensed yachts, which may be
chartered with or without a skipper.
Contact Nautica Ltd on info@nautica.
com.mt, 21345138, 99496510. Visit
www.nautica.com.mt, www.yachtchartermalta.com
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
NAUTICAL LICENCE
INTERNATIONAL Marine Licence for
small crafts. RYA Day Skipper licence
courses that gives you the possibility
of sailing beyond our territorial waters.
This licence satisfies the requirements
of the Italian, Greek and French Coast
Guard. Contact us on 79432526,
info@maltasailingacademy.com, www.
maltasailingacademy.com
NAUTICAL Licence courses, cost-
NURSERY SCHOOL
VICTORIA Nursery school in San Pawl
Tat-Targa. Playgoup/Kindergarten.
Ages between 18 months to 5 years.
Accepts registrations for October
2012. Qualified teachers. Spacious
classrooms/playground. Arts, crafts,
singing, playing, etc.Caring environment. Call on 21419740, 79431813.
Webpage: Victoria nursery school
Malta
NURSING
CARE AND CURE GROUP LTD - Trained
nurses, caring assistants, nannies,
companions, home help and night sitters. 24-hour service. Wheelchairs,
hoists, commodes, walking frames
and Hospital beds for hire. Call on
21376946, 99470178
PAINTS
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PAINTS, water
based and acrylic, graffiato, silicato,
tiles, adhesives, plastering, liquid membrane, anti-humidity plastering products, etc. Any colours. Wholesale prices sales direct through an Italian company. Call on 21240027, 99490964.
Email on info@muracel.com.mt
PEST CONTROL
COCKROACH CONTROL services
using Goliath Gel. Long-term effect.
Do-it-yourself pest control products
for sale. Ortis Ltd, Ta Qali (next to
the new American Embassy). Call on
21420305; email: info@ortis.biz
PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS
PRIVATE investigations Malta, fully
licensed. Separation, divorce, civic,
commercial, DNA and other cases.
Locally and abroad. Call on 79590000.
Visit www.privateinvestigationmalta.
com
OPTICIANS
SPECTACLE
FRAMES, contact
lenses and solutions, sunglasses,
with eye specialists in attendance.
Prop. Mario Cassar and Annabelle
Cassar, Shop 3, Regent Place, Tumas
Fenech Street, Birkirkara. Call on
21494198, 27494198, 99884445;
fax: 21677916; email: annabelcassar@gmail.com
THE CATHEDRAL OPTICAL one-hour
service, frames start from 27.96.
Attard: 21418315; Guardamangia:
21226020: Fgura: 2167 3332;
Zebbug: 21465768; Birkirkara:
21490213; Naxxar: 21431152;
Rabat: 21450845; Luqa: 21895248;
Pinto Opticians (Qormi): 21488950;
46
Classifieds
bedrooms, fully furnished. Just refurbished. Across the road from bay, with
country views. Price 120,000. Call
on 99844640
MADLIENA - finished to exacting
standards by its present owners, this
superb semi-detached villa, besides
being located in the most sought after
neighbourhood on the Island, also
affords a bright, spacious and practical layout, perfectly suited to modern living and entertaining! Welcoming
entrance hall, spacious sitting/dining
room with functional fireplace, state of
the art, fitted kitchen, pantry and conservatory overlooking the gardens and
pool area (enjoyable all year round),
guest bathroom, three double bedrooms one with ensuite bathroom and
a private terrace enjoying postcard
scenery and a laundry at roof level.
This wonderful home also boasts an
independent, underlying guest flat-let
and a 4-car garage. Not to be missed!
Price 929,000. Call on 79429400
MARSASKALA two car garage,
street level. Freehold. Price 32,000
ono Call on 79058166
NAXXAR - corner detached bungalow with mature gardens, large pool
and deck area, over 1,200 sqm. Must
view. Asking 740,000. Call owner on
9939 5225
OVER 2 tumolo with 3 small rooms
and many mature trees with water
reserviors and vertical well (spiera) l/o
Rabat accessible through lane, with
surrounding rubble walls. Being sold
PROPERTY WANTED
GROUNDFLOOR property with 2
bedrooms and yard to let or sell in
Birkirkara area. Call on 79440531
SERVICES
CALIGARI Spray Painting and Pane
Beating specialising in 2K, metallic and water-based paints. Low
back booth and computerised mixing room. MSA insurance approved.
De La Rue Avenue, Gzira. Call on
27333879, 99426198 or email on
caligari@onvol.net
TOILET SEATS
WE manufacture any kind of toilet
seats, made to measure, complete
with fittings. For more information
call on 79675053, 21675053
TOOLS
TOOL CENTRE, Naxxar Road,
Birkirkara wishes to announce they
have discounts on items including
S.I.P and Awelco welding equipment,
Sparky power tools, Omega and
Wintecc Hydraulic equipment, Climax
Safety equipment, Mobile Plastic
Storage bins and cabinets, Impex
wall chasers (no dust), Evolution
Metal Cutting machines, Fiac Aircompressors, safety shoes. Call on
21499908, 99475348
COUNSELING
service:
child,
youth or family related problems,
Fibromyalgia, bullying, bedwetting,
relationships, addictions, grieve and
abuse among other issues. You are
not alone. Service offered 24/7 Call
on 99666663
MALTESE: Forms 1 5. O/ I
Advanced level. Notes provided.
University graduate. Also as a foreign
language. Mosta. Call on 21410218,
79999928
WE aim to provide a stimulating environment in which our children can thrive to their full potential while providing a home away
from home. Registration for October
2012 and summer school now open.
Visit www.noddyskindergarten.com,
Facebook: Noddys Kindergarten,
email: noddys@maltanet.net. Call on
21339655, 99441863
SITUATIONS VACANT
A better tomorrow starts today
AVON. Join us to become an Avon
Member! Be amongst the over 5
million women who are making their
dreams a reality with the WORLDS
LARGEST DIRECT SELLER of beauty
products. Avon helps you start your
own business for a little more than
the price of a lipstick. Work the
hours to suit your lifestyle and have
a pleasant & friendly way of earning
money. With Avon, the company for
women, youre in business for yourself. Not by yourself. Exclusively
represented by Nova Company Ltd,
51, Old Mint Street, Valletta. Call on
21235199, 79837983. Email: avonladiesmalta@gmail.com Website:
www.avon.com.mt
HOUSEKEEPER required to work in
a family residence. Must be over 21
years of age, responsible and reliable. Call on 79965935
STONE WORKS
TUITION
TV REPAIRS
ON the spot, expert professional
repairs for tvs, LCDs, plasma, LEDs,
microwaves and any other electronic
equipment. Call on 99446918
VEHICLES/PARTS
ATTENTION ALL ROVER AND
JAGUAR OWNERS: we supply new
and second-hand Rover and Jaguar
parts. We also carry out service and
repairs on all types of Rover and
Jaguar. We also have close to manufacture diagnostic tool for Jaguar.
Apply at British Car Specialist. Call
on 21483024, 99425122
TWO hydraulic piston motors at
465. Call on 79031640
WANTED
A left-hand drive car with Maltese
registered number plate. Call on
21382741
COLLECTIBLE items such panini
albums and loose stickers, old postcards and posted envelopes, medals, militaria, coins and paper money, books, toys, stamps, badges,
etc. Call on 21310238, 99246632
RICHARD ELLIS The Photographic
Collection, Volumes 1 & 2. Call on
21433831 or email on dyni86@
gmail.com
47
Sport
SPORTTODAY
FOOTBALL
Valletta
Hibernians
Birkirkara
Sliema W.
Mosta
Tarxien R.
Balzan
Floriana
Qormi
Hamrun S.
Melita
Rabat A.
P
17
17
16
17
16
16
17
16
17
17
17
17
Pts
33
32
30
30
28
28
22
21
20
13
13
6
48
Sport
FOOTBALL
49
Sport
FOOTBALL
FA Cup third round
Forest.
Danny Collins was given a
straight red card for a foul on Matt
Smith and from the resulting freekick Jose Baxter made it 3-1.
Bournemouth had to settle for
a replay against Wigan after a 1-1
draw at the DW Stadium
The League One side took the
lead four minutes before the break
thanks to a fine goal by Eunan
OKane.
However, the Premier League side
levelled through a fortuitous penalty with Jordi Gomezs spot-kick
parried by the keeper but the midfielder pounced on the rebound to
slot home with 20 minutes left.
A stoppage-time goal by Nick
Proschwitz saw Hull scrape a 1-1
draw against Leyton Orient.
The League One side went ahead
with 12 minutes to go when Dean
Coxs cross was met with a bullet
header by David Mooney.
However, Proschwitzs downward header earned a replay for
the Championship high-flyers.
Fulham needed an equaliser 10
minutes from time to earn a 1-1
draw at home to Blackpool.
Ludovic Silvestre put the Seasiders ahead with half an hour to
go when he fired home a 25-yard
shot.
However, Robert Harris clearance from Bryan Ruizs corner
could only find Giorgos Karagounis on the edge of the box and
he looped a volley into the net.
Sunderland came from two goals
down to claim a 2-2 draw at Bolton.
be meeting England on the Sunday 6th January in a the 3rd International Friendly Futsal Tournament, a quadrangular event at
the Hibernians Sports Pavilion.
Maltas next matches are against
Georgia on Monday 7th January
and Greece on Wednesday 9th
January. The Futsal national team
will once again be in action at the
end of January in the UEFA Futsal
competition. Malta will be hosting the event, a group which also
includes Georgia and Moldova.
50
Sport
CRICKET
CYCLING
FORMULA 1
TENNIS
24Hrs Service
Best Prices
Discounts for Account Holders
Car, Vans & Coaches
6,/9(5&$%61R0DUJDUHW0DQJLRQ6WUHHW3DFHYLOOH6W-XOLDQV67-7HO+UV0RE)UHHSKRQH
51
Sport
FOOTBALL
Lance Armstrong
L-Argument
returns on
ONE
THE most followed sports programme L-ARGUMENT kicksoff brilliantly on Sunday with its
first edition in 2013 providing a
handful of features focusing on
this weeks matches primarily
the Premiers league limelight
one Hibernians vs Valletta,
the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Division
games.
Undoubtedly discussions will
be held between representatives
from both Hibs and Valletta
Clubs together with L-ARGUMENTs residential guests Mark
Marlow and Pawlu Farrugia.
An educational feature regarding Vallettas nursery and the
best 3 players of the week will be
unveiled.
Dont miss L-ARGUMENT on
Sunday, 6th January between
5pm and 6.45pm presented by
Mark Cutajar, Janice Briffa and
Clinton Buhagiar on ONE.
14/110
PARTLY
CLOUDY
170/110
PARTLY
CLOUDY
UV: 2
UV: 2
TODAY
TOMORROW
GOZO FERRIES
DAILY OPERATION TIMES
USEFUL TELEPHONE
NUMBERS
Emergency,Police,Fire,
Ambulance ...................... 112
www.gozochannel.com
Chess
Sudoku
8
7
4
3
2
1
H
Qf5+ Kg7
Qf7+ Kh8
Bf6+ Ng7
Rh1# (Qxg7#)
Across
9. Not proper (13)
10. Weep (3)
11. Necessary (7)
12. Underground part of a plant (4)
13. Agitate (4)
15. Monetary unit of Saudi Arabia (5)
17. Corridor (7)
19. Accustom (5)
21. Finish rst (3)
23. Long (5)
24. Against (7)
25. Chaff (5)
27. Membership fees (4)
28. Goad (4)
30. Capital of Iraq (7)
32. Contend (3)
33. Prekindergarten (7,6)
Down
1. Written history of a persons life (9)
2. Courtyard (5)
3. Duration (4)
4. Beer made at home (4-4)
5. Cunning (6)
6. Metal fastener (4)
7. Pruning shears (9)
8. Aviator (5)
14. Threads (5)
16. Speaks with impediment (5)
18. Something stated (9)
20. Tolerable (9)
22. These days (8)
26. Tattered (6)
27. Sofa (5)
29. Hinge (5)
30. Obstructs (4)
31. Wharf (4)
News
Gonzi.
ence votes.
Schiavone was evidently irked at
Years later, Nationalist MP Franco
Debono said he had been accused by the fact that he had been asked by
Schiavone of having been the source Gonzi three years ago to canof this anonymous letter. Debono vass on the fifth district,
said this allegation was made during from where he hails,
a conversation between Schiavone telling the press that
and the personal assistant of Law- he was very hurt at
the decision.
rence Gonzi, Edgar Galea-Curmi.
Schiavone
also
Schiavone yestrerday said he has
refused to make a public declara- said he was unaware
tion to retract this allegation, say- of claims that Naing Debono had recourse to other tionalist MP Beppe
remedies other than this public Fenech Adami had
encouraged him not
declaration.
While not denying the allegation to make this public
itself, Schiavone said Debono had declaration to
freely interpreted the private con- retract
versation he had had with GaleaCurmi, and refused to speculate on
whether his conversation had been
leaked to Debono. I wont speculate
as to what happened. The facts are
what they are and I was then asked
to issue this declaration. And I
didnt feel that I should make
such a declaration.
I bow to this decision by the
party, which told me they
dont require my services.
I thank Eddie FenechAdami for his support in the
last 30 years - politics has
given me much satisfaction, Schiavone said, almost studiously leaving out
Hermann Schiavone
any similar tribute to Lawrence