Maria and Godwin Grech are the lucky parents of a baby boy who was the first and only newborn in Malta on New Year’s day.

Baby Marvin was born under water at St James Hospital in Zabbar at around 9am yesterday, and no other births were reported in Malta or Gozo on the first day of 2007.

The last 2006 baby on the other hand – also a boy – was born at St Luke’s Hospital on Sunday at 11.10pm.

The boy, who is being taken care of at the Special Baby Care Unit within the Maternity Ward, will probably be named Essien, although his mother said she is still undecided about the name.

Speaking to Health and the Elderly Minister Louis Deguara and Mrs Deguara who visited new parents and parents-to-be, as well as hospital official and journalists yesterday morning, the baby’s mother, Jeanette Zammit said she had four other children – one boy and three girls – and she expressed excitement and commotion since this was the most difficult birth.

Other babies born during the week between Christmas and New Year included a baby girl, Kylie Bartolo, who was born on Boxing day, a pair of identical twins – Anthea and Mariah Marmara’ born last Saturday, and Kleeven Zarb who was born on Sunday morning.