The President

Last Saturday I interviewed President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca during my radio show on Radju Malta, Ghandi xi Nghid.  The President has consistently and steadily grown incrementally into this role. Initially I thought she wouldn’t manage to ride over her past political roles but I was wrong.  She is managing to use the Presidency to leave a positive impact on the community.  Even though she might come across as impetuous it is very clear that she thinks things through.  When it comes to civil rights she is as consistent and persistent as they come and would leave no stone unturned to make sure she achieves her aims.  During this interview on Radju Malta we spoke at length about the political discourse being used and how she finds it worrying and concerning that such language might be influencing negatively the way children and young people are now perceiving politics.  Her tone of voice did give her away showing that she is terribly upset that politicians need to relate to each other in this way.  Nonetheless I share her position that even though some politicians might be a let-down she made it clear that politics and politicians should be at the forefront of change and community transformations. 

Car accidents

Once again, our news portals are reporting endless car accidents some of which are fatal or else having very serious outcomes.  People being run over like skittles, cars overturning, motorbikes and quads crashing with buses and falling off cliffs – and the message is that ‘life goes on’! This is a situation that is spiralling out of control. Responsibilities?

Dean’s Awards

Like most Faculties, last Friday, the Faculty for Social Wellbeing celebrated its Dean’s Awards.  The focus is on the students that were placed on the Dean’s list for their intellectual prowess and intelligence but the Faculty also celebrated two other awards.  The Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Dr Michael Farrugia, presented the Social Commitment Award to Jennifer Cauchi, a student reading a BA with the Department of Youth and Community Studies. Her engagement in the community and commitment to the cause of supporting young people in Gozo is simply inspiring. Dr Helena Dalli, Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, and the Head of the Department of Criminology, Prof Saviour Formosa, on the other hand presented the Jacqueline’s Social Engagement Award to Kristina Zammit following an electronic poll among 1,200 members of staff and students. Kristina Zammit has distinguished herself in the cause of migration and has worked tirelessly with the JRS to make things work in this sector.  The other nominees for this award were George Busuttil, Mgr Philip Calleja, Martin Diacono, Dr Lara Dimitrijevic, Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, Dr Roberta Lepre, Connie Magro and Rita Borg. 

Cockfights

Can’t understand how this country lives a double life. We talk about civil rights, we argue about transparency, governance, improved justice, strengthening our institutions and at the same time we still have a group people placing bets on cockfights.  What type of savage would put a prized animal into the ring hoping it won’t get too battered so that it could be used for the next scrap.  This is indeed another example of a country gone bananas.

Murders

Another one bites the dust it seems. No end in sight.  This ‘safe Malta frame of mind’ will be shattered if we do not stop this flurry of crimes.

CCF

I went to visit CCF with my colleagues some days ago.  It wasn’t my first visit but as always I come out of that visit distraught and troubled.  Apart from the infrastructural works that some sections of the place need, it is so worrying that lifers do not yet have possibility of parole and we still have seclusion to contend with as a punishment.  These are policy and political issues that need to be sorted out.  We also need to see more contribution of civil society to educational and recreational programmes for Inmates.  The spirit of the staff at CCF is indeed willing.