Ramires Sciberras won the Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest and shall be representing our country in Madrid next month. I met Ramires in an informal setting at a local cafeteria last week. This young man's charm is disarming. His voice is exceptional. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and I am sure that he shall be making Malta proud in Madrid and beyond. He also knows a good singer when he sees one - he shot down my suggestion for a duet. Unlike Ramires, my singing skills leave much to be desired, and that's putting it mildly! Good luck, Ramires. We're proud of you!

Joan

Joan Agius is mayor of Zejtun, my beloved hometown. Zejtun has always been blessed with hardworking mayors. Her predecessor, Joe Attard, gave Zejtun his all. He was a formidable mayor and a gentleman of the old school. God bless his soul. Last weekend, I joined Joan and her hard-working local councillor colleagues for 'Zejt iz-Zejtun', the event celebrating the olive picking season and olive pressing for oil. Żejtun takes its name from the Sicilian Arabic for "olive"- zaytun. This year's event was a pleasure for the many who attended. Well done, Joan and your team.

Jake

Jake Vella, the young man whose life was cut short a few weeks ago, due to a rare disease, but who inspired the nation with his courage and resilience, has been nominated by Lydia Abela, the Prime Minister's wife, for the Gieh ir-Repubblika Award. During his short but meaningful life, he campaigned in favour of the less fortunate and had animal welfare at heart. In death, he united the nation. He deserves this award. The country is indebted to this young man. He was an exceptional young man.

Francis

Francis Ebejer was one of Malta's fines dramatist and novelists.  He wrote over fifty plays, the majority in Maltese, for television, radio, and the stage. He won heaps of praise in his life and death from leading literary critics and was the recipient of many a literary and dramatic award. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, together with Teatru Malta, Teatru Manoel and Spazju Kreattiv and in collaboration with Arts Council Malta, we launched an initiative its purpose being that of supporting leading, and emerging, local writers who write in Maltese.

Dominic

Mro Dominic Galea is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for the Performing Arts (NAPA). We launched it last year. Earlier this week, Dominic and I launched NAPA's first artistic program. It is a joint effort between KorMalta, Teatru Malta, and ŻfinMalta. They shall be producing more than than fourteen productions in Malta and five productions around Europe. The Agency's remit is to create sustainable opportunities for our artists, as well as working on a strategy that ensures the sustainability of the performing arts sector. Investment in the cultural field is very important. NAPA equips artists with the necessary tools to express themselves better and advance their profession. Thank you, Dominic, and your remarkable team.

Fr Louis

Fr Louis Mallia is the director of Fondazzjoni Dar San Guzepp. It is a residential home for young man from not-so-privileged backgrounds, but in Fr Louis they were privileged to find a priest whose life mission is to love them and support them in their quest for a better life. A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Robert Abela summoned our weekly cabinet meeting at Dar San Guzepp. We could see the warmth and affection bestowed by Fr Louis and his volunteers to these young men.

Rev. Doublet

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Robert Abela and I visited the restoration works that are currently underway, as well as the work that has already been completed at the Jesuit Church in Valletta. We were welcomed by the President of the Jesuit Church Foundation Rev. Dr. Nicholas Doublet.

Some of the works that were carried out in partnership with the government include works on the walls and the roof and the restoration of the altar in the Oratory. Changes were also made to the existing electrical systems, repairs were made to the stonework, the balustrades, restoration of the windows, repair of the marble floor in the oratories and sacristy, and a fire detection system was introduced, and new lights were installed in the sacristy.

The Church of the Jesuits is one of the oldest and largest churches in Valletta. It is a true gem.

Mariella

The latest acquisition, by the government, of the magnificent building, at the heart of Haz Zebbug that houses the Banda 12th May, concludes a chain of 12 similar contracts of clubs of musical societies that the Government entered, after they were in imminent danger of being evicted by the Court. The property from which the society operates with a value of seven hundred and forty-five thousand euros is now government property to be fully enjoyed by the Banda 12th May. This is a decision in favour of Maltese tradition. Band clubs and societies are the heart of the Maltese festa, which is now recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity.