Anya Ashe: May 2021

When the warden ‘lost’ his car keys

Extract from a letter sent to The Times of Malta, 17 July 2012

Is a Fire Engine Necessary?

Concern over safety at firework launching sites.

The Civil Protection Department (Malta) is “very worried” that, to cut costs, village feast organisers do not always ensure that fire engines are on standby when fireworks are let off, as the rules demand. If the aerial displays are longer than 15 minutes, the law requires that a fire engine is on site, according to CPD operations manager . . . who pointed out that this was not always the case. . . .

It costs about 300 Euros to have a fire engine on site for a minimum of three hours on Saturdays and Sundays and less during the week. But Pyrotechnics Association President J… C… said that this was “never the case” as having a fire engine on site was not a choice. He did point out, however, that “similar” bowsers, with a hose and nozzle, were used to save money, the cost being considered high, particularly during the week when paying for a fire engine was “not worth it” due to the small amount of fireworks. “I do not understand why we cannot also use these over the weekend, on the eve and on day of the feast,” . . . Asked if using a bowser meant breaking the law J… C… said there was some leeway, adding the displays barely exceeded 15 minutes during the week.

. . . Over the weekend, fires broke out in Qrendi and Manoel Island when burning petards dropped on vegetation . . .

Information taken from article by Fiona Galea Debono, The Times of Malta, 2 July 2012.

Comment: During the summer months in Malta, there is barely an evening goes by without the sound of some fireworks being set off somewhere. Each week, a Festa will be celebrated in at least one town or village on the island with petards (fireworks consisting of loud bangs and some silver stars) being set off during the week (morning and evening on occasions) leading up to the main display that will probably take place over the following weekend.

“News from Malta”

“Black Day for Scammer”

A Cameroonian confessed to conspiring to take part in a black money scam in which gullible victims are led to believe black paper can be turned into hard cash.

J… B … T …, 41, was found with items used in the scheme after the police were tipped off about him.

The scam involved dousing black paper in iodine then placing it into a bag which, unbeknown to the victims, already contained a 50Euro bank note. This is extracted to give the impression that the black paper had, in fact, turned into real money. More black paper would then be offered in return for a large amount of cash.

Magistrate . . . handed down a six-month jail term suspended for four years.

Information taken from The Times of Malta, 23 June 2012.

Illegal Hunting is a problem in Malta

Police are still investigating the downing of a model spy plane, an act suspected to have been carried out by hunters, but the lightweight aircraft is still missing.

The jablo radio-controlled plane weighing around half a kilogramme and equipped with a high resolution camera belonged to a German-based anti-hunting group that was using it to flush out illegal hunting activity on private land.

It was blasted out of the sky on Thursday in the vicinity of Żonqor Point in Marsascala and according to police sources the plane has still not been found.

The €2,000-camera plane had been hit a first time a day earlier but the damage was minimal and could be repaired. The second time round, the plane dropped out of the sky.

Hunters have described the spying action as “a cheap and despicable publicity stunt”. ...

Information obtained from The Times of Malta, 2 May 2012

How a Parking Situation can get out of hand!

With parking space at a premium (in some towns on the small island of Malta) it’s no wonder that arguments sometimes break out over the precious commodity. But a particularly heated one ended with a Maltese driver and his Polish counterpart being charged in court yesterday.

On Saturday, a Polish tourist and his wife, accompanied by two friends, found a spot right in front of a Pastizzierija. However, their car was actually around the corner so the wife and two friends stood in the space until her husband went to fetch it. At that point, a Maltese man (Mr D...) turned up in a white Renault Megane and told them to get out of the way ….. saying that the parking space was his. He then reversed slowly into the space and hit the woman’s leg, causing a graze and bruise, the Polish tourist’s wife claimed.

Testifying, the Police Inspector said it was Mr D... who in fact filed the first police report claiming that following their argument, he saw the Polish tourist scratch his car, causing €750 in damage. In the arraignment yesterday, the Polish tourist pleaded not guilty to causing the damage, threatening Mr D... and breaching the peace. Mr D... on the other hand denied slightly injuring the wife of the Polish tourist and threatening her husband.

Both the accused were granted bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000 each. The Polish tourist was allowed to go back to Poland but was ordered to return for the next sitting in June. He was warned that a European Arrest Warrant could easily be issued if he did not return. The case continues.

Information taken from The Times of Malta, 1 May 2012

'Typically Malta'

Road works on the Mellieħa Bypass and Marfa Road, which are being reconstructed as part of the European Ten-T projects, are expected to continue until the end of 2012.

Traffic is being diverted via a narrow, one-way road passing by Popeye Village with congestion being the result. In particular, commuters from Gozo are stating that their average journey time has increased by 15 to 30 minutes.

An alternative route is to go through Mellieħa, but the Mayor has banned non-residents from entering his town. The Council have stated that the decision, approved by Transport Malta, was taken because drivers were not following diversion signs correctly, creating congestion and an “inconvenience to residents”.

Now commuters are asking whether the Council has the right to hire traffic wardens to set up roadblocks and check drivers’ identity cards, and only allow Mellieħa residents to enter the town, particularly during the morning rush hour. The question is whether Mellieħa has opted out of the Schengen agreement; an agreement which abolished internal borders and enabled free movement between a large number of European countries of which Malta is one.

The Gozo Business Chamber has received complaints from members who have missed flights and important meetings because of traffic jams, which sometimes last more than an hour, and even the shopkeepers in Mellieħa are not happy because they are losing trade.

This is Malta!
The above information has been obtained from The Times of Malta, 13 May 2012.

Anya Ashe

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Wednesday, 19 May 2021

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