Reading Time: 6 minutes
The Malta Business Weekly carries a story entitled <<New Zealand accountants backdated Malta trust documents during Panama Papers>>. In this story we read New Zealand accountants were backdating documents during the publication of the Panama Papers in 2016 for trusts that had been set up seven months earlier by senior Maltese government figures, Maltese investigators say. Emails quoted in a draft report by Malta’s anti-money laundering agency show that while The Australian Financial Review was putting questions in late March 2016 to then NZ prime minister John Key about offshore trusts set up by Malta’s Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the prime minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, Dr Mizzi was giving instructions to backdate changes to his New Zealand holdings, Neil Chenoweth reported on The Australian Financial Review.
The second story, entitled <<Zedra acquires Malta-based fiduciary firm>>, refers to the fact that “Zedra has acquired Quaestum Corporate Management Ltd, an independent financial services and corporate management firm based in Malta. The global independent specialist in trust, corporate and fund services acquisition said in a statement that the current management of Quaestum, will remain on board, adding what it calls “a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience” within the Maltese market.”
L-Orizzont’s Front Page carries four stories. A story <<Missirijiet gay jiċċelebraw Jum l-Omm?>> The story questions whether gay fathers celebrate Mother’s Day and also quotes Kris Grima (who together with his partner in civil union has adopted a child) saying that ideally their should be one day to celebrate the parent.
A second story is about the paedophile register, which now has reached 58 persons. This update follows the latest the inclusion of the 65 year old male who was found guilty of abuse of his grandchildren. A third story refers to the fact that 22 people were arraigned in court for not having their dogs microchipped.
In the fourth story we read that the Curia denies it silenced Fr Mark Montelbello, referring to information the newspaper had recieved, that the priest was ordered not to express his opinion for 3 years. Fr Mark Montebello’s recent criticsm to the church is also the subject of an opinion piece on the back page of the Times. The article penned by a retired businessman, Carmel Vella, entitled <<Strategy of the Church>>, argues “I was very sorry to read the contribution by Fr Mark Montebello (April 25). It was truly unbecoming. However, as I am accustomed to his polemical writings I was not surprised. Notwithstanding that, I find this poor contribution loathsome and I am disgusted. The author adds “his strategy is very clear. He continues to attack the ecclesiastical leaders. This time the subject is the Embryo Protection Act.”
The back page carries an international news item, stating that the US allies are saying that the Iran Nuclear Deal will remain valid. The story is also dealt on the back page carries a story <<Iran’s top leader, lawmakers lash out at US on nuclear deal.”
In-Nazzjon’s front page carries two political stories, related to the general council of the Nationalist Party. A report entitled <<Ħidma bla heda għal partit tan-nies, vuċi tan-nies, li jifhem u jaġixxi>>. The report quotes the Deputy Leader of the PN David Agius speaking about the PN’s efforts and policy. A second story shows the PN Leader visiting Farsons bewery where he also was shown around and given information on the new project of the company. The report is followed through in the back page. Another story, on the newspaper’s backpage also carries a story about an initiative taken by the Museum Society, to open up for viewing of where San Ġorġ Preca used lived and died in St. Venera.
The Malta Independent’s Front Page main story is entitled <<Population at open centres in Malta grows by a third in light of rising rental prices>>. According to the report “the total population in Open Centres around Malta has increased by almost 1/3 since 2015, where there are currently 907 residents despite the number of boat arrivals dropping significantly, UNHCR figures show. With the rental market expanding out of control, given that the cheapest apartments across the island fetch for a minimum of roughly 700 to 800 euro per month, most lower-income earning individuals are struggling to get on the property ladder, and it is of no surprise that a number of migrants, be they refugees or migrants granted protection, are finding themselves returning to open centres potentially resulting in greater social exclusion and hampering any push towards greater integration.”
In a second story we read that <<Henley and Partners tried ‘to sell their ideas’ to Gonzi’s administration’, referring to the IIP scheme, which initially was offered to the Nationalist administrtation led by Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. The offer was ‘rebutted’. The newspaper also carries a photo of Archbishop Charles Scicluna doing ‘a <<High Five>> with an elderly woman in Hal Safi, during a visit.
The frontpage of today’s Times, reports that “Malta is perceived by country experts and business people as one of the “more” corrupt countries in Western Europe, according to Transparency International.” The report, named <<‘Those in business see Malta as corrupt’>> says “that the interviewees’ ratings are used to compile the Corruption Perceptions Index. Malta ranked 46th out of 180 countries in the index, moving up a place from last year. Just seven out of 31 countries in Western Europe were perceived as being more corrupt, said TI advocacy director Casey Kelso and researcher Maira Martini. Malta’s score had not significantly improved over time, indicating that the government was not making progress against corruption in the public sector, they told the Times of Malta.” On the second story entitled <<NGO takes PA to court over Villa St Ignatius>> reports that “Din L-Art Ħelwa has taken the Planning Authority to court to force it to take action against developers behind the controversial demolition of part of Balluta’s Villa St Ignatius. The heritage group is claiming that the PA failed to respond or take action when notified that an entire wing of the historic building was being demolished in breach of permit conditions last November, a few days after it was proposed for scheduling.”
