Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1279544
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 AUGUST 2020 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA THE Public Broadcasting Services has been instructed by the Broadcasting Au- thority, a constitutional regulator, to cen- sor questions by the Maltese press to the Public Health Superintendent and the deputy prime minister. On Monday, those who viewed the press conference given by the Chris Fearne and the Superintendent of Public Health Prof. Charmaine Gauci on the public service broadcaster had questions from the press censored, following a BA decision that was implemented by a helpless PBS. In a decision taken on 16 June 2020, the BA was asked for redress by the Partit Nazzjonalista, which complained that the Prime Minister replied to a series of ques- tions by journalists with a partisan slant. This took place in a press conference re- lated to information on the coronavirus, addressed by Prime Minister Robert Abe- la, Fearne and Gauci. But in its decision, the BA said "the po- litical element in this press conference was provoked by some questions from the journalists present... the political element took place in the questions session, with the said questions provoking a political response in the answer.The Prime Minis- ter could not but answer... the Authority is aware that any imbalance was created because of the questions asked." The BA therefore forced PBS to censor the questions by journalists - including its own journalists. "This is a decision which beggars belief," the Institute of Maltese Journalists said. "In no democratic state is this sort of cen- sorship acceptable. By its decision, the BA has effectively forced the PBS into a State Broadcaster similar to what one finds in totalitarian regimes. All those who prefer to follow news and current affairs on this medium, believing and trusting in the re- liability of the public service ethos have been denied that service and are now forced to seek verification elsewhere." The IGM has requested a meeting of rectification given that with its decision, the BA has silenced all journalists, "in- cluding those at PBS whose credibility as a station is now in rendered derelict", the IGM said. Malta's national broadcaster censors journalists' questions by order of BA The BA thinks the way to solve the executive's 'partisan replies' to the press is by censoring the press that asks the questions ALLIED health professionals from the Un- ion Haddiema Maqghudin will go ahead with industrial directives in protest at the lack of good will from the government over an expired collective agreement. In a statement released hours after health minister Chris Fearne announced the closure of bars and clubs as part of new restrictions to combat the COV- ID-19 pandemic, the UHM launched in- dustrial action for a host of medical pro- fessionals. These comprise audiologists, biomedi- cal scientists, dental hygienists and tech- nologists, occupational therapists, phys- iotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers and speech language pathologists. "Despite a collective agreement having expired three years ago, the government is stamping its feet with these frontlin- ers by not giving pay increases and better conditions meritorious of their profes- sional roles. These people have been a major pillar in our health service, and the lack of a collective agreement for them means they suffer conditions last applied to them seven years ago." The actions start Tuesday and will in- clude the postponement of non-urgent operations; go-slow directives for radi- ographers in the emergency department; CT scans, MRIs and theatres will be shut down except for emergencies; and blood testing will not be processed unless for an emergency or for COVID-19 swabs. Podiatrists will only provide urgent ser- vices in hospitals and primary care; occu- pational therapists will not see new pa- tients or offer home visits; patients with dysphagia and swallowing problems will be referred to casualty while speech ther- apy will be stopped except for first-case visits; hearing tests will stop and physio- therapists will only see respiratory cases. Health professionals on 'go slow' directives