Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1291181
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWS Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti 2020 A recognition for: · Innovative Crafts Products · Local Councils which teach Crafts · Businesses which sell Maltese Crafts · Initiatives in favour of Crafts · Organisations which increase Inclusiveness and Integration through Crafts · Artisans who have contributed to the local crafts scene Submit your application by Friday, 23rd October, 2020 More information on: 25 690 329/332 www.maltacrafts.gov.mt PAUL COCKS THE Nationalist Party's Elector- al Commission has turned down a request by the party's deputy leader to postpone the leadership election slated for Saturday 3 Oc- tober. In a letter addressed to Censu Galea, president of the PN's Gen- eral Council, Robert Arrigo this morning urged that the upcom- ing election be postponed after one of the contestants - Bernard Grech - went into self-imposed quarantine after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. Grech is going up against cur- rent leader Adrian Delia in the election. The commission said that the fact that the wife of one of the candidates had tested positive for COVID-19 did not impinge on the preparations and standards it had already agreed upon and did not put any pressure on those who were already well-prepared. Arrigo insisted that with the pandemic spreading at 'an alarm- ing rate', many party members had expressed concern at the election - 'a mass event' - being held in these circumstances. "This is a mass event where no risk assessment has been car- ried out," he wrote in his letter. "Despite all precautions, it is in- evitable that a large number of persons will be getting together in enclosed spaces. This is a risk that should not be taken lightly." Arrigo said that, as a political party, the PN should lead by ex- ample in these trying times. He urged Galea to postpone the election to another date, once the situation was under control. "The health of our loved ones should be our top priority," he said. But the commission said that the health and safety of its mem- bers had always been its top pri- ority, as it put in place guidelines established by the public health authorities. The commission had, for ex- ample, decided to open voting stations over six days to ensure members social distancing rules. Moreover, it said, all voting sta- tions would be fumigated, and it was inviting all members to take their own pen or pencil when go- ing to vote, would be enforcing social distancing rules in case of queues. Members going to vote would need to wear a face mask or visor and would have their tempera- tures taken before being allowed into the voting stations. Bernard Grech reaction Reacting to the publication of Arrigo's letter to Galea, Bernard Grech's campaign team insist- ed that the PN needs to put this period of uncertainty behind it as soon as possible. "Any attempt to prolong this process is definitely not in the in- terest of the party, its supporters and, above all, the country," the team said in a statement. The team noted that the PN's electoral commission had already acknowledged public health con- cerns amid the COVID-19 pan- demic and has taken a number of steps to mitigate the risks. Among other measures, 18 poll- ing stations will be set up across Malta, while members will be able to vote on any of the five days identified by the party. The commission confirmed that all health regulations and guidelines would be followed at each of the following voting sta- tions, with social distacing meas- ures enforced. "At no time will there be a 'mass activity'," Grech's team said, in response to Arrigo's fears that the election woul pose health risk to people gathering under one roof. PN electoral commission turns down call for postponement of leadership election Robert Arrigo