Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1393937
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JULY 2021 NEWS Prosecutions matter: now more rate positively courts' independence JAMES DEBONO The Maltese rate positively the independence of the courts, ac- cording to a Eurobarometer sur- vey held among 445 respondents in April. Asked to rate it in terms of in- dependence of courts and judg- es, 69% of the Maltese described it as 'very good' or 'fairly good' while only 27% described it as 'very bad' or 'fairly bad'. This represented a sharp 17-point increase in positive as- sessments when compared to a similar survey held last year. A separate survey conducted among 262 Maltese companies also found that 69% of business owners now rated the justice system positively while only 26% rated it negatively. This repre- sented a sharp 20-point increase in positive assessments of the justice system among the busi- ness community. The increase in trust in the justice system represents a re- versal of trends during the past five years marked by politi- cally-charged cases in the law courts. The survey was held a few days after the arraignment of former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri on money laun- dering charges. It also comes in the wake of reforms in judicial appointments limiting govern- ment's direct interference in ju- dicial appointments. Between 2017 and 2020, pos- itive assessments of the justice system had declined by four points while negative assess- ments increased by six points. This period was characterised by lack of action on the Panama Papers. But positive assessments are now 13 points higher than in 2017, even if negative assess- ments remain slightly higher. Of all EU member states, Mal- ta saw the sharpest increase in positive assessments followed by Romania (+14 points) and Latvia (+11 points). The survey shows that among Maltese respondents who hold a negative view of the justice system, 63% replied that their rating is "very much" related to political interference by govern- ment and politicians. Eurobarometer survey finds more Maltese think their law courts are independent, up by 17 points over the previous year How do you rate the justice system in terms of independence of courts and judges? 2017 2020 2021 Positively 56% 52% 69% Negatively 25% 31% 27% Don't Know 19% 17% 4% Top 5 positive rating for justice systems Austria 83% Finland 83% Germany 80% Luxembourg 77% Netherlands 77% Top 5 negative rating for justice systems Croatia 78% Slovakia 65% Poland 59% Bulgaria 56% Italy 54% The survey was held a few days after the arraignment of former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri on money laundering charges MALTA registered 206 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, slightly down from the 235 cases reported on Friday, according to figures published by the Health Ministry. The number of active cases stands at 1,642 after five recov- eries were registered over the last 24 hours. 4,373 swab tests were carried out between Friday and Saturday. Giving a more detailed break- down of the previous day's cas- es, the Health Ministry said that from the 235 cases reported on Friday, 178 of them were fund in 10- to 39-year-olds, with an aver- age age of 27. According to the daily COV- ID-19 bulletin, there are current- ly 17 patients being treated for the ailment at Mater Dei Hospi- tal, including one patient who is in the Intensive Care Unit. Up until yesterday, a total of 721,415 vaccine doses had been administered in Malta. The fig- ures show that 355,883 people are now fully vaccinated, while 381,764 are on their first dose – making for a grand total of 721.415 total vaccines having been administered. Malta to recognise US CDC COV- ID-19 Vaccination Record Card From tomorrow Monday 19 Ju- ly, Malta will begin recognising the United States CDC COV- ID-19 Vaccination Record Card with an EMA-approved vaccine (full course and 14 days post last dose) as a valid vaccination certif- icate. As from 1 August, the United States CDC COVID-19 Vaccina- tion Record Card will need to be verified through a specific app to be acceptable as a valid vaccina- tion certificate. Vaccine mandatory for non-EU workers Non-EU workers, many from African and Asian countries, as well as those working in the health and catering sectors, must now prove that they are fully vac- cinated against COVID-19 to re- new their work permit. A recent update by the Health Ministry indicates that some of the third-country nationals in Malta need to also include Coro- navirus vaccination proof in health screening paperwork re- quired for work permit renewals. Only Malta-issued COVID-19 vaccine certificates are being rec- ognised as valid for these permit renewals. COVID-19 206 new cases registered