Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1439469
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 DECEMBER 2021 INTERVIEW What they said ... Dr Charles Mallia Head of Mater Dei Infectious Diseases Division 3 January Up to now, we have not seen any se- vere side-effects in Malta. Obvious- ly, however, there is a degree of risk involved in everything we do in life. Konrad Xuereb Architect 14 February If we do not shift our strategy to have a plan, so that - at least - in 10 years' time there will be alternative modes of transport in place, I feel we will be spiralling aimlessly to- wards an untenable situation. Dr Julian Zarb Malta Tourism Society president 21 March is isn't just a 'slow-down'; this is a 'shut-down'; and has been for the last year. So we have this ideal op- portunity to reflect, and ask our- selves: what have we done wrong in tourism? What can we do right? Paul Buttigieg Qala mayor 25 April In Gozo, there is a 'fear factor': people are afraid to speak out openly. Even my own experience as mayor shows this. ere was a concerted campaign against me, before the last election; and I even ended up isolated in the Qala Labour Party committee. Hermann Schiavone PN MP 17 January Maltese politics is confrontational; it would be futile denying it. Wheth- er it is too confrontational to attract more women – or good people, in general – perhaps, yes. Andrew Bonello Releaf Malta president 21 February If one wants to seriously and logical- ly discuss the potential risks linked with cannabis and mental health, then we have to at least ensure that we are listening to what science says. Ramona Attard PL president 28 March We must be humble; and where mis- takes were made… yes, certainly they must be corrected. And if the party needs to reform or restructure – as it is, in fact, in the process of doing – then yes, the process has to continue. Matt Bonanno Anonymous satirist 2 May While we're not exactly North Korea, or Saudi Arabia… I do see what I tend to call an 'undercurrent of brutality' in Malta. Put simply, if someone doesn't like what you're saying… they feel as if they had an automatic right to com- mit violence on you. Ian Borg Transport & Infrastructure Minister 24 January I am in politics to do a job. So I ex- pect to be judged on how I do my work. And those who know me per- sonally, know what I'm really like. I don't have to make excuses for other people's misconceptions… Stephanie Falzon Empower chairperson 28 February Gender quotas are a necessary evil. In an ideal world, we would al- ready have reached a level of gender equality that would make them un- necessary; but we are very far from that, right now. Aleks Farrugia Author and journalist 4 April ere are Maltese people, who are 'Maltese' because they were born in Malta; and there are others who were not born in Malta; but they are here, and they want to be Maltese. But they are excluded. Evarist Bartolo Foreign affairs minister 9 May You can't 'improve Malta's reputa- tion' by simply covering up all the mess with a superficial, cosmetic touch-up. We need to take serious steps to address the problems of re- cent years. Clyde Caruana Finance Minister 31 January We have reached a situation where the new government is telling us that it will not change the tax system in any way, because it is 'sacred' to Malta's national interest. And really and truly, we are fine with this… Prof Luciano Mule-Stagno Institute for Sustainable Energy 7 March Even if it remains more expensive than conventional methods, for now: there is still a very good chance that, in four or five years' time, Mal- ta will be able to install offshore windfarms. Dr Anthony Gatt Caritas Malta director 11 April It is not realistic to argue that canna- bis is 'entirely harmless'; it does cause problems… Today, 25% of the people approaching us for help, do so be- cause of cannabis. Marlene Farrugia Independent MP 16 May e reality is that women always have to perform; no matter how psychologically traumatized they are. Many of them end up victims of domestic violence, because there will be tensions in the home. Dr Sandra Scicluna Criminologist 7 February A sentence of only a week can still cost you your job, your reputation, etc. And in reality, these short sen- tences do not really achieve any- thing, other than punishment for its own sake. Matthew Pace Association of Catering Establishments secretary 14 March We are asking the health authori- ties to clarify whether there is any scientific evidence to prove that the spread is in fact happening through restaurants. Astrid Vella Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar president 18 April e sheer quantity of development permits that are being issued by the PA is now overwhelming our towns and villages. is, however, is having effects which go beyond just the ug- lification of our landscape. Fadi Hanania Palestine's ambassador to Malta 23 May is is not a war between Hamas and Israel. at is, however, how the international community is trying to put it. Israel tends to depict Hamas as a religious faction – in order to frame the dispute as a religious dis- agreement.