Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1446843
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 JANUARY 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Futile prayer 'marathons' for COVID ON May 3 2021, a local newspaper reported that "Ta' Pinu sanctuary has been chosen by Pope Francis as one of 30 Marian shrines around the world to participate in a month-long marathon of prayer for an end to the pandemic." The World Health Organization sta- tistics for the same day were 3.19 mil- lion. Since then, the worldwide death toll from the pandemic has risen to 5.61 million. On March 10 2020, the same news- paper had reported that "priests were told to organize special prayers for the spread of the pandemic to stop." On April 3 2020, "the virus claimed thousands more lives in its relentless march across the globe." In Malta, the death toll from coronavirus has now reached 536. The "special prayers" did not stop the spread of the pandemic. The first marathon of prayer was held on May 30, 2020 at the Vatican gardens, where Pope Francis was joined by sat- ellite in the recitation of the rosary by more than 50 Marian shrines around the world. The Pope "asked Mary to intercede to save the world from the pandemic." On that day, coronavirus deaths worldwide were over 370,000. In an article entitled "What next for COVID-19 after five million deaths", a local newspaper reported that "the pandemic has not stopped." In January 2022, the World Health Organization warned that the Covid pandemic is "nowhere near over." John Guillaumier St Julian's European honour KINDLY allow me to say that, contra- ry to what Dr Bernard Grech and Dr Lawrence Gonzi said at a PN meeting in Santa Lucija, in my humble opinion a great honour goes as well to the Malta Labour Party, that amazingly gets four MEPs out of six at European parliamen- tary elections. On the other hand, it is also noted that the majority of democratic so- cialists in the European Parliament honourably voted for the PN's Roberta Metsola to be the president of the EP for the next 30 months. These are true facts. It is therefore also truly a great hon- our to be a Maltese Laburist! Jean Agius Attard Shocking news THE Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) refers to the recent shocking news of a woman who exploited and locked her house- mate with intellectual disabilities in a foul-smelling room for hours on end. MFOPD sincerely thanks the person who brought this situation to light. We need more such conscientious persons within our society. This appalling situation of what this vulnerable person had to go through and for such a long time, raises ques- tions. Moreover, answers should be given by those concerned. The news is public knowledge and thus should the answers be. What is the future for this victim with intellectual disability? What next? Truthfully, has justice been done to the victim? How come such a dreadful situation concerning a person with in- tellectual disability been covered up for years? This is a clear case of this person being 'invisible'. How many more 'invis- ible' vulnerable persons do we have in Malta and Gozo? What is their situation? What is going to be done to make sure no more such episodes occur? MFOPD hopes that the vulnerable person concerned receives the expected professional attention she needs which she has been deprived of for all these years. MFOPD gives its full support to all vulnerable persons and to those persons who come forward to report such atro- cious cases. Contact us on info@mfopd. org or by telephone on 77075555/ 27075555. Marthese Mugliette President, MFOPD