Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1481540
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 OCTOBER 2022 THE Malta Football Association has announced it parted ways national team assistant coach Guiller- mo Giacomazzi. "The Malta FA communicates that it has ami- cably agreed with Guillermo Giacomazzi on the rescission of his contract as Assistant Coach of the National A Team," it said. Giacomazzi was part of the coaching team led by now suspended coach Devis Mangia, who is facing allegations of sexual abuse with at least two of his players. The Malta Football Association has filed a po- lice report on the alleged sexual harassment. "The Malta FA and Giacomazzi had been in discussions for the last months in view of the latter seeking pastures new at club level," the MFA said. The MFA said it would like to thank Guillermo "for his invaluable contribution within the Na- tional Team setup and to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours." MFA parts ways with national team assistant coach Guillermo Giacomazzi Giacomazzi was part of the coaching team led by now suspended coach Devis Mangia, who is facing allegations of sexual abuse with at least two of his players Guillermo Giacomazzi Politicians urged to invest in children's mental health PN launches public consultation on media reform Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca calls on politicians to heed the voices of children on mental health issues church.mt EXPRESSION OF INTEREST INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VACANT SITE IN SIĠĠIEWI The Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta will receive proposals for the development of suitable premises, comprising a parish centre as well as residential and commercial units, at a vacant site located within development zone at Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi Street, corner with Nikola Saura Street, Siġġiewi. Plans submitted for the development must be appropriate and comply with planning regulations. Interested parties may submit requests for further information by sending an email to parrocca.siggiewi@maltadiocese.org by not later than 12:00 on Monday, 31 st October 2022. Submissions should be made in person at the Archbishop's Curia, St Calcedonius Square, Floriana FRN 1535, Malta, Mondays to Fridays between 09:00 and 17:00, in a sealed envelope clearly marked 'Siġġiewi Proposal', by not later than 12:00 on Friday, 18 th November 2022. An appropriate box will be provided for this purpose. Only offers received through this box will be considered. The bidders will be informed in writing in due course whether their bid was selected or not. The right is reserved to refuse any proposal, even the most financially advantageous one. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. KARL AZZOPARDI THE Nationalist Party has launched a public consultation on government's proposed me- dia reform. "The Bills presented by government were drawn up secretly, and show government plans to continue its efforts in silencing freedom of expression and the right to in- formation," PN spokesperson for justice Karol Aquilina said in a statement. Justice Minister Jonathan Attard unveiled three Bills that will be presented to the House, after receiving feedback from a gov- ernment-appointed committee to analyse the state of journalism in Malta. In a letter signed by over 100 editors, journal- ists, academics, artists and others, Prime Min- ister Robert Abela was asked "to immediately publish the advice you have already received from the experts whom you appointed and, be- fore you present any legal proposals to Parlia- ment, to publish the government's intentions for open and effective public consultation." Government took up almost 90% of rec- ommendations made by the Committee of Experts, however, ignored or diluted some of the more important elements proposed. The proposed laws will request Parliament to recognise the constitutional protection of media sources, a long-held sacred tenet of journalism. However, government's final proposal only includes this in one chapter of the Constitution that is not enforceable at law. KURT SANSONE POLITICIANS are being urged to pri- oritise children's mental health after two years of pandemic and interna- tional upheaval that is eroding fami- lies' living standards. On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society rallied MPs and the Mental Health Commissioner to drive the necessary changes to en- sure children feel happy, heard, safe, and healthy. MFWS head and Eurochild president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said: "We need to heed their voices. We know the pandemic has compounded chil- dren's mental health." Youngsters' mental health was made worse by the fact that they were sep- arated from their peers during crucial developmental years and a Faculty for Social Wellbeing study showed nearly 75% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 were negatively affected by the pandemic. Richmond Malta, a mental health foundation, this year also reported an alarming 1,045% surge in requests from youngsters seeking help for men- tal health issues since the start of the pandemic. "The snapshot we are seeing from such reports is troubling and experts are warning of long-term consequenc- es — children need action now,"Colei- ro Preca said. The Malta Foundation for the Well- being of Society stressed that mental health problems had no face, no na- tionality, no gender and no race. During a visit the Foundation paid to Mental Health Commissioner Dennis Vella Baldacchino, Coleiro Preca put the spotlight on the six points children themselves called for in a manifesto prepared by the Children's Council within the MFWS, and launched last year. "This manifesto reflects the aspira- tions of 20,000 children living in Malta. This means one in five children living in Malta have spoken about the men- tal health challenges they and their re- spective communities face. Have the politicians found the time to inform their policies by going through this manifesto? Will they ensure the prop- er structures are in place?" she asked. The Foundation also marked World Mental Health Day by sending an email to all MPs reminding them of this manifesto and urging them to re- flect and act on the children's aspira- tions. The manifesto, which was drawn up following years of work, discussions and consultations by the Children's Hub with thousands of children was split into five pillars — community and environment, health and wellbe- ing, education, diversity and inclusion, as well as children's rights and active participation. Each of the 99 proposals is a recom- mendation by the children themselves. In the section on mental health, the children urged politicians to strength- en, restructure and resource free child mental health services in the commu- nity. They called for the creation of ade- quate social and psychological support systems for the growing problem of juvenile delinquency, and to provide increased financial and psychosocial state support for families below the poverty line and those who at risk of poverty. Children also wanted politicians to develop initiatives and campaigns on body positivity and self-esteem that challenged the negative effects por- trayed by the media.