Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512265
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 NOVEMBER 2023 2 CLAIRVOYANT Mr TOURE a Marabout clairvoyant medium healer and Exorcist with an exceptional gift. Specialising in disenchantment, voodoo protection against dangers, couple problems return of a loved one, impotence and sexual issues whatever the nature. Court cases. Tel: +35677484511 BIRDLIFE Malta has writ- ten to the Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti to assign a magistrate to deal with environmental crimes after the responsibil- ity was removed from Elaine Mercieca Rizzo. The NGO said environmen- tal crime proceedings have been postponed indefinitely, for more than two months. "The vacancy, and lack of re- placement, has impacted the efficiency of how these crimes are tackled in court," the NGO said. In the first letter signed off by CEO Mark Sultana, BirdLife said pending cases continue to accumulate, and the lack of judicial oversight is worsening the environmental crime situ- ation. The NGO made reference to a recent case involving a Fla- mingo, which is currently be- ing housed in a cage until the courts decide on the case. "The more time passes and the longer the legal process takes, the chances of the bird remaining alive decrease sig- nificantly. It is disappointing that a creature like this re- mains vulnerable with the pos- sibility of dying due to delays in the court system that could have been avoided," the NGO said. Replying to Sultana's letter, the Chief Justice said he can- not assign anyone on environ- mental crimes until new mag- istrates are sworn in. The NGO replied back by saying certain crimes risk be- ing time-barred. "It would be a shame that no justice is done on these crimes because of logistical and ad- ministrative short-comings," it said. KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Environmental crime cases in court have been stalled for two months: BirdLife BirdLife CEO Mark Sultana Environmental NGO BirdLife writes to Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti to assign a magistrate to deal with environmental crimes after the responsibility was removed from Elaine Mercieca Rizzo PRIME Minister Robert Abela stressed the need to not only dis- rupt activities of human traffick- ers, but to collectively strive for traffickers to be brought to jus- tice in a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. In comments to the press at the Chancellery in the German capital following the meeting with Chancellor Scholz, Abela said Malta is focused on pre- venting arrivals and fighting against human trafficking. During discussions with the German Chancellor, Abela also expressed support for dialogue and assistance to other coun- tries in the Mediterranean such as Libya and Tunisia. The two leaders also dis- cussed climate security and Malta's role in the United Na- tions Security Council. Abela said Malta will contin- ue to advocate for peace in the UN. "The fact that our coun- try hosted the Ukraine Peace Formula, a high-level interna- tional meeting to seek peace in Ukraine, and the resolu- tion adopted by Malta at the Security Council, continue to demonstrate our country's commitment to peace in differ- ent regions," the PM said. Connectivity between the two states was also discussed by the leaders, who agreed shared in- terests can foster greater coop- eration between the two coun- tries in economic sectors. The PM said there will con- tinue to be solid connectivity with a national air route that will begin operating from the coming March. Both leaders also spoke about the energy sector and environ- mental sustainability in this area. The importance of re- search, innovation, and stra- tegic cooperation in different regions, similar to what Malta is doing to make the Mediter- ranean a center of clean ener- gy, was emphasized. Prime Minister Robert Abela was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ian Borg, Minister for Economy Silvio Schembri, Minister for Home Affairs Byron Camilleri, Mal- ta's Ambassador to Germany Vanni Xuereb, and the Head of Secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister Glenn Mi- callef. Abela says human traffickers should be brought to justice in meeting with Scholz Prime Minister Robert Abela and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin (Photo: DOI)