Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512576
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 DECEMBER 2023 COMMENT The Skinny Malta, shrunk down EDITORIAL Malta should do the right thing and drop the charges against the El Hiblu 3 PAGE 2 JOSANNE CASSAR This is a bubbling cauldron which should not be ignored PAGE 8 It is within the EU's interest to ensure that the internal market is strengthened and EU companies and citizens living in border countries like Malta, are protected as much as those in the mainland STEVE ELLUL | PAGE 4 What are we skinning? Legend- ary Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja recounting how 'senior pilots' told him they witnessed 'huge' flying saucers while on duty. Why are we skinning it? Because we want to believe. Shouldn't local celebrities fo- cus on promoting their work? I wouldn't say Calleja is a 'local ce- lebrity' exactly. More like a celeb- rity who happens to be local. Okay, but UFOs are not his remit, surely. I would throw that ques- tion back at you and say: "Whose remit are they, really?" I don't know, paranormal re- searchers? That's not an official job description, alas. Wouldn't it be great if it were, though? Yes, the world would cer- tainly be a more colourful place. I'd argue that it's already colour- ful enough already, with variety to spare. But what about those looking into potential new arriv- als? In the absence of bona fide re- searchers into the field, I guess we'll have to resort to niche pod- cast hosts to scratch that itch. And what better way to amplify that scratching session than with the help of world-famous operatic tenor? That is an actual job description, at least? Even though full-time artists emerging from Malta are as rare as extraterrestrial sightings, it seems. Could this be why Mr Calleja is so keen on proving their existence? It could be. I guess it does get lonely at the top. Don't you worry that this will make Calleja seem a bit kooky to his fans? I wouldn't worry so much. Surely artists are still al- lowed a measure of eccentricity. They could use their platform for more substantial ends. I don't know. A lot of them do, and it's of- ten a cringe-worthy exercise. Yeah. Celebrities commenting on politics and social justice isn't exactly a pathway to tangible and proactive solutions. To say noth- ing of celebrities *cough reality TV stars cough* actually getting into politics... So yes, let's allow the tenor his extraterrestrial speculations. The next step would be for him to use his booming voice as sonar. To attract UFOs to Malta? Yes. Would they be classed as irreg- ular migrants, or could they po- tentially offer another avenue of investment? It all depends on which ministry latches onto the issue first. Do say: "There's something nos- talgic about seeing celebrities go on deep-dives into kooky subjects like the paranormal and UFOs. It's certainly a break from the earnest political sloganeering of a bulk of their ilk." Don't say: "Say what you will about Joseph Calleja, but I'd rather have him speak about intra-plan- etary issues than Elon Musk." No. 220 - Extraterrestrial Tenor MICHAEL FALZON Policy schizophrenia PAGE 9 SAVIOUR BALZAN Bitter sweet truth PAGE 5 Joseph Calleja