Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537507
PRIME Minister Robert Abela has brushed off Charles Polidano's sanc- tioning of his 45,000sq.m illegally built Montekristo zoo and eques- trian parks as "an ex- isting legal remedy." Abela was door- stepped outside of parliament a few days after Polidano obtained a planning p e r m i t t h a t sanctioned his massive illegal develop- ment in Ħal Farruġ for €1.8 million. The sanctioning of illegalities stretch- ing back decades even irked some mem- bers of the Planning Board, as one mem- ber noted the Planning Authority's (PA) action sends a message that such mas- sive illegalities can be sanctioned. CONTINUES ON PAGE 2 WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 16 JULY 2025 • ISSUE 949 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt ONE TEAM YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR SUCCESS TO HAPPEN. WE HELP YOU BUILD IT. Not a franchise Elderly Commissioner warns of heatwave impact on older adults 'That's the point of sanctioning': Abela shrugs off concerns on Caqnu's forgiven illegalities Prime Minister Robert Abela doesn't believe the Planning Authority decision to sanction decades worth of illegalities sets a dangerous precedent HIGH temperatures can be "easily life threatening" in older adults, Elderly Commissioner Al- exander Attard warns as he urges special attention for those who live alone. Heatwaves affect older persons in a disproportionate manner when compared to younger age groups, Attard writes in an opin- ion piece being published today (see page 9). Keeping cool and hydrated are important to reduce the risks from overheating but Attard sounds a warning for elderly peo- ple who may not have relatives looking out for them. "Social and local community services should identify those that live alone and do not have family backup and establish a ser- vice for monitoring the condition of these individuals," he says. Attard adds that social isolation and limited mobility may result in persons, whose clinical status is worsening in the heat, being missed with potentially seri- ous consequences. "Pensioners on limited income may not be able to afford investing in air condi- tioners to minimise the risk and may not be in a position to venture out to cooler environ- ments," he says. The effects of overheating, he adds, range from simple muscle cramps due to electrolyte loss, heat exhaustion with weakness, dizziness and headaches and finally heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Heatstroke leads to confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness and multi organ failure. "The latter, potentially fa- tal stage, is commonest in older persons," Attard says. His warning comes as statistics released by the Meteorological Office at Malta International Air- port show that June was mark- edly hotter than usual. Air tem- perature lingered at an average of 26.3°C, which was 2.3°C above the climatic norm, throughout the month. June also registered the first heatwave of the sum- mer between 24 and 27 June with temperatures ranging between 34°C and 35°C. A heatwave is when the aver- age maximum temperature is at least 5°C higher than the month- ly norm for three or more days. Attard says that a long heat wave in 2023 resulted in approximate- ly 80 deaths in Malta but specific statistics for older people were not given. He says that although elderly people are more vulnera- ble, heat related problems should be totally preventable. SEE OPINION PAGE 9 Elderly Commissioner Alexander Attard (left) has called for community services to look out for older persons who live alone to ensure their wellbeing during the hot summer months