Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/331448
2 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 JUNE 2014 News Salina flamingo settles in for extended stay A single Greater Flamingo appears to have enjoyed its Malta experience and has settled in for an extended stay at Salina, Qawra. The Phoenicopterus roseus was first seen in Malta last Tuesday by birdwatchers in Marsaxlokk and then spotted resting at the Salina salt pans. "It is difficult to know whether to be excited or worried," said BirdLife Malta Conservation and Policy Of- ficer, Christian Debono. "We want people to enjoy see- ing this amazing bird, which has decided to visit Salina, but we also know there are those who would do it harm given the chance." The lone bird, a protected species, landed in the salt pans, which are currently undergoing restoration, last Wednesday morning and has since been under 24-hour guard by BirdLife Malta staff, volunteers, lo- cal residents and police, in an effort to avoid a repeat of what happened to the last flamingo to visit Salina, in June last year – it was shot. ALTERNATTIVA Demokratika is urging the University of Malta to develop a course that specifically ca- ters for sign language interpreters. The Green party said in a state- ment the struggles faced by the Deaf Association can no longer be ig- nored as it was struggling to provide interpreting services. "Deaf people rely strongly on inter- preters to provide access to commu- nication in all areas of life, including education," AD spokesperson Claire Azzopardi Lane said. Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disa- bled People (UNCRDP), which Mal- ta ratified in October 2012, asserts the right to professional interpret- ing services. Fourteen years ago, the association received funding from the govern- ment to employ a sign lan- guage interpreter, which eventually increased to three interpreters. The association itself continued to make use of volun- teers to organise the administration of the interpreting services. It is now requesting that the administra- tor of the service is taken over by a dedicated ad- ministrator. "The recent tender issued by the Ministry for Education for I n t e r p r e t i n g Services was u naccept able to the asso- ciation's cur- rent stand- ards. Yet government i n v e s t m e n t is needed to ensure that interpreters can continue to deliver a professional service that provides access to the deaf community and that Interpret- ers continue to enhance their skills through training," Azzopardi Lane said. AD's chairperson, Arnold Cassola, said his party supported the need for the introduction of subtitles as well as for further training for in- terpreters to provide a professional service. "Malta indeed requires a dedicated university-level course for profes- sional sign language," he said. Alternattiva Demokratika calls for further investment allowing interpreters to deliver a professional service Green party calls for university course on sign language Citizenship sale regulator will present report on IIP MIRIAM DALLI THE government regulator overseeing the work- ings of Identity Malta will be presenting a report "in due time", Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mal- lia said. Last week, the main concessionaires for Malta's citizenship programme Henley & Partners, re- vealed that over 100 individuals made financial commitments while over 50 who applied to be- come Maltese citizens already received their resi- dence permits. The financial commitments made resulted in over €100 million in foreign direct investment, Henley said. In parliament, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil asked how many dependants of the main applicants had applied for citizenship. Taking umbrage at Busuttil's use of the words "sale of citizenship", the minister reiterated that "Malta's citizenship is not for sale". "If he [Busuttil] is referring to the Individual In- vestor Programme, the Regulator will be present- ing in due time a report on the workings of Identity Malta," Mallia said. He also confirmed that six dependants of the main applicants had submitted a full application to become Maltese citizens. Meanwhile, in the Public Accounts Committee, the Opposition asked the government whether it intended to publish the Henley contract. In com- ments to the Sunday Times, the concessionaries said they didn't mind if a copy of the contract is published. Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said there had been no formal communication between Henley and the government confirming the concession- aire's willingness to publish the contract. The government had been reluctant to publish the contract, pointing out that an unsuccessful bidder – Arton Capital – was contesting the gov- ernment's decision in court. "Our position has not changed and we should dis- cuss the matter when, according to the PAC agenda, the discussion on the Henley contract takes place," Bonnici said. Last week, the main concesionaires for Malta's citizenship programme revealed that over 100 individuals made financial commitments Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia took umbrage at Simon Busuttil's use of the words "sale of citizenship" in relation to the IIP