Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/707940
6 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 In a heartfelt letter sent to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Ma- gro's wife Marlene wrote "I'm writing on Joe's behalf because his condition impedes him from writing, in the same way he can- not carry out various quotidian tasks." The letter explains that Ma- gro's disease will one day leave him completely paralysed and Marlene writes that together with Magro's children, she fully comprehends her husband 's plea " because none of us wants to end up in that situation". "Joe always insists with us that once his condition reaches such extremities he will have no other option but to commit suicide if euthanasia is not introduced. This frightens me as I would never be able to live in peace knowing that he could have pos- sibly stayed with us longer and his death could have been a dig- nified one." Stressing that Magro would be able to live longer in tranquil- lity if euthanasia were legalised, his wife said he is requesting to make his case to the 38 Labour MPs "as a free man". A similar letter was sent to Si- mon Busuttil, but the opposition leader has informed Magro that the PN must discuss the mat- ter internally before deciding whether to hear his case. So far, the only party to pro- nounce itself clearly on the issue has been the Green Party which surprisingly opposes legislation for euthanasia, and called in- stead for a debate on the intro- duction of a living will for Mal- tese patients. AD chairman Arnold Cassola claimed that a debate on eutha- nasia would be "very premature" and equivalent to a discussion on assisted suicide. This week, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech warned that euthanasia "could never be in a person's best interest" in a letter sent to MPs. The bishops argued that the strong sense of autonomy human beings enjoy today does not give them "the right to unilaterally decide to end one's life because of severe suffering, disability, or for other inconvenient reasons," adding that the protection of life exceeds the right to liberty. In a composed reaction, Ma- gro said "I am happy the Catho- lic Church has reacted because they keep the debate alive." While underlining the Church 's "right and duty" to speak out about moral issues, Magro said the Church "should not impose its beliefs on the rest of the country. It would do a great disservice to the country if the Church once again wages a war as it did, to its own detri- ment, in the divorce referendum. Introducing euthanasia would give people like me the option to choose a dignified death." In his appearance before the family affairs committee two weeks ago Magro told MPs: "I want to live, not simply exist." Magro said parliament should consider the individual 's right to choose to die, but stressed that such a choice should only be granted to patients of terminal diseases that doctors certif y as having no possible cure. Euthanasia is illegal but a re- cent survey showed that 12% of doctors said they had received requests for assisted suicide from their patients. A separate MaltaToday survey carried out in March showed 53% of the general population agreeing with euthanasia, in cases involving people suffering pain from a terminal illness. "You, as politicians should consider a person's rights. And this is my right," Magro said. "What if it were your parents, or your children, who were asking you for this? Consider that." maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 JULY 2016 News Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €100,000,000 100,000,000 in in Fixed Rate Malta Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option allotment option up up to a maximum of to a maximum of €60,000,000 60,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCK STOCKTAL TAL-GVERN GVERN _______ _______ (i) (i) 1.5% 1.5% Malta Government Stock Malta Government Stock (Fourth Issue) (Fourth Issue) Fungibility Fungibility Issue Issue maturing aturing in in 2022, 2022, and and (ii) (ii) 2. 2.4% Malta % Malta Government Stock Government Stock (First Issue) (First Issue) maturing in 2041 maturing in 2041, , or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be €100,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 1 st st August, August, 2016 2016 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as hereunder, hereunder, or or earlier earlier at at the the discretion discretion of of the the Accountant Accountant General General: The Treasury announces the issue of €100,000,000 Malta Government Stocks subject to an over- allotment option up to a maximum of €60,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID INTEREST PAID UP TO UP TO THE DAY OF RE THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF SALE OF STOCK STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Floriana, Malta Malta The The Price Price for for each each Stock Stock at at (i) and and (ii) (ii) above, above, offered offered for for subscription subscription by by members members of of the the public public shall shall be be established established on on Thursday Thursday 28 28 th th July July 2016 2016, based based indicatively indicatively on on the the prevailing prevailing secondary secondary market market prices, prices, and and shall shall be be announced announced through through a Press Press Release Release issued issued by by the the Department Department of of Information Information (DOI) (DOI). • at at 5.00 00 p.m. on on Wednesday Wednesday 3 rd rd August, August, 2016 2016 for for applications applications by by any any single single and/or and/or joint joint applicants applicants which which in in the the aggregate aggregate do do not not exceed exceed €100 100,000 000 per per person, person, and and • at at 12 12.00 00 (noon) (noon) on on Monday Monday 8 th th August, August, 2016 2016 for for applications applications in in the the form form of of sealed sealed bids bids (auction) (auction). Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from, from, and and lodged lodged at, at, all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers on on the the indicated indicated dates dates. Application Application forms forms may may also also be be downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt with with effect effect from from Friday Friday 29 29 th th July, July, 2016 2016. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be transmitted transmitted by by fax fax on on 2596 2596 7210 7210 or or by by e-mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application forms forms or or deposited deposited in in the the Tender Tender Box Box at at the the Treasury's Treasury's premises premises in in Floriana Floriana. PN yet to decide on whether MPs are to meet Magro Earlier this month Joe Magro told MPs: "I want to live, not simply exist."