Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/755517
2 MATTHEW AGIUS A Libyan man has been charged with smuggling in connection with the seizure yesterday morning by customs officials of 30kg of unde- clared water-pipe (shisha) tobacco. Mohammed Ali Al Musrati, a 30-year-old Swieqi resident was arrested at the Malta International Airport shortly after his arrival on a flight from Tunis. The tobacco was seized after an X-ray scan of a suitcase belong- ing to the Libyan national who had just landed in Malta aroused suspicions. On opening the man's luggage, the customs officials dis- covered the tobacco wrapped in tinfoil, concealed inside sealed containers of "Nadhif" washing powder. Al Musrati, who has a Maltese residence permit, was then ar- rested. In an afternoon arraignment following the arrest, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera was told that the man had gone through the green channel, having failed to declare the tobacco in his luggage. Lawyer Franco Debono, appear- ing as defence counsel to Al Mus- rati, entered a not guilty plea on his client's behalf and requested the man's release from custody. Bail was granted against a depos- it of €500 and a personal guarantee of €3,000. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2016 News National policy strives 'to improve' parent-child relationships MATTHEW AGIUS MICHAEL Farrugia, Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity has launched a new policy on parent- ing, aiming at bringing together the disparate family support services which currently operate individu- ally, by November 2017. Speaking at the launch of the Na- tional Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting, the minister yesterday said that the issues of positive par- enting and relationships had start- ed being felt in the run-up to the divorce referendum. The ministry had listened to the stakeholders, gathering a lot of data before coming up with this policy, which aims to continue building on the existing infrastructure so as to facilitate and organize the opera- tion of services in Malta, Farrugia said. The process had brought a number of lacunae to light, the minister observed, adding that these have now been addressed. One of the priorities for the new policy is to identify vulnerable fami- lies and give assistance even in the antenatal stage, Farrugia explained. The document proposes routine screening related to the mental health of the expectant mother. Measures such as antenatal parentcraft classes, assistance for parents of disabled children, child- care services and schools are now to be coordinated. A task force led by the ministry, in coordination with representatives from other government ministries involved in the area, as well as academics is to be set up. A centralised computer database of those using the services is to be implemented to avoid frag- mentation and foster better coordi- nation. On care orders, he emphasised that when a family is facing prob- lems, it should not be left to solve them on its own. "Especially if the problem is affecting the children, a family plan should be drawn up to assist them," Farrugia said. Also to be given priority is addressing the relationship between the parents as part of the therapeutic process. If this fails, there will be structures already in place to accept children, the minister explained. Single parents are crucial to keep- ing population decline in check, are at the highest risk of poverty, but will benefit from more protection, the minister added. "If it were not for single mothers, who are subject to criticism and often looked down on, our birth rate would not exceed 1." The current rate of 1.4 births is not sustainable, the minister said, adding that he had extended the NI contribution credits for moth- ers to four years and is evaluating further measures. The policy itself is ambitiously comprehensive and covers healthcare, schools and family court, in addition to the ar- eas previously mentioned. Among other measures mentioned is the requirement that prior to the com- mencement of separation proceed- ings, couples will need to first com- plete a programme, called Focus on Kids, to learn how to raise children in these circumstances. Also announced on the day is the news that a secure unit is to be set up to address children with se- verely challenging behaviour. Cur- rently, problem children often end up being held at the YPU, despite not suffering from mental health problems. Also addressing the launch, Prof Angela Abela from the Department of Family studies at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at UOM ex- plained the importance of parent- ing in the changing landscape of modern families. Rates of women aged 25-54 in em- ployment stood at 64% in 2015 and had a high rate of growth and 25.2% of births took place out of wedlock in 2011 according to the NSO. The highest risk of poverty was among single parent households – 47.6% of these were found to be at the risk of property. Prof. Abela laid emphasis on the importance of education on di- versity and gay adoption, amongst other areas. "The time has come for policy to be established." Marta Santos Pais, a UN official working in the field of prevention of violence against children had en- dorsed the policy, she added, com- mending this personal initiative taken by the minister. Farrugia said the need for strengthening "family friendly" measures is already being felt. "We will reach a situation where the grandparents, currently the main- stay of childcare for most young families, will also be working and therefore unable to care for young children." The minister is under- stood to be coordinating with un- ions and the FSWS with the aim of tabling a bill in parliament related to this issue, in the near future. 30kg of shisha tobacco seized Single parents are crucial to keeping population decline in check, are at the highest risk of poverty, but will benefit from more protection Birzebbugia man grievously injured in gardening accident MATTHEW AGUIS THE police are investigating a gar- dening accident which left a man hospitalised with grievous injuries. No details as to the nature of the accident were immediately avail- able. In a brief statement, the police Community and Media Relations Unit said that officers stationed at Birzebbugia had reacted to an emergency call-out at 1030am in Triq San Mikiel, Birzebbugia. At the scene they found a 54 year-old man suffering from what were later certified as grievous in- juries, thought to have been suf- fered while the man was hoeing his garden The water-pipe tobacco was hidden in sealed washing powder containers Michael Farrugia