Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/811845
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 26 Letters Green party councillor for Sannat, John Mizzi, has been called in for questioning by police over accusations of defamation, after writing on a website that the Gozo Ministry should be abolished and its functions delegated to other ministries. The Alternattiva Demokratika council- lor's article 'Why Gozo Ministry must be abolished!', appearing on Gozitans.eu, claimed the ministry was a "control cen- tre" issuing favours for votes, and that its employees included Nationalist mayors working to win Gozo minister Giovanna Debono more votes. On Wednesday, Mizzi was called in for questioning in Rabat by Inspector Josric Mifsud over the article. According to Mizzi, Inspector Mifsud was investigat- ing his website over allegedly injuri- ous comments he made in his article, and warned him he could be liable for a maximum penalty of 12 months for defamation. Mizzi, a software developer, also claimed he was warned that if he went public over the interrogation, he would have his computers confiscated for purposes of investigation. "All I am doing is fighting for my rights and Gozitans' rights," Mizzi said about his article on Gozitans.eu. "The inspector warned me, rather aggressively, that if I go public I would be breaching the law and that he would pick me up, and confiscate all my computers." In his official police statement, Mizzi was asked what he meant when he wrote that the Gozo ministry, which "has control of everything that goes in Gozo," was causing its employees to "abuse the system". Mizzi answered that ministry employ- ees like Joe Sultana, the Munxar mayor responsible for a concrete road along the scheduled Sanap cliffs, had not been prosecuted for the illegal asphalting of the road. Mizzi also said in his statement that Anthony Debono, the husband of Gozo minister Giovanna Debono, was in charge of the ministry's construction of kerbs and roads, and that Nationalist- held councils were given preference over Labour-held councils. Mizzi said that in order to get a kerbside fixed, one had to go to the ministry's construction department and "order your bankina". Asked by the police inspector about what he meant when writing that min- istry employees were 'working for the minister to gain more votes', Mizzi said that most employees at the ministry were Nationalist mayors. Mizzi then added that the Gozo minis- try had to be abolished so that each min- istry take charge of their own department in Gozo. "Whilst now, all departments are under the Gozo ministry, which could be a big conflict of interest." Mizzi's website documents various environmental threats facing Gozo. Recently he was stopped by the police for taking photos of an enforcement action being carried out by the planning authority (MEPA) on illegal dumping in Zebbug. Mizzi claimed the police deleted more than 55 photos from his personal camera after MEPA officials and contrac- tors objected to being photographed. The decision by MEPA and police to object to the photographs contrasted with the media coup scored by the planning authority when a police convoy carried out an enforcement action against the illegal construction of a storey on Mdina Road in Zebbug, belonging to Charles Dimech. News – 15 April 2007 Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. Police question AD councillor over web article on Gozo minister's husband More police needed in fight against poaching A divine shyness and two cracks Clarifications on the PN-PD coalition list Spring is a great season to experience, especially in the temperate climate that Malta offers. After the cold of the dark winter, the warm weather and the Maltese light that bursts over the limestone walls of our housing and onto our country- side, regales us with a resting calm, the colours of nature and blossoming f lowers, and the beauty that is nature's bird migration season. And yet, this beautiful passage of birds remains under constant threat of poachers and illegal trappers, whose activities f ly in the face of our right to enjoy the countryside, us ramblers, bik- ers, campers, walkers, runners, birdwatchers and dog walkers, compromising the sanity this natural feast offers us. Poachers don't just shoot at protected birds, but they also gleefully shoot warning shots to ward off ramblers from their hunting spots. They employ verbal abuse to scare off the fainthearted. Today we know that Malta has only narrowly voted in favour of retaining hunting in the spring, thanks to the efforts of a government-backed campaign, for we know the Prime Minis- ter was not eager to see spring hunting banned under his administration. He'd rather see the European Commission mak- ing it impossible for the Labour government to open an illegal season, than compromising the political support of hunters. We can only respect the demo- cratic decision of the hunting referendum. But we can demand that the government beefs up its Administrative Law Enforce- ment unit, providing support to the officers who have to hunt down poachers, by providing more manpower to patrol the countryside. This protection of ramblers and common folk enjoying the countryside would be a visible tangible that shows that the government would be at least protecting ramblers' rights. "No humane being, past the thoughtless age of boyhood, will wantonly kill any creature which holds its life by the same tenure that he does" – wrote Henry David Thoreau, one of many writers who has pleaded for the humane treatment of animals. I hope this may one day become a maxim imparted upon everybody in Maltese soci- ety, that we may one day witness the end of poaching in spring and illegal trapping. Myra Bunting Mellieha "God seems too shy, too hidden, too different. We easily talk of mystery but it is painful most of the time. God's presence is be- yond our usual radar. And that word (omnipotent) is danger- ous. It can suggest a power that intervenes, arbitrary and even moody. But God stands at the door and knocks, asking permis- sion to enter (Rev. 3.15) Christ in some places could not work miracles because of lack of faith. Etty Hillesum voices a surpris- ing truth:'God, you cannot help us, but we must help you'. I am frighteningly free to hurt the divine shyness. Without our yes, God's Yes remains impotent." – Michael Paul Gallagher SJ This mystic divine shyness, which cannot be adequately described is found in Heaven, but it is also present amongst us, scattered wherever there are Catholic Churches, where there is a tabernacle. In this holy presence, God is adored and in the Sacrament of His love, the mystery of the Eucharist. This awesome perennial bliss- ful stance, present in heaven and earth was only shattered twice, 2000 years ago. First when Christ was transfig- ured and "His face shone as the sun and his garments became white as snow." In this hypo- static union, the glory which the body of Christ received was a result of the beatific vision. A magnificent glorious sight indeed! And second when Christ rose from the dead, the greatest of all his miracles and the proof of his divine mission. This brief but glorious moment metamor- phosed and transcended the resumption of Christ's body in splendour and triumph. This will happen again at the end of time. We have been warned not to wonder at Christ's power to render judgement, "For the hour is coming for all who are in the tombs shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they who have done good shall come forth unto resurrection of life; but they who have done evil unto resurrection of judgement" (John 5:28,29). I suppose the scenario will reveal the majesty and radiant face of God once again. John Azzopardi Zabbar If 'PD' candidates contest the election on the PN list, will the PD be considered as taking part in the election? If the answer is 'Yes', then if a PD candidate is elected, will this be considered as then having three political parties represented in parlia- ment and not just two? In which case, the party winning the majority of seats – which will govern – and not the party which gets 50% + 1 vote but less seats, as happens when only two parties are represented in parliament. Will the Electoral Commis- sion be clarif ying this important point? Secondly, if the Electoral Com- mission does not consider the PD as taking part in the elec- tion, if PD candidates contest on the PN list, then it follows that the Broadcasting Authority should not allow the PD to take part in the election debates on TVM organised by the BA, as otherwise this would be putting at a disadvantage not only the PL but other small parties as well. I hope that the Broadcasting Authority takes note of this im- portant point and make public its decision once the PD and PN sign the expected agreement. Eddy Privitera Mosta Illegal trappers wearing masks to avoid being identified. Photo: Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)