Category: Tberfil

Il-vot liberu u demokratiku

June 8, 2024 | Tberfil

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Sebaħ il-jum li fih, mingħajr lanqas ħjiel ta’ fidi, isiru mirakli kbar. Illum il-mifluġ jimxi, l-għami jikteb u l-maqful joħroġ. Illum Lazzru, Bartilmew, Malku u l-għami ta’ Ġeriko, jinġiebu mid-dixxipli, b’kull mod u mezz quddiem il-karta tal-vot sabiex fuqha, bħal f’kuntratt dejjiemi, jagħmlu dik l-imbierka linja dritta bil-faħma tal-lapes.

Huwa fatt magħruf li fil-jum tal-votazzjoni f’pajjiżna, isiru l-kutrumbajsi. Fil-passat smajt b’anzjani fis-siġġu tar-roti, li wara xhur sħaħ maqfulin f’darhom, tniżżlu sulari sħaħ fuq l-idejn sabiex dawn jivvutaw. Mument topiku ieħor li dejjem affaxxinani jkun dak meta reliġjużi tal-klawsura jerħulha lejn xi sala tal-votazzjoni biex jaqdu dan id-dmir uniku. Tikber u titgħallem… Illum ikkonfermajt kif nhar is-Sibt li għadda, meta l-isptar San Vinċenz ma kienx aċċessibbli għall-viżitaturi u familjari minħabba l-proċess bikri tal-votazzjoni, kandidati tal-Kunsilli Lokali ta’ Ħal Luqa żaru l-kmamar tal-anzjani sabiex jassiguraw li dawn jivvutawlhom. Ikkonfermajt ukoll kif, bħalma ktibt fil-passat, nies bid-dementia, ġew akkumpanjati fis-sala tal-votazzjoni u dawn, b’xi mod mirakoluż, għamlu l-għażliet tagħhom! Dan kollu ikompli jixhed l-abbuż psikoloġiku li dwaru ktibt fuq Facebook nhar it-22 ta’ Mejju. Iżda bħala jiġri spiss, ħadd ma ta’ każ. Iktar jinteressana fuq kemm il-“like” tenniet Raquel ta’ Love Island!

Hawn wisq persunaġġi fostna li jħarsu lejn kariga f’Kunsill Lokali jew fl-Unjoni Ewropea bħala poter u mhux servizz. Għal dawn l-uħud illuppjati, il-vot huwa wisq importanti, u allura jagħmlu minn kollox għal unu ieħor. U taħsbux li benefiċċji sekondarji ma jkunx hemm għal xi uħud! Dan tikkonfermah ir-realtà ta’ kandidati li innominaw ruħhom għall-Kunsill bil-wegħda ta’ impjieg tajjeb mal-Gvern jew aċċess aħjar sabiex familjari u ħbieb jiġu mogħtija xi favur.

L-akbar element li jħassibni huwa dak li tul is-snin, kien hemm xi forom ta’ evidenzi dwar kif is-sistema tal-votazzjoni setgħet kienet manipulata. Fl-2013 kif ukoll għaxar snin wara, insibu dinamika politika fejn l-ebda ġurnalisti, partiti jew kandidati fl-oppożizzjoni ma jinvestigaw dawn il-istejjer li jxejjnu l-proċess demokratiku tal-votazzjoni.

Ilbieraħ smajt l-aħħar kontribut b’vidjo ta’ Ricky Caruana, dwar kif il-vot ta’ llum jista’ jkun l-aħħar wieħed f’kuntest ta’ Ewropa demokratika. Is-Sur Caruana enfasizza l-bżonn li l-poplu Malti jivvota lill-kandidat indipendenti, sieħbi Conrad Borg Manche, sabiex ikollna rappreżentant li lest imur kontra gwerra li l-Unjoni Ewropea qegħda allegatament timmira lejha. Kemm f’dan il-vidjo u anki f’ieħor li kien tella’ ix-xahar li għadda, huwa saħaq kemm il-vot tal-MEPs Maltin huwa tista’ tgħid mingħajr influwenza fil-kuntest ta’ pajjiżi ġganti li qatt mhux ser jagħtu każ tal-bżonnijiet ta’ pajjiż ċkejken bħal tagħna. U hawn fejn nolqtu l-likk. Fl-aħħar ġimgħat smajt lis-Sur Caruana kif ukoll kandidati MEPs oħrajn jitħaddtu dwar il-bżonn li r-rappreżentanti Maltin jimbuttaw lill-Unjoni Ewropea sabiex tadatta liġijiet għal pajjiż ċkejken bħalna.

Jiena dejjem emmint li sħubija sħiħa fl-UE qatt ma kienet l-aħjar triq għal Malta. Dejjem ħlomt f’mexxejja kariżmatiċi li kapaċi jitħaddtu mal-Ġgant u joħolqu ftehim ad-hoc skont sitwazzjonijiet prattiċi mingħajr ma jintrabtu miegħu! Dan kien iwassal biex filwaqt li ngawdu minn dak kollu li l-Maltin tant jiċċelebraw, bħaċ-ċans li tivjaġġa, li taħdem u li tesperjenza skambji fl-Unjoni, illum is-Sur Caruana ma kienx ikollu għalfejn iħabbel rasu dwar kif fi ftit xhur oħra jaf inkunu msejħa ningħaqdu f’armata jew li avversarju tal-UE jiġi jaħsilna b’xita ta’ bombi! Meta lura fis-snin kont intenni dan ir-raġunament uħud kienu jgħiduli li ma tistax tieħu li jaqbillek u tirrifjuta dak li ma jaqbillekx.

Għaldaqstant illum, ladarba Malta, din iż-żibġa fil-Mediterran għażlet li tkun bħall-ġganti, naħseb m’għandniex għax ninħasdu jekk niġu trattati ugwali anki fil-mumenti koroh! Dik l-għażla sħiħa li għamilna għalina, għal uliedna u għal ulied uliedna lura fl-2004. Min qed jistenbaħ issa, stenbaħ għoxrin sena tard!

U llum ser nerġgħu nivvutaw. Il-ġuħ għall-poter, l-ambizzjoni li nkunu “kbar” bħal ħaddieħor u rilevanti daqs jew aktar minn ħaddieħor, qeridna fuq livell lokali u anki Ewropew. Sintomu li inxebbħu mal-istorja tat-Torri ta’ Babel fejn kull min “ra kbir”, spiċċa umiljat. Xi darba dan il-poplu għad jitgħallem u jisfa umiljat!

Hemmhekk nitwieldu mill-ġdid.

Nistennew għada sabiex minn dan l-eżerċizzju mċajpar tal-elezzjoni, nippruvaw nifhmu kemm għadu msejken dan il-poplu.

A free and democratic vote

It is the day when, without a trace of faith, great miracles are performed. Today the lame walk, the blind see, and the mute speak. Today, Lazarus, Bartholomew, Malchus, and the blind man from Jericho are brought by the disciples, using every means possible, before the voting booth to make that blessed straight mark with the pencil, as if signing a lasting contract.

It is well-known that on polling day in our country, extraordinary efforts are made. I’ve heard stories of elderly people in wheelchairs, confined to their homes for months, being brought out just to vote. Another fascinating moment is when cloistered religious individuals are taken to polling stations to fulfill this unique duty. I confirmed such efforts last Saturday when St. Vincent de Paul Hospital was not accessible to visitors and family members due to early voting. Whilst our family members laid in utmost solitude, I learned that candidates of Luqa Local Council visited the nursing rooms to ensure that patients voted their way, asking why if they didn’t. I also confirmed how, as I have written in the past, people with dementia were accompanied to the polling room and somehow made to pick their choices. All this further testifies to the psychological manipulation I mentioned on Facebook on May 22. But as often happens, no one takes notice. More interest is given to how many “like” Love Island’s Raquel speaks out in one episode!

There are too many people among us who see a position in a Local Council or in the European Union as a source of power rather than a service. For these individuals, voting is so important that they will do anything for another vote in their favor. Secondary benefits are confirmed by the reality of candidates nominating themselves for the Council with the promise of a good job with the government or better access to grant favors to family and friends.

The biggest element that worries me is that over the years, there have been some form of evidence on how the voting system was somehow manipulated. In 2013 as well as  a decade later, we live a political dynamic where no journalists nor any opposition party or candidates investigate these stories that skew the democratic voting process.

Yesterday, I watched Ricky Caruana’s latest video about how today’s vote could be the last in a democratic European context. Mr. Caruana emphasized the need for the Maltese people to vote for the independent candidate, my friend Conrad Borg Manche, to have a representative willing to oppose a war that the European Union is allegedly pushing for. In both this video and another one he uploaded last month, he highlighted how the vote of Maltese MEPs is insignificant compared to the influence of larger countries that will never consider the needs of a tiny country like ours. This is the crux of the issue. In recent weeks, I’ve heard Mr. Caruana and other MEPs talk about the need for Maltese representatives to push the European Union to adapt laws to fit a tiny country like ours.

I have always believed that full membership of the EU has never been the best path for Malta.I always dreamed of charismatic leaders who could negotiate with the giants and create ad-hoc agreements based on practical situations without being bound by them! This would have allowed us to enjoy everything the Maltese cherish, such as the chance to travel, work, and experience exchanges within the Union. Today, Mr. Caruana wouldn’t have to worry about being called to join an army in a few months or the threat of an EU adversary attacking us! When I reiterated this reasoning in the past, some would tell me that you can’t take what suits you and reject what doesn’t.

So today, since Malta, this chip in the Mediterranean, has chosen to be like giants, we should not be surprised if we are treated equally even in the tough times! That the choice we made for us, our children, and our children’s children back in 2004. Whoever is complaining now waited twenty years too late!

And today we will vote once more. The hunger for power, the ambition to be “big” like others, and the desire to be as relevant or more so than anyone else, have destroyed us at both local and European levels. This is reminiscent of the story of the Tower of Babel, where all who sought greatness ended up humiliated. One day, this nation will learn and be humbled!

Then we will be reborn.

Let us wait for tomorrow’s results of this blurred exercise to truly understand the depth of despair our people are choosing.

Il-Kunsilliera u r-responsabbiltajiet tagħhom

May 22, 2024 | Tberfil

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F’April li għadda preżentajt vidjo b’xi ħsibijiet dwar kif naħseb li s-sistema tal-Kunsilli Lokali hija ddiżinjata sabiex tfalli u tibqa’ tipproduċi “festival” ieħor fejn il-kostitwenti jivvutaw lil dak jew dik il-kandidata li l-aktar tkun laqtithom waqt il-kampanja elettorali, bħalma jiġri fil-Eurovision jew X-Factor. F’dan l-artiklu xtaqt nixħet dawl fuq wieħed mill-elementi kruċjali li tassew qed ifalli fejn tidħol it-trasparenza u kontabbiltà tal-ħidma fil-Kunsilli Lokali.

B’riferenza lejn iċ-Ċirkulari Numru 12 tal-2019, intitolata “Responsabbiltajiet assenjati lill-Kunsillieri” li kienet maħruġa mid-Diviżjoni għall-Gvern Lokali fi ħdan is-Segretarjat Parlamentari għall-Gvern Lokali u Komunitajiet, ninsab tassew imħasseb dwar kemm il-Kunsilliera iwettqu ħidmiethom skont ir-responsabbiltajiet mogħtija lilhom. Lil hin mit-tibdil ta’ bozza maqtugħa u kull għajnuna prattika, jinteressani nkun naf kif il-Kunsilliera jistgħu jaqdu dmirijiethom b’mod responsabbli.

Skont iċ-Ċirkolari 12/2019, fl-ewwel laqgħa tal-Kunsill Lokali, il-kunsilliera lokali jiġu assenjati responsabbiltajiet speċifiċi mis-Sindku. Dawn ir-responsabbiltajiet, deskritti fl-Erbatax-il Skeda tal-Att dwar il-Gvern Lokali, ivarjaw minn indafa u ambjent għall-integrazzjoni soċjali u l-benesseri tal-annimali. L-intenzjoni hija li l-kunsilliera jiffukaw fuq dawn l-oqsma, jiffurmaw sottokumitati jekk meħtieġ, u jippreżentaw rapporti annwali dwar l-attivitajiet tagħhom.

Il-mandat huwa ċar, biss inħoss li hemm nuqqas notevoli ta’ dawn ir-rapporti minn ħafna kunsilliera inkluż dawk li rrappreżentawni fl-aħħar snin. Nistenna li l-pubbliku li vvota lil dawn l-istess qaddejja, ikollu aċċess għal dawn ir-rapporti, kemm-il darba dawn ikunu preżentati. Nuqqas ta’ trasparenza tista’ faċilment tostakola l-qafas ta’ responsabbiltà li din iċ-Ċirkolari tfittex li tistabbilixxi. Mingħajr dawn ir-rapporti, huwa diffiċli għall-kostitwenti li jivvalutaw il-prestazzjoni tar-rappreżentanti eletti tagħhom u l-progress li sar f’oqsma ewlenin tal-governanza lokali.

Diversi fatturi jistgħu jikkontribwixxu għan-nuqqas tal-kunsilliera li jippreżentaw ir-rapporti tagħhom. Dawn jinkludu nuqqas ta’ mekkaniżmi ta’ infurzar, sorveljanza insuffiċjenti, u forsi kultura ta’ kompjaċenza fi ħdan il-kunsilli lokali. In-nuqqas ta’ penali jew inċentivi marbuta mas-sottomissjoni ta’ dawn ir-rapporti jfisser li ftit hemm impetu biex il-kunsilliera jikkonformaw ma’ dan ir-rekwiżit. Quddiem ir-realtà plawsibbli fejn uħud mill-Kunsilliera ma jkollhomx kapaċità fakultattiva jew intelletwali li jaqdu l-impenji mgħoddija lilhom, nistaqsi kif il-Gvern jippretendi li din il-ħidma titwettaq kif mistenni u mhux f’livell dilettantesk.

Biex jiġu indirizzati dawn il-kwistjonijiet, jistgħu jittieħdu diversi passi. L-ewwel u qabel kollox, ikun pass għaqli jekk is-sistema elettorali titlob standard ordinarju ta’ edukazzjoni kif ukoll dak ECDL lill-kandidati kollha. B’hekk ikun jista’ jiġi mfassal mekkaniżmu robust biex jiġi żgurat li l-kunsilliera jaderixxu mal-obbligi ta’ rappurtar tagħhom. Dan jista’ jinvolvi verifiki perjodiċi u l-istabbiliment ta’ korp ta’ monitoraġġ biex isegwi l-konformità. Tajjeb ukoll li ssir introduzzjoni ta’ inċentivi għal rappurtar f’waqtu u bir-reqqa, flimkien ma’ penali għan-nuqqas ta’ konformità. Dawn jistgħu jimmotivaw lill-kunsilliera biex jaqdu dmirijiethom b’mod aktar diliġenti. Ladarba dan isir, tajjeb li r-rapporti jkunu faċilment aċċessibbli għall-pubbliku sabiex jitrawwem sens ta’ responsabbiltà. Din it-trasparenza tippermetti wkoll lill-kostitwenti jifhmu u jevalwaw aħjar il-prestazzjoni tar-rappreżentanti tagħhom.

Hekk kif Malta qed tħejji għall-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lokali li ġejjin, huwa imperattiv li tiġi eżaminata b’mod kritiku l-aderenza tar-rappreżentanti tagħna mal-impenji mitluba lilhom. In-nuqqas ta’ ħafna kunsilliera li jippreżentaw rapporti annwali dwar ir-responsabbiltajiet assenjati lilhom jenfasizza diskrepanza sinifikanti fil-qafas ta’ governanza attwali. L-indirizzar ta’ din il-kwistjoni jgħin sabiex titrawwem fiduċja pubblika akbar fil-governanza lokali. Ladarba niffukaw fuq dan it-titjib, Malta tista’ tiżgura li l-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli Lokali tagħha mhux biss jirriflettu r-rieda tal-poplu iżda wkoll jippromwovu governanza effettiva u responsabbli fil-livell lokali.

Local Councillors’ responsibilities

Last April I presented a video with some thoughts on how I think the Local Councils system is designed to fail and keep producing another “festival” where constituents vote the one or that candidate who hit them the hardest during the election campaign, as happens in Eurovision or X-Factor. In this article I wanted to shed light on one of the crucial elements that is really failing when it comes to transparency and accountability of the work in Local Councils.

With reference to Circular Number 12 of 2019, entitled “Responsibilities assigned to Councillors” which was issued by the Division for Local Government within the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government and Communities, I am deeply concerned about the extent to which Councillors carry out their work according to the responsibilities given to them. Apart from changing a severed lamp and any practical assistance, I am interested in knowing how Councillors can carry out their duties responsibly.

According to Circular 12/2019, at the first meeting of the Local Council, local councillors are assigned specific responsibilities by the Mayor. These responsibilities, described in the Fourteenth Schedule of the Local Government Act, range from cleanliness and environment to social integration and animal welfare. The intention is for councillors to focus on these areas, form subcommittees if necessary, and submit annual reports on their activities.

The mandate is clear, only I feel that there is a noticeable lack of these reports from many councillors including those who represented me in the past years. I expect that the public who voted for these same servants will have access to these reports, as long as they are presented. A lack of transparency could easily hamper the accountability framework that this Circular seeks to establish. Without these reports, it is difficult for constituents to assess the performance of their elected representatives and the progress made in key areas of local governance.

Several factors can contribute to the failure of councillors to submit their reports. These include a lack of enforcement mechanisms, insufficient oversight, and perhaps a culture of complacency within local councils. The absence of penalties or incentives linked to the submission of these reports means that there is little impetus for councillors to comply with this requirement. Faced with the plausible reality where some Councillors do not have an optional or intellectual capacity to fulfil the commitments passed on to them, I wonder how the Government expects this work to be carried out as expected and not at a dilettantesk level.

To address these issues, several steps can be taken. First and foremost, it would be a wise step if the electoral system required an ordinary standard of education as well as an ECDL standard to all candidates. This will allow a robust mechanism to be devised to ensure that councillors adhere to their reporting obligations. This may involve periodic audits and the establishment of a monitoring body to monitor compliance. It is also worth introducing incentives for timely and thorough reporting, together with penalties for non-compliance. They can motivate councillors to carry out their duties more diligently. Once this is done, it is good that the reports are easily accessible to the public in order to foster a sense of responsibility. This transparency also allows constituents to better understand and evaluate the performance of their representatives.

As Malta prepares for the upcoming Local Council elections, it is imperative to critically examine our representatives’ adherence to the commitments requested to them. The failure of many councillors to submit annual reports on the responsibilities assigned to them highlights a significant discrepancy in the current governance framework. Addressing this issue would help to foster greater public trust in local governance. Once we focus on these improvements, Malta can ensure that its Local Council elections not only reflect the will of the people but also promote effective and accountable governance at local level.

Kafè f’Raħal Ġdid

April 17, 2024 | Tberfil

L-istess bħal sittin sena wara Kristu, hekk kif ilbieraħ il-Maltin raw il-vidjo kemmxejn suġġettiv ta’ Times of Malta dwar il-proġett propost għall-Knisja ta’ Raħal Ġdid, biddlu l-ħsieb u f’tebqa t’għajn Dun Marc Andre Camilleri ma baqax miġnun iżda “bdew jgħidu li kien xi alla.”

L-idea li spazji mhux użati fi strutturi sagri, jiġu żviluppati f’inizjattivi li jippromwovu l-istorja, il-kultura u l-arti, hija sublimi, speċjalment meta dan jista’ iqarreb lin-nies, jiġġenera dħul li permezz tiegħu l-istess struttura tiġi miżmuma fi stat tajjeb u joffri esperjenza ħajja tal-ispazju mibni. Madanakollu tajjeb ukoll li dan l-iżvilupp isir dejjem fi ħsieb għaqli tal-kuntest soċjo-kulturali li qed ngħixu fih.

Huwa fatt magħruf kif pajjiżna llum rawwem kultura qawwija fejn kollox huwa permess. L-ippjanar, il-ħsieb u l-bilanċ tilfu kull preċedenza. Illum kulħadd għandu d-dritt sagrosant jagħmel li jrid f’ġieħ il-libertà li tinvesti, twettaq l-ideat u tiġġenera l-flus. L-alla ta’ żminijietna sar il-mudell ekonomiku maħsub fuq idea fqira tal-libertà li fl-aħħar mill-aħħar qed iħallilna sens qawwi ta’ kakofanija u telf ta’ sbuħija. Dan ir-riżultat tal-biki huwa rifless fl-arkitettura kontemporanja, fil-qirda tal-ambjent, fin-nuqqas ta’ordni ċiviku kif ukoll fl-interpretazzjoni fażulla tal-valuri.

Huwa evidenti wkoll kif fis-soċjetà intilfu is-sens ta’ introspezzjoni u s-sens ta’ viżjoni. Kollox qed ikun maħsub għall-gwadann immedjat, mingħajr wisq ħsieb lejn riperkussjonijiet għall-futur. Bħal donnu issa li kollox huwa mitmum, inutli taħseb għal ta’ warajk. “U iva! Umbagħad isolvu l-problemi huma!

Għaldaqstant huwa sempliċi r-raġunament li jwassalni nibqa’ inħoss li l-bżonn ta’ kafetterija f’dan il-proġett f’Raħal Ġdid ma nsiblux valur. Hemm bżonn nitgħallmu minn żbalji tal-passat. Rajniha pereżempju fil-proġett MUŻA fil-kapitali, fejn mas-snin il-priorità tal-mużew inqalbet rasha l-isfel u saret dik li jinbiegħ il-prodott kulinarju biex forsi l-klijenti jitħajjru “jduqu” l-prodott artistiku. Slogans bħal “More than just a Museum” juruk fejn hija l-prijorità. Bl-istess mentalità iċ-ċans huwa li fi ftit snin il-Mużew tal-Knisja ta’ Raħal Ġdid, li għadna ma nafux ismu, jibda jiġi rreklamat bħala kafetterija/ristorant, lil hinn mill-prodott intrinsiku. Nittama li l-istess Arċipriet u t-tim tiegħu, jaraw valur f’mużew li jirrakkonta lil Ġużè Damato, d-disinn tal-Knisja u forsi lill-komunità Pawlista stess wara kollox! Jekk le, diġà ninsabu fuq sieq ħażina!

Nemmen li l-proġett tal-Knisja jista’ jilħaq miri usa kemm-il darba dan jinvolvi l-każini tal-komunità Pawlista li jinsabu ftit metri bogħod. L-involviment tal-komunità jorbot u jibni fuq is-sens ta’ appartenenza tal-poplu u jkompli jagħti identità u ħeġġa ħajja lill-Mużew.

Soluzzjoni alternattiva tista’ tkun dik li l-kafetterija tiġi żviluppata f’binja qrib iżda lil hinn mill-binja sagra. B’hekk tassigura li anki fil-ġejjieni, kull żvilupp tal-kunċett jibqa’ distint mill-ispazju sagru iżda jibqa’ iservi ta’ influss tajjeb ta’ viżitaturi tal-Mużew.

Dan il-ftit ħsieb b’risq l-ordni mhux biss jissalvagwardja l-post sagru minn żviluppi mhux mistennija fil-futur, iżda jnaqqas iċ-ċans ta’ preċedent ikrah fejn bħalma jiġri spiss fil-pajjiż, naraw li kunċett umli jiġi ripetut b’modi mill-iktar goffi jew medjokri fi ftit snin, fi spazji oħra.

Mhux li kien tigdima lifgħa!

L-eklissi ta’ poplu

March 13, 2024 | Tberfil

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Ħsieb ħafif dwar l-installazzjoni “Siġġu” tal-ħabib tiegħi Austin Camilleri. Punt li fl-istess ħin jiddispjaċini nagħmel għax trid tkun idjota biex ma tasalx għalih waħdek. Biss indunajt li l-ovvju kultant mhux.

Nibda bil-premessa li dan it-tip ta’ intervent minn naħa ta’ Austin diġa’ rajnieh f’LE . IVA | ANGER IS A LAZY FORM OF GRIEF. Din id-darba l-artist ħeba lir-reġina permezz tas-siġġu u mhux b’intervent diġitali. Ta’ min jinnota iżda li huwa biss frott id-dokumentazzjoni fotografika ipperpetwa mill-artist li l-intervent ta’ “eklissi” qiegħed iseħħ. L-istess għamlu fotografi varji sabiex jitfgħu l-ħatab fuq in-nar tad-diskussjoni. Biss iż-żewġ elementi jinsabu f’posthom hemm fil-pjazza, wieħed b’mod permanenti u l-ieħor b’mod temporanju, distanti minn xulxin. L-ebda krejn ma mar jiddisturba lis-sua maesta mit-tron, kif jixhed dan ir-ritratt li skonti huwa l-iktar interessanti, tal-ex kollega Matthew Mirabelli.

F’eklissi, il-fotografi fuq id-Dinja jiċċelebraw il-mument temporanju ħafna meta pjaneta taħbi oħra għal ftit mumenti, iżda fil-verità l-ebda pjaneta ma tiekol oħra. Hija l-prospettiva tal-osservatur li tiddetermina d-dinamika tar-rakkont. U dak huwa l-argument madwar dan l-intervent: l-eklissi ta’ moħħ poplu, li nittama m’huwiex intervent permanenti.

Ħasra biss li dan ix-xogħol sar b’rabta ma’ kontenitur artistiku iffinanzjat mill-istat. Rabta li r-reputazzjoni ta’ Austin tista’ tgħaddi mingħajr – għal raġunijiet ovvji.

The eclipse of a people

Reflecting on my friend Austin Camilleri’s “Siġġu” installation in a casual manner, I feel compelled to address a seemingly self-evident point. Expressing this with some hesitation, it becomes apparent that one would need to deliberately ignore the obvious to overlook it.

I start with the premise that this kind of intervention on the part of Austin has already been seen in LE . IVA | ANGER IS A LAZY FORM OF GRIEF. This time the artist hid the queen through the physical installation of ‘Siġġu’ and not through any digital intervention. Notably, it is through the artist’s photographic documentation that the occurrence of an “eclipse” in the intervention becomes evident. This intentional choice has been replicated, analogous to photographers adding fuel to a discussion to provoke further conversations. However, in the square, both elements coexist, one permanently and the other temporarily, maintaining a distance without disruptive interference. No crane was used to disturb her majesty. Remarkably, the photograph by former colleague Matthew Mirabelli captures this dynamic intriguingly, a job well done particularly for those who may be less observant.

Drawing a parallel to an eclipse, where planets momentarily conceal each other without actual consumption, the analogy extends to the observer shaping the narrative. The discourse surrounding this intervention centers on the temporary eclipse of people’s minds, with the hope that it remains a fleeting phenomenon.

My only lament is that Austin’s well-established reputation could easily withstand any association with an art container that the state is funding – for the obvious reasons.

L-Integrità Kulturali tal-Belt Valletta

March 11, 2024 | Tberfil

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Fi ftit siegħat fit-taraġ ta’ Ġieżu, waħda mill-iktar toroq b’konnotazzjonijiet sagri fil-Belt Valletta, jumejn biss wara Jum il-Mara, inkixfet il-faċċata tal-Knisja irrestawrata u nkixef ukoll ġisem ta’ mara jitħaxken u jiżżeffen fuq puġġaman.

Fil-kapitali intilef kull sens ta’ għarfien dwar il-kuntest ta’ fejn ninsabu. Ħafna fost dawk li investew fil-Kapitali m’għandhom l-ebda sens ta’ għarfien tal-komunità u il-valuri intrinsiċi tagħha. Bħallikieku belt kapitali hija awtomatikament ħaruf tas-sagrifiċċju u trid tkun dejjem lesta tilqa’ fiha kull forma ta’ espressjoni. Fl-istess waqt fadal ftit li xejn sens ta’ pudur u li kieku mhux għax ġie mxerred vidjo tal-prestazzjoni taż-żeffiena burlesque Undine Laverve, ibqa’ ċert li ħadd ma kien ikun jaf x’ġara u ħadd ma kien jgħajjat għall-iskandlu għax l-udjenza li attendiet dehret aljenata mingħajr ebda sens ta’ fejn tinsab.

Ma nixtieqx nitkellem fuq morali u filwaqt li nagħraf li l-prestazzjoni erotika tal-burlesque hija forma artistika antika u rikonoxxuta madwar id-dinja kollha, imkien ma tisma’ li dawn il-prestazzjonijiet isiru f’żoni b’konnotazzjonijiet sagri f’perjodu taż-żmien li huwa sagru għall-komunità tal-lokal. F’inċidenti bħal dan toħroġ ċara r-realtà li s-sidien ta’ dawn l-istabbilimenti lanqas biss jafu fejn investew flushom, jew jekk jafu, m’għandhomx rispett lejn il-kultura u l-valuri intrinsiċi tal-lokal! Daqslikieku tinvesti flusek f’kafetterija ċkejkna fil-pjazza ta’ Hagia Sophia u torganiżża daqsxejn ta’ burlesque umli ma’ xi grada imżejna b’nofs qamar f’nofs ir-Ramadan! Dawn aspetti li anki jekk tistaqsi lil ChatGPT dwarhom, tirċievi risposti ċari.

Iżda l-ikbar skandlu fejn hu?

L-aljenazzjonijiet vasti kulturali li għandna fit-tmexxija lokali u nazzjonali tibqa’ tissorprendini. Filwaqt li l-investiment sabiex jidħlu jgħixu familji Maltin fil-kapitali huwa ineżistenti, jidher żbilanċ qawwi favur l-industrija tal-ikel, xorb u divertiment. L-unika industrija li għandha l-libertà tokkupa spazji pubbliċi lil hinn mill-ispazju investit, b’mod mill-aktar arroganti. Fejn qabel fil-Kapitali kont issib kull tip ta’ servizz li wieħed jimmaġina, minn tiswija ta’ strument mużikali sa xiri ta’ ħut frisk, illum il-Belt Valletta saret destinazzjoni għal min irid jiddeverti, jixrob u jiekol. Il-Gvern b’faqar ta’ pjanar, ma kellux ħila jipproponi skemi u inċentivi sabiex iħajjar industriji varji fil-kapitali u jkompli jżewwaq din il-Belt ġojjel b’ħajja residenzjali fejn jistgħu jitrawwmu tfal b’talent fuq naħa, u kummerċ varjat u vibranti fuq oħra. Il-Gvern jibqa’ jipperpetwa sistema ta’ governanza lokali msejsa fuq populiżmu u pjaċiri sabiex il-poter jibqa’ taħt kontroll ċentraliżżat.

Skandlu kbir daqs ta’ qablu huwa l-aljenazzjoni kbira li l-poplu jagħżel li jħaddan, speċifikament dik il-fazzjoni li tappoġġja b’għamad lill-partiti li jkunu fil-Gvern. Sintomu li kont inħossu minn qabel l-2013 iżda li issa, quddiem problemi bil-wisq aktar serji, kiber sforz il-klijenteliżmu li jirrenja. Dan is-sintomu wassal ħafna Beltin ikunu leali tant li jaraw iżda ma jammettux x’inhuma tassew in-nuqqasijiet u l-omertà ta’ min talab u kiseb ir-responsabbiltà li jmexxi l-Kapitali. Hawn Beltin fostna li lanqas jindunaw kif persuni li ilhom li xebgħu fil-kariga tagħhom fil-Kunsill Lokali, reġgħu qed joffru li jservu sabiex ma jiddiżappuntawx lill-Partit jew jissugraw itellfuh il-poter. L-aqwa l-Coffee Morning li fih għal żewġ pastizzi, koka, ftit żfin u żeglieg, jissaħħaħ il-jigsaw-puzzle maħdum apposta fejn kollox jibqa’ taħt il-kontroll tal-Partit u mhux tar-resident.

Meta quddiem l-għarfien tal-apatija li ħakmet lill-Belt Valletta, iljun stilla Beltija bħal sieħbi l-Maxi jistqarr li “Il-Beltin sirna nies bla b###”, tinduna li ma hemmx aktar x’tomgħod. Il-kxif tat-tempju u l-kxif tal-ġisem jiġu sekondarji quddiem il-kxif tar-ruħ li tilfet kull sens ta’ kburija fl-identità tagħha, sabiex isservi lil Ċesri.

Valletta’s Cultural Integrity

In a matter of hours on the stairway leading to Ta’ Ġieżu church, likely one of the Valletta streets deeply imbued with religious significance, the recently restored church facade was unveiled. Just two days after Women’s Day, a woman’s body was also unveiled, swaying and dancing on the stair railing.

In the capital, a pervasive lack of understanding of our surrounding context and circumstances persists. Many investors in the capital appear ignorant of the community and its inherent values. It seems as though a capital city is automatically expected to be a sacrificial offering, always accommodating all forms of expression. Simultaneously, there is a glaring absence of modesty. Were it not for the dissemination of a video featuring burlesque dancer Undine Laverve’s performance, the incident would have gone unnoticed since the audience seemed detached, unaware of the setting they occupied while sipping their red wine.

I refrain from delving into moral discussions, acknowledging that burlesque is a recognized ancient artistic form globally. However, it is unusual to encounter such performances in areas steeped in sacred symbolism during times revered by the local community. These occurrences underscore the harsh reality that the proprietors of these establishments either lack awareness of the locations they invest in, or if they do, show no regard for the intrinsic culture and values of the area. It’s comparable to investing in a quaint café in Hagia Sophia square and arranging a modest burlesque event adorned with crescent decorations during Ramadan—a worrysome scenario that even a simple inquiry to ChatGPT would yield thoughtful insight.

The most significant scandal within this entire narrative lies in the profound cultural disconnection evident in local and national leadership. While investment in Maltese families within the capital is virtually nonexistent, there’s a glaring imbalance favoring the food, drink, and entertainment industry. The only industry enjoying the freedom to arrogantly occupy public spaces beyond their premises. Once a hub of diverse services, Valletta has morphed into a destination solely catering to those seeking entertainment and indulgence. The government’s planning inadequacies have impeded the proposal of schemes and incentives to attract various industries that could foster a city adorned with residential life on one hand and a diverse, vibrant trade on the other.

Another scandal lies in the profound alienation in which certain segments of the populace persist, particularly those who blindly support the ruling party. A symptom I’ve observed since before 2013, but now exacerbated by the pervasive clientelism. This symptom has led many of us to remain so loyal that we turn a blind eye to wrongdoing, refusing to acknowledge the shortcomings and silence of those entrusted with leading the capital. Some among us have relinquished the capacity to recognize how individuals who have held office in the Local Council offer to serve again only to avoid disappointing the Party or risk having the Party losing the power. All for a coffee morning swaying and dancing where the meticulously crafted illusion remains under the Party’s control, rather than serving the residents, all for the nominal price of two pastizzi and a Coca-Cola.

In the face of widespread apathy in Valletta, my friend Maxi, an iconic figure, solemnly declares, “We have become people without balls,” revealing there is little left to ponder. Uncovering temples and bodies fades in significance compared to the exposure of souls who have forsaken all sense of pride in the identity of Valletta in order to serve Caesar.

Il-Beltin relegati – Evans Building

March 1, 2024 | Tberfil

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Bħalissa moħħ u qalb kull belti u beltija huma kkunsmati mhux ftit dwar il-possibiltà dejjem tikber li l-klabb tant għażiż tal-Valletta FC jispiċċa relegat mill-Kampjonat Premier għaċ-Challenge League. Bir-raġun din ir-realtà tinkwetana mhux ftit għax tnaqqrilna parti mill-identità rebbieħa u kburija li tul is-snin tant identifikajna magħha bħala komunità. Filwaqt li dan l-inkwiet qed iberren f’rasna, ftit huma dawk li jirrealiżżaw kif lil hinn mill-ballun, il-Beltin ilhom relegati minn art twelidhom, għal numru ta’ snin.

Filwaqt li uħud jiċċelebraw it-trasformazzjoni reċenti ta’ beltna f’destinazzjoni turistika mfittxija, huwa importanti li ngħarfu n-narrattiva usa’ u nirrikonoxxu kif fl-aħħar snin il-Belt Valletta ġiet żviluppata f’belt estetikament sabiħa iżda bla ruħ u bi ftit sensittività lejn il-komunità li tgħix fiha.

Lura fis-snin meta ma’ sieħbi Dr Victor Jacono kont naħdem fuq proġett għall-komunità fil-Belt Valletta, uħud esprimew kif lill-Belt Valletta iqabbluha ma’ omm, jew tfajla/mara maħbuba. Niftakar kif uħud kienu esprimew kif lura fis-snin dan il-mit ta’ mara maħbuba sfat mitluqa, bla ebda kura lejn id-dehra tagħha u saħħitha. Madanakollu kienet mara li uliedha Beltin kienu jgħarfu u li għaliha dawn l-ulied kienu lesti jgħamlu minn kollox. Kienet omm xi ftit fraġli li taf tilqa’ lill-uliedha u ttihom dar fejn jitrawwmu u jfasslu l-identità tagħhom.

Fis-snin aktar qrib tfaċċaw barranin li ddeċidew li din il-mara kellha bżonn tieħu r-ruħ. Idea intrinsikament tajba li kellha eżekuzzjoni partikolari. Dawn ħaduha għand professjonista li ħaslitha, fewħitilha l-ġilda, imlietha foundation u make up, kabbritilha sidirha filwaqt li żebgħatilha xufftejha ħomor nar u libsitha l-isbaħ ilbies. Il-barranin qalulha li minn issa ‘l quddiem riedet tattira lit-turist u tinsa l-wens li kienet trodd lill-uliedha. Hi bkiet imma ma kelliex triq oħra ħlief li tara lill-uliedha jitilquha għax ma baqgħux jgħarfuha. Isimha baqa’ jidwi f’qalbhom imma l-barranin li ħakmuha, għalkemm bla ruħ, kellhom is-saħħa tal-flus. Il-barranin qalu lil uliedha li issa jistgħu jbiegħu darhom lill-pjan tagħhom u jsiru sinjuri żgħar.

Simili kien id-destin tax-xjuħ tagħha. Wara tant snin li ddedikaw lilha, ħafna minnhom kellhom jippakkjaw ħwejjiġhom u jerħulha lejn bliet u rħulha oħra fejn sabu min jospitahom. Għax l-ebda ħadd ma ried jinvesti f’dar għall-anzjani. Fejn qatt kont tobsor li l-Pampalun kellu jħalli din id-dinja f’dar tal-anzjani f’Ħal Luqa! Fejn qatt kont tobsor li esponenti kbar fil-kultura Beltija jinsabu jqattgħu l-aħħar snin ta’ ħajjithom lil hinn mill-Kapitali!

Illum il-Belt Valletta, din il-mara sabiħa saret trodd ġisimha lil kull turist lokali jew barrani li jiġi jużaha. Kmamar għalihom kemm trid, għax dawk jiġġeneraw l-aktar flus. Ikel, té, kafé, xi knisja u mużew għat-turist twajjeb. Imma mkien ma jista’ isib ftit togħma ta’ dak li kienu snajja u kreattività lokali. Ix-xalatur għandu sas-siegħa jew is-sagħtejn ta’ filgħodu jitpaxxa u jintilef fi sbuħitha; bil-mużika, bil-birra, whiskey, ġin u linja coke. Wara li jirremetti l-pjaċir kollu, jerħilha lejn soddtu sa ma jgħaddu l-ġranet u jmur lura lejn pajjiżu. Illum il-Belt Valletta trodd ruħha lill-barrani sinjur li jiġi jinvesti flusu fiha biex jgħid li hu binha mingħajr ma jagħraf ħajjet din l-omm għażiża; mingħajr ma jaf kif din l-omm rawmet lill-vera uliedha tul is-snin.

Il-Kapitali Valletta regalata lit-turist, relegata għall-medjokrità ta’ belt bla identità fejn uliedha jistgħu biss jarawha minn barra, filwaqt li jixjieħu u jixxenqu li jerġgħu jaraw lil Godwin jiġbor lit-tfal għall-maħżen f’Sant Iermu, li jaraw lill-Maxi u lil Gilbert irebbħuhom kampjonat u jiċċelebrawh flimkien f’Sada Rjala, li jaraw lis-subien u l-bniet jinġabru għall-MUSEUM f’Sada Sant’Ursola, lil Salvu jbiegħ il-boċċi… u tant aktar realtajiet sbieħ li l-barranin għoġobhom imewtu.

Għada l-grupp Residenti Beltin qed jorganizza protesta sabiex il-Gvern iwaqqaf in-negozjati dwar il-binja tal-Evans u jinvesti dan l-ispazju sabiex joffri dar ta’ mistrieħ, attività u kura lill-anzjani Beltin. Nittama li dawk il-Beltin li għad għandhom demmhom ibaqbaq, ikunu hemm fil-11:00am sabiex isemmgħu leħinhom, qabel jitilgħu Ta’ Qali jissapportjaw b’ħeġġa lill-Valletta FC li ser jilgħabu kontra Ħamrun Spartans fis-2:00pm.

Relegated citizens – Evans Building

At present, the minds and hearts of every citizen are preoccupied with concerns about the increasing likelihood of our beloved football club, Valletta FC, being demoted from the Premier League to the Challenge League. This situation worries us because it undermines our sense of winning identity and pride that we have cultivated over the years. While we grapple with this issue, few realize that beyond the realm of football, the city itself has been experiencing relegation for several years.

Whilst many celebrate our city’s recent awakening as a sought-after tourist destination, it is essential to acknowledge this transformation and understand how Valletta has been reduced to a beautiful yet soulless toy which transpires little to no sensitivity towards its residential community.

Reflecting on my past work with ex-colleague Dr Victor Jacono on a community project in Valletta, some individuals likened Valletta to a beloved mother, or a girl/wife. They recalled how, in the past, this cherished myth was neglected, with no concern for her well-being. In spite of her delicate nature, she was a mother cherished deeply by her children, who were prepared to go to any lengths for her. Over time, strangers arrived, deciding that this woman needed a makeover. They brought her to professionals who cleansed her, repaired her skin, applied foundation and makeup, enhanced her lips, and painted them a vibrant red. Dressed in her most exquisite attire, the strangers instructed her to focus on attracting tourists, neglecting the nurturing care she once provided for her children. Despite her tears, she had no choice but to witness her children depart because they no longer recognized her. Although her name still echoed in their hearts, the soulless strangers in control, empowered by wealth, persuaded her children to sell their home and aspire to become affluent individuals.

Similar fate befell her elderly, who dedicated years to her but had to leave, seeking hosts in distant towns and villages. There is no home for the elderly in our capital city! Who would have thought that “il-Pampalun” would end up in a nursing home in Luqa? Who would have thought that great figures in Valletta culture are now spending their last years away from the capital?

Today, Valletta, a beacon of beauty, caters to the desires of every tourist. Accommodations are readily available, catering to their preferences, as they yield the highest profits. The discerning tourist can enjoy a variety of offerings such as food, tea, coffee, visits to churches, and museums. However, what’s notably absent is a genuine taste of the local crafts and creativity that once defined the essence of the city. Whether local or foreign, those who come to experience the city revel in its charm until the early hours, often accompanied by live music until around 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. After fully immersing themselves in pleasure, they expel it all beside a palazzo before retiring to their accommodations until their departure back to their home countries. Currently, Valletta is surrendered to wealthy outsiders who invest in it, claiming a false sense of kinship without acknowledging the genuine life this beloved city has nurtured among its true inhabitants over the years.

Presently, Valletta yields to affluent investors who inject funds without acknowledging the city’s profound history. While the capital expresses gratitude to tourists, the consequence is a descent into a city lacking a distinct identity. Valletta’s authentic inhabitants can merely watch from a distance as they grow older, reflecting on times when Godwin used to gather the children into his Carnival warehouse in St Elmo, football championships were clinched by Maxi and Gilbert, whilst Salvu sold all kind of stationery, and traditional toys as boys and girls filled St Ursola Street for MUSEUM gatherings. So many realities that strangers worked hard to dissolve into thin air.

The Residenti Beltin group is planning a protest tomorrow, urging the Government to cease negotiations on the Evans building and allocate this space for the establishment of a facility catering to the needs of the elderly in Valletta, providing rest, activities, and care. I encourage all Valletta residents with fervent spirits to join the gathering at 11:00am to ensure this call is heard. They can later drive to Ta’ Qali National stadium in support of Valletta F.C. playing Ħamrun Spartans at 2:00pm.

Id-destin tal-Belt Valletta

January 30, 2024 | Tberfil

English version further below

Illum fl-10:00 ta’ filgħodu irċevejt stedina minn naħa tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar sabiex nattendi diskussjoni virtwali fl-10:30 dwar applikazzjoni sabiex eks-ħanut tal-ħaxix quddiem il-Knisja tal-Karmnu fil-Belt Valletta jinbidel fi spazju kummerċjali għall-ikel u x-xorb.

Kienet laqgħa kordjali li għaliha attendew madwar erbgħin ruħ. Tħallew jitkellmu xi nies iżda mhux kulħadd. Kien hemm min bħali esperjenza problemi tekniċi u ma ingħata l-ebda widen meta ħalla kumment miktub fuq il-pjattaforma offruta mill-istess awtorità. Anzi, dawk li kienu qed jikkummentaw bil-kitba ġew mgħarrfa li l-kummenti tagħhom kienu ser jiġu injorati!

Il-laqgħa żvolġiet b’ċertu sens ta’ għaġġla, possibilment għax dawk responsabbli kellhom wisq x’jgħamlu u każijiet x’jisimgħu. Ġejna mitluba nkunu konċiżi u ma nirrepetux. Meta aktar persuni esprimew ix-xewqa li jintervjenu, niżlet id tal-ħadid li kkonkludiet id-diskussjoni. Sa mn’alla bgħatuli stedina!

Nibqa’ mistagħġeb kif quddiem dawn id-deċiżjonijiet kruċjali fis-salvagwardja tat-tessut soċjali, l-arkitetti u dawk responsabbli fl-awtoritajiet jeħlu ma’ interpretazzjonijiet tar-regolamenti fuq il-karta u fuq preċedenti, minflok jaħdmu b’risq il-benefiċċju tal-komunità lokali, l-aktar dik residenzjali. Huwa sempliċement tal-mistħija kif preċedenti huma meqjusa bħala raġuni valida sabiex inkomplu inkabbru l-froġa!

Inħoss li huwa diffiċli mmens li din is-soċjetà timxi ‘l quddiem ladarba dawn id-diskussjonijiet isiru minn persuni-“magni” li kapaċi biss jirraġunaw bil-1 u 0, jgħamluha ċara li jridu jevitaw kummenti “emozzjonali” u lanqas biss għexu d-dinamika tal-komunità li dwarha jkunu qed jiddeċiedu.

Saħansitra illum smajna kumment li uża l-festa tal-Madonna tal-Karmnu bħala xi forma ta’ preċedent għal storbju li jkun hemm fit-triq! Smajna wkoll idea li jingħalaq bieb fi Triq Żekka biex l-applikazzjoni tidher verġni minn kull skop li joħloq l-ewwel preċedent f’din it-triq. Bħallikieku l-preċedenti ta’ spazji kummerċjali għall-ikel u x-xorb ċkejkna li jestendu l-attivitajiet tagħhom tul metri sħaħ fit-toroq tal-madwar mhix diġà realtà evidentissima fil-Kapitali fl-aħħar 15-il sena!

Apparti dan kollu, u b’sens ta’ ironija, dejjem kelli kurżità kif l-ebda stabbiliment kummerċjali li mhux fil-qasam tal-ikel u x-xorb, ma japplika sabiex jokkupa spazji pubbliċi bħall-oħrajn. F’ġieh l-ugwaljanza huma wkoll misshom joħorġu vetrini u mwejjed biex ikabbru l-bejgħ. Meta ħa naraw lill-Agenda Bookshop, Heritage Malta jew lil D’Amato Records b’tilari tal-kotba u vinili tal-mużika tul Strada Rjali? Hija ironija kif stabbilimenti b’kummerċ artistiku mhumiex trattati l-istess?

Fl-aħħarnett nemmen li wasal iż-żmien li l-Beltin jibdew ikunu rappeżentati għal dawn il-laqgħat mill-Kunsill Lokali tal-Belt Valletta u/jew minn rappreżentanti tal-komunità li huma kapaċi jirriċerkaw u jiddibattu dawn is-sitwazzjonijiet.

Nittama li aktar Beltin jitħajjru jkunu voċiferi. Inutli ngergru wara.

📸 Romina Gianoli

The fate of Valletta

Today, at 10:00 am, I received an invitation from the Planning Authority to participate in a virtual discussion at 10:30 regarding an application to convert a former vegetable shop in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Valletta into a commercial space for food and drink. The meeting, attended by approximately forty people, maintained a formal atmosphere. While some individuals were given the opportunity to speak, others, like myself, encountered technical difficulties and were overlooked when leaving comments on the platform provided by the authority. Those who wrote comments were informed that their input would be disregarded.

The meeting proceeded with a sense of haste, likely due to the organizers’ heavy workload and numerous cases to address. We were instructed to be concise and avoid repetition. As more participants expressed a desire to contribute, the discussion was abruptly concluded with a firm hand. I couldn’t help but reflect on the irony of receiving the invitation!

I am astonished and very much concerned that, in the face of critical decisions affecting the social fabric, architects and authority figures adhere strictly to interpretations of regulations and precedents on paper, rather than prioritizing the well-being of the local community, especially the residential one. It is disheartening how past decisions are used as a valid basis to perpetuate problematic practices.

I feel it is difficult to move this society forward once these discussions are held by people-“machines” who are only able to reason by 1s and 0s, make it clear that they want to avoid “emotional” comments and have not even lived up to the community context on which they are deciding.

During the meeting, a comment was made, using the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a precedent for street noise. Another suggestion was to close a door in Old Mint Street to present the application in a more favorable light, and not setting a precedent for the particular street. A flawed suggestion, especially considering the longstanding presence of small food and beverage businesses expanding onto adjacent streets in the Capital over the past 15 years.

Furthermore, and with much irony, I’ve always been curious why non-food and drink commercial establishments do not apply to occupy public spaces in a similar manner. Equality demands that bookshops, cultural institutions, or record stores, such as Agenda Bookshop, Heritage Malta, or D’Amato Records, should also be allowed to showcase their offerings outside to boost sales. Isn’t it ironic how establishments with artistic commerce are not treated the same?

In conclusion, I believe it is high time for Valletta to be represented in these meetings by the Valletta Local Council and/or community representatives capable of thoroughly researching and debating these situations. I hope more residents will be inspired to voice their concerns, as grievances expressed afterward will be futile.

📸 Romina Gianoli

Zvezdan

December 23, 2023 | Tberfil

Ilbieraħt lura sakemm kont qed intemm l-aħħar tentufiet xogħol qabel tlaqt mill-uffiċċju intfajt nisma l-aktar silta riċenti ta’ Morgan. Ftit wara, segwiet Dormono sulla collina – silta li snin ilu kont għażilt li ma nismax wisq sabiex nevita t-tentazzjoni ta’ ħsibijiet dwar il-mewt. Din id-darba imma spiċċajt inkanta r-ritornell u ngħafas il-buttuna tal-volum tal-imac sabiex nismagħha iktar qawwija. Ilbieraħ, xil-17:30, waqt li kont passiġġier fil-karozza mal-mara sabiex immorru nżuru lil ommi f’San Vinċenz, jasal il-messaġġ mingħand Claudia: “Heard about Zvezdan :(‘”

Lil Zvevdan sibtu ma’ wiċċi ta’ sbatax-il sena, lura fl-1998, meta bħala parti mill-istudji fiċ-Ċentru tal-Arti u d-Disinn Emvin Cremona tal-Belt Valletta, kont bdejt apprentistat, grazzi għas-Sur Joe Pace fl-uffiċini ta’ Scancraft. Hemmhekk ħadt il-formazzjoni teknika tiegħi u għalkemm kont “iż-żgħir”, sibt rispett mingħand kulħadd; Mark Theuma, Simon Spiteri, Philip Stephenson, Mark Mercieca, Sandro Bruno, Carmen u anki Zvezdan.

Hekk kif sirt naf lil Zvez. Lura fi tmiem id-90ijiet.

L-istudios ta’ Scancraft fi Triq G. Abos l-Iklin, kienu f’terran fond, b’quddiem jinfed ma’ wara u mqassam f’kompartimenti żgħar jew kbar tal-aluminju u ħġieġ. L-intrata, l-uffiċju tal-maniġer, l-istudio, l-iscanning, il-matchprint, l-exposing u fuq wara nett, il-kamra l-baxxa mhux wisq bogħod mill-printer, jekk mhux tnejn. Ma’ dawn tal-aħħar kont issib lil dan ir-raġel twil, strutturat, b’wiċċ mingħajr espressjoni li iktar jġiblek sudizzjoni hekk kif ilissen kelma bil-vuċi baritona tiegħu.

Ma’ Zvezdan bħala kollega qattajt tlett snin sbieħ. Għalkemm kien ta’ ftit kliem, kien jgħoxa jinkini u jgħallimni. Niftakru jirrakkuntalna l-miġja tiegħu f’Malta mis-Serbja, kif tilef parti minn subgħajh u l-imħabba mmensa lejn martu Jasmina u uliedu. Minħabba li jien kont ilni biss ftit aktar minn sena li temmejt l-istudji tiegħi tas-sekondarja, kien jitlobni parir fejn l-aħjar jibgħat lill-ibnu li fi ftit xhur kien ser jibda s-sekondarja. F’ħin il-kafé kien ifakkarni biex nitfa ammont ta’ kafé u nofs tazza misħun billi b’dak l-aċċent serb jgħidli “Pawlu… i drink tarmac not coffee”. Waqt il-lant tax-xogħol, kellu ħabta jitlaq il-postazzjoni tiegħu u jiġi nkiss nkiss sa ħdejna u f’daqqa waħda jfaqqa l-famuża “aaaaajma ħej!”… bħal qisha sirena tat-tarzna ħafna drabi din kienet tindikalna l-preżenza ta’ mara sbejħa fl-uffiċċju tal-maniġer. Frażi li kien bgħatli rrekordjata u li issa ser tibqa’ tfakkarni f’dak il-leħen uniku. L’hena tagħna kienet l-inkejja u ħalli għalina sabiex niskambjaw tgħajjir bil-Malti u bis-Serb li għallimna lil xulxin!

Kultant konna nintefgħu bilqegħda u nitkellmu dwar il-proġetti li konna involuti fihom jew konna qed noħolmu. Hu kien jaqsam miegħi tagħrif dwar l-istampar sabiex dak li nagħmel ikun kif titlob is-sengħa. Niftakar li darba rċevejna riżmiet ta’ karti maqtugħin ħażin li għaldaqstant ma kienux tajbin għall-istampar. Zvezdan sejjaħli u wara li spjegali x’kien l-iżball, saqsieni għandix bżonn dawk il-karti biex inħażżeż jew nipprattika fuqhom. L-għada għabbihom fuq il-FIAT ċkejkna li kellu u wassalni sad-dar.

Zvezdan kien studja d-disinn u jidhirli anki t-tipografija fis-Serbja u għaldaqstant kien imgħallem tajjeb iżda fuq kollox kien iżommni nħeġġeġ lejn is-sengħa li kont bdejt nistudja – dik ta’ diżinjatur grafiku. Konna nitkellmu dwar l-ewwel proġett tiegħu “maltamag”, li permezz tiegħu xtaq jintegra ruħu iktar fil-komunità. B’dak il-għan f’rasu, intefa’ jistudja u jipprattika l-Macromedia Dreamweaver u spiss konna inpartu xi indikazzjonijiet. Maltamag kellu jkun l-ewwel magazin onlajn dwar dak li jiġri f’Malta. Lili kien jitlobni mmexxi l-kelma dwar maltamag, sabiex nattiraw kontenut u reklami. Niftakarni nitkellem ma’ sħabi fiċ-Ċentru taż-żgħażagħ ĊAMYouths, sabiex nużaw maltamag bħala pjattaforma ta’ reklamar għad-diversi attivitajiet ta’ fund raising għall-karità li konna nwettqu dak iż-żmien. Saħansitra tfajna riklam ta’ maltamag fuq il-fuljett stampat li kellna dak iż-żminijiet. Zvez kien japprezza ħafna, tant li saħansitra iddisinjali karta ta’ identità sabiex inkun mibgħut speċjali ta’ maltamag f’avvenimenti varji.

Wieħed mill-html files li Zvez kien jgħaddili b’xi istruzzjoni dwar il-Macromedia Dreamweaver. Inkejja nkluża.

Fl-2001, kontra qalbi, ma bqajtx naħdem Scancraft minħabba li d-diretturi xtaqu jnaqqsu l-ispejjeż. Għalkemm ma bqajniex kollegi, ir-rispett bejnietna baqa’. Fil-11 ta’ Mejju 2008, kont mistieden flimkien mal-eks maħbuba Claudia, għal ikla fid-dar tiegħu. Niftakar li kienu laqawna bl-aqwa ikel u xorb u dawruna mad-dar, saħansitra fil-workshop mill-isbaħ ta’ Jasmina li bħal ommi kienet ħajjata.

Fl-2011 l-affarijiet kienu nbidlu ħafna għalih. Tkellimna dwar modi kif nistgħu nidentifikaw aktar riżorsi ta’ fiżjoterapija għal Jasmina u fid-29 ta’ Diċembru tal-istess sena bgħatli messaġġ twil li fih qasam il-frustrazzjoni tiegħu għal mod kif is-servizz li martu kienet qed tingħata ġewwa Mater Dei ma kienx sodisfaċenti. Spjegali wkoll l-inizjattivi li kien qed jieħu huwa stess – dettalji wisq personali biex jinqasmu hawn iżda li żiedu l-ammirazzjoni tiegħi lejn dan ir-raġel ta’ ftit kliem iżda ħafna qalb. F’Jannar tkellimna wkoll dwar il-kura li martu kienet qed tingħata f’San Vinċenz, fejn Zvez bħal qisu sab xi ftit serħan il-moħħ.

F’Ottubru ta’ sena wara, stedinni bħal ħafna oħrajn għall-proġett tant għal qalbu: “the long planned project – book of photography portraits of Jasmina’s and our friends.”

Fis-26 ta’ Diċembru kien esprima x-xewqa li martu tirkupra, semmieli kemm kien jieħu pjaċir meta jilmaha titbissem u wara ħarbixli dal kelmtejn qawwija. Kien l-istess żmien fejn jien bdejt ninnota li ommi wkoll kienet qed turi sintomi partikolari li ma bdewx jgħoġbuni.

“My Pawlu, life can turn upside down in a second. I just truly believe that there is more to life and us thank what doctors and conventional medicine knows. I started praying to saints – was never religious, not even now, but I believe that through prayer- positive and good images and thinking we manage to channel this energy we all consist of to the right place and for my efforts, sometimes I feel I could do much more for her, that I don’t do enough… but I have to make money for living, but there is always that void when I miss her like crazy and are not near her. Doctor’s know very little about brain, I read lot of books and articles last two years.”

Fit-13 ta’ Frar 2013, tkellimna dwar il-fatt li Peter Andre kien inħatar ambaxxatur kulturali għall-Belt Valletta u ddiskutejna l-clip tal-BBC li fiha ibnu Teodor kien intervistat minn BBC bħala Cultural Editor tal-MaltaToday. Aktar il-quddiem fl-istess sena konna ddiskutejna l-publikazzjoni ta’ ktieb ta’ poeżiji tiegħi. Kien lest jgħin fid-distribuzzjoni u ħajjartu nibdew “Street Market Bookshop” – idea li laqtitu. Kien esprima interess ukoll fil-proġett tiegħi ta’ bloggati kritiċi dwar l-arti u disinn f’Malta, redwhitemt.

Dejjem qist lil Zvezdan bħal imgħallem fl-istampar u għaldaqstant fl-2015 kont tlabtu parir dwar liema karta kelli nuża għall-istampar tal-antoloġija diġitali Her Majesty, u niftakar li kien ġie bi ħġaru jżurha. Kien saħansitra proponieli li nippubblikawhom fi ktieb minn tiegħu iżda sfortunatament dan qatt ma seħħ. Fl-istess sena kkummisjonajnieh jiddiżinja kalendarju imdaqqas għall-uffiċċju tal-Fondazzjoni Valletta 2018 sabiex fuqu nfasslu l-programmazzjoni tal-2016 u nibdew dik tal-2018. Għalkemm imsallab bix-xogħol, qdiena b’imħabba u bgħat jistaqsini hux kollox sew ftit jiem wara li dan ġie imżanżan. Aktar ‘l quddiem fil-proġett Beltin ta’ Spazju Kreattiv ikkurat minn Raphael Vella u Sabrina Calleja Jackson, kien talabni biex nidentifikaw aktar Beltin sabiex jipparteċipaw. Kien pjaċir u unur doppju għalija li għentu jwettaq din il-ħolma u li erġajt ġejt iffotografat minnu.

Fid-19 ta’ Ġunju 2015 Zvev ġie jżur l-esibizzjoni Her Majesty
Jurgen Briffa u jien… fil-proġett “Beltin”.

Minn dak iż-żmien il-kuntatt naqas ġmielu – forsi minħabba li jien inqtajt miċ-ċrieki tal-arti u l-kultura. Lanqas biss kont naf li Kixott kien proġett tiegħu jew li Kixott kien ħanut tal-kotba! Lil Zvez ilmaħtu l-aħħar meta xtrajt il-kwadru mis-serje “Beltin” u aktar riċenti waqt il-Fiera tal-Ktieb fejn jidhirli qsamna kelmtejn ta’ malajr għax kont xogħol fuq stand oħra dakinhar.

Wara l-aħbar tal-bieraħ, erġajt smajt is-silta ta’ De André kantata minn Morgan u xtaqt inżid kelmtejn magħha, biex niċċelebraw il-ħajja aktar milli nibżgħu mill-mewt. Bħal Z. Dawn għalik ħabib:

Dov’è Zvev il disegnatore
che fotografava persone con tanto amore
che con la vita avrebbe ancora parlato.

Lui che offrì il talento
la gola al vino e sempre un pensiero
non al denaro, si all’amore e anche al cielo.

Lui sembra di sentirlo
cianciare ancora delle battute
creando libri a tarde ore scorrute

sembra di sentirlo ancora
dire al mercante di caffettiere
“Tu che li vendi cosa ti bevi di migliore?”

Is-sliem għalik Zvev. Grazzi ta’ dak li tajtni, li lanqas jien ma naf inkejjel eżatt.

Ħobża jew dinjità

November 16, 2023 | Tberfil

(An English version can be read below the Maltese)

Qed ngħixu kummiedja. Qed ngħixu żminijiet fejn d-deċiżjonijiet li nieħdu huma ikkundizzjonati mill-popolarità iktar milli mis-sugu ta’ dak li jiġi mwettaq. Lill-Malti spiss issibu japplawdi inizjattivi idjoti u jiċċelebrahom bħala ‘milestone’ fl-istorja ta’ ħajtu sforz l-immedjata popolarità jew ix-xewqa li jkun assenjat tron f’xi olimpu fittizju. Dan mingħajr ma jagħraf in-narrativa tal-ingann li fl-aħħar snin ixxeblek mal-valuri intrinsiċi li kienu jiddistingwuna bħala poplu u qed jifgahom.

Fil-kummentarju tiegħu tal-bieraħ filgħodu, Mario Aquilina; li jiena nqisu fost l-aqwa letturi li qatt kelli, spjega kif l-awtorità risponsabbli mis-settur ambjentali, mhux talli mhix tiprattika r-rwol tagħha ta’ tarka għall-ambjent iżda, għal raġunijiet varji, qed “tiffaċilita t-tkissir tal-ambjent”. Aquilina tkellem dwar kif it-tentattivi tiegħu sabiex jikkomunika mal-entità sfalu suf u ddixxerna dwar kif l-istituzzjoni fil-każ m’għandiex saħħa, m’għandiex riżorsi, jew m’għandiex volontà sabiex twettaq id-dmirijiet tagħha.

Wara dak li spjega b’tant reqqa Aquilina, sfajt ispirat naħseb, nixtarr u nitħadded dwar is-sintomu tas-serviliżmu li osservajt tul is-snin kemm matul il-ħidma tiegħi fis-settur pubbliku kif ukoll wara bħala ċittadin distanti mis-sistema. Is-sintomu tas-serviliżmu kontemporanju Malti huwa mżewwaq minn cocktail perfett ta’ populiżmu u dilettantiżmu u nħoss li huwa mxerred sew fl-entitajiet pubbliċi. Dan jista’ jiġi osservat f’varjetà ta’ realtajiet li minnhom xtaqt nosserva tlieta.

Forsi l-aktar evidenti huma mexxejja ta’ entitajiet pubbliċi li jemmnu b’ruħhom u ġisimhom li huwa sagrileġġ li tkun tarka għall-poplu u tmur kontra l-Gvern, jew agħar minn hekk, il-Partit fil-Gvern. Ħafna drabi dan il-kredu jiġi pperpetwat konxjament jew inkonxjament fuq il-ħaddiema tal-istess entità li frott l-ubbidjenza u l-bżonn ta’ introjtu, jagħżlu li jaqdfu b’lealtà fl-istess direzzjoni ideoloġika mingħajr ma jfittxu risposti għall-mistoqsijiet il-kbar li jittormentawhom fil-ħidma tagħhom. Dan iwassal għas-sitwazzjoni li semma Aquilina stess, fejn l-entità tispiċċa tkisser dak li suppost qegħda tistinka għalih.

Realtà oħra evidenti hija dik tal-varji premjazzjonijiet li ħafna entitajiet pubbliċi saru jorganizzaw. Entitajiet pubbliċi u kulturali varji jidentifikaw proġetti għal premjazzjoni billi joħroġu sejħa għal nominazzjonijiet. Wara l-fażi tan-nominazzjonijiet, dawk nominati jiġu ffiltrati sabiex fl-aħħar jiġu mħabbra l-uħud li jmorru għall-vot pubbliku li jaħtar rebbieħ finali. Dan il-proċess b’mod naturali jelimina ċ-ċans li artisti kritiċi lejn il-Gvern u artisti li mhux moħħhom biex jimlew il-karti sabiex jirċievu premju, jiġu rikonoxxuti.

Jekk kien mingħalik li xi artist lokali jinnomina lil xi artist kollega tiegħu, probabiltà kbira hi li sejjer żball. Huwa fatt magħruf li dawn it-tip ta’ premjazzjonijiet fis-settur kulturali ikunu imżewwqa minn nominazzjonijiet sottomessi mill-artisti stess jew it-tim tal-midja tagħhom sabiex huma jkomplu jkabbru l-profil medjatiku. Ħafna drabi r-rebbieħa jkunu dawk li l-aktar kellhom il-ħila jkabbru l-popolarità tagħhom fuq il-midja soċjali u fil-klikka relatata u mhux neċessarjament dawk li tassew wettqu l-aktar ħidma valida. Ħafna drabi l-proġetti nominati jkunu ġew iffinanzjati mill-istess entità li sa fl-aħħar tippremjahom! Parodija ikbar minn hekk? F’mumenti nissuspetta li ċertu entitajiet iħossuhom obbligati jirrikonoxxu jew jippremjaw lil xi proġetti sforz il-pressjoni medjatika li jkun hemm madwarhom u mhux neċessarjament għax hemm valur fil-ħidma.

Għalkemm fil-konċepiment tagħhom dawn il-proċessi seta kellhom l-intenzjoni rispettabbli tad-demokrazija, nemmen li fi żmienna, fejn kollox jitkejjel bil-likes, hemm bżonn li l-professjonisti fis-settur jinħallu mill-populiżmu u jerġgħu jibdew jinżlu fit-toroq jirriċerkaw, jidentifikaw u jixtarru artisti li jinsabu moħbija jaħdmu, jiskopru u jwettqu l-bidla permezz ta’ mezzi varji u mhux jippremjaw il-bajtra li taqa’. Hawn ukoll, inħoss li l-entitatjiet tal-arti u artistiċi għandhom id-dmir ikunu xprun u mhux xkiel għal min ġenwinament qed jistinka favur ideoloġija jew ħsieb soċjali u/jew kulturali aktar milli s-suċċess tiegħu nnifsu.

L-aħħar aspett li xtaqt nixħet dawl fuqu huwa dak tal-Kunsilli Lokali. Sistema diżinjata sabiex tfalli. Ma hemmx fejn iddur. In-nies li jitħajjru jkunu ta’ servizz matur fil-Kunsilli Lokali bis-sistema preżenti huma dawk l-uħud li jew għandhom ħobżhom maħbuż, jew jaqilawha tajjeb u jibqalhom ħafna ħin f’idejhom jew lesti jċedu l-impjieg u l-imħabbiet personali tagħhom.

Hawn ukoll is-sistema hija cocktail perfett ta’ populiżmu u dilettantiżmu. Ir-realtà ta’ ħafna kunsilliera u Sindki dilettanti mhux niskopriha jien. Il-Kunsill huwa l-“hobby” għal ħafna; biex jibqgħu popolari, jew forsi biex iħossuhom influwenti. Huwa fatt magħruf li f’ċertu lokalitajiet il-Kunsill jiffunzjona biss grazzi għall-kariga professjonali tas-Segretarju Ġenerali. Mill-bqija bi stipendju ta €200 fix-xahar, l-ebda kunsillier ma jixraqlu li jieħu intrigu tant importanti daqs, ngħidu aħna familtu jew il-karriera. Il-volontarjat nafu biżżejjed fejn nistgħu noffruh.

Għaldaqstant sakemm is-sistema politika tal-Kunsilli Lokali ma tiġix riveduta, nemmen li l-ebda professjonist serju li jaħdem mill-inqas 8 siegħat kuljum ma jista’ joffri l-maġġor parti ta’ ħinu għall-kawża tal-lokalità.  Il-fatt li meta ċempilt, l-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Kunsilli Lokali lanqas kellha l-kapaċità tipprovdi l-politika tal-Kunsilli Lokali, turini biżżejjed il-livell ta’ dilettantiżmu prattikat. Sadattant iżda, iċċelebrajna t-30 sena mit-twaqqif tal-Kunsilli Lokali… xejn xejn qassamna ftit premijiet oħra sabiex intaptpu fuq ftit spallel.

Nagħlaq billi nikkwota silta mill-kitba tal-Professur Henry Frendo “The long road to responsible government: Maltese politics and society under a nonrepresentative constitution 1903-1919” tal-1991 b’riferenza lejn Manwel Dimech: “Filwaqt li ffavorixxa lit-trade unions, filwaqt li kkastiga s-serviliżmu, appella lill-foqra biex ma jiskambjawx ħobża għad-dinjità tagħhom meta jiġu avviċinati minn xi uffiċjal tal-gvern: ‘għid lil dawk li jiġu jagħtuk ħobża li m’intix skjav jew bhima, li dak li trid mhuwiex il-ħobża tal-karità, imma l-ħobża bl-għaraq ta’ xbinek.’

A loaf for dignity

Malta exists in a parody of sorts – no two ways about it. We navigate times where decisions are shaped more by popularity than the actual value of our actions. There’s a tendency to applaud misguided initiatives, hailing them as personal milestones driven by immediate popularity or the aspiration to claim a metaphorical throne in a fictional Olympics. Unfortunately, this celebration occurs without a critical examination of the deceptive narrative that has emerged in recent years, eroding the intrinsic values that once set us apart as a people.

In his recent commentary, Mario Aquilina, one of the most esteemed lecturers I’ve had the privilege of learning from, discussed the environmental sector. He highlighted that the relevant authority, rather than acting as a protector of the environment, seems to be unintentionally or perhaps intentionally contributing to its degradation. Aquilina shared his frustrating experiences attempting to communicate with the concerned entity, revealing its apparent lack of strength, resources, or will to fulfill its responsibilities.

Aquilina’s insights prompted me to reflect on the symptom of servitude which I noticed both during my tenure in the cultural public sector and also later as an observer from outside the system. The contemporary servitude in Malta is a troubling mix of populism and amateurism, widespread within public entities. This is evident in various aspects of our reality of which I’d like to highlight a few.

One glaring example is the leaders of public entities who staunchly believe it is sacrilege to stand against the government or, worse, the ruling party. This mindset often permeates down to workers, who, driven by the need for income and the fruits of obedience, serve loyally without questioning the significant issues that trouble their souls. This leads to the situation Aquilina himself mentioned, where the entity ends up breaking down what it is supposed to be striving for.

A second noticeable issue that poses a challenge is the proliferation of awards in Malta’s cultural scene. Public entities value the contributions to the arts by seeking nominations for potential projects. After nominations, there’s an internal filtering process, and finally, the public votes to decide the winner. Regrettably, this approach inherently reduces opportunities for artists critical of the government, those unwilling to compromise their principles for an award, or those uninterested in bureaucratic paperwork and questioning to gain recognition.

Did you wonder if any artist nominates a fellow practitioner for consideration? Highly unlikely. It’s widely acknowledged that awards in the cultural sector often suffer from nominations submitted by artists themselves or their media teams, aiming to boost their media profile. Frequently, the winners are those adept at growing their popularity on social media rather than those truly engaged in valuable work. Very often the nominated projects would have been funded by the entity that would be handling them the prize itself! There are indications as to how entities feel compelled to reward individuals due to their media reach rather than the intrinsic value of their work.

While these processes may have initially aspired to democratic ideals, the contemporary landscape, dominated by metrics like social media likes, calls for a departure from populism. Professionals in the sector should detach themselves from popular trends and actively hit the streets to conduct research, identify, and reflect on artists who may be hidden in the process of working, discovering, and effecting meaningful change across infinite media. It is essential to shift the focus away from rewarding those already in the limelight to recognizing the genuine contributors. There is a vital and urgent need for entities within the Arts and Culture to redefine their role. They should act as driving forces for those genuinely dedicated to ideology, social impact, and cultural enrichment, rather than self-centric success.

The third and final aspect I wish to highlight pertains to Local Councils—a system designed for failure. Those inclined to provide a responsible service in Local Councils within the current system are often those whose livelihoods have been accomplished, those with secure financial standings and ample time in hand, or those prepared to forsake their careers and personal pursuits.

Here again, the system presents a potent blend of populism and amateurism. The prevalence of amateur councillors and Mayors is a reality that doesn’t escape notice. For many, serving on the Council is more of a “hobby”—a means to maintain popularity or perhaps to feel influential. It’s widely acknowledged that in certain localities, the Council’s functionality relies heavily on the professional office of the Secretary-General. Given the meager stipend of €200 per month, it’s hardly fair to expect councillors to engage in matters as significant as their families or careers. Volunteering has its place, but expecting such commitment with minimal compensation is a notable challenge.

So, unless the political system of local councils is overhauled, I firmly believe that no dedicated professional working elsewhere a minimum of 8 hours a day can allocate a significant and diligent amount of their time to the local cause.

The fact that the Local Councils’ Association couldn’t provide the Local Council’s policy when I reached out underscores the prevalent ambition to keep this structure at a level of amateurism. Meanwhile, we’ve celebrated the 30th anniversary of Local Councils, yet nothing substantial has been achieved beyond and despite the accolades and the trophies distributed the underlying issues have not been addressed.

I conclude by quoting an excerpt from Professor Henry Frendo’s writing “The long road to responsible government: Maltese politics and society under a nonrepresentative constitution 1903-1919” of 1991 with reference to Manwel Dimech: “Favouring trade unions, castigating servilism, he appealed to the poor not to exchange a loaf for their dignity when approached by some government official: ‘tell those who come to give you a loaf that you are not slaves or beasts, that what you want is not the loaf of charity, but the loaf by the sweat of your brow’.”

Kif firduna lill-Beltin!

September 1, 2023 | Tberfil

Is-sitwazzjoni fil-Belt Valletta hija inkwetanti ħafna. Minn naħa, nosservaw gvern li hu ffissat fuq ir-retorika tar-“riġenerazzjoni tal-Belt Valletta,” filwaqt li min-naħa l-oħra, b’mod sfaċċat qed nassistu għal komunità li bi pressjoni sottili sfat iddiżintegrata.

Lura fl-2012, ħafna minna konna mimlija eċċitament meta l-Belt Valletta ntgħażlet mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea, flimkien ma’ Leeuwarden fl-Olanda, biex tkun il-Kapitali Ewropea tal-Kultura għall-2018. Jien ukoll kont entużjast u għamilt kull sforz biex ningħaqad mal-Fondazzjoni Valletta 2018 biex nikkontribwixxi għat-tiġdid tal-belt għażiża tiegħi. Sfortunatament, aktar tard skoprejna li l-mexxejja wara din il-mewġa ta’ “progress” ma kellhomx ħsieb ġenwin għall-benessri tar-residenti tal-Kapitali.

Minflok, il-Gvern Malti, immexxi minn Partit Laburista li aktar tard kien espost b’ħafna stejjer ta’ korruzzjoni iddettati mill-ġenn tal-profitt monetarju, iffoka biss fuq l-aspetti ekonomiċi ta’ din l-inizjattiva kruċjali, u injora l-impatti soċjali u kulturali sinifikanti, minkejja li dawn kienu dokumentati u enfasizzati sew mit-tim tar- riċerka fl-istess Fondazzjoni Valletta 2018. Filwaqt li l-Gvern ħabbar “impatt ekonomiku totali ta’ aktar minn €325M, investiment totali ġġenerat ta’ €678M fl-ekonomija Maltija, u żieda reġistrata ta’ 2.23% fil-PGD tal-2018,” il-komunità tal-Belt Valletta ffaċċjat ġentrifikazzjoni severa, li rriżultat fl-ispostament ta’ ħafna residenti u rajna tnaqqis evidenti sa ma spiċċajna bi ftit eluf.

Għalkemm ċerti aspetti estetiċi tal-Belt Valletta ġew restawrati għas-sbuħija ta’ qabel, l-element uman ġie traskurat, u dan wassal biex ħafna jitilqu, jaqtgħu r-rabtiet tagħhom u jrabbu apatija estrema lejn il-Belt għażiża. Għaddew għaxar snin, u l-ispirtu u r-ruħ tal-Belt Valletta issa jinstabu fuq it-tarf tal-kollass, bi ftit reżistenza, anke mill-mexxejja kreattivi, atletiċi jew politiċi tagħha. Is-sitwazzjoni tiggrava ruħha hekk kif kulma jmur aktar spazji tal-Beltin qegħdin jiġu mgħoddija lill-privat mingħajr ebda konsultazzjoni diretta mal-komunità u mingħajr ebda studju validu li jara x’impatt ser ikollha l-komunità fuq il-wirt kulturali tagħha.

Kull membru ġenwin tal-komunità tal-Belt Valletta għandu jirrifletti u jagħraf li jekk inkomplu niddependu fuq il-gvern u r-rappreżentanti tiegħu, l-influwenza tagħna tibqa’ suxxettibbli għal pressjonijiet esterni. Il-mexxejja tagħna kkultivaw kultura fejn meta tiddividi lill-komunità tkun tista’ tiddominaha

Il-vuċi tagħna li xi darba kienet indipendenti u r-reputazzjoni Beltija illum jinsabu kompromessi. Hekk ukoll il-belt tagħna. Jien għajjejt bir-retorika diviżiva li tpoġġi lil PL kontra PN, San Pawl kontra San Duminku, residenti kontra negozji, kunsillier lokali kontra ieħor, eċċ. Xbajt minn dawk il-Beltin laqa li joqogħdu lura milli jikkritikaw lill-gvern għax ipprovdilhom impjieg. Hemm bżonn aktar provi dwar kif ġejna manipulati f’dawn il-fazzjonijiet u tilwim bla sens?

Wasal iż-żmien li ningħaqdu u nżommu l-valuri mgħoddija lilna mill-antenati tagħna matul is-snin. Ejja ngħollu leħinna kollettivament u nibqgħu ulied leali u veri tal-Belt Valletta. Jekk għadna Champions!

Dispersing the Valletta community

The situation in Valletta is deeply troubling. On one hand, we observe a government that is fixated on what it believes is the “regeneration of Valletta,” while on the other hand, we witness a community that has been subtly pressured to disintegrate.

Back in 2012, many of us were filled with excitement when Valletta was chosen by the European Commission, along with Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, to be the European Capital of Culture for 2018. I, too, was enthusiastic and made every effort to join the Valletta 2018 Foundation to contribute to the renewal of my beloved city. Unfortunately, we later discovered that the leaders behind this revitalization lacked genuine concern for the well-being of the city’s residents.

Instead, the Maltese Government, led by the Labour Party, which was later exposed as corrupt and driven by profit, focused solely on the economic aspects of this crucial initiative, ignoring the significant social and cultural impacts, despite these being well-documented and highlighted by the research team at the Valletta 2018 Foundation. While the government touted “a total economic impact of over €325M, a total generated investment of €678M in the Maltese economy, and a registered increase of 2.23% in 2018 GDP,” the Valletta community faced severe gentrification, resulting in the displacement of many residents, reducing their numbers to just a few thousand.

Although certain aspects of the city’s appearance were restored to their former beauty, the human element was neglected, causing many to leave and sever their ties with their hometown. A decade has passed, and the core spirit of the city now teeters on the edge of collapse, with little resistance, even from its creative, athletic, or political leaders. The situation deteriorates even further as an increasing number of community spaces are being transferred to private entities, with no direct consultation involving the community and no proper study conducted to assess its potential impact on the cultural heritage of the community.

Every genuine member of the Valletta community should reflect and acknowledge that if we continue to depend on the government and its representatives, our influence will remain susceptible to external pressures. Our leaders have cultivated a culture of division and domination, promoting divisiveness within our community.

Our once-independent voice and our formerly esteemed spirit have now been compromised, as has our city. I am weary of the divisive rhetoric that pits PL against PN, St. Paul against St. Dominic, residents against businesses, one local councilor against another, and so forth. I have had my fill of those who refrain from criticizing the government because it has provided them with public employment. Isn’t it clear that we have been manipulated into these meaningless factions and pointless disputes?

It is time for us to unite and uphold the values passed down to us by our ancestors throughout the years. Let us collectively raise our voices and remain loyal and true children of Valletta. If we’re still champions of our own destiny.