In the Press: Cabinet in the dark over decriminalization proposal | PM to reveal "good news" today

MaltaToday

The issue of drug decriminalization appears to be gaining ground with Maltese citizens, with 33% of respondents to an online poll agreeing with full declassification of cannabis for recreational use.

However the Cabinet is apparently not as enthusiastic, with sources inside the ministries saying that he is not keeping his ministers in the loop and having them find out about new policy moves through the press. Ministers are then faced with the task of explaining the government's decisions when the Cabinet itself was involved in making them.

The Times of Malta

The Times reports on the case of murdered father and son Mario Camilleri Snr and Mario Jnr, and Matthew Zahra. Evidence was heard yesterday from witness Alfredo Attard, who owned the field where the bodies were buried and helped to conceal them. The defence counsel for Jason and George Galea have protested that the witness was only giving evidence now, after recent changes in the criminal code, to the detriment of their client.

In-Nazzjon

This newspaper reports that five years since the elections last March, individuals close to the Labour party will have gotten millions in tax payer funds, through appointments and promotions. This was revealed by PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami in a press conference yesterday. He was accompanied by MEP candidates David Casa and Therese Comodini Cachia.

L-Orizzont

PM Joseph Muscat is set to reveal the "good news" he hinted at in recent days. At the end of a political event in Naxxar, Muscat said that he would soon announce a measure that would benefit Maltese families and local business.

A report on the Christian Brothers abuses in western Australian children's homes shares the front page. Immigrant children were the victims of abuse and torture at the hands of the priests in charge of the homes in the 1960s, including 310 Maltese children. Victims of the abuses have called for justice and compensation for a lost childhood.

The Malta Independent

This newspaper speculates on the PM's "good news", suggesting that an air link between Malta and Chine could be what he was talking about. It suggests that since China came to the aid of Enemalta, it could extend the same assitance to the ailing Air Malta. 

After conservationist Chris Packham returned to the UK, the British press have torn in to Malta following Packham's video series that documents illegal spring hunting. Packham was questionned for hours by the police before his departure from the island. Packham appeared on the BBC breakfast show to talk about his experience, drawing further attention to the issue.