Heard in the Hive

A collective art exhibition entitled Outlining Our Worlds was inaugurated yesterday week by Professor Mario Buhagiar, head of the History of Art Programme at the University of Malta, and Dr Mario Tabone, chairman of Heritage Malta.

The seven participants are Andreana Boldarini, Charlene Vella, Clint Calleja, Joanna Boldarini, Kenneth Cassar, Noel Attard and Romina Delia, six of whom are Art History graduates of the University of Malta. As Professor Buhagiar rightly remarked, art is a major element in their lives, and it is through this passion for art that their paths crossed.

The exhibited works are 40 paintings, ranging from landscapes and plant-life, to nudes and other figurative scenes. Dr Tabone said these paintings are not meant to represent the material world as we are accustomed to seeing it, but they are a reinterpretation of it, one that allows the viewer to reconsider his environment.

This exhibition was sponsored by BOV, Heritage Malta, Vee Gee Bee Art Supplies and Gallery, Valletta, and Galea's Art Studio, Valletta. Outlining Our Worlds is open from Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until March 2 at Heritage Malta's head office, Old University Buildings, Merchants Street, Valletta.

Places + Spaces at Manoel

A joint exhibition of watercolours called Places + Spaces held by two architecture students, Mark Muscat and Steve Micallef, was recently inaugurated at the Manoel Theatre courtyard by Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, in the presence of an appreciative gathering.

In a brief address, the minister praised the two young artists for their elegant and expressive interpretations of various Maltese subjects, ranging from Valletta and its surroundings to towns and villages in Malta and Gozo.

Planet Walk at St Paul's Bay

Astro-Club Malta is a group of young people with a love and enthusiasm for science. The members of the group have been working to set up Planet Walk in Malta for the last two years.

The group works on a voluntary basis and therefore needed sponsors to be able to work on such a prestigious and unique project for Malta. The project has been set up with the support of the European Community. Another main sponsor was St Paul's Bay council. Other sponsors included Valletta Fund Management, Mrs J. Stubbs, the Malta Tourism Authority, Go Mobile and General Soft Drinks Co. Ltd.

On January 19, Astro-Club Malta held the opening ceremony of Planet Walk near Ta' Fra Ben Restaurant & Lounge Bar, St Paul's Bay. Members of the club, as well as guests braved the windy conditions and gathered at the place where the largest monument - that of the Sun - has been erected.

The short ceremony was introduced by a member of Astro Club, who outlined the aims of the youth group in setting up Planet Walk, and also described it as a walk along the solar system. The walk starts at the monument of the Sun and continues on to eight other smaller monuments each representing a planet.

The size of each planet is in relation to the size of the Sun and the distance between each monument is also related to the actual distance between the planets. Information about each planet is contained on a plaque on each monument. Some of the information is also written in braille.

The deputy mayor of St Paul's Bay, Chevalier John Bray, praised the project, saying the council gave its full support to Planet Walk from the very beginning and augured that it will prove useful to both young and old.

Communications Minister Censu Galea also delivered his address and expressed his hope that the walk would be enjoyed by all those who visited it. He then inaugurated the walk by taking a short stroll to visit some of the monuments.

King's Own host Maltese bishop of Albania

Last Wednesday, the president and committee of the Philharmonic Society and the King's Own Band Club hosted a reception in honour of Mgr George Frendo, bishop of Tirana/Durres, Albania. The reception was held in the main hall of the club's premises in Republic Street, Valletta. A pastoral cross and chain, manufactured by Sterling Jewellers, was presented by the club to the bishop.

Mgr Frendo, a Maltese Dominican priest, was in Malta on the occasion of the consecration of Mgr Paul Cremona as the new archbishop.

The King's Own has a long history dating, to 1874, but this year the club is celebrating a unique occasion since in a space of a few months two Maltese Dominicans have been consecrated bishop and archbishop. Since its foundation, the club has always had close ties to the Dominican order.

On Friday, members of the club were also hosted to high tea at the club's premises. During this event the ceremony of the episcopal consecration of Mgr Cremona was shown on a big screen.

Members could also watch the procession through Republic Street from the club's balconies. The King's Own Band also took part in the procession and was privileged to welcome Mgr Cremona at the doors of the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo, the Dominican church in Valletta, from where the procession started.

US ambassador hosts reception in honour of refugees

Thirty refugees, who until last week were living in Malta and who have been accepted by the US government for resettlement in the United States, were the guests of honour at a reception hosted by US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro and Mr Matt Bordonaro at their residence in Attard.

The refugees are from Eritrea and Somalia and will be joining their relatives in various US cities to start a new life. They all expressed appreciation for the hospitality and the assistance they received from the various local entities who took care of them, as well as their numerous Maltese friends. All were enthusiastic about the opportunity they have been given by the US government.

The US government takes 70,000 refugees from around the world every year. Ambassador Bordonaro said: "We decided to take a few refugees from Malta after the government asked us to help with the unique situation that the country is facing given its small size and the recent influx of migrants."

She wished the refugees the best of luck in their new homeland.

Dinner dance in aid of Malta Dementia Society

On New Year's Eve, Francis and Anne Cuschieri organised a dinner dance at the Pavilion, Westin Dragonara Hotel, St. Julian's, for 200 people. Amid delicious food, great music and atmosphere, a collection was made in aid of the Malta Dementia Society and the sum of Lm300 was collected.

The Malta Dementia Society was established in September 2004 on the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day. The society is a non-governmental organisation intended primarily for people with dementia and their care-givers, families and friends but which also brings together healthcare professionals wanting to learn more about the various aspects of dementia and its care.

Since the main aims and objectives of the society are to raise awareness on dementia, an illness characterised by severe cognitive decline, the society organises various activities including public lectures, video presentations and seminars for health care professionals. The society is also an active member of Alzheimer Disease International and Alzheimer Europe.

For more information visit www.maltadementiasociety.org.mt or send an e-mail to info@maltadementiasociety.org.mt. The contact address is Room 135, Department of Pharmacy, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 06.

Young singer launches CD

The Malta Academy of Performing Arts recently launched a new CD single recorded in a London studio by one of its students, 13-year-old Micaela Attard. The launch took place during an event organised by the academy at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort.

Last April, Micaela won a competition organised by the academy after auditioning before three vocal coaches of Pop Idol fame - John Modi, CeCe Sammy and Joshua Alamu. Micaela won a trip to London where she recorded the single Heart Still Feels the Same.

In September, Micaela represent Malta as a guest in the World Song Contest in Johannesburg, South Africa. She took part in three shows, where she received a lot of feedback.

Micaela, of Qormi, spends most of her free time playing the piano, acting and singing. In fact, she took part in many local festivals.

At the age of 10, she took part in the musical Giorgius, and later in We Will Rock You as Galileo Figaro, in the musical Les Miserables as Jean Valjean, and recently in the musical Sebastjan as Lucia.

She also performed in a concert by Mro Brian Cefai at St James Cavalier, and with an orchestra during Jum Hal-Qormi, where she was awarded the Gharfien il-Hila prize. She also took part in a festival in Naples, and was the special guest of the international festival Verdinote. In October, she won first prize in the festival L-Ghaqda il-Melodija with the song Tinstema' l-Karba, composed by Francesco Rizzo with lyrics by Chris Azzopardi.

Revlon competition winners

The winners of the Revlon competition carried in The Sunday Times in November were:

Sandra Sharples of Birkirkara, Tania Baldacchino of Attard, Karen Gauci of Mosta, Angela Cassar of Attard, Pamela Wingfield of Dingli, Maria Bezzina of Marsascala, Dorianne Gauci Hili of Birkirkara, Lara Abela of Guardamangia, Maria Atanasio of Ghaxaq, Angele Sammut of Mosta, Sandra Vella of Marsa, Colette Spiteri Cremona of Qawra, Silvia Grech of Attard, Marieta Fenech of Birkirkara, Cherise Cuschieri of L-Iklin, Monica Camilleri of Zurrieq, Agnes Bezzina of Gharghur;

Angele Micallef of Qawra, R. Attard of St Paul's Bay, Maria Grima of Ghajnsielem, Antoinette Bartolo of San Gwann, Josephine Tonna of St Julian's, Joanne Pisani of Birkikara, Anna Guiga of Birzebbuga, Doreen Magri of Attard, Fiona Busuttil of Safi, Sandra Ann Caruana of Qormi, Jennifer Camilleri of Swieqi, Maria Borg of St Julian's, and Carmen Pisani of Gzira.

The winners each won a Revlon mini nail gift set.

Appreciation - Judge Victor Borg-Costanzi

Dr Sandro Schembri-Adami, LL.D., LL.M., Ph.D., writes:

The learned Judge, Professor Victor Borg-Costanzi, departed peacefully to the Good Lord. I am left with the unforgettable "consultation" meetings I used to have with him from time to time.

The fact that we (criminal law students) had him lecturing us on Mondays at 8 a.m. sharp might have rendered him less popular. However, knowing him more closely after my University years was something I enjoyed and appreciated, and today relish.

When I first got elected to Parliament in 1992 as the youngest MP of that legislature, I was asked to serve as spokesman on Justice. I was only 28 then and inexperienced but I had to dance to the tune. I wanted to do a good job. Shadowing the late Justice Minister Dr Joseph Fenech was no easy task.

So, in these circumstances, I had asked Mr Justice Victor Borg-Costanzi for his guidance and assistance. He promised to meet every now and again at the Casino Maltese. And so we did. He would insist on being frank and specific and would listen attentively to all I had to say, and then react accordingly.

When it came to discussing amendments to the Criminal Code, his assistance was so remarkable that I often felt as though it was an extension of his university lectures. He would ably put everything under discussion in proper perpective redrafting a particular section of the law to be all-embracing.

He argued that every law should be not only effective, rational and just but also complete, thus avoiding lacunae as much as possible.

The largest piece of cake on his plate was when I humbly asked him to guide me in connection with the then far-reaching amendments to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure.

He confessed to me that he was more attuned to discussing Criminal Law and its related issues. Nevertheless he took pains in getting me organised to the best of his ability, to contribute intelligently, without political passion, the legal proposals presented to Parliment.

Professor Borg-Costanzi widely believed, and very correctly so, that legal theory did not always march alongside political reality, thus, here, he always advised that one had to be cautious and prudent.

Moreover, according to him, any changes to legislation must inevitably be carried out, without stultifying the edifice of rules or institutes, long established and culturally embedded in our society.

He would argue in favour of delivering judgments within a reasonable time. However, in his opinion, more important is delivering good judgments. He cautioned against measures being proposed to deliver judgments speedily at the expense of justice itself.

Futhermore, he was very explict when it came to law interpretation, arguing that an interpretation was always to be given, "at all times", and so, no judge should ever refuse delivering judgment on the grounds of absence or obcurity of law provisions.

I had asked him whether he was advocating the provision in the French Code - that a judge refusing to deliver judgment on the pretext of silence, obscurity or law insufficiency, had then to be held responsible for "denegata justitia".

He anwered me putting it differently: he referred me to the Swiss Civil Code which states that in the absence of a legal provision or of custom, a judge must deliver judgment in accordance with the rules he would have established had he been the legislator.

When asking him to what extent, if at all, should the judiciary refrain from exercising "quasi-legislative" functions, he argued that the system of checks and balances between the three main state organs is there to remain; the independence of the judiciary here being of paramount importance.

Furthermore, to my difficulty as to whether he believed the President or the Judiciary, or both, as being the guardians of the Constitution, he argued that, constitutionally, the President certainly is. However, he said that judges, in enforcing and interpreting the Constitution, should serve as the Constitution's 'watchdogs'.

With Professor Borg-Costanzi one could discuss a wide spectrum of legal issues. His outstanding knowledge and his lucid understanding of legal theory was unparallelled.

I kept asking him what sense does our Constitution make in precluding a judge or a former judge from ever making it to Presidency of the Republic when the same Constitution ordains that when the President is unable to perform his functions, the Chief Justice, if no one else is appointed, automatically becomes Acting President.

Mr Justice Borg-Costanzi seemed to have the answer to every question but refrained from giving me one to this one. To test his patience further, I once remarked that he would have been one of the most eligible to become President. To this comment of mine, he smiled, accepting my appreciation for his outstanding personality.

I will remember Mr Justice Borg- Costanzi with esteem and deep respect. I will keep the silver frame he gave me as a gift for my graduation on a side table in my study.

Appreciation - Maurice DeMarco

Ms Lorraine Sammut, of Attard, writes:

My earliest memories of Uncle Maurice are as a child, when he used to take me to the Manoel Theatre to see the Mini Musicals. As an employee of the Education Department, he used to help organise the event with a dedication that was typical of everything he undertook. It was only as the years passed that I began to appreciate his flair for organisation and his mastery of anything manual - a talent he generously shared with everyone he came in contact with - whether whoever needed his help was family or merely a nodding acquaintance.

In later years, he was instrumental in the construction of our house, where he spent countless days among the rubble, installing water, electricity - whatever happened to be going on at the time, he was always at hand.

Inimitable smile in place, he joked and laughed even when problems seemed insurmountable.

On his semi-retirement, a few years ago, he dedicated his time to the family he loved so well, especially to his granddaughters, whom he adored. The feeling was mutual; Anne Marie and Martina loved him with a passion children reserve for the lucky few who have the gift to treat them as their equals. Uncle Maurice was such a one.

A devoted husband and father, loyal brother and son, with him one could share the problems life frequently deals us. He was always ready to listen and frequently offered help as well as solutions.

He was a man who inspired respect, as witnessed by all those who flocked to his bedside and to his funeral when the news of his sudden illness shocked us all.

To Aunt Marion, Denise, Andrew and Arthur - sincere condolences, it is indeed a terrible wrench when those we love so well are taken from us. Rest assured he is now in a far better world than ours.

Uncle Maurice meant so much to all of us. We thank him for having enriched our life with his presence. May he rest in peace with Him who played such an important part in his life.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - January 29-February 4

Tomorrow
6.30 p.m. The President presides over a meeting of the Commission for the Administration of Justice at the Palace, Valletta.

Thursday
9.30 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace, Valletta. Noon The President and Mrs Fenech Adami are hosted to lunch by the Capuchin community at the Xemxija priory.
7.30 p.m. The President, accompanied by Mrs Fenech Adami, presides over the presentation ceremony of the Gold Medal Award 2006 of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, at Palazzo de La Salle, Valletta.

Friday
10 a.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides over an MCCF working committee meeting at the Palace, Valletta.

Sunday
6 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend concelebrated Mass on the installation of Fr Lino Azzopardi as the new parish priest of St Mary's parish, Birkirkara.
8 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception organised by the La Vallette Band Club on the occasion of the feast of St Paul, at the band club in Valletta.

For your diary

The Malta Historical Society's series of lectures, "Rediscovering Valletta", continues tomorrow, when Dr Claude Busuttil will talk about "The Streetscape of Valletta" at the Auberge d'Aragon at 6 p.m. The lecture will be in English.

Ward u Zghar is organising a get-together at the Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. For more information phone 9947-2868.

A card party in aid of the little sisters of the poor is being held in the Skyroom of the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on February 7, from 10 a.m. For bookings call Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.

New Faces 2007 - call for applications

New Faces 2007, organised by Gallery G, is in its third year. Following the great success of the past years, this year's exhibition promises to build on Gallery G's existing track record and experience.

This year's New Faces will take the form of a competition, with only one entry requirement - the candidate must have never participated in an exhibition.

New artists-to-be are given the chance to participate in a prestigious exhibition. This would be the preliminary step in a journey that every successful artist must embark on. Art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to acquire an artwork that they find attractive and promising, while supporting the artist of their choice.

Interested persons are to collect the applications from Gallery G and to provide a handwritten CV together with a portfolio of five to 10 works, a selection of sketches and other academic works which will be presented to the panel of judges for short-listing. Applica-tions are to be handed in by Friday.

Gallery G is at No 4, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija and is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information call 2142-1984/5 or send an e-mail to grimand@medzone.com.mt.