Lulju - Settembru 2011 1

Il-Kittieb FRANS SAMMUT

(1945-2011)

Apprezzament minn E. F. Attard

Nhar l-4 tax-xahar l-ie˙or (Mejju) smajna fuq il-midja lokali – bl-akbar dispjaçir, aktar u aktar g˙ax ma konniex nistennewha – bil-mewt ta’ ˙abib (u kollega f’kemm –il qasam), tal-mag˙ruf Kittieb u studjuΩ FRANS SAMMUT.

Din mewtu ˙asditna lkoll g˙ax, kif g˙edt ma stennejnihiex – g˙ax ta’ 65 sena, g˙alkemm anzjan b˙alna kien g˙adu, niftakruh tal-anqas, fl-a˙jar tieg˙u u f’sikktu sew! Lanqas stajt tg˙idulu 'anzjan', min minna lkoll jifhem id-differenza, irrid ng˙id. Imma l-Mulej hekk g˙o©bu – sejja˙lu meta kien g˙adu biex ng˙id hekk, “fl-a˙jar ta’ r©ulitu’’! Il-Mulej jag˙tih il-mistrie˙ ta’ dejjem u jsabbar lil martu u liΩ-Ωew© uliedu – lilhom ilkoll il-kondoljanzi tieg˙i personali, u tag˙na l-anzjani qarrejja tar-rivista tag˙na lkoll kemm a˙na!

Frans kien tabil˙aqq kittieb mill-aqwa ta’ Ωmienna, rumanzier u studjuΩ li g˙amel ©ie˙ lilu nnifsu, lil familtu, u b’mod l-aktar speçjali lil-letteratura Maltija. Mhux lanqas lil ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© tieg˙u (u tieg˙i wkoll li qed niktiblu dan l-apprezzament xieraq). Fil-fatt jiena nsostni li b’mewtu bla mistennija, ˙alla vojt mill-akbar – wie˙ed ta’ ©ie˙ kbir tassew mhux biss lil-letteratura Maltija, imma wkoll lil ÓaΩ-Ûebbu©, ra˙al twelidu: ra˙al (a˙jar g˙edt “belt – wara kollox Belt Rohan!), li hu tant kien i˙obb, tant imkabbar bih – kif a˙na Ω-Ûebbu©in kollha, ejja ng˙iduha wkoll! – u bit-tant nies kbar li ˙ar©u minnu, g˙eΩieΩ qarrejja.

Frans Sammut nistg˙u minnu issa ng˙odduh ie˙or mag˙hom. Irrid niskuΩa dak il-ftit mal-qarrejja kollha ta’ ‘L-Anzjan Illum’ – jekk forsi qed nin˙ass li qed nifta˙ar b’ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© tag˙na: biss il-fatt jibqg˙u fatti! - ma jista’ jmerihom ˙add, g˙alkemm insibu r˙ula u bliet o˙ra Maltin u G˙awdxin li, tabil˙aqq g˙andhom g˙ax jitkabbru (u jifta˙ru wkoll, g˙aliex le?) b’dawk uliedhom kbar li ˙ar©u minnhom u g˙amlulhom, u jag˙mlulhom sal-lum unur kbir ˙afna! Frans Sammut g˙amel unur kbir ukoll lill-anzjani kollha!

Frans Sammut ˙alliena – imma ismu u kitbietu numeruΩi

Ωgur li ma jintnesewx! Óassejt it-telfa tieg˙u u nibqg˙u nimmissjawh, jien, kull min kien jafu jew qara xog˙lijietu, iΩ-Ûebbu©in kollha (bla xejn eççezzjoni), il-letterati kollha tag˙na, u ma ng˙idu xejn g˙al familtu u qrabatu u ˙bieb kollha.

Lil Frans ma nistg˙u qatt ninsewh, g˙ax kif jing˙ad sew mill-g˙orrief ta’ kull Ωmien u minn kull ©ens: il-kittieba, l-awturi, il-poeti, u n-nies ta’ kull arti o˙ra (skulturi, pitturi, ng˙idu a˙na) ilkoll kemm huma ddestinati b˙al kul˙add, li jmutu u j˙allu “g˙al dejjem’’ dil-pjaneta, imma kitbiethom, l-opri tag˙hom jibqg˙u g˙al dejjem! Sakemm tal-anqas tibqa’ ddur fuq il-famuΩ fus tag˙ha u tibqa’ teΩisti!

B’Bu©a – 1/6/11

Nru. 63 Lulju - Settembru 2011

NEWSPAPER POST

L-ANZJANILLUM

KUNSILLNAZZJONALITAL-ANZJANI

2 L-Anzjan Illum

o

Ittri lill-Editur

L-Anzjani vs Il-Kriminalita’

Sur Editur,Prosit lilek g˙all-editorjal tieg˙ek fl-a˙˙ar

˙ar©a ta’ “L-Anzjan Illum’’, Nr. 62, intitolat “Il-Kriminali vs l-Anzjani’’. Bla ebda dubbju ta’ xejn dan jibqa’ su©©ett topiku tul iΩ-Ωminijiet kollha l-g˙aliex kemm-il kriminalita’ kif ukoll dawk li jipprattikawha ser jibqg˙u mag˙na. Huwa bis-sa˙˙a tal-membri tal-Korp tal-Pulizija, tal-Forzi Armati ( e.Ω. “road blocks’’ u dak li jirriΩulta minnhom), u t-taqsima tad-Dwana kontra d-drogi b’˙idma fil-Port il-Kbir u fl-Ajruport Internazzjonali (e.Ω. il-qbid sostanzjali tad-droga u ˙wejje© o˙ra), li a˙na ç-çittadini ni©u prottetti minn xi fla©ell li jista’ jkun ferm akbar minn dak li g˙addejjin minnu.

IΩda je˙tie© li a˙na l-anzjani ng˙inu f’din il-©lieda kontinwa kontra l-kriminalita’ billi nag˙tu sehemna. Dan ma jinvolvix ˙wejje© straordinarji min-na˙a tag˙na. Xejn affattu! Hawn jid˙ol is-sens ta’ prevenzjoni li na˙seb kul˙add fadallu dak id-daqxejn ta’ sens komun.

Nag˙ti ftit eΩempji:-a) Óabbat il-bieb ta’ barra. Inti taqbad

u tiftah bl-addoçç jew issaqsi min hemm u tikkonferma mija fil-mija li min qieg˙ed wara

l-bieb tafu? Jekk ma tafux tifta˙x! Tista’titlobu n-numru tat-telefon ta’ min bag˙tu u ççempel u tivverifika. Jekk tibqa’ bla sodisfazzjon – TIFTAHX!

b) Qed tirçievi telefonati f’˙inijiet li inti ssoltu tmur il-quddies jew tattendi xi funzjoni pubblika ta’spiss? Uri s-suspetti tieg˙ek lil xi ˙add awtorevoli b’dan u Ωomm rekord ta’ kull telefonata – ©urnata u ˙in. Anke jekk in-na˙a l-o˙ra tig˙dlek: “Sorry, wrong number!’’

c) Qed tg˙ix wa˙dek u iere©? Qabel to˙ro© avΩa lil xi ˙add li tafda billi tinforma lil din il-persuna fejn sejjer u x’˙in bi˙siebek tkun lura d-dar u ser iççemplilha lura malli tasal id-dar.

d) G˙andek bΩonn ta’ xi servizz ©ewwa darek? G˙id lill-inkarigat, wara li te˙odlu ismu, biex içempillek qabel ma jibg˙at il-lavranti d-dar u jtik isimhom u x’˙in ©ejjin.

U fl-a˙˙ar iΩda dan ji©i qabel dan kollu li g˙idt:

e) Ma g˙andekx g˙alfejn iΩΩomm somom kbar ta’flus la fuqek u lanqas f’darek. Ûomm biΩΩejjed kemm tiddobba. L-istess jg˙odd g˙ad-dehbijiet u ˙a©ar prezzjuΩ.

Filwaqt li nittama li tie˙du l-prekawzjonijiet kollha me˙tie©a nixtiqilkom is-sa˙˙a.

Anthony J. Saliba – L-Ibragg 15.03.2011

Pass ta’ minn ifa˙˙ru

Sur Editur,Niftakar kont g˙adni daqxejn ta’ xbejba

meta mal-©enituri tieg˙i kont ng˙addi ta’ spiss mill-Blata l-Bajda.

Kont allura nara roqg˙a art Ωdingata, ftit ©ebel imxerred ‘l hawn u ‘l hinn, b’xi si©ra nofsha mejta. Dehra tbikkik! Meta saqsejt qaluli li darba kien hemm çimiterju. Din il-biçça art kienet qed tkerrah wisq l-in˙awi, ˙afna kienu jistkerrhu jg˙addu fuq il-bankina tal-qrib meta jibda jroxx id-dlam.

Aktar tard, is-Soçjeta’ tal MUSEUM bnew kappella l-©miel tag˙ha. Din il-binja imponenti tant bidlet id-dehra kollha tal-in˙awi u sebb˙ithom mil-lejl g˙an-nhar. Fuq il-koppla

tqieg˙det statwa sabi˙a tas-Salvatur.Óadt tassew pjaçir meta dan l-a˙˙ar

g˙addejt tard filg˙axija bil-karozza u rajt l-istatwa mixg˙ula. Ma nafx g˙aliex kienu Ωammewha g˙al tant Ωmien bla mixg˙ula kif insibuha llum.

Prosit tassew lil tal-MUSEUM li ˙adu l-inizjattiva li sar dan. Dak id-dawl sebba˙ u ta ˙ajja ©dida lil dik il-kappella, li donnha tinkuruna l-ambjent kollu! Hekk tabil˙aqq kien jixraqlu l-Mulej tag˙na – dak Ìesu’ li tal-MuΩew i˙obbu jsej˙ulu ‘Dak ta’ Le˙nu l-Ma˙bub’!

Ms. Doris DeBono – Zabbar 16.05.2011

Lulju - Settembru 2011 3

Issa anke iç-çimiterji ! Anton Cremona

Fl-a˙˙ar ˙ar©a tal-perjodiku ktibt dwar il-kriminalita vs l-anzjani. Illum il-kitba tieg˙i se tkun il-kriminalita’ vs l-g˙eΩieΩ tag˙na li qeg˙din jistrie˙u fil-paçi. Possibbli dawn in-nies g˙andhom din il-kuxjenza li ma j˙allux il-qraba tag˙na jistrie˙u fil-paçi? Hawn dawn il-ftit nies li din id-darba g˙andhom mhux biss kilba g˙ad-drogi imma kilba g˙all-flus u biex jaqilg˙u ftit tal-flus ikissru l-oqbra. Mhux biss jisirqu ir-ramm, imma l-˙sara li qeg˙din jag˙mlu fl-oqbra tag˙na, li a˙na tant batejna sabiex ikollna post ˙alli anke wara mewtna nkunu nistg˙u nistrie˙u fil-paçi mi©bura flimkien mal-familja tag˙na.

Dan is-serq ma na˙sibx li qieg˙ed issir mad-dalma tal-lejl, imma bejn xi ˙in min x’˙in jisba˙ sa ma jidlam, sabiex ikunu Ωguri li jmorru mill-ewwel fuq dak il-qabar li g˙andu ir-ram. Allura dawn ˙add ma jarahom? Ma jisimg˙ux ˙sejjes? G˙ax biex isir dan ix-xog˙ol bilfors iridu jsiru xi sejjes. Anke hawn se noqog˙du nag˙mlu g˙assa mal-oqbra tag˙na jew ninstallaw il-‘cameras’ biex dak li jkun jninqabad? Min ja˙dem hemm qatt ma jinnota xi ˙a©a li mhux tas-soltu? Bilfors il-familjari jridu jkunu biex jindunaw x’©ara? Dan mhux çimiterju wie˙ed imma sa fejn naf jien tliet çimiterji, tal Óal-Safi, il-Gudja u tal-Addolorata.

Jekk isir sforz kollettiv hemm iç-çans li jinqabad xi ˙add. Per eΩempju Ωgur li xi ˙add jaf min jesporta ir-ram. Qatt saret xi spezzjoni lil dawn dawn in-nies? Jien naf li l-pulizija tag˙mel xog˙olha sew, imma hemm bΩonn li jsir sforz akbar biex jista’ jkun hemm suççess li jinqabad xi ˙add.

Ìewwa dawn iç-Çimiterji mhux serq biss sar, imma anke vandaliΩmu u dan nikkundanah bil-qawwa kollha! Jekk ikunu jridu jag˙mlu xi vendikazzjoni jsibu lill-˙ajjin mhux il-mejtin tag˙na. Dawn x’ja˙tu!

Óa©a wa˙da nixtieq – li waqt qed ikunu jsiru dawn l-atti, nitlob li xi ˙add iqum minn qieg˙ il-qabar u ji©bdu u jda˙˙lu ˙dejh imqar g˙al kwarta forsi dan iservih ta’ lezzjoni g˙al g˙omru.

‘L-ANZJAN ILLUM’ huwa le˙en il-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Anzjani li jo˙ro© bla ˙las kull tliet xhur biex iΩomm lill-Anzjani kollha infurmati b’dak li qed ji©ri dwarhom u g˙alihom, u biex jaqsam mag˙hom il-veduti, ideat u su©©erimenti tag˙hom.

IL-BORD EDITORJALI

Editur: Anton Cremona

Membri:Saviour AttardPaul Muscat Terribile

Proof Reader:Emmanwel F. Attard

Typing u Distribuzzjoni:Marica Attard-Cassar

IL-KUNSILL

President: Carmel Mallia

Viçi President: Helen Borg Bonnici

Segretarja: Rose Sammut

TeΩorier: Lino Mizzi

Segretarju Internazzjonali:Moses Azzopardi

Uff. Relazzjonijiet Pubbliçi:Anton Cremona

Ass. Segretarju:Aldo Portelli

Membri:Saviour AttardMoses AzzopardiDoris CassarNicholas FarrugiaDr. Messina-Ferrante HerbertMary Anne MizziPaul Muscat Terribile Anthony Mulè Stagno (Co-Opted)Salvu Borg (Co-Opted)

FTUÓ TAL-UFFIÇÇJUMit-Tnejn sal-Ìimg˙a

0900-1200

INDIRIZZ POSTALI‘L-Anzjan Illum’,

Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Anzjani,35, Triq il-Kapuççini,Floriana FRN1052.

Tel: 21243860 Fax: 21249098e-mail: kna@onvol.net

Issettjat u Stampat – Veritas Press, Ûabbar

KUNSILLNAZZJONALITAL-ANZJANI

EDITORJAL

4 L-Anzjan Illum

IR-RIFLESSJONIJIET TA’ TEOFILU“AL BUON INTENDITOR POCHE PAROL…’’

(Qawl poplari Taljan)

Isibni qarrej anzjan ˙abib tieg˙i, eks – skrivan g˙oli sew taç-Çivil, li g˙arrafni kemm jog˙©bu l-perjodiku dan tag˙na tal-anzjani. I˙obb il-varjeta’ li fih, u fost artikli o˙ra qalli li ta’ sikwit ifittex il-pa©na ta’ “Teofilu’’ ˙alli jara biex sejjer jo˙ro© kull darba – jissuspetta li hu xi saçerdot. Billi jaf li jiena inkarigat mill-Malti tieg˙u (sa ©ieli beΩbiΩli widnejja g˙ax in˙alli – jew jaqbΩuli xi g˙elijiet fil-perjodiku), g˙amilli premura nara nistax ng˙addi lid-Direzzjoni tieg˙u, talba sabi˙a li kien kitibha fi Ωmienu l-Qaddis u G˙aref Kbir IngliΩ, St. Thomas More (1478-1535). Sa insista mieg˙i nag˙millu pjaçir ninkludilu wkoll il-qawl mag˙ruf Taljan li jidher hawn fuq. Qalli li llum huma ˙afna l-anzjani li jifhmu bit-Taljan.Fittixt li naqdih lil dan abibi, peress li t-talba kkonçernata hija wa˙da mill-isba˙, ftit li xejn mag˙rufa minna lkoll. Barra minn dan, San Tumas More barra qaddis u martri kbir IngliΩ kien ukoll persuna©© xejn anqas kbir fl-Ingilterra tas-Seklu Sittax. Persuna©© mill-kbar nett ukoll g˙ax kien g˙aref, awtur u statista mill-ewlienin – serv stmat, fidil u fdat tar-Re Enriku VIII (qabel kisruha bl-ikrah!), li fada fidejh poΩizzjonijiet mill-aktar importanti tal-pajjiΩ. Staj˙luh li kien g˙amel Ωmien meta kien sa˙ansitra g˙amla ta’ “Prim Ministru’’ tal-Ingilterra. Xejn anqas! Barra minn dan, kien stmat u rrispettat ˙afna ˙afna wkoll xejn u xejn anqas mill-aqwa rjus g˙orrief, rejiet u statisti Ewropej. Kittieb kbir li baqa’ jissemma g˙all-opra letterarja çelebri tieg˙u, l-‘Utopja’. Fil-ktieb VoluminuΩ, ‘Biographical Dictionary’ (edizzjoni, ‘Chambers’ tal-1990) – ma˙ru© minn Sir Magnus Magnusson, K.B.E., ikkompilat minn aktar minn 80 kontributur, ilkoll esperti fl-oqsma tag˙hom, u li jinkludi mal-20,000 profil ta’nies famuΩi ta’ kull Ωmien ( fosthom 3 Maltin) – insibu fih dan il-kumment ukoll dwar San Tumas More, minn kittieb eminenti b˙ala wkoll tal-Istorja: : Ci rajjet ir-Re Rikkardu III (1513) – u dan ix-xog˙ol kbir tieg˙u tal-bidu g˙all-kitba moderna tal-Istorja b’mod mill-aktar serju u distinti!“Bniedem mig˙ni b’dawk id-doti u doni kollha, kien ukoll bniedem reli©juΩ, devot, Kattoliku Veru – wie˙ed ta’ stoffa, konvint! Martri distinti li ˙alla u warrab kollox, poΩizzjoni, g˙ana, unuri, sa lil familtu, u lil ˙ajtu stess! Alla u l-li©ijiet Tieg˙u g˙al Tumas More kienu ji©u l-ewwel u qabel kollox u fuq kul˙add!

INGLIÛ EÇÇEZZJONALI TASSEW!

TALBA TA’ SAN TUMAS MORE (1478-1535)(Hekk, kif ©ej, kien i˙obb jitlob dal-Qaddis Kbir)

Twajjeb Mulej, ag˙tini l-grazzjali d-dinja ma nistmaha xejn;•li ning˙aqad s˙i˙ Mieg˙ek;•li nibki dnubieti l-img˙oddija biex •nissaffa minnhom;li nsofri bis-sabar is-slaleb tal-˙ajja;•li nissaporti l-purgatorju tieg˙i •hawnhekk;li nkun ferrie˙i fis-slaleb;•li nimxi fit-triq id-dejqa li twassalni g˙all-•˙ajja ta’ dejjem;li n©orr is-salib ma’ Kristu;•li nΩomm il-mewt dejjem quddiem •g˙ajnejja;li nipprevedi u nemmen li hemm in-nar •etern tal-infern;li nitlob ma˙fra g˙alija nnifsi, qabel ma •ji©i g˙alija l-Im˙allef Divin;

li n©arrab fija l-Passjoni li Ìesu’ bata •g˙alija;li niΩΩik ˙ajr il-˙in kollu g˙all-grazzji li •tajtni;li ner©à nirkupra Ω-Ωmien li tlift;•li nistma l-akbar g˙eddewwa tieg˙i •b˙ala l-akbar ˙bieb tieg˙i.

Tabil˙aqq ma ˙alla XEJN BARRA dan il-Kbir Qaddis, Martri ta’ Kristu!

* Itlob g˙alina u g˙al Malta tag˙na f’din is-sieg˙a, oh Mqaddes Tumas!

(Mill-Ktieb ‘Ismag˙na Nitolbuk Mulej’)

Óajr lill-‘Gioventu’ Cattolica – Valletta 2001.

Lulju - Settembru 2011 5

Id-Dinja li fiha qeg˙din ng˙ixu llum hija mheΩΩha minn diversi kriΩijiet. IΩda Ωgur li jkollna nammettu li wa˙da mill-aktar kriΩijiet perikuluΩi hija dik tat-telfien tas-sens tal-˙ajja. Óafna huma dawk li qeg˙din jitilfu s-sens veru tal-˙ajja u g˙alhekk jippruvaw jinfexxu fil-konsumiΩmu bla raΩan, fid-droga, fl-alko˙oliΩmu, fis-sess u ˙wejje© o˙ra.

Illum ˙afna huma dawk li mhuma qeg˙din isibu l-ebda sens fil-˙ajja u ebda skop g˙alfejn jg˙ixu. U jekk wie˙ed i˙ares lejn il-˙ajja bin-nuççali materjalista, ikollu ra©un li fil-˙ajja ma jara ebda sens.

Kellu ra©un il-mibki Papa Ìwanni Pawlu II meta darba f’diskors li kien g˙amel liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ kien qalilhom li forsi drama fundamentali tal-bniedem tal-lum hi li ma j˙ossx is-sens tal-eΩistenza tieg˙u, ma jafx g˙alfejn qed jg˙ix u qieg˙ed jg˙ix ming˙ajr sens.

Kienet tassew tra©ika l-istorja ta’ tliet Ωg˙aΩag˙ mill-Alto Adige, fl-Italja, Kurt Roland u Günther, li g˙axar snin ilu allew il-gass tal-karozza tag˙hom miftu˙ apposta, ing˙alqu fiha u g˙amlu suwiçidju. Il-karozza saret it-tebut tag˙hom!

Meta l-pulizija fet˙u l-karozza, flimkien mal-i©sma mejta tat-tliet Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabu biljett bil-kliem: “Issa, ˙lisna mit-toqol tal-˙ajja.’’

Illum nafu biΩΩejjed kemm qieg˙ed jiΩdied madwarna, anki f’pajjiΩna, l-g˙add ta’ dak li jwettqu suwiçidju g˙ax ikunu xebg˙u mill-˙ajja.

Kif jista’ wie˙ed isib sens fil-˙ajja jekk jemmen dak li jridu jbellg˙ulna ˙afna g˙orrief moderni - li l-bniedem mhux ˙lief atomu mitluf fl-univers li la jaf minn fejn ©ej, le jaf g˙alfejn qieg˙ed hawn u anqas fejn sejjer?

X’sens g˙alhekk fiha l-˙ajja g˙al dak li d-destin tal-bniedem mhux ˙lief li jg˙ix biex jiekol u jiekol biex jg˙ix? X’sens fiha l-˙ajja meta kollox jg˙addi u jintemm b˙allikieku xejn? X’sens fiha t-tbatija u t-toqol kollu li ©©ib mag˙ha?

IS-SENS RELIÌJUÛ TAL-ÓAJJA

Kan. John Ciarlo’

Kellu ra©un il-kittieb mag˙ruf Russu Leo Tolstoy jistqarr li qabel ma kkonverta, meta kien ja˙seb fuq vojt tal-˙ajja, kien i˙oss tant dwejjaq li fil-kamra fejn kien jorqod ma kien i˙alli l-ebda biçça ˙abel li ma jmurx matul il-lejl ifettillu jqum u jitg˙allaq bih.

IΩda hu stess jistqarr li meta g˙araf lil Alla, allura l-˙ajja beda j˙ares lejha

b’mod differenti. Il-˙sieb li hemm Alla li j˙obbna, li g˙andu interess fina, li wara din il-˙ajja qasira g˙ad niltaqg˙u mieg˙u, kien jimlielu qalbu, iferr˙u u jag˙millu kura©© fit-taqbida tal-˙ajja.

Bir-ra©un g˙alhekk kien jistqarr: “Is-sens tal-˙ajja nistg˙u nsej˙ulu Alla. Li temmen f’Alla jfisser li l-˙ajja g˙andha sens.’’

Konferma ta’ dan huwa dak li darba qal il-famuΩ tabib u psikjatra ta’ fama mondjali Carl Gustav Jung: “Matul dawn it-tletin sena ©ew jikkonsultawni nies minn kull na˙a tad-dinja çivilizzata. Fost il-pazjenti li kellhom ‘il fuq minn ˙amsa u tletin sena, ma sibtx wie˙ed li wara kollox, il-problema tieg˙u ma kinitx ˙lief li kien tilef is-sens reli©juΩ. Nista’ nistqarr li kull wie˙ed minn dawn kien marad g˙aliex kien tilef dak li r-reli©jonijiet ta’ kull Ωmien kienu joffru lis-segwaçi tag˙hom, u li l-ebda wie˙ed minnhom ma fieq li ma kienx re©a’ akkwista mill-©did is-sens reli©uΩ tal-˙ajja.’’

Leo Tolstoi

Carl Gustav Jung

PENSJONANTI LI ÓALLEWNA – R.I.P.George Grixti (Gzira)

Neville Ferry (Rabat – Malta)Edgar Schembri (Santa Venera)

Gloria Zammit

6 L-Anzjan Illum

According to the Social Security Act, “pensionable income” means the average annual basic wage/salary in case of an employed person or the net income or earnings in case of self employed/occupied person calculated in accordance with the Thirteenth Schedule of the Act.

The two thirds retirement pension is computed on the basis of such pensionable income.

The rate of pension paid should in no case exceed the two thirds of the MPI as provided by an Order indicated on a Legal Notice. (LN) Such order is made by the Minister responsible for Social Policy with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance and is published in the Government Gazette.

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MAXIMUM PENSIONABLE INCOME (MPI)

The two thirds pension scheme started in January, 1979.

The first LN number 76 of 1980 which was published on the 29th August, 1980 provided for two different MPI as shown hereunder:

£6000 with effect from 20.01.1979,a) £6300 with effect from 5.01.1980.b)

In 1981 LN 101 revoked LN 76 of 1980. It provided further that with effect from 3rd January, 1981, the MPI increased up to £6750 per annum. A legal notice to revise the MPI as from January 1982 to reflect the COLA increase of £m3 per week for that year was never issued.

Again LN 17 of 1987 revoked LN 101 of 1981. It established also that with effect from 1st January, 1987, there was no change in the amount and confirmed that it remained £m 6750.

On the 1st January, 2005, there were other changes namely:

LN. number 5 of 2007 revoked LN 17 of 1987.The order provided again for two different MPI

as follows:With effect from 1.01.2005 the MPI went up to

Lm 6841 p.a.

With effect from 7.01.2006 the MPI increased again up to Lm6958 or EURO 16208.

ACT XIX of 2006 of the Social Security Act carried out other amendments to the MPI.

For persons born on or before 31st December, 1951, the maximum ceiling (MPI) will be increased up to Euro 17470 or (Lm7500). Figure will be reached by COLA increases awarded yearly.

For persons born between 1st January, 1952 and 31st December 1961, the maximum ceiling will go up to Euro 20964 or (Lm 9000). Figure will be reached by COLA increase awarded yearly.

For persons born ON or AFTER 1st January, 1962, the MPI will be Euro 20964 plus or (Lm9000 +). Beyond 2013 the MPI will be capped at a weighted average of 70% of the wage growth (productivity and inflation rates included) and 30% of inflation rate.

REALITIES ABOUT MPI

From the above legal developments of the MPI it can be noted that in 1981 the MPI was Lm6750 p.a.

It is appropriate to point out that during period 1983 and 1986 the workers experienced a wage freeze and as such there were no increases in the MPI for obvious reasons.

In 1987 the new administration stopped the price/wage freeze and although wages/salaries started to increase the MPI remained in the freezer.

In spite of the fact that our economic activity was prosperous the MPI remained in cold storage up to 2004.

In the year 2005, the increases awarded in wages/salaries of certain categories of workers reached the level of capping (Lm6750). Pensioners who had their pension assessed on the MPI could not be entitled to the 2/3 of the cost of living because of the capping. Thousands are excluded because of low MPI. In order to ensure that all pensioners will be entitled to the 2/3 of the cost of living, the MPI or capping started to increase by the full cost of living.

Maximum Pensionable Income andthe Two Thirds Pension

Carmel Mallia

Lulju - Settembru 2011 7

It is important to keep in mind that COLA is always computed on the basis of inflation at the level of the minimum wage. The result is that pensioners whose pre-retirement incomes exceeded the minimum wage do not even have the value of their pensions maintained.

It is a fact that should be considered that the MPI remained in the freezer for 24 years.

Due to the above realities the pension working group should consider their position on the MPI. They may contend that this measure is positive for the sustainability of pension. However, the idea to create three separate groups and give special attention to persons who were born on 1st January, 1962 and after, is not healthy and creates distinctions which are discriminatory and fly in the face of the implicit contract entered between the state and the contributor on joining the scheme. It appears that existing pensioners as well as those who will attain pension age up to the 31st Dec.2026 are considered as second class citizens and their rights for a decent living are being restricted.

The measure goes also against the normal

applicability of our Pension System – The Pay as you go – where current workers pay social security contributions to support retired people. It has to be remembered that current pensioners used to pay their dues as workers and to change the goal post now is unfair and may result in pushing senior citizens near the poverty threshold without a justified cause.In this scenario can we still consider these measures as solidarity between generations? If we agree that the pension working group have carried out their task properly in suggesting measures to maintain the sustainability of pension, we have to agree also that the problem of adequacy of pensions has been put by the side line and will come to haunt us in the near future. In the circumstance where the pension working group has failed to deliver, it is now up to the politician to face the issue and the electorate in about two years time.

Over eighty thousand senior citizens are there to pass their judgement not only about the adequacy of pension but also as to whether solidarity and social justice can still be considered to form part of our social policy.

Helen Borg Bonnici25.03.2011

Il-prinçipju ta’ ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work of the same Value’ huwa wie˙ed mill-prinçipji fundamentali fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Dan kien di©a’ ssemma fit-Trattat ta’ Ruma fl-1957. IΩda, il-progress biex wie˙ed inaqqas id-differenza tal-‘Gender Pay Gap’ bejn l-ir©iel u n-nisa fid-dinja tax-xog˙ol, kien bil-mod wisq. Tant, li d-differenza fil-pagi li g˙adhom jeΩistu huma minn 5% fl-Italja sa 30% fl-Estonja skond l-a˙˙ar figuri g˙as-sena 2008.

Dan ifisser li hemm inugwaljanzi serji kontra n-nisa fid-dinja tax-xog˙ol. B’konsegwenza ta’ dan, il-qlig˙ tan-nisa fil-˙ajja tag˙hom, ser jikka©una pensjoni aktar baxxa minn dik tal-ir©iel. G˙alhekk aktar tiΩdied il-possibilita’ ta’ faqar g˙alihom. Tant, li 22% tan-nisa ta’ ‘l fuq minn 65 sena, huma f’riskju ta’ faqar meta mqabbla ma’ 16% ta’ l-ir©iel! Dawn il-figuri ˙ar©u mill-Unjoni Europea fl-2011.

Huwa g˙alhekk li n-nisa g˙andhom jirsistu

biex itejbu l-poΩizzjoni tag˙hom fid-dinja tax-xog˙ol biex issir aktar ©ustizzja mag˙hom. Huwa kkalkulat li fl-Unjoni Ewropea n-nisa jaqilg˙u medja ta’ 17.5% anqas mill-ir©iel fil-˙ajja tag˙hom - b’riΩultat ta’ nuqqas ta’ ugwaljanza fil-qlig˙ tag˙hom fl-impjiegi. Çertament dan mhux ©ust u jitfa’ tbatija u faqar fuq in-nisa speçjament fiΩ-Ωmien tal-pensjoni tag˙hom.

Survey tal-Eurobarometer dwar ‘gender equality’ ippublikat fl-2010 wera dawn il-fatti:

a) 62 % taç-çittadini fl-Ewropa jemmnu li n-nuqqas ta’ ugwaljanza bejn in-nisa u l-ir©iel – g˙adha teΩisti f’˙afna oqsma tas-soçjeta’.

b) 82% jg˙idu li l-‘gender pay gap’ g˙andha tkun indirizzata b’ur©enza.

c) 61% jemmnu li d-deçiΩjonijiet fl-livell tal- EU g˙andhom importanza u jg˙inu biex isse˙˙ dejjem aktar l-ugwaljanza fil-qlig˙ mix-xog˙ol bejn l-ir©iel u n-nisa.

Il-Mara fid-Dinja tax-Xog˙ol u kif inhi M˙allsa

8 L-Anzjan Illum

A study just published in Brussels makes it clear that Malta “must substantially increase participation in its labour market if it is to avoid unsustainable strains on its economy”. The kernel of the study, funded by the European Commission and carried out by the European Policy Centre, is that unless Malta does this, that is, raises its employment rate, it risks not being able to cope in providing pensions, social benefits and free health care in the near future.

European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity

between Generations

On Friday 29th April 2011, 450 delegates – national and local public authorities, businesses, civil society organisations, academics – from across the EU gathered in Brussels to attend the EU Conference on “Towards the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (EY2012)” which marks the 3rd European Day of Solidarity between Generations.

On that occasion the EY2012 coalition of stakeholders, comprised of citizens’ groups, social actors, business representatives active at EU level, presented objectives and recommendations on how to achieve a society for all ages where older people are empowered to remain active in the labour market and able to contribute to their communities enjoying a dignified old age.

“Today, more than ever, there is a great public interest for issues related to the demographic challenge and its impact on relations between generations. Who should pay for our ageing population? Should older workers clear the way to make jobs available to younger workers? Should retirement age be postponed? Such questions arise from the rapid ageing of our European populations and are aggravated by the austerity context. We need to find innovative solutions to support active ageing if we want to avoid tensions between groups and make our current

European social models sustainable and fair for all generations” said Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe, leader of the coalition. (Malta is a member of AGE).

Since 2008, the coalition has been responding to the current demographic challenge by raising awareness of the relevance of enhancing cooperation and solidarity between generations. The coalition also actively campaigned to include the intergenerational dimension in the scope of the European Year 2012.

The aim of EY2012 is to support the Year’s objectives of: Active Ageing at Work, Active Ageing in the Community and Support to Independent Living.

The EY 2012 Coalition is convinced that ageing demography is a challenge which requires the involvement of all stakeholders in order to develop solutions that suit all age groups. Everyone has a role to play and should contribute in order to allow a holistic approach to ageing and create a society in which all generations are equally included and empowered to participate according to their capacities.

For sure, everyone has a role to play!

National Council for the Elderly

A study just published in Brussels makes it clear that Malta “must substantially increase participation in its labour market if it is to avoid unsustainable strains on its economy”. The kernel of the study, funded by the European Commission and carried out by the European Policy Centre, is that unless Malta does this, that is, raises its employment rate, it risks not being able to cope in providing pensions, social benefits and free health care in the near future.

Studju mill-Unjoni Ewropea dwarSa˙˙a u Pensjonijiet

Lulju - Settembru 2011 9

Emm. F. Attard

KurΩitajiet

Il-Kbarat (Ìerarki) ta’ Mussolini

L-ambaxxatur ÌermaniΩ, Dollman f’Ruma, fi Ωmien il-waqg˙a mill-poter tad-Duçe, Benito Mussolini, f’Settembru 1943, irrapporta lill-Fűhrer tieg˙u, Adolf Hitler, dan il fatt kurjuΩ. Dollmann tkaΩa bil-kbir bil-fatt li çerti ©erarki Faxxisti (ministri u kbarat

ta’ Mussolini, ji©ifieri, eh, ma˙suda bil-kbir bir-riΩenja tal-Kap, tag˙hom id-Dittatur Taljan g˙al aktar minn 20 sena) twerwru! Twerwru g˙aliex dawn il-©erarki fettxew li jie˙du kenn fl-ambaxxata ÌermaniΩa, u talbu bil-˙niena lil mart Dollman tg˙addilhom xi lbiesi tag˙ha - ˙alli jilbsu ta’ nisa la jo˙or©u barra, u b’hekk ˙add ma jag˙raf min kienu! Ówejje© li ma jitwemmnux!

Dwar Stalin

Milovan Djilas kien ministru prominenti Jugoslav tal-Marixxall Jozip Tito – li, madankollu, spiçça jitne˙˙a mill-kariga tieg˙u, u sa ntbag˙at il-˙abs. Fi ktieb li kiteb – ippubblikat meta n˙eles – irrakkonta fatt ie˙or kurjuΩ dwar id-Dittatur notorju tal-Unjoni Sovjetika, il-Ìeor©jan Josif Stalin.Stalin kien qieg˙ed jindirizza g˙add ta’ mexxejja Komunisti

waqt laqg˙a li kellu mag˙hom, fejn kien preΩenti l-istess Djilas. Djilas ˙alla miktub li Stalin, huwa u jindika çerti postijiet fuq mappa kbira mal-˙ajt tas-sala fejn kienu mi©mug˙a, ˙a Ωball madornali meta semma u wera b’idejh xi lokalita’ li, fil-fatt, kienret lokalita g˙al kollox differenti!Djilas issokta jirrimarka li kieku xi ˙add minn dawk il-mexxejja prominenti Komunisti ˙ass il-˙tie©a li, b’xi mod pulit u addattat, jikkore©i lid-Dittatur Stalin! Óadd ˙add ma feta˙ fommu biex jurih xi Ωball kien a! Taraw u tifhmu kemm kienu jitwerwru li ˙aslu umiljawh b’dan il-mod!

Dwar QΩieqeΩ, Klieb u Qtates

Insibu miktub li xi add qal li l-qΩieqeΩ g˙andhom il-˙ila li sa˙ansitra jaraw ir-RIÓ ! Tg˙id veru dan?? U, fil-kaΩ, dal- kliem kif sata’ jsir jaf ??

Churchill u çerti Annimali

L-istess Churchill wera wkoll fehmiet o˙ra dwar xi annimali: X’qalilna? Qalilna illi annimali b˙all-qtates u l-klieb (tant insibuhom fostna) i˙arsu lejna minn isfel g˙al fuq, fiwaqt li l-qΩieqeΩ (re©g˙u da˙lu dawn!) i˙arsu lejna l-bnedmin dritt f’g˙ajnejna! Hawnhekk naslu na˙sbu li Churchill kellu ra©un – billi jista’jkun.

L-Isfenodon

L-isfenodon huwa meqjus b˙ala l-aktar rettili primittiv li se˙˙lu jibqa’ jeΩisti fid-dinja ta’ Ωmienna! Fil-fatt huwa l-a˙˙ar animal ta’ ©eneru ta’ rettili mill-aktar bikri – tal-klassi tar-rinkoçefalja – f’dawk iΩ-Ωminijiet tant u tant imbieg˙da hekk imxerrda fl-Asja u fl-Europa. L-isfenodon deher fid-dinja fl-era Trassika – g˙amla ta’ gremxula li til˙aq tul ta’ Ωew© piedi.G˙al çertu Ωmien l-g˙add ta’ din l-ispeçi ta’ sfenodon ma kienx wie˙ed Ωg˙ir fi New Zealand – daΩ-Ωmien jinsabu biss f’çerti gΩejjer çkejkna ta’ madwar it-terraferma. Huma jitqiesu bi speçi protetta. (Bhima feroçi ta’ kobor kbir, bhima kerha u twa˙˙ax f’dehritha li kapaçi tiekol bniedem, il-kukkudrill – jing˙ad ukoll lil-ispeçI tieg˙u ilha teΩisti l-miljuni tas-snin).

N.B. Is-Sur E. F. Attard irid irodd ˙ajr bil-qalb – kif aktar minn xieraq u sewwa! lis-Sinjura Marica Attard Cassar (is-Segretarja tant ˙abrieka li ilha Ωmien issa tie˙u ˙sieb tipprogramma u tag˙mel fuq il-kompjuter din ir-rivista tal-K.N.A.), g˙all-interess bkir li tie˙u b’inizjattiva personali tag˙ha f’artikli simili. Hija tag˙mel ir-rieçerki me˙tie©a fuq il-kompjuter, u tfittex iΩΩid l-istampi relativi – ta’ persuna©©i, xeni, eçç. – u, b’hekk it-tag˙rif mg˙oddi minni, hija tirrikkih ˙afna. U tag˙mlu ˙afna iΩjed interessanti. G˙ax l-g˙ajnejn barra t-tipa jog˙xew jarawhom stampi b˙al dawn!

10 L-Anzjan Illum

Simone MizziPresident EΩekuttiv Din L-Art Óelwa.

Meta Anton Cremona, ˙abib antik tieg˙i, sama’ li jien ©ejt eletta President EΩekuttiv ta’ Din L-Art Óelwa, çempilli biex jg˙idli nikteb xi ftit fuq il-memorji tal-passat u kif jirrelataw g˙all-˙ajja tal-lum.

Qattajna ftit ˙in niftakru fuq ©rajjiet u esperjenzi tal-img˙oddi, meta t-tnejn konna

na˙dmu fil-Malta Hilton fis-snin sittin. Dak iΩ-Ωmien kien hemm biss tliet lukandi ta’ lussu – l-‘Hilton’, il-‘Phoenicia’ u l-Lukanda ‘Sheraton’. Lukandi li, llum jaqg˙u ta˙t ˙ames stilel. F’dan iΩ-Ωmien it-turizmu kien g˙adu fil-bidu. Il-klijenti ta’ dawn il-lukandi kienu l-aktar parti nies intelletwali mxerrdin mal-Ewropa, fosthom numru ta’ kittieba, artisti, muΩiçisti u filmstars, nies çelebri, kollha ta’ fama mondjali.

Dawn skoprew il-faxxinu tal-passat storiku ta’ Malta u G˙awdex, kif ukoll il-bini grandjuΩ tal-bliet u l-uniçita’ tal-ir˙ula u tal-pajsa©©; il-palazzi tal-Ordni ta’ San Ìwann, it-Tempji Neolitiçi, is-swar u l-belt Valletta kienu jafu ftit dwarhom. Il-fatt l-ie˙or li kien ji©bidhom lejn Malta, kien il-karattru ferrie˙i tag˙na l-Maltin.

F’dawk il-jiem, mal-wasla tag˙na fil-parke©© tal-lukanda Hilton minn ©ewwa t-twieqi twal tal-lo©©a u lil hinn mill-pixxina, kont tista’ tilma˙ il-ba˙ar ka˙lani sakemm iwasslu g˙ajnejk.

Fil-waqfa ta’ nofs inhar, konna ninΩlu g˙al fuq il-blat biex nieklu l-˙obΩ biΩ-Ωejt. Wara l-brejk, ner©g˙u lura g˙ax-xog˙ol biex nippeparaw attivitajiet g˙all-klijenti. Dawn l-attivitajiet kienu Ωjajjar kulturali g˙all-postijiet storiçi, dettalji dwar xtajtiet tal-ba˙ar, kif ukoll dwar ristoranti.

Dan kollu 40 sena ilu, meta jien tfajla ta’ 22 sena, hekk kif ˙ri©t mit-tfulija tieg˙i li kienet maqsuma bejn il-Belt fix-xitwa u x-Xemxija fis-sajf. Fix-xitwa l-vaganzi tag˙na kienu jiem mg˙oddija fil-qari ©ewwa l-Biblijoteka.

Passsatemp ie˙or fil-Belt kien dak li ni©ru fuq l-iskejtz bir-roti tal-˙adid u minn hemm nintelqu g˙an-niΩla ta’ Triq Brittanja, llum Triq Melita. Il-

pika kienet minn kellu l-˙ila jasal sat-tara© ta’ Bja©ju ming˙ajr ma jieqaf. Waqt li naqsmu Triq l-Ifran, l-anqas ˙sieb kien li n˙arsu ‘l fuq jew ‘l isfel g˙ax traffiku ma kienx hemm!

Fix-Xemxija s-sajf konna ng˙adduh fil-g˙awm fil-Qala tal-Fekruna, f’ba˙ar çar daqs il-kristall. Il-Qala dejjem qisnieha tag˙na g˙ax ˙add ma’ kien jersaq ‘l hemm. Sal-GΩejjer konna naqsmu fuq kenura tqila tal-˙adid, tal-militar u sal-Veçça bil-g˙awm konna naqsmu fuq tajer iswed kbir tal-lastiku. Filg˙axijiet, il-log˙ba favorita tag˙na kienet il-˙arba. B˙ala tfal dawk il-vakanzi tas-sajf kienu twal ˙afna, donnhom qatt ma jispiççaw. Illum is-sajf itir.

IΩ-Ωminijiet tbiddlu u mag˙hom saret bidla fil-kwalita’ u n-numru ta’ turisti li qed ji©u Malta. Barra minn hekk saret aktar façli biex iΩΩur pajjiΩi ˙afna aktar ‘il bog˙od u qeg˙din naraw fostna turisti minn artijiet verament ‘il bog˙od minn Malta. Madankollu fattur wie˙ed biss ma nbidilx, dak li l-viΩitatur f’artna g˙andu interess qawwi fl-istorja qadima ta’ Malta.

Missieri, Maurice Caruana Curran, fl-1965 waqqaf Moviment g˙all-Konservazzjoni tal-wirt storiku mibni u naturali ta’ pajiΩna, l-g˙aqda Din l-Art Óelwa. Flimkien ma’ grupp ta’ nies tal-istess fehma, kollha kellhom rieda qawwija li l-pajsa©© u l-patrimonju storiku u artistiku tan-Nazzjon Malti ji©i m˙ares. Din L-Art Óelwa hi g˙aqda

mhux governattiva, kollha kemm hi b’membri voluntiera. F’dawn l-a˙˙ar 46 sena mit-twaqqif tag˙ha, salvajna u tajna lura lill-poplu Malti u lin-Nazzjon, aktar minn 36 sit li jkopru torrijiet, fortifikazzjonijiet, knejjes, ©onna ta’ interess storiku, funtani, statwi, kif ukoll Ωew© çimiterji tal-IngliΩi. Dan kollu se˙˙ bil-˙idma tal-voluntiera tag˙na, bis-sa˙˙a ta’ fondi li ©ejjin minn s˙ubija fl-g˙aqda, u g˙otjiet ta’ flus minn entitajiet li g˙andhom g˙all-qalbhom it-tis˙i˙ tal-Wirt Kulturali Malti. Il-flus jid˙lu wkoll minn attivitajiet li norganizzaw g˙all-©bir ta’ fondi b˙al kunçerti, ©iti kulturali u wirjiet

Il-Valur tal-Anzjan fis-Soçjetà u kif jista' ja˙dem g˙all-Wirt Storiku ta' Malta

Lulju - Settembru 2011 11

ta’ arti. Din L-Art Óelwa ma tirçevix g˙ajnuna finanzjarja mill-gvern.

Rapport li ©ie ppubblikat dan l-a˙˙ar jg˙id li 5% tal-Prodott Domestiku (Gross Domestic Product), ©ej mill-˙idma ta’ nies li jg˙atu ˙inhom g˙al volontarjat, il-parti kbira minnhom dawk li jkunu g˙alqu s-snin sittin u adu l-pensjoni. Kif nafu l-lum anki wara li nag˙lqu s-sittin nibqg˙u na˙dmu, g˙ax inkunu g˙adna f’sa˙˙itna, kif ukoll in˙ossu il-˙tie©a li nda˙˙lu xi ˙a©a barranija min˙abba li l-˙ajja saret g˙olja wisq. Imma xorta wa˙da ˙afna minna nsibu li nistg˙u bla ˙las nag˙tu xi ftit mill-˙in tag˙na g˙as-soçjeta’. Allura b’dan il-˙sieb nid˙lu f’xi g˙aqda mhux governativa g˙all-volontarjat.

Din is-sena ta˙bat is-Sena Ewropea tal-Volontarjat ,fenominu qawwi ˙afna fejn il-biçça l-kbira tal-voluntiera kollha jaqbΩu s-60 sena. L-anzjan sar persuna importanti afna g˙as-soçjeta’ u dan huwa validu anki meta l-istess soçjeta’ ma tag˙rafx u ma tapprezzax dan il-kontribut qawwi u daqshekk ta’ siwi. Din L-Art Óelwa tapprezza ˙afna kull g˙ajnuna li ©ejja mill-voluntier.

L-anzjan irridu n˙arsu lejh minn lenti o˙ra – l-anzjan hu l-assikuratur ta’ tifkiriet tal-img˙oddi. Hu l-anzjan li jg˙addi tifkiriet, stejjer, g˙ajdut li jkun sama’ lin-neputijiet tieg˙u, lill-viΩitatur, lir-riçerkatur u lill-qarrejja meta dan jasal biex jitkellem jew jikteb f’gazzetta jew magaΩin dak li jiftakar u dak li g˙adda minnu fil-passat.

Fil-fatt hawn stess irrid ng˙addi messa©© lil dawk li qed jaqraw din is-silta. Jekk inti tixtieq tg˙in lil Din L-Art Óelwa, jekk tie˙u gost tiltaqa’ man-nies u t˙obb l-istorja ta’ pajjiΩna kellimna. Insibu 14-il sit storiku li qeg˙din f’idejn Din L-Art Óelwa li jinfet˙u g˙all-viΩitaturi u, g˙alhekk g˙andna bΩonn ta’ nies li jg˙inuna nilqg˙u n-nies u wkoll biex i˙arsu dawn is-siti storiçi. Din L-Art Óelwa hija l-kuratur tal-Knisja ta’ Bir Miftu˙, viçin il-Gudja, kif ukoll il-Fanal Ta’ Delimara. G˙andna bΩonn voluntiera g˙at-Torri l-A˙mar fil-Mellie˙a, it-Torri ta’ Wignacourt f’San Pawl il-Ba˙ar, kif ukoll it-Torri ta’ Kemmuna (f’Kemmuna). G˙andna voluntiera li kuljum jaqsmu l-ba˙ar biex minn G˙awdex imorru Kemmuna! Dawn il-voluntiera g˙andhom roster ta’ ftit sig˙at kuljum, ©eneralment bejn l-10 ta’ fil-g˙odu u s-sieg˙a ta’ wara nofs inhar. Meta it-temp jaqleb, dawn is-siti jinfet˙u anki wara nofsinhar.

Ix-xog˙ol li jag˙mlu dawn il-voluntiera hu li jilqg˙u lill-viΩitaturi, jag˙tuhom il-biljett tad-d˙ul, idawru lill-viΩitatur mal-post fil-waqt li jag˙ti l-isfond tal-istorja tal-lokal. Anki l-fatt li dawn in-nies jitkellmu fuq il-passat hu ta’ importanza kbira. Jekk jinterresak dan ix-xog˙ol li jie˙u ftit ˙in biss fil-©img˙a, u trid tg˙inna fil-ftu˙ ta’ dawn is-siti, çempel lil Ms. Rosemarie Stagno Navarra fuq linji tat-telefon kif jidhru hawn: 21220358 jew 21220595. Tista’ tuΩa l-posta elettronika billi tibg˙at email lil info@dinlarthelwa.org.

Hemm xog˙ol ie˙or x’wie˙ed jista’ jag˙mel

b˙ala voluntier, biss jiddependi xi t˙obb tag˙mel. Jekk t˙obb il-©nien tista’ tg˙in fil-Ìnien tal-Mistrie˙, fis-sur tal-Imsida. Hemm bΩonn kbir ta’ ©ardinara. Il-Ìnien Ta’ Braxia fil-Pieta’ wkoll g˙andu bΩonn min jie˙u ˙siebu. G˙andna bΩonn voluntiera li jinqalg˙u fit-tiswijiet u manutenzjoni tas-siti, b˙al nies li ja˙dmu fil-©ebel, Ωebbieg˙a, min ja˙dem fl-elettriku u fl-ilma, dawn kollha huma bΩonjuΩi. Il-manutenzjoni fis-siti tag˙na qatt ma’ tieqaf, g˙addejja s-sena kollha! Tispiçça sit u taqbad ie˙or.

Din l-Art Óelwa g˙andha bΩonn voluntiera fir-riçerka storika, fir-riçerka militari, periti u n©iniera u mani©ers biex jie˙du ˙sieb pro©etti ta’ twaqqif ta’ ©rajjiet g˙al ©bir ta’ fondi li jippermettulna nkomplu n˙arsu l-bosta monumenti li qeg˙din f’idejna.

Din l-Art Óelwa dejjem fehmet il-kontribut siewi li l-anzjani jistg˙u jag˙tu lis-soçjeta’ billi jaqsmu l-esperjenza tag˙hom ma’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ u mall-barranin. Kollox fuq kollox il-passat hu wkoll il-futur g˙ax hu l-passat li jifforma kuxjenza u jg˙tina identita’. Jekk na˙sbuha sew, il-Bibbja ma kinetx tinkiteb li kieku l-istejjer ta’ nies b˙al Abraham u Mose’ma ©ewx mg˙oddija lil dawk li ©ew warajhom.

Jekk irnexxieli nqanqal kurΩita’ u interess fikom il-qarrejja u tridu tafu iΩjed fuq l-g˙aqda li nirrappreΩenta, Ωuru l-website ta’ Din l-Art Óelwa – www.dinlarthelwa.org - hemm issibu tag˙rif fuq l-organizzazzjoni, fuq l-attivitajiet kollha li jsiru, fis-siti storiçi li qeg˙din fdati f’idejha, u anki tag˙rif fuq pro©etti ta’ restawr li b˙alissa qeg˙din isiru. Hemm g˙ajnuna o˙ra li tistg˙u tag˙tu, dik li tid˙lu membri ta’ Din L-Art Óelwa. Çemplu fuq l-istess numri jew ikkuntattjaw info@dinlarthelwa.org

Nag˙laq billi nirringrazzja lil Anton Cremona li tani din l-opportunita’ nikteb fuq Din l-Art Óelwa u x-xog˙ol li qed tag˙mel. Nispera li ma ndumx ma’ nag˙ti mer˙ba lil xi qarrej jew qarrejja bil-˙sieb li jing˙aqdu ma’ tim ta’ voluntiera li qed jie˙du ˙sieb it-Torri l-A˙mar ©ewwa il-Mellie˙a, it-Torri Wignacourt f’San Pawl il-Ba˙ar u t-Torri ta’ Kemmuna.

A˙na rridu niltaqg˙u mag˙kom u nisimg˙u l-istejjer tag˙kom.

Nota tad-DIREZZJONI:L-Editur, is-Sur Anton Cremona, flimkien mall-

Bord ta’ dan il-Fujett, iroddu ˙ajr kbir lis-Sinjura Mizzi, il-President EΩekuttiv tas-Soçjeta’ ‘Din l-Art Óelwa’, g˙all-artiklu ferm interessanti li g˙o©obha tikteb g˙all-qarrejja ta’ ‘L-Anzjan Illum’. Nawguraw li ma jkunux ftit dawk fostna lkoll li jit˙ajru jilqg˙u l-appell ˙erqan tag˙na, biex jivvolontarjaw jag˙tu daqqa t’id sew lil din il-G˙aqda Nazzjonali hekk meritevoli, tal-akbar ©id g˙al pajjiΩna. Tassew g˙ajb li ‘Din l-Art Óelwa’ ma tirçievi ebda g˙ajnuna mill-Gvern! Dan il-g˙aliex, ta’ min jistaqsi?

Il-Valur tal-Anzjan fis-Soçjetà u kif jista' ja˙dem g˙all-Wirt Storiku ta' Malta

12 L-Anzjan Illum

G˙arab, 870 wara Kristu, li min˙abba ra©unijiet strate©içi sseparaw iΩ-Ωew© in˙awi b’foss, u sej˙u belt Imdina. Il-Belt damet kapitali tal-gΩira sal-wasla tal-Kavalieri ta’ San Ìwann fl-1530.

Biblijografija:

Malta illustrata, LIB. I, Not. II, & V Divisa •in Quattro Libri Del Commendatore F. Giovanfrancesco Abela,…corretta, accresciuta, e continovata dal Conte Giovannantonio Ciantar. (Published 1780 by Mallia in Malta).Mario Buhagiar and Stanley Fiorini Mdina The •Cathedral City of Malta (Malta, 1996)

MIN HI L-ALLA ASTARTE

It-twemmin lil alla Astarte nbeda fil-Punent tal-Asja wara 1200 Q.K. (ma’ Ûmien il-Óadid), mal-epoka ta’ Ûmien il-BronΩ (il-fuq 1000 Q.K.). Kien ukoll mifrux mal-Mediterran kollu u l-Atlantiku (mal-kosta t’isfel ta’ Spanja u l-Afrika ta’ fuq), mill-Feniçi.

Skont il-mit Kang˙aniti (wie˙ed minn razza ta’ nies li kienu jokkupaw Kang˙an fil-punent tal-Ìordan), l-alla Astarte kienu jsej˙ulha Anat (fil-qosor g˙al Anatalia, penizola tal-Asja Minuri). Fil-punent tal-Asja(Sirja, il-Libanu, Israel, u l-Ìordan), l-alla l-kbira kienet imsej˙a s-‘Sinjura tas-Sema’ (Sky-Lady), il-prinçipessa sie˙ba ta’ EL (ir-Re tal-©enna) u ta’ Baal (l-alla tat-tempesti mis-Sumerja - re©jun mill- Mesopotamja l-qadima). Hija kienet il-garanti tal-fertilita’, tas-Sesswalita’ u wkoll tal-gwerra. Xi drabi tidher b˙ala baqra, jew mara b’ras ta’ baqra, kif ukoll b˙al ˙afna nisa li jreddg˙u. Il-fertilita’ tnixxi minn sidirha ˙afna ˙alib. Fid-dinja kienet il-likwidu ©o pjanta li j©orr l-ikel tag˙ha mal-partijiet kollha, u fluwidu bajdani li jnisslu l-annimali. Meta

Wara l-gwerer Puniçi, Malta g˙addiet ta˙t ir-•Rumani, u b’hekk il-Belt ta’ Malta ©iet me˙lusa. Ir-Rumani semmew il-belt Melite, b’Awtonomija Griega, b˙all-ibliet me˙lusa Sqallin. Wara g˙ollewha g˙all-muniçipalita’ u baqg˙et sakemm spiççat l-era BiΩantina.Il-Belt Rumana Melite kienet mibnija fuq art çatta •fl-g˙oli fuq in-na˙a tal-punent it-tramuntana tal-gΩira, fejn na˙a minnhom (it-tramuntana tag˙ha) l-art kienet maqtug˙a, b’irdum dritt, u n-na˙a tan-nofsinhar tag˙ha, fejn l-art hija çatta u ©on©unta mal-kumplament tal-kampanja.Ir-Rumani kienu sseparaw il-belt mill-kampanja •permazz ta’ fass li jibda minn post jg˙idulu t-Tribuna (˙dejn il-bini ta’ Saura), jg˙addi ma’ ©enb “il-Óofra ta’ San Pawl’’ (˙dejn il-pedamenti tal-knisja ta’ San Pawl tar-Rabat), u jibqa’ nieΩel lejn il-wied tal-G˙eriexem, fejn jg˙addi minn quddiem il-kappella Ω-Ωg˙ira ta’ Santa Marija ta’ Qasg˙a.Ir-Rumani pprote©ew il-belt billi bnew ˙ajt •massiv madwarha, li kellu tmienja u g˙oxrin torri tondi u kwadru - ilkoll g˙oljin iΩjed mill-˙ajt. Il-bieb prinçipali tag˙ha kien mit-telg˙a tas-Saqqajja. Kellha wkoll tliet bibien o˙ra fid-direzzjoni lejn il-kampanja. Kienu jaqsmu l-foss permezz ta’ pont tal-©ebel.Wie˙ed, fid-direzzjoni tal-Mer˙liet (lejn tal-•Virtu’), tan-nofs (˙dejn il-Óofra ta’ San Pawl) fid-direzzjoni lejn Óal Bajjada, u t’isfel (˙dejnil-kappella ta’ Santa Marija ta’ Qasg˙a) fid-direzzjoni lejn “Bieb ir-Ruwa’’, L-Imta˙leb, lejn il-Ba˙rija, Wied GerΩuma u l-G˙emieri. Fl-in˙awi tal-Mer˙liet, Óal Bajada, u wara l-kappella ta’ Santa Marija ta’ Qasg˙a kellhom oqbra u katakombi g˙ad-dfin.It-toroq u l-isqaqien tal-belt Melite (speçjalment •in-na˙a tar-Rabat il-qadim), l-in˙awi tad-Doni u l-madwar, g˙adu l-istess b˙al ma kien, ˙lief, li wiçç l-art kienet madwar tnax il-pied (3.6 metri) ta˙t, l-isfel, mill-wiçç preΩenti, f’Mejju tal-1890.Id-djar tal-Maltin (l-in˙awi tar-Rabat) kienu djar •foqra ˙afna, mibnija minn ©ebel uΩat (gorbo©). Ftit kienu li kellhom Ωew© sulari, u minn barra li kienu kmamar Ωg˙ar, kienu jie˙du d-dawl minn btie˙i Ωg˙ar interni.Fil-waqt, li fit-tramuntana tal-belt, in-na˙a •fejn kienu jg˙ixu r-Rumani (l-Imdina tal-lum), kienet mifruda mill Maltin permezz ta’ ajt g˙oli u ffortifikat (massiv). Kien hemm ftit djar, kbar u eleganti, u Ωew© tempji fuq stil Puniku Grieg, iddedikati lil alla Apollo, u alla mara Astarte, tal-a˙˙ar kien mibni fuq l-istess lok fejn g˙andna l-Katidral illum. X’aktarx in-na˙a rumaneska eΩistit sal-epoka BiΩantina, fejn ©iet mibdula mill-

Il-Belt Rumana Melite

Lulju - Settembru 2011 13

kienet ittajjar l-ilma fis-smewwiet kien jifforma t-triq ta’ Sant Anna ( faxxa ta’ kwiekeb kemm kemm jiddu madwar is-sema, il-Galassja), u stilla ©o çirku tindika l-pjaneta Venere. Lokalitajiet ta’ qima lil alla ASTARTE kienu Sidon (Sayda), Tiru (Sur), Biblos, Cytherea (Kithira), Melite (Malta), Eryx (Erice) fi Sqallija. F’Karta©ni, Astarte kienet imsej˙a Axtorte u maqjusa ma’ l-alla mara Tanit. Peress li kienet l-alla Lunari hija ©iet adottata mill-E©izjani b˙ala t-tifla tal-alla tax-xemx Ra jew Ptah (l-alla Rajjes tal-Panteon-bini li fih oqbra ta’ r©iel mag˙rufa).

Kienet ukoll l-alla protettriçi tal-ba˙˙ara. Fl-Assirja kienet l-alla tal-gwerra, fil-Mesopotamja (l-Iraq) kienet imsej˙a “Inanna, u fil-Fri©ja (Turkija moderna) kienet imsej˙a “Kibele’’. Il-Lhud kienu jsej˙ulha “Axloret’’, g˙as-Sirjani (Sirja) kienet “Atargatis’’, f’Ugarit (fis-Siria wkoll) kienet “Athtart’’, iç-Çiprijotti jsej˙ulha “Cipris’’, g˙all-Griegi tal-E©ittu u ta’ Pompeii (fl-Italja) kienu jsej˙ula Isis, f’Melite (Malta) kienet Astarte u Tanit. G˙ar-Rumani kienet mag˙rufa l-iΩjked b˙ala Venere jew Venus, imbag˙ad Ìuno.

Referenzi:

Who’s Who in Classical Mythology by Micheal Grant •& John Hazel.Myths and Legends of the World by Kenneth Mcleish.•Greece & Rome Myths & Legends by H.A. Guerber.•Roman Empire by Nigel Rodgers.•Pompeii 2000 years ago by Alberto Carpiceci.•

MIN KIEN L-ALLA APOLLO

L-alla Apollo, il-Griegi kienu jsej˙ulu wkoll •Kouros. Kien alla tal-mediçina, tax-xemx, tal-muΩika, tal-Belli arti u l-poeΩija. Kien ukoll glorjuΩ, u l-iΩjed wie˙ed sabi˙ fost l-allat. Ismijiet o˙ra li kellu kienu Phoebus, Helios, Cynthius, u Pytheus. O˙tu t-tewmija kienet l-alla Diana (fil-mitolo©ija Griega kienet imsej˙a ArtemiΩ). Il-©enitur tag˙hom kienu l-alla Ìove (Re tal-allat), u l-alla mara Latona (l-alla tal-iljieli mudlama). Huma twieldu f’Delos (l-iΩg˙ar gΩira taç-Çikladi fil-ba˙ar E©ew fil-Greçja).

L-IMPENNJI U KONFLITTI LI KELLU:

Meta kiseb l-ir©ulija, kellu l-ewwel ispirazjoni •minn Coronis (mara sabi˙a). Kellhom tifel jismu Eskulapju, li wiret il-˙ila fil-mediçina ta’ missieru. It-talent kien mill-aqwa, imma twaqqaf malajr minn Apollo, g˙ax beΩa’ li ji©i adorat ibnu minfloku!Darba kellu ˙biberija ma’ Ìjaçintu (©uvni •bi twelid mortali), li wara log˙ba taç-çrieki, Hyacinthus safa mwe©©a’ tant li ma setax ifieq, u Apollo ddispjaçih g˙ax kien ser jitlef din il-

˙biberija. B’memorja ta’ sie˙bu, huwa bidel il-qtar tad-demm li waqa fl-art, f’g˙enieqed ta’ fjuri (Hyacinthis) Ìjaçinti.Ftit wara dan l-episodju, waqt li kien g˙addej fil-•foresta, iltaqa’ ma’ ninfa sabi˙a li kien jisimha Dafni, nibtet im˙abba mal-ewwel ˙arsa. Kif ipprova javviçinha, hija beΩg˙et u talbet lil missierha l’alla Peneus biex jipprote©iha.Episodju ie˙or ma’ mara o˙ra sabi˙a jisimha •Clytie li kienet tosserva ta’ kuljum il-vja©©i tieg˙u b’g˙ajnejn mimlija m˙abba. Min˙abba l-˙erqa kbira li kellha l- allat bidluha fi fjura tax-xemx.Darba o˙ra kien imdiehex b’muΩika ˙elwa •mdaqqa minn Minerva (l-alla tal-arti domestika). Hija tat il-flawt lil Marsyas (rag˙aj Ωag˙Ωug˙) biex jisfida lil Apollo f’kontest tal-muΩika. Fil-kuntest Apollo kien akkumpanjat minn disa’ MuΩi, patruni tal-poeΩija u l-muΩika. Apollo ˙are© rebbie˙, u bi tpattija qatel lill-avversarju tieg˙u. In-ninfi tal-muntanji tant bkewh li bid-dmug˙ tag˙hom ˙olqu xmara li semmewha g˙alih, Marsyas. Re©a’ kien sfidat minn kuntestant ie˙or tal-•flawt, li kien Pan id-daqqaq tar-Re Midas. Ir-Re rebba˙ dan il-kuntest lid-daqqaq tieg˙u Pan minflok lill-alla tal-muΩika Apollo. G˙al din l-in©ustizzja, Apollo bi tpattija bidel widejn ir-Re Midas f’o˙rajn ta’ ˙mar.Apollo kien ukoll l-eg˙ΩeΩ alla, il-ma˙bub tad-•disa’ MuΩi (protetturi tad-diversi arti) ulied tal-allat Ìove u l-alla mara Mnemosyne (tal-memorja). Huma kienu Clio muΩa tal-istorja, Ewterpe tal-lirika poetika, Thalia tal-kummiedja u poeΩija idillika, Melpomene tat-tra©edja, Terpsichor tal-muΩika u Ω-Ωfin, Erato tal-poeΩija erotika, Calliope tal-poeΩija epika, Urania tal-astronomija, u Polyhymnia jew Polymnia tal-kant u l-armonja.Eos (Aurora) is-sabi˙a u grazzjuΩa, l-alla taΩ-•Ωerniq, kienet il-qaddejja favorita ta’ Apollo. Kienet ukoll il-mara tal-prinçep ta’ Troja. It-tempji prinçipali tal-adorazzjoni ddedikati lil Apollo kienu f’Delos fuq il-gΩira Ωg˙ira fejn twieled, u f’Delphi (belt Ωg˙ira tal-antik Phocis, fil-Greçja, fin-nofs tal-blata l-wieqfa tal- muntanja Parnassus.L-iΩjed spettaklu mag˙ruf fost il-˙afna li kienu •j˙obbu jattendu g˙alihom b’©ie˙ lil Apollo kien ming˙ajr eççezjoni, il-Log˙ob Pizjan, li ji©u ççelebrati f’Delphi kull tlett snin. Apollo, Ωag˙Ωug˙ ming˙ajr le˙ja u ta’ ©miel kbir, huwa rrappreΩentat b˙ala inkurunat bir-rand u j©ib il-qaws u l-arpa. Wie˙ed mis-Seba’ g˙e©ubijiet tad-Dinja Antika huwa l-famuΩ Koloss ta’ Rodi: Statwa ©ganteska ta’ Apollo, li kienet wieqfa fil-bidu tal-port tal-gΩira ta’ Rodi.

N.B. Prosit ˙afna u GraΩΩi lis-Sur Richard Azzopardi li tana dan it-tag˙rif

interessanti.

14 L-Anzjan Illum

What is Cataract?A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that

affects vision. Most cataracts are related to ageing. In fact, cataracts are very common in older people. Between the ages of 65 and 80, it is estimated that more than half of these people in the USA, have or have had cataract surgery.

A cataract can occur either in one eye or in both eyes. Luckily, it cannot spread from one eye to the other, however.

The LensThe lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to

focus light or an image on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

Types of CataractAlthough most cataracts are related to aging,

there are other types of cataract.1. Secondary Cataract: Cataracts can form

from surgery for other eye problems, such as glaucoma. Cataracts can also develop in people who have other health problems such as diabetes. They are sometimes linked to steroid use.

2. Traumatic Cataract: Cataracts can develop after an eye injury sometimes years after.

3. Congenital Cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect vision. If they do, then lenses may need to be removed

4. Radiation Cataract: Cataracts can develop after exposure to some type of radiation.

Treating CataractsOur vision can be corrected to an acceptable level

with a change in prescription of our sighted glasses, including bifocals or contacts - eliminating the need for surgery.

But if the vision loss cannot be corrected with new glasses and cataracts interfere with vision, then cataract surgery is needed. This involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial one.

Cataract surgery is usually conducted on an outpatient basis and is very successful in restoring vision. More than nine out of ten people who have cataract surgery have improvement in vision.

Because cataracts and other conditions of the eye such as glaucoma are common in older people, it is important to have the eyes examined on a regular basis. People aged between 40 and 64 are advised to have a comprehensive eye examination every 2 to 4 years while people 65 and older should have an eye examination every one or two years. People with a history of eye problems or other medical conditions such as diabetes, should have eye examinations more frequently. It is better to follow the doctor’s advice.

Note: Source of information is : The National Eye Institute of the USA 28.04.2011

Cataracts and Your Eyes

The Elderly are Vulnerable and Deserve Help

Helen Borg Bonnici - 16.05.2011

The Elderly are vulnerable and deserve help. Help can be given in various forms – one of them being giving them an adequate pension to help them live a dignified life.

The year 2010 was intended ‘To Fight Poverty’. The European Commission has recognized that :” the adequacy and long-term sustainability of pension systems is crucial for preventing and tackling poverty in the daily lives of millions of elderly people.” We know that the poverty rate in Malta among those aged 65+ was 22% until very recently. It is therefore very appropriate to ask what is being proposed to improve the quality of life of the elderly to save them from a deteriorating life of poverty in Malta? Considering that pensions are constantly losing their purchasing power because of the constant rise in the cost of food, essential goods and services, it is only just that pensions would be reasonably adjusted to meet present day circumstances.

Poverty among the elderly leads to material deprivation and social exclusion. Surely, the elderly deserve a dignified life and expect an adequate pension to live such a life!

Lulju - Settembru 2011 15

The Elderly are Vulnerable and Deserve Help

Helen Borg Bonnici - 16.05.2011

The Elderly are vulnerable and deserve help. Help can be given in various forms – one of them being giving them an adequate pension to help them live a dignified life.

The year 2010 was intended ‘To Fight Poverty’. The European Commission has recognized that :” the adequacy and long-term sustainability of pension systems is crucial for preventing and tackling poverty in the daily lives of millions of elderly people.” We know that the poverty rate in Malta among those aged 65+ was 22% until very recently. It is therefore very appropriate to ask what is being proposed to improve the quality of life of the elderly to save them from a deteriorating life of poverty in Malta? Considering that pensions are constantly losing their purchasing power because of the constant rise in the cost of food, essential goods and services, it is only just that pensions would be reasonably adjusted to meet present day circumstances.

Poverty among the elderly leads to material deprivation and social exclusion. Surely, the elderly deserve a dignified life and expect an adequate pension to live such a life!

Lina Brockdorff

L-Arti

Kull pittur ibill il-pinzell fil-©ewwieni tieg˙u, u allura bilfors li l-arti li jipproduçi jkun hemm xebh man-natura tieg˙u. Henry Ward Beecher

Biex to˙loq biçça arti je˙tie© li dejjem tie˙u riskju li ser tag˙mel l-iΩbalji. Il-vera Arti tikkonsisti fl-g˙aΩla tieg˙ek dwar liema Ωbalji twarrab. Scott Adams

Li to˙loq ˙a©a ©dida hija l-uniku mezz li ta˙rab mill-ambjent tieg˙ek ming˙ajr ma t˙alli darek. Twyla Thorp

l-iskop ewlieni ta’ kull artist huwa li jwaqqaf g˙al ftit, b’mezzi artifiçjali, il-proçess tal-˙ajja flimkien mal-moviment biex jippreservaha kif inhi dak il-˙in, b’tali mod li wkoll jekk jg˙addu mitt sena, min jer©a’ j˙ares lejha jaraha friska, g˙ax fuq kollox fiha jkun g˙ad hemm mistur il-˙ajja. William Faulkner

L-Arti hija poeΩija bla kliem. Plutarku (Moralia)

L-Arti hija x-xewqa tal-bniedem li jesprimi ru˙u biex permezz tag˙ha jΩomm g˙all-©ejjieni r-reazzjoni tieg˙u g˙ad-dinja li jg˙ix fiha. Amy Lowell

Id-dmir ta’ kull artist huwa li jitfa’ xaqq dawl fid-dalma ta’ qalb il-bniedem. Schumann

Ilkoll nafu tajjeb li l-Arti mhix il-verita’. L-Arti hija ˙rafa li tressaqna biex nag˙rfu l-verita’. Pablo Picasso

Kull artist jinduna b’g˙afsa ta’ qalb id-dag˙bien fondi li jeΩistu bejn ir-realta’ u l-viΩjoni interna tieg˙u. B’dankollu jag˙mel minn kollox biex jesprimi r-realta’ fl-Arti. Isaaac B. Singer

L-Arti hija l-g˙asel imrekken ta’ ru˙ il-bniedem, g˙asel mi©bur fuq ©wiena˙ il-qsim il-qalb u l-u©ig˙. Theodore Dreiser

L-Arti hija kollaborazzjoni bejn Alla u l-artist. Drabi inqas ma jinda˙al l-artist ikun a˙jar. Andre’ Gide

L-akbar vanta©© tal-Arti hu li toffri spazju – spazju speçjali li fih ru˙ il-bniedem tista’ tie˙u n-nifs. John Updike

L-Arti tag˙mel minn kollox biex tixbah lin-Natura b˙alma skular jimita lill-Img˙allem, g˙alhekk l-Arti hija mnissla mill-istess Alla. Dante (Inferno)

Fl-Arti nsibu bosta ferg˙at jew oqsma – il-pittura, l-iskultura, il-poeΩija, il-proΩa (i.e. il-letteratura.il-kitba), eçç. Imma jidher illi l-muΩilka hija s-sultana ta’ dawn kollha! Anon

Nota Editorjali: Óajr u Prosit lis-Sinjura Brockdroff g˙al dil-kitba – frott bnin ta’ tiftix, bla xejn dubju! L-Arti g˙amlet u tag˙mel il-Bniedem. Ming˙ajrha kien ikun bhima – jew kreatura b˙ala.

16 L-Anzjan Illum

It-Tifkiriet ta’ tfulitna jibqg˙u f’mo˙˙na tul ˙ajjitna kollha. Meta naslu li nirfsu l-g˙atba tax-xju˙ija, dawn jinbidlu f’nofstal©ija, mhux biss tal-istess ©rajjiet, iΩda ta’ dak iΩ-Ωmien ˙elu li jkun g˙osfor. Ûmien qasir, li ma jer©ax jitfaçça.

Qabel ma bdiet it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, kelli anqas minn seba’ snin. L-Ewwel Tqarbina g˙amiltha ftit qabel ma’ dak il-fla©ell wasal fuqna.

Kont inkun dejjem ma’ missieri li kien ja˙dem it-Tarzna u a˙na konna noqog˙du Bormla. Mhux darba u tnejn li l-©enituri kienu je˙duni l-Belt. Imma l-aktar li kont nie˙u pjaçir kont meta inkun ma’ missieri g˙ax hu dejjem kien jo˙odni sal-Barrakka ta’ Fuq ˙alli naraw il-Port u l-vapuri.

Missieri kien ra©el tas-seng˙a, iΩda xejn anqas kien ra©el ta’ kultura, jinteressa ru˙u f’kollox, jaf jit˙addet xi ˙a©a fuq kull ˙a©a. Bla dubju l-vapuri u l-frejgati kienu jinteressawh bil-kbir. Xejn anqas l-istorja tal-ba˙ar u ta’ Malta. L-influwenza ta’dak it-tag˙lim li tani missieri g˙adha ta˙kem fuqi sal-lum.

Kien i˙obb jo˙odni fil-Barrakka ta’ Fuq lejn dik ix-xaqliba fejn kien hemm il-‘lift’. Meta t˙ares minn dak il-g˙oli tara mifrux ta˙tek biçça sew mill-port – ©awhra ta’ ©miel li mhux Ωgur hawn ie˙or b˙alu fid-dinja. Ng˙id u nistqarr li kont nibΩa’ n˙ares ‘l isfel, u waqtiet sa kont nibda nistordi. Mhux ta’ b’xejn li kont niggranfa ma’ idejn missieri.

Dan li qed ng˙id kien bejn is-snin 1937 u l-1939. Il-Port, f’nofsu kien ikun mimli frejgati tal-Flotta IngliΩa, ©fien kbar tal-˙adid, wa˙da sor©uta wara l-o˙ra. Dawn kienu jibdew minn quddiem Sant’ An©lu u jibqg˙u sejrin ‘l hemm minn Ras ÓanΩir. Missieri kien jibda iferfer sebg˙u l-werrej u jurini frejgata, frejgata, u fl-istess ˙in jg˙idli isimhom. Lejn ix-xaqliba l-o˙ra tal-Port, quddiem Ras ÓanΩir, ©ie li kien ikun hemm bastiment kbir, jixbah çattra, li minn fuqu l-ajruplani kienu jittajru. Dik il-˙abta dawn, ˙afna minnhom kienu jkunu b’Ωew© ©wiena˙. Il-frejgati kienu jkunu miΩbug˙in griΩ çar jag˙ti kemxejn lejn l-ik˙al tas-

Il-Port il-KbirMit-tifkiriet ta' tfuliti

Esej Storiku

Paul J. Debono

sema sajfi. Óafna minnhom, fuq quddiem u wara, kont tilma˙ turretti b’kanuni qawwijin.

Ta˙t is-Sur ta’ Santa Barbara kien hemm ankrati mhux anqas minn tliet vapuri tat-tag˙bija. Dawn kienu jkunu da˙lu g˙al ftit sig˙at, biex jie˙du l-ilma jew il-fa˙am. Il-vapuri mg˙obbijin merkanzija kien jibqg˙u de˙lin lejn il-Marsa. Fejn il-lum qed jissejja˙ il-‘Water Front’, daqsxejn aktar ‘il barra, kien hemm il-‘Power Station’ b’Ωew©t içmiem twal dejjem ida˙˙nu. Hemm ukoll kienu jorbtu g˙add ta’ skejjen tal-qlug˙, xi bark ukoll. Kienu j˙ottu merkanzija ta’ xort’ o˙ra – btieti tal-inbid, Ωebbu©, ful ta’ Ìirba, frott u x’naf jien.

Ix-xatt ‘l hemm mid-Dwana u t-triq quddiem il-pixkerija kienu jkunu ma˙nuqin bin-nies - ˙arkien u kummerç kull fejn i©©erri ˙arstek. Il-karrettuni tal-bieg˙a u l-karrozzini kienu jit˙altu ma’ xi karrozzi li sa dik il-˙abta ma kienux wisq kotrana.

Kont in˙obb nara jaqsmu l-Port lejn Sant’ An©lu u l-Birgu, g˙add ta’ dg˙ajjes li ˙afna minnhom kienu jkunu mmexxija minn barklor wie˙ed, o˙rajn minn tnejn. Mhux biss kienu j©orru ba˙rin, iΩda pajΩana wkoll, dawk li jkunu tilfu l-lança u ma jkollhomx sabar jistennew. Barra dawn kont nara wkoll lança tal-Flotta, b’çumnija tar-ram isfar, tleqq fir-ra©©I tax-xemx. Dawn kienu jwasslu mix-xatt lejn Sant’ An©lu, kemm ba˙rin kif ukoll fizzjali.

Mhux darba u tnejn li inzertajt xi vapur tal-irmonk qed ji©bed g˙add ta’ braken mimlija

Lulju - Settembru 2011 17

fa˙am,, sejjer lejn xi vapur sor©ut ta˙t is-Sur ta’ Santa Barbra. Malli l-braken ji©u marbutin ma’ ©enb il-bastiment, ix-xog˙ol tal-fa˙˙ama jibda. Arahom qishom çorma nemel telg˙in fuq il-fallakki, bil-qfief fuq spallejhom, imbur©ati bil-˙a©ar iswed.

Kont noqg˙od in˙ares u ninnota kollox u fejn kont in˙oss li nistaqsi qatt ma kont nibqa’ lura li nitlob tifsira minn g˙and missieri. Dan ma kienx jiddejjaq li joqg˙od ifiehem, iΩda kont ninduna li dak li jg˙id kien jag˙mlu tant bil-g˙aqal li jien, ta’ tifel ta’ sitt snin, kont nifhmu.

Mhux darba u tnejn li kont nara vapuri Ωg˙ar ja˙dmu bir-roti fil-©nub. Minn dawn kien hemm tnejn kbar, suwed, b’çumnija twila lewn il-mustarda, kollha du˙˙an u meta jg˙addu kienu j˙allu warajhom mog˙dija tbajjad bir-rag˙wa tal-ba˙ar imqalleb. Barra dawn kien hemm o˙rajn miΩbug˙in lewn ˙amrani – samrani, ukoll bi çmiem twal sofor, iΩda fit-tarf kien ikollhom xibka sabiex in-nugrufun jinfirex.

Semmejt ix-xog˙ol tal-fa˙am, g˙ax sa dik il-˙abta Malta kienet g˙adha wa˙da mill-‘Coaling Stations’ importanti. Hawn kienu jieqfu ˙afna vapuri g˙all-fa˙am u mijiet ta’ r©iel kienu ja˙dmu f’dan ix-xog˙ol. Niftakar darba kont ma ommi ©ejjin lura mill-Belt, meta x-xarabank wasal il-Marsa g˙add ta’ fa˙˙ama telg˙u mill-istej©. Nistqarr bla tlaqliq li ta’ tfal li kont stkerrahthom iΩda ommi qaltli li m’g˙andi g˙ax nistkerrahhom xejn, g˙ax wara kollox dawk kienu ˙addiema. Imma , jien xorta kont nibqa’ ma niççaqlaqx minn qrib ˙o©or ommi g˙ax ma xtaqtx li xi wie˙ed minnhom, mimli g˙abra sewda jersaq lejja.

Ìrajja o˙ra li baqg˙et stampata f’mo˙˙i kienet meta lejla wa˙da, waqt li ©a kien beda jroxx

id-dlam, ma’ missieri kont mort il-Barrakka ta’ Fuq. Rajt vapur b’Ωew©t içmiem, ˙iere©, jaqdef ©mielu. Minn kull çumnija lma˙t mhux biss du˙˙an ˙iere©, iΩda xejn anqas minn xrar ta’ nar – sufarelli ˙amranin. Jien bqajt b˙al imbellah u minnufih, kollni kurΩita’ saqsejt ‘il missieri. Dan, li minn qaddisu kien i˙obb jg˙allem, bis-santa fjakka kollha, bi kliem afif, fissirli kollox. Sal-lum g˙adni nqis il-bajli tal-istim qishom Ωew© borom kbar.

Ix-xog˙ol tal-fa˙am baqa’ jkarkar sa ftit snin wara li ntemmet il-Gwerra. Fil-fatt, dejjem kif qrajt fit-‘Times’ matul is-sena 1935 kienu da˙lu fil-Port 600 vapur jie˙du l-fa˙am, fil-1955, g˙oxrin sena wara, dawn kienu waslu fix-xejn – da˙lu biss tlieta!

Niftakarani naqsam mill-Isla sal-Belt, ‘l hawn u ‘l hinn, bil-lança. Kemm kont nie˙u pjaçir! Kont nitlob lil missieri jo˙odni dejn il-magna alli nara lir-ra©el jimpala l-fa˙am u nitg˙axxaq in˙ares lejn il-pistuni telg˙in u niΩlin. Qabel nirkeb il-lança kont irrid ng˙addi fuq pont tal-injam mibni fuq il-ba˙ar. Hemm tant kont nie˙u pjaçir in˙ares lejn dak il-˙ut irqiq, qisu çorma nemus tal-fidda, wieqaf, qtajja’, qtajja’ qrib wie˙ed mill-puntali. Mal-˙oss tal-passi kont tarah jinfirex, ja˙rab. Il-pont ©ie li kont in˙ossu jΩaqΩaq, kont in˙ossni beΩg˙an u aktar kont nag˙fas id missieri.

Imma fid-dinja kollox jg˙addi u jinbidel, xejn mhu g˙al dejjem. Alla˙ares ma kienx hekk, g˙ax kieku l-˙ajja ssir monotona. G˙alija iΩda dawn huma tifkiriet ˙elwin li tant nie˙u gost bihom, li jxettlu fija n-nostal©ija ta’ tfuliti, ta’ dak iΩ-Ωmien li g˙osfor u mhux ser jer©a’ – jitfaçça. Fl-istess waqt in˙oss g˙afsa ta’ qalb li dawn l-istess tifkiriet qed ifakkruni kemm qed nixjie˙.

Il-Periklu ta' Xiri ta' Mediçini minn fuq l-Internet

F’Seminar speçjali organizzat mill-‘Consumer Affairs Council’ fid-19 t’April, 2011 - fejn ing˙atat informazzjoni dwar l-Awtoritajiet Regolatorji differenti li jeΩistu f’Malta g˙all-˙arsien tal-Konsumatur - sar mag˙ruf li hu perikoluΩ li wie˙ed jixtri Mediçini minn fuq l-Internet.

Dan it-tag˙rif kien mog˙ti minn Dr. Patricia Vella Bonanno - SpiΩjara mill-‘Malta Medicines Authority’. Hija spjegat li l-mediçini li jinxtraw mill-ispiΩeriji awtorizzati kollha huma eΩaminati u analizzati bir-reqqa qabel ma jkunu g˙all-bejg˙.

Helen Borg Bonnici21.04.2011

Dan isir biex il-konsumatur tal-mediçini jkun assolutament protett. A˙na nafu li l-konsumatur tal-mediçini ˙afna drabi huwa wkoll pazjent li je˙tie© kura.

Sar mag˙ruf, li kien hemm bejg˙ ta’ mediçini ‘Falsifikati’ b’riskju serju g˙al min jikkunsmahom. Dan il-bejg˙, naturalment , sar b’mod illegali u bil-mo˙bi. Din hi ˙a©a serja ˙afna u passi legali ttie˙du kontra min inqabad g˙al dan ir-reat.

Hu g˙alhekk li wie˙ed joqg˙od attent biex xiri ta’ mediçini minn fuq l-internet ma jsirx.

18 L-Anzjan Illum

Directions for a Peaceful LifeEmergency Telephone Numbers -These are more effective than 112

When:You are sad, phone John 14 You have sinned, phone Psalm 51You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91 People have failed you, phone Psalm 27It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139 Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11 You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23 You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34 You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13 You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18 You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31:39 You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30 It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90 You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30 You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121 You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87 You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1 Inflation’s and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31 You are depressive, phone Psalm 27 Your bank account is empty, phone

Psalm 37 You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13 It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15 You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126 You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19 You want to carry fruit, phone John 15 Paul’s secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17 With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55 To get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47 For security, call Psalm 121:3 For assurance, call Mark 8:35 For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY. NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY. ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY. FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH

Did you know that when you carry “the Bible”, Satan has a headache, when you open it, he collapses, when he sees you reading it, he loses his strength, AND when you stand on the Word of God, Satan can’t hurt you!

Appell biex ikollna aktar artikli g˙all-fuljett ‘L-ANZJAN ILLUM’.

Ix-xewqa tag˙na hi li dan il-Fuljett jibqa’ jkun ta’ interess ©enerali g˙all-anzjani ˙bieb tag˙na. G˙alhekk jekk ikun hemm xi add li jixtieq joffri xi kitba ta’ interess g˙all-anzjani a˙na nie˙du pjaçir bih.

Kif tafu dan il-fuljett dejjem tqassam ming˙ajr flus. Billi l-ispejjeΩ ta’ din il-pubblikazzjoni ‘L-ANZJAN ILLUM’ qieg˙ed dejjem jikber, a˙na napprezzaw xi offerti li wie˙ed jkun jixtieq jag˙mel lill-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Anzjani. N.B. Id-Direzzjoni ta’ dan il-perjodiku tal-Anzjani tapprezza il-kummenti illi l-qarrejja jog˙©obhom jibag˙tu.Minn jixtieq jikteb lill-Editur ittri biex jidru f’dan il-fuljett jista jag˙mel dan billi jibg˙at l-ittri tieg˙u f’dan l-indirizz – Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Anzjani, 35, Triq il-Kapuççini, Il-Furjana FRN 1052, jew email – kna@onvol.net – L-Editur iΩomm id-dritt li ma jippubblikax çerti ittri.

Lulju - Settembru 2011 19

Though it is very difficult to say who the elderly are, it is easy to perceive at a glance that the ageing process sets in with the accumulation of years. In fact ageing is universal. It is intrinsic. It is also progressive. Sadly enough it is degenerative. What is most striking and surprising still is that these norms apply to anything that lives. Sometimes the process itself is accelerated by some additional malpractice like smoking and drinking. These factors though coming from the outside have telling effects on the whole system by precipitating it into a premature state of unwarranted senility. But why do we age?

This question has been raised throughout the history of mankind. Everyone showed the urge for eternal life without success. Lately a renowned magazine published a recipe which was said to reverse the ageing process. This recipe besides being costly proven to be also risky on account of the increase in hormones… and therefore we are back to square one. What we are certain of is the fact that this ageing process starts in the middle forties and continues on without respite.

But what does happen to us? Why should it be so? This perfect body of ours after taking a lot of years to build starts to deteriorate and the answer is not so easy to understand. After the attainment of maturity when nature is so generous with us in giving us near perfection suddenly trouble starts and downwards trend persists. It is up to us not to accelerate because it is the gradual deterioration of the whole human

The Ageing Process

L-Appostolat tat-Talb

Paul Muscat Terribilesystems. Referring to the already mentioned outside factors which also interfere with our body systems one has surely to include illnesses and diseases which overlap with the ageing process. These create immense havoc and paralyse our immune and replacement systems to incredible proportions and do not permit them to function as expected.

Take the Cardiovascular system for example. This organ is responsible for the proper function of the heart and the circulation of the blood. Along with the nervous system both command practically all our actions as transmitted by the mind which is what one might say our built in computer. As far as the mind is concerned one might conserve it by using it more otherwise it blurs and becomes erratic in its commands and storing capacity. Keep Dementia at bay by practicing your mind more.

Do any more signs exist of this ageing process? Yes of course. Breathlessness, swollen ankles, lack of energy, putting on weight without any plausible reason, all are signs that your heart is facing trouble. Under such circumstances consult a doctor. Rest is also rust. More daily physical exercise is therefore required. Even planning walking can do the trick. It is good for blood circulation. It is good for the muscles. It is also good for digestion. Therefore one must try because besides involving only something which we have been doing all our lives and which we have neglected does not involve any extra expense or effort.

IL-FEHMIET TAL-PAPA U TAL-ISQFIJIET TAGÓNA (2011)Via Crucis ta’ Trzeciego Tysiąclecia Częstochowa (Polonja)

“L-intenzjonijiet tal-Appostolat tat-Talb’’ g˙at-tliet xhur li ©ejjin billi konna ©ibna di©a’ is-sitt xhur fil-˙ar©iet ta’ qabel. G˙all-Informazzjoni tag˙kom, nappellalkom tg˙iduhom u toffruhom ta’Kuljum (jew meta tiftakru) matul ix-xahar ikkonçernat. Bil-quddiem grazzi lill-Appostolat tat Talb (b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Uffiççju Missjunarju) – u xejn anqas lilkom, li t˙arsuhom u ΩΩiduhom mat-talb ta’ filg˙odu.

Lulju - Biex Kristu jtaffi t-tbatija tal-©isem u tar-ru˙ tal- morda bl-AIDS, speçjalment fil- pajjiΩi l-aktar fqar.Biex is-sorijiet fit-territorji tal-missjoni jkunui xhieda tal-fer˙ tal-Van©elu u sinjali ˙ajjin tal-im˙abba ta’ Kristu.G˙al dawk li joffru l-g˙ajnuna tag˙hom u jag˙tu kelma ta’ fara© lill-morda u lill-persuni bi bΩonnijiet apeçjali fi djarhom u fl-isptarijiet.

Awwissu - Biex il-jum dinji taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ f’Madrid i˙ajjar liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ jibnu ˙ajjithom fuq Kristu.Biex l-Insara tal-Punent jift˙u qalbhom g˙all-˙idma tal-Ispirtu s-Santu u jer©g˙u jiskopru l-˙e©©a g˙all-fidi tag˙hom. G˙all-voluntiera kollha tal-parroççI tag˙na biex il-©eneroΩita’ tag˙hom tkompli sseddaq fostna l-g˙aqda u s-sliem.

Settembru - Biex l-g˙alliema jag˙rfu jikkomu-nikaw l-im˙abba g˙all-verita’ u jwasslu valuri morali u spiritwali awtentiçi. Biex il-komunitajiet Insara fl-Asja jkunu ˙erqana fix-xandir tal-Van©elu, u jag˙tu xhieda tas-sbu˙ija tieg˙u bil-fer˙ tal-fidi tag˙hom. G˙al dawk li jwasslu t-tag˙lim Nisrani lil uliedna fil-klassijiet tal-KatekiΩmu.

20 L-Anzjan Illum

Meta wie˙ed jid˙ol fil-knisja Ωg˙ira iΩda sabi˙a ˙afna ta’ Sant’Agata fil-lokal tar-Rabat, Ωgur li l-attenzjoni tieg˙u tmur lejn l-istatwa storika msemmija g˙al din il-qaddisa li kellha l-martirju tag˙ha f’Katanja u li, skont it-tradizzjoni, g˙exet proprju g˙aliex xi Ωmien f’dan il-post fir-Rabat. Din l-istatwa qieg˙da fuq l-artal u hija tal-ir˙am abjad. Il-qaddisa narawha bilqieg˙da fuq si©©u indurat, iΩΩomm salib u palma f’idha l-leminija, u ktieb miftu˙ fuq ix-xellugija.

Din l-istatwa qieg˙da fuq pedistall maqtug˙ ottagonali, u hija g˙olja madwar metru u nofs.

Fuq il-faççata tal-pedistall hemm Ωew© an©li bilwieqfa jΩommu plattin bl-isdra fih u tnalja fuqhom --- g˙ax Sant’ Agata hija l-patruna tal-mard tas-sider. Naturalment dawn huma simbolu tal-martirju tal-qaddisa. Fit-truf tal-pedistall naraw ukoll erba’ statwi ta’ qaddisin nisa. IΩ-Ωew© an©li jpo©©u

l-kuruna tal-martirju fuq ras il-qaddisa jag˙tu dehra impressjonanti lil din l-istatwa meravilja.

Fil-ktieb tieg˙u Sant’Agata, Fr. Victor Camilleri M.S.S.P. jg˙idilna li ma g˙andna l-ebda tag˙rif bil-miktub dwar l-iskultur li ˙adimha u lanqas dwar meta saret jew fejn in˙admet din l-istatwa. IΩda l-awtur Taljan Nino Urzì, fil-ktieb tieg˙u Viva Sant’Agata - Storia Immagini Esperienze Devozione jg˙idilna li din l-istatwa hija attribwita lill-famuΩ Antonello Gagini li twieled f’Palermo, fi Sqallija, fl-1478 u miet fl-1536. Hawn tajjeb li wie˙ed isemmi li fil-Knisja Ta’ ©ieΩu fil-lokal tag˙na wkoll g˙andna xog˙ol ie˙or ta’ Gagini; statwa tal-Madonna qieg˙da ΩΩomm il-Bambin. Fil-fatt, meta wie˙ed iqabbel din l-istatwa tal-Madonna mal-istatwa ta’ Sant’Agata jinteba˙ li jixtiebhu sewwa, ˙lief li l-Madonna hija wieqfa. Ma’ dan il-˙sieb ta’ Urzi jaqbel perfettament Fr. Victor Camilleri li huwa studjuΩ tal-istorja, l-aktar dik marbuta mal-kunvent tieg˙u ta’ Sant’Agata.

Tajjeb ukoll li wie˙ed isemmi li din l-istatwa ta’ Sant’Agata hija konnessa ma’ ©rajja storika ta’ Ωmien il-Kavallieri f’Malta. Kien il-Balliju Adorno, flimkien mal-Kavallieri ta’ San ©wann (fuq xewqa ta’ soru Benedittina tal-Imdina), li nhar it-Tnejn

L-Istatwa Storika u tal-Ir˙am ta' Sant' Agata fil-Knisja Ddedikata Lilha fir-Rabat

Peter Paul Ciantar20 ta’ Lulju 1551, din l-istatwa ta’ Sant’Agata ttie˙det b’purçissjoni solenni g˙al fuq is-swar tal-belt tal-Imdina u minkejja li l-attakk tat-Torok fuq din il-Belt antika tag˙na kien kbir, l-Imdina ma ntreb˙itx.

L-istoriku Bosio, li kien jg˙ix fi Ωmien din il-©rajja mirakoluΩa fl-1551, isemmi sewwa din it-taqbida. Naturalment hawn ukoll insemmu li Sant’Agata hija wa˙da mill-Patruni ta’ Malta.

Mill-©did nid˙lu issa fil-knisja ta’ Sant’Agata li jie˙du ˙siebha l-Patrijiet tas-Soçjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl (mag˙rufa wkoll b˙ala l-Patrijiet ta’ Sant’Agata), imwaqqfa minn Mons. ©uΩeppi De Piro. Issa l-˙arsa tag˙na ma tiqafx biss fuq l-istatwa ta’ Sant’ Agata, iΩda wkoll ma’ dak li jdawwar din l-istatwa. Hawn naraw dekorazzjoni mill-isba˙ li saret mir-Rabti u dekoratur mill-aqwa Mikiel Fsadni. Ming˙ajr dubju ta’ xejn, din id-dekorazzjoni tal-apside u l-kolonnar marbuta mal-arma tal-Gran Mastru Cottoner jag˙tu dehra aktar maestuΩa lill-faççata ta’ din il-knisja fuq ©ewwa.

Id-dekoratur Mikiel Fsadni (1869-1961) wettaq diversi xog˙lijiet ta’ dekorazzjoni, mhux biss f’din il-knisja ta’ Sant’ Agata iΩda wkoll fi knejjes o˙ra, b˙al dawk Ta’ ©ieΩu, San Dumniku, San Mark u dik ta’ San Pawl fir-Rabat, u knejjes o˙ra u palazzi o˙ra.

Naturalment, hemm afna x’wie˙ed jikteb dwar l-istorja ta’ din il-knisja u l-istatwa ta’ Sant’Agata, iΩda ma nixtieqx in˙alli barra din l-ispeçi ta’ kurΩità. L-inforra tal-libsa ta’ Sant’Agata fl-istatwa tag˙ha tal-ir˙am, illum il-©urnata hija ta’ kulur a˙mar irjali, iΩda Fr. Victor Camilleri jg˙idilna li aktarx li d-dekoratur Mikiel Fsadni biddel il-kulur ori©inali (blu) g˙al dak li naraw illum … a˙mar irjali. Fil-fatt, Fr. Camilleri jg˙idilna li jekk wie˙ed jifli sewwa dan il-kulur tal-lum (a˙mar irjali), jara wkoll xi tikek blu ta˙tu. Aktarx li Mikiel Fsadni biddel il-kulur ori©inali biex dan il-kulur ©did jarmonizza sewwa mad-dekorazzjoni li huwa stess g˙amel mad-dawra tal-istatwa maestuΩa ta’ Sant’Agata.

Lulju - Settembru 2011 21

L-Istatwa Storika u tal-Ir˙am ta' Sant' Agata fil-Knisja Ddedikata Lilha fir-Rabat

In-Numri kwaΩi kwaΩi “infiniti’’! ID-DEÇILJUN

Aqraw ftit dan li ©ej dwar id-Deçiljun u… ©©ibu g˙ajnejkom wara widnejkom mhux ftit… iΩda ˙afna!

Mela d-deçiljun jikkonsisti f’miljun immoltip-likat bih innifsu g˙al 10 darbiet. Jekk timmolip-likawh b’dal mod, jinkiteb billi ji©i bin-Nru 1 qud-diem 60 Ωero warajh!!

(A˙sbu ftit xi tkun tfisser eternita’ta’, ng˙idu a˙na, snin! Na˙seb li tkun tfisser wisq u wisq aktar minn tant u tant deçiljuni – deçiljuni bla g˙add, fil-fatt! – immultiplikati bihom infushom!).

La silna ©ejna g˙an-numri (jew figuri), ta’ min tabil˙aqq iΩid xi tag˙rif ie˙or - alli jkollna ftit jew wisq stampa aktar çara dwarhom. Tag˙rif tassew interessanti li nafu nsibu ˙afna qarrejja li baqg˙u “sajma’’ minnu. Nibdew bil-MILJUN – b˙ala baΩi – li kul˙add jaf li jinkiteb bin-numru 1 b’sitt Ωeros warajh (1,000 000).

Xi Fatti u Figuri Interessanti

Emm. F. Attard

a) Il-MILJARD, ifisser u jsarraf g˙all-IngliΩi elf miljun – voldieri 1 b’disa’Ωeros warajh (1,000 000 000).

b) Il-BILJUN, waqt li g˙all- IngliΩi jfisser miljun miljuni, ji©ifieri 1 bi tnax-il Ωero warajh (1,000 000 000 000), g˙all-Amerikani u l-FrançiΩi fih Ωeros preçiΩamen daqskemm kih il-MILJARD (ji©ifieri 9 Ωeros)!

ç) It-TRILJUN, ikun fih Ωeros g˙all-IngliΩi meta l-miljun ji©i mmoltiplikat g˙al 3 darbiet bih innifsu! Voldieri, dejjem jekk m’iniex sejjer Ωball- naf qed niΩbalja, niftiehmu! – dan jinkiteb xi ˙a©a hekk (1,000 000 000 000 000 000), 1 bi 18-il Ωero warajh! IΩda g˙all-Amerikani u g˙all-FrançiΩi – it-Triljun ifisser u jsej˙ulu BILJUN – (1, 000 000 000 000), 1 bi 12-il Ωero biss) !

N.B. Jekk ma kontx preçiz – jekk kelli xi Ωball x’imkien – l-aktar fil-kaΩ tat-TRILJUN – ©entilment nitlob lill-qarrejja jikkore©uni. Dan bir-radd il-˙ajr tieg˙I bil-quddiem!

IL-FJURA- “Sweet William” – Diantus Barbatus

Marion Higgins Debono

Fjuri minn na˙a tal-Lvant fl-Ewropa. Twal bejn 30-60cm. Jikbru bejn Ìunju – Lulju. Idumu jg˙ixu erba’ jew ˙ames ©img˙at.

Hemm le©©enda fl-IskoΩja li tg˙id li dawn il-fjuri ssemmew g˙al William Augustus, Duka ta’

Cumberland. Dan kien it-tielet wild tar-Re Ìor© it-Tieni tal-Ingilterra. Kien ir-rebbie˙ tal-battalja f’Culloden…L-istorja tg˙idilna li g˙amlu ˙sara u g˙aw© lill-Ìakobiti li sofrew din it-telfa. IΩda f’Londra fl-1746, b’˙ajr g˙al din ir-reb˙a mill-qirda tan-Nordiçi barbari g˙amlu ˙©ejje© kbar fit-toroq u fjuri ‘ntefg˙u fuq dan l-eroj tag˙hom. Il-kompoΩitur G. F. Handel kiteb oratorju g˙ad-unur tieg˙u. Lukandi u postijiet publiçi ssemmew ukoll g˙alih. Hemm grada fejn Hyde-Park, viçin il-˙abs antik, mag˙ruf b˙ala ‘Cumberland Gate’.

IΩda ˙afna snin qabel, fl-1590 din il-fjur kienet iddedikata lil qaddis San Gulielmu ta’ Rochester, minn Kent. Dan ukoll min˙abba l-fatt, li g˙ad kbir ta’ din il-fjura tikber mhux ftit f’dawn l-in˙awi tal-Ingilterra. Poeti, kittieba u artisti ©ew ispirati minn din il-fjura.

Jien ippruvajt nixtri jew niddobba xi Ωerrieg˙a minn dawn, iΩda s’issa g˙adni ma rnexxilix inkabbarhom fil-qsari tieg˙i.

22 L-Anzjan Illum

L-G˙aqda Poeti Maltin twaqqfet f’Diçembru 1975 minn Mons. Dr. Amante Buontempo wara kunsultazzjoni ma’ Alfred Massa.

L-ewwel Laqg˙a Ìenerali saret fl-10 ta’ Diçembru 1975 f’numru 55, Triq San Pawl, il-Belt fejn aktar tard issuktaw isiru l-laqg˙at tal-Kumitat sakemm Mons. Buontempo baqa’ President. L-ewwel Kumitat kien mag˙mul hekk. President: Mons. Dr. Amante Buontempo; Viçi President: Nutar V.M. Pellegrini, Segretarju: ÌuΩeppi Xuereb; Kaxxier: Carmel Caruana. Membri: Kav. Mario F. Bezzina u Mary Rose Pisani. Fl-ewwel laqg˙a tfassal Statut li l-G˙aqda kellha timxi fuqu u minnufih bdew l-attivitajiet li g˙andhom isiru sal-lum.

Fost dawn l-attivitajiet insibu l-Lejliet ta’ Nbid, Pizza u PoeΩija li kienu jsiru f’nru. 226, Triq San Pawl, il-Belt ( illum isiru Lejliet ta’ PoeΩija u MuΩika f’diversi n˙awi ta’ Malta u G˙awdex), kif ukoll Konkorsi ta’ PoeΩija kull sena; wie˙ed g˙all-kbar u ie˙or g˙at-tfal. L-ewwel pubblikazzjoni ta’ poeΩiji kienet il-Ìabra bl-isem A Poetic Galaxy (1983) li kien i˙addan numru ta’ poeΩiji bl-IngliΩ. L-G˙.P.M. kellha wkoll programm fuq Radju Malta; aktar tard xandret ukoll fuq Radju BKR u Radio 101.

Pubblikazzjonijiet o˙ra tal-G˙.P.M. huma Diwi fl-Ispazju(1985); Tifkiriet KalabriΩi/Ricordi Calabresi (1986); Il-Papa fi sieb il-Poeti Maltin (1990); Msieba˙ Mediterranji/Lucerne Mediterranee (1995); Riflessi Fiddiena (2000) u Arkadja (2004).

Ma’ dawn ta’ min iΩid ir-rivista Versi li bdiet to˙ro© fl-1986 u g˙adha to˙ro© sal-lum tliet darbiet fis-sena. Ta’ min jg˙id li mill-1986 Versi ˙ar©et dejjem regolarment. L-ewwel editur tag˙ha kien Dr. Karmenu Mallia, illum huwa Patrick Sammut. Il-membri tal-bord editorjali l-o˙ra baqg˙u ma nbidlux; dawn huma Charles Magro u Alfred Massa.

Fl-1986 l-G˙.P.M. ˙atret l-ewwel sitt Membri

G˙aqda Poeti Maltin

Tag˙rif minn Alfred Massa - President

Onorarj ad vitam. Dawn kienu: Prof. ÌuΩeÏ Aquilina, Karmenu Vassallo, Dr. Wallace Ph. Gulia, ÌuΩeÏ Chetcuti, Patri Wistin Born O.P. u Ìor© Pisani. Dawn inbidlu mal-mewt tag˙hom u llum dan l-unur jinsab g˙and il-poeti Dr. Karmenu Mallia, Alfred Palma, Lina Brockdorff, Il-Baruni Kelinu Vella Haber, Marçell Mizzi L.P., Ìanninu Cremona u Peter A. Caruana. Fl-1993 l-G˙.P.M. ˙atret lil San Miguel Febres Cordero, poeta u proΩatur Kolombjan (1854-1910) b˙ala l-Patrun tag˙ha.

Fis-sena 2000 Mons. Buontempo ˙alla l-post ta’ President min˙abba sa˙˙tu u n˙atar l-ewwel President Onorarju. Postu ˙adu Alfred Massa li g˙adu jmexxi l-G˙.P.M. sal-lum. Il-Membri l-o˙ra tal-Kumitat attwali huma: Segretarju: Charles Magro; TeΩoriera: M.D. Chircop; Viçi-President: Patrick Sammut; Ass. Segretarju: Dr. Joseph Axiaq; Ass. Kaxxier u Segretarju Internazzjonali: Manwel Attard Cassar; PRO: Miriam Ellul.

Illum l-G˙.P.M. torganizza diversi attivitajiet; fosthom Lejliet ta’ PoeΩija f’diversi bliet u r˙ula f’Malta u f’G˙awdex. Ûew© Konkorsi ta’ PoeΩija g˙all-kbar u g˙aΩ-Ωg˙ar. Lill-Membri twasslilhom Il-Folju (editur: Patrick Sammut) kull sta©un, u tie˙u sehem f’diversi attivitajiet o˙ra fuq skala nazzjonali. PreΩentement l-G˙.P.M. t˙addan ftit aktar minnn 80 membru.

L-G˙aqda g˙andha l-indirizz elettroniku tag˙ha li huwa: g˙aqdapoetimaltin@hotmail.com u g˙andha wkoll il-website tag˙ha: www.ghpm.netfirms.com

Biex persuna tissie˙eb fl-G˙.P.M. trid tibg˙at CV qasira, tliet (3) poeΩiji (jkunu b’liema lingwa jkunu) u ittra biex dak li jkunjuri li jixtieq isir membru. Dawn iridu jintbag˙tu lis-Segretarju, G˙aqda Poeti Maltin, c/o “Darna’’ Triq is-Sur, Fgura FGR 1249.

NIRRINGRAZZJAW LIL DAWN IL-MEMBRI LI GÓOÌOBHOM JAGÓMLU DONAZJONI

LILL-KUNSILL NAZZJONALI TAL-ANZJANIIs-Sinjura Carmen Debono (Qormi) €5.00

Lulju - Settembru 2011 23

Mimdudin: Weqfin:

1. Iffriska, Berred (6) 2. Werriet (5)5. Li ma jaqbilx, Kuntrarju (6) 3. Isem ta’ ra˙al Malti pur ! (4)10. Ìurdien kbir jew Imtella’ ΩΩejjed (3) 4. Óawwadi, Gerfiexi (7)12. Ifred f’ishma (5) 6. Ûmien il-kaçça – Epidemija, Mxija (5)14. Aktar sabi˙ (5) 7. Titfa’ ©o l-istonku (6)15. L-a˙jar trab mill-qam˙a (4) 8. Óabbar tal-©ejjieni, Profeta (6)16. Sadattant, Limitu ta’ (2) 9. G˙amel s˙arijiet (6)17. Kunjom ma˙bub! (5) 11. Ómar IngliΩ jew karta tal-log˙ob (3)19. Sfidant, Avversarju (5) 13. MiΩmum sod f’xi post (7)22. Ûewwaq il-˙wejje© bir-rakkmu (8) 18. Ìebel iebes – Skoll fil-ba˙ar (4)24. Irish Republican Army (3) 20. Safar g˙all-Italjana! (7)25. Çattra, Çattra, Çattra (6) 21. Id-Dinja nnfisha (3)28. In©orr il-piΩ (5) 23. Imwassal li jemmen (9)31. Annimali feroçi karnivori (5) 26. Mog˙ti l-linka (6)33. Fizzjal, Investigatur (7) 27. L-img˙oddi, iΩ-Ûmien ta’ qabilna (6)35. Rabta çoff / Tin˙all malajr (5) 29. Ìabra ta’ xi ˙add mill-pulizija (6)37. Nofs Utli (2) 30. Regoli ta’ Soçjeta’ (6)38. Óadem kemm fela˙, G˙amel ˙iltu (6) 32. La ddumx, Óaffef (3)39. Artist tal-palk / Film / TeleviΩjoni (5) 34. Wa˙xi, ta’ swied il-qalb (5) 36. Frott iswed tajjeb g˙all-ikel (3)

Premju It-Tislibiet Tajba li nirçievu bil-posta sal-ewwel xahar minn meta jo˙ro© il-Fuljett jitilg˙u bil- polza biex jing˙ata premju ta’ €10.

Il-Premju ta’ Tisliba Nru. 62 intreb˙et mis-Sinjura Loviana Tonna (Hamrun) – Prosit !

TISLIBA Nru.63 Minn Albert Howard Madiona

SOLUZZJONI TA’ TISLIBA TAL-ÓARÌA Nru. 62

MIMDUDIN: 1.ferfer 5.mistra 10.ron 12.andar 14.nadur 15.oval 16.ku 17.inter 19.abela 22.illumina 24.zoo 25.setset 28.kraxx 31.poppa 33.bravura 35.uniti 37.rn 38.argile 39.kuratWEQFIN: 2.epoka 3.forn 4.ronduni 6.indri 7.a˙˙ari 8.inçova 9.barmil 11.oak 13.rotunda 18.laos 20.eΩempju 21.lot 23.mekkaniku 26.tletin 27.tabiba 29.xpakka 30.spiera 32.ali 34.uΩura

36.tre

24 L-Anzjan Illum

During his visit to London in 1596, Dutchman, Johnannes de Witt, made a drawing of the Swan Theatre showing the main features of an Elizabethan unroofed public playhouse. These were the raised platform-stage, sometimes railed, with an open space for standing spectators on three sides and round the two or three galleries furnished with benches or stools. Behind the platform-stage was a wall, with doors or curtained doorways which gave access backstage. This wall supported a gallery for musicians or actors surmounted by tower housing machinery. From the tower a trumpet-call announced the opening of the play, and a flag was flown during the performance, which usually took place in the early afternoon. Over the stage itself was a canopy, known as the “heavens” supported on columns, and the ceiling painted blue with golden stars. The actors’ wardrobe, discarded robes by wealthy patrons, looked splendid to the audience.

Theatre lovers seek the open theatre on their summer holidays and often tie up their travel with a theatrical program. Baggage pounded the booth luggage on our driving holiday to Land’s End with the family. It was a beautiful experience. My Mecca was the Open Theatre.

Below the granite cliffs at Land’s End are the bizarre, isolated rock forms left behind by the retreating cliffs. The day was clear and the surrounding rugged coastline and the Longships Lighthouse warning shipping from this treacherous coast, presented magnificent views. Occupying a romantic setting on the cliff-top is the Minack Theatre which opened in 1932 with a performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. In July this open-air theatre holds a Shakespearean Festival and a different Play is performed each year. I was there for ‘As you Like It’. It reminded me of the performance I had seen at San Anton Gardens and was elated with Jacques’ moralizing Stanza “All the world’s a Stage”.. My inquisitive impression on that fine night was why do cultural evenings attract a large international classic audience?

My fascination ranked high on my holiday in Antalya, an ancient Greco-Roman city, province of Turkey. The Ghosts come alive in Aspendos to play their part in the marvelous theatre, the best preserved Roman theatre as well as functional. It was settled by Greek migrants after the fall of Troy

Phantom of the Opera!

Carmelina Grech – 18.4.11

in 1184 BC. Through the centuries it was occupied by the Persians, the ancient Greeks and the Romans and it was during this occupation that the most impressive of the surviving ruins were built by Marcus Aurelius and later renovated under order of Kemal Ataturk. Faithful to the Greek tradition, it is partially built into the slope of a hill.

The seating curved out of the mountain backdrop withstood the earthquakes in the region. It is used for the annual summer film and art festival and can accommodate 15,000 spectators. Visitors enter via a door opened in the façade. The original entrances are the vaulted paradoxes at both ends of the stage building. The auditorium, semicircular in shape, features two levels... Spectators reach their seats without difficulty by radiating stairways, ten in the lower level starting at the orchestra and twenty one in the upper building. A wide gallery runs from one end of the upper level to the other. As a general rule of protocol, private boxes were reserved for the Imperial family and first row of seats belonged to high dignitaries as senators, judges, ambassadors and others, while remaining sections were open to the citizens.

In ancient times there were awnings to protect the spectators from sun. The theatre galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect’s success, but it is most famous for its magnificent acoustics. Even the slightest sound made at the centre of the orchestra can be easily heard as far as the uppermost galleries.

Another analogous ancient theatre that tantalized my historical curiosity was along the way to the centre of Taormina. We came across interesting archaeological remains: the splendid ‘Greek Theatre’, most of the ruins is actually the Roman theatre that survived in the shadow of its Greek rival, its setting heralding a magnificent view. The Greek theatre was one of the glories of the ancient world. Other surprises featured: the Odeon, or “teatrino romano”, designed for musical and dramatic performances; pillars or columns and a few other remains of the Hellenic town.

So, a way to preserve historical features of heritage remains is in the resurrection of a respectable glorious monument. Why not our Opera House?