On July 3, volunteers from the Emergency Fire and Rescue (EFRU) took part in a major incident exercise in the Marsaxlokk area, as part of a team dynamics training programme.
In this simulation, the programme participant group was augmented with other trained volunteers from the unit.
The AHEX Limited team created a realistic scenario for a simulated multiple casualty incident, adjacent to a vital facility.
The complex scenario created in the simulation necessitated the set-up of a base of operations, including a command and control unit and various EFRU sub-teams deployed under the supervision of an incident commander. This set-up enabled the efficient operation of casualty extractions, which included the use of technical rescue skills.
The police are investigating two parents suspected of misappropriating donations meant to fund their child’s costly medical treatment.
Sources at the police’s Financial Crime Investigation Department confirmed that over the past year, they have been investigating the suspected misappropriation of tens of thousands of euros in charitable donations.
The case, described as “high-profile”, is linked to the parents of a young child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness who are believed to have misappropriated donations meant to finance overseas medical treatment.
However, investigators say that because the donations were made in small cash amounts, it is proving difficult to build a criminal case against the suspected fraudsters.
Update 12.50pm
A small group of NGOs has distanced itself from proposals made by a civil society council to reform controversial charity laws and said it will report the matter to the Council of Europe.
The organisations that form the Volontarjat Action Group say the proposals, submitted by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector last week, do not satisfy the minimum standards needed for NGOs to function properly.
While the MCVS proposals call for laws brought into force without consultation to be amended, the VAG says the legal notice introducing them should be completely revoked and redrafted from scratch.
Recommendations to change controversial new laws governing voluntary organisations’ fundraising activities and charity shops have been sent to Malta’s NGO commissioner by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector.
The 27-page document proposes significant changes to the much-criticised laws that are set to become operational this summer, removing entire articles and dramatically rewording others.
Among changes sought by NGOs are the removal of a €20 per donor daily cap on donations, which they say is unrealistically low, to requiring organisations, rather than volunteers, to register with the regulator.
Other proposed changes include:
Requiring the NGO commissioner to explain reasons for refusing permits;
MCVS starts discussion with legislator on regulation changes
Voluntary sector council optimistic that its proposals will be accepted, and agreement will be reached before these regulations become enforceable in July 2021.
24 April 2021, 10:34am
The MCVS wants proper regulation of the voluntary sector
The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) has presented its recommendations on how to regulate the sector.
Earlier this week the council presented its position to Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Sports, Recreation and Voluntary Organisations and Kevin Cutajar, Shadow Spokesperson for Voluntary Organisations by means of a document including recommendations brought forward by the sector itself.
In a statement on Saturday, the Council said it “believes that through communication and discussion with the legislator, our proposals will be accepted, and agreement will be reached before these regulations become enforceable in July 2021. To this effect the Council yes