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Retirement Age in Malta

Hilary — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:23:42 +0000

Retirement from the workforce and pensions are hot topics globally at the moment – not just in Malta, but changes to the state retirement age are afoot on this small Mediterranean Island. It’s a matter of personal choice and circumstances that affect an individual’s retirement age, but the earlier you retire, the more funds you will need as the money will need to last longer. The State Pension age in Malta is currently 61 for men and 60 for women. Due to an ageing population and an increase in life expectancy combined with a falling birthrate over recent years, the retirement age is set to increase to 65 in the future, for both males and females.

Your year of birth is the deciding factor at which age you can start to draw your State Pension. If you were born in or before 1951, you can take your State Pension at 60 if you’re female and 61 if you’re male. If you were born between 1952 and 1955, you can collect a State Pension at 62 as long as you have paid enough National Insurance Contributions and you have actually stopped working. For those born between 1956 and 1958 inclusive, the retirement age rises to 63, as long as eligibility conditions are met, and for people born between 1959 and 1961 (inclusive), the age rises to 64. Anyone born in 1962 or later will only be able to retire and draw the State Pension after their 65th Birthday.

Many people like to retire much earlier than their State Retirement Age, and some people manage to do it by ensuring they have sufficient money to bridge the gap between stopping work and receiving the State Pension.

For more information about State Pensions in Malta, contact:

Ministry for Social Policy
Palazzo Ferreria, 310 Republic Street
Valletta CMR 02, MALTA

Social Policy Information Centre
Telephone: (+356) 2590 3100
Fax: (+356) 2590 3121
E-mail: pensions@gov.mt

Malta Public Transport

Hilary — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:27:56 +0000

Being a small island, Malta doesn’t need high speed trains or have multi-lane highways. The only forms of Public Transport are buses, taxis, and ferries. There was once a railway line with six stations running between Valletta and Mtarfa, but that ceased operations in 1931.

There are two regular ferry services in operation, one from Valletta to Sliema and the other between Gozo and Malta, berthing at Cirkewwa and a limited service to Sa Maison, near Valletta on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

There are several private taxi firms on the island, but private taxis have to be booked, they cannot pick up passengers hailing a ride at the side of the road. You should always get a quote for the fare at the time of booking. Public taxis are white and run on meters. These don’t have to be booked in advance, and there are plenty of these waiting at the airport, near the bus station in Valletta and at larger hotels. These white taxis can, however, be comparatively expensive. Some taxi drivers in Malta have a reputation for their risky, high speed driving and some passengers have reported a “white knuckle ride” to their destination.

The most popular form of public transport in Malta is the bus service. From the main bus terminus by the Tritons Fountain in Valletta, you can catch a bus to every locality in Malta. There are two smaller bus terminals in Qawra/Bugibba and in Paceville. Buses are painted red and yellow (in Gozo, they are maroon and grey), and each route carries a different number. Fares are cheap, usually 47cents for a short trip, but the vehicles don’t have air-conditioning and the drivers can come across as surly and rude. There are also limited night bus services which tend to run on weekends in the summer months to and from the Paceville terminus.

For further details about the Malta public transport, bus routes, fares and timings, contact Transport Malta on:

Tel: +356 25608000
Fax: +356 21255740
Email: info.tm@transport.gov.mt

Playing Bocci in Malta

Hilary — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:05:56 +0000

The popular game of Bocci is played all over the Maltese islands, and the pastime is closely related to the French game of Petanque, English Bowls and the Italian Bocce. Variations of Bocci are played all over Europe and it’s believed that the sport has its origins in the Roman period. Migrants from southern Europe who settled in Canada, Australia and The United States took the game with them and it formed an important part of their social scene. Maltese emigrants to Toronto and Melbourne set up Bocci clubs and these formed the hub of the Maltese communities there, together with band clubs and the Church.

There is a Bocci club in almost every village in Malta and Gozo. These clubs are regulated by Federazzjoni Klabbs Tal-Bocci based in Tarxien. As well as watching or playing Bocci, these clubs are a hive of activity in the bar area, and some Bocci clubs serve snacks and even full meals.

Bocci is played on a sand-covered smooth surface, and each team has three players. The jack ball is around the size of a marble and the look like snooker-balls. One team plays with red balls, the other one with blue. The object of the game is to get your team’s balls as close to the jack as possible. Rules do change and vary from club to club, so it’s worth watching a few games before trying your luck.

A particularly popular Bocci club – especially in summer – is Bugibba Bocci Club. Located right on the seafront, this popular venue attracts locals, summer residents and tourists alike. The bar serves a range of very reasonably priced beers, wines and spirits, and there’s seating available on a patio overlooking the sea. The club also dishes up some great bar snacks, sandwiches and hot meals and does a decent Sunday Roast.

Weather in Malta in September

Hilary — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:57:30 +0000

September in Malta marks the month of change when the exhausting heat of summer makes way for cooler temperatures – a respite to many Maltese who, by now, have grown tired of the high temperatures and humidity which have been endured since June.

Although the heat and lack of rainfall are a big attraction for beach-going tourists during June, July and August, September brings slightly lower temperatures which make the climate less harsh and much more comfortable.

From the highs of around 35C in July and August, the daily high in early September is around 30 – 32C, dropping back to 28-29C later in the month. There are typically around 9 hours of daily sunshine, with UV levels still high, so it’s important to wear sunscreen and sunglasses. For beach and swimming pool lovers, September is still a great month for a holiday soaking up the sun along Malta’s coast or at one of the hotels. Sea temperatures are still high at around 24C, so taking a dip is very comfortable at this time of year. Many scuba and snorkeling fans prefer taking to the water now rather than in the summer months.

September marks the first rains after the scorching dry period which generally starts in May. The parched, brown, thirsty Maltese landscape starts to turn a vivid shade of green later in the month, when the ground is woken from its summer slumber. Hay fever sufferers should bring a good antihistamine with them to combat the scourge of their allergies, which affect many Maltese and tourists alike. The September rains usually come in short bursts and average rainfall for the month is around 70 mm.

People choosing to holiday in Malta in September should bring a waterproof and a light jacket for evening, as well as the usual beachwear. The weather can be changeable and sometimes quite windy.

Wild Camping in Malta

Hilary — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:22:31 +0000

Getting away from it all is quite difficult on a small island the size of Malta, boasting one of the highest population densities in the world. With a Mediterranean climate, outdoor activities are enjoyed by many – locals and tourists alike. Getting off the beaten track is possible in Malta, and camping in the wild is one way to do it.

There are several popular locations throughout Malta and Gozo, but facilities are few and far between, so if you’re going camping, it’s best to be prepared.

Spring and Autumn are the best months to indulge in the outdoor life, as Summer can be too hot to bear sleeping in a tent, and Winter can be, at times, too windy especially in more exposed, remote locations. Apart from some rudimentary washing facilities at Santa Marija bay in Comino, there is little in the way of camping facilities in the Maltese Islands, and campers will need to take along a barbecue or cooking facilities, water and their own sanitary equipment.

On the Maltese islands there are several locations to camp out. The Ta’ Cenc area close to the village of Sannat in Gozo is a protected site, but often you will see tents pitched high on the cliffs. L’ Ahrax peninsula in the north of Malta has many spots ideal for pitching a tent, with lots of shaded woodland. The area beyond Bahrija in the west of Malta is quite remote and has some impressive bays and dramatic scenery. The island of Comino is virtually uninhabited and provides many opportunities for getting away it all, and as previously mentioned, there are basic facilities at one of the sandy bays. It’s not possible to camp just anywhere in Malta, and you will need to look out for signs, but in the more remote areas, pitching a tent in the wild is quite easy.

Malta Beach Hotels

Milie — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:23:28 +0000

Most of the Maltese coastline is rocky, with the cool aqua tones of the Mediterranean contrasting beautifully with the honey-coloured natural limestone; the bedrock of Malta.

Many of the popular tourist resorts such as Sliema, St Julians and Qawra don’t have access to a sandy beach, and instead, bathers swim off rocks or at a water’s edge lido. There are four main locations where hotels are found next to beaches, and they are all in the north of the island.

Malta’s largest beach is Ghadira, also known as Mellieha Bay. There are three hotels situated alongside the beach, these are The Riu Seabank Hotel, The Mellieha Bay Hotel and The Danish Village Holiday complex. There first two mentioned are holiday hotels with indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants and bars. Each offers a variety of watersports, particularly the Mellieha bay Hotel, with a Diving school – Aquaventure – based within the grounds and other watersports on offer. If you’re more into relaxing, then the sandy bay is metres away from the hotels, and there you can hire sunbeds and umbrellas. The Danish Village houses guests in bungalows set in luscious gardens, and these have self-catering facilities, although there are three restaurants within the complex itself.

Further north, the Marfa/Cirkewwa area has three beach hotels. The Riviera Resort and The Ramla Bay Hotel are on the north east of the Ahrax peninsula , and are close to sandy beaches both next door to the hotels and a little further away at Armier bay. On the western side of the promontory, The Paradise Bay Hotel is by Paradise Bay, a small idyllic sandy cove, close to the ferry terminal at Cirkewwa.

On the western coast of Malta, close to the village of Manikata, is Golden Bay – another sandy bay with beach facilities. Right on the beach is the Radisson Golden Sands Hotel. There has been a hotel here for many, many years, but in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2005, the existing hotel was demolished and a 5-star, brand new luxury hotel was built in its place.

Finally, although man-made, Bugibba’s beach is popular. This beach is known as a “perched” beach, with sand overlying the rocks on the resort’s coast. Close to this beach is the Dolmen Hotel – one of the largest hotels in Malta. Although the Dolmen has its own beach club, which is a lido by the sea’s edge, some patrons prefer to lie on the sand on the public beach.

For more information on these hotels, call the Malta Tourism Authority on 22915118

Diving Sites in Malta

Hilary — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:05:49 +0000

Malta and Gozo are home to some of the best diving opportunities in the Mediterranean. Several travel companies specialize in diving holidays on the islands, and there are a number of diving schools and dive centres all around the islands. Malta has some of the clearest waters in the Mediterranean, and although there aren’t as many species of fish as in The Red Sea, underwater life is abundant.

There are some famous and spectacular dive sites all around the coastal waters, and here is a list of just some:

Wied Iz-Zurrieq (Blue Grotto – Zurrieq). Enter the water via the slipway on the headland and head out of the mouth of the bay and turn right to follow the cliffs. 23m down, you’ll find the first cave on the right. Keep going and and more, larger caves are just around the corner.
HMS MAORI – Dockyard Creek, St. Elmo, Valletta. This is an 18m dive on the wreck of the ship that sunk the Bismarck. The ship went down in 1942, and there are plenty of entrances and exits for divers.
Qawra Reef – Qawra. 500m off Qawra point is a reef that has many caves and a variety of sealife. This site is safe for divers of all levels.
Tugboat Rozi – Cirkewwa. This boat was scuttled in 1992 and sits upright. This is one of the best dive sites in Malta.
Caves and the Madonna – Cirkewwa/Marfa. Spectacular drop-off with a cave containing a statue of The Madonna.
Ahrax Point – Marfa. One of the most spectacular dive spots with crystal clear water and massive Posedonia meadows home to over 300 species of marine life. There is an impressive drop-off.
Santa Marija Caves – Comino. A number of caves with some swim throughs, and one has an open shaft making for some excellent photography. The caves are literally teeming with sea bream. This dive is accessed by boat.
Dwerja – Gozo. With such natural features as the Inland Sea, the Azure Window and the Blue Hole, this is arguably the best dive site in the Maltese Islands. There are several dives in this location.

Illegal Immigration in Malta

Hilary — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:05:41 +0000

For decades, there has been a general trend of population movements from developing nations to the developed countries of the world. Historically, developing nations are some of the countries on the continents of Africa, Asia and South/Central America. Since Malta joined the EU in 2004 there has been an increase in the number of such migrants reaching Maltese shores, particularly during the period from 2004 to 2008. These migrants are referred to as “Klandestini” in Maltese, a term that translates as irregular or illegal migrants.

Such people are seeking asylum in Malta, claiming persecution in their own country, and they arrive in Malta without passports or other means of identification. Malta lies just a few hundred kilometres off the Libyan coast, the alleged departure point of vessels carrying migrants from Africa. Many migrants are from war-torn and extremely poor countries with a poor tolerance of human rights, such as Somalia. As Malta signed the Geneva convention, along with other European countries, then the rights of asylum seekers have to be respected. Libya did not sign the treaty, so boats cannot be sent back to Libya.

During the period 2004 – 2008, from spring to autumn, boats containing 27 or 28 migrants were arriving in Malta every few days. Some boats were rescued by AFM patrol boats in Maltese or International waters. Malta has a population of just over 400,000 and the highest population density in Europe, and in 2006 alone, 1800 such irregular migrants arrived on the island. Due to this influx, racist sentiments have been building with many angry comments posted on websites, such as that of the Times of Malta.

Under current EU rules, the country where the migrants arrive has a duty to take care of them and prevent them moving elsewhere in the EU, which, for Malta, is slightly ironic as it’s suggested that these people don’t want to be in Malta at all – they want to settle in mainland Europe. In Malta, irregular migrants are housed in tents in closed detention centres, harsh conditions that have been condemned internationally.

The number of illegal immigrants arriving in Malta has declined steeply over the past two years.

Malta Drive-In Theater

Hilary — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:36:16 +0000

Drive-in movie theaters are venues where you watch a movie whilst sitting in your car, on the hood or on the grass where you’ve parked. Usually they are in a field with a large screen at one end (sometimes an inflatable screen is used) and a projector at the other. The audience listens to the movie either through speakers by each car space, or by tuning into a special FM radio frequency. Popularized in the USA during the 1950’s, they became entrenched in the American culture along with popcorn, baseball and burgers. A Drive-in featured in the 1970’s film Grease, which typified American teen culture in the ‘50s.

Outside the USA, drive-in theatres aren’t very common, although they are found in parts of South Africa – there isn’t one in the Republic of Malta. As the movies are watched after dark, for reasons of visibility, they tend to be open only in the summer months, when evenings are warmer. Typically, a Drive-in theater has a soda bar, selling snacks such as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, chili-dogs, fries, pizza and popcorn and a range of soft drinks.

The Malta Drive-in is found in the State of New York in the United States, and has been in operation since 1949. Located on Route 9, 1 mile south of exit 13s on the Northway, the venue is open for the whole summer from the last weekend in April until September.

The drive-in has two screens and entry charges are $8.00 for adults and children over 12 and $3.00 for children of 12 and under. The theater charges $5.00 to any car where the occupants have brought their own food and drinks. There is a concession stand at the Drive-in selling snacks and beverages. There is a newsletter that patrons can subscribe to find out what’s showing each week.

Malta Drive-In Theatre
2785 Route 9
Malta, NY 12020
(518) 587-6077

Divorce in Malta

Hilary — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:38:50 +0000

Malta is one of only two countries globally where you cannot obtain a divorce; the other country being The Phillippines. Being a strongly Catholic nation, the church plays a part in the lives of many, but slowly things are changing, with many people wanting a separation of church and state.

Over recent years, the divorce debate has raged in Malta and this month (July 2010), Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando presented a private member’s bill to Parliament in a bid to introduce divorce to Malta.

Although currently, it’s not possible to obtain a divorce through the Maltese courts, divorces granted to Maltese and foreign citizens by overseas jurisdictions are recognised by Maltese law, and such people are free to re-marry. Such divorces should be registered with the public registry. Between 2007 and 2009 the Public Registry registered 102 cases of divorce awarded abroad. Even civil marriages cannot be dissolved by Maltese courts, contrary to the belief of some.

As an alternative to divorce, Malta has two options; legal separation and annulment. Either the church or the state can carry out such legal acts. With legal separation, the parties cannot remarry, but that’s not the case with annulment. Annulment means that the marriage never existed, although couples with children can obtain an annulment! In the past five years, there has been a total of 690 annulments by church and state in Malta.

With a legal separation, the couple must go through a mediation process which is offered free by the state. Once a couple is legally separated, then the parties do not have to cohabit, but the obligation of fidelity and support subsists. The at fault party may have to pay maintenance to the other. Between 2006 and 2008, around 3,500 sworn separation applications were submitted or mediations introduced, and a backlog of over 1,000 separation cases pending.

It will be seen in coming months what will happen with regard to divorce in Malta, but the issue has caused heated debate in social circles, and probably will in parliament too.

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