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Kurt Sansone
Controversy is never too far when lawyer turned TV presenter Toni Abela is around and in last Wednesday’s edition of his programme Time Machine, he displayed a Jamaican good luck charm that contained what Abela claimed was an “illegal” substance.
The programme on Super One discussed the life and times of reggae legend Bob Marley and in all probability the illegal substance was marijuana, a central facet of Marley’s Rastafarian ‘religion.’
In studio, two reggae aficionados, journalist Lou Bondi and Super One DJ Pierre Borg discussed the political-spiritual-social message in Marley’s lyrics and the roots of reggae music.
Abela kept viewers guessing as to what the good luck charm was and at the end of the programme he produced this colourful fabric bracelet with a small woven bag. The lawyer said it was given to him by a Jamaican friend as a good luck charm intended to help the individual reach a higher spiritual level.
“It contains something, but I won’t be saying what because I’ll stand a good chance of being arrested,” Abela remarked at the end of the programme. There was little doubt as to what the bracelet contained, even if the guests would not be drawn into commenting on the evening’s ‘surprise.’
And what a déjà vu it was to have marijuana, Toni Abela and Lou Bondi in the same room. In different circumstances the three were also linked together during a libel case instituted by Lou Bondi against the now-defunct newspaper, Alternattiva in the early nineties.
The issue at the time concerned an article that alleged Bondi was in the same car of another person who was found to be in possession of marijuana during a police road block.
After a long drawn legal battle, which saw Toni Abela defending Alternattiva’s editor, Bondi won the case in controversial circumstances and was awarded damages.
But on Wednesday there was no sign of animosity between Abela and Bondi. The programme host had no snide remarks to make about ‘Where’s Everybody?’ the media company boycotted until recently by the Malta Labour Party which Abela supports, and mid-way through the programme Bondi also accompanied singer Marvic Lewis on guitar when she gave a rendition of Marley’s Redemption Song.
Time Machine also aired a series of features with people, who named their homes or businesses after the reggae legend. But it was an all round disappointment for the studio guests when a vox pop among Junior College students revealed an almost ignorance of who Marley was and the inspirational lyrics that characterised his melodic music.
kurt@newsworksltd.com
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