|
Sants wants technical study
Labour leader Alfred Sant insists that the financial authorities should issue a technical document on the implications of adopting the euro in January 2008 as planned by government.
Addressing party activists in Mosta, Sant says that it is government’s duty to pick the date most suitable for Malta when to adopt the euro.
Saying that the economy would not yet be out of the doldrums by 1 January 2008, Sant insists this was not a good date for switching to the euro. Without speculating on a date, Sant says euro adoption could be possible when the country achieves growth rates of four per cent.
Monday, 8 May
Cargo handling tender
Government announces it will be furthering discussions with two consortia short-listed for the cargo handling bid at Grand Harbour. The consortia are La Valletta Terminal Co (Malta) Ltd, made up of Salv. Bezzina & Sons Ltd, Salvu Meli & Sons Ltd and Joseph Paris and TF Shipping Agencies Ltd which consists of Tumas Group Company Ltd, Portek Ports (Mauritius) Ltd and Portek International Ltd.
The tender covers operations at Deep Water Quay and Laboratory Wharf and the bidders have the option of going for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 30.
Commission spring forecast
The EU Commission publishes its spring economic forecast which confirms the analysis made by sister newspaper Business Today over two months ago that economic growth in 2005 was mainly underpinned by foreign funding and an extraordinary increase in inventories.
The Commission delivers an optimistic but very cautious note on the prospects for this year and 2007. The Malta chapter titled, “mixed signs of a possible recovery” makes it amply clear that the “rebound of economic activity was driven by domestic demand, especially inventories.”
The Commission forecasts a slow down to 1.75 per cent in GDP growth for 2006 and a rebound to two per cent for 2007. It also projects a deficit of 2.9 per cent for 2006 and a problematic increase to 3.2 per cent in 2007.
Refugee camp
Lack of planning leads to the housing of 82 migrants under tents in a makeshift open centre set up at Hal Far. The migrants released from detention have nowhere to be accommodated since all open centres are full to the brim.
The tent compound is situated in a dry field in Hal Far some 500 metres away from Lyster Barracks and provides a very poor accommodation facility.
Tuesday, 9 May
Landfill rehabilitation
Environment Minister George Pullicino states that the report on incineration options will be made public soon, during a media tour of the closed Maghtab landfill. The minister says that gas extraction from the landfill will be used to generate 1.5 mega watts of power a day, which would be sufficient to meet the needs of some 3,000 households.
The minister announces that an international call for proposals on how to turn Maghtab into a national park will be issued by the end of the month.
The park, covering an area of 510,000 square metres will materialise in six to eight years time.
Industrial action
The General Workers' Union gives notice of industrial action to 10 leading importers of new cars over a new collective agreement for employees. In a letter to the importers, Andrew Mizzi, secretary of the union's electronics and communications section, warns that the union would order industrial action with immediate effect if it did not get any positive response from the importers in the coming days. The last collective agreement expired 16 months ago and the union had been insisting since then on holding negotiations to sign a new one.
Wednesday, 10 May
Jailed for assaulting minor
Nazzarenu Abela, a 65-year-old minibus driver is jailed for seven months by Magistrate Lawrence Quintano after being found guilty of violent indecent assault of a 12-year-old girl he had picked up to take to school two years ago.
The magistrate reduces the jail term from one year to seven months after the girl had forgiven the man.
The criminal act took place in January 2004 when Abela had picked up the girl to take her to school. Instead of embarking on the usual route Abela took the girl to a secluded place and tried to abuse her.
Sink or swim
Malta Tourism Authority executive chairman Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud addresses business leaders at the Palazzo Capua Vodafone Business Today breakfast seminar tackling the theme of ‘Product Malta’.
Lungaro-Mifsud says that branding Malta requires a concerted effort by all. He insists on discussions around the table between all concerned parties rather then public tiffs in the media.
Hoteliers present for the seminar express their frustration over the authority’s intransigence on low cost airlines. They insist that the recently announced schemes by government will not be enough to entice any of the larger low cost carriers.
Thursday, 11 May
Change in development boundaries
Environment Minister George Pullicino announces that development boundaries will be adjusted to correct a number of anomalies that were created along the years. He says cabinet has approved a set of criteria that will allow development boundaries to be adjusted, making space for more building area.
MEPA is expected to publish the criteria, including relevant maps on Monday 15 May.
De La Rue to expand
The De La Rue factory in Bulebel is set to open a second shop floor in Malta to manufacture electronic passports. The investment worth Lm2.2 million is expected to start operating in the beginning of next year. The announcement is made by government
De La Rue is the world's largest commercial security printer and papermaker, involved in the production of over 150 national currencies and a wide range of security documents such as passports, fiscal stamps, travellers cheques and authentication labels.
The new factory will be supplying biometric passports.
Police Commissioner on arson
The Police Commissioner puts on a brave face in the wake of arson attacks targeted against journalists and prominent people who have spoken against racism, saying that police investigations are at a delicate stage.
Addressing a media conference, Commissioner John Rizzo says that one of two senior police inspectors on the arson cases specialises in terrorism.
He insists it would be a mistake to associate each of the cases to a single cause. The police are not excluding anything.
Friday, 12 May
Wind farms
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi says government is planning to set up offshore wind farms to reduce Malta's dependency on oil for electricity generation.
Speaking after the European Union-Latin America summit in Vienna Gonzi is reported saying that government would be issuing an international call for tenders for the installation of offshore wind farms.
Gozo bill
Government goes ahead with its plans to amend the Constitution to redraw the electoral boundaries and make Gozo a single electoral district. It publishes the bill, which requires the agreement of the opposition to make it through parliament.
Migrant charged
A man from Ghana is charged with forming part of a group to commit an offence and assaulting a police constable at Ta' Kandja detention centre two months ago.
Ismail Abubaker Garba, 22, pleads not guilty to assaulting and slightly injuring PC Julian Grima on March 24.
Garba is granted bail and sent back to Ta' Kandja where he is currently held in detention pending the outcome of his case.
Saturday, 13 May
Journalist’s residence torched
The second attack in a week against a prominent journalist is carried out by unknown individuals in the stealth of the night. The backyard door of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s residence in Bidnija is torched after unknown individuals set alight five tyres in the back garden. Nobody is injured in the attack. Police are investigating.
|
