What the Sunday papers say…

MaltaToday reveals that the government seeks a return of a €20 million oil pollution prevention agreement made by the former Nationalist administration, after a private company made off with the equipment. A MaltaToday survey shows that the Labour Party is leading the PN by eight points ahead of the European elections. Alfred Sant is confirmed as the front-runner, while from the PN camp, incumbent MEPs Roberta Metsola and David Casa remain the clear favourites.

On the back page, the newspaper reveals that with the new ‘free for all policy’ on public land, developers can apply for a planning permit without needing to obtain the Lands Department’s prior consent before submitting a planning application to build on public land.

Sunday newspaper Illum reveals that the previous PN government failed convince the European Commission to allocate more funds for Gozo, because the European Commission did not agree that Gozo should be treated better. The newspaper reveals that the party’s MEPs were not informed of this refusal. Illum also reports that 80% of Maltese workers are happy with their working hours, and happier when compared with their European counterparts.

The Sunday Times reports that Malta tops the list of unemployed single parents in the European Union at 54%. In another story, the newspaper reports that the MT Atlantik, a seized shipping tanker, managed to escape out of Maltese waters unchallenged because no army patrol boats were available.

The Malta Independent on Sunday carries a story saying Malta rate of 7.0 deaths for every 1,000 children born ranks it as one of the highest death rates in Western Europe among children under the age of five. Malta also ranks the worst in early neo-natal deaths.

Labour news organ Kullhadd leads with Joseph Muscat’s speech during last evening’s political rally at Xaghra, whereby he accused the PN of being detached from reality and that the PN should ask those who struggle to make ends meet before lambasting the government’s fuel price lock in.

Nationalist organ Il-Mument quoted an article penned by Labour MEP hopeful Alfred Sant in which he expressed his disappointment at Malta’s EU accession, and also defended his decision not to accept the 2003 referendum result when 53.6% voted in favour of the EU.

It-Torca reports that the previous government did not disclose a report on the social-economic situation in Gozo, while in another story it reports that Baxter will increase its workforce by 190 new employees.