The woman was hit by a car in Triq Valletta, Mosta last night at around 6:30pm
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Thursday, May 31, 2018
Woman hit by car in Mosta, seriously injured
Woman, young boy hit by car in separate accidents, both seriously injured
A woman and a young boy were both seriously injured after being hit by a car in Mosta and Rabat respectively on Thursday evening, the police said.
At 6.30pm, the woman, a Ukrainian 41-year-old resident of St Paul's Bay, was hit by a Peugeot 406 driven by a 36-year-old of Frgura.
The accident took place in Valletta Road. The woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Two hours later, a nine-year-old boy was hit by another Peugeot 406, driven by a 23-year-old woman of Rabat, in the limits of Raba Nemel, Rabat.
The boy was also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
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Populist government to be sworn in, ending Italy's political deadlock
President Sergio Mattarella agreed to a revised slate of ministers, including Matteo Salvini, Luigi Di Maio, Giuseppe Conte, and Paolo Savona who was previously rejected
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Gzira Local Council closes its doors in protest
On Thursday, Gzira Councilor Jeremy Cardona said that a contractor tried to run him over in broad daylight
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Cyclist killed in car accident
The man was hit by a car close to the new Kappara flyover
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74-year-old man reported missing, last seen in Mosta
Do you have any information on this man's whereabouts? Victor Caruana was reported missing on Thursday
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Gzira council shuts its doors in protest over attack on its councillor
The Gzira Local Council will remain shut as from Friday following an attack on its councillor Jeremy Cardona, allegedly by a contractor, the council said in a statement.
Cardona claimed a ruthless contractor tried to run him over in broad daylight on Wednesday. He has filed a report with the police. The driver, who was identified to the police, revved up and swerved his vehicle, almost hitting him as he was walking along The Strand in Gżira, corner with Triq Belvedere.
In a statement, the council said it was convinced that this act "occurred due the egoism and negligence of certain contractors working within the construction sector", which were causing considerable inconveniences to residents.
The council held an urgent meeting on Thursday and decided to keep its doors shut as from Friday until Tuesday, ending its protest with a public demonstration on Tuesday at 6.30pm in Sir Patrick Stuart Street, Gzira.
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‘We’re not child snatchers, we want to help families’ - Alfred Grixti
Alfred Grixti, CEO of the Social Welfare Foundation says Child care orders are down since 2015 after a home-based therapy programme was put in place
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Incomes yet to be declared in ministerial asset returns
Here's a look at what cabinet members own, as surmised from their MP declarations. The list contains all assets as declared by ministers, junior ministers, and cabinet consultant Robert Abela
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Speak in tongues! Multi-lingual Maltese fare better than European counterparts
62% of Maltese can speak two to three languages compared to 37% of all EU citizens
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[ANALYSIS] Why a referendum on IVF would be a big gamble
The Irish referendum has shown that human stories of women grappling with real life dilemmas carry more weight than abstract principles and scaremongering. Does the local pro-life movement risk a waterloo by invoking a referendum to repeal amendments to the Embryo Protection Act?
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Cyclist hit on Regional Road, two lanes closed to traffic
A cyclist was hit by a car this morning on the Regional Road, in the direction from St Julian's to Msida, and two lanes of that particular stretch are closed to traffic, the police said.
The identity of the cyclist and his condition are not yet known.
The cyclist was hit by a car, a Toyota Vitz, driven by a 35-year-old Libyan resident in Msida.
The accident took place at 5.45am.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
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EP delegation to meet political parties, civil society to discuss rule of law findings
A cross-party delegation of MEPs from the European Parliament are today meeting with the Labour Party (PL), the Nationalist Party (PN) and the Democratic Party (PD) to discuss the findings and any action taken on recommendations produced in a rule of law report that was published last January.
Late in 2017, the MEP delegation, led by Socialist MEP Ana Gomes (photo) had come to Malta on a fact-finding mission into the rule of law in Malta and the effectiveness of Malta's institutions following the brutal murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
While in Malta, the delegation looked into accusations against the police and the Attorney General for failing to take action when the Panama Papers was revealed, and for failing to investigate allegations made by the slain journalist about a third Panama company, Egrant Inc, and its true ownership. A number of magisterial inquiries are underway, launched after former PN leader Simon Busuttil filed reports in court. The Egrant inquiry was prompted by the Prime Minister himself and is also still ongoing.
The delegation also looked into the independence of Malta's institutions. After the fact-finding mission, MEPs had penned a report and also produced a number of recommendations. The delegation will today discuss with the main political parties and sections of civil society on the action taken with regards the recommendations.
A special discussion took place in Parliament after a motion was filed by PN MP Jason Azzopardi on the recommendations of the report, however PL MPs highlighted how Malta has adhered to EU directives and regulations, is always updating the judiciary and criticised the report for being one-sided and biased.
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Italy gets western Europe's first populist government on second try
Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League succeeded Thursday in forming western Europe's first populist government, which will be headed by a political novice whose first try was rejected four days earlier as too risky for the Italian economy.
What changed was the willingness of 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio and League leader Matteo Salvini to shuffle the proposed roster of government ministers amid a financial market scare. They moved an 81-year-old euroskeptic economist vetoed by Italy's president from overseeing the economy ministry to a European affairs Cabinet post.
After the fits, starts and financial turbulence of recent days, the realization of a 5-Star-League coalition government put its populist posture on full display in Salvini's first public remarks. He returned from Rome to address a crowd of supporters in his northern home region of Lombardy.
"I want to make Italy a protagonist in Europe again. With good manners and without creating confusion. But I am fed up of governments with the hat in their hand," Salvini said to cheers. "We are second to no one."
Just a short time earlier, President Sergio Mattarella's (above) office announced that the new premier, University of Florence law professor Giuseppe Conte (top), and his ministers would be sworn in Friday afternoon.
It was a stunning comeback from Sunday evening, when Conte — the premier-designate at the time — left a meeting with Mattarella empty-handed and returned to his teaching job.
Emerging from a similar meeting with a different ending Thursday night, Conte read off his Cabinet list and pledged that "we will work with determination to improve the quality of life of all Italians."
The Cabinet includes Di Maio— architect of the government's proposed basic income for struggling Italians — as welfare minister and Salvini — who has pledged to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants — as interior minister.
The new economics minister, Giovanni Tria, is a mainstream economist at Rome University, while the foreign ministry goes to Enzo Moavero Milanesi, a former European Union official in Brussels who was European affairs minister in former Premier Mario Monti's two-year technical government.
In his remarks to supporters, Salvini pledged to make sending migrants back to their home countries a priority.
"My commitment will regard the security of 60 million Italians," Salvini said.
Di Maio kept his comments to a brief Facebook post thanking supporters and declaring "the government of change is reality."
An inconclusive parliamentary election in March produced months of stalemate before the Italian political machinery went into overdrive this week. After rejecting Conte's first attempt, Mattarella tapped a former International Monetary Fund official to head a possible interim government of technocrats to see Italy through to an early election.
But investors, fearing the vote would be a referendum on the euro, revolted, sending Italian stocks plummeting and increasing the cost of borrowing to cover Italy's stubbornly high sovereign debt of 132 percent of GDP. Just the prospect of a political government calmed markets Thursday.
Mattarella put that premier-designate, Carlo Cottarelli (above), on hold after the 5-Stars and the League indicated willingness to compromise on their ministers. Di Maio also backed down on threats to seek Mattarella's impeachment over the first failure.
The two leaders canceled other engagements Thursday to meet at the parliament in Rome and hammer out a Cabinet.
With developments moving quickly, Cottarelli stepped aside and Mattarella summoned Conte, who had returned to Rome earlier in the day after turning over his morning class to a substitute.
Mattarella received a round of applause from the press room at his palace when he described the recent events as "this complex itinerary that led to the formation of a government."
During the first attempt to put together a populist government, Salvini and Di Maio's decision to tap an unknown lawyer to be the next premier raised eyebrows in Italy. The revelation that Conte's resume exaggerated academic credentials at elite universities in Europe and the United States did not help.
But more fundamentally, analysts have raised questions about whether he would be at best an executor for the two leaders who put aside their ambitions to be premier in order to form a government, and at worst a mediator
Lorenzo Codogno, a former Treasury official and economic analyst, said he predicts "trench warfare" between the government and Mattarella "on matters related to Europe and the fiscal stance."
"Still, it is well possible that the near-term financial market reaction is positive, as (the) breakthrough reduced the uncertainty and at least provides Italy with a much-needed government," he said.
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[WATCH] Fr Mark Montebello breaks silence at Dom Mintoff monument unveiling
Dominican priest Fr Mark Montebello broke his silence after being censored by his Order at the unveiling ceremony of a monument dedicated to former prime minister Dom Mintoff • Joseph Muscat says monument celebrates the present and the future
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Blockchain biggest thing since the internet, Malta to be at forefront, lawyers say
Leading cryptocurrency company coming to Malta transacts as much money in a week as our island does in a year
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Monument dedicated to former PM Dom Mintoff inaugurated at Castille Square
A monument dedicated to former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff was inaugurated this evening by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
The statue, by artist Noel Galea Bason, is located at Castille Square.
Speaking before the unveiling, Muscat said the monument was a celebration of Malta's present and future.
The PM said Mintoff would probably not have wanted a monument dedicated to him as he believed that statues represented the past. "But we are here to celebrate the present and the future," Muscat said. "We cannot speak of Mintoff without speaking of the continuous element of change he embodied."
The PM said Mintoff saw in Malta things that few others saw and had visions that went beyond his time.
"He gave us the step to the future and opened the door to this wide open."
Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said younger people might not remember Mintoff as leader of the country but were surely aware of his legacy.
"As a politician leaves the arena, spectators and protagonists become closer. This evening's event is not one for fanatics or idolisation but it honours someone who had worked tirelessly for this country," Bonnici said.
The event was also addressed by Fr Mark Montebello and University of Malta pro-rector Carmen Sammut.
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Have you seen this man? 74-year-old goes missing, last seen in Mosta
74-year-old Victor Caruana has gone missing, the police said on Thursday.
He was last seen on Wednesday in Triq is-Sajf, Mosta, wearing a blue and grey top, blue trousers and a blue cap.
Anyone with information can speak to the police, in a confidential manner, on telephone numbers 21224001 or 119.
Information can also be given to officers at police stations.
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FAA trying to buy or lease site wanted by Chiswick for new school in order to preserve it
Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar has applied to lease or buy the same plot of land in Pembroke Chiswick school is attempting to purchase.
FAA Coordinator Claire Bonello, speaking with The Malta Independent, said that public land is always being given to developers, "so we thought to ourselves, why not try and do the same thing?" She explained that the Lands Authority now has to decide whether to give the land to a private commercial interest, or hand it over for public enjoyment.
She said that if the Lands Authority grants the land to FAA, they will keep 100% of it for the public. She said that the FAA already received a planning permit from the Planning Authority to erect a hedge boundary around the site.
"We want to keep the land untouched," she said.
FAA have not heard back from the Lands Authority, regarding their request to lease or buy the land, so do not know the price, however Bonello did say she hopes it would be roughly €50 per sqm- "roughly the same amount the db Group paid for the ITS land."
"This is a desperate attempt to make the Government, the Lands Authority or whoever to sit up and take notice. We need public open space. We are being forced to buy back our land, our air, our right to nature. Does the Government want to empty our children's piggybanks so they can breathe and run and play?" Bonello asked.
Chiswick House School's had proposed a new school in Pembroke which will introduce young children to an entirely new concept of learning and take up 25 per cent of its allocated footprint, school director Bernie Mizzi had previously said.
The whole idea caused an uproar among Pembroke resident, who had even organised a protest.
The Environment Minister himself, Jose Herrera, had even attended that protest.
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Man acquitted of injuring men who attacked his car
The magistrate noted that neither of two alleged victims had testified and that while the accused had immediately filed a report with the police, the victims had only done so 14 hours later
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The Russia 2018 World Cup with the Malta Independent
Starting 1st June till the end of the tournament, The Malta Independent will give extensive coverage to the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Moscow on 14th June and runs till the 15th July, with six pages of information daily dedicated to the event on The Malta Independent newspaper, and a special section on The Malta Independent website reserved specifically for the World Cup.
The Malta Independent will give extensive coverage, starting with news and features from the training camps ahead of the tournament; articles with details and statistics on the 32 participating countries; everything there is to know about the host cities, from the history to useful information for fans; previews about individual matches and full text and photo coverage of every game in Russia.
The Malta Independent will also take its readers on a journey through time, as it looks at the past 20 editions of the World Cup, with special focus on specific moments in World Cup history, accompanied by photos.
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Man cleared injuring two who intervened to break up argument
A court has cleared a man of involuntarily causing grievous injuries to two men who had damaged his car when they intervened in an argument he was having with his girlfriend.
Lydon Xerri was charged in connection with an incident which occurred in the car park of a commercial establishment at Bahar ic-Caghaq in February 2015.
The accused and his girlfriend at the time had been having an animated argument inside his car, which was parked outside the venue when a stranger had opened the car's passenger door and intervened.
The interloper was told to go away and Xerri then tried to drive off, but found his path to be blocked by roadworks.
As Xerri reversed his car to find another exit, another stranger had allegedly jumped onto the bonnet, hitting the car with his fists and smashing the windscreen.
A third-party who had allegedly witnessed the incident had later given an account of the incident to a police sergeant who repeated the story from the witness stand.
Xerri was charged with having caused involuntary grievous bodily harm to the two men, involuntary damage to third party property and with having breached a conditional discharge.
But in her assessment of the evidence magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech noted that neither of the two alleged victims had testified, one having died since the incident and the other choosing not to do so as not to incriminate himself in separate proceedings against him over the same incident.
The court saw how, while the accused had driven straight to the police station to file a report on the incident, the alleged victims had only gone to file a report 14 hours after the incident and had sought medical assistance only upon the advice of the police, the day after they filed the police report.
"Any further remarks would be superfluous," the court observed, pointing out that the accused's version, confirmed under oath, had also been corroborated, while the version given by the alleged victims had lacked 'truthfulness and logic.'
A third party eyewitness had not been summoned to testify, observed the court, dismissing the case against Xerri.
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Archbishop to return to Chile as part of child abuse investigation
The Vatican said the trip was meant to heal the wounds of the victims of abuses committed by clergy members
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World No Tobacco Day: 20% of Maltese population smoke regularly, 4% smoke occasionally
World No Tobacco Day 2018 this year is focusing on the impact tobacco has on the cardiovascular health of people worldwide. According to European Health Interview Survey 2014 20 per cent of the Maltese population smokes regularly and 4 per cent smoke occasionally.This marks a decrease of 0.2% and 1.5% (respectively) when compared with 2008 data (European Health Interview Survey, 2008).
On World No Tobacco Day, an international day celebrated every year on the 31st of May which aims to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate in collaboration with the University of Malta is providing smoking cessation services for both staff and students at the newly launched Health and wellness clinic at the University of Malta.
Smoking has remained the cause of many yearly preventable deaths. The average annual smoking attributable deaths during the period 1999 - 2013 was estimated to be 396 deaths in males and 111 deaths in females. Among adults 40% of the male and 47% of the female smoking attributable deaths were due to cardiovascular disease (Directorate of Health Information and Research, 2014).
The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate have recently opened two smoking cessation clinics, one at Paola health centre and another one at Gozo General Hospital. Together along with the smoking cessation clinics at Mosta and Floriana health centres the Directorate argued that these two new clinics will help to encourage uptake for smoking cessation by improving geographical coverage. These clinics are supplied with health professionals, trained in smoking cessation, providing one-to-one professional support towards quitting smoking. The clinics also provide carbon monoxide testing, with carbon monoxide through smoking being absorbed into the bloodstream when lit cigarettes or cigars are inhaled.
The directorate explained how smoking harms nearly every single organ in the human body. Cigarettes carry around 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke of which at least 250 are known to be harmful, and more than 50 are known to cause cancer.
"The focus of this year's World No Tobacco Day is 'Tobacco and heart disease'. Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Constituents of inhaled tobacco smoke damage the blood vessels walls, making them thicken and grow narrower (atherosclerosis). Narrowing of blood vessels reduce blood flow to various parts of the body including the heart, the brain and the legs. Complete blockages can also occur resulting in a heart attack (in the heart) or a stroke (in the brain). Carbon monoxide also increases risk of cardiovascular diseases. Even people who smoke fewer than 5 cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease."
Smokers, who are willing to quit, can self-refer themselves to these smoking cessation services by calling the Quitline on 8007 3333. Professional support has been found to more than double one's chances in successfully quitting smoking. Currently discussions are underway to start to offer group smoking cessation services at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre.
For more information please contact the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate on 2326 6000, by email on health.pro@gov.mt, or follow is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – HPD Malta or on https://ift.tt/2J35mdr.
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PN requests intervention of consumer institutions on high energy bills
The Nationalist Party has requested the intervention of consumer institutions to defend customers from exceedingly high energy bills.
The Malta Independent has been for the past months reporting that consumers are paying more than they should for their electricity, with the government promising action which has so far not taken place.
The PN has asked the Malta Authority for Competition and Consumer Affairs, the Competitions Officer and the Consumers' Office to investigate claims that people are paying higher energy bills than they should.
In a press conference, deputy leader David Agius said the system in place for the issuing of bills was leading to discrepancies in the annual allocation of free electricity and water units, with the result that consumers are paying more.
This is being done at the expense of the law, which lays down that while pro-rata bills may be sent, tariffs should be applied on a yearly basis, Agius said.
From investigations carried out by the PN on 100 sample bills, it resulted that 80 per cent of consumers were paying between €6 and €600 a year. This was also confirmed by Eurostat statistics that established that bills in Malta had increased by 7.1% between 2016 and 2017.
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Archbishop Scicluna to return to Chile on pastoral mission
The Vatican team of investigators who exposed wide-scale priestly sexual abuse and a cover-up in Chile's Catholic Church is going back to the country on a pastoral mission to the divided diocese of Osorno.
Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said Thursday the visit to Osorno by Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu was not investigative in nature but pastoral.
Osorno has been badly divided ever since Pope Francis in 2015 tapped Bishop Juan Barros to lead the diocese over the objections of some of Chile's other bishops. Barros had been a top lieutenant of Chile's most notorious predator priest, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, and had been accused by Karadima's victims of having witnessed and ignored their abuse.
Barros has denied the charge, but he was one of the 30-plus Chilean bishops who recently submitted their resignations to the pope after Scicluna and Bertomeu issued a 2,300-page report detailing decades of abuse and cover-up in the Chilean church.
Francis had initially sent the pair to Chile in February to take testimony from victims and witnesses, after he drew widespread public condemnation for having defended Barros during a trip to Chile. Among the 64 people Scicluna and Bertomeu interviewed were members of a delegation from Osorno, which is some 900 kilometers (560 miles) from Santiago.
Among other complaints, Barros' opponents in Osorno have argued that he can't be trusted to protect children from pedophiles in Osorno today if he claims to have never seen any abuse when it was all around him in Karadima's community.
Barros' March 2015 installation Mass in Osorno's cathedral was marred by violent protests by some of the hundreds of local Catholics who have continued to reject him as their bishop.
A Vatican statement said the Scicluna-Bertomeu mission to Osorno, expected in the coming days, had as its aim "to advance the process of reparation and healing of abuse victims."
The mission is expected after Francis receives another group of Karadima victims at the Vatican this weekend. Late last month, Francis spent four days with Karadima's main accusers.
Over the past three years, Barros twice offered to resign amid the mounting outrage that his appointment sparked, but Francis twice refused to accept his resignation. The pope is widely expected to accept his resignation the third time around, along with the other Karadima-trained bishops and an unknown number of other diocesan bishops.
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[BREAKING] Six workers trapped at Enemed Ħas Saptan site
A rescue operation is under way to extract trapped workers at the Enemed fuel site at Ħas Saptan
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Breaking news: Workers trapped in Enemed tunnel in Has-Saptan
A number of workers are trapped in a tunnel in Has-Saptan, police confirmed to The Malta Independent.
There could be as many as six workers who are trapped.
Part of a tunnel in an Enemed complex appears to have collapsed. The cause is as yet unkown.
Medical teams as well as personnel from the Civil Protection Department have rushed to the site to give assistance.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
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INDEPTH: Environment minister cannot remain silent in certain circumstances – Jose Herrera
Environment Minister Jose Herrera said that a man in his position cannot remain silent in certain circumstances relating to environmental issues.
He was replying to question about his participation in public protests against development plans in this week's programme INDEPTH.
The interview was carried out by The Malta Independent editor-in-chief Rachel Attard, Herrera.
It will be uploaded tomorrow.
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PA board approves controversial Luqa station, seven of 11 members vote in favour
The Planning Authority Board today voted to approve a controversial Luqa fuel station, despite indicating in a previous sitting that they would turn it down.
Seven board members voted in favour of the application, with four voting against. The four who voted against were Annick Bonello, Marthese Portelli, Victor Asciak and Vince Cassar.
During the original board meeting on the proposed station, activists took over part of the Planning Authority meeting with placards, speakerphones, chants, banners and music. The meeting had to be suspended and moved to another building before resuming due to the activists. The initial vote ended in a deadlock with the Chairman having the casting vote, resulting in the intention to overturn the Planning Directorate's approval recommendation being shown by the board, thus indicating that the board were likely to refuse the application. The final vote was taken today.
The application, would provide for the relocation of the Savoy petrol station located on Rue d'Argens in Gzira to Outside development Zone land in Luqa. The proposed site lies just off Triq Hal Qormi, Luqa, an arterial road between Qormi and Luqa. The site in question is also located in front of the entrance to the Luqa industrial zone, known as Hal Farrug. The latter is an industrial estate housing a number of small and medium industries. The site is irregularly shaped and surrounded with a rubble wall around the perimeter of two fields.
The case officer's report reads that the proposed works include: Car wash and drying areas; Pumping station; Tyre service garage; Class 4B Shop (on two floors); VRT Garage; LPG tank; Electrical vehicle charging point; ATM facility; and car parking spaces. Lightweight canopies are being proposed as to cover the fuelling, the car wash and the drying areas.
In their reasons for showing an intention to overturn the case officer's grant recommendation during the last hearing a few weeks ago, the board members listed that the size of the proposed station site is larger than 3,000 square metres, that the proposal runs counter to certain SPED policies, that the proposal is premature since the Fuel Stations policy is currently under review, and among other things, also listed "the allegations of collusion between the Authority and the developers made in the note circulated to the members by the Moviment Graffiti and Kamp Emergenza Ambjent."
This morning, representatives of nine NGOs called for the refusal of the application, stating that "if the Planning Authority approves plans for a new fuel station in Luqa, it will be an admission that the authority is only there to serve a few developers." Representatives from Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Ramblers Association, Moviment Graffitti, BirdLife Malta, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Żminijietna, Nature Trust (Malta) and Kamp Emerġenza Ambjent showed a united front before the decision, arguing that the PA should refuse this application.
They argued that the ERA had said it was against this station, adding that the board members already voted against, thus meaning that this second final vote, should go the same way. The NGOs also mentioned that the final decision on this station was already postponed once, on the same day to other stations were refused, highlighting that they hoped this was not a tactic used to reduce public anger at the situation.
The applicant, in today's sitting, gave his response t the board's initial reasons for refusal, and argued that the application does not run counter to SPED policies. He stressed that where concerns about contaminations and spillages were addressed through a number of reports.
He also argued that his application is 3,000 sqm, and could not understand this initial indicative reason for refusal.
The architect said that the lawyers are looking into the reason given, that "The proposal is premature since the Fuel Stations policy is currently under review."
The applicant's lawyer spoke about these two points. He said that under the old law the government could issue a moratorium till new laws are implemented, but said this possibility is not included in the new law. The faculty to suspend is given to the applicant, who can request it if the new law will affect him positively, the lawyer said.
The argument that it is premature does not have a legal basis, he said, adding that the Court of Appeal confirmed that when an application is being considered the policy at that time must be considered. He said that today's application must be weighed on today's policy, and that future possible changes to the law must not be given any consideration.
As per the reason for refusal which read "The proposal is premature since the Fuel Stations policy is currently under review," the architect said he even things this was illegal.
The applicant's lawyer, on this point, said that the board's competence is based on planning issues, and that the courts have their own competence. "Our law contemplates that when there is collusion, there are specific crimes. This does not fall in the context of this board's competence. There is a specific authority where one can go and report the allegation there, which would be dealt with by the competent board or court."
He said that this board does not have the power to suspend an application because of this allegation. "Can you imagine what would happen, everyone who doesn't want an application to pass would just come here and allege collusion."
Andre Callus from Moviment Graffiti highlighted that one cannot relocate a fuel station if the fuel station is not currently used. He highlighted a statement made by PA Executive Chairman Johann Buttigieg during a debate on a Mosta fuel station, who had said in that application that the petrol station meant to be relocated is no longer in existence, and thus cannot be considered a relocation according to policy. He had said in the Mosta application that for a station to be relocated it must be active today.
Callus continued, "I hope he makes the same argument in this case as well, that the petrol pump that is meant to be relocated hasn't been used for a long time. So much so that the owner of this application bought that station after he filed this application. It is the exact same situation."
Callus also highlighted that one of the board members who had indicated they would vote against last time was not present. Chairman Vince Cassar said the board member in question was abroad.
Buttigieg said that this proposal doesn't technically need a relocation as its opposite an industrial zone and would qualify even without the relocation according to the policy. He also said that the station still exists, as opposed to the other case in Mosta.
A Qrendi resident, objected, and said that one can find nine stations on his way to work already, highlighting that no more stations are needed.
Another member of the public said that Jason Azzopardi had said in Parliament that revisions in policy were grounds for refusal. The applicant's lawyer said that under the previous law it was possible, but not under the new law. PA Executive Chairperson Johann Buttigieg said that this application is completely in line with policy, but said the board can disagree with the directorate.
A DLH representative said that the proposal is unjustifiable, taking up so much ODZ land.
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Woman charged with stealing cars
The woman was remanded in custody after she was caught trying to force car doors open
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Woman charged with breaking into cars remanded in custody
A court has remanded a woman in custody after she was charged with breaking into parked cars and stealing them or their contents.
This morning, magistrate Ian Farrugia heard police inspectors Elton Taliana and Jonathan Ransley charge 35 year-old Ruth Borda from Xghajra with four counts of aggravated theft, some dating back to January.
Borda was apprehended on Tuesday night after police in Naxxar spotted her trying to force car doors open. She was found in possession of items stolen from inside other vehicles. The items stolen included a purse and sports equipment.
Subsequent investigations led the police to also charge the woman with having stolen two cars: a Toyota from Paola in January and an Audi from Sliema in May.
Borda was further accused of giving false particulars to the police and breaching bail conditions which she had been given earlier this month.
Lawyer Joe Ellis, appearing for Borda, entered a plea of not guilty. Bail was not requested.
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Zinedine Zidane quits as Real Madrid manager after third Champions League crown
Zinedine Zidane has stepped down as Real Madrid head coach after leading them to three Champions League titles.
Zidane announced his decision in Madrid on Thursday morning. Sat alongside Real president Florentino Perez, the World Cup winner said he felt he had taken the club as far as he could: "I have taken the decision to not continue going into the next season. For me and for everybody, I think the moment to change has arrived. It was not an easy decision.
"This is my decision," he said. "Maybe it's a mistake. But I feel it's time. If I don't think that we can keep winning then it's time. How can I ask more from the players? Big players need a change."
Perez added: "This was a totally unexpected decision, Zidane informed me of his choice yesterday. I thank him for the work he has done."
The Frenchman, formerly coach of Real Madrid Castilla, was appointed as head coach of the Real first team in January 2016 after the dismissal of Rafa Benítez, and guided the club to the Champions League title by beating Atlético Madrid on penalties in the final.
He won the Spanish league title in his second season, then became the first manager to win the Champions League in his first three seasons when Real defeated Juventus in the 2017 final, and Liverpool this month.
"A change is needed. I'm not going to get involved in these things," he said when asked about a possible successor. "I'm not here to talk about the future of this team."
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PA board turns down Mosta fuel station relocation
The Planning Authority Board today turned down an application which includes the re-location of a kerb-side pump (which was on Marina Street, Pieta) and the change of use of part of existing plant yard into a fuel filling station at Tal-Blata L-Gholja, Mosta.
The application would have included the demolition of existing rooms and their re-location, landscaping of site, cleaning, upgrading of existing yard and to sanction.
Moviment Graffiti were registered objectors in this Mosta station application, and argued that the proposed development was already refused by MEPA in 2005, and that an appeal was also refused. They argue that the zone is of high landscape value, and that the development would have a negative impact on the environment. They also said that a considerable number of pumps operate in the surrounding area.
The Planning Directorate, through the case officer, said that "the proposed site for a fuel station cannot be considered in view that it is not located on an arterial or distributor road. Moreover, the site of the proposed fuel station exceeds the 3,000 square metre footprint required by policy. The proposal also lacks the necessary details and studies required for a holistic assessment."
The proposed works include filling points; service station (shop); offices; storage space; and garages. The rest of the site (towards the rear) is to retain its use as a plant yard, which could only be accessed through the proposed fuel station.
"The site in question is located outside the development zone and within the Mosta Local Council boundary. Existing development on site consists of a number of structures and a yard used as an open storage. The structures within the site are in excess of the footprint indicated in the existing permit," the case officer's report read.
The case officer recommended that this application be refused, stating that it did not abide by the fuel stations policy.
PA Executive Chairman Johann Buttigieg, during the debate today, highlighted that the petrol station meant to be relocated is no longer in existence, and thus cannot be considered a relocation according to policy. He said that for a station to be relocated it must be active today.
The PA Board upheld the case' officer's refusal recommendation and the application fell through.
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Decision on apartment block near recently scheduled Mintoff Tarxien home postponed
The Planning Authority board today decided to postpone a decision on an apartment block that would overlook Dom Mintoff's Tarxien Villa, which just weeks ago was granted Grade 1 heritage protection, the kind enjoyed by national monuments.
The application, on Triq Xintill, Gnien Joanna, Tarxien, proposes the demolition of the existing dilapidated terraced house and garages for the proposed construction of residential units overlying eleven (11) basement garages accessible from Joann Garden. Overlooking Joann Garden, four residential units are being proposed, with another five residential units being proposed onto Triq Xintil. The application was for an apartment block.
During the application process, the Heritage Planning Unit however, said that "the property (Nr. 110 The Olives) which is directly adjacent to the site subject of this application, is currently being assessed in order to propose its scheduling, on both historical and architectural merits, to the Executive Council. Any proposal adjacent to Nr. 110, The Olives has to be considered within this scenario in order not to prejudice its outcome." It was eventually given grade 1 protection weeks before this meeting to decide the application.
The case officer recommended that the project be refused, and said that "the proposed development will create an additional extensive blank party wall overlooking a site of historic and architectural importance."
During today's meetings, some revisions were made by the applicant's architect, including creating a stepping back effect to avoid the blank party wall situation. The architect said that when presenting their plans, they were never told that the site was meriting heritage scheduling or what type, but were only told that the site is of historical importance. He added that before the case officer's report was published, he had no way of knowing the site could be addressed.
The board debated whether to consider the new plans given that they were submitted after the case officer's report was published.
Labour Party President Daniel Micallef spoke on behalf of Yana Mintoff Bland who objected, and said the recommended refusal was made before the scheduling was formalised. They said that the site is a national heritage, aside from being a private residence. He argued about privacy issues as well.
An applicant's representative said that Grade 1 scheduling is reserved for properties in Urban Conservation Areas, and that this site is not. He said that despite this, the applicant filed revised plans to try and work with this. The objector highlighted that their objection was not solely based on the blank party wall, but had other reasons, following the arguments by the applicant, that the objector was trying to change their reasons for objection.
The applicant was offered by the board, and accepted to take some time to consider the situation, and change the plans further, possibly reducing the height by a floor to be in line with the other adjacent site, and to give time for the Planning Directorate to approve the plans.
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Magistrate strikes off Cardona brothel libel case
Lawyers in tit-for-tat after no-shows for Caruana Galizia sons and minister Chris Cardona during libel proceedings • Peter Caruana Galizia says sons told by police to stay away from Malta
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Daphne’s sons advised by police not to return to Malta, court told; Cardona cases struck off
A lawyer representing the family of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has told a court that her sons had been advised by the police not to return to Malta.
This emerged as the libel cases filed by Minister Chris Cardona and aide Joe Gerada against Caruana Galizia's heirs came to a sudden and unexpected end before Magistrate Francesco Depasquale this morning.
Cardona and Gerada had sued for libel over allegations published by Caruana Galizia in 2017, suggesting that they had visited a German brothel whilst on a taxpayer-funded trip to Germany.
This morning, lawyer Pawlu Lia for Gerada, presented an application and made reference to the oath of Matthew, Andrew and Paul Caruana Galizia, as the three men had not turned up for the sitting.
Making reference to the oath is a legal procedure in which an absent party is deemed to have admitted fault. "From day one I wanted to bring the defendant to testify, I was never allowed this opportunity," said Lia.
Lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel, for the Caruana Galizias then requested the cases filed by Chris Cardona be deemed to have been dropped on account of the fact that Cardona had not shown up for any of the recent hearings. "If you're going to play these games, we can too" said Zammit Maempel.
Zammit Maempel explained to the court that Andrew Matthew and Paul Caruana Galizia are not in Malta and this on the recommendation of the police, but would be filing a note in the acts of the proceedings, stating that Peter Caruana Galizia would take his sons' place.
Lia countered, saying that he was informed that there was no such recommendation on the part of the police, accusing the other party of "inventing" this allegation.
"That's why I have had two policemen behind my door for the past four years," retorted Peter Caruana Galizia.
In view of Zammit Maempel's request, the court ordered that the cases filed by Cardona be struck off.
As the sitting ended, Lia declared that he would be "assessing his position according to law after the defendant's actions."
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Physically punishing children manifests in antisocial and destructive behaviour, President says
The president said that corporal punishment is not only an unacceptable violation of children's rights, but a 'serious attack on the child's intrinsic human dignity'
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Pilatus Bank owner set up company in Malta for social and mass housing projects – Karol Aquilina
Pilatus Bank owner Seyed Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, who currently faces a possible 125 years imprisonment on charges against him in the United States, had registered a company in Malta for "social and mass housing projects", Nationalist Party (PN) MP Karol Aquilina said in Parliament.
He said that all could be verified through documentation, which he presented in Parliament, while describing how the name of the company is Malta International Construction Ltd.
Aquilina reminded the House of Ali Sadr's vast wealth and connections, highlighting two particular companies which belong to him and his family called Stratus International and Iranian International Housing Corporation.
Through documents it has emerged, Aquilina said, that the Iranian banker set up the construction company in Malta back in January 2014 – around the time when Pilatus Bank was granted its licence. The company was set up as a subsidiary of Pilatus Bank, Aquilina said.
He posed a number of questions about the registered scope of the company, to build mass social housing projects, when in Malta the only entity to build social housing is the government.
On 1 May, Prime Minster Joseph Muscat announced a new housing project which would see some 500 units be built, with €50 million to be provided from proceeds of the controversial IIP scheme.
This brings the social housing budget for 2018 up to €110 million, with Malta Developers Association president Sandro Chetcuti telling this newsroom that the private sector could build the same units for millions less.
Aquilina posed a number of questions which he said absolutely necessitated answers:
"What accounts did Malta International Construction Ltd have with Pilatus? Did they have any other accounts with any other banks? What money was transferred by Pilatus in the name of this company?
"Was this company used to circumvent US sanctions with the Venezuela housing project?
"Are the FIAU and MFSA are aware of this company?"
Lastly, he questioned whether the government social housing project would be turning to Ali Sadr's company to build the "famous 50 million social housing project?".
He concluded by reminding the house that Ali Sadr is a special friend of Muscat and his chief of staff Keith Schembri, especially highlighted by the news that the local politicians had gone to the Iranian banker's wedding.
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Mental health should be tackled holistically - AD
"AD is in agreement with the Malta Psychiatric Association which recently commented on current deficiencies in mental health services. AD emphasises that mental health needs to urgently be taken more seriously holistically," said Anna Azzopardi, spokesperson on social dialogue and policy.
"A good quality of life is essential for one's mental health. Hence, the Maltese government should inject more effort and resources in addressing the root causes of mental illnesses. Poverty is not a perception. It is a reality. In the rush for economic success, poverty and homelessness may sometimes be forgotten. Their causes, such as the current increase in housing and rent prices, have yet to be tackled."
"The exponential increase in construction is resulting in an ever increasing lack of green and open spaces. These open spaces are crucial for positive mental health: they offer at times the only direct contact with nature. Unfortunately, those most affected by the increasing cost of living and lack of open spaces tend to be those closest to the poverty line. Their need to work longer hours to make ends meet, decreases their leisure time and increases stress. People on the poverty line tend to be more at risk of developing mental health problems."
"On the other hand, the serious lack in holistic mental health services cannot be ignored. It is important that all professionals working in the sector are properly trained, supported and remunerated. An underfunded system means that a lot of vulnerable people are falling through the cracks with serious consequences on their life."
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PA board approves tables and chairs outside Valletta market, despite fears of creating precedent
The Planning Authority Board today approved an application to place tables and chairs and ancillary seating arrangements in the forecourt of the Valletta Market Building, Merchant Street Valletta, (Within extents of site under Emphyteusis), though it is pertinent to note that the tables and chairs were present outside prior to this application being decided (as photo shows).
Earlier this month the board had indicated that it would reject the application, stating that it would have a negative impact on the streetscape, and that the development was already present. They had indicated they would overturn the case officer's grant recommendation in a previous sitting, and as is policy, a final vote was taken today following some slight plan changes. Soon after the meeting private property signs appeared on a ledge on Merchant's street.
The case officer, in his report, had said that "the tables and chairs are placed within the original footprint of the Valletta Market and no tables and chairs are being proposed within Triq Merkanti, Triq San Pawl or Triq it-Teatru l-Antik. Therefore, the free flow of pedestrians is not being obstructed. Furthermore, the free flow of pedestrians to the main door of the Valletta market is also not being obstructed. No disabled car parking spaces are being removed or interfered due to the proposed interventions. In addition, the proposal includes a glass railing enclosing the area reserved for tables and chairs, not exceeding the height of 1.20 metres."
The applicant's representatives claimed that additional catering area was needed for the project's viability, and that the 65-year-cncession was based on the understanding that the area could be used. They said that the emphyteutical agreement included the land in front of the market with the intention to operate this area.
The applicant's representatives said that the area in front of the market is being utilised as a space available for the public. They said they were not proposing anything that would affect the proportion of the building. The applicant's representative noted that there was a temporary DNO on the use of tables and chairs, however also noted that it was true that when it expired, the applicant kept on using the outside bit.
The representatives said that the market has 12 stalls inside, with a seating capacity of 248 and two outlets serving outside with a seating capacity of 92. The representatives spoke of their holistic plan, and proposed a temporary solution of umbrellas to cover the outside tables and chairs for shade. In terms of a permanent solution, they want a permanent retractable structure.
James Vella Clark, a Valletta resident, noted that the problem is not aesthetics. "Everyone can say they look nice, but as the local council said, this will create a precedent. Instead of learning from past mistakes we keep using the past to push through similar mistakes." He said that the message being sent outside is that people do something first then ask permission later. He mentioned that this is greed. "We have no problem with there being certain seating outside, but that does not mean you have the right to make a public space private."
The applicant, Maria Micallef, said that the land forms part of the concession and thus is not public land. Another Valletta resident said that the private property signs were there up until recently, arguing that the market is meant to be public.
An applicant's representative said that the market was collapsing, and that major damage was found, and thus was restored. He said that the area under discussion is part of the concession, "where we spent over €15 million to restore and it is used by everyone. Nobody used it before, and today the site attracts Maltese and foreigners."
James Vella Clark rebutted and said that arguing it is part of the concession is not justification. "One could have left it without the outside structure, place tables and chairs during the day and remove them at night, not make it your own by enclosing it off". He said he has no issues with eating outside, enjoying the sunshine and the architecture, but said the area has been effectively fenced off, through the construction of a permanent platform and fenced off area, stating that this creates precedent." He made clear that this permanent platform that was the issue.
The PL representative on the Board, Clayton Bartolo, said that the private property signs on benches did annoy him, to which the applicant said this was removed, explaining that the reason the signs were put up in the first place was due to a person with a skateboard going there. She said that the bench on the outside is for public use.
The board voted in favour of the application passing.
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Unemployment in European Union: Malta second best with just 3%
Eurostat estimates that 17.462 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.880 million in the euro area, were unemployed in April2018. Compared with March 2018, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 53 000 in the EU28and by56 000 in the euro area. Compared with April 2017, unemployment fell by 1.633million in the EU28 and by 1.088 millionin the euro area.
Member States
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in April 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.2%), Malta (3.0%) and Germany (3.4%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (20.8% in February2018) and Spain (15.9%).
Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all Member States except Italywhere it remained stable and Estonia where it increased (from 5.3% to 5.6% between March 2017 and March 2018).The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 11.7% to 8.6%), Croatia (from 11.5% to 9.1%) and Portugal (from 9.5% to 7.4%).
In April2018, the unemployment rate in the United States was 3.9%, down from 4.1% in March 2018and from 4.4% in April 2017.
Youth unemployment
In April 2018, 3.426 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 2.433 million were in the euro area. Compared with April2017, youth unemployment decreased by 464 000 in the EU28 and by 306 000 in the euro area. In April2018, the youth unemployment rate was 15.3% in the EU28 and 17.2% in the euro area, compared with 17.2% and 19.3% respectively in April2017. In April2018, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (6.0%), Malta(6.8%) and the Netherlands(6.9%), whilethe highest were recorded in Greece (45.4% in February 2018), Spain (34.4%) and Italy (33.1%).
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FIRST: Saved by Song... Song-writing in the Maltese language within an emerging contemporary scene
Language is intrinsically related and inseparable from the roots of identity, not only personal identity but also collective identity - that of a nation and a nationality, as in Malta and the Maltese language. Using a language as a tool and a vehicle for expression weaves roots deep within the collective consciousness of that nation, whilst time ensures their strength.
The question and concern with identity continues to infiltrate various sectors of society, particularly art forms such as literature, poetry and music. Music has especially always possessed the power to hold, communicate and transmit language and although music and language are processed by different areas of the brain, both rely on the ability to detect differences in tone, pitch, rhythm, interpretation, phrasing and tonal memory, amongst other things. This makes an interesting case for music's ability to enhance not only the learning of a language, but perhaps even the remembering and re-engaging with it
Mario - Brikkuni Many songs have been written in Maltese over the generations, even though the language has often been limited to satire or drama. Today, however, there is a strong emergence of local bands that are writing and singing in Maltese, and this begs such questions as why are young musicians writing their lyrics in Maltese and why are we suddenly so interested in listening? Are we romanticising this notion of our indigenous language or are we genuinely concerned with its preservation? I wondered what the musicians, particularly the songwriters themselves, make of all this.
"I think it's simply because it's the best way to express myself" says Mark Abela from Brodu. "I grew up speaking Maltese at home and in school and, since the music we write is quite personal, it leaves me wondering how I could write in any other language than the one so close to home." Mark has always written songs in Maltese, even with other bands, apart from a few in English and Italian, but he also makes a conscious effort to consistently speak and practice the language as he goes about his everyday life.
"So yes," he says, "thinking about it, of course there is also the desire to preserve the language: if you don't use it, you lose it, no? The music is just one of the vehicles for preserving language but the main thing is that the people who can speak Maltese do. I am not trying to be nostalgic, I prefer to sound authentic than romantic."
Robert - Plato's Dream Machine Robert Farrugia, lead singer of Plato's Dream Machine, also tells me that he started writing in Maltese some seven years ago."English is useful when I'm being analytical and looking for new ideas, but it's Maltese when I'm wanting to express those ideas from the heart. Song-writing has to do with latter, of course."
On the other hand, Andrew Vella from The Traveller, believes that each language is unique. "Writing in Maltese was something the band started doing 2014 while we were exploring different ideas on how to evolve into a unique act. But by trying to understand and learn how to write songs in Maltese, I realised that, if you know the basics of song-writing, then you can easily apply them to all languages, really."
Mario Vella from Brikkuni tells me that he also used to write songs in English, particularly during the early Noughties, with another band. Dissatisfaction with his writing quickly made him realise part of the reason was that he couldn't really express what he wanted to say in English. The importance of the Maltese language is obvious to Mario. "Maltese should be diffused in every sector", he said, "but I can't understand this obsession with forcing it because it's the only thing that we have that distinguishes us. And there's a difference between fabricating a love for a language and those artists, authors and singers who are simply writing, creating and communicating in their language. Language is ultimately a tool for the singer-songwriter. I need to communicate with the listener, and I decided that I want my listener to be Maltese - it's a practical thing, functional."
Mark - BroduI went on to consider the role of language as an instrument rather than merely a tool for communication: language as a sound, independent of words and meanings. I wondered whether these singer-songwriters look for melody and rhythm in a language that which, after all, has so many consonants. "Maltese is a beautiful language, one that is full of opportunities to create rhyme schemes and complex rhythms," said Andrew. Mark, on the other hand, tells me that there are some languages which are more suited to a particular kind of music and Maltese may sometimes sound a bit harsh but, despite this, he loves the way words sound. "Sometimes I choose words based on their sound or rhythm rather than their meaning. I love rhythm in words, and how you place them one after the other." But it is the music that comes first for him: "The music in itself carries the feelings of the moment but sometimes there's a word that you've just thrown in and then you find yourself building the music around it."
Mario, who is currently sharing living quarters with Mark, also shares a similar approach when it comes to allowing this spontaneity of inspiration. "There'll be times when I'm in a bar and a piece of melody comes into my head so I go sing it into my phone - and then see if I can work some words into it or sometimes I hear a phrase or sentence that I feel is musical. Alliteration is very strong in Maltese because of all its consonants and sometimes an access to these consonants, one after the other, gives way to the creation of a melody as well as rhythm."
Robert, on the other hand, is today moving away from complimenting his songs with rhythm and syllables as he had experimented in Plato's first album. "Recently I've been adopting a much softer and seamless voice which somehow gels better with the music."
While these bands enjoy their popularity, they are however under no illusion that they are going to become world-famous by singing in Maltese. "The decision to go for Maltese was, of course, an informed one but it does not exclude a foreign audience for obvious reasons. However, our main interest lies in focusing on the local scene" says Robert.
"In the end, even though we are trying to understand and distinguish between songwriter, lyrics, music and audience, I ask myself if we should even bother. Ultimately, music is about a universal language and the creative expression of it. That being said, indigenous language is one of the strongest characteristics of identity so, yes, we must use it or perhaps we will one day lose it - and what better way is there to encourage this use than through music?"
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TMID Editorial: Higher energy bills - Why is the review taking so long?
This newspaper first reported about the increase in ARMS bills in mid-April and, even then, people had been complaining about the issue for a number of weeks.
The Malta Independent spoke to economists to find out exactly what was happening and found that people were being charged much more than they should be because of the way ARMS was billing people every two months. More specifically, the issue revolves around the way the quota of cheaper units is being chopped up per two months.
An economist managed, in the space of a couple of hours, to explain all that is wrong with the system and how families are being robbed of their hard earned cash.
The authorities, it seems, is having trouble understanding what's going on.
The government had first refused to acknowledge that a problem exists, repeating the mantra that energy bills had been reduced by 25%. Government officials found it hard to understand the difference between the words 'rate' and 'bill', which are very different. Because while the rates per se have truly gone down, people are at the end of the day paying much more, in some cases sums much higher than the 25%.
When pressured by this newspaper, energy minister Joe Mizzi said he was waiting for feedback. That was four weeks ago.
Since then the PM has also changed his tune on the matter, explaining that a review of the system had been commissioned.
But in the meantime the weeks are rolling by and people are still paying bills that are much higher than they should be paying. And so far there has been no indication that these families will be reimbursed for the extra money they were forced to fork out.
The Nationalist Party has now taken up the fight on behalf of Maltese households and is urging anyone who receives a high energy bill to take it to the party's headquarters to have it examined. PN Leader Adrian Delia said on Sunday that, from the first sample of bills it emerged that households are being charged anything between €60 and €600 extra. That is no small sum – for many families it could mean cancelling plans for a summer holiday, not buying birthday or Christmas gifts for their children or even worse.
The PN has pledged to fight the good fight and ensure that these families are given back the money they were made to fork out extra. The situation is similar to when the Labour Party pledged to reimburse the VAT on car registration tax – a pledge that is being honoured.
While it is positive to see the Opposition being so proactive and acting on behalf of families we believe that this should ultimately be the government's job. The authorities need to wake up, figure out what the problem is, solve it and compensate families for the money that was stolen from them.
The more they procrastinate, the longer they take to sort this out the more money will be stolen from hard working Maltese families. This matter is of the utmost urgency.
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How energy consumption near tariff band is costing households more
MaltaToday considered three distinct hypothetical scenarios for a household's annual consumption pattern and calculated the amount due in one year
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PD challenges Adrian Delia on ITS project position
Partit Demokratiku today challenged the position taken by Adrian Delia on the ITS project, where he stated that he would endorse it if planning policies were followed.
PD also reiterates the need for Parliament to table the party's Private Members' Motion, submitted last August, calling for a National Master plan.
The planning policies currently in place in Malta were written with the influence and benefit of the developers in mind rather than citizens, and loopholes exist across the board so as to make a mockery of good planning.
Delia's position must be questioned in light of the fact it undermines the brave members of his party who have stuck their necks out against the ITS project, and his position also provides undeserved legitimacy to the policies in question, which require urgent reform.
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Green NGOs call on Planning Authority to confirm vote against Luqa ODZ petrol station
Last month's vote by the PA's board ended in a draw, with five members voting in favour and five voting against
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Maltese Parliament debates MEPs' rule of law mission report
The Maltese Parliament is this morning debating the conclusions drawn up by MEPs following a fact-finding mission late last year that found shortcomings in the country's governance and rule of law • The debate had been requested by Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi
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‘If PA approves fuel station, it will be admission that it is there to serve certain developers’
If the Planning Authority approves plans for a new fuel station in Luqa, it will be an admission that the authority is only there to serve a few developers, Moviment Graffiti head Andre Callus said this morning.
Representatives from nine environmental groups met outside the Planning Authority in protest of a planning application for the fuel station.
The last meeting on the proposed station saw activists take over part of the Planning Authority meeting with placards, speakerphones, chants, banners and music. The meeting had to be suspended and moved to another building before resuming due to the activists. The initial vote ended in a deadlock with the Chairman having the casting vote, resulting in the intention to overturn the Planning Directorate's approval recommendation being shown by the board.
Security for this meeting is heavier than this newsroom has seen in the past, with airport style checks even on members of the media at the gate entrance. Bag searches with the use handheld metal detectors were carried out.
The application, if approved, will provide for the relocation of the Savoy petrol station located on Rue d'Argens in Gzira to Outside development Zone land in Luqa. The proposed site lies just off Triq Hal Qormi, Luqa, an arterial road between Qormi and Luqa. The site in question is also located in front of the entrance to the Luqa industrial zone, known as Hal Farrug. The latter is an industrial estate housing a number of small and medium industries. The site is irregularly shaped and surrounded with a rubble wall around the perimeter of two fields.
Today, representatives from Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Ramblers Association, Moviment Graffitti, BirdLife Malta, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Żminijietna, Nature Trust (Malta) and Kamp Emerġenza Ambjent showed a united front before the decision expected later today, arguing that the PA should refuse this application.
They argued that the ERA had said it was against this station, adding that the board members already voted against, thus meaning that this second final vote, should go the same way. In cases where the bard indicates it will overturn the recommendation (in this case to grant) by the Planning Directorate, a final vote is needed on another day.
They argued that a similar incident, with the Maghtab petrol station, saw the bard vote against in the initial vote, and then in favour in the final vote. "Thus the fear that certain powers operating behind the scenes can determine the PA Board's final decision is real, based on what we have seen in several past cases." The representatives also said that the size of the petrol station exceeds current policy.
The NGOs also mentioned that the final decision on this station was already postponed once, on the same day to other stations were refused, highlighting that they hope this was not a tactic used to reduce public anger at the situation.
Callus highlighted another application set to be heard today regarding a Mosta station, and said that it should also be refused.
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Application to renovate Mediterraneo Marine Park filed
A Planning Authority application to renovate the Mediterraneo Marine Park located on the Coast Road in Bahar ic-Caghaq, has been filed.
The park's total site area stands at 17,205 sqm.
The renovation application includes an extension to the reception / shop building, the reconstruction of the grandstand for the sea lion pool; reconstruction of the grandstand for the bird display; reconstruction of the aviary shelters and food preparation room.
It also includes the construction of a new office building to replace the old mobile offices; landscaping the area between sea lion pools to create new path for sea lions and public entrance; the construction of two new dolphin treatment pools; reconstruction of the dolphin food preparation room; reconstruction of the photo kiosk; and the sanctioning of recent changes including bird display stage and Coati rooms.
The sea lion seating area would be able to hold 288 people, while the parrot aviaries seating area would be able to hold 180 people.
The park's website reads that " the park promotes interactive participation with a varied selection of marine mammals including dolphins and sea lions; parrots and reptiles. The park promotes interactive participation with a varied selection of marine mammals including dolphins and sea lions; parrots and reptiles."
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Dismantling of Delimara chimney and HFO boiler underway
Enemalta said it continued with the dismantling of the last remaining HFO-fired power plant at the Delimara Power Station and its 150-metre chimney.
A few days ago, the company's demolition contractors started with demolition of the 150m heavily reinforced concrete windshield, Enemalta said in a statement.
The plant's chimney structure consists of a cylindrical concrete shield rising up 50 storeys, with a base diameter of 12 metres. The concrete walls are 80 centimetres thick at the bottom and 30 centimetres on top. Inside the concrete structure there were two 2.3 metre steel exhaust pipes that emitted the smoke produced by the oil-fired boilers.
The dismantling process started with the removal of the lowermost part of these two steel pipes, which connected the chimney to the boilers. The remaining metal pipes, ladders and platforms higher up inside the chimney were lowered to the floor, so that they could be safely dismantled on the ground.
Outside the chimney concrete walls, the contractors erected an auto-lifting platform on five steel columns rising to the topmost part of the structure. Once all the metal inside the structure was removed, remote-controlled demolition excavators on top of the platform are being used to demolish a height of 1.5 metres of the concrete wall above the platform. The platform will then be lowered another 1.5 metres for the demolition robots to repeat the process. All debris will reach the base of the chimney through the inside of the chimney concrete wind shield, to minimise dust dispersion. It will then be loaded on trucks at ground level. One must say that sometimes this process is hampered when the wind blows in excess of the safety limit, that of 50km/hr. In such occasions, the men are deployed inside the turbine hall to continue with the turbine demolition.
This process has to be repeated approximately 80 times until the chimney is reduced down to 35 metres. At this point, the platform and steel columns will be dismantled and the remaining part of the stack will be demolished using a high reach demolition excavator from ground level.
While the chimney work was being done, other workers completely removed the two-boiler furnace and auxiliaries. All that remains now is the structure that supported the furnace suspended in place. This structure will not be completely removed, but will be lowered to a certain height, so as to be used as a storage hall.
The year-long project includes the complete demolition of this concrete windshield and the two steel chimney flues, weighing almost 9,000 tonnes or the equivalent of 6,000 cars, as well as the plant's boilers, turbines, generators and other auxiliary installations.
Once dismantled, the plant's materials will be carefully separated on site before they are carted away to authorised disposal sites. Over 5,400 cubic metres of concrete and other construction waste are expected to be removed from the site. Another 5,300 tonnes of metal will be exported for recycling.
The 1992 120 MW Delimara 1 power station was switched off and put on cold standby in April 2017, before it was fully decommissioned on 1st September. A few days later, the Italian demolition contractors selected for this project started delivering the heavy machinery and other equipment required to dismantle the plant.
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Key North Korea official in US to discuss upcoming summit
The North Korean official met with Miek Pompeo in New York to discuss the historic summit which will take place in the next few days
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Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Arkady Babchenko: Ukraine reveals it staged Russian journalist's murder
Ukraine said the staged murder was part of an inquiry into threats against Arkady Babchenko's life
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Agreement still not reached over price of White Rocks land
There has still been no agreement struck between the government and the White Rocks Development Consortium over price of the former holiday complex's land, The Malta Independent, with both parties haggling over the final price tag.
Last January, The Malta independent on Sunday had reported that the White Rocks Development Consortium (WRDC) has reached an agreement with the government for the construction of a mixed-used complex on the Pembroke site, which will include a seven-star luxury hotel, along with leisure, hospitality, residential and commercial units.
But this week sources close to the government told this newsroom that discussions are currently underway in order to establish an appropriate valuation for the White Rocks site. The issue surrounding the valuation is that, technically, it constitutes a 're-development' project since the new project will be built upon a pre-existing development.
The same government sources explained that there are many moving parts to establish an appropriate valuation, such as presentations from the consortium, the Planning Authority's input and other relevant factors. Sources also claim that, at present, discussions are still ongoing with all relevant parties – seemingly appeasing fears that the project has stalled indefinitely.
This newsroom also sent questions to the consortium about whether the deal was still on the table or whether they were considering abandoning the entire project.
A WRDC spokesperson said that, "As things stands discussions are still in final stages and I believe the finer details are being ironed out with progress towards final closure. I have no further information on finalisation dates of agreement yet."
In comments given to this newsroom earlier this year, WRDC said that their total investment is expected to be €400 million, and will also see large portions of the site dedicated to public space, including a 100,000-square-metre garrigue heritage park, public access to the shoreline, and coastline restoration.
Last February MaltaToday reported that the consortium offered €25 million for White Rocks land but plans to make €400 million from the project. Few weeks later this newsroom spoke with the Minister for Economy and Investment Chris Cardona and in his reply the Minster said that, "as previously stated, the Government is in negotiations with White Rocks Development Consortium. This consortium was declared as the preferred bidder, following a transparent and competitive selection process spearheaded by the Privatisation Unit and after the issuing of an International Expression of Interest. It is premature to disclose valuations as negotiations are currently underway; they have however reached an advanced stage.
"As one can appreciate, this is an extensive project and consequently the government, in cooperation with the Privatisation Unit, is committed to negotiate the best possible deal to ensure that this site, which for many years has been left abandoned, will be regenerated in such a manner so that it can contribute to Malta's thriving economy and tourism industry."
The consortium consists of: London & Regional Holdings, which includes Livingstone Brothers (Richard and Ian Livingstone), with group net value assets of €5 billion; the Alpine Group, with Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association president Tony Zahra being one of its directors; Bonnici Brothers, a construction company owned by Emanuel Bonnici, John Bonnici and Mario Bonnici; Mizzi Holdings Ltd, owned by Maurice Mizzi, Brian Mizzi and Kenneth Mizzi; Michael Bianchi, who is an investor in various companies and is one of the directors of Airport Investment Ltd; Sea Estate Ltd, whose sole director is Joseph Eucharist Vella of Karkanja Ltd; Elma Ltd, whose directors are Dennis Baldacchino who owns Tal-Maghtab Construction Ltd, and Charles Ellul, director of Elbros Construction Ltd.
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No amnesty on old fireworks factories
Fireworks factories in existence since before 1994 but lacking a planning permit were legalised through a legal notice, but only if they were actually operational in 2016
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Marthese Portelli: New Lands CEO should not be Prime Minister’s ‘yes man’
Nationalist MPs express misgivings on possible appointment of James Piscopo as Lands CEO, as Parliament discusses the Authority
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Early days for negotiations of EU funds - Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Aaron Farrugia this evening said that negotiations on the EU budget are still at an early stage as only the first set of figures were published. He said that more will be known about the negotiations in the coming days.
Farrugia was replying to a parliamentary question by PN MP Robert Cutajar in light of a report published today by The Times of Malta, which stated that there will be a €179 million decrease in EU funds distributed to Malta. This was unveiled yesterday by the European Commission.
"According to the plans, Malta would receive roughly €673 million in cohesion funds between 2021 to 2027 - though that proposed figure is in reality closer to €597 million when funding is locked in at 2018 prices, without inflation factored in," the report on the Times of Malta read.
Farrugia argued that 2012 was a different time economically when compared to 2018 - both in terms of Malta's economic situation as well as the European Union's. The funds were initially awarded in 2012. "The EU today isn't what it was in 2012," he said, citing Brexit, and 'new challenges' in the form of 'security' and 'immigration'. "Malta's economy then isn't what it is today," he added.
PN MP Simon Busuttil then asked whether the Maltese government has a 'red line' for Malta.
Farrugia retorted that negotiations were still at an early stage and more information would be given at the right time.
Cohesion funds are given with the objective of helping EU's less thriving regions to catch up with other countries. Since then, Malta's economy has increased rapidly as one of the fastest-growing when compared to other EU member states.
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