Crash barriers protect
students
Students at the St Bernadette Primary School in San Gwann, who are arriving at school on minibuses and private buses at around 8am when the school gates are opened at 8.20am, are being protected by a crash barrier set up by the local council and a policeman when the children exit from school, Education Minister Louis Galea told Leo Brincat.
10 hotels to close down
Four hotels have closed down between 1 January and the end of September, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told Noel Farrugia, adding that there is a possibility that six other hotels close down before the end of the year.
Dr Zammit Dimech added that there are extensions and new hotel projects worth Lm50 million in hand.
151 soldiers for Rapid Reaction Force
A total of 151 soldiers in the Armed Forces have voluntarily applied to form part of the Maltese contingent which may be asked to undertake duties in connection with Crisis Management Operations by the EU, the so-called Rapid Reaction Force, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Adrian Vassallo.
Eighty-four of these have been soldiers for more than five years.
Long queue
for elderly
The total number of elderly persons awaiting acceptance into a government home for the elderly stands at 1102, Health Minister Louis Deguara told Adrian Vassallo.
Lawyers arraigned
Eight lawyers were charged with infringement of the VAT legislation last year and another five in the first half of this year, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Adrian Vassallo.
Canal works black out stadium
The reason why the Matthew Micallef St John Stadium in Marsa has been plunged into pitch darkness is that work is being carried out in the adjoining canal and it was felt prudent to switch off all electricity cables passing nearby, Education Minister Louis Galea told Carmelo Abela.
Dr Galea added that once work is completed on the canal, in the coming days, the electricity supply will be restored to the stadium.
Helicopter service
There are ongoing discussions with a foreign company to provide the helicopter link between Malta and Gozo after the end of the current service schedule, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono told Evarist Bartolo.
Was the Xmas party at prison a smashing one?
Gavin Gulia asked the Home Affairs Minister to confirm that at the Christmas party at the prison last year most of the prisoners were drunk.
Dr Tonio Borg replied that last Christmas the prison party consisted of two parts: in the first part there were singers and other entertainers while in the second part, during which the prisoners were in their divisions, they were given a bag of sweets and a glass of soft drinks. There was no report of any prisoner being drunk at this party, the minister said.
Government investments
The Government yesterday listed its investments in limited liability companies through Malta Government Investments.
The investments range from hefty investments, such as that at Malta Shipbuilding (estimated at Lm12 million), Medigrain (Lm2.5 million), Sea Malta (Lm2.2 million), Gozo Channel (Lm1.8 million) and Tug Malta (Lm1 million) down to companies such as Fort Chambray, Malta Shipyards, Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering and PBS in which government’s investments is estimated at Lm1 each.