Six on animal torture
Six persons have been arraigned and charged with cruelty to animals this past year, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told Roderick Galdes.
Steps against seven
auto-dealers
Police are taking legal steps against seven auto-dealers following their exhibiting cars for sale on the roads, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said.
Three were in Qormi, two in Birkirkara and one in Mosta, the minister told Roderick Galdes.
Almost 1,000 at Detox
A total of 954 persons attended the Detox Centre between January and August this year.
The highest number, 300, come from the 25-29 age bracket.
‘A’ Level results
A total of 809 students sat for their Advanced Level exams in English in May. 197 failed in May of whom 115 did their resits in September. 66 failed again in September.
A total of 622 sat for Pure Maths in May and 214 failed in May. 104 did the resit and 45 failed again.
A total of 611 sat for May’s Accounting exam and 137 failed. 56 resat for the exam in September and 32 failed again.
Gas pipeline
Enemalta commissioned a feasibility study on the advantages of a gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily, as against the Libya-Sicily one.
The report is now being studied with government considering what action it should take, Investments Minister Austin Gatt told Leo Brincat.
Mobile phone bill
The bill for the mobile phone used by the Permanent Representative to the EU (Richard Cachia Caruana) from his appointment till today was of Lm75, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told Leo Brincat.
At IHC
Dr Galea told Mr Abela that 242 students, including two from Nigeria, joined the Institute of Health Care at the beginning of this scholastic year.
Foul smell
The foul smell that recently could be smelt in front of the Intercontinental Hotel was the result of a blockage in the drainage main in Swieqi Road, Minister Austin Gatt told Evarist Bartolo.
It was found that as a result of the blockage, the drainage seeped through a Maltacom service trench and exited from an inspection box in front of the Intercontinental Hotel.
This has now been cleaned up.
Pension reforms first step to sustainable social policy – PS Edwin Vassallo
Angele Spiteri Paris
Pension reforms will not strip the elderly of any necessity or commodity they enjoy now, said Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Vassallo said the Opposition was wrong in suggesting that the pension reforms proposed by Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina will create a financial burden on the elderly in homes like St Vincent de Paule.
The reforms ask the elderly to pitch in for the care they are being given, he said. These contributions will change according to how much the person can afford.
“I believe this is a step forward towards a sustainable social policy,” continued Mr Vassallo. An economic policy that develops trade in Malta will also contribute to this.
Decisions must be taken to change society’s priorities to move toward the future. The ideals of the past just will not do, said the parliamentary secretary.
Labour MP Noel Farrugia said he cannot understand how the government aims to become sustainable and promises social benefits that will raise the quality of life when it has a debt of Lm25 million to subsidise imported products.
He said this debt could have been avoided since products like sugar can be bought for a much cheaper price off the international market. He said that due to EU regulations, Malta is being made to import products at a much higher price than they would have been on the international market. “How can Malta be viable when it cannot buy products with competitive prices?” said Mr Farrugia
Mr Farrugia said the government must make up for the steep difference in prices. This is money spent superficially, he said, and this does not make sense. The EU has created a challenge that is costing more for both the government and the Maltese people. This situation must be dealt with, he said.
Gozo needs attention – Labour Mps
Gozo is not being given enough attention and is moving backward instead of forward, said Labour MPs in parliament yesterday.
During the adjournment of yesterday’s parliamentary sitting, Labour MP Justine Caruana drew attention to the plight of 20 people working at the Gozo Channel cafes who are about to lose their jobs due to the restructuring of the company.
She said she did not agree with the idea that crew members will be operating the cafe, instead of regular employees. “This will create confusion in the ranking and roles of the whole crew,” she said. These 20 people approached Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono, but she said she could not help them.
She also said that three people who used to work at the heliport are lost now that the service has been terminated. They were employed with Air Malta and now have nowhere to go. She said their only option might be to go to Malta and leave their home.
The Labour MP claimed Mrs Debono has no idea what is going on within the island of Gozo. Dr Caruana went on to list the number of employees who were wronged, like the Gozitan Maltapost employees transferred to Malta.
Labour MP Anton Refalo also drew attention to the needs of Gozo he believes are not being given enough attention. He said the island’s tourism industry is decreasing fast. “We are moving backward instead of forward. There is no initiative to develop the island and Gozo’s needs are not being made a priority,” he said.
3,022 begin university
Noel Grima
A total of 3,022 students began their first year at the university earlier this month, Education Minister Louis Galea told Carmelo Abela. Dr Galea listed: B Sc in Information Technology (73), Diploma in IT (13); B Communications (77), Diploma in Journalism (2), MA Qualifying (19); B Conservation and Restoration Studies (Hons) (3); MA in Creativity and Innovation (23); Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics (7), B European Studies (3), B European Studies (Hons) (51), MA in European Studies (28), B Engineering and Architecture (Hons) (62); BA (214), Diploma in Arabic (71), MA (46), Post Graduate Diploma in Translation (47), MA Qualifying (5), B Dental Surgery (6); B Accountancy (Hons) (66), BA (Hons) in Social Policy/Work (87), BA in Tourism Studies (48), B Commerce (291), B Comm (Hons) (9), B Sc in Business and Computing (47), Diploma in Management Studies (103), MA in Economics (13), MA in Public Policy (9), MBA (80), MBA Qualifying (16), BA (Hons) in Youth and Community Studies (14), BA in Youth and Community Studies (25), B Ed (Hons) (166), B Psych (Hons) (63), Diploma in Sport & Leisure (16), Postgraduate Certificate in Education (73), B Engineering (Hons) (139), M Sc in Engineering (1), B Laws (157), Diploma of Notary Public (62), M Juris in European and Comparative Law (29), Mag. Juris in International Law (3), MA in Financial Studies (16), MA in Human Rights and Democratisation (9), MA in Law (2), Doctor of Laws Qualifying (4); B Pharm (Hons) (29), MD (61), M Sc in Medicine and Surgery (6); B Sc (Hons) 91, M Sc (17), M Sc Qualifying (9), BA Hons in Theology (11), BA in Religious Studies (9), BA in Theology and Human Studies (8), B Theology (11), Diploma in Religious Studies (5), S Th Lic (7), MA (17), Diploma in Lace Studies (3), MA in Islands and Small States Studies (7), MA in Islands Qualifying (1), Diploma in Agriculture (6), M Sc in Agricultural and Veterinary Pharmacy (1), M Sc in Agricultural Sciences (1), BA in Criminology (15), Diploma in Probation Services (4), B Sc (Hons) in Health Science (143), Diploma in Health Science (35), M Health Science (20), Post qualification Diploma in Health Science (29), Diploma in Public Administration (49), Diploma in Baroque Architecture (20), MA in Baroque Studies (3), Pre-Tertiary Institute Certificate in Baroque Architecture (5), Diploma in Sport and Leisure (1), Diploma in Diplomatic Studies (17), MA in Diplomatic Studies (17), Diploma in Social Studies (66).