The Times of Malta reports that the newly introduced construction regulations are leading to higher costs for property owners. Architects now need to draw new reports while insurance premiums will have to be revised.
The Malta Independent speaks to Kamra Tal-Periti president Simone Vella Lenicker who said that new requirements have created a shortage of architects. Less than 600 warranted architects work in the construction industry while there are some 2,500 construction sites.
L-Orizzont speaks to Minister Ian Borg about the construction laws introduced this week. Borg said that the new regulations prioritise the safety of third parties and said that it is time everyone shouldered their share of responsibility in the construction industry.
The Times of Malta says that the Prime Minister did not reject a call by the Council of Europe for a public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. A CoE report requested an investigation to start within the next three months.
The Malta Independent also reports on the Prime Minister’s reactions to the CoE demands. Muscat, however, warned that he will not shoulder responsibility if a public inquiry jeopardised the ongoing case against the three men charged with the killing.
In-Nazzjon reports on the Council of Europe session in Strasbourg on Thursday. The paper says that, besides two Malta Labour Party deputies, only four Azeri representatives defended Joseph Muscat’s government.
L-Orizzont says Prime Minister Muscat has reservations about rapporteur Peter Omtzigt who led the Malta report adopted by the Council of Europe. The Prime Minister said the Dutch politician had been caught speaking to fake witnesses in a separate case in 2014.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN leader Adrian Delia after the Council of Europe approved the report critical of Malta’s rule of law. Delia said that a culture of impunity created by the government is threatening the country’s democracy.
