Updated 1235 – Mid-Day Briefing
PN warns Government MPs against giving more money to Steward Healthcare
The PN has warned government MPs that voting in favour of giving Steward Healthcare €23 million more will make them “complicit in a crime”. Addressing a joint press conference, current and former PN leaders Bernard Grech and Adrian Delia insisted that the hospitals’ concession deal is “illegal”.
Grech said the Opposition has filed a judicial protest against Prime Minister Robert Abela.
The PN leader said it is clear the government is not getting value for money from the millions pumped into the concession and argued that PM Ablea does not have the courage or political will to ensure sound financial management by terminating the contract. Grech told journalists that “this government has no moral standing in dealing with this problem. We are not ready to give any money to people or companies who have clearly committed a criminal act. A PN government will pay no compensation on a deal that is illegal or corrupt – we will not negotiate with criminals”. (Maltatoday)
Church Commission urges government to review local planning plans
The Church’s Environment Commission (KA) lambasted the government for what it described as procrastination in reviewing local plans and for abandoning the Paceville Masterplan. In a press statement this morning, the Church expressed concern that the Planning Authority is failing to carry out its function of curbing unsustainable development on an ongoing basis. The statement referred to what it described as uglification of a number of spots, including Xlendi and Xagħra in Gozo. (Times of Malta)
Covid-19 Update
41 new cases were reported on Saturday by health authorities, while eight persons recovered. Active cases continued to climb, and now stand at 331. Nine persons are currently hospitalised.
Morning Briefing
No further restrictions, for now – Fearne
Health Minister Chris Fearne said that Government will not be adding any Covid-19 related measures, but will also not be removing any. He noted that Malta has the highest rate of vaccination in the world and the cases in the country are low, especially with regards to hospital admittance, Fearne said that no Delta plus variant cases have been recorded in Malta as of yet and that the Delta variant continues to be the most prevalent across the island, adding that the current vaccines till now have also been deemed effective for the Delta plus variant. Referring to current clusters, Fearne said that there are two from workplaces with 25 cases and eight cases and a small cluster of six cases at a childcare centre. 40 new cases were reported yesterday, as active cases increased to 298. (The Malta Independent)
Public sector jobs increase by 1,551 in a year
Public sector full-time employment increased by 1,551 persons to 51,055, the NSO said. This increase was the largest contribution to an overall increase in employment.Registered full-time employment in the private sector went up 4,514 persons to 186,320 in May 2021.
In May 2021, registered full-time employment increased by 2.6% while part-time employment as a primary job increased by 2.1% compared to the corresponding month in 2020. Administrative data provided by Jobsplus show that, over a period of one year, the labour supply (excluding part-timers) in May 2021 increased by 1.6%, reaching 239,376. This was mainly attributed to a year-on-year increase in the full-time registered employment (6,065) and a decrease in registered unemployment (2,408).
When May 2021 is compared to May 2020, the highest increase in employment was brought about by human health and social work activities and arts, entertainment and recreation with 1,246 and 1,116 persons respectively.
PN MP says no place for exotic animals in Malta
Nationalist MP Mario Galea said that his personal position on exotic animals, which according to him have no place in Malta, has never been contradicted by the Party. “I have been repeating this discourse since 2013 under three leaders and no one censored me. Until anyone comes up with an alternative, this is the official position of the Nationalist Party. I spoke with the experts and should anyone come up with a better alternative, we should hold discussions on the matter,” Galea stated. (Maltatoday)
CDE News
