Updated 1900
The Times of Malta, together with all major portals, leads with news that Rosianne Cutajar has resigned from the Labour Party parliamentary group, bowing to pressure following the publication two weeks ago of hundreds of chats between her and Yorgen Fenech.
She will stay on in parliament as an independent MP.
Maltatoday reveals that Rosianne Cutajar’s future in the Labour Party could be determined tonight at a meeting of the executive with sources telling the portal that she was given an ultimatum by the PM to resign or face the music.
The Malta Independent reports that according to Minister Miriam Dalli, in the last 12 months, Malta Enterprise approved 103 local and foreign direct investment projects, resulting in €75 million in new investment.
TVM says that a 48 year old prisoner was sentenced to a further 18 months in jail after punching another prisoner on his left eye during a scuffle at Corradino Correctional Facility.
Updated 1240
Chamber President warns of crisis of the political class
Outgoing Malta Chamber President Marisa Xuereb has issued a stern warning of a crisis of the political class, saying that unless political parties get serious about certain issues they would drive themselves into irrelevance. The Malta Chamber, she said, has had to hold off on a report about the need for a smaller parliament and higher salaries for parliamentarians, because what was happening at the moment made it very difficult for an institution like the chamber to make such proposals. Ms Xuereb also referred to “a section that is, unfortunately, being suppressed by the few who make headlines for the wrong reasons”, but said The Malta Chamber was determined not to “give up on this country”. (The Times of Malta)
Fearne gets top post at World Health Assembly
Health Minister Chris Fearne has been nominated by the World Health Organisation’s European regional committee to head the World Health Assembly. This Assembly brings together WHO’s 194 member states. Fearne accepted the nomination but through a social media post made it clear that he will continue being part of the Maltese government. (Maltatoday)
President urges the Planning Authority and other regulatory authorities to be agents of change
President of Malta George Vella, appealed to the Planning Authority and other regulatory authorities to be agents of change and to provide solutions to the current state of the environment. “If need be, radical decisions should be taken to stop practices that are not giving us the desired results. This needs to start with immediate effect,” stated the President while addressing the 4th edition of the Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning (MASP) Awards organised by the Planning Authority.
Morning Briefing
Grech says increase in allowances motivated by polls
PN leader Bernard Grech described Government’s announcement of higher stipends and child allowances as “motivated by circumstances rather than principles.” In an interview on party television, Grech said the Prime Minister felt pressure to declare these increases as a result of recent trust polls. Grech remarked on the fact that during the past week, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana made an appeal towards the need for healthier finances, only for the Prime Minister to announce handouts during political activities. (Maltatoday)
Construction, foreign workers, tourism are the tools for prosperity – MDA head
Malta needs more construction, foreign workers and tourists if it intends to sustain economic prosperity, according MDA’s James Stivala. In an interview published on Sunday, the developers’ association supremo argued that unnecessary government red tape is driving property prices up needlessly, warning that construction will slow down and inflate prices even higher. “One in every five apartments we build goes to the government in taxes. That is how much the government makes from construction”, Stivala argued. (Times of Malta)
Woman in danger after maxi-incident in Gozo
Five people were admitted to hospital after a crash in Ghasri, Gozo. One of them, a woman aged 32, is in serious condition. The accident took place on Triq l-Gharb on Sunday afternoon, and involved a Toyota Yaris, driven by a 36-year-old man from Xewkija, that had a 32-year-old woman and a three year old onboard. The other vehicle was a Toyota Corolla, driven by a 34-year-old Fontana resident, and a 30-year-old woman from Fontana was also onboard. The boy was unhurt, while the three other persons suffered minor injuries. (The Malta Independent)
