Manoel Island Marina to Remain as Government Rules Out Further Development
Prime Minister Robert Abela said the Manoel Island marina and yacht yard will remain in operation, but stressed that no further development will take place on the island beyond the creation of a national park. Speaking to journalists, Abela said the retained facilities also include the Gżira United football ground and a boċċi club, while the marina’s future concession will be handled by Transport Malta through a public call. He also criticised works on the Gżira United padel courts for starting before planning permission had been granted, although he said the final decision rests with the Planning Authority and any subsequent appeals process. Abela maintained that the sports facilities should remain, rejecting calls that questioned the club’s legal position on the site and insisting the area has long been designated for sporting use. (Times of Malta)
Power Cuts Spark Parliamentary Debate as Government and Opposition Clash
Power outages affecting households and businesses across Malta dominated parliamentary proceedings after Opposition Leader Alex Borg called for an urgent debate on the issue. Borg described electricity as a basic right and argued that repeated outages exposed shortcomings in infrastructure planning, calling for automatic compensation for affected families and businesses, greater support for vulnerable people and a full audit of the electricity distribution network. Energy Minister Miriam Dalli acknowledged the disruption caused by the outages, particularly during the ongoing heatwave, but said Enemalta had restored supply in many cases by switching customers to alternative sources. She highlighted more than €161 million invested in the distribution network between 2022 and 2025, with a further €300 million planned over the next nine years to strengthen the system and meet growing electricity demand. (TVM News)
Church Schools Express Concern, Seek Delay to Equality Bill
The Church Schools Association has urged the government to postpone approval of the proposed Equality Bill, warning it could affect the autonomy of Church schools and their ability to preserve their Catholic ethos. The association said the legislation was being rushed through parliament before the summer recess without sufficient public consultation or detailed scrutiny. While reaffirming its commitment to equality, dignity and inclusion, it argued that the bill must also respect constitutional protections allowing faith-based schools to operate according to their religious identity. It called for more time to examine the legislation and propose amendments to ensure an appropriate balance between stronger equality protections and the rights of Church schools. The bill would establish a new National Commission for Human Rights and Equality with wider powers to investigate discrimination and promote equality across Malta. (Newsbook)
