BirdLife Malta today slammed the Ta' Cenc developer Victor Borg for hiding his new plans for the development of the ecologically sensitive Ta' Cenc area from the Maltese public. Victor Borg together with officials from MEPA met the European Commission last May following a request made by Mr. Borg's company to discuss the fresh plans for Ta' Cenc area. However when recently asked about the meeting by a local newspaper in Malta, Mr. Borg refused to explain what was discussed and give any insight into the new plans. "Whilst we believe that Mr. Borg has every right to consult third parties including the Commission about his development plans for Ta' Cenc, refusing to share his plans with the Maltese public is a clear indication ... Read more...

In its first reaction to the White Paper on Rent Law Reform, Alternativa Demokratika Chairperson, Arnold Cassola, said that after years of procrastination at last concrete proposals are being made. AD is satisfied that its insistence has served well. At least a first step has been taken after its insistence that this issue should be put on the nation's agenda. Arnold Cassola said:"AD will study the proposals in detail. What stands out is the preference being afforded to political party clubs. We feel that the Rent Law should apply equally to all citizens. The parties in parliament already divide some 250,000 Euros of public funds between themselves supposedly for EU related political work, why should they be preferred over others in this matter too? I invite the other parties to declare ... Read more...

Prior to the Maltese Ornis Committee meeting next Thursday, BirdLife Malta has issued a position paper criticizing the recent set of demands regarding the autumn hunting and trapping seasons put forward by the FKNK. BirdLife warned that these FKNK demands require at least 4 new derogations from the EU Birds Directive and may result in the European Commission opening more infringement procedures against Malta. The BirdLife Malta position paper is a response to the latest set of demands by the FKNK, which was sent to the Chairman of the Ornis Committee early this month. The Hunting Federation demands that the season for hunting at sea should be extended to the end of February which coincides with the spring migration of ducks, speed limit on boats ... Read more...

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, Austin Gatt, has said that the new surcharge rate on electricity and water is to be announced tomorrow. The surcharge, which currently stands at 50%, is expected to possibly go up to around 115%. Minister Gatt added that the government is still looking at ways it could shoulder more of this burden through its subsidy to the corporation. It would therefore announce tomorrow if the surcharge would be 115 percent, or whether it could actually shoulder part of it for the next three months. In reply to Minister Gatt's announcement, the Malta Labour Party has said that the government should not look at the revision of the surcharge as though it were an accounting exercise. Whilst acknowledging the realities of the ... Read more...

Provisional statistics on the external transactions of Malta with the world during the first quarter of 2008 reveal an improvement in the current account balance of €8.8 million, from a net deficit of €77.5 million during the March 2007 quarter to one of €68.6 million during the same quarter this year. Causing this amelioration in the current account balance were essentially the combined shifts recorded in the net balances of both the income account as well as the current transfers account of the statement. Indeed, the net negative balance in the income account contracted by €49.7 million, from a net deficit of €46.2 million during the January to March 2007 quarter to one of €6.5 million during the comparable quarter this year; whereas that ... Read more...

The Gozitan Graduates Movement, invites graduates and members of all professions in Gozo, including couples, for First Friday Mass on the 4th of July, which is to be held by Fr Joseph Mercieca. As usual, this will be at St Augustine's Church, Victoria, at 8.30pm - a late enough evening time to help them accept this opportunity and get to hear a homily especially directed at them. The sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 8.15pm.

The following petition has been launched urging the Maltese Government to implement a national plan of action for the protection of sharks, this is a requirement for all fishing countries: "We urge the Maltese government to adopt a National Plan of Action for Sharks as required by FAO IPOA - sharks. We also require that all sharks landed in Malta are correctly identified and sold under their proper name and not disguised as other fish. The public need to be made aware that what they are actually buying, might be a species listed as Critically Endangered, as is the squalus acanthias better known in Malta as Mazzola. From a study which has been carried out in recent years, we are already seeing a trend of sharks being caught ... Read more...

Malta's national broadcaster, PBS, appointed its Eurosong Advisory Team during a meeting held last week at the PBS offices in G'Mangia. The meeting was chaired by the newly appointed PBS Chairman, Dr Clare Thake Vassallo. The Eurosong Advisory Team consists of the following four members: Dr Isabelle Gatt, Mr Martin Gauci, Mr Deo Grech and Mr Frederick Zammit. This team will respond directly to PBS in preparation of the Maltese Eurosong selections for the Junior Eurovision and the Eurovision Song Contest. Dr Isabelle Gatt is also a member of the new Board of Directors of PBS. Isabelle Gatt is a lecturer in Creative and Expressive Arts Education at the University of Malta. She is also a board member of the St James' Cavalier Centre ... Read more...

GO has teamed up with Nature Trust (Malta) and has committed to plant 3,000 trees in a bid to give a helping hand in offsetting Carbon Dioxide emissions. The tree-planting initiative is the second phase of GO's eco-friendly campaign kick started at this year's edition of Earth Garden Festival in Ta' Qali. As a result of an amazing and very positive response on the part of its customers, GO has launched an ambitious project that involves planting thousands of trees in various conservation areas in Malta managed by Nature Trust - starting at the Wied Ghollieqa Nature Reserve, next to the University. In line with its drive to cut down on the ... Read more...

According to a report in todays Sunday Times, the fuel surcharge, which effects both water and electricity prices, is expected to more than double to over 100% in the coming days. The Sunday Times also said that local analysts are warning that the government may impose a threefold increase in the surcharge if the international oil crisis persists. This news comes just as we approach a peak time for electricity consumption, with the extended use of airconditioners and fans during the long hot summer period. It also follows close on the heels of the 10% rise in the price of LRP, unleaded petrol and diesel, along with increases in the price of kerosene and oil, which came into effect on Monday.