The Office of the Commissioner for Children is inviting the public for a discussion on Work, which will focus on the recommendations made in the Manifesto for Children. The Manifesto for Children was launched earlier this year, in order to increase awareness of matters requiring urgent attention with regards to children in Malta and Gozo. The participants in this discussion will be given the opportunity to voice their opinion and concerns, and make their own recommendations in this field. The Manifesto for Children outlines various improvements to be made within the field of work. Child labour is a persistent problem which is often linked to absenteeism in schools, and there is a need for increased efforts in order ... Read more...

NGOs and Local Councils in Gozo are invited to an information meeting on Saturday, the 29th of November 2008, at the Ministry for Gozo Hall (St Francis Square, Victoria) organized by EUPA (the national European Union Programmes Agency) in collaboration with EU Programmes Information Unit (Gozo Ministry) and Gozo NGOs Association. After the registration at 9am, and an introduction by Mr Mauro Pace Parascandalo - National Coordinator, the programme (which should be concluded with questions at about noon) continues with half-hour overviews of the various programmes by relative programme Officers: Leonardo Da Vinci, Erasmus, Grundtvig and Youth in Action. Although there is no charge for participation in this useful seminar, it would be appreciated if interest is confirmed by sending ... Read more...

On the occasion of World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, this Wednesday, the 19th of November, launched by the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) in 2000, the Commissioner for Children would like to reiterate her ongoing commitment "to promote the protection of children from physical or mental harm and neglect, including sexual abuse or exploitation," [Commissioner for Children Act 2003, art. 9g]. The day is intended to promote the urgent implementation of effective prevention programmes, and is an occasion and cause which the Commissioner for Children has joined, as a supporting member of its aims and objectives. The protection of the child from any form ... Read more...

MaltaPost p.l.c would like to inform the general public that tomorrow, Saturday the 15th of November 2008, between 8.30am and 12.30pm, their mobile retail branch will be stationed in Ghajn Tuffieha during the 34U national tree planting campaign. The mobile retail branch will have for sale the 34U Commemorative Miniature sheets. The branch will also be open for all postal services, including the payment of bills.

The Minister for Social Policy, John Dalli in consultation with the House of Representatives Select Committee for Social Affairs, has appointed the first Council for the Voluntary Sector in accordance with the Voluntary Organisations Act 2007 (Part VIII) for the period of two years. The members of the Council are as follows: Member appointed by the Minister to represent the Government Dr. Kenneth Grech - Director - Department for Social Welfare Standards Sector a(1) - VOs enrolled as per Act Ms Grace Atttard (National Council of Women) Ms. Claudia Taylor-East (SOS Malta) Dr. Petra Bianchi (Din l-Art Helwa) Ms. Nora Macelli (St. Jean Antida Foundation) Sector a(3) - VOs not enrolled as per Act Mr. ... Read more...

The Department of Information would like to notify that it will be offering the following services regarding the Budget 2009. Budget online - As soon as the Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment concludes his Budget Speech in Parliament, on Monday the 3rd of November, on the DOI website (www.doi.gov....mt) a link will be set up with the website of the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment (www.mfin.gov....mt) for the full text of the Budget Speech, the Financial Estimates as well as the Economic Survey. Moreover an audio recording of the Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment, will be put online on the DOI website late on Monday evening. Audio ... Read more...

In terms of the Food Safety Act and the EC Regulation 178 of 2002, the Department for Environmental Health wishes to inform the public that as a precaution, the following product is not to be consumed due to the presence of melamine in excess of the legal limit: Description of Product: Potato Chips (Cheese and Onion) Brand: AJ'S Unit Weight: 60g Best Before Date: 22.04.09 Lot No.: D2CP For further information, the public may contact the Department for Environmental Health on telephone numbers: 21332225 or 21324093 from 8:00am till 3:00pm.

The Office of the Commissioner for Children is inviting the public for a discussion addressing the right of children to know, understand and explore Culture in a way that helps their creativity and identity formation. This discussion follows the launch of the Manifesto for Children, published earlier this year and presented to the relevant authorities for their implementation. The Manifesto for Children is based on the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and one of the issues addressed in the Manifesto is Culture. The discussion will focus on how culture and the arts can be made accessible to children in an enjoyable way. Children need to learn more about their own culture ... Read more...

The Ramblers Association of Malta (RAM) welcomes the decision by MEPA to uphold a condition on a development permit (PA 02110/07) at St Thomas Bay which respects and preserves the right to public access through the gate at Tal-Ghassa, at Tal-Munxar, limits of Marsascala. While welcoming this decision RAM looks forward to the opening up of all existing public footpaths which have been closed without permission. RAM invites all those who love our countryside to come forward with reports, possibly with photographs, of blocked access or other harassments to countryside pathways in Malta, Gozo and Comino as it is compiling a register of these in order to proceed with official complaints. Our email address is: ram205@gmail.com... It is the ... Read more...

The Malta Resources Authority draws the attention of the general public and all persons concerned that the borehole notification process introduced by the Notification of Groundwater Sources Regulations, 2008 (Legal Notice 255 of 2008) is currently underway. The closing date for receipt of applications for notification is 6th November 2008. It is being noted that a number of applications for notifications that are being submitted to the Authority are incomplete or incorrectly filled in. This includes incomplete technical details such as on the groundwater source location (northing and easting), depth to groundwater, depth of borehole and borehole diameter. To this end the Authority is giving notice that these applications are being considered invalid and are being returned to the applicants, with consequences ... Read more...