30-year old Gozitan charged with assulting Police officers
Today, the police arraigned under arrest in the Gozo Court, Charles Paul Muscat, aged 30, who lives in both Sannat and Xlendi Muscat was charged among others for having between the 14th and 15th of April 2013 in Marsalforn and other places, assaulted a Police Sergeant and two Constables, as well as resisting arrest. Muscat [...]
Read MoreDin l-Art Helwa concerned at proposed relaxation of height limitation policy
Din l-Art Helwa this evening expressed concern at the proposed relaxation on height limitation saying this would be deleterious to the environment by causing excessive visual density.
In a statement it expressed disappointed that, following consultation meetings with MEPA last year, it seemed that the policy was revised and approved without the government an impact assessment recommended at the time.
“If such a study has been carried out, then Din l-Art Helwa requests that it is published.”
It said that while it appreciated the importance of tourism to the economy and to the provision of employment, the policy did not strive to strike the right balance between the quality of the environment and the generation of revenue as should be the responsibility of MEPA, and that this proposal had been rushed through without serious analysis or EIAs to justify its revision.
Din l-Art Helwa said that another grave concern was that the proposed height relaxation policy brought about a situation of two weights and two measures - for the hoteliers - who would have the privilege of building two additional storeys, against other local businesses or home owners, who were not being granted the same...
Man charged with attacking and defaming officers
A 30-year-old man who lives in Sannat and Xlendi was today granted bail against a deposit of €2,500 and a personal guarantee of €5,000 after he pleaded not guilty to attacking and resisting police officers.
Charles Paul Muscat was also charged with disobeying police orders, driving carelessly and dangerously, speeding, and breaching the conditions of a previous release.
Mr Muscat pleaded not guilty to accusing police officers of a crime he knew was not committed and to defaming the officers.
Din l-Art Helwa voices its concerns over hotel heights policy
Din l-Art Helwa in a statement this evening refers to the ‘Height Limitation Adjustment Policy for Hotels in Tourism Areas,’ announced this week The NGO said that it is “disappointed that, following consultation meetings with MEPA in 2012, it appears that this policy has now been revised and approved without the government having carried out [...]
Read MoreFenech’s ‘speculative allegations baseless, harm ongoing negotiations’ – Finance Minister
Finance Minister Edward Scicluna lambasts predecessor for ‘weakening country’s position with the European Commission’.
Read MoreTonio Fenech’s statements ‘irresponsible’ – Finance Ministry
Statements by the former Finance Minister about Malta’s public finances and their implication for the excessive deficit procedure at a time when the issue was being negotiated with the European Commission were irresponsible, the Finance Ministry said.
It said in a statement: “Tonio Fenech’s irresponsible claims can only weaken the country’s position at the negotiating table at a crucial stage of the process, and go against the national interest.
“Mr Fenech’s statements are worrisome on several counts, not least among them being his suggestion that the Maltese government somehow willingly wants to be in breach of EU rules on the 2012 deficit.”
The ministry said Mr Fenech and the Nationalist Party were doing their best to shrug off responsibility for the financial situation they put Malta in passing the buck on to the new government which now had to account for it with the European Commission.
“The Treasury’s consolidated financial statement shows clearly that Malta ended 2012 with a deficit of €342 million, a far cry from the €145 million the previous administration had projected for that same year.
“The accrual system of accounts undertaken by the Treasury according to agreed EU...